Buying from scratch... S95 or S100?

MDEphoto wrote in post #13490936
I have been in the market for the S95 and have too noticed the price coming up. Although, it seems when the S100 becomes available, the S95 drops again. I think it is supply and demand on the S100 side - when there are no S100 available people decide to buy the S95 and thus the price jumps a bit.

Back to the original question, I chose the S95 because it is a backup camera and one the wife uses the most. I chose to take the $150 savings and put it towards another lens for my 5D II. Use your money wisely! =)

While that's smart thinking, $150 is about 7.5% of the price of a USED 5D2. Is that savings worth getting a significantly inferior camera for? For me, it wouldn't be. But, I've been waiting for the S100 since the S95 was announced (so about 2 years) and I don't plan on replacing it for years to come.

Missed out on the S95 deal on Amazon. I was going back and forth between the S95 and S100. S95 for the lower price, many good recommendations from owners. But opted to spend the extra money for the S100 because of focal length, 1080p and ability to zoom while recording. I don't care for GPS so I'll have that turned off.

LowriderS10 wrote in post #13627945
While that's smart thinking, $150 is about 7.5% of the price of a USED 5D2. Is that savings worth getting a significantly inferior camera

Another way of looking at it would be; is it worth spending another $150 when $299 already gets you an amazing little camera?

Sirrith wrote in post #13628819
Another way of looking at it would be; is it worth spending another $150 when $299 already gets you an amazing little camera?

Yeah, that's very true as well...the way I looked at it is I've been waiting for a camera to come out that would address some of the things I missed from the S95...when the S100 came out, it solved everything! Is $150 worth saving for a camera I'm going to use for years and years? Not for me...the S95 is undoubtedly a better value (performance per dollar-wise)...but, I could happily justify the extra money for a camera I have been waiting and wishing for for two years.

LowriderS10 wrote in post #13630608
Yeah, that's very true as well...the way I looked at it is I've been waiting for a camera to come out that would address some of the things I missed from the S95...when the S100 came out, it solved everything! Is $150 worth saving for a camera I'm going to use for years and years? Not for me...the S95 is undoubtedly a better value (performance per dollar-wise)...but, I could happily justify the extra money for a camera I have been waiting and wishing for for two years.

TBH I would have gone with the s100 as well if they didn't try jacking up the prices here in HK. The difference isn't $150 here, but close to $200. Thats more money than I'd ever pay for a compact. So I went with the s95 rather than wait for supply to get back to normal, since the best camera is the one you have with you

Sirrith wrote in post #13631211
TBH I would have gone with the s100 as well if they didn't try jacking up the prices here in HK. The difference isn't $150 here, but close to $200. Thats more money than I'd ever pay for a compact. So I went with the s95 rather than wait for supply to get back to normal, since the best camera is the one you have with you

Very true...the S100 isn't even out in Korea yet (I'm pretty sure I have the first one here haha...camera stores haven't even heard of it!!), but the S95 is still holding steady at 600,000 won (or about $540 Canadian). I shudder to think what the S100 will go for when it gets released here. Thankfully I got mine through a friend, so I got it at American prices...or...my S100 cost me about $100 less than the S95 would have, had I bought it locally in Korea.

Tough call on this one. Since the S100 was out of stock in December, I ordered an S95 for my trip over the holidays. But even with next day delivery, I missed it by a few hours as I had to leave to catch my flight. So I ended lugging my DSLR on my trip. Now that the S100 is available, I snagged one. Guess it's time to sell the S95. That was my decision maker.

StinkyGoalieGuy wrote in post #13641650
Tough call on this one. Since the S100 was out of stock in December, I ordered an S95 for my trip over the holidays. But even with next day delivery, I missed it by a few hours as I had to leave to catch my flight. So I ended lugging my DSLR on my trip. Now that the S100 is available, I snagged one. Guess it's time to sell the S95. That was my decision maker.

Interesting that you would leave the DSLR at home to take the S95...says a lot about these little guys. I'm planning a trip across Eastern Europe this summer...and I'm trying to come up with enough reasons to justify taking the 1D3/16-35L II. It's a lot of gear to have stolen (let's be honest, petty theft is rampant in that part of the world)...whereas the S100 is stealthy, little and easy to hide...I'd love to hear back from people on how the S100/S95 does on extended trips as a sole camera...

LowriderS10 wrote in post #13641847
Interesting that you would leave the DSLR at home to take the S95...says a lot about these little guys. I'm planning a trip across Eastern Europe this summer...and I'm trying to come up with enough reasons to justify taking the 1D3/16-35L II. It's a lot of gear to have stolen (let's be honest, petty theft is rampant in that part of the world)...whereas the S100 is stealthy, little and easy to hide...I'd love to hear back from people on how the S100/S95 does on extended trips as a sole camera...

