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Is the S90 good for streetshooting?
- Thread starter WT21
- Start date
I don't do much street shooting, but:
- it's small and therefore not intimidationg
- it has a fast lens (f/2 at the wide end)
- 28mm FOV
- small sensor so it has great DOF even at large apertures
sbjct
Member
Too slow in focus and tricky in operation to take the pictures I want fast. Sunny day? Blown highlights everywhere! Exposure conpensation, yes please but again... tricky! s95? nothing better... Sorry, had both and continue keeping f200exr, otherwise DSLR. ps: hope the settings were the one you wanted, occasionally you turn something without intention 
only my opinion
only my opinion
Psych0path
Forum Enthusiast
I have read that the EXRs have better dynamic range but I haven't had issues with the focus speed on my S95. While the F200EXR is a great P&S camera, it is by no means less tricky to use than an S90/S95. That is actually the number one complaint about the EXR cameras, which are often referred to as "overly complicated" as one user put it over in the Fuji forum.Too slow in focus and tricky in operation to take the pictures I want fast. Sunny day? Blown highlights everywhere! Exposure conpensation, yes please but again... tricky! s95? nothing better... Sorry, had both and continue keeping f200exr, otherwise DSLR. ps: hope the settings were the one you wanted, occasionally you turn something without intention
only my opinion
PaulRivers
Veteran Member
Yes, this is what I've heard about it as well many times. The f200exr isn't a bad camera, but to get the best pictures out of it, you really have to learn what the best settings are. The s95 isn't always the perfect camera, but from everything I've read it's noticeably easier to use than the f200exr.I have read that the EXRs have better dynamic range but I haven't had issues with the focus speed on my S95. While the F200EXR is a great P&S camera, it is by no means less tricky to use than an S90/S95. That is actually the number one complaint about the EXR cameras, which are often referred to as "overly complicated" as one user put it over in the Fuji forum.Too slow in focus and tricky in operation to take the pictures I want fast. Sunny day? Blown highlights everywhere! Exposure conpensation, yes please but again... tricky! s95? nothing better... Sorry, had both and continue keeping f200exr, otherwise DSLR. ps: hope the settings were the one you wanted, occasionally you turn something without intention
only my opinion
PaulRivers
Veteran Member
You can set the focus distance to infinity fairly easily if that's what you mean, unfortunately it doesn't do anything to reduce autofocus lag, nor does setting all the settings manually. (Use the macro button to bring up the menu that lets you focus manually).
As I've written elsewhere, the camera often chooses 1/30 which has resulted in some blurry pictures with people moving in them for me, but you can use shutter priority mode and just leave it set to 1/60 to get around it if it's a problem for you.
It should be. Its unobtrusive, its easy to set up nearly infinite focus (f8 at either of the two widest zoom settings focussed at 5 feet gets you from 2-3 feet on out to infinity), but the camera just doesn't react that quickly and you miss a lot of shots. And, yeah, the blown highlights can be a problem as well so you have to set up your shots a bit more carefully than you sometimes have time to. I shoot a lot with an Olympus ep2 and its an incredible street camera, with either a 17 or 20mm pancake lens (34 and 40mm equivalents), which is also a very unobtrusive setup. I get all sorts of shots with it.
I've taken the s90 out a few times and its been an exercise in frustration for the most part. I even had the "C" setting loaded with my best hyperfocal street shooting settings so I could immediately flip to it when a shot presented itself, but still not a lot of luck. Here are probably the three best I've come up with and they're nothing to write home about. The first was intentionally blurred because I realized I didn't have the light to get anything sharp and I started playing with blur and, while most of the results predictably sucked, this one came out sort of interesting.
I had high hopes for the S90 as a street camera but the reality is its not that great, at least in my hands and at least compared to the other option I have available.
-Ray
I've taken the s90 out a few times and its been an exercise in frustration for the most part. I even had the "C" setting loaded with my best hyperfocal street shooting settings so I could immediately flip to it when a shot presented itself, but still not a lot of luck. Here are probably the three best I've come up with and they're nothing to write home about. The first was intentionally blurred because I realized I didn't have the light to get anything sharp and I started playing with blur and, while most of the results predictably sucked, this one came out sort of interesting.
I had high hopes for the S90 as a street camera but the reality is its not that great, at least in my hands and at least compared to the other option I have available.
