Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch inch LCD Review. Canon PowerShot S95 Digital Camera Features10.0 Megapixel sensor combined with the DIGIC 4 Image Processor create Canon's HS SYSTEM for improved low light performance and better image quality.Shoot beautiful 720p HD video in stereo sound and play back on an HDTV via the HDMI output.A bright f/2.0 lens, great for shooting portrait photography in low light conditions or using a shallow depth-of-field for great images with beautiful soft backgrounds.A control ring for intuitive manual control, built for the way the serious photographer has always accessed exposure control.Full range of shooting and recording modes including RAW + JPEG for the ultimate creative control.A 3.8x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, plus a 28mm Wide-Angle Lens gets you close to your subjects as well as capture more in your frame.Utilizes Canon's Hybrid IS to compensate for angular and shift camera shake during close-up shooting.Image Quality That's Better Than Ever.The PowerShot S95 employs the Canon HS...
"Wow! What an improvement!" 2010-08-31
By Amazon Fan for Many Years (Alexandria, Virginia)
I spent two or three months doing tons of research to replace my old Canon SD870. Finally a month ago I decided to buy the S90 despite the fact that it didn't have 720 HD video, it was a one-year old model, and many reviewers disliked the looseness of the control dial. My S90 arrived in the middle of August and over the course of many days I learned how to use all the functions and was very pleased with the results.
And then on August 19 Canon announced the upcoming release of the Canon S95. I immediately returned my S90 and anxiously awaited the arrival of its successor. Earlier today it was delivered and I've been using it all day.
I must say that I wanted to love the S90, but the smoothness of the body annoyed me. I figured I'd just have to get used to the slipperiness. But now that I have the S95 in my hands, I can't believe what a difference the matte finish makes regarding secure handling. There's no way you can appreciate the difference if you haven't handled both models yourself. Honestly, that feature alone is worth the slightly higher price.
Control dial issues? No longer! Subtle click-stops have solved that problem.
Finger missing the shutter button on the S90? Well, the geniuses at Canon took care of that, also. You won't mistake the shutter button on the S95 for any other button due to the distinct and secure feel.
I'm in love with this camera. I won't go into details about picture quality because it's as good as its predecessor; there are examples all over the Internet. And of course the S95's 720 HD video is a big improvement over the standard video of the S90.
Only one "con" I can think of: The new, smooth, elegant display on the back is no longer recessed therefore you'll have to be careful if you place the camera face up on a flat surface. In that position it appears the screen will come in direct contact with the table's surface.
"Excellent image quality, full controls and pocketable" 2010-09-10
By Michael Sandman (Brookline, MA United States)
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 bought mine as an upgrade from a previous small but versatile camera, a Canon Powershot S70.
The Powershot S95 was introduced in August 2010 as a slight upgrade to the S90, which was widely praised for its image quality and excellent interface but criticized for being hard to hold ("like a bar of soap in the shower") and for having a control dial that turned too easily. The S95 fixes both problems and adds a couple of other features in a package that fits in the pocket of your jeans (if they're not super tight). The case is metal, and although there are no finger grips on the body, it's not slippery at all. It feels like it's covered with super-fine sandpaper (like 1000 or 1500 grit, for those you who know what that feels like).
The second major complaint about the S-90 was that the function selection ring on the rear moved too easily. The ring on the S-95 has a slight click when you move it, and it doesn't move unless you want it to.
There are a couple of other cameras of this type, including the Panasonic LX-3 and LX-5 and the Samsung TL500. They all have let you control camera functions, and like the S95 they have 10 MP sensors that are almost twice as large as a typical pocket camera, so the pixels on the sensor are larger. That lets them gather light more efficiently, which reduces digital "noise" when you shoot in dim light. Image quality is noticeably better than photos from typical pocket cameras. You can make an 8 x 10 or perhaps 11x14 enlargement, although a digital SLR will be significantly better for larger prints. They also have f/2.0 lenses at their widest angle, although the aperture closes down as you zoom in.
The Canon has two advantages over the Panasonic LX-3 & LX-5. First, you really can put it in your pocket or in a belt case no bigger than the one you use for a mobile phone. Second, the interface is a brilliant re-thinking of how a very small camera with a full set of controls should work. There's not much room for buttons on the small surface, but you don't have to get into a multi-level menu on the LCD, and yet changing settings is fast and intuitive.
For example, there's a ring around the lens that you can grip easily to control zoom, or, shutter speed, or aperture, change ISO, or manually focus. You select what you want it to do by pressing a button on the top, and when you look at the LCD screen you can see what it's programmed for. There's a selection wheel on the back for other functions, and when you move it, a clear set of choices appears on the screen. The selections are context-appropriate, so they change depending on whether you've set the camera for aperture control, "Program" control, etc.
