Canon S90

[David Metsky]

Canon has revived the S-series with the new S90. Aside from not having HD video and an optical view finder, this camera has it all. Great CCD with only 10 MP for exceptional image quality (of course we haven't seen real photos yet so this is only potential), very fast wide angle zoom lens, a killer LCD, great control ring that you can use for focus, aperture, shutter speed, zoom, ISO, or white balance. I don't know if I could give up the view finder, but this is tempting.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0908/09081906canons90handson.asp

 

[DougPaul]

Rockwell seems to like it: http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/s90.htm

My SD800 still works and until/unless it dies, I'm in no rush to replace it.

Doug

 

[Paradox]

Amazon.com has bundled this new S90IS 10MP Digital Camera with the new G11 (same release date) for $930.00. When I go through side by side comparison I don't see much difference between the two. The lenses appear very similar, as does the price. Can anyone point out the real difference to me or why you would want ot own both?

While I'm at it, I have a frustration with my digital cameras, which is there doesn't seem to be any real control of f/stop. Frequently, I want to be able to stop down to blur out the background. Is this because I am just too cheap to check out and buy a higher end camera or am I missing something?

 

[arghman]

While I'm at it, I have a frustration with my digital cameras, which is there doesn't seem to be any real control of f/stop.

Just use aperture priority mode! It lets you set aperture. I have mine set to f/8 for plant pics (would go to f/11 or f/16 if I had a camera that could do so)

 

[DougPaul]

Amazon.com has bundled this new S90IS 10MP Digital Camera with the new G11 (same release date) for $930.00. When I go through side by side comparison I don't see much difference between the two. The lenses appear very similar, as does the price. Can anyone point out the real difference to me or why you would want ot own both?

Bundled? I'd hardly want both...

Ken Rockwell has some comparisons with the G11 in his review of the S90: http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/s90.htm. (He prefers the S90--smaller and half the weight.) You can also take a look at Canon's Product Comparison off http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113

While I'm at it, I have a frustration with my digital cameras, which is there doesn't seem to be any real control of f/stop. Frequently, I want to be able to stop down to blur out the background. Is this because I am just too cheap to check out and buy a higher end camera or am I missing something?

The P&Ses are limited to only a few stops of aperture control (eg 3 stops on one of my Canon P&Ses) due to the small sensor and loss of resolution due to diffraction. You basically need to get a DSLR if you want to use a full range of apertures.

Also, the small lenses on P&Ses have a much larger depth-of-focus than do the larger lenses on a DSLR for the same F-stop setting. See, for instance: http://www.clarkvision.com/photoinfo/dof_myth/index.html

Doug

 

[David Metsky]

Frequently, I want to be able to stop down to blur out the background.

As already said, you're not going to get the narrow depth of focus you are looking for without a much larger sensor. This usually means a DSLR.

 

[Paradox]

Bundled? I'd hardly want both...

Ken Rockwell has some comparisons with the G11 in his review of the S90: http://www.kenrockwell.com/canon/s90.htm. (He prefers the S90--smaller and half the weight.) You can also take a look at Canon's Product Comparison off http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113


The P&Ses are limited to only a few stops of aperture control (eg 3 stops on one of my Canon P&Ses) due to the small sensor and loss of resolution due to diffraction. You basically need to get a DSLR if you want to use a full range of apertures.

Also, the small lenses on P&Ses have a much larger depth-of-focus than do the larger lenses on a DSLR for the same F-stop setting. See, for instance: http://www.clarkvision.com/photoinfo/dof_myth/index.html

Doug

Thanks Doug, all of this was very helpful. My 4 year old Canon A610 has died. A high quality P&S looks like it may be a good Christmas present at this point.

 

[Grumpy]

...
While I'm at it, I have a frustration with my digital cameras, which is there doesn't seem to be any real control of f/stop. Frequently, I want to be able to stop down to blur out the background. Is this because I am just too cheap to check out and buy a higher end camera or am I missing something?

As a point of information, "stopping down" means going to a smaller rather than larger lens opening. Stopping down, therefore yields greater depth of field at any given focal length and lens-to-subject (point of focus) distance.

For less depth of field ... we open up to a larger lens aperture (lower f/number).

As for the S90 camera, the deal killer for me is lack of a real viewfinder for framing the picture. I remain far more interested in the G10 (and now, the G11) Canon models as potential hiking (and everyday carry-around) cameras.

G.

 

[Paradox]

As a point of information, "stopping down" means going to a smaller rather than larger lens opening. Stopping down, therefore yields greater depth of field at any given focal length and lens-to-subject (point of focus) distance.

For less depth of field ... we open up to a larger lens aperture (lower f/number).

As for the S90 camera, the deal killer for me is lack of a real viewfinder for framing the picture. I remain far more interested in the G10 (and now, the G11) Canon models as potential hiking (and everyday carry-around) cameras.

G.

Yes, you are correct, I don't have much opportunity to use the jargon these days. I was thinking of the lower number in the f/number.

A deal maker for me in the S90 over the G11 is the faster lens. f/2.0 for the S90 vrs f/2.8 for the G10/G11. Also, KenRockwell really seemed to like the S90. Also, as we are hikers the weight of the S90 is about half of the G11.

Thanks for the heads up Dave! I preordered one from Amazon.com early this morning.

 

[David Metsky]

I'd take Ken Rockwell with a grain of sand. He means well, but I find him often heading off into left field. There are other review sites that I put more faith in.

The lack of a view finder is a big problem for me as well. That's my biggest sticking point.