Canon Powershot S5? (there's an RF angle here)

[Rafael]

My father, who got me started in RF photography when he gave me his M4 and lenses (that's the rf connection), has enlisted me to find him a digital P&S. I know very little about these, so I turn to all of you for advice.

We have agreed that his criteria should be: minimal shutter lag, 8mp, manual/shutter priority/aperture priority modes, significant optical zoom, IS, and large screen.

I am thinking that the Canon Powershot S5 IS might fit the bill. Does anybody have experience with this camera? Any alternative suggestions? Thanks for your input.

 

[Al Patterson]

I'd suggest a visit to www.dpreview.com, specifically the Canon Talk forum, with a side visit to the camera reviews.

If he's looking for a Rangefinder like camera, there is also the G9.

 

[kuzano]

www.steves-digicams.com has done full reviews of both the S5is and G9 in the last 3 months. Both outstanding in their categories.
G9... 12 Mp, 6X, and more.... more of a pocketable camera
S5... 8 Mp, 12X, and more.... More like a small fixed lens SLR type body.

My favorite review sites... Steves (above), www.dpreview.com, www.dcresource.com.

Dpreview has camera or brand specific forums as mentioned before. Steves has forums. Don't know about forums on DCresource...mostly just read their reviews for another angle.

Also search Yahoo or Google for user forums. Cameras as popular as the S5 often have user groups/forums.

I am giving lessons to a lady right now on an S3 is, and it's a MAJOR WADE through the manual. The camera can be easily used by any proficient photographer for manual control, but the custom features and settings that can be used to create user profiles are way, way overkill. It took me less time to master a PC than it would one of these high end consumer level cameras, and I've been shooting film for 40 years and digital for 7-8.

While the G9 is 12 Mp and the S5 is 8, remember that the sensor is small. The sensors in these cameras are small by comparison to a DSLR, and miniscule related to the 35mm full frame film. They keep improving the processors and dragging more Megapixels out of these cameras, but I am suspect on 12 Mp out of a sensor that just a couple of years ago topped out at 7-8Mp.

Here is a link to an interesting page on sensor sizes at Dpreview:

http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/key=sensor+sizes

The S5 has a 1/2.5" sensor and the G9 has a 1/1.7" sensor. Regardless of how that looks in numbers, the G9 sensor is bigger, explaining the 12Mp yield. However, both of those sensors are a fraction of the size of a DSLR at 8 or 12 Mp.

All that technical stuff aside, If you father wants a great camera that will yield high quality prints up to 8X10 or 11X14, either of those cameras would be good choices, based on the reviews.

Two important things I put at the top of the list are:

If you are going to be shooting family events, or any sports activities... Shutter Lag
If you are going to be shooting low light, at ISO does the noise become unusable in printing.

All the other things pretty much fall into place with name brand cameras. Noise is an ongoing issue for small sensors. Shutter lag can make a camera unusable for spontaneous shooting where movement is unpredictable.

 

[doctorhectic]

G9 is great.

G9 is great.

I just got my G9 recently (long wait upgrade from a G3) and I love it. That and my Konica Auto S3, along with a few Oly Pens, are with me constantly. Yes, it's a big "little camera" bag that I carry around, but I've gotten used to it.

The G9 looks good, takes great pictures, and with the addition of this grip/thumb rest

http://www.mycanong9.com/65801/460401.html

should handle like a real camera. I should receive my grip this week and I'll report back how that works out if anyone wants to know. The lack of grip is my only criticism, and maybe only because of the size of my hands and the weightiness of the camera. It's heavy, but more in a "solid build quality" way.

I've been very pleased with my Canon digicams (this being my 3rd), and I think either the S5 or G9 would be great cameras. I really like the style of the G9, and it has all the features I need in a nice compact package.

 

[Didier]

I am thinking that the Canon Powershot S5 IS might fit the bill. Does anybody have experience with this camera? Any alternative suggestions? Thanks for your input.

I have the S3 which is quite similar except 6MP instead of 8MP. Ok as a point&shooter, but nothing outstanding. The viewfinder is electronic with a certain time lag for rapidly moving objects. The AF is quite accurate except in close up mode, where, for reasons unknown to me, a lot of pictures are unsharp.

The 12x zoom is quite sharp, but handhelding 420mm eq. is not in everybody's skills. These two photoalbums (toboggan race, walk) were made with it (it's for the website of a friend). Several of my PAW pics, too: #11, #16, #20.
The noise at ISO800 is significant as with most small sensors. To be honest, today I'd prefer the G9 over it as I rarely use the tele over 100mm eq.

Didier

 

[mike goldberg]

Hi all,
The guys above know what they are talking about. I've bought and sold several Canon P & S digicams in the past 4-5 years. My most recent, is the excellent 7.1MP Powershot SD800 IS. It's a small all-metal body, and fits easily into a belt pouch. The image stabilized lens is 28-105 equivalent. Tho' you do lose out some on the tele end, many photographers [like me] go for the extra width.

As for reviews, steves-digicams, dcresource and dpreview... have long been my favorite sites. See Steve's Conclusion:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/sd800_pg5.html

The G9 also looks great, and it's pricy.
Good luck with your choice.