Advice on buying a s90/95 (crosspost from Canon EOS forums)

Hey guys, I'm wondering if you'd be so kind as to give me some advice . I'm travelling abroad next year, and I would like to take really nice photos. I currently have a Canon sd1100, which I like because it is really small and compact. My friend offered to let me borrow his Canon Rebel XT with stock lens, but I'm wondering if that will be a little hard to lug around if I go travelling..So after doing a lot of research I was thinking about the s90/95 because I've seen the images it produces, and they are fantastic! Plus it gives you more manual control than my sd1100. However, I'm a photography novice. I know the basics of exposure, aperture, etc. So, my dilemma is whether I should just take the Rebel XT and use it in conjunction with my sd1100, or buy a s90/95. I could also get the s90/95 and also borrow the DSLR to have the best of both worlds, but s90/95s are so pricy these days..I know that I'm not good enough to make full use of the controls available on the s90/95, but the image quality on even auto mode is loads better than my sd1100 with the limited manual settings I can use. And I feel like since the s90/95 is more compact I'd be more likely to carry it out with me. Oh, and I mostly plan to take pictures of my friends that I'll be travelling with, scenery/monuments (with me in it), etc. Thanks in advance!

I cannot comment on the camera you have currently, but the s95 is a fantastic pockatable camera, see here for a comparison against your current model:
http://snapsort.com …Canon_PowerShot​_SD1100_IS

The auto mode is so-so. Since someone advised me to put it into p mode, and down the exposure to -1/3, I'm getting cracking photos almost all the time. This mode also alllows you to caputre in both raw and jpeg.

Plus you can shoot 24fps 720p video.

I recently picked up an S95. For a ultra compact, take anywhere with you camera it takes great pictures. It is easy to use in P mode and shouldn't require much adjustment for photographers of any level.

That said, it is not comparable to a DSLR with an APS-C sized sensor and a decent lens.

If you think you can and will carry the larger camera it is definitely the better investment. However, I find that I rarely have my DSLR with me when I want to take pictures. It is just too big for my lifestyle. I can throw the tiny S95 in my pocket and carry it most/all of the time.

kingme209 wrote in post #12381148
I could also get the s90/95 and also borrow the DSLR to have the best of both worlds, but s90/95s are so pricy these days

I like that idea. Refurbished S90/S95 can be had for a reasonable price

canon store

get the s95 - take RAW

The S95 is honestly as good as the older Rebels with the kit lens and it would be an amazing upgrade to the SD1100.

I actually upgraded my SD1100IS to the S95 and am VERY glad I did. It is quite a bit a better camera all around and allows you much more control than your average point and shoot. However, it is no where NEAR what a DLSR can product. If you can figure out how to carry around a DSLR with you, DO IT! If not, the S95 especially if youre gonna shoot RAW or video is a very good upgrade from the SD1100IS.

ben_r_ wrote in post #12384659
However, it is no where NEAR what a DLSR can product. If you can figure out how to carry around a DSLR with you, DO IT!

Comparing to an 18-55mm kit lens, I think the S95 is at least as good. What advantage would the DSLR have? If you are going to grab a nicer lens or two for the SLR, then sure.

Thanks for the responses! I do plan on trying to bring the DSLR whenever I go out sightseeing, but there will be times where it'll be a lot easier to carry a compact camera. It also seems easier for other people to operate point and shoots, which is good for me because most likely I'll be asking someone to take a picture of me. That's why I was thinking about the s90, because its cheaper than the s95 and I don't really care about the HD video. My iphone 4 can shoot 720P, which is good enough for me. That way I can have the s90 to complement the DSLR, and images from both cameras will blow the sd1100 out of the water. I'm just debating if its worth the convenience to get the s90, or if I should save the money and just try to lug the DSLR around everywhere..I just can't get over how much better the images produced by the s90 will be over the sd1100. Please help me make a choice!

I've already given my opinion twice, but I would grab an S95 and leave the dSLR and SD1100 home, unless you have access to better lenses. With the 18-55 kit lens you will have less zoom range than the S95, you won't have sharper optics, and the lens will have a slower aperture that negates the image quality advantage at higher ISO. The 18-55 that came with the XT lacks Image stabilization. The S95 has manual control and RAW shooting. You aren't going to get shallow DOF or fast autofocus or fast burst speed with the XT and 18-55. So I am not left with any reasons I can think of to take it over the S95.

FWIW, I have owned a rebel+18-55, an SD1100 and an S90.

tkbslc, thanks a lot for your help. I've decided to get a s90/95, but I'll still bring the dSLR for when I'm able to lug it around. Also, do you find it very cumbersome to carry a dSLR around? The rebel xti seems pretty small compared to other SLRs, but it definitely won't fit into my pocket like the s90/95 will.

Why don`t you just buy a Sony NEX3 with 18-55 kit lens? Why do you have to be a solid Canonite? =)
This will easily solve your problem.....

I have some pictures from my website with sample of S95 that I bought and returned from BESTBUY. I have been researching on NEX3/5 and the new NEXC3 coming this summer. I heard that the NEX3/5 kit zoom lens 18-55mm is better than their optional 16mm f2.8 prime lens -Which is very unusual.

Wow that is an interesting camera. I'm not a solid canonite at all! The only camera I've ever owned is a SD1100. I like the NEX3, but its pretty pricy compared to the s90/95. I'm still a novice when it comes to photography, so I don't want to buy really expensive equipment and have it not be used. That's why I'm leading to a point and shoot that has manual capabilities. Between that and the dSLR my friend is letting me borrow I'm sure I'll know if I really enjoy photography enough to spend more on a nicer camera like the NEX3. Thanks for the tip though.

Once you add the 18-55 lens to the NEX it is nowhere near a compact camera anymore, so it isn't a huge advantage over the Xti.

kingme209 wrote in post #12385374
tkbslc, thanks a lot for your help. I've decided to get a s90/95, but I'll still bring the dSLR for when I'm able to lug it around. Also, do you find it very cumbersome to carry a dSLR around? The rebel xti seems pretty small compared to other SLRs, but it definitely won't fit into my pocket like the s90/95 will.

If you are going to bring the DSLR then I would save your money and just bring the SD1100 as a companion pocket camera. The point of the S90 is so you can leave the DSLR at home.

The Rebel is a smaller dslr, but it is still big enough you will have to sling it on your hip or in a small bag. You'll know it is there and it is something extra to babysit. It becomes like another purse or bag to carry.

I see, that's what I was afraid of. I guess it wouldn't be so bad to lug it around, just a minor inconvenience. On a side note, do you recommend any bag/backpacks to store the camera in? Well the reason I wanted to get a s90 was to use it when I didn't want to bring the Rebel XTi. I feel like by using the sd1100 the images won't be as good as the s90. It's kind of hard to explain this thought process..