Customer Review :

S95 is Nice but No Better than the S90

Let me just weigh in to say that I've just conducted an evaluation of the new S95 with my S90. Both cameras were set to JPG highest resolution. There is absolutely NO difference in image quality. None. I cannot, of course, compare RAW because the S95 uses a proprietary format of RAW and not compatible with anything Apple. So, if you want to capture RAW images and then convert over to JPG for your Mac, go for it. But, what are you really gaining? Nothing. My advice is to take advantage of the great lower prices of the S90s and pick up one.

Rating :

Great Camera-Don't get ripped off

Great Camera-just upgraded from the S90. WARNING do NOT get RIPPED off. This camera lists for $399. It is just out and is easily available if you look at Best Buy or other retail outfits or wait a week for Amazon to restock. MSRP is $399 NOT the $499 some THIEVES are trying to sucker you into paying.

Rating :

Absolutely Love it

My primary camera is a Nikon D2x, but I wanted a nice point and shoot to carry in my pocket and the S95 delivers. PQ is excellent. HD video is also excellent. Also integrates perfectly with my macs. Pics load up in iPhoto and videos in iphoto/quicktime. Favorite feature is the ability to take pretty awesome shots without the use/need for a flash.

I love it!!

Rating :

A POCKET SIZE SLR!!!

I am sooooooooo glad I have this camera! I take pictures of EVERYTHING, people, buildings, food - you name it! This captures all of your memories instantaneously with such great quality!

I was intrigued with the S90 but was turned off when I discovered it didn't record video in HD. I tried out the Canon SD4000 but when I took pictures of food in Macro, there was always a shadow on the bottom right corner. I thought I had a defected camera but found out later that's just how the camera works. I returned it and thank goodness the S95 had just been released! It was definitely the talk of the town once it came in and people saw what great pictures this little thing took. I had only had this camera for a week and I had already had at least 3 friends asking me what kind of camera I had so they could upgrade!

If you ask someone else to take a picture for you with this camera and is unfamiliar with the camera, make sure you warn them of the possibility of the flash popping up! I normally recommend how they should hold the camera.

Ye, it is a bit pricey but its worth every penny. This camera will definitely last you for years to come. What more could you ask for? Love love love!

Rating :

Simply Superb

I've become quite the compact camera expert of late, buying for myself as a backup to a dSLR, but also for colleagues and employees.

Simply, the new Canon s95 is the best quality compact I have used. It's out of stock in a lot of places, but shop around -- even the Big Boxes seem to have them right now (don't pay the overinflated prices some marketplace vendors are asking).

Having recently used the Panasonic Lumix LX5 for a week in Paris, I wish I had the s95 instead. The Lumix was returned the day I returned. It quite simply is not a compact camera, and stayed in the backpack more than any other compact camera would have.

The S95 by contrast, has identical IQ, fits into a pants pocket, is small, and easy to use. The settings are quickly changed either through the menu, the mode dial, or the front ring. The small tweeks between the S90 and the S95 actually make a world of difference -- and it's a fine fine high IQ compact camera.

Compared to a standard pocket camera, though, you might might find the zoom range quite limiting. It's better than the Lumix, but only just. It certainly is not capable of superzoom -- the optical zoom works to 3.8x -- but with digital zoom you can get to 15x. Those photos are unusable. The digital zoom is fine in a pinch for a "must have" shot, but they are all pixilated and blurry one you get into the digital zoom range. If you are looking for a superzoom, this camera is NOT IT.

But with the 10 mp size of photos, you can easily crop down, and the IQ is so fine that it will still look clear and sharp at normal printing size up to 10 x 8 for super cropped shots.

I've been very happy with the S95 and have used it all weekend for several hundred shots. I am consistently surprised at the excellent IQ in almost all shooting situations. (There does seem to be some flare when shooting into sunlit situations). I see no chromatic aberation, no vignetting, and simply clear shots. The IQ is fine across all scene modes. Some of the creative modes are fun. The bokeh in depth of field shots looks great.

IF you are contemplating between the older s90 and the s95, there is no comparison -- you will NOT be happy with the s90 once you see what the s95 will do.

Quite simply, this and the Lumix LX5 are the best compact cameras on the market as far as high-end IQ and features. Either camera will do a great job with low-light shots up to 3200 (note that noise is still quite visible with both cameras, heavy at any ISO above 800 but also noticable in anything over 400 ISO with either camera).

Note that this camera is NOT maximized for out-of-camera JPG shots, which the Lumix is better at (it's Panasonic's speciality - perfect JPG's)...In My Colors, change Contrast +1; Saturation +1, and Sharpness +2 and you will have the same level of in-camera JPG processing as the Panasonic.

Still, for the money, the features, and the sheer compactness, there is no other current camera that matches the S95. Highly recommended.

Pros: Great low-light shots; up to 3200 ISO; great IQ across most shooting situations; very compact and small; easy to use dials and menus. Good ISO.
Cons: Limited focal-range up to 3.8x only (up to focal distance 105). Anything shot in digital zoom is unusable. No grip on body. No dedicated video recording button.

Rating :

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