I try to travel really light since checked luggage is so expensive these days. So now I only have so much room for carry-on cameras. Also, now that I have kids I don't have a chance to venture out for 'artistic' photography, it's mostly just snapshots of family, etc. In that case, the S100 would have been more than adequate, yet still usable for the occasional spontaneous 'artistic' moment. So it really depends on the trip. There are times when I might bring both the DSLR and the P&S. Call me crazy.

For a vacation like going to Europe or something I think a M4/3 camera would be nice. Sure it's a little bulky in size compared to a P&S, but there is the weight savings over a DSLR (about 1/3rd the weight of a xxD body with equivalent lens from my quick calculation). But I don't shoot enough or have enough money to afford a P&S and 2 separate interchangeable lens systems. lol

StinkyGoalieGuy wrote in post #13641906
I try to travel really light since checked luggage is so expensive these days. So now I only have so much room for carry-on cameras. Also, now that I have kids I don't have a chance to venture out for 'artistic' photography, it's mostly just snapshots of family, etc. In that case, the S100 would have been more than adequate, yet still usable for the occasional spontaneous 'artistic' moment. So it really depends on the trip. There are times when I might bring both the DSLR and the P&S. Call me crazy.

Haha you're not crazy, the DSLR + G9 has been how I've always travelled...but with the wide angle, fast lens of the S100 and the better low-light capabilities, it's really moved up my list haha

DStanic wrote in post #13642700
For a vacation like going to Europe or something I think a M4/3 camera would be nice. Sure it's a little bulky in size compared to a P&S, but there is the weight savings over a DSLR (about 1/3rd the weight of a xxD body with equivalent lens from my quick calculation). But I don't shoot enough or have enough money to afford a P&S and 2 separate interchangeable lens systems. lol

A good idea, but I'm not a huge fan of M4/3s.

LowriderS10 wrote in post #13642730
A good idea, but I'm not a huge fan of M4/3s.

If I hadn't bought my 5D, which I absolutely love, I could almost see switching to M4/3 (I have never used one, but the images look pretty good). The main thing I really loved about the Canon APS-C sensor was how good it shot at high ISOs, and I'm pretty sure the M4/3 have caught up with them (the older ones such as 30D anyways). But the 5D produces such beautiful sharp detailed images that a M4/3 will never quite be able to capture, no matter how good their image processors get (and I don't use my 30D much anymore, mostly as a backup or second camera for weddings.)

DStanic wrote in post #13642825
If I hadn't bought my 5D, which I absolutely love, I could almost see switching to M4/3 (I have never used one, but the images look pretty good). The main thing I really loved about the Canon APS-C sensor was how good it shot at high ISOs, and I'm pretty sure the M4/3 have caught up with them (the older ones such as 30D anyways). But the 5D produces such beautiful sharp detailed images that a M4/3 will never quite be able to capture, no matter how good their image processors get (and I don't use my 30D much anymore, mostly as a backup or second camera for weddings.)

While you're right, I have seen some good stuff come out of M4/3s, there are things that turn me off of M4/3s...

- Too big to be a compact...I mean something like a NEX-5 with a kit lens is dangerously close to a Rebel size/weight wise. Certainly a lot closer than an S100.
- No fast zooms...sure, you can get fast primes, but what's the point of a "compact" camera if you're just going to be carrying a bagful of primes around.
- Still more of a thief magnet than the very stealthy S100 (the MAIN reason I'm thinking of leaving the DSLR at home).
- Expensive...even the cheapest half-decent M4/3 setup will cost twice as much as the S100 and I'm not sure it would yield much superior images (ie: NEX-5 with kit lens vs. S100).

I could be wrong, I've never shot with a M4/3 and believe me I've tried to sell myself on the idea of one (I like gadgets), but I simply can't see the point...

LowriderS10 wrote in post #13641847
Interesting that you would leave the DSLR at home to take the S95...says a lot about these little guys. I'm planning a trip across Eastern Europe this summer...and I'm trying to come up with enough reasons to justify taking the 1D3/16-35L II. It's a lot of gear to have stolen (let's be honest, petty theft is rampant in that part of the world)...whereas the S100 is stealthy, little and easy to hide...I'd love to hear back from people on how the S100/S95 does on extended trips as a sole camera...

I've been to Europe a few times, including Romania twice in the last year. I had my T2i and T3i along with the 17-55, 10-22, 70-200, 2 Speedlites, and my little S95 with me (not to mention my tripod). Never had I felt threatened by the people over there, but that isn't to say it isn't possible to be robbed if you aren't careful. The S95 alone can get the job done but it's a serious compromise (focal length, dof, noise, good fill flash, etc) if you need or want maximum flexibility in taking pictures.

S95 is an amazing camera for the price, I think as the S100 comes more available you may see people clearing out their old S95s to try and get S100s