Almost taking the plunge on a Canon S95.. Before I do, am I missing anything?

Hi.. Basically I've just put my Panasonic GF1 on ebay, because I need something that's actually compact, not something that's just 'smaller than an SLR'.. I have a Panasonic GH1 still so I'm keeping that for when I need ultimately superior image quality.

So now I'm in the market for a 'advanced compact' or whatever silly name they give these now.

I've pretty much ruled out the Panasonic LX5 (wont fit in my pocket), Olympus XZ-1 (won't fit in my pocket), Samsung EX-1 (480p video, what a shame)..

Are there any alternatives to the S95 that are as pocketable with as good picture quality?

I've only asked in this forum because I'm sure alot of people in this forum have gone through the same hunt as me (before settling on the S95)

Thanks for any help, Elliot

Also, I'm looking at these amazingly cheap aftermarket batteries. Do you think a 1500mah battery will genuinely last 50% more than a 1000mah one? I'm buying this camera for 2 days where I'll be camping with no power so this is fairly important.

I have had my S95 for about six months and it goes everywhere with me. I have never used a camera so much. I have has SLR's for years and it was always effort to take the camera with me. Image quality is great. I debated between the G12 and the S95 and went with the smaller of the two. I don't regret it.

elliotsam said:

Also, I'm looking at these amazingly cheap aftermarket batteries. Do you think a 1500mah battery will genuinely last 50% more than a 1000mah one?

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There is no magic. Canon batteries will have just as much capacity (at least) as a 3rd party battery of the same size. My experience with those "amazingly cheap aftermarket batteries" is that they don't last as long as the Canon batteries. There is a reason they are "amazingly cheap".

I had a G11 (too large for me) and an LX3 (ditto, and not enough zoom) and replaced them with the S90, which gets used as much as my DSLRs because no reason not to have it with me at all times. I've been temped by the S95 but for non-video uses it's hard to justify; so I'm now watching for the S95 replacement. I will always own the S90 or one of its successors.

--
Phil

Depending on your specific needs, you may want to consider the P300.

Or at this point you may want to wait for the S95 successor if you want a little more zoom than the S95 offers.

elliotsam said:

Hi.. Basically I've just put my Panasonic GF1 on ebay, because I need something that's actually compact, not something that's just 'smaller than an SLR'.. I have a Panasonic GH1 still so I'm keeping that for when I need ultimately superior image quality.

So now I'm in the market for a 'advanced compact' or whatever silly name they give these now.

I've pretty much ruled out the Panasonic LX5 (wont fit in my pocket), Olympus XZ-1 (won't fit in my pocket), Samsung EX-1 (480p video, what a shame)..

Are there any alternatives to the S95 that are as pocketable with as good picture quality?

I've only asked in this forum because I'm sure alot of people in this forum have gone through the same hunt as me (before settling on the S95)

Thanks for any help, Elliot

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Thanks for the advice so far guys. Gotta love this forum.

I think the only reason I discounted the P300 was that the sensor is quite a bit smaller. I don't need RAW, would love the extra 4mm wide angle and 1080p video.. but whilst I dont care THAT much about "bokeh", it would be nice to have some whereas I'm assuming on the P300 it would be near non existant.

If you don't need RAW, then you need to also consider what size prints you will be doing. Some will complain about the sensor size on the P300, while others would complain about the 28mm lens on the S95. No camera is perfect and even the S95 has flaws to some; just have to decide what is most important to you.

elliotsam said:

Thanks for the advice so far guys. Gotta love this forum.

I think the only reason I discounted the P300 was that the sensor is quite a bit smaller. I don't need RAW, would love the extra 4mm wide angle and 1080p video.. but whilst I dont care THAT much about "bokeh", it would be nice to have some whereas I'm assuming on the P300 it would be near non existant.

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Hi, My S95 is my pocket cam when I cannot or will not take my 7D.

The image quality is a step down, though still great for the camera size, and it's fun to use. It's easy to apply EC in an auto mode and it's easy to adjust everything in manual. There is surprisingly little that this cam won't have a go at.