-Ray
I meant there's no "snap-to-focus" to a distance like 3 or 5 meters. Even at f/2, that should give you enough DOF to have everything in focus from 1.5 meters to infinity. There's no need to half-press the shutter button - just press the button and it automatically focuses at the set distance. I think Ricoh has this feature.
yooperguy
Senior Member
Here is an older blog on how to set up a G9 to use the C mode on the Mode dial. I realize we are discussing an S90, but the concepts are the same. Reading over this "how to" material may trigger some changes you feel are needed to your C setup.
http://lifespy.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/setting-up-snap-shooting-mode-on-the-g9/
I notice in Ray's samples that all the f-stops were at f/8.0. You can gain some more light by trying the "sweet spot" on your lens, which is usually around f/4.0 or f/4.5, or open up to f/2.8 when necessary. Some folks say the f/8.0 setting can result in diffraction issues.
Dennis
http://lifespy.wordpress.com/2008/02/12/setting-up-snap-shooting-mode-on-the-g9/
I notice in Ray's samples that all the f-stops were at f/8.0. You can gain some more light by trying the "sweet spot" on your lens, which is usually around f/4.0 or f/4.5, or open up to f/2.8 when necessary. Some folks say the f/8.0 setting can result in diffraction issues.
Dennis
UncaMikey
Forum Enthusiast
I had a Ricoh GX100 and yes, it had snap focus, a very helpful feature.
I have ordered but not yet received a S95 -- I hope that I'll be able to set "C" to MF and hyperfocal distance for a given f/stop thus avoiding all the lags associated with AF.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncamikey/
I have ordered but not yet received a S95 -- I hope that I'll be able to set "C" to MF and hyperfocal distance for a given f/stop thus avoiding all the lags associated with AF.
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncamikey/
rita416
Forum Enthusiast
PaulRivers
Veteran Member
No, I'm afraid not.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1010&message=36368479
If there's a settings I missed in setting everything, let me know and I'll time it again, but those were my results when I tested it out.
larsbc
Forum Pro
Wow, that's surprising to me, because with my G11, I can store MF mode, focus distance, ISO, metering method, aperture, etc under a Custom setting.
Odd that the S90 would have a different Custom feature than the G11.
larsbc
It works FINE on the s90 (and I'm sure on the s95 too). I have the "C" on my s90 set for f8 and focussed at 5 feet in MF mode. It sets the zoom to the 35mm equivalent setting and puts it in aperture priority so the ap doesn't change - the camera just adjusts shutter speed and iso as needed. At f8 and focussed at five feet, the camera is in focus from 2.2 feet to infinity.
It's easy enough to set up that I'd have thought it would be a better street cam than I find it to be in practice.
-Ray
It's easy enough to set up that I'd have thought it would be a better street cam than I find it to be in practice.
-Ray
Cailean Gallimore
Veteran Member
P&S are not the best choice for street photography, because of the slow operation. Look at micro 4/3.
sbjct
Member
To me street = fast. After some tests I rarely change my own settings on the fuji, just switch-on > point > shot. Manual setting every time I "need" them. I'm rarely disappointed with the results. I only enjoy to find the scene I like. Everithing i need to change is accessible in 1 quick menu. Way faster than the s90/95 in focus and zoom and It fits better my front pocket. The images it produces are perfect for PP even in jpg, if not u need to like fuji "cold" color approach. 6mp are enough for my prints. I sold the s90, just bought an s95 that i'm selling and still using the fuji. I personally like this kind of shots:Yes, this is what I've heard about it as well many times. The f200exr isn't a bad camera, but to get the best pictures out of it, you really have to learn what the best settings are. The s95 isn't always the perfect camera, but from everything I've read it's noticeably easier to use than the f200exr.I have read that the EXRs have better dynamic range but I haven't had issues with the focus speed on my S95. While the F200EXR is a great P&S camera, it is by no means less tricky to use than an S90/S95. That is actually the number one complaint about the EXR cameras, which are often referred to as "overly complicated" as one user put it over in the Fuji forum.Too slow in focus and tricky in operation to take the pictures I want fast. Sunny day? Blown highlights everywhere! Exposure conpensation, yes please but again... tricky! s95? nothing better... Sorry, had both and continue keeping f200exr, otherwise DSLR. ps: hope the settings were the one you wanted, occasionally you turn something without intention
only my opinion
PuzzleGal
Senior Member
. . .Too slow in focus and tricky in operation to take the pictures I want fast. Sunny day? Blown highlights everywhere! Exposure conpensation, yes please but again... tricky! s95? nothing better... Sorry, had both and continue keeping f200exr, otherwise DSLR. ps: hope the settings were the one you wanted, occasionally you turn something without intention
only my opinion
Interesting. I have the Fuji F200EXR, and I haven't used it since I got the Canon S90. I found the Fuji slow and tricky to use. It's not so much that it was hard to learn what the best setting were (I completely gave up on that and used "DR EXR mode" unless is was dark, when I used the low light EXR mode. Both of these are pretty much automatic, with few choices anyway) but that I found it very slow to use. In particular, it often took the screen a long time to adjust to the ambient light, so it took me forever to frame shots. Well, a couple of seconds, which was way too long for some of the shots I wanted to take, like scenery passing by my car window. It also took an annoyingly long time to turn on.
