Back into the P&S world

So, I started out on POTN with an S2IS. Sold that and got a Rebel, and then a 40D. And I just bought an s95. I have used it mainly for testing purposes for only an hour or so but so far I am happy with it. So long as I remember why I bought it and what it is not. But I was very surprised to open the box and see that there was not a full printed manual provided. I think this is a very cheap move by canon. It's not like this is their bargain basement offering. It's the most expensive and complex P&S they sell!. I just couldn't believe that and I figured I would post here about it. I am certainly not going to print 100+ pages. I am off to NYC today and I will have to figure stuff out. Still, I am sure I will really like this camera. After a while one doesn't need a manual anymore.

Stefa

My SX20 (purchased in June) didn't have a full manual either. I "bit the bullet" and printed it anyway. You can save some paper by printing it "4 up" - 4 manual pages to one 8x11. The T2i (purchased in October) did have the full printed manual, so Canon hasn't cut that - yet.

Thanks steve. I just came up with a solution. I downloaded the PDF from Canon's site onto my touch and opened it iBooks. Now it's there and perfectly formatted for the screen.

Stefan A wrote in post #11533670
Thanks steve. I just came up with a solution. I downloaded the PDF from Canon's site onto my touch and opened it iBooks. Now it's there and perfectly formatted for the screen.

Thats what I did too. I have both the manuals for my S95 and T2i in ibooks and found it extremely convenient.

Stefan A - This must be another example of cameras being a lot cheaper, same model, in the US than they are here in Sydney...!

That is, here, the S95 isn't Canon's "most expensive" P&S - by 2 models.

For price comparison, the AUD at present is US$1.17c, so about the same.

The S95 is $509.00.

The SX30 IS is $549.00.

The G12 is $629.00.

Ref: - www.digitalcamerawareh​ouse.com.au/category8_​1.htm (all on the same page)

For your extra $120.00, the G12 is 5x Zoom (the S95 is 3.8x), and a heck of a lot more "adjustments" - including 3 "mode" dials - combination "stacked" shooting modes and ISO, and Exposure Comp. It also has (on the front) a Command dial. Plus of course the 4-way pad. It also has a Viewfinder, which the S95 lacks.

All-in-all - the G12 is a beautiful piece of machinery... In a place where we pay over $500.00 for an S95 - a mere extra $120.00 to get the superb G12 isn't a lot...

Both use the Digic-4 processor, both use the same "big for P&S" 1/1.7 sensor, but the G12 is a greatly "more complex and adjustable" camera.

As for printed Manuals with, particularly, the more expensive P&S cameras - most makers seem to be avoiding that "huge expense" now. After all, it must cost, ohh, at least $4-5.00 apiece, to mass-print Manuals, in the low-labour-cost countries where the cameras are now built.

When I bought my Canon SX10 about 2 years back, it came with a very nifty, well-made, 6" x 4" 292-page Manual - identical, page-for-page with the onscreen PDF - very useful indeed, particularly during the first few outings with a new camera. (At the time, the SX10 was AUD$586.00 / US$480.00, while over in the US, it was about US$320.00, or under - so we then paid about 50% more in USDs)

But when I bought a Fuji HS10 earlier this year - was then $545.00 (now $505.00) - no printed Manual. In some places owners can buy them from Fuji as a separate item, but not here.

Dave.

Yeah, I understand the differences between the G12 and the s95. I was set on the G12 for a while, but in the end I went for size of the camera. And I am glad I did. Back when I bought the S2IS it came with a 4x6 manual and of course both DSLR's I have bought came with one. I guess Canon just figures people who buy a P&S don't need a printed manual. Or maybe they are just cheap.

Stefan

I also chose the (in my case) the S90 for it's size, with no regrets. As for the manual, seems to me that if you have used any of the powershots over the past several years, the menus and controls pretty much speak for themselves. I honestly never looked in the box for a manual. Don't know if there's one there or not. Of course, if someone bought one that had never used this line of Canons, they would have a real problem without a manual.

I used an S2IS back in 2006 and that's about it. So yeah, I need the manual. A lot of things cac be figured out. But it is helpful to know what the camera can do.