Canon Powershot S90

[TD Ryan2 316]

The market is flooded with digital cameras.

Which one to buy?

I'm telling you, this is it... the Canon S90 ($399).

 

The S90 is perfect for both the novice and serious amateur photographer.

In many cases it can/will be used by professionals who don't want the bulky DSLR to carry around. (it's a pocket sized camera).

 

In fully auto mode, the novice can take snapshots with great results.

In Manual mode, the advanced user can set aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc to their liking.

 

It really is a great camera for someone who wants to learn more about DSLR photography while still having the "full automatic" crutch to lean on.

 

Many consumers do NOT know what to buy; all they know is the word "mega pixels".

The S90 is 10megapixels but more importantly the Lens, Shutter Speeds, and Sensor on the S90 are far superior to anything you're used to on your normal point&shoot cameras.

 

Lemme' 'splain in layman's terms.

The Lens - it's bigger than most of your point and shoot lenses so it lets more light in and makes it easier to shoot in low light conditions. (it's an f2.0 whereas most point and shoots are f3.5+ (note lower f# is bigger/better)

 

The Shutter Speed- it's blazing fast for a point and shoot meaning that your shots of moving kids/pets/etc won't be blurry (shutter speeds range from 15second long exposures to 1/1600second quick exposures). And, the fact that it doesn't always need a Flash to take decent pictures allows you to shoot faster.

 

Large Sensor - allows the camera to handle/use light better. Cameras with small sensors have lower ISO capabilities. These low ISO capabilities will make low light photography grainy. The S90 has a max. ISO of 3200 (which is unusable) but still takes very good photos at/near the 800 ISO mark.

 

 

If any of you are serious photographers, feel free to chime in and correct me on anything I've gotten wrong.

I'm just an amateur trying to understand this whole world of DSLRs and digital photography.

What I've figured out is that this S90 is perfect for my family.

[MedStudent 56]

The market if flooded with digital cameras.

Which one to buy?

I'm telling you, this is it... the Canon S90 ($399).

 

The S90 is perfect for both the novice and serious amateur photographer.

In many cases it can/will be used by professionals who don't want the bulky DSLR to carry around. (it's a pocket sized camera).

 

In fully auto mode, the novice can take snapshots with great results.

In Manual mode, the advanced user can set aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc to their liking.

 

It really is a great camera for someone who wants to learn more about DSLR photography while still having the "full automatic" crutch to lean on.

 

Many consumers do NOT know what to buy; all they know is the word "mega pixels".

The S90 is 10megapixels but more importantly the Lens, Shutter Speeds, and Sensor on the S90 are far superior to anything you're used to on your normal point&shoot cameras.

 

Lemme' 'splain in layman's terms.

The Lens - it's bigger than most of your point and shoot lenses so it lets more light in and makes it easier to shoot in low light conditions. (it's an f2.0 whereas most point and shoots are f3.5+ (note lower f# is bigger/better)

 

The Shutter Speed- it's blazing fast for a point and shoot meaning that your shots of moving kids/pets/etc won't be blurry (shutter speeds range from 15second long exposures to 1/1600second quick exposures). And, the fact that it doesn't always need a Flash to take decent pictures allows you to shoot faster.

 

Large Sensor - allows the camera to handle/use light better. Cameras with small sensors have lower ISO capabilities. These low ISO capabilities will make low light photography grainy. The S90 has a max. ISO of 3200 (which is unusable) but still takes very good photos at/near the 800 ISO mark.

If any of you are serious photographers, feel free to chime in and correct me on anything I've gotten wrong.

I'm just an amateur trying to understand this whole world of DSLRs and digital photography.

What I've figured out is that this S90 is perfect for my family.

 

seems a bit expensive for a digital camera.

[TD Ryan2 316]

seems a bit expensive for a digital camera.

 

for a point and shoot, yup. most people spend $100 to $200.

 

for a DSLR, nope.

 

and this camera really is a tweener.

[jgcrawfish 232]

for a point and shoot, yup. most people spend $100 to $200.

 

for a DSLR, nope.

 

and this camera really is a tweener.

 

so why not get a DSLR? Nikon D3000 DSLR is in the $450 range...

[Strike 5,173]

so why not get a DSLR? Nikon D3000 DSLR is in the $450 range...

 

I would guess size and convenience. I'm actually in the market for a small yet powerful digital camera myself. If this one were a little cheaper I might bite.

[TD Ryan2 316]

I would guess size and convenience.

 

yup.

 

you can buy a DSLR, but you'll be the only one lugging it around and using it.

and for some, that's OK.

but most of the amateur photographers I know end up leaving the DSLR home.

 

The S90 is accessible to everyone. It's small/light/easy to use with great quality output.

