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Canon PowerShot S200

Started Jun 25, 2014 | User reviews
JAFI New Member • Posts: 3
Canon PowerShot S200

This almost retro model is a curiosity. It has the same (excellent but now comparatively low count 10.1 megapixel) image sensor as the older "semi-pro" PowerShot S95 but with a faster and wider angle lens plus an only one-version back version of the DIGIX processor of newer Canon cameras. I have owned an S95 for four years and been very happy with it. The CCD (i.e., non-CMOS) sensor the two models share has excellent low light capability and the combination renders images extremely well. The S200 is approaching the end of its model life and now being heavily discounted ($180 at Costco in Canada) and among the best semi-pro point-and-shoot available at that price. I am keeping my S95 which has RAW file handling and a few other creatures the S200 lacks. Don't be fooled by the pixel number - the very low "noise" images are very sharp showing that an oversize sensor with enlarged rather than more sensors can be more important than than the nominal numbers of dots. Like the S95, the S200 supports 720P not 1080P video but does so competently with smooth frame refresh rates. The stereo sound is also surprisingly good.

 JAFI's gear list:JAFI's gear list
Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot S200 Canon G9 X II
Canon PowerShot S200
10 megapixels • 3 screen • 24 – 120 mm (5×)
Announced: Feb 12, 2014
JAFI's score
4.5
Average community score
4.3
bad for good for
Kids / pets
okay
Action / sports
okay
Landscapes / scenery
great
Portraits
good
Low light (without flash)
excellent
Flash photography (social)
okay
Studio / still life
okay
= community average
Canon PowerShot S200 Canon PowerShot S95
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CVonV Junior Member • Posts: 35
Re: Canon PowerShot S200

JAFI wrote:

I am keeping my S95 which has RAW file handling and a few other creatures the S200 lacks.

Can RAW shooting be added to the S200 using CHDK? What other features does the S200 lack compared the S95?

Can you please state if the S200's video recording auto focuses and zooms during recording too?

damian5000 Senior Member • Posts: 1,948
Re: Canon PowerShot S200

I can't help but wonder if you're a bit over enthusiastic regarding low-light. There really are no "excellent" 1/1.7" low-light cameras, and generally speaking CCD is not known for it's low light performance. It's great you love the S200. Nothing wrong with that. I was looking at it as a distant option as well due to price. Would love to see the excellent shots you're taking with it though. I don't mean this sarcastically. I truly am interested to see.

 damian5000's gear list:damian5000's gear list
Canon PowerShot G7 X
guydr
guydr Contributing Member • Posts: 822
Re: Canon PowerShot S200

I don't now about CHDK and raw.

ISO options are just 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 and auto.

I-contrast auto and off.

You can zoom during video, but there is nothing that indicate that you can focus on something during video.

Grtz Guy

 guydr's gear list:guydr's gear list
Canon PowerShot G1 X Sony RX100 Panasonic FZ1000 Canon G3 X Canon G7 X II +19 more
guydr
guydr Contributing Member • Posts: 822
Re: Canon PowerShot S200

Damian, pictures taken during daylight is in the same class of S110 (maybe a bit better)

Low-light High ISO images are good till 400 or max 800 ISO, I find ISO 1600 way to blotchy

Grtz Guy

 guydr's gear list:guydr's gear list
Canon PowerShot G1 X Sony RX100 Panasonic FZ1000 Canon G3 X Canon G7 X II +19 more
damian5000 Senior Member • Posts: 1,948
Re: Canon PowerShot S200
1

No offense, but the low-light shot is an absolute mess. My $80 China phone would likely do a similar job. The other ones look fine. My intent isn't to ridicule, but to perhaps bring some reality to the OP's statement of the S200 shooting "excellent" low-light shots.

 damian5000's gear list:damian5000's gear list
Canon PowerShot G7 X
OP JAFI New Member • Posts: 3
Re: Canon PowerShot S200

damian5000 wrote:

I can't help but wonder if you're a bit over enthusiastic regarding low-light. There really are no "excellent" 1/1.7" low-light cameras, and generally speaking CCD is not known for it's low light performance. It's great you love the S200. Nothing wrong with that. I was looking at it as a distant option as well due to price. Would love to see the excellent shots you're taking with it though. I don't mean this sarcastically. I truly am interested to see.

You may be right but as a long time and faithful (for its archival qualities, resolution and mostly accurate  colour rendering) user of dynamic-range challenged Kodachrome I was impressed by the S200 (one partial F-stop greater than my S95) . I still use that camera, my older S95 and my more recently acquired full-sensor-frame image sensor SONY RX100. The latter arguably offers higher image quality but that mostly is barely noticeable so when images are played back on my 55" LG OLED TV. I would however give higher marks to the SONY camera's image processing software (not so easily upgraded on the basic RX100 model.). In hindsight, I realize the "pocket-abilty" of the PowerShot S series has been important to me than I realized. I am now looking at the also full-frame sensor equipped Canon PowerShot G9X.

 JAFI's gear list:JAFI's gear list
Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot S200 Canon G9 X II
I2K4
I2K4 Senior Member • Posts: 1,441
Re: Canon PowerShot S200

CHDK not showing S200 support at its list .

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