Customer Reviews

Canon PowerShot S90 Digital Camera (10 Megapixel, 3.8 Optical Zoom) 3.0 inch LCD

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My first digital compact was an S50 followed by a couple of Ixus, one still serving my son well alongside his Nikon dslr (the other met an ignominious end on one of his business trips). I took a long time choosing between this Canon S90 and the Panasonic offerings. I made the right choice. I specifically wanted a camera that I could slip into my pocket (NB you can do this easily with a genuine Canon leather case which is far less bulky than most of the after market cases). On grounds of pocketability I had turned away from the G10/G11 option. The whole point of this S90 for me is to have a very high quality, versatile camera readily available and which doesn't make it's presence felt by being a weight around the neck, a protrusion sticking out from one's chest or the cause of an awkward bag over the shoulder. It's horses for courses. I'd love to have a dslr with me all the time but I can't. I can have the S90 with me at all times. What good is a camera if you've left it at home because it's too heavy or bulky to take with you?

Of course the picture quality is not in the same league as a decent dslr but it produces the very best pictures I've ever seen from a compact. As being someone who always had film slr cameras cameras in the past I love the fact that this camera lets you make a choice - it can be left on automatic if you want, shutter priority or aperture priority or fully manual. I have found the camera to be intuitive. I thought the multifunction ring around the lens would be a gimmick but in fact I have been pleasantly surprised - it's very practical and easy to use. The lens itself is as good as it gets on a compact. How such a small piece of glass is capable of producing such high quality images beats me. The fact that it opens up to f2 is a real bonus - particularly if like me you are not keen on using flash. The image stabilisation works well at the slow shutter speeds when one needs it. As usual with Canon, colours are excellent.

The camera feels as though it could be flimsy and indeed I was a little disappointed to find that it doesn't feel quite as solid as my previous Ixus. However it ain't really flimsy. Having never dropped a camera in my life (and I've used literally hundreds of cameras) this one hit frozen rock solid terra firma with a real bang when I slipped on the ice on one of my first outings with the camera. I thought it might be an insurance claim but no matter how hard I tested the camera afterwards I could find nothing wrong with it. I wouldn't recommend trying this but it proved to me that I didn't have to worry about it being flimsy. I'm really pleased with this purchase. If you are in the market for this class of camera then this one comes highly recommended.

Having got fed up of lugging around a G9 I spent ages flitting between the S90 and a Lumix LX3. The S90 won because 1) I liked the slender design and 2) the quality of the optics. This is my 4th Canon including a 350D, a new 500D and a Ixus which was/is a wonderful little contraption.

As well as the size and quality of the images, the best aspects of this camera are its capacity to record in RAW and the wide angle fast lens. Admittedly the barrel distortion is as I suspected somewhat noticeable, but it can add a distinctive 'look' to your images if you don't mind it! But it can be cleaned up via the bundled software. The adjustment ring around the lens is a very neat idea, simple to use and intuitive if you are used to manual cameras of old. And the whole business of being able to turn off all the pre-set programmes and work manually is a valuable asset. Again, if you like lots of control over your image-making then this is essential and quite rare to find on compacts. Alternatively, I'm looking forward to lots of point and 'shoot' moments; sometimes you just can't be bothered with all that knob twiddling! What it doesn't need is a capacity to record video. I don't understand this fetish for STILL cameras to capture video and reading reviews of other makes that do not seem to do this are seen as being a 'lesser breed'. Why not just buy a video camera! Or am I missing something?

In summary this is a fine camera, and even the quirky motorized flash is very good and yes even with those plastic (but good quality plastic) top and bottoms the build is what you would expect of Canon.

I have a Canon PowerShot G10 and when the G11 was introduced I was tempted to upgrade to the newer model, but I didn't feel that I would gain much by doing so. The general consensus is that the G11 offers little over the G10 in terms of image quality - and I'm incredibly happy with the G10 (even if it does have a known bug where every-so-often I get a black line in an image).

However the S90 intrigued me - it offered the same sensor as the G11 but in a smaller package. Although I love the G10, it's certainly not small, and I find that it isn't with me as often as I'd like (I can't just slip it into my pocket). I've had the lucky chance to play with an S90 and compare directly with my G10 - and I was very impressed.

My initial impressions were that it didn't feel as rugged as the G10. The G10 is metal and feels like a 'proper' camera whereas the S90 feels much like any other point-and-shoot. It's when you start taking photo's though that you see why it costs a good £200+ compared to more basic cameras...

...The photos I took were easily comparable to the G10. When I first looked at the photos at 100% the G10 images looked terrible next to the S90, but the G10 images are much larger (nearly 15MP as opposed to 10MP) and when I zoomed out so that I could see the equivalent image coverage on the S90 images the two looked very similar. The G10 edged it slightly, but only just, and even then is was purely a matter of opinion. Given that the S90 is a small camera, it's incredible that it manages to achieve images which compare to the high end (not quite so) compacts which themselves are often said to perform favourably compared to some SLRs. The Panasonic LX3 is a similar rival, but for me the zoom on the S90 is the trump card - I like to have around 3x, but the S90 has a 3.8x zoom.