[jgcrawfish 232]

I love how the camera industry has us fooled. They make them smaller and smaller, but you find out in low-light conditions you can't take good pictures because the camera can't get enough light through the miniscule lens or the can't be held still enough to get the proper amount through for long enough. People get sold on the "oh, it's TEN megapixels". A camera set on 10MP takes the same quality of photo when it's set on 2MP and printed on anything 5x7 or smaller...unless you're blowing it up to poster size, or displaying it across your 60 inch LCD, there's no freakin difference, other than it takes up 5 times a much space to store it. I'm to the point where I want a kick-ass DSLR.

[Strike 5,173]

I love how the camera industry has us fooled. They make them smaller and smaller, but you find out in low-light conditions you can't take good pictures because the camera can't get enough light through the miniscule lens or the can't be held still enough to get the proper amount through for long enough. People get sold on the "oh, it's TEN megapixels". A camera set on 10MP takes the same quality of photo when it's set on 2MP and printed on anything 5x7 or smaller...unless you're blowing it up to poster size, or displaying it across your 60 inch LCD, there's no freakin difference, other than it takes up 5 times a much space to store it. I'm to the point where I want a kick-ass DSLR.

 

Did you read the reviews on this one?

[TD Ryan2 316]

People get sold on the "oh, it's TEN megapixels".

I'm to the point where I want a kick-ass DSLR.

 

Did you read the reviews on this one?

 

I can only take the horse to the water...

 

crawfish, I understand that price may be an issue with this camera, but based on what you've posted, the S90 may be perfect for you.

Please, make no mistake though, I don't really don't care if you buy one or not. I'm just telling you all what MY experience/opinion is of this camera.

[Strike 5,173]

I can only take the horse to the water...

 

crawfish, I understand that price may be an issue with this camera, but based on what you've posted, the S90 may be perfect for you.

Please, make no mistake though, I don't really don't care if you buy one or not. I'm just telling you all what MY experience/opinion is of this camera.

 

So you actually own one? Wasn't 100% clear from your first post. Maybe it should be but let me ask anyways.

[jgcrawfish 232]

I can only take the horse to the water...

 

crawfish, I understand that price may be an issue with this camera, but based on what you've posted, the S90 may be perfect for you.

Please, make no mistake though, I don't really don't care if you buy one or not. I'm just telling you all what MY experience/opinion is of this camera.

 

no, i wasn't referring to you...just a pet peeve of mine. you've obviously done your homework on it. I can't stand my wife's little point and shoot fuji.

 

i used to work at Ritz camera when I was younger (before the digital days!) and I loved when these yahoos would come in and buy 400, 800 or even 1600ISO film because they wanted to catch action shots of their 6 year old playing soccer. I didn't have the heart to tell him unless your kid is playing soccer while flying an F16 Fighter Jet, most likely 100ISO would due just fine, and would pretty much assure of not overexposing your precious pictures. I've laughed at the megapixels ever since because people buy it because it had 6MP or more...and take pictures using that, but never even see the advantage because at best they print it on their little home printer and stick it in photo album.

[TD Ryan2 316]

So you actually own one? Wasn't 100% clear from your first post. Maybe it should be but let me ask anyways.

 

yup.

 

got it last week.

I was skeptical.

I've been looking for a great point and shoot for a while now.

 

as crawfish said above, "can't stand the wife's point and shoot".

 

 

I'm still learning with this thing, but I'm taking all my shots without a flash right now.

I'm using it for work and to photograph my kids/pets/etc.

 

Once I start taking those outside shots, I'll use the flash again for fill light but right now, I'm trying to push/test this little camera and it's kicking ass.

[Strike 5,173]

yup.

 

got it last week.

I was skeptical.

I've been looking for a great point and shoot for a while now.

 

as crawfish said above, "can't stand the wife's point and shoot".

I'm still learning with this thing, but I'm taking all my shots without a flash right now.

I'm using it for work and to photograph my kids/pets/etc.

 

Once I start taking those outside shots, I'll use the flash again for fill light but right now, I'm trying to push/test this little camera and it's kicking ass.

 

Did you get it at a brick and mortar store or online? If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay? Seems Canon may have a minimum price set on the thing as the cheapest I see it from a known retailer is $399. If I could get it for $350 or less I'd probably pull the trigger. Like what I'm reading about the thing and have been thinking about getting a digital camera for a while now.

[TD Ryan2 316]

Did you get it at a brick and mortar store or online? If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay? Seems Canon may have a minimum price set on the thing as the cheapest I see it from a known retailer is $399. If I could get it for $350 or less I'd probably pull the trigger. Like what I'm reading about the thing and have been thinking about getting a digital camera for a while now.

 

 

Best Buy, $399 on sale last week.

 

 

We've had a number of $100 cameras over the years and I was just tired of their poor picture quality.

it was worth the price to me to end the camera madness once and for all.

[edjr 6,578]

no matter how good the camera is, your richard is still going to be small.

 

hth

[Strike 5,173]

Ordered this from Amazon a couple days ago. Price down to $380. Still a little more than I wanted to pay but got a trip next month I want it for so wanted to have time to become familiar with it. Thanks for the heads up TD Ryan2.