There is absolutely nothing not to like about the Canon's S-Series PowerShot S90; released late 2009. Finally, a REAL prosumer camera that is a match to my Sony V1. For the longest time, there was nothing as good nor as small. The Canon PowerShot S90 has packed in even more muscles then I could have asked for. Most importantly, the compact camera produces pictures so good, some shots are a close fight to an SLR camera!
Even before I picked up my very own S90 mid this month, I've already convinced 3 friends who purchased the camera and have nothing but great praise for the product. The S90 easily beat Canon's own flagship G11 at its own game. The S90 has the same full-sized sensor as the G11, but adds a faster f/2 lens, a direct control ring and a bigger LCD in a smaller, lighter package for less money.
What Canon really made work:
1) First compact camera with two direct control rings
Nothing feels better then being in CONTROL! I felt right at home having the basic know-how on operating a SLR camera with this baby!The greatest feature of the S90 has to be the metallic front control ring, which gives a nice clicking sound upon every turn. Few compacts have even one control ring, and DSLRs have maybe one. Control rings mean you can make your settings directly and instantly on the camera without the need to enter into the function screens. My camera is 90% set to Manual Mode, giving me total and instant control to aperture, shutter speed and ISO.
2) Fast f/2.0-4.9 lens
At the release of this camera last year, there wasn't another other compact camera with a small as a f/2.0 lens. The low light capability is greatly enhanced, producing near excellent night shots with shallow depth of field.
3) CCD rather then COMS chip
People who are serious enough care that their processing chip is a Real CCD and not CMOS.
4) 3.0" PureColor II LCD
The large and accurate LCD is crucial to manual adjustments to your shot. Your images will fill the screen nicely, not just the centre as they do on other cameras with "chopped" (16:9) LCDs missing their tops and bottoms.
5) Lens covering the classic 28-105mm range
28mm gives a very decent wide angled shot and in this instant with very unnoticeable distortions. 105mm is equivalent to a 3.8x zoom. Not fantastic but good enough in most cases.
6) SIZE
SIZE MATTERS!
At least to me!
With it's neat compact size, I've been carrying my S90 EVERYWHERE! It's that cool!
Technical Mambo Jumbo:
Lens: 6.0 - 22.5mm f/2.0 - 4.9. (equivalent to 28-105mm.)
Diaphragm: Genuine 6-bladed diaphragm.
Shutter: 15 seconds - 1/1,600.
Sensor: 1/1.7." 10MP, Real CCD
Image Sizes: 3,648 x 2,736 pixels native.
Also 2,816 x 2,112 (M1), 2,272 x 1,704 (M2), 1,600 x 1,200 (M3), 640 x 480 (S), 3,648 x 2,048 cropped (W).
Movies: 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 @ 30 fps. (No HD.)
ISO: AUTO, 80 - 3,200.
Flash: Built-in, pop-up flash.
LCD: 3" 461k pixels.
Body Covers: Metal
Power: NB-6L Battery. Rated 220 shots per charge. 1 hr 55 min maximum charge time.
Size: 3.94 x 2.30 x 1.22 inches (100.0 x 58.4 x 30.9mm).
Weight: 6.942 oz. (196.8g) with battery and card, but no strap.
Announced: August 19, 2009
In all fairness, there are a couple of improvements I thought the camera could have:
- Better holding grip
- More grooves for the top function dial
- View finder
- Built in flash (no pop up)
- HD video recording with zoom capabilities
I'll let the pictures do the talking on my 1st test shoot:
Marina Barrage City Skyline
Mosaic Music Festival Stage Performances
Punggol End
I'm sure you'd agree, the pictures are impressive.
As happy as I am to be the proud owner of my new S90, I know my beloved Sony V1 will be left on the shelf. There is no reason for me to own 2 prosumer cameras. But if you know the built and quality of the V1 with all it's high quality interchangeable lens, you'd too find it hard to give it up. I'm in such a dilemma.
Hmmm... not sure about the CCD vs CMOS thing. There are lots of arguments about the pros and cons of each, but the most compelling argument for CMOS is that most Canon DSLRs use it. Also, Nikon went from purely CCDs in their DSLRs to having more and more of their DSLR models on CMOS.
ReplyDeleteAll that said, the S90 is fantastic. =)
CMOS chips have all along been smaller and cheaper to produce, allowing for even more compact sized cameras at a more affordable rate. I come from a background bias to CCD chips, having the experience that they generally produce richer and true colours. That aside CMOS technology has advanced leaps and bounds over the years.
ReplyDelete