Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera
The Canon Powershot S95 is an update of the very popular S90, so there is a lot to live up to in terms of reputation. Although it is a compact, it is nonetheless a serious piece of work.
Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD
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First up, yes, Canon have kept the control ring on the lens of the Canon PowerShot S95. In my opinion, this is an awesome piece of technology from the manufacturer. It is very easy to use, and like all great innovations, it is extremely intuitive. It also encourages the amateur to use elements of the camera that they might not ordinarily make use of. There was room for only one improvement in this department; the ring now clicks slightly when turned to a new setting, the old one moved a little too easily for some.
Some of the specs:
Maximum wide angle 28mm
Optical zoom 3.8
Resolution 10mp
720p HD video recording
Another slight but important change is in the texture of the camera’s casing. It now has a very fine, but pleasant grain to it. The S90 was smooth to the point of not allowing you to hold onto it.
The camera has what the manufacturer calls the “Hybrid IS” stabilizing system. I tried this out with shaky hands and found it to be quite impressive. Blur was reduced, and the shots remained sharp. Quite the feat!
The operating system is, to my mind, similar to that which Canon has been using for years. Why change a formula that works I say. The “ring” is quick and easy to learn. You can use it to control the zoom, focus, aperture or ISO.
Helpfully, this element (the ring) is not overloaded with function options, and there is another wheel on the back of the camera with more.
Low Light Shooting
Where I found the camera coming into its own was in the area of low light. This is due to the f2.0 max aperture, allowing a lot of light to get in. There is also an on-board system to boost performance, so that by lowering the resolution and raising the ISO setting, the Canon PowerShot becomes extra sensitive in low light. This is very good to know, and quite easy to do.
Having said all that, the camera does very well on its own in automatic mode.
In normal conditions, I found the color capture to be excellent.
Cons
The zoom at 3.8 isn’t huge, but then it starts at a wide angle, so you don’t have to fall over backwards in an attempt to fit everything you want into your photograph.
The battery life is average, no better and no worse, so maybe it makes good sense to get yourself a spare.
Video
The Powershot S95 takes video footage at 720 resolution. The quality of footage is impressive for a compact camera. Also, the sound quality is superior. The fact that you can’t use the optical zoom is a little disappointing though.
Reviews
Here’s what people had to say about this camera:
- “…If you’re looking for a pocketable camera that has reasonably high quality images, lets you control aperture, speed and focus and shoot in RAW format, this is it…”
- “…I own both the S90 and S95 (G10 and G11 also, as well as F-1 and numerous Nikons including the D90). Hands down, I took more photos on a daily basis with the S90 since I took it EVERYWHERE. As they say, the absolute best camera is the one you have when you need to take a photograph. The picture quality of the S90 is superb and the S95 is at least as good…”
- “…Simply, the new Canon s95 is the best quality compact I have used…”
- “…I was absolutely blown away by this camera. Its fantastic. Image quality is stunning…”
- “…Fantastic camera and well worth the money…”
Conclusion
This is the most intuitive compact I’ve used. The two wheels make it easy to toggle between function to set up a shot, while the two second start up time mean you can get it up and running very quickly. The very slim size means you can easily carry it in your pocket. The Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD is a compact camera that I’d recommend for sure.
Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD
