Canon PowerShot S5 IS review

[paintboarder1]

is the video setting limited to 4:3 aspect ratio or may i change it to 16:9?

[multijoana1993]

Hello, could you tell me how much this camera in euro and where can I buy?

[AshleeJ222]

can u please do a video on setting the shutter speed and show it step by step. aswell i need to know how to do it so i can do a light painting photo please email me at mitebemst@msn.com.... thanks

[icedxtea123]

this wuz very helpful. now im going to record mw2 with it xD

[Qzainal]

i love my s5is , i think it is the best simi-pro camera in the maket

[PurplePop101]

Im getting this for 200 is that a good deal and is it worth it?

[JESSiE1x0]

@PurplePop101 yes absolutly,

it was like 350$ 2 years ago

[Denleavy]

you left out the fact that wou can buy a converter to go on it so you can attach fisheye lenses and other different 58mm lenses and filters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheeKinnySwaggg]

So it has a EVF and you can see through it, right?

[RandomDom3297]

when you take a pictures of something close up how is the depth of field?

[prithamdsouza]

thanks for the review

[JackobKurdshman]

Thanks Gordan

[KingCast65]

Too bad the picture quality is not as good as my S2 IS, no where near.

[rose123856]

pleas compare it with other camera like nikon and sony.

[cameralabs]

I compare them in the reviews at cameralabs . com - please visit the site, and also see the latest version of this camera, the SX20 IS.

[franceengland]

Top quality review. Very helpful to me as I have recently purchased this camera second hand.

[AlbanianBorn]

very very proffesional..thank you

[cherrybomb1493]

You can't adjust the aperture while taking video can you?

I'd really appreciate a response if you know this... I'm getting pretty close to buying a superzoom camera.

Thanks!

[AlfredsPlace]

I have one of these cameras, and the video does an excellent job of self adjusting but I have never found or tried to change the app while recording. I will say the video has incredible low light ability for a still camera. Hope you find a good cam, this one has been around a while and I can only imagine what is available now.

[s04r3r]

@cherrybomb1493 I may be too late in answering you, but no you cannot adjust aperture while recording video.

[Cognoscibilitate]

I would like to buy a second hand S5... and it has around 9000 shots. Is that a lot? What is the shutter life expectancy. Thank you.

[photographyman101]

what Rechargable batteries should i buy if im getting this camera.

[lukeisastalker]

any kind of AA rechargeable batteries should work on this. i just got mine from radioshack, i dunno

[lukeisastalker]

any way to record wide screen video with this? i can't figure it out

[uploadJ]

It may be time to upgrade; I've made a lot of use of My S3, but I see the advantages now of the S5 given your superb review. Thanks.

[cameralabs]

Hi everyone - I've just reviewed the successor to this camera, the PowerShot SX10 IS at cameralabs . com - now with a 20x zoom!

[chohakako]

So it doesn't have RAW format, is that why my camera sometimes I look at it, there's loads of noise? Oh, well. I'll use whatever I have till I get a better one. Thanks for the review =)

[svtcontour]

I just picked one up. Its pretty good but noise is really bad above ISO 400. I'd say that 800 is barely usable and 1600 is the worst of any camera I've seen. Overall noise seems a bit worse than my old A75...however having said that, the video quality (including the sound) are very good. I have a 20D for the better pics I need to take so thats why I am willing to live with the high ISO noise...

[raftmant]

how can i get time lapse?? can anyone help?i`ve tried anything

[cameralabs]

It doesn't have a built-in time-lapse mode like some Canon cameras. So you'd need to take seperate photos, say every minute, then assemble them into a movie using software on your computer. Try googling for timelapse software.

[rikabob]

Hello, in the menu you can find "intervallo-meter". That's how you use timelapse on the S series. Minimum shot to shot time is one minute, maximum 60.Further, if you go to the CDHK-Wiki site you can download extra software and you'll be able to shoot in a raw and a lot more options, among which how to get more control over the shot to shot period. If you search CDHK on youtube, thers's a guy showing you how to download CDHK on your SD-card.

[guitarjoe08]

the canon software that came with the S5-IS offers remote shooting where you can do time lapse. read the software manual that came with the camera, it is explained there. i have two timelapse videos that i did with this camera. check them out on my channel!

[psychastria]

@raftmant I've made some time lapse video with my S5 IS quite easily by using a freeware video editor called Virtual Dub. I load the video file in, go into the frame rate settings to have it process every Nth frame (depending on my desired speed factor), and resave the file; then I load the new file, go to frame rate settings, and set actual frame rate back to 30 fps. For an example I made: youtube.com/watch?v=81oJ_Rpatv­U

[adankarrito]

what's the fastest shutter speed on this camera?

[cameralabs]

There's full details on the design and features pages of our review at cameralabs . com

[Nazzet]

I like this review. Great details!

[chewbuggars]

Theres a new one!!!! the Canon SX10 IS!!!! please do a review on it!!!!

[yemail5555]

Good review, officemax has it on sale right. I am going to grab one tomorrow. hey hey.

[huntjumpbabe]

We just bought this camera and we just turned it on and the screen is blank and the viewfinder is blank as well. you can take a picture and the picture appears blank. i put a memory card in that had images already on it and it showed the images fine. Did anyone have this problem? I can not find it in the manual. Should I take it back to Best Buy?

[PhotoRelax]

try take it to the customer service center it might damaged inside

[mindbind]

thanks for the reply, off to the camera store for me! I will let you know how i do, lolol...click click!

[morozco34]

I have this camera and have been taking my time go through each mode, setiings and etc. I just can't seem to figure out how to bring up the ISO settings. I have read the manual but can't seem to find how to bring it up. Can you please tell me how? Thanks

[kendoc003]

Just use the "ISO button" and keep pushing the button until you have adjusted it as needed. It is right under the "func" button just to the right of the screen. I have not had any problems with it working. Hope this help.

[123Prangley]

I love the swing screen, but 36mm, c'mon!

Is there any other super zoom with a swing screen?

Thank you!

[mindbind]

ohhh, thank you, this is the camera i want but the fact that i was told you can only use disposables on this was keeping me from buying it.....have you tried NiMH? I am a photography newbie, lolol.

thanks,

jay

[barakboy]

Yes, 4 Sony's 2700mAh NiMH. In fact NiMH are more suitable than alcaline ones because of fair bigger current/hour capacity.

A quote from Cameralabs review: "Under CIPA conditions, Canon estimates you'll get up to 170 shots with the supplied alkalines or 450 with a set of decent 2500mAh NiMH rechargeables."

[barakboy]

Very good review! Helped me a lot! Tank you!

[mindbind]

thank you for your great reviews....the clerk at best buy told me that you can only use disposable batteries with this camera....but you said you had rechargables in here....which is correct?

thank you

[barakboy]

You CAN use NiMH in this camera.

[kendoc003]

I use rechargeables in this camera and have not had a problem with them for over a year and a half.

[MjaysTV]

i cant decide which camera i should take.

the canon powershot s5 is or the sony cyber-shot dsc-h50.

can you help me?

[cameralabs]

I haven't tested the H50 so can't comment - sorry! You can see what cameras Ive tested by going to the reviews section at cameralabs . com - and the recommended models are in the best buys section.

[cameralabs]

You can see what the image quality is like by checking out the results and gallery pages in our full review at cameralabs . com.

[m3t4c0m]

Hi, i want to thank you for this review

i was hesitating between this one and the panasonic TZ5 (its pros were its size, the wide angle and the HD video capture)

but i finally picked the canon, after watching your review; It seems great ! i hope i won't be disapointed

can you please confirm that it supports sdhc cards and if you have an idea on the length/size of a video at high quality; how much can a video last on a 2Gb SD card for example ?

thank you very much

[cameralabs]

Yes it supports SDHC and you can find out more about the video in the sensor section of our review at cameralabs . com!

[m3t4c0m]

Thanks !!

i'm definitely getting that one in the next few days.

[noeman13]

hello gordon!

i m planning to get my first ever digital cam...i m to decide b/w canon powershot s5 is or canon powershot sd 870 is...please guide me if i want to have better picture quality rather than other features....what is there performance in low light conditions??

[cameralabs]

Hi, check out the gallery and results pages (especially the noise page) for each review at cameralabs . com - you can compare the quality there... any other Qs, feel free to post on the cameralabs forums!

[zeeshi660]

cant u just rate it for us...how is their qualilty in dark light conditions???

[cameralabs]

It's all there in the review at cameralabs!

[collegebrett]

a great camera. i agree that the lense cap falls off too easily. i bought a lense adapter for canon s5 made of metal, required for additional lenses,58 mm uv filter, and new lense cap. small investment to protect your expensive lense especially if you going to do alot of traveling. plus makes the camera look awesome.

[DeanoTheLegend87]

I've just bought one of these and there great.

Just one problem though, after recording some video footage and playing it back on my computer theres this faint grinding like noise, i believe its the camera focusing and re-focusing, is there anyway to stop that noise?

[weedfoxs]

ok something close price of 200 dollars would be great!! anything?????

[iamogg]

i found 250

[weedfoxs]

ok i want the ultimate zoom in camera under 300 dollars!!! and the best for videos what should i go after?pleaseeeeee reply?

[cameralabs]

This one, or the Panasonic TZ5 or the Panasonic FZ18 - see our reviews at cameralabs . com for more details...

[ruperttang]

S5 IS or Lumix Fz18 THAT is the question. Please reply.

[cameralabs]

Both great cameras, but different features - I'd recommend reading the full reviews at cameralabs . com for each camera and seeing which feature-set best suits you.

[ruperttang]

I have. You guys have great reviews. But I will mostly be using my camera for shots in alaska where i may need to zoom in close or make a movie. So I'm not sure if I should go with The Lumix or the S5.

[cameralabs]

Well if you want the bigger zoom, go for the FZ18, but if you want better video quality, go for the Canon. Feel free to discuss it further in the buying a new camera section of the cameralabs forums!

[ruperttang]

Ok good to know. I'll check it out

[ziv1366]

Got it today!

Very good review!

[PhotoRelax]

it is actually a hot sold out here in singapore

[MikoXbox]

just purchased this camera online!! cant wait for it to arrive!!!

[Wikdluv]

got it today its great

[raftmant]

I got it today, very good camera!!

[5Dale65]

I have a question, it it possible to change some settings WHILE recording a video, for example white balance, exposition ???

[cameralabs]

I don't think so.

[chadsexinton]

Howcome your zoom tests are always the same with the same boat? pretty neat.

[chadsexinton]

I wanna eat that camera.

[makeupmakedown]

Is it true that you can chose one colour, (like blue) and you take a picture of the sky, that only the sky is blue and everything else is in black and white? if it is, i'm really going to buy this one !

[cameralabs]

You can do this colour effect on most Canon compacts - see our reviews at cameralabs . com for details.

[ziv1366]

The best reviews on the net!

very very good guys!!!

[hannahmeheh]

this is the most comprehensive review of the s5 i've seen. thank you! very helpful. :)

[cameralabs]

Thanks! Don't forget to check out the full review at cameralabs . com!

[kurrix]

Very nice review, ty!

[mike20021969]

i haven't read all 53 comments so apologies if this has been mentioned before.

but the lens cap on the canon s51s was designed to fall off easily so that the USM wasn't damaged if the camera was turned on before the lens cap was taken off.

[cameralabs]

True, but it could have been designed differently - for example, attaching to the extending barrel, not the outer section.

[mike20021969]

don't get me wrong,i think it an absolute pain aswell.

i also have a question if you wanna have a stab at it.

most canon's now (not the dslr's) have 9 point AiAF.

i cant find the setting anywhere (normally found at where you'd alter the 'face detect' setting).

as far as i can tell you either have face detect or centre focus (then you'd reframe your shot) which can be a pain.

i e-mailed canon and they said "yes it does have 9 point AiAF".

so does it have it or not? (i say no it doesn't)

[cameralabs]

I'm not sure Mike - my S5 IS went back to Canon ages ago so I can't check - everything I know about its focusing can be found on the Features page of our review at cameralabs . com.

[lynkonnz]

Thanks for the review. I have one and have read right through the manual but didn't know about the silent slow zoom etc. and I was too cautious to find out that you can flip the display right round and click it back in place. Great stuff. Good for self-timers too.

[davaliproductions]

hes scary lol

[Desifoxe]

Good job, on the review of this camera. I just ordered one.

My only suggestion to improve your video would be to use a lav mic or a better shot gun mic.

Thanks!

[Keese30]

I'm getting this camera sometime soon to replace an older digital camera I have. Does this camera take good pictures when you're traveling in a car if you're looking at a distance or will it blur? Also what about the quality? I know its 8 megapix but do the pictures turn out good? Thanks for the video, the video quality of this camera looks great.

[cameralabs]

You can see some sample imageas in the full review of this camera at the cameralabs website...

[VistmarTeam]

my father buy me this cam in my birthday two months ago im a noob in cams but im tryng to learn more everyday by the way excellent video

[cameralabs]

Thanks! For photography tutorials, see our sister site dslrtips . com!

[BloodGTRproductions]

Gordon Can you review the S3 IS?

[cameralabs]

Hang on, the older model? Nope, sorry! It's no longer available from Canon's loan stock, and I wouldn't go back and review an older model if the new one was already out...

[BloodGTRproductions]

ooo ok thanks i will try to ask for newer ones next time lol

[shhrl123]

what about the nikon p80

[BloodGTRproductions]

if the memory is full it is qyuite troublesome that's why i bought an s3(2nd hand)this year but i wish i had better zoom lik 15x zoom on s6?? lol possible?

[Wardog1220]

Could you tell me which would be a better camera, the Canon S5 or the Kodak Z1012. I need a camera for this summer that can do action and outdoor shots.