The two Panasonics have the same sensor as their Canon equivalents, but they offer a slightly wider lens (24mm vs. 28 for the S95). The LX-3 has a much shorter telephoto - only 60 mm. The LX-5, which was introduced a couple of weeks before the S95, has a 90mm telephoto, and you can buy an add-on optical viewfinder. It also has a flash shoe in addition to the pop-up flash, although you can buy a dedicated add-on flash for the S-95 to supplement its pop-up flash The LX-5 is about 25% more expensive than the Canon S95 (and 60% more with the optional viewfinder) and while it would fit in a coat pocket, you can't stuff it into a trouser pocket.
If you want a truly pocketable camera that gives you good image quality and full control over your photography, the S95 is an excellent choice.
"Great camera and upgrade to superb S90" 2010-09-05
By Thomas Mclean (Los Angeles, Ca USA)
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.
Often the biggest limiter to picture quality is the skill of the photographer.
Time spent mastering a particular camera is well spent and paper specs often can mislead.
Discussing subtle nuances over comparable cameras is often more academic than practical.
The S95 gives the serious photographer tremendous flexibility from full auto to full manual and superb features that are packaged in a truly pocketable high performing camera that is arguably best in class.
So what has improved:
Body finish...more tactile and grippy
Selection wheel on back has click stops....hurray!
On/off button is where it should be.
720p movie mode added (24 fps vs 30 for lx5) with stereo recording.
More scenes including High Dynamic Range (very cool)
Numerous technical innovations that result in more stable, sharper pictures.
Button feel on back is more positive.
Ring on front has more friction and feels more positive.
Body even smaller and more pocketable.
Menu system updated but if you can drive a S90, G10 or G11 you will be off and running.
Improved hand lanyard placement.
Improved shutter release.
Slightly rounded corners...looks feels better.
What stayed the same:
Battery door and card slot.
Same cables and connectors.
Lack of grip....no denying it would add weight but...
Build quality...as good as it will get.
What got worse:
This part is highly subjective because different people see the same change differently (I see the size reduction as good, while others have said it's bad....so be wary and know if you agree with peoples reasons).
Thumb rest no longer there...I missed it.
So there you have my first impressions and if I had to choose between the S90 and S95, the S95 is the clear winner!
"S95 is simply perfect" 2010-09-02
By Jonathan Beling
The Canon S95 is my 5th Canon compact camera over 7 or 8 years. When I was looking for a new camera a few weeks ago I wanted one that offered more than just the standard point and shoot features but also one that I could easily carry in my pocket. I was torn between the S95 and the LX5 (Panasonic). The S95 won me over and here is why. First, the LX5 is not exactly "compact" but the S95 is the perfect size. It fits nicely in my front pants pocket, not to mention the finish on the camera is not slick so you can easily grip it without worrying about dropping it. The second thing I wanted was to be able to take good depth of field shots. I'm not a camera guru, but I know a little and the basic point and shoot just does not offer this and if it does I promise it's not as easy to use nor as good of quality as the S95. Next is the HD video. I took about 5 video's at a karaoke bar last night and they are awesome. I have an 8GB SD card which according to the camera can record over 50 minutes of HD (720) video. Also, when taking action shots just using the AUTO setting on the camera, the pictures turn out amazing. The ring function is probably another major reason I chose the S95. You can use it to zoom or change any of the settings (e.g., aperture) just by turning it. No need to go through the menu settings etc. The S95 is also a solid camera. You can tell this by just looking at the parts used and feeling the camera itself. I don't feel like I'm going to break it if that makes any sense. For the money you get a lot with this camera. The HD video is by itself worth it.
"Simply Amazing" 2010-09-09
By Surfseventy8 (Nantucket, MA United States)
When I first saw the S90, I was quite intrigued by the amazing low light performance. As a dSLR shooter, I've become quite used to shooting at ISO 800 and above with virtually no noise. I hate the look of photos taken with tiny, on-camera flashes. They are very unflattering so I try to shoot with natural light as much as possible. I've had a few older, basic point and shoots and eventually moved up to the G9 but they all had the same issue: tons of noise on any photo shot above ISO 200. With the larger sensor size faster f/2.0 lens and advanced in-camera noise reduction processing, this seems to do just fine at ISO 1250 and 1600.
This camera definitely rocks. The small size means that it's easy to keep in my pocket at all times. My other camera is a Nikon D700 with a huge, heavy lens that I hate to take out just because of its size. The S95 is giving my pro camera a run for its money. The picture quality is great and the in-camera scenes give you so many options as well as full manual mode. Shutter lag is virtually non-existent. The LCD screen is bright and fairly accurate as far as colors. My last Canon, the G9, had a purplish tint to the LCD and didn't display colors properly. The S95's screen is polarized which makes it much easier to see in bright sunlight. The downside to this is that if you wear polarized sunglasses, the screen goes black when turned horizontally.
The ergonomics of this camera leave a little to be desired. It's not easy to turn on or off with one hand and i'm always struggling with how to hold it while shooting. I find that I press buttons accidentally. I suppose that's to be expected on a camera that's this small. I'm also less than impressed with the HD video. The picture quality was great considering it's a p&s but it is a little jumpy since it only records 24 fps. Battery life is a little short, 1/2 a day of shooting (about 150 photos, a few >1 minute videos and some playback). If you plan to take this camera on vacation, do yourself a huge favor and get a spare battery.
By Amazon Fan for Many Years (Alexandria, Virginia)
I spent two or three months doing tons of research to replace my old Canon SD870. Finally a month ago I decided to buy the S90 despite the fact that it didn't have 720 HD video, it was a one-year old model, and many reviewers disliked the looseness of the control dial. My S90 arrived in the middle of August and over the course of many days I learned how to use all the functions and was very pleased with the results.
And then on August 19 Canon announced the upcoming release of the Canon S95. I immediately returned my S90 and anxiously awaited the arrival of its successor. Earlier today it was delivered and I've been using it all day.
I must say that I wanted to love the S90, but the smoothness of the body annoyed me. I figured I'd just have to get used to the slipperiness. But now that I have the S95 in my hands, I can't believe what a difference the matte finish makes regarding secure handling. There's no way you can appreciate the difference if you haven't handled both models yourself. Honestly, that feature alone is worth the slightly higher price.
Control dial issues? No longer! Subtle click-stops have solved that problem.
Finger missing the shutter button on the S90? Well, the geniuses at Canon took care of that, also. You won't mistake the shutter button on the S95 for any other button due to the distinct and secure feel.
I'm in love with this camera. I won't go into details about picture quality because it's as good as its predecessor; there are examples all over the Internet. And of course the S95's 720 HD video is a big improvement over the standard video of the S90.
Only one "con" I can think of: The new, smooth, elegant display on the back is no longer recessed therefore you'll have to be careful if you place the camera face up on a flat surface. In that position it appears the screen will come in direct contact with the table's surface.
By Michael Sandman (Brookline, MA United States)
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 bought mine as an upgrade from a previous small but versatile camera, a Canon Powershot S70.
The Powershot S95 was introduced in August 2010 as a slight upgrade to the S90, which was widely praised for its image quality and excellent interface but criticized for being hard to hold ("like a bar of soap in the shower") and for having a control dial that turned too easily. The S95 fixes both problems and adds a couple of other features in a package that fits in the pocket of your jeans (if they're not super tight). The case is metal, and although there are no finger grips on the body, it's not slippery at all. It feels like it's covered with super-fine sandpaper (like 1000 or 1500 grit, for those you who know what that feels like).
The second major complaint about the S-90 was that the function selection ring on the rear moved too easily. The ring on the S-95 has a slight click when you move it, and it doesn't move unless you want it to.
There are a couple of other cameras of this type, including the Panasonic LX-3 and LX-5 and the Samsung TL500. They all have let you control camera functions, and like the S95 they have 10 MP sensors that are almost twice as large as a typical pocket camera, so the pixels on the sensor are larger. That lets them gather light more efficiently, which reduces digital "noise" when you shoot in dim light. Image quality is noticeably better than photos from typical pocket cameras. You can make an 8 x 10 or perhaps 11x14 enlargement, although a digital SLR will be significantly better for larger prints. They also have f/2.0 lenses at their widest angle, although the aperture closes down as you zoom in.
The Canon has two advantages over the Panasonic LX-3 & LX-5. First, you really can put it in your pocket or in a belt case no bigger than the one you use for a mobile phone. Second, the interface is a brilliant re-thinking of how a very small camera with a full set of controls should work. There's not much room for buttons on the small surface, but you don't have to get into a multi-level menu on the LCD, and yet changing settings is fast and intuitive.
For example, there's a ring around the lens that you can grip easily to control zoom, or, shutter speed, or aperture, change ISO, or manually focus. You select what you want it to do by pressing a button on the top, and when you look at the LCD screen you can see what it's programmed for. There's a selection wheel on the back for other functions, and when you move it, a clear set of choices appears on the screen. The selections are context-appropriate, so they change depending on whether you've set the camera for aperture control, "Program" control, etc.
The two Panasonics have the same sensor as their Canon equivalents, but they offer a slightly wider lens (24mm vs. 28 for the S95). The LX-3 has a much shorter telephoto - only 60 mm. The LX-5, which was introduced a couple of weeks before the S95, has a 90mm telephoto, and you can buy an add-on optical viewfinder. It also has a flash shoe in addition to the pop-up flash, although you can buy a dedicated add-on flash for the S-95 to supplement its pop-up flash The LX-5 is about 25% more expensive than the Canon S95 (and 60% more with the optional viewfinder) and while it would fit in a coat pocket, you can't stuff it into a trouser pocket.
If you want a truly pocketable camera that gives you good image quality and full control over your photography, the S95 is an excellent choice.
By Thomas Mclean (Los Angeles, Ca USA)
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.
Often the biggest limiter to picture quality is the skill of the photographer.
Time spent mastering a particular camera is well spent and paper specs often can mislead.
Discussing subtle nuances over comparable cameras is often more academic than practical.
The S95 gives the serious photographer tremendous flexibility from full auto to full manual and superb features that are packaged in a truly pocketable high performing camera that is arguably best in class.
So what has improved:
Body finish...more tactile and grippy
Selection wheel on back has click stops....hurray!
On/off button is where it should be.
720p movie mode added (24 fps vs 30 for lx5) with stereo recording.
More scenes including High Dynamic Range (very cool)
Numerous technical innovations that result in more stable, sharper pictures.
Button feel on back is more positive.
Ring on front has more friction and feels more positive.
Body even smaller and more pocketable.
Menu system updated but if you can drive a S90, G10 or G11 you will be off and running.
Improved hand lanyard placement.
Improved shutter release.
Slightly rounded corners...looks feels better.
What stayed the same:
Battery door and card slot.
Same cables and connectors.
Lack of grip....no denying it would add weight but...
Build quality...as good as it will get.
What got worse:
This part is highly subjective because different people see the same change differently (I see the size reduction as good, while others have said it's bad....so be wary and know if you agree with peoples reasons).
Thumb rest no longer there...I missed it.
So there you have my first impressions and if I had to choose between the S90 and S95, the S95 is the clear winner!
By Jonathan Beling
The Canon S95 is my 5th Canon compact camera over 7 or 8 years. When I was looking for a new camera a few weeks ago I wanted one that offered more than just the standard point and shoot features but also one that I could easily carry in my pocket. I was torn between the S95 and the LX5 (Panasonic). The S95 won me over and here is why. First, the LX5 is not exactly "compact" but the S95 is the perfect size. It fits nicely in my front pants pocket, not to mention the finish on the camera is not slick so you can easily grip it without worrying about dropping it. The second thing I wanted was to be able to take good depth of field shots. I'm not a camera guru, but I know a little and the basic point and shoot just does not offer this and if it does I promise it's not as easy to use nor as good of quality as the S95. Next is the HD video. I took about 5 video's at a karaoke bar last night and they are awesome. I have an 8GB SD card which according to the camera can record over 50 minutes of HD (720) video. Also, when taking action shots just using the AUTO setting on the camera, the pictures turn out amazing. The ring function is probably another major reason I chose the S95. You can use it to zoom or change any of the settings (e.g., aperture) just by turning it. No need to go through the menu settings etc. The S95 is also a solid camera. You can tell this by just looking at the parts used and feeling the camera itself. I don't feel like I'm going to break it if that makes any sense. For the money you get a lot with this camera. The HD video is by itself worth it.
By Surfseventy8 (Nantucket, MA United States)
When I first saw the S90, I was quite intrigued by the amazing low light performance. As a dSLR shooter, I've become quite used to shooting at ISO 800 and above with virtually no noise. I hate the look of photos taken with tiny, on-camera flashes. They are very unflattering so I try to shoot with natural light as much as possible. I've had a few older, basic point and shoots and eventually moved up to the G9 but they all had the same issue: tons of noise on any photo shot above ISO 200. With the larger sensor size faster f/2.0 lens and advanced in-camera noise reduction processing, this seems to do just fine at ISO 1250 and 1600.
This camera definitely rocks. The small size means that it's easy to keep in my pocket at all times. My other camera is a Nikon D700 with a huge, heavy lens that I hate to take out just because of its size. The S95 is giving my pro camera a run for its money. The picture quality is great and the in-camera scenes give you so many options as well as full manual mode. Shutter lag is virtually non-existent. The LCD screen is bright and fairly accurate as far as colors. My last Canon, the G9, had a purplish tint to the LCD and didn't display colors properly. The S95's screen is polarized which makes it much easier to see in bright sunlight. The downside to this is that if you wear polarized sunglasses, the screen goes black when turned horizontally.
The ergonomics of this camera leave a little to be desired. It's not easy to turn on or off with one hand and i'm always struggling with how to hold it while shooting. I find that I press buttons accidentally. I suppose that's to be expected on a camera that's this small. I'm also less than impressed with the HD video. The picture quality was great considering it's a p&s but it is a little jumpy since it only records 24 fps. Battery life is a little short, 1/2 a day of shooting (about 150 photos, a few >1 minute videos and some playback). If you plan to take this camera on vacation, do yourself a huge favor and get a spare battery.
