I have got one just the day it went on sale – here in Japan (on 16 Oct 2009) and been using it exclusively since. Quite common complaint about S90 – relatively high price for a compact camera seem to me a bit out of place. A month after introduction the price dropped to about $ 375 and while this is not a bargain, Lumix LX-3 also dictated high price since introduction. Still mind you that similarly featured and recently announced Ricoh GR-III – sells for quite a bit more …
The Luminous Landscape already has S-90 review posted – there are more than a few lines worth of reading there...
There is a lot to like about it and generally it lives to its hype … I still consider it the nicest compact camera I been using as of late, but some things grow annoying on me … so here are just a few ideas to address with next (firmware) update:
Problems:
Direction of the control ring movement – it may seem plain and simple but more often than not I am finding rotating the lens ring in the “wrong” direction and achieving exactly the opposite effect than the one I was opting for. Since this is just an electronic switch it should be relatively easy to provide a custom option to set the direction of rotation and control based on personal preference … right or left as You like it best … doh
Second – the ugly self rising head of flash (that still scares me every time) ... as just toggling through the flash menu options rises and lovers the flash head unexpectedly. There should be some sort of delay in this head rising action or best of all flash should remain fully closed until you choose flash activation from the menu and rise … after you touch the shutter button to take picture ….
Third …. include AE / AF bracketing options in the selection of options for a dedicated "S" button … I really prefer to have them there instead of let say ISO changing which is otherwise easily controlled with a single push of SET button (being on the top of menu list).
Fourth … custom AUTO ISO option with a highest permissible ISO setting (Auto 400 / Auto 800) defined by the user . It makes a whole lot sense to let the user determine what level of picture quality deterioration suits them the most instead of letting the camera happily go all the way to ISO 3200 just because it can ….
Last grip… that would be a lack of grip actually … the S-90 is rather slippery when holding the camera single handed ... unfortunately the bare metal front panel without any protrusions does not provide enough support for a safe handling and I can hardly imagine being able to hold the camera safely with gloves on ... call me strange, but I still consider this an unwanted design flaw unless it comes with exclusive warranty from Canon … “DROP ONE and GET NEXT ONE FREE” ; -)
Update: Jan 2010
After about 3-months of use a small spec of hair attached itself to a CCD – which required the camera to be sent to a Service Center for a proper clean up. The implication is that unfortunately the lens-CCD module is not very well sealed against dust which in turn can lead to a “dirty sensor” with some small particles penetrating inside lens system and eventually attaching themselves firmly to a charged CCD.
The Luminous Landscape already has S-90 review posted – there are more than a few lines worth of reading there...
There is a lot to like about it and generally it lives to its hype … I still consider it the nicest compact camera I been using as of late, but some things grow annoying on me … so here are just a few ideas to address with next (firmware) update:
Problems:
Direction of the control ring movement – it may seem plain and simple but more often than not I am finding rotating the lens ring in the “wrong” direction and achieving exactly the opposite effect than the one I was opting for. Since this is just an electronic switch it should be relatively easy to provide a custom option to set the direction of rotation and control based on personal preference … right or left as You like it best … doh
Second – the ugly self rising head of flash (that still scares me every time) ... as just toggling through the flash menu options rises and lovers the flash head unexpectedly. There should be some sort of delay in this head rising action or best of all flash should remain fully closed until you choose flash activation from the menu and rise … after you touch the shutter button to take picture ….
Third …. include AE / AF bracketing options in the selection of options for a dedicated "S" button … I really prefer to have them there instead of let say ISO changing which is otherwise easily controlled with a single push of SET button (being on the top of menu list).
Fourth … custom AUTO ISO option with a highest permissible ISO setting (Auto 400 / Auto 800) defined by the user . It makes a whole lot sense to let the user determine what level of picture quality deterioration suits them the most instead of letting the camera happily go all the way to ISO 3200 just because it can ….
Last grip… that would be a lack of grip actually … the S-90 is rather slippery when holding the camera single handed ... unfortunately the bare metal front panel without any protrusions does not provide enough support for a safe handling and I can hardly imagine being able to hold the camera safely with gloves on ... call me strange, but I still consider this an unwanted design flaw unless it comes with exclusive warranty from Canon … “DROP ONE and GET NEXT ONE FREE” ; -)
Update: Jan 2010
After about 3-months of use a small spec of hair attached itself to a CCD – which required the camera to be sent to a Service Center for a proper clean up. The implication is that unfortunately the lens-CCD module is not very well sealed against dust which in turn can lead to a “dirty sensor” with some small particles penetrating inside lens system and eventually attaching themselves firmly to a charged CCD.