The S90 is a lot easier to control than other small cameras I've used, there is a control ring on the top of the camera (as with most) and there is a further control ring at the base of the lens which can be tailored to whatever function you assign it. The ring on the lens has a nice ratchet-style click to it, it might sound daft (and this is where I come across as a total amateur, which I am!) but it felt solid and was pleasant to twiddle! This helps to keep shooting options at your fingertips rather than having to constantly navigate through menus, there is still an element of menu usage but it's kept to a minimum.

I didn't really get to compare the flash between the cameras, but the S90 flash appeared more than adequate and although it's not everyone's cup-of-tea I loved the pop up flash and the smooth way it raised up. When closed, the flash fits flush with the camera and doesn't spoil the sleek lines.

I only quickly looked at the video capabilities of the camera as it's not something I really use, my cameras are used for still images and rarely for video. The video did look good and it was very smooth when played back on my Mac - but I know many will be disappointed at the lack of HD video capture. As I say though - it's not an issue for me.

In a nutshell: This camera offers a similar image performance to the Canon G10 and G11 and is far superior to cheaper models of similar size. If portability is not an issue then the G10/G11 are probably the best option for you - but if you require something smaller then that's where the S90 really shines. Most of my photographs are taken indoors and the S90 has an ace up its sleeve - an f/2.0 aperture allows twice as much light in as the G10 or G11 (f/2.8 at their widest aperture) which means less motion blur as the camera can achieve images in a quicker shutter time. The vast majority of my photos are of my family who tend to be active and animated most of the time - the chance to have a f/2.0 lens with image quality which is around the level of my G10 but in a camera which can easily fit in my pocket makes this a killer camera for me - anyone fancy buying a G10?

I bought this camera about 6 months ago. It was a toss-up between this or an LX3. I am not a professional or even an amateur photographer, I would describe myself as a normal camera user who likes to make more artistic compositions when I have time or the opportunity arises. I love taking evening and sunset shots, but I hate using flash. If Canon sorted out the bezel on the back and made the camera a bit more intuitive I would have given it 5 stars. I think the "pocketability" is a key selling point compared to the LX3. If you are thinking of getting one or the other I seriously recommend going into a camera shop and trying them in your pockets for fit - that was what made me buy the S90 in the end. This is the best compact camera I have ever owned - although you would expect that with the price!

Good points

-Compact size - fits in your pocket easily unlike an LX3
-Great low light capability - the flash is unnecessary a lot of the time (awesome for restaurants, dark rooms and evening shooting)
-Great wide angle lens
-Takes really nice pictures on the auto mode
-Excellent flexibility on the manual modes
-The large ring on the front is genuinely useful
-Good battery life

Bad points
-the little ring on the back can be a real pain
-Takes a while to get to know how to use all the adjustments (twisting rings, pressing buttons, rotating bezels etc)
-Pricey!

I have only owned this for 2 weeks now but I am amazed at how good this camera is and this will surely set the standard for years to come.
I wont cover all the technical features as this is everywhere online but it really is every bit as good as they say.
Firstly my history with cameras is all the usual compacts but then as the kids came along I wanted a DSLR so being a loyal Canon fan I bought the 350d which was great but the screen was very small and it rattled.
I then upgraded to the 450d which was a great improvement but after spending £300 on a 10-20 mm lens I understood that this hobby could get very expensive - also I just wasn't using it as it was too big.
I then opted for the G10 for portability but to be honest It was still to big and personally (I know it has got a very loyal following) I did not like the pictures - but of course that could have been down to my relative inexperience as a photographer.
I then spent a long time researching my options and came very close to buying a 50D in the thought that as it was so expensive I would be forced to use it (this wouldn't have happened I'm sure!).
Then I came across this beauty that has all the features of my G10 and to my eye much better pictures, without the flash hot-shoe but at half the size - when I first saw it I was stunned at how small it was.
The picture quality is fantastic, it is ultra portable, totally intuitive and the best camera I have ever owned.
All the manual features are there and it feels nice and robust and the screen is fantastic.
Trust me just buy this great camera - you will always have it with you due to its small size and that is surely what photography is all about?

Almost all the reviews on this little camera have been generously handing out praise left, right and centre so I was waiting for its arrival on the edge of my seat. Out of the box it feels sturdy and well built and, as a Canon user, familiar. Initially however I was not as blown away by the breakthrough ergonomics and features as I was expecting/hoping to be. The pop-up flash kept popping up underneath my finger, the secondary ring was too easy to spin and the infamous control ring felt awkwardly located and stiff.

Within a few hours though my fingers had forgotten the initial awkwardness, they'd moved to a new natural holding position and everything felt right. Once you get to this stage the camera just comes into its own. When you're in a hurry Auto takes a great shot but with a few seconds on your hands the S90 gives you almost the level of control that an SLR does and you can customise all the buttons and rings to do pretty much anything you want them to.

