Canon Powershot S5 iS: still okay in 2020?

[Murdoko]

So this beast was released in 2007. It has a crappy EVF but it has one nonetheless. The LCD is fully articulated which is a plus but the resolution is not that great. It doesn't shoot RAW (but there's a hack for this). It is powered by AAs and the clock battery is easily replaced (CR1220). The video? forget it.
What you really get here is a camera with macro and zoom capabilities.

Zoom test


At the widest @6mm (28mm equiv?)


Fully zoomed in @ 72.0mm (~400+ mm equiv)

Subject separation


Subject separation

Super macro test


Super macro mode

More samples..


More background blur






Are those tiny bokeh balls?

So basically I got this for 10EUR from the flea market. I think it's worth 10 EUR for sure.
Anyone out there still rocking one?

I'm giving it a solid 4 for an old camera.

 

[rochester21]

Nice samples.

Nothing wrong with a 2007 AA battery powered bridge camera. They use the same sensor in modern megazooms, but they got much better AF and good video. Also iso performance is better.

Spend an extra 30 euros/dollars and you can get a sony hx10/20/30v. Now those are in all respects capable cameras with pretty much up to date specs(excluding 4K). Fast AF, good video, usable iso 3200, pocketable. I mean what more can you want?

Of course, they lack screen articulation and can't use standard AA cells with those.

For average sized prints i bet the canon S5 IS still does an ok job, just like the day canon announced it.

I see you like buying old cameras. Get yourself a panasonic lx3, that's the camera that started the whole high end compact camera era. I can still use that camera today without feeling too limited about what i shoot.

Same goes for olympus' e4xx(and the bigger e5xx) series with zuiko kit lens. Fantastic cameras, sold nowadays for peanuts. The zuiko optics are perfect, the colours are great and the bodies feel like a modern mirorless camera, compact and tough.

 

[I2K4]

I still use it, especially on overcast days when it permits handholding at low ISO without slamming the aperture shut - you don't get 432mm at f/3.5 with many other Powershots. I use the CHDK hack for DNG, live histogram and other features. Darktable lists it for lens correction, that helps with problematic CA as well as barrel distortion. I still miss the giant S3 user forum that was a gold mine for info, mods and examples (died shortly after the SX10 came out.)

 

[Sue Anne Rush]

Very nice - thanks for sharing ))))

So this beast was released in 2007. It has a crappy EVF but it has one nonetheless. The LCD is fully articulated which is a plus but the resolution is not that great. It doesn't shoot RAW (but there's a hack for this). It is powered by AAs and the clock battery is easily replaced (CR1220). The video? forget it.
What you really get here is a camera with macro and zoom capabilities.

Zoom test


At the widest @6mm (28mm equiv?)


Fully zoomed in @ 72.0mm (~400+ mm equiv)

Subject separation


Subject separation

Super macro test


Super macro mode

More samples..


More background blur






Are those tiny bokeh balls?

So basically I got this for 10EUR from the flea market. I think it's worth 10 EUR for sure.
Anyone out there still rocking one?
I'm giving it a solid 4 for an old camera.

 

[OpticsEngineer]

It has been a long time since I turned mine on. But here is one of my favorite shots. Calton Hill viewed from the castle in Edinburgh.

 

[Hike Pics]

These old timers are still relevant these days. I have an S3 that I think is awesome. I'm currently shooting with an A630 and still surprised by the results. And YES.....an S5 is perfect for 2020!