History of Canon's S & G series cameras

GeraldW wrote:

I have been interested in this for some time, and thought perhaps some other long term Canon compact owners might find it interesting.

In looking up this data (it's all here on DPReview under Cameras>Canon) I found a few surprises. The first being that the two series didn't start with the larger G series; but 1999 with the S10. As most of you will probably already realize, Most of the G & S series are in pairs using the same sensor and processor in a smaller and larger package. So, in general, each new model of a G is accompanied by an equivalent S series model. There are, however, a few exceptions and there are more S series (14) than there are G's (12) and 3 SD's that filled in for the missing S's from 2006-2008.

In 2001, the G2 was issued at 3 MP

3.2MP. I had the S30...still have it...still works..bought it in 2002.

; but there were two S's, the S30 & S40 at 3 & 4 MP respectively. Then in 2002 the 4 MP G3 came out along with the 4 MP S45.

In 2003 the G5 and S50 came out;

They were 5MP. CA/PF was pretty bad wide open. I remember the aluminum foil test they used back then .

but in 2004 we had the 7 MP G6 and two S's, the 7 MP S70, and the S60 at 5 MP. The S60

S60 came out first...thought it was 6 MP. I have one. Bought it already converted to IR 680nm.

& S70 having the first lenses to extend to 28 mm. I really liked the color on the S70 and would like to have another for my "nostalgia" collection.

I loved my S70. Lens failed after 6 months...Canon fixed it under warranty...with a week I had it back. Used it another year...same lens issue......this turned me away from Canon for a bit.

In 2005, there was no new G series camera; but Canon brought out the S80, the first S to use SD cards. It was no better than the S70,

Well, yes and no. It had a much larger LCD screen , with an anti reflextive coating. I think previous S cameras all had the 1.8" LCD. This was 2.5". A much welcome feature.

S80 took wonderful images...but many didnt like it...since they dropped RAW from it.

and had an unfortunately placed mode dial on the end of the camera that got reset every time I took it out of my pocket or pulled it out of its case. This also marked the end of the sliding "clamshell" front cover.

Yep..the last with the sliding cover/ switch.

In 2006, we got the G7, the first G with IS. There was no S. Instead Canon started something new, a series of SD cameras that used the same sensor and processor as the G of that year. So in 2006 we had the SD900 Ti, in 2007 we had the G9 and SD950IS the first SD with a 1/1.7" sensor and IS; and in 2008, the G10 with 14.7 MP and the equivalent SD990IS. I thought the SD950IS was a particularly nice camera with its curvy (almost voluptuous) titanium shell.

Then in 2009, the G11 and the S90 with low noise sensors and processing.

Thanks to Panasonics LX3 ...they woke up the other companies...pausing the megapixel race. A few review sites compared the S90 to the LX3. A good thing, as the S series was ressurected..

In 2010 the G12 got a front wheel, and the S95 got some slightly rearranged control locations; but they were basically the G11 and S90. The G15 came out in 2012, along with the S100, and a little later the S110. The last of the series of G & S with 1/1.7" sensors was the G16 and S120.

I still have my S90, mainly for nostalgia and its CCD sensor and great color; but my G15 was replaced by the G7X II with a 1" sensor.

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Jerry

Good read Jerry.

I just bought a prestine S90 with box, manual...everything....for $69.00

Didnt really use it yet..looking forward to trying it out.

Question, does the display show the battery level...or it waits until its about to die, then flashes ( like my S30 /50/70/80?

Thanks

ANAYV