There have been some comprehensive technical reviews of this camera already; comparing it to the G10 and G11, talking about the control ring, the sensor and the image quality. I do not however have the tech knowledge to really add to the comments on these aspects. What I will say is that so far it has been faultless in all areas. What I will emphasise here is how well this camera performs in low light. The S90 accompanied me on a night out and save for a bit of noise and graininess at high ISOs it is truly fantastic. You can get away without a flash as dusk draws in for far longer into the night than I was expecting. The customisable flash output is a great idea too; you can turn it down to take warm night time portraits and crank it up to fill a room.

In conclusion, this camera is ergonomically different to the standard point and shoot and even though on paper the control ring seems like it might be similar to the usability of a DSLR in reality it all does take a bit of getting use to. Push through that and this camera will blow you away. As one other reviewer said, it is a wolf in sheeps clothing. A fantastic addition to a kit bag or a DSLR for your pocket.

OK, you could just set it to AUTO and get super pictures. But I bought it for the flexibility and the control. Just like a DSLR, it's got Av and Tv modes, so I could get the effects I want. On top of that it's got a super aperture range, backed up with a useful range of ISO values. The low-light performance is very good. The front control ring and rear dial are great, it's very easy to set up these to control whatever you want. The defaults are sensible, e.g. in Av mode (i.e. Aperture Priority), the ring controls Aperture. This is a photographer's point and shoot, but it can behave like a dummy's camera too. If you know what you want it'll give you what you ask for.

On a trip round China I got some great shots, in a variety of light conditions, and it squeezed into my jacket pocket. Having somewhat nervously left the D70 at home, I was well justified in this option.

I daresay I could have got a couple of better shots with the DSLR, but not that much better.

If I have any quibbles at all they would be : lack of optical viewfinder (but not having one saves space and weight, so I can see why), and ever-so slight shutter lag (so not as responsive as an SLR), and somewhat heavy on the sub 1000 mAh battery (so get a spare : on my trip I regularly used up both over a day, and could have used a third).

If you want a genuinely compact camera with the best image quality money can buy then this has to be your only choice. I don't particularly like Canon SLRs but they are way ahead of the competition when in comes to compacts. This unassuming looking camera is packed with features, offers comprehensive manual controls with innovative control rings that save time and effort. The tiny little pop up motorised flash is a nice touch too. Image quality is wonderful up to ISO 800 which is the limit I set for the Auto-ISO feature. Take the time to read the manual, the S90 has many unusual creative modes - e.g. colour substitution or single colour sparing desaturation. The wide aperture f2 at wide angle lens with optical image stabiliser means low light pictures are a breeze. The auto white balance is excellent - miles better than on my Nikon D90. I love this camera but it loses a star because it costs as much as digital SLR and it should have more solid build - like my early Canon Ixus V2 which was made of thick stainless steel. Whilst the build quality is good, I don't think it would survive being accidentally dropped. Also don't believe the hype about SLR-like image quality at high ISO sensitivities.

I've been a Canon (D)Slr user for many years, both film & Digital, using them for personal & freelance work, as well as teaching aids. I've never been able to fault them & they've never let me down. I'm currently studying a Ba(Hons)Photography Degree course & needed a good quality compact for it, as a "carry anywhere" but required one with high quality output(note: NOT high megapixel!) & full control; ie Program, Aperture & Shutter priority & fully Manual control. After a lot of research & reviewing, I decided on the Canon S90. Obviously biased to Canon but I did take into account other brands seriously, but, at the time, Canon had cashback & that swayed it, as well as the reviews this model was getting.
Being cautious of it potential shortcomings ( again biased towards the output quality of my Canon EOS 5D MkII!) I need not worry. Camera is light, compact, full of useful features, (but not gimmicks) as well as having full control over pretty much everything! A really nice feature is a control ring around the lens base that you can program for different features - very useful! Also the screen is outstanding, with all the information you require displayed on it.
Quality? STUNNING!! The main criteria I required was output in RAW file format, which doesn't compress any data, as I do a lot of printing. A3+ ? No problem!

So, if your looking for a high quality, no fuss, highly flexible compact camera with brilliant images, then this one is hard to beat!!

After years with a compact camera I took the next step in January and bought a Canon 450D DSLR: I wanted to learn about "proper" photography and take better pictures. What I found was that I was intimidated by all the settings and options, and ended up just using it in the Auto mode, or even worse, the pre-set options. So about a month ago I took the opportunity to replace my compact Canon IXUS 800IS with the S90, and I just love it - it's teaching me how to take photos. The best feature is the Manual setting, which has a simple +- guide on screen to show how your aperture and shutter speed compare with "optimum" exposure. The live view helps me set up the shot to look the way I want, the 2.0 aperture setting is great for low-light photos without flash and it's easy to take on any expedition (unlike the DSLR). I've had about 300 pictures per battery charge and my initial concern that it wasn't easy to grip as proved to be not a problem. I bought a Crumpler PP55 case which fits it very neatly.Crumpler PP 55 + Strap Compact Camera Pouch - Brown