Overview
The Canon Powershot S95 is a great little camera. Picture quality is spot on and there are not many cameras offering so many features in such a small body. I really like the colours it produces. The sharpness of the photos it delivers is eye catching.
It's small size means you can take the Powershot S95 with you everywhere you go. The manual exposure settings give you extra control over picture taking. This is certainly my type of digital camera!
Why Buy The Canon Powershot S95
There are two types of people that this camera is ideal for. The first type would already own a Digital SLR or large camera, but like the idea of a small compact that has plenty of features and takes high quality photos. The second is for anyone who is looking for a relatively small compact camera and is happy to pay a premium for extra picture quality and features.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
10
3.8x
3 inches
99.8 x 58.4 x 29.5 mm
193g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
5cm
Yes
Yes
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Features
Basic features include 10 megapixels and a 3.8x zoom lens. With a minimum focal length equivalent to 28mm in 35mm format the Powershot S95 has wide angle capabilities. The other big attraction of the lens is the fact it has a maximum aperture of f/2. This should help your photography in low light situations. Image stabilisation has been built into the lens to further enhance this camera in lowlight situations.
Tucked inside the small body are a set of manual exposure modes. You have access to fully manual, plus aperture priority and shutter priority. A custom mode is available for you to store your favourite camera set up. Manual focusing is available too.
For composing photos there is a 3 inch LCD screen. There is no viewfinder available. Photos can be captured in RAW format. This increases the control you have if you manipulate your photos with a product such as Photoshop.
As is becoming the norm there is a High Definition movie mode available. The maximum resolution is 720p.
If you like the idea of taking different shaped photographs then the Powershot S95 has a fair few different aspect ratios on offer. You can choose between 4:3, 16:9, 3:2, 1:1 and 4:5.
For close up work there is a 5cm macro mode. As you would expect you have access to ISO settings, white balance and different types of metering. In addition to the standard white balance settings it is easy to fine tune and set your own colour temperature.
For anyone who likes to dive with their camera there is a waterproof case available too.
Handling
Compared with a lot of more advanced digital cameras the Powershot S95 handles more like a point and shoot camera. Most of the options are tucked away within the menu system. Another point to note is that compared to other digital cameras offering such a wide range of advanced features the Powershot S95 is very small and will fit into medium sized pockets.
One feature I am not used to seeing is a ring that encompasses the lens. This twists round and gives easy access to change a setting of your choice. For example it can be set to change ISO, exposure compensation, focusing, white balance or zoom. When shooting in manual mode the ring is used to set aperture size.
The function you wish the ring to control is selected by pressing a button on the top of the camera. Also on the top are the on / off button, shutter button, shooting mode dial and zoom ring. The flash unit is also situated on top of the camera and pops up when flash is turned on.
On the back of the camera are buttons to access a shortcut, review photos, change the LCD display and access the menu system. In addition there is the standard circular area for accessing exposure compensation, flash mode, the self timer, plus macro and manual focusing. You will also find a button to access key functions and confirm settings here. Around the circular area is a selection wheel for speeding up choosing your options.
There are 18 menu options, 18 setup options plus 7 main functions including white balance, aspect ratio and continuous shooting.
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shot 1
You can see immediately that the Powershot S95 offers superior picture quality when compared to less expensive digital cameras. The level of definition showing in this shot is very impressive. Even with large prints it is more or less impossible to see any grain in the shot. Sharpness is some way above average and the camera handles the low angle of the sun very well.
Outdoor Scenic Shot 2
The Powershot S95 sails through what can be a tough test for a compact digital camera. The level of sharpness is what really catches the eye with this photo. Colours are striking and there is plenty of power in the blue sky. There is a hint of purple fringing, but this only shows when the shot is blown up to extra large size.
Outdoor Scenic Shot 3
This is my favourite shot so far. Each boat in the shot shows in detail. As in the first test shot the low angle of the sun is handled well. There are variety of colours in the photo and they all appear to be balanced and accurate.
Outdoor Building
In terms of quality this is a super image. The level of sharpness is about as good as it gets. To my eye I am unable to see any fall off in sharpness as you move out towards the edges. If you blow the shot up to full size it is easy to make out each individual brick on the building.
Outdoor Portrait
I really like the clarity and colour of this shot. Based on my more distant outdoor shots the clarity should come as no surprise, but it is still noticeably sharper than a lot of cameras produce. If you are prepared to experiment a little with white balance settings you should be able to produce portrait shots with colours to perfectly match your own taste.
Indoor Portrait With Flash
One of the big plus points about the majority of Canon digital cameras is their ability to produce just the right amount of light from the flash unit. In this case the lighting is subtle yet manages to spread out to cover the entire photo. This lighter touch means that there is plenty of colour retained in the shot.
Indoor Portrait Without Flash
Full marks to the Powershot S95. As with other test shot the level of definition is very impressive. Despite the picture being taken when the light was not perfect noise is more or less non existent.
Macro
The Powershot S95 compares well against other compact digital cameras. You can get in close to your subject and take sharp, detailed shots. There is not a lot more you are likely to want for close up photography from a small compact.
Colours
One of the biggest differences I notice between this type of more advanced digital camera and more basic models is the way the colours are represented. With the Powershot S95 little is lost in terms of vividness, but the colours also manage to take on a more natural look than some of the less expensive models are capable of producing.
Noise
Noise levels are kept as low as possible in all my tests. Even in shady areas noise is minimal.
Picture Quality Summary
If picture quality is a very important part of your decision when buying a digital camera then the Powershot S95 could be the answer. It is a clear step up in quality from cheaper models.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.61 seconds
10.36 seconds
1.19 seconds
15.3 seconds
2.36 seconds
Ease of Use
There are a number of extra features to get to grips with compared to the many other digital cameras of this size. In terms of ergonomics, Canon have gone for a relatively small number of buttons and dials, so you will need to use the menu system to access a lot of controls.
Points I Like
General features - picture sharpness - overall picture quality - small size
Where it Could Improve
A jog wheel would round the camera off very nicely
Verdict
Although there is a premium to pay I really like this type of camera. The Canon Powershot S95 is small enough to fit comfortably into a medium sized pocket yet has a good all round set of features. Picture quality is a level above cheaper options. I would certainly be happy carrying the Powershot S95 with me when a Digital SLR was not really practical. Recommended
Where to Buy - Canon Powershot S95
Test Shots
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
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Review Date
November 2010
