The S1iS camera has a form of bayonet mount. (Look for the button underneath the lens barrel: push the button, and then twist the front of the lens. It should come off.)
The bayonet mount lets me buy an adapter from Canon or third-parties, to which I can attach screw-on filters. Canon's Lens Adapter LA-DC52E is US$40. The most popular third-party manufacturer of adapters is LensMate of Seattle. Their price is US$23. (Click figure at left for larger view.)
(I used the LensMate adapter for my previous camera, the Canon G1. I found it helped in these ways:
1. Protected the zoom lens from damage, as the lens moved out.
2. Sealed the zoom lens area, preventing dust and sand from getting in there.
3. Made a nice grip for holding the camera.
4. Meant I didn't need to use the lens cap anymore.
5. Let me reuse the 55mm UV, polaroid, and yellow filters from my Minolta XE-7 days.
There were three drawbacks: it looked kinda ugly; made the camera larger and harder to fit in a pocket; and obscured part of the flash.
I recommend leaving on the UV filter at all times, to protect the camera's primary lens.)
Now, my 55mm filters don't work directly with the adapter, because its size is 52mm. I also needed to purchase a stepping ring. For the S1iS, this means a 52mm-55mm stepping ring (an extra US$7) -- that's a lot cheaper than getting all new filters!
Shipping is another US$7 to the USA and Canada.
Why Protect the Zoom Lens?
Let me tell the story of another digital camera user. He was sitting at a table, with his Olympus camera's zoom lens extended. He got up from the table, hitting the lens underneath the table, making the lens inoperable. I think he said it cost US$175 to repair the damage (plus the time he had to go without his camera). After hearing the story, I figured the $23 LensMate product is cheap insurance.
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