CNET Editor's rating: 7.4 out of 10
Reviewed by
Lori Grunin
Review date: 06/11/07
Release date: 06/15/07
The good: Tons of manual and automatic features; well-laid-out controls; solid body; nice LCD display.
The bad: Lens aberrations and vignetting; some processing artifacts; lacks raw file support; redesigned lens cap still pops off too easily.
The bottom line: Though it remains a good megazoom, thanks to continued image and lens artifacts, the Canon PowerShot S5 IS is slowly losing ground to competitors.
There was a lot to like about the Canon PowerShot S3 IS, and much of it remains in this year's PowerShot S5 IS, including Canon's veteran optical image-stabilization technology, excellent metering and focusing systems, the signature flip-and-twist LCD display, and a hefty set of manual and semimanual controls. The S5 IS bumps up to 8 megapixels from the S3's 6-megapixel sensor, increases the LCD size from 2 to 2.5 inches, and adds trendy bonus features like face-detection autofocus/autoexposure, maximum sensitivity of ISO 1600, and an ISO-shift mode that lets you jack up the setting with a button press when the camera tells you the shutter speed is too slow. We can thank the upgrade to a Digic III processor for many of the new capabilities.
I liked my description of the S3 IS so much I'll use it again for the S5 IS: its aesthetic seems to be a cross between those of a classic Volkswagen Beetle and a Busy Box. But somehow, it still works. It's gained a few ounces over the year, up to a not-so-svelte 1 pound, 3.4 ounces. The larger LCD has also caused some middle-age spread, widening the camera to 4.6 inches. However, it remains comfortable to hold, reasonably fluid to operate--once you know where everything is--and feels as solid as the aforementioned classic car.
Canon implements the S5 IS' features quite well. For example, the camera includes a dedicated record button for movie capture, plus stereo microphones, a wind filter, and audio volume adjustment. Unlike most implementations, which force you into a specific face-detect scene mode, Canon makes face detection one of the focus-area-selection options. You can select a face in a scene and jump back to it with a couple of button presses, or you can let the camera seek out up to three faces in the scene and automatically select the most prominent one. It lets you see the runners-up, but you can't make your own pick in the latter mode. Using face detection can be a bit confusing--both to understand and use effectively--and I'm not convinced that either simply focusing on your chosen face and recomposing or setting an off-center focus point on the face aren't lower-tech but ultimately more efficient solutions. For any camera.
The S5 IS' performance splits right down the middle. It delivers very good speed for its class. It wakes up and shoots in 1.3 seconds, with a shutter lag of 0.5 and 0.8 second in bright and dim light, respectively. It can shoot consecutive single images 1.6 seconds apart, growing to a reasonable 2.1 seconds with flash enabled. Continuous shooting is fixed at about 1.5 frames per second (fps), regardless of image size, and can run for about 18 shots before it starts to slow.
But the functional aspects of the S5 IS' performance--lens geometry and sharpness, viewfinder usability, and noise--are less impressive. The centerpiece of a megazoom camera is the lens, in this case the same 12x zoom, f/2.7-3.5 36mm-to-432mm as that of the S3 IS (And the S2 IS). On one hand, the optical stabilizer, focusing system, and exposure rendering are as good as they've ever been. But the EVF (electronic viewfinder) is kind of coarse for manual focus unless the subject is fairly simple--think of a rock versus a white, puffy dandelion.
Furthermore, to maintain the same focal range with the lens across different sensors, Canon has had to keep each sensor size to 1/2.5-inch; unfortunately, the weaknesses of the lens/sensor combo either becomes more evident as resolutions climb, or we're just tired of seeing the same old problems. For the S5 IS, that means asymmetrical vertical distortion on the left side accompanied by ever-present aberration in the form of cyan and magenta fringing--not just at high-contrast edges, where we expect it, but at medium-contrast boundaries as well.
Image noise seems about average for its class. As a rule, you really don't want to rise above ISO 200; at that point, color noise becomes measurably and visibly apparent. You could probably get away with ISO 400 for certain types of scenes, but beyond that, you lose tonal range and detail.
I'm also split down the middle on image quality. Color looks great; it pops but manages to stay shy of oversaturated. White balance is excellent under a variety of conditions. But even at its sharpest, the S5 IS' photos generally look overprocessed and a bit smeary. Some of that fades to obscurity when you print, but if you're planning to crop your photos, it will become quite noticeable.
Canon's VGA 30fps motion-JPEG movie capture continues to be among the best we've seen--the tradeoff is a file size of about 2MB per second--though like most, it performs best when there's only some centralized motion. A lot of motion around the scene results in increased motion and compression artifacts.
