First Impressions of my S95 - Wow! (somewhat longwinded, with pics)

After much mental debate, I ordered an S95 this week as a purse-sized companion to my 60D. I've been drooling over the series ever since the S90 came out with the combination of RAW files and ease of use, and the S95 looked even better with the improved control rings and slight body/button redesign.

After receiving it yesterday and spending a couple hours walking the city with it today, all I can say is - Wow!

For such a tiny camera, the amount of control I can get over my photos is really quite impressive. I spent most of the day in Av mode, just as I would with my dSLR, and once I got familiar with the controls, it was amazingly quick and easy to change settings as appropriate for the scene. And manual mode is just as simple to use and adjust, with the bonus of the live preview on the beautiful LCD. The quick change from normal to macro mode is also simple and handy for close-ups of flowers and other things that need detail. Plus, being a tiny camera, it's much less likely to get noticed walking around the city than my beast of a 60D.

Once I got home and dropped the RAW files into Adobe LightRoom, I was absolutely thrilled with the quality of results from this camera. Tack sharp where they need to be, and the white balance was right on as well. The whole day's worth of photos were nearly ready to use right out of the camera, with only a little noise reduction required for some of the higher ISO shots. (That's not to say I didn't have a little fun with them anyway.) And since I shot in RAW + JPG, I didn't really even need to process, as most of the JPGs looked great.

While the S95 may not suffice for someone doing a lot of low light or fast-moving kids/pets/sports photos, it's great for the times I want to wander around the city without calling attention to a giant camera, or for when I want to take a camera somewhere without packing an entire camera bag.

And now, on with the example pics!

Straight out of camera JPG, flash fired in a VERY dark space, at full or nearly full zoom:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …eghansgallery/6​063533432/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …eghansgallery/6​062984781/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …eghansgallery/6​063533612/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …eghansgallery/6​062985033/

Congrats on the new camera. I'm also impressed with the sharpness wide open at f/2.0, and the clarity. Then the lowlight video performance, and lastly a feature that my old P&S lacked, the auto ISO with possibility to set the upper limit (I set it to 640).

1. Congratulations.

2. Nice pics.

3. You think you're long winded? I have been a member of this forum half as long as you and have ten times the number of posts.

I think I need to zip my lip and start shooting more.

Your review has me itchin' to get one.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #12973043
Your review has me itchin' to get one.

+1! This has me thinking of ditching my S3is backup and getting an S95 for my wife to replace her aging A710is.

ms95 stabbed the 710is in the heart, the only thing the 710 did even close is battery life - nice pics

I've been debating with my self on which pocket-camera to get. I have three 1D-series bodies and don't want to be saddled with some crappy p.o.s. I was in a camera shop yesterday looking at an S95 and I am DEFINITELY getting one ASAP. I don't like lugging my pro bodies to the beach, lake, and hiking. I want something pocket-sized (the G12 is too big) WITH excellent IQ. Thanks for your thoughts.

fyi, on the s95 you don't actually need to change to macro mode. The camera will focus at macro distance automatically. I think they just left it on there to so people didn't wonder where macro mode went, lol...

After a few days with the S95, I'm still really impressed. Plus, I REALLY like the ability to carry a camera around everywhere without packing 3lbs of gear! (60D + 24-105 lens is not light.)

Those of you who say you are on the fence, go for it! I've spent nearly 2 years contemplating this purchase, first with the S90 then the S95. I should have just done this last summer when the S95 came out, if nothing else I might have a couple fewer "day bags" that can fit my dSLR!

As for macro mode, maybe it's not needed, but I'm still getting used to the focusing on the S95 - not quite as fast as my 60d (obviously) and it does seem a bit more temperamental, it will focus on something, then without moving the camera will refuse to focus on the next try. Pretty much just for close-up still life objects, and probably at least partially operator error.

I found a camera shop that buys refurbished S95's from Canon and sells them for $299! In my experience, Canon Factory refurbs are BETTER than retail. I am so there. Already have like 75% of the $$$ saved up. Next week I'll be the proud owner of an S95.

Got this camera for a graduation gift, we have been loving it!

I'm seriously considering getting one of these as well. I have the SD1200 IS and it's not what I expected. My Droid takes better photos. If I can sell the SD1200 IS I'll probably buy me a S95 to replace it.

The problem is that if I have 400 bucks to spend on a point and shoot, then I have enough (or close to enough) to get another lens.

MikeFairbanks wrote in post #13001468
The problem is that if I have 400 bucks to spend on a point and shoot, then I have enough (or close to enough) to get another lens.

True. In my case, I have all the lenses I want (for now) and since I seem to have a preference for L lenses, they're a lot more than $400 anyway.

Love this camera! But the auto mode suck. Took it to the club and put it on auto cause I was too buzz to set anything and it's a super hit and miss but when it hit the picture came out great. Once it miss you have blur image. But I'm not complain, the rest is awesome beside auto mode in low light.

dorkiedoode wrote in post #13001587
Love this camera! But the auto mode suck. Took it to the club and put it on auto cause I was too buzz to set anything and it's a super hit and miss but when it hit the picture came out great. Once it miss you have blur image. But I'm not complain, the rest is awesome beside auto mode in low light.

I was very disapointed wit hthe camera to start with on auto, someone suggested putting it into P mode which changed everything....