(eg. Fancy off-cam flash syncing all the way to 1/1600? No problem; on-board flash to manual (no pre-flash), remote flash with a simple optical trigger - and - you are good to go!)

Happy choosing!
Donald

Basically, I'm repeatedly amazed at what comes out of the camera. I'm chalking my lens error up to bad luck, hoping it doesn't/won't happen again after repair.

That said, I would buy again (giving Canon one more chance here which might be generous considering the camera was never dropped, exposed to sand, water, dust, always in a case and never had a lense deploy in case). It just shouldn't have happened.

I had started carrying the camera everywhere (in case), and ended up taking photos I would have missed out on otherwise. That is the true benefit of this camera. You will never look at it on your desk and think, "nah, I don't fell like carrying it". So, the old adage that the best camera is the one that you have one you applies for me 100%. I know it's trite, but it's self fulfilling. Before carrying the S95 the best camera was on my phone....ugh.

I give props to the Olympus XZ1, Lumix LX5, etc. but they really are a substantial notch up in size and I'm concerned that I would make that decision to leave at home WITHOUT if I were headed out without the "man bag"...just kidding. I carry the S95 in my pocket otherwise it's just not with me for those images.

Lots of other cameras must be considered if form factor isn't your overriding, number one, possibly life altering or at least photo taking altering decision making factor.

There are lots of us with this camera who after carrying THIS model, find ourselves not using our DSLR's "as much". I definitely don't and longer term may find that I invest future dollars in a smaller format once I feel 4/3's is slightly more mature or perhpas Canon comes out with a game changer (I'm not holding my breath mind you), and as for loyalty.....well.......I do like my Canons, but would buy an Olympus and may do so shortly. I think the XZ-1 may be my next purchase.

All that, for what it's worth..... a Canon guy, one with a current lens problem, who would buy it again. I doubt you will regret your decision if you make the plunge. Go looking for people who may have returned their S95's, and find out why. There aren't huge numbers of them I don't think.

elliotsam said:

Are there any alternatives to the S95 that are as pocketable with as good picture quality?

Click to expand...

The only direct competition in the same size or smaller is the p300, and has been mentioned according to dpreview it has a smaller sensor and very slightly lower image quality. However, the reason I didn't buy it was that it doesn't shoot RAW, and it's auto mode I felt made some annoying exposure choices that tended to use way to low of shutter speeds (1/15) and unnecessarily high apertures (f2.8 when the lens does f1.8 - yes both wide angle). The s95 is by no means perfect in this regard, but it's not as bad.

There are rumors of an s95 replacement, but that won't be until...I don't know, August? September? October? I know it's definitely "fall".

In many ways, the S95 is not a direct competitor because the S95 cannot match the 24mm lens of the P300; S95 only has 28mm.

You can discuss sensor sizes until you are blue in the face, but if you are indoors or in a tight area and cannot get the picture to begin with because your camera has a 28mm lens, sensor size is irrelevant.

PaulRivers said:

elliotsam said:

Are there any alternatives to the S95 that are as pocketable with as good picture quality?

Click to expand...

The only direct competition in the same size or smaller is the p300, and has been mentioned according to dpreview it has a smaller sensor and very slightly lower image quality. However, the reason I didn't buy it was that it doesn't shoot RAW, and it's auto mode I felt made some annoying exposure choices that tended to use way to low of shutter speeds (1/15) and unnecessarily high apertures (f2.8 when the lens does f1.8 - yes both wide angle). The s95 is by no means perfect in this regard, but it's not as bad.

There are rumors of an s95 replacement, but that won't be until...I don't know, August? September? October? I know it's definitely "fall".

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snapshot09 said:

In many ways, the S95 is not a direct competitor because the S95 cannot match the 24mm lens of the P300; S95 only has 28mm.