With competitors like the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 upping the megazoom ante to 15x--and more important, opening up the wide angle--it's past time for Canon to introduce a new lens on its Sn series. The PowerShot S5 IS is still a pretty good megazoom but one that's slowly losing ground to the competition.
Shooting speed (in seconds) (Shorter bars indicate better performance)
Intro:
The Canon PowerShot S5 is an 8-megapixel, prosumer camera.Compared to other prosumer digital cameras on the market, it is midpriced at around $360.
Noteworthy Features:
Has a 12x optical zoom, which is somewhat more powerful than some similarly priced digital cameras.Also, this digital camera has an 8-megapixel resolution.This camera also offers control over numerous exposure modes including aperture-priority, shutter-priority, program, and manual mode.
Weaker Features:
Has a 3.1 in thickness.
Suitability:
Made for serious photographers who want a lot of control over their shots.This model has a hot shoe terminal which allows you to attach an external flash to accommodate poor lighting conditions.A recommended use, based on key features, is framed photos for the home.The largest recommended print size, estimated from the camera's resolution, is 12x16 or larger.
Value:
In general, this digital camera's features seem a bit weak for its price, compared to most other digital cameras.
stabilizer:
Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Best Super Zoom Available
I'm appalled at the bashing this camera is taking across the net by expert reviewers and consumers alike. If ...
I'm appalled at the bashing this camera is taking across the net by expert reviewers and consumers alike. If I were a paranoid, I'd suspect that a conspiracy exists to drive down the price of this splendid piece of photographic wizardry.
Yes, there are minor issues inherent with sensor size and zoom lens range. If you're planning to make poster sized prints, by all means get a different camera. But if you are planning most of the time to make average sized prints (8 X 10, for instance) and do the majority of your image viewing on your computer, this one is perfect.
At the moment, there isn't a camera of this class that offers better range of controls, imaging or performance. I've shot with the camera in all of its modes, and I'm very, very pleased with the quality of the images. Performance is top-notch across the board. Controls are broad and very intuitive. You can pluck your new camera out of the box and begin snapping very good pictures and movies without a glance at the instruction manual--although you'll want to to make fullest advantage of the amazing things this tool has to offer.
I'm an advanced amateur photographer, and I'm a perfectionist. If I can be more than satisfied with the S5 IS--and I am!--it's beyond my comprehension that anyone else could be disappointed with their purchase. For me it impressively bridges the gap between my EOS 30D and the tiny compact point-and-shoot in my bag.
If you want flawless, noise-free images, you shouldn't even be considering a camera in this class. You will be satisfied with nothing less than a digital SLR. But if you're looking for point-and-shoot ease with plentiful controls and ample zoom range with image stabilization, look no further. The Powershot S5 IS is THE camera.
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by desertratchel (see profile) -
August 9, 2007
4 out of 10 - Mediocre S5 IS is Merely a Beefed Up S3 IS (Nothing More)
Originally owned the S2 IS (5 MP) which was excellent. Along came the S3 IS (6 MP) which was great, ...
Originally owned the S2 IS (5 MP) which was excellent. Along came the S3 IS (6 MP) which was great, but I noticed that problems began to arise with the S3 IS at the long end of the lens. Although this was an issue, I managed to work through the gripes. Now, here we sit chatting about the S5 IS (8 MP) version of the same camera with a bit more beef (not choice grade either). The bottom line here folks is that you had better not expect a grand leap if you already own the S3 IS. Rather, be prepared to be very dismayed with the results. The S3 IS produces much sharper and color-accurate images than the S5 IS. Additionally, the S5 IS has a problem with lens creep (for those of you who have not used it extensively and found this out as of yet). In reference to the batteries being placed with the SD slot, I feel that it is not even a relevant issue given that it's so trivial compared to the poor image quality. I did not return the S5 IS, but I did give it to my nephew given that I knew I would take a 25% restocking fee hit which wasn't acceptable. He'll have plenty of fun with the camera and enjoy it for what it's worth (not much of anything IMHO). The bottom line, if you're going to spend this much money on the S5 IS, then you're making a mistake. Buy the Nikon D40X or the Sony Alpha (or other comparable DSLR) which would be money well spent on quality. In conclusion, on a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate this unit as a 5 to be fair given the problems with the images. As a side note, I would like to add that I am a professional photographer who likes to carry around spur-of-the-moment cameras that take good pictures, and I argue that the S5 IS is one that should be avoided. Thanks for listening.
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by cdr_computers (see profile) -
July 22, 2007
7 out of 10 - Very good Puts the S series where is should be.
The longer I use it the happier I get. Unlike the S3 this is a real update of the S ...
The longer I use it the happier I get. Unlike the S3 this is a real update of the S series camera. So many little changes were made that you are relearning things but overall made it a better camera.
