Canon Powershot S95 - Any good?
Discussion
I'm looking at this little camera, as our camera recently broke; but I'm wondering whether this sort of camera would be the best one for me... So I am asking for your help.
The camera I've been using up until now was just a Casio Exilim EX-S500. What I liked about it was that it was ultra small, so I could even pop it into jeans pockets and nobody would notice. I didn't like the image quality though, although it wasn't too bad.
I did originally look at buying a DSLR, but soon realised it would simply be too big for me to take out anywhere with me, and I'd always leave it behind unless I was specifically going snapping. I then looked at something like a Sony NEX-5, but again it was the cost of the lenses and the size that put me off - especially when the majority (if not all) of the time I will want to use a camera in auto mode.
So, the question is: Will the S95 suit me? It seems to offer good image quality, a small package, and the potential to switch to manual mode when required (although again, being new to this, I don't know what benefits that could bring). Or would I be better off buying a normal point-and-shoot camera for a lot less money since I will likely not exploit the features that I'd be paying for on the S95?
The things I would like in a camera though, which I think are DSLR only, are:
- 'Rapid Fire' (so I can take a few rapid shots of moving stuff and pick the best shot)
- Depth of Field control (so I am able to 'blur' the backgrounds - I like this effect)
- Excellent low-light photography
- Quick to shoot would be nice (ability to turn it on very quickly for those opportunistic shots)
So, what do you all think? It's a good £100 more than a decent point and shoot, so I really would appreciate the advice. If that advice is to buy something cheaper (as I won't use the S95 to its full potential), then that's absolutely fine; but I don't mind paying for quality.
The camera I've been using up until now was just a Casio Exilim EX-S500. What I liked about it was that it was ultra small, so I could even pop it into jeans pockets and nobody would notice. I didn't like the image quality though, although it wasn't too bad.
I did originally look at buying a DSLR, but soon realised it would simply be too big for me to take out anywhere with me, and I'd always leave it behind unless I was specifically going snapping. I then looked at something like a Sony NEX-5, but again it was the cost of the lenses and the size that put me off - especially when the majority (if not all) of the time I will want to use a camera in auto mode.
So, the question is: Will the S95 suit me? It seems to offer good image quality, a small package, and the potential to switch to manual mode when required (although again, being new to this, I don't know what benefits that could bring). Or would I be better off buying a normal point-and-shoot camera for a lot less money since I will likely not exploit the features that I'd be paying for on the S95?
The things I would like in a camera though, which I think are DSLR only, are:
- 'Rapid Fire' (so I can take a few rapid shots of moving stuff and pick the best shot)
- Depth of Field control (so I am able to 'blur' the backgrounds - I like this effect)
- Excellent low-light photography
- Quick to shoot would be nice (ability to turn it on very quickly for those opportunistic shots)
So, what do you all think? It's a good £100 more than a decent point and shoot, so I really would appreciate the advice. If that advice is to buy something cheaper (as I won't use the S95 to its full potential), then that's absolutely fine; but I don't mind paying for quality.
Edited by Pulse on Saturday 5th November 08:10
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/q42010highendcompa...
DP Reviews do decent reviews which should answer your questions specific to the S95.
Based on what you have said in your post I would suggest you need the following.
A camera with a decent fast lens. A faster lens will have a wider aperture allowing more light in at a higher shutter speed than might otherwise be necessary which is needed for low light photography (without flash). Wider apertures also enable shorter depth of field. I would suggest you look for something with a max aperture of f2.8 or wider.
To take advantage of a good lens you might want a decent sensor. One advantage of this is better high ISO performance (less noise).
As far as manual controls go, at a minimum you want aperture priority, shutter priority, exposure compensation control and some manual ISO control. For me it is important that I can adjust these without going into menus on the screen as this takes up too much time. Also for me, a eye level view-finder is essential as I don't like holding a camera in front of me to look at a screen. These may not be important to you but maybe you should think about them.
It might be difficult to find a camera that ticks all of your boxes but some of the micro four thirds might work for you. They have interchangeable lenses and while some of these may be a bit bulky, you don't need them all.
The Fuji x10 and x100 both have received good reviews and if the x100 didn't have a fixed focal length, I would buy one, although it is expensive.
DP Reviews do decent reviews which should answer your questions specific to the S95.
Based on what you have said in your post I would suggest you need the following.
A camera with a decent fast lens. A faster lens will have a wider aperture allowing more light in at a higher shutter speed than might otherwise be necessary which is needed for low light photography (without flash). Wider apertures also enable shorter depth of field. I would suggest you look for something with a max aperture of f2.8 or wider.
To take advantage of a good lens you might want a decent sensor. One advantage of this is better high ISO performance (less noise).
As far as manual controls go, at a minimum you want aperture priority, shutter priority, exposure compensation control and some manual ISO control. For me it is important that I can adjust these without going into menus on the screen as this takes up too much time. Also for me, a eye level view-finder is essential as I don't like holding a camera in front of me to look at a screen. These may not be important to you but maybe you should think about them.
It might be difficult to find a camera that ticks all of your boxes but some of the micro four thirds might work for you. They have interchangeable lenses and while some of these may be a bit bulky, you don't need them all.
The Fuji x10 and x100 both have received good reviews and if the x100 didn't have a fixed focal length, I would buy one, although it is expensive.
I have DSLRs and an S95.
You can't do 'rapid fire' on the S95. You can alter the depth of field. It's ok in low light but certainly not excellent. Even though it has quite a large sensor for a compact, it's a fraction of a DSLR full frame sensor.
It's a great camera as it's so small (so it lives in my pocket) and can take great images.
I took this yesterday with said S95 (click on it to sharpen)
FYI the S100 is coming out on Jan 1st. (S95s will drop in price)
You can't do 'rapid fire' on the S95. You can alter the depth of field. It's ok in low light but certainly not excellent. Even though it has quite a large sensor for a compact, it's a fraction of a DSLR full frame sensor.
It's a great camera as it's so small (so it lives in my pocket) and can take great images.
I took this yesterday with said S95 (click on it to sharpen)
FYI the S100 is coming out on Jan 1st. (S95s will drop in price)
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