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That is exactly 1 way, not "many" ways. It's not really a monumental difference either.

snapshot09 said:

You can discuss sensor sizes until you are blue in the face, but if you are indoors or in a tight area and cannot get the picture to begin with because your camera has a 28mm lens, sensor size is irrelevant.

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I'm not sure who you feel you're responding to, but I only made a very brief mention of sensor size.

If we want to make cliched analogies on the topic I was talking about, no amount of better lens aperture as you zoom (xz-1), faster autofocus and autofocus in video (lx5), or supposedly having less redeye is going to make up for your camera sitting on the counter at home when you are elsewhere and want to take a picture but you didn't bring it with you because it didn't conventiently fit in your pocket and you didn't want the hassle of carrying it around.

On the other hand, if your lens isn't quite as wide as you want, you can either get most of the picture you wanted but not all of it, or try working around it by taking 2 shots and stitching them together with panorama software.

snapshot09 said:

PaulRivers said:

elliotsam said:

Are there any alternatives to the S95 that are as pocketable with as good picture quality?

Click to expand...

The only direct competition in the same size or smaller is the p300, and has been mentioned according to dpreview it has a smaller sensor and very slightly lower image quality. However, the reason I didn't buy it was that it doesn't shoot RAW, and it's auto mode I felt made some annoying exposure choices that tended to use way to low of shutter speeds (1/15) and unnecessarily high apertures (f2.8 when the lens does f1.8 - yes both wide angle). The s95 is by no means perfect in this regard, but it's not as bad.

There are rumors of an s95 replacement, but that won't be until...I don't know, August? September? October? I know it's definitely "fall".

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This brings up an interesting point regarding wide angle. While there are some legitimate uses for fields of view wider than 35 mm, most of the time the wider angle is used to cram more into the image, composition and perspective be damned.

When Ansel Adams was asked his opinion of the 28 mm lens for 35 mm cameras, he commented: "oh yes, that's the lens that emphasizes the foreground".

If you keep you head and eyes pointed straight ahead, the field of sharpest view for the human vision system is about 38 mm (per the Kodak Photography Encyclopedia). If you want to "see" wider than that with full sharpness and color recognition; you need to either move your head, and/or your eyes.

Your peripheral vision is much, much wider; but sharpeness and color recognition decrease significantly.

I used to not carry anything wider than a 35 mm lens; but found that on travel, I often needed 28 mm to get more of the scene into the picture (cramming), simply because on tours, you often are where you are, and can't use foot zoom to get the coverage needed for the subject. Back in the film days, I had a Nikkor AIS 24 f/2.8, a really good optic. But too often the results were disappointing because of perspective distortion because I had to tilt the camera up or down to get the subject in, and because there was so much sky or foreground in the shot. The Needles rock formation in Maui is a good example. They are very tall, and there is no vantage point halfway up to get a shot without severe keystoning.

At least for me, a camera that "only" covers 28 mm is perfectly fine for me.
--
Jerry

I bought an S95 about a year ago and when the wife and I took a Med. cruise I left behind my 40D and L glass and took only the S95 and a G11. I used the S95 about 90% of the time. I have three galleries on my SmugMug account.. one Italy, one Greece and one Ephesus. As I said, they are about 90% S95. I did not miss the BIG camera or lenses. The camera is very capable and very easy to carry and use. I highly recommend it for traveling.

Attached are a couple of samples....

A street in Pompeii



The Library at Ephesus



--
ralph m
http://remcmillan.smugmug.com/

may i ask: for those who have both S series and G series:

why do you seem to like the S better than the G? what does it offer more than the G?

you see, i m buying my self a com[act but cant decide between G / S

thanks

I have the G12 and an S90. I also have a Panasonic FZ28, and a Canon SD950IS, my wife's A710IS, and a Nikon D90.

Most of my photography is associated with travel (40 cruises so far) and weight and bulk are important issues, so the DSLR seldom goes.

