S95 or other comparable cameras?

[beni9n]

I'm looking at getting a Canon S95 after reading some reviews. The direct competitor is Panasonic Lumix LX-5, but I'm not that keen on it, based on photos. I've handled the S95 in store, but not an LX-5 so that might cloud my judgement a bit.

Any advice or suggestions for comparable cameras? I'm looking for something compact, allows manual controls, and at a budget around 300 to 400ish.

 

[Gooberlx2]

That's pretty much the recommended advanced compact. Most everyone seems to like it.

 

[Herr Kutz]

You can also check out the Samsung tl500. Like the LX-5 it's not really pocketable.

 

[ElFenix]

the lx3 seems better than the lx5 for sheer IQ.

but basically there's no other pocketable high end compact like the S95. if i were in the market that's the one i'd get.

 

[Adam8281]

I too am in the market for an advanced compact, and have been doing some research. The three cameras that seem most comparable to me are: the S95, the Panasonic LX5, and the Olympus XZ-1. The S95 and LX5 both go for around $400 (though you often can find the S95 in the $365 range). The XZ-1 seems to be solidly at the $500 price point. I'm leaning towards the S95 because it so much more pocketable than either the XZ-1 or LX5. The most appealing thing to me about the XZ-1 is it has a brighter lens than either of the other cameras (f1.8 vs. f2).

 

[996GT2]

S90/95 if you want pocketability and can sacrifice a little bit of low light performance.

Olympus XZ-1 is the new king of the hill for image quality in compact cameras (especially low-light image quality), because of its 28-112mm f/1.8-2.5 lens (the S95 is 28-105mm f/2-4.9). The XZ-1 is also a little better at high ISO than the S90. The XZ-1 pretty much makes the TL500 and LX5 irrelevant IMO.

However, the downside with the XZ-1 (and the TL500/LX5) is that they are all bigger than the S90/S95 and not nearly as pocketable. The LX5, TL500, and XZ-1 also have an annoying lens cap to deal with, while the S90/S95 have integrated, automated lens caps that open and close electronically when you turn the camera on and off.

I have an S90, and I think it's a great camera for those times I don't want to carry around a DSLR. The XZ-1 does intrigue me, though, because its lens manages a max aperture of f/2.5 even at its max focal length of 112mm. The S90 only manages f/4.9 at its max of 105mm, the LX5 only manages f/3.3 at its max of 90mm, and the TL500 manages f/2.4 but only zooms to 72mm.

 

[beni9n]

Thanks for the info everyone. I'll be going with the S95. Amazon has it for 370 with no tax and free shipping!

 

[Adam8281]

Please post back on your impressions. Like I said, I'm still on the fence. My current camera is an S80 (predecessor to the S90, which was predecessor to the S95), and my main complaint is the lens not being bright enough. It sounds like the S95 would be a big improvement in this area.

 

[Munky]

I'd go with the S95. From the sample photo's I've looked at, it has the best compromise between preserving detail and noise reduction compared to similar cameras. While the Olympus has a better lens for sure, its bulkiness works against the very reason for getting a compact camera.

 

[996GT2]

Please post back on your impressions. Like I said, I'm still on the fence. My current camera is an S80 (predecessor to the S90, which was predecessor to the S95), and my main complaint is the lens not being bright enough. It sounds like the S95 would be a big improvement in this area.

I have the S90 (which is very similar to the S95, except for some ergonomic changes and the addition of 720p video in the S95). I like the lens a lot, and the max aperture is quite decent at 28, 35, and 50mm (f/2.0, 2.5, and 3.2). Once you zoom past 50mm the aperture narrows quickly, so for low light you will have to get relatively close to the subject. If you shoot RAW, the files from the S90 (and S95, since they have the same sensor), are easily usable up to ISO 800 with a bit of noise reduction, provided you expose correctly. ISO 1600 can be used for emergencies with more NR, and ISO 3200 is basically a last-resort option.

The S90/S95 also have good 4-stop IS systems, which are probably give about 3 stops of stabilization in real life use. With this in mind, one method you can use for stationary subjects is to take advantage of the IS and use a lower ISO/lower shutter speed.

 

[Sephire]

S95 is the best non-DSLR I used. I hope the next gen will have 1080p video recording.

 

[darckhart]

yes please let us know your s95 impressions as i am choosing among those as well s90/s95, lx3/lx5. unfortunately, from what i've seen, the s90/s95 have VERY aggressive noise reduction which i don't like. if you can let me know if there's a setting that can lower or disable that, it would be another + in their column. thanks!

 

[996GT2]

yes please let us know your s95 impressions as i am choosing among those as well s90/s95, lx3/lx5. unfortunately, from what i've seen, the s90/s95 have VERY aggressive noise reduction which i don't like. if you can let me know if there's a setting that can lower or disable that, it would be another + in their column. thanks!

