Canon PowerShot S90
Encyclopedia
The Canon PowerShot S90 is a high-end 10.0 megapixel compact digital camera
originally announced in 2009. The PowerShot
S90 is the successor of the Canon PowerShot S80
.
The almost 4-year gap between the S80 and the S90, compared with intervals of 6 months to 1 year between prior versions, led to the line being popularly considered discontinued, and thus the S90 as a revival, rather than a strict successor.
) are particularly cited. The primary criticisms, beyond the general limitations of small sensor and small size, are that its ergonomics are lacking, and in particular that the rear dial moves too easily, changing exposure and often ruining photos.
To address the ergonomic criticisms, third parties have developed a custom grip to make the camera easier to grip, and a plastic ring to surround the control dial, making the dial less likely to be accidentally moved.
(and the Lumix's sister camera, the Leica D-Lux 4); one significant difference being that the S90 is significantly slimmer due to the fully collapsible lens, hence more portable.
The Canon PowerShot S95
was announced and released in 2010. It was designed as the successor to the Canon PowerShot S90 but both cameras are currently sold (as of January 2011).
The Canon PowerShot G
series are similar in terms of target market, but feature a larger body.
A similar category to high-end compact cameras are mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
s ("micros"), some of which are in a compact form factor (with a similar-sized body), such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
, Olympus PEN E-P1
/E-P2
, and Sony Alpha NEX-3. Micros differ however in being significantly larger (with lens attached), and significantly higher-end, featuring much larger sensors and interchangeable lenses.
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
originally announced in 2009. The PowerShot
Canon PowerShot
The PowerShot products are a line of consumer and prosumer grade digital cameras, launched by Canon in 1996. The PowerShot line has been successful for Canon, and is one of the best-selling digital camera lines worldwide....
S90 is the successor of the Canon PowerShot S80
Canon PowerShot S80
The Canon PowerShot S80 is a 8.0 megapixel digital camera originally released in 2005. The PowerShot S80 is the successor of Canon PowerShot S70.-Features:* 8.0 megapixels* JPEG support* Film speed equivalent of ISO 50–400...
.
The almost 4-year gap between the S80 and the S90, compared with intervals of 6 months to 1 year between prior versions, led to the line being popularly considered discontinued, and thus the S90 as a revival, rather than a strict successor.
Features
- 10.0 megapixels
- JPEGJPEGIn computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
(EXIFExchangeable image file formatExchangeable image file format is a standard that specifies the formats for images, sound, and ancillary tags used by digital cameras , scanners and other systems handling image and sound files recorded by digital cameras...
2.2) support - RawRAW image formatA camera raw image file contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of either a digital camera, image scanner, or motion picture film scanner. Raw files are so named because they are not yet processed and therefore are not ready to be printed or edited with a bitmap graphics editor...
image file format; one of few "point and shoot" cameras to have raw formatting. (Note: Raw format is not available in Auto, Low Light, and SCN modes. Raw is available in Program, Tv (shutter priority), Av (aperture priority), Manual, and Custom modes) - ISO sensitivityFilm speedFilm speed is the measure of a photographic film's sensitivity to light, determined by sensitometry and measured on various numerical scales, the most recent being the ISO system....
80–3200 and auto. Low light mode can shoot up to ISO 12800. - Wide-angle zoom lens 6.0–22.5 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28–105 mm)
- Full manual control
- Customizable Control Ring to control ISO, shutter speed, aperture, focus, or exposure compensation
- DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology
- Video recording 640 × 480 at 30 frame/s, 320 × 240 at 30 frame/s
Reception
The S90 has received good, in some cases excellent reviews, with reviewers praising its image quality, small size, and ease of using manual mode, particularly due to its distinctive control ring. The fast (f/2) lens and the decision to reduce the pixel count (hence reducing noise; also found in the G11Canon PowerShot G
The Canon PowerShot G is a series of digital cameras released by Canon. The G series cameras are Canon's flagship 'compact' models aimed at prosumer photography enthusiasts desiring more flexibility than a point-and-shoot without the bulk of a digital single-lens reflex camera.The G series offers...
) are particularly cited. The primary criticisms, beyond the general limitations of small sensor and small size, are that its ergonomics are lacking, and in particular that the rear dial moves too easily, changing exposure and often ruining photos.
To address the ergonomic criticisms, third parties have developed a custom grip to make the camera easier to grip, and a plastic ring to surround the control dial, making the dial less likely to be accidentally moved.
Similar cameras
In the high-end compact camera market, its main competitor is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, or LX3, is a high-end compact "point and shoot" camera launched by Panasonic in late 2008 to succeed the LX2.The camera was well-received by photographers and is often said to be the best camera of its type.- Features :...
(and the Lumix's sister camera, the Leica D-Lux 4); one significant difference being that the S90 is significantly slimmer due to the fully collapsible lens, hence more portable.
The Canon PowerShot S95
Canon PowerShot S95
The Canon PowerShot S95 is a high-end 10.0 megapixel compact digital camera announced and released in 2010. It was designed as the successor to the Canon PowerShot S90 in the S series of the Canon PowerShot line of cameras....
was announced and released in 2010. It was designed as the successor to the Canon PowerShot S90 but both cameras are currently sold (as of January 2011).
The Canon PowerShot G
Canon PowerShot G
The Canon PowerShot G is a series of digital cameras released by Canon. The G series cameras are Canon's flagship 'compact' models aimed at prosumer photography enthusiasts desiring more flexibility than a point-and-shoot without the bulk of a digital single-lens reflex camera.The G series offers...
series are similar in terms of target market, but feature a larger body.
A similar category to high-end compact cameras are mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
A mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera is an emerging class of digital system cameras, intermediate between compact digital cameras and digital single-lens reflex cameras . They are characterized by a no-mirror design and an interchangeable lens mount...
s ("micros"), some of which are in a compact form factor (with a similar-sized body), such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 is the third camera in Panasonic's Lumix G-series, using the Micro Four Thirds System. Its body design similar to that of the recently released Olympus E-P1, the GF1 is 35% smaller than earlier G models...
, Olympus PEN E-P1
Olympus PEN E-P1
The Olympus PEN E-P1 announced on 16 June 2009 is Olympus Corporation's first camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds system design standard. The first camera to use the Micro Four Thirds mount was the Panasonic's G-1 camera.-Features:...
/E-P2
Olympus PEN E-P2
The Olympus PEN E-P2 announced on 5 November 2009 is Olympus Corporation's second camera that adheres to the Micro Four Thirds system design standard...
, and Sony Alpha NEX-3. Micros differ however in being significantly larger (with lens attached), and significantly higher-end, featuring much larger sensors and interchangeable lenses.
External links
- Digicamhelp Blog » Canon s90, by Gail Bjork – blog about S90
- In-depth Canon S90 review at Enticing the Light (with depth-of-field and hyperfocal distance tables in Part 2): Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3