The S90 was initially purchased as my "dinner" camera. Something competent in low light that would slip in a pocket and take good shots at shipboard parties and meals. Soon, I found myself taking it ashore for walking tours. It's especially nice for getting interior shots of churches and palaces, and other places where flash is either inappropriate, or banned. I shot the interior of the cathedral in St. Louis, MO at ISO 1600, and the mosaics that cover the interior came out very well with minimal noise. They are as good, or better, than those in the guide book I bought.

The G12 replaces my G7 and Pro 1. I think of it as the DSLR surrogate on travel. It has a hot shoe and I use the very nice little 270EX flash with it. It is fitted with the LensMate filter holder system so I can use 52 mm filters and a close up lens with it (polarizer, graduated neutral density - 2 stops, and a Nikon 3T close up lens). It has the flip out LCD for overhead and low shots, and for waist level "stealth" shots; and has an optical viewfinder which comes in very handy now and then. It is heavier and bigger than the S90; but more flexible and is the camera I take along on day trips, and particularly if I expect to be at a botanical garden or where there are good scenic vistas. The whole kit with all the accessories and spare cards and battery fits in a small soft case that weighs less than 2 lbs.

I almost always take at least two cameras on travel; both for flexibility, and for backup, just in case. One of them is always the S90. The other is either the G12, or the FZ28; sometimes both. The FZ28 has a much longer lens, and is taken when wildlife is to be encountered or long shots are anticipated. Its IQ is surprisingly close to the S90 and G12, even in fairly low light.

I hope that helps. If I could only have one camera, it would have to be the G12. If I could only have two it would be the DSLR and the S90. You can do a similar "what if" exercise yourself.
--
Jerry

I have the S95 and like it because of its size and it is very similar in functions to the G12. I am thinking of getting the G12. I like the manual controls and the screen. But if I only could choose one, I would take the S95.

elliotsam said:

Are there any alternatives to the S95 that are as pocketable with as good picture quality?

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No.

Not much difference between 24mm and 28mm?

As the previous owner of the S90 and the current owner of the LX5, I can tell you from my experience, yes there is a noticeable difference. With the S90, I often missed pictures when used indoor, taking pictures of people or photographing rooms.

Until Canon gives the S95 successor a 24mm lens, maybe not for you, but for many, the P300 is a far better alternative.

PaulRivers said:

snapshot09 said:

In many ways, the S95 is not a direct competitor because the S95 cannot match the 24mm lens of the P300; S95 only has 28mm.

Click to expand...

That is exactly 1 way, not "many" ways. It's not really a monumental difference either.

PaulRivers said:

You can discuss sensor sizes until you are blue in the face, but if you are indoors or in a tight area and cannot get the picture to begin with because your camera has a 28mm lens, sensor size is irrelevant.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure who you feel you're responding to, but I only made a very brief mention of sensor size.

If we want to make cliched analogies on the topic I was talking about, no amount of better lens aperture as you zoom (xz-1), faster autofocus and autofocus in video (lx5), or supposedly having less redeye is going to make up for your camera sitting on the counter at home when you are elsewhere and want to take a picture but you didn't bring it with you because it didn't conventiently fit in your pocket and you didn't want the hassle of carrying it around.

On the other hand, if your lens isn't quite as wide as you want, you can either get most of the picture you wanted but not all of it, or try working around it by taking 2 shots and stitching them together with panorama software.

PaulRivers said:

PaulRivers said:

elliotsam said:

Are there any alternatives to the S95 that are as pocketable with as good picture quality?

Click to expand...

The only direct competition in the same size or smaller is the p300, and has been mentioned according to dpreview it has a smaller sensor and very slightly lower image quality. However, the reason I didn't buy it was that it doesn't shoot RAW, and it's auto mode I felt made some annoying exposure choices that tended to use way to low of shutter speeds (1/15) and unnecessarily high apertures (f2.8 when the lens does f1.8 - yes both wide angle). The s95 is by no means perfect in this regard, but it's not as bad.

There are rumors of an s95 replacement, but that won't be until...I don't know, August? September? October? I know it's definitely "fall".

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...