Shoot in RAW

 

[JohnnyRebel]

I purchased the Canon S95 recently. Great camera. I almost went with the Nikon P300 (not available at the time) and am having a bit if buyers regret. Take a look at the P300 before you make the purchase.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_PowerShot_S95-vs-Nikon-P300#

JR

 

[996GT2]

I purchased the Canon S95 recently. Great camera. I almost went with the Nikon P300 (not available at the time) and am having a bit if buyers regret. Take a look at the P300 before you make the purchase.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon_PowerShot_S95-vs-Nikon-P300#

JR

Uhh...why?

P300 has much smaller sensor than S90/S95=much more noisy
P300 does not shoot RAW

Sure, P300 has some features that look nice on paper (like 1080p and high speed shooting), but when it comes down to the images the S90/S95 wins by far.

 

[alkemyst]

Shoot in RAW

QFT...also even with the noise it's still one of the best compacts shooting in jpg.

 

[Gooberlx2]

Uhh...why?

P300 has much smaller sensor than S90/S95=much more noisy
P300 does not shoot RAW

Sure, P300 has some features that look nice on paper (like 1080p and high speed shooting), but when it comes down to the images the S90/S95 wins by far.

Exactly what I was thinking. That link only confirms to me that the S95 is the better camera for actual photography.

Larger sensor, better ISO and RAW = winner.

 

[996GT2]

Exactly what I was thinking. That link only confirms to me that the S95 is the better camera for actual photography.

Larger sensor, better ISO and RAW = winner.

Yes, like most Nikon compacts, the P300 seems underwhelming to me. Seems like Nikon is just not very good at making small cameras.

The Samsung TL350 shoots RAW, has a 24-120mm f/2.4-5.8 lens, backlit CMOS sensor, 1080p H.264, does up to 1000 fps high speed videos...and costs $90 less than the Nikon P300 ($240 vs $330 at Amazon, respectively).

With the TL350 on the market I honestly can't see why anyone would want to pay almost $100 more for the Nikon P300, especially when the latter can't even shoot RAW.

 

[ElFenix]

With the TL350 on the market I honestly can't see why anyone would want to pay almost $100 more for the Nikon P300, especially when the latter can't even shoot RAW.

ashton kutcher

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Uhh...why?

P300 has much smaller sensor than S90/S95=much more noisy
P300 does not shoot RAW

Sure, P300 has some features that look nice on paper (like 1080p and high speed shooting), but when it comes down to the images the S90/S95 wins by far.

Exactly, it's the features that look nice on paper. The more I use the S95 the more I like it. There is a bit of a learning curve, but one I got used to it I really like the way it works.

I don't shoot RAW for casual snapshots, and the D300 is cheaper. In particular, the P300 reads like it would shoot better video. But most of all, I like the best possible LCD screen to preview what I shoot. That's the main reason I went with Nikon DSLRs rather than Canon when I moved to digital.

I'm thinking about getting my wife the P300.

JR

 

[JohnnyRebel]

Yes, like most Nikon compacts, the P300 seems underwhelming to me. Seems like Nikon is just not very good at making small cameras.

The Samsung TL350 shoots RAW, has a 24-120mm f/2.4-5.8 lens, backlit CMOS sensor, 1080p H.264, does up to 1000 fps high speed videos...and costs $90 less than the Nikon P300 ($240 vs $330 at Amazon, respectively).

With the TL350 on the market I honestly can't see why anyone would want to pay almost $100 more for the Nikon P300, especially when the latter can't even shoot RAW.

Perhaps sadly, I don't even shop outside the Nikon/Canon box. I am comfortable with how they do cameras and am familiar with their products.

I don't purchase a lot of equipment and really need anything I buy to do its work without getting in my way. Over time I learn how a particular piece works and really don't want to have to change until I can't do something I want to do. I was slow to move from film to digital and slow to move from PC to Mac. I still really like to shoot the old AE-1P and the F4. I've have had a lot of fun recently with a used Trip 35 purchase. Not much to learn there...

The S95 is a lot different than my last P&S (CP 995) and it's taking me longer than I would like to learn the camera.

JR

 

[FriedToast]

I've got the S90. Great little cam. It's the portable backup to my Nikon D700 and it chugs along pretty well.

One suggestion for *anyone* owning the S90/S95: get the Richard Franiec grip. It's an absolute must-have, IMO.

The rear control wheel also has way too much play on the S90. Canon fixed it on the S95 (why not the grip, too?!), so S95 owners need to worry about it. Lensmate has a solution for it. I've got both the Franiec grip and the Lensmate control dial fix. I highly recommend them both.

If you can get your hands on an older IXY/IXUS/Powershot strap with the safety slider on it, that's another plus as the stock strap on the newer cams sucks.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

. One suggestion for *anyone* owning the S90/S95: get the Richard Franiec grip. It's an absolute must-have, IMO. .

Will the camera still fit the PSC-900 case with the add-on grip?

JR

 

[BoT]

i am also in the market for a good compact cam.
how would the canon SD4500 or SD4000 fair against the S95?
i was leaning towards the SD4000 because the price difference is quiet significant but the quility/performance difference is rather small.

 

[alkemyst]

If you never plan on using manual control the 4000/4500 would be very comparable from snap shot perspective in most cases.