First thoughts after buying; 1) The new lens cap is even worse. It seems like it pops off a lot easier then the S3. 2) While the batteries are now easy to get in and out it is now harder to close the battery door. 3) It is now heavy on the battery side. There must be more plastic this time, making it noticeably heavy when you hold it for the first time. 4) The increased body size is enough that you will have to hold the S5 with your right hand differently form the S2 or S3. 5) The button layout is easier to reach but are soft to push. There is not sensitive so you have to push hard to get a result. 6) The menus have changed some, the ISO now comes up as a pop up menu you can go back and forth with so you do not have to cycle through the whole list to get the setting you want. Overall it is streamlined.
The camera has had a overhaul. It is much more fitting the category of a prosumer camera then the versions that came before with the hot shoe and 2.5 LCD a long awaited addition. It still holds true to being a point and shoot by being simple to use and figure out. Two of its best selling points, AA batteries and a flip LCD are still there. More few more options have been added without taking away any of the previous ones.
For S2 and S3 users who own the lens and batteries already and still want more out of their camera this is a great buy. The upgrade from the S3 is noticeable and more then the casual user will most likely make it worth the money. For a new user to the S series the 500 dollar starting price it is probably not be the best buy for you that amount of money. Once it drops in price then it would be in the right price range. Particularity for those who want the ability to choose their own settings and do not want the hassle of owning a SLR and multiple lenses.
With the Panasonic FZ50 and Sony H9, Canon really should have done more to make the S5 standout from the competition and worth its high price tag. The S5 is now where the S series should be, features, settings and a hot shoe.
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by winexz (see profile) -
June 26, 2007
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Absolutely LOVE this camera!
I got one of these camera's for myself and my mother. I had an old digital camera, and it ...
I got one of these camera's for myself and my mother. I had an old digital camera, and it was time to update. We went up to the mountains and pulled over on the side of the road. There was no way to get out, and take a picture of some RAMS and Elk on the side of the road. NO WORRIES!!! Opened my sun roof, and tilted the screen, holding the camera high up I could see what I was pointing at, and took some framable pictures of the wild life!! I can't be more thrilled with the picture quality, ease of use. Mom was scared to touch it at first. Now she is taking tons of photos!! My brother can't afford to get his kids photos professionally done. However, Grandma's photo's look like they were done in a studio!! I love this camera! I have used the S3 as well.. The best change frankly is being able to move that screen!! So this camera is definately a perfect fit for us!
Updated I liked the flip and twist screen, but it needed to be larger.. Reguardless, I do love the camera. I am sure if I had the S3, i'd love it too. .Then again, any Canon Camera I've ever bought, I've been happy with.
9 out of 10 - Spectacular Great Camera for General Shooting
I took quite a while evaluating this camera vis-à-vis the Sony DSC-H9 and went so far as to take ...
I took quite a while evaluating this camera vis-à-vis the Sony DSC-H9 and went so far as to take memory sticks to the store to get sample images printed. I also ended up buying the H9, but after working with it for a few days, decided it was not laid out very well (awkward to maneuver controls, etc.). The Sony had the benefit of the higher zoom and larger screen, but when it came all the way down to it, I returned the Sony (thanks, Best Buy, for a relatively smooth process except for the 15% restock fee!!) and bought the Canon. Truthfully, the 15%was a sizeable hit, but if I was going to have a camera, it was worth the price of research to get the right one. Now, on to my experiences with the Canon. I already had a slim point-and-shoot with the Sony DSC-T70, which is great for up-close stuff, but especially as it aged, the zoom and flash compensation for zoom has degraded a bit. I bought the Canon for an upcoming trip to visit family in Belgium and Paris. Anyone who has been in Europe knows that some of the most beautiful photographs are at the top of the buildings (architecture, detail, etc.), so getting a camera better suited to zoom was a necessity. However, although I have been taking pictures for over 30 years (and I'm not too bad at it!), I'm not a professional photographer and want to get the best quality from the subject I am photographing without needing to stage and/or set-up special lighting, etc. The Canon seemed to meet the need. Once we were on our way, I was not disappointed! The image quality, both on the camera's screen and the resulting printed photographs, would challenge a higher-end camera costing 10 times this one. During the course of 10 days, I took over 700 pictures, and not one of them was a disappointment. Of course, having enhancement software to bring out the things lurking in the shadows helped a lot, too, but if the camera had not been able to capture the detail, no amount of light and balance adjustment would have made a difference.
Since getting home, the camera has continued to capture amazing images of family (kids, grandma, etc.) and experiences (my son's friends' amazing TP-ing job on the house!).
Some day, I may break down and get the Rebel EOS, but maybe not because the I5IS is meeting all my needs.
