Hi, I am about to buy a Canon S500.  What I need to know is what extras that come with it are ESSENTIAL and what can you buy separately?  Why I am asking is that I have the opportunity to buy the camera much cheaper than usual, but it has NO bits with it at all - no memory card/battery (which I know I can get anywhere), but it doesn't have any software, or cables, or manual (can get manual from Canon I think). Is the software that is usually provided essential or will any do (like Photoshop, etc).  Also is there a type of battery charger that will charge the battery while it is still in the camera (as you do a mobile phone).  Thanks for any info.

Fiona

It all depends how much cheaper you are getting, memory cards, leads, battery chargers etc aren't cheap, plus I assume you won't be getting a guarantee with it either.
You may find the drivers are already installed in your PC or you can get them from the Canon site.
As for the picture editing software, nope that isn't important, any programme should allow you to do it, once you have the camera set up.

Exactly how much are you saving buying it? Sorry to be nosey but you can get great digital cameras from places like ebay, sales etc... I would go to a local canon dealer and price up all the items like the usb interface it will need if you want to connect it directly to pc. Memory card reader around 30 pounds for a decent one (save battery power) battery will proberbly set you back around 30 pounds, memory card if its a compact flash around 20 pounds or so for 64mb so with my calculations not including software this could add up to 80 pounds give or take a few quid. So after adding all the extras is it worth it? Also is it uk or usa version? accessories might be harder to get if its the latter.

Have a look on the internet and see if you can download the software this is quite often possible and so will cost you nothing extra HTH Gillian

The Canon website seems quite comprehensive and I was able to download a manual for my work camera I borrowed for the weekend.  It looks like you can download the software too.

Thanks everyone for your help.  I am lucky to be in a position that someone in USA will be ordering the camera for me.  I must admit, the cheaper one is only about $60 cheaper than one that comes with all the bits, its just that with that $60, I can get a 256 MB compact flash card (as opposed to the 32MB one that comes in the more expensive one), and a battery, and as it is an American version, the AC lead (that comes with the more expensive one) won't be any use to me anyway.

The only other thing I would have to buy would be the battery charger, so I need to price them up now and compare again.

Thanks again

Fiona

I bought a Ricoh camera from the USA a few years ago, it came with a two pin AC lead, but I used a shaver adapter plug and it worked fine!

Good idea Sharon!  I've ordered it now, with all the bits and just ordered an extra memory card.  The place that was really cheap is apparently a bit dodgy so I steered well clear.  Thanks again everyone.

Fiona

dont forget that anything coming in post from USA will be charged tax on. I often get stuff from BH in New York, its much cheaper when you are runnning into thousands of £££ like me, for work.....but there is always tax to pay when it arrives in the post :(

Good point Sam.  I am aware of the tax, but am not sure how much it will be - hopefully it will still work out cheaper.  Thanks

Fiona

varies depending on import rtax/shipping etc between 20 and 40%

thanks Sam - it will be just my luck to get the higher rate :(

Fiona