canon s90

[westsam]

Thinking about getting my wife who is 72years young and not very literate my self included when it comes to new teccnolagy of any kind. My question, is it possible with the s90 to set it to the auto mode and take good in door pictures at any lighting condition?

[tgara]

Thinking about getting my wife who is 72years young and not very literate my self included when it comes to new teccnolagy of any kind. My question, is it possible with the s90 to set it to the auto mode and take good in door pictures at any lighting condition?

I wouldn't get an S90 if I were you. It's would be way too much camera. If you are primarily going to use Auto mode, why not get an A2000 instead? It's a great little camera and takes great pictures. It's got a 3 inch screen on the back so you can see your shots easily. With the 6x zoom and built in flash, you should be able to take just about any shot you want.

[jr_senator]

Let me suggest, like I do with my wife's camera, set it up so that the flash fires every time. Yes, it will fire times when it is really not needed, but it will also fire every time it's needed and the camera's program doesn't think so. Your wife (and you) won't have to decide if the flash needs to be used or not and remember to turn it on when needed. If you don't set it that way the camera will decide when the flash needs to be used and it's judgment is not always good. Taking an indoor picture the camera may think there is enough light because of a bright background and not fire the flash leaving one with dark subjects. The downside? you will use up batteries quicker. Some of my wife's friends want to know why her pictures look so much better than theirs and ask me to set up their settings. The settings are, flash always on and use ISO of 200 for the sensor sensitivity setting (a good all around setting), Good luck.

[jr_senator]

Oh, use the largest picture file size. It will give you the better quality pictures and with a 4GB memory card still hold a lot of pictures.

[westsam]

thanks very much guys.
senator is the s90 set up in auto when it is setpu like you discribed and will it have to be re-set every time she uses it? also will the auto focus work in the mode set up like this. i think i could eventualy learn it but she will never try. she likes to take pictures of the family. i bought a nikon s220 but the thing dont take good pictures in low ligh.
thanks for the help

[jr_senator]

I don't know about the S90. My wife's camera needs to be set at "P".

[Dick Emery]

I don't see why you should not buy the S90. In auto mode it will be fine and you can follow others advice here. You never know she might get to know the settings and start taking it a bit more seriously and become a keen photographer herself. At least she will have the flexibility to grow with an S90. And at the very least the quality of the shots will be better than most lower spec compacts.

[brownmichael]

Since this camera is for an older couple, I would like to bring up the issue of ergonomics. The S90 is a slippery little devil with small controls. Might be hard for older hands to deal with.

I also feel it is more camera than most people need if they have no interest in shooting RAW.

Mike Brown
5D, 40D, S90, A720, 350D

[Dick Emery]

It really depends on your point of view. A camera to grow into. Or just grab the best budget compact. Grip issues can be resolved with a simple addon. But it's swings and roundabouts really. Your choice.

[David_S]

The S90 is a slippery little devil with small controls

I have to agree. I'm only 49 yy with small hands but I ended up adding Richard Franiec's grip and bought a strip of grip tape like you put on steps for traction and placed small pieces at strategic locations on the camera. I don't have a much of a problem with the controls except for the dial on the back. I always seem to have neg exposure comp dialed in :oops: I really like the s90 but it's far from perfect as all cameras are. My biggest gripe is the location of the pop up flash. It is always under my finger and startles me when it lifts. I suppose one of these days I'll probably damage the motor that lifts the flash or drop the camera. I normally have it off and shoot in p mode but at times I'll switch to a different mode I forget about it and up it pops. Always attach the wrist strap before using the camera.

[dave_bass5]

My suggestion would also be something else.
The pop up flash can be a bit of a surprise, especially if you have a finger over it.
Im not saying the OP and his wife are to old to hold and work the camera but even i have nearly dropped mine a few times because of the flash. And then theres the wheel ;)

My vote would go to a Panasonic ZS3. Its a bit bigger, has, IMHO & IME a much better Auto mode, and that includes the flash plus its easier to hold.

[Dick Emery]

I need to learn a to hold it from the front ring. I read that is the best way to address that issue.

[Savas K]

I got used to holding it at the top, just behind the pop-up flash. That little bugger can be surprising!

[mrknowitall]

I agree that a larger camera would be best. I cannot image the hands of a 72 old manipulating the S90. It is small and controls are cramped. I can't recommend an alternative, but I can say that I would not advise my parents to buy an S90.

[twokatmew]

My suggestion would also be something else.
The pop up flash can be a bit of a surprise, especially if you have a finger over it.
Im not saying the OP and his wife are to old to hold and work the camera but even i have nearly dropped mine a few times because of the flash. And then theres the wheel ;)

My vote would go to a Panasonic ZS3. Its a bit bigger, has, IMHO & IME a much better Auto mode, and that includes the flash plus its easier to hold.
I have a Panasonic ZS3, which I got because I needed more zoom. I really love Canons and was also looking at the SX200IS, but it just couldn't compare to the ZS3. I was surprised by how much I do like the ZS3, even though it doesn't offer a manual mode or RAW shooting. So ... I ordered myself an S90 today. I plan to use this mostly in aperture- and shutter-priority modes. Between these two cameras, I should have my walk-around photo needs covered. :)

For the OP, I too would recommend the Panasonic ZS3. ... Sorry to recommend something other than Canon on my first post.... :o :lol:

[dave_bass5]

I miss the long zoom and HD video i had with my TZ7 (ZS3) but IQ is so much better with the S90 that i dont regret getting rid of it.
The ZS3's auto mode is much better than the S90 (IMHO & IME) but then we dont really buy a S90 for full auto so its no big deal.

[Eadward]

Why not a G11 - would have high PQ and much easier ergonomics.

[twokatmew]

Why not a G11 - would have high PQ and much easier ergonomics.
Actually the S90 has the same sensor and a brighter lens than the G11. The G11's larger than the S90, too.

I have both the Panasonic ZS3 and the S90. I like using the S90 in Av, Prog/Macro and sometimes manual. But I agree with Dave that the ZS3 has a much nicer (and more useful) auto mode. Both cameras work very well together (for me, anyway)!

[Eadward]

Actually the S90 has the same sensor and a brighter lens than the G11. The G11's larger than the S90, too.

I have both the Panasonic ZS3 and the S90. I like using the S90 in Av, Prog/Macro and sometimes manual. But I agree with Dave that the ZS3 has a much nicer (and more useful) auto mode. Both cameras work very well together (for me, anyway)!

I said G11 would have "high PQ" not "higher" and yes its larger which given the handling concerns of the OP on ergonomics is why I recommended as it would seem a better fit than the S90.

[jr_senator]

I said G11 would have "high PQ" not "higher" and yes its larger which given the handling concerns of the OP on ergonomics is why I recommended as it would seem a better fit than the S90.
May be a small person with small hands, no?