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by lmossa (see profile) -
October 7, 2007
7 out of 10 - Very good Long 12X zoom at a compact size but noisy at low light conditions
The good thing about this camera is its 12X zoom at a relatively compact size. I also enjoy its super-macro ...
The good thing about this camera is its 12X zoom at a relatively compact size. I also enjoy its super-macro capability and the camera's overall versatility. I can take clear pictures in broad daylight which are visibly better than those from my compact Sony 7.1 MP camera. However, at lower light conditions (e.g. late afternoon, indoors etc.) which requires higher than 100 ISOs, the pictures are quite noisy. In fact I would recommend using ISO-100 and brighten up the picture with some software tool. The built in flash can also help but at close range and indoors. Me overall experience is mixed: I like it but I am not enthousiastic about it. The noise problem under low light is really the biggest issue (lens cap coming off, lack of raw format etc. are just minor details in my opinion). Another thing that I do not like is the low resolution "electronic" viewfinder. Why not have just an optical one?
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by morph11 (see profile) -
September 20, 2007
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
4 out of 10 - Mediocre Canon Baby Steps....Sony H9 better buy.
Once again Canon rests on its laurels. Rather than come out with a camera that could blow away their competition (...
Once again Canon rests on its laurels. Rather than come out with a camera that could blow away their competition (Which they could do easily)they make modest changes that keep them with the rest of the pack. They do not give enough features or improvements to justify an upgrade. Maybe they do not want to cut into their SLR product line?
Updated After looking at the differences in price with the S3 and the S5, you basically have to pay $200 for a little larger screen and a hotshoe. There is no advantage on image quality between these two cameras. Go with the S3 if those two features are not worth $200 to you.
Updated Once again I tried to make a product better than what it is and decided to stay with the H9 from Sony. They were very comparable cameras but I liked the Sony screen better. The S5 is a great camera if you do not have a S3 already or don't mind the extra $ for a couple of extra features. I am just going to cross my fingers and hope the S7 in 2008 is the end all of all zoom cameras.
8 out of 10 - Excellent So far, so good. I just got it, fresh out the box & all is well.
First of all, I never had an S3, so for all those folks complaining that there was no improvement, sorry. ...
First of all, I never had an S3, so for all those folks complaining that there was no improvement, sorry. This is the first go round for me and so far I am completely enthralled. I waited because I didn't want a 6 mpxl camera and I got real excited when canon came out with a super zoom 8 mgpxl pnt & shoot. The IS really is not that great tho, cause I was thinking I could ride over a bumpy road, shoot, and all would come out OK. Gee. What a surprise. Also, the 'shooting' in the middle of movie making is still a mystery as I cannot find where these 'stills' are stored. But the camera is really nice, the pictures are superb and we're both doin just fine. I'm really liking it. But I've only had it 2 wks. I'll write again later, after we've spent more time together.
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by RicoBolt (see profile) -
July 28, 2007
3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
2 out of 10 - Terrible Great, but lasted only 4 months, Canon will not fix
Canon has a significant design flaw with the lens mechanism. In earlier Canon series this was known as the e18 ...
Canon has a significant design flaw with the lens mechanism. In earlier Canon series this was known as the e18 error, now it's renamed the "lens error". The lens will not fully extend into position for use and the camera LCD goes black with "lens error" in white across the bottom. This is a widespread issue, simply google e18 error for yourself.
In my case, Canon claims that the camera had been subjected to moisture, which isn't true. I bought it at Christmas time and the failure happened in April, I had done almost ZERO outdoor shooting since it was winter!! I will escalate my complaint within Canon to see where that leads, but I fully believe that Canon has denied my claim to prevent a repeat of the class-action lawsuit that they saw last year on this very issue.
The camera was fast and OK to use while we had it. The controls BAFFLED my techno-challenged wife, so be warned that novice technologists will not know how to use it.
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by eggsngrits (see profile) -
June 23, 2008
AVI - 320 x 240 - 19 sec - With 32MB card,
AVI - 640 x 480 - 13 sec - With 32MB card,
AVI - 320 x 240 - 34 sec - With 32MB card
Memory / Storage
Flash Memory
32 MB Flash - SD Memory Card
Floppy Drive
None
Image Storage
Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 99 - With 32MB card,
Fine JPEG 2592 x 1944 : 20 - With 32MB card,
Normal JPEG 2592 x 1944 : 41 - With 32MB card,
Fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 52 - With 32MB card,
Fine JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 32 - With 32MB card,
Normal JPEG 640 x 480 : 270 - With 32MB card,
Super-fine JPEG 2048 x 1536 : 18 - With 32MB card,
Super-fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 29 - With 32MB card,
Fine JPEG 3264 x 2448 : 14 - With 32MB card,
Normal JP
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