I really really wanted to love that camera. My number one complaint since moving from film to digital is dynamic range, and the Fuji, on paper, had everything I wanted. And it takes good pictures (although sometimes a tad too blue for my tastes.) But I found it so frustrating to use that I avoided it unless I needed the low light performance, where it was so much better than my other digitals that I had to forgive its faults. But then I got the S90. The S90 easily out-performs the Fuji in low light, and I found it very easy to use. Fun to use. The S90 isn't the fastest camera, especially shot-to-shot (I gather the S95 is much better here) but for ME, the way I interact with cameras, it's much faster to use than the F200EXR.
Obviously, YMMV.
rita416
Forum Enthusiast
Hi PuzzleGal, I got the F200, in my quest for an upgrade to the F31, needing low liight with IS. I had no problem mastering how to use the F200, but I did not like the colors at all, and as you said well, I found it tricky and the IS was not that good. I was very disappointed. I really wanted to like the cam. I sent it back, and came back here for help, and I went to Best Buy and got the s95, Thursday, and right out of the box, so to speak, on Auto, I got some great pics.
. . .Too slow in focus and tricky in operation to take the pictures I want fast. Sunny day? Blown highlights everywhere! Exposure conpensation, yes please but again... tricky! s95? nothing better... Sorry, had both and continue keeping f200exr, otherwise DSLR. ps: hope the settings were the one you wanted, occasionally you turn something without intention
only my opinion
Interesting. I have the Fuji F200EXR, and I haven't used it since I got the Canon S90. I found the Fuji slow and tricky to use. It's not so much that it was hard to learn what the best setting were (I completely gave up on that and used "DR EXR mode" unless is was dark, when I used the low light EXR mode. Both of these are pretty much automatic, with few choices anyway) but that I found it very slow to use. In particular, it often took the screen a long time to adjust to the ambient light, so it took me forever to frame shots. Well, a couple of seconds, which was way too long for some of the shots I wanted to take, like scenery passing by my car window. It also took an annoyingly long time to turn on.
I really really wanted to love that camera. My number one complaint since moving from film to digital is dynamic range, and the Fuji, on paper, had everything I wanted. And it takes good pictures (although sometimes a tad too blue for my tastes.) But I found it so frustrating to use that I avoided it unless I needed the low light performance, where it was so much better than my other digitals that I had to forgive its faults. But then I got the S90. The S90 easily out-performs the Fuji in low light, and I found it very easy to use. Fun to use. The S90 isn't the fastest camera, especially shot-to-shot (I gather the S95 is much better here) but for ME, the way I interact with cameras, it's much faster to use than the F200EXR.
Obviously, YMMV.
sbjct
Member
Everithing is obviously personal...
I don't use any mode on the f200 other than, P - DR Auto - Iso max 400 (1600 for night) - M size. That works everytime for me, i only change iso and aperture if needed. I found the automatic choices of the camera more similar to my choice than the canon one. To me high iso is cleaner in the canon but really really smeared. And the highlights are always blown out even when exposure is -1. If u use RAW (as I always used with s90) the results are really similar, much more grainy and not that sharp.
To me is also really frustrating to worry about the sweet spot in a compact camera lens, I found the canon really poor wide open and after 5.6
I don't use any mode on the f200 other than, P - DR Auto - Iso max 400 (1600 for night) - M size. That works everytime for me, i only change iso and aperture if needed. I found the automatic choices of the camera more similar to my choice than the canon one. To me high iso is cleaner in the canon but really really smeared. And the highlights are always blown out even when exposure is -1. If u use RAW (as I always used with s90) the results are really similar, much more grainy and not that sharp.
To me is also really frustrating to worry about the sweet spot in a compact camera lens, I found the canon really poor wide open and after 5.6
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