[cameralabs]

I haven't tested any Kodak cameras for ages, so can't say, sorry! But the models I'd recommend right now can be found in the Best Buys section at cameralabs . com...

[timkellyonair]

I just wanted to say thanks for posting your reviews. I was in the market for a new camera and had no clue as to what I was really looking for. After watching your reviews, I settled on this camera and couldnt be happier. Thanks for the info!!

[cameralabs]

Thanks! Don't forget to check out the full review which goes with it at the Cameralabs . com website!

[lastklim]

Great and professional review!

[ASAFYY]

and NIKON COOLPIX P1

[ASAFYY]

hello cameralabs i am looking to buy a camera with a good video around the price of S5 .

what do you suggest for me?

i am thinking about S5 and TZ5 , if you have other suggestion for me i will be glad to know.

have nice day :)

[cameralabs]

Hi, feel free to post your question in the Cameralabs forums - we can reply in more detail there...

[tertangeorgesebastia]

Hello Gordon! Please help me and give me an advice which camera to choose? Fuji S8000, Canon S5is or the Sony H9? please help me. what i want from the camera is to take good photos with the macro function and with the full optical zoom. 10x and i'm waiting for an answer ;) Regards

[cameralabs]

They're all good cameras, but with different pros and cons - and sorry to add another to the mix, but you should also be looking at the Panasonic FZ18! I've reviewed them all at cameralabs . com, and weighed up their pros and cons on the verdict pages of each review, so check those out as it'll help you decide... also check out out super-zoom buyers guide. Any other Qs, feel free to post on the cameralabs forum!

[merakhagen]

Great video

[o0bubblie0o]

i just bought the camera, very pleaased :)

i will have to learn to work with it properly first so i can produce better pictures :)

Im still learning :)

[cameralabs]

Our sister site dslrtips . com has got some tutorials that will work on your camera...

[o0bubblie0o]

thank you!! :)

[KRIEGKING]

Great job, always the best camera reviews.

[leonyamy]

Hello Gordon I´m very please with your reviews very helpfull. I have this camera, should I buy Canon tele converter or the Raynox are better? Thank you and regards

[cameralabs]

Hi, I'm afraid I haven't tested either of the extended lenses, so can't say - sorry!

[WTFp0s]

best 2nd. hand camera ever

[rozgarland1]

Best review of this camera I have seen...I am TRYING to decide which superzoom camera I want, and the video quality is a prime considerations, as well as size-- buying one to travel with. I have a DSLR also, but it's too big to pack with me.

[Madhav102390]

what is the meaning of shutter speed when should I change shutter speed. pls explain me with example.

[cameralabs]

Hi, we have answers to many of your questions in the Cameralabs forums - and also some great tips on using your camera's creative modes at dslrtips . com

[zaohad1]

Your shutter speed should ideally be as fast as possible, but it means less light is getting in. The less fast it is the more your blurred it is which is a thing you get in bad light, low light etc in a fully automatic camera.

You just end up with lots of blurred pics.

[zaohad1]

madhav raw mode is super highest quality hence the large file sizes.

It contains lots of info that a jpeg(next option down) doesn't and is primarily used in post preocessing in photoshop by professionals.

Jpeg is losssy and discards info whereas RAW doesn't.

You'll need a graphics prog that can process RAW for it to be useful though.

I'd worry more about about getting decent photos than RAW for now.

[Madhav102390]

I have already bought the camera, I am yet to use it. fantastic reviews, I am new to photographic words, what's all about raw mode? what is the meaning of RAW mode.

[revadan]

i want one of this camera.can i put another set of lens on it? please let me know the available add on lenses for this baby.thanks

[cameralabs]

See the Features page of our S5 IS review on the Cameralabs website...

[Desmuzica]

I'm planning to buy a super zoom camera and I get the chance to compare products because of your reviews... Thanks for the helpful informations ... ;) I have a question though, are there other super zoom cameras that can record stereo sounds in movies besides Canon Powershot S5IS?

[cameralabs]

I can't speak for ALL cameras (!) but for the ones weve tested, the S5 IS was the only one with stereo sound. See our S5 IS verdict page on the Cameralabs site to compare the features against the best superzooms...

[Desmuzica]

thanks for the output Gordon.. I'll check it out..

[DerOllie]

I bought the camera in September 2007, its a great camera. The pictures are great and the video's are excellent. See my youtube page for multiple examples. Indeed, the lens-cap does fall off very easely, but with a good bag it stays on. The RAW mode didn't bother me, because all i wanted was JPG pictures. Tip if yoy buy an S5: buy some good rechargable batteries, there's no battery indicator, so you'll have to go on instinct when the batteries are low.

[o0bubblie0o]

really?!

no battery life indicator?!

ahhh!

is it much of a problem?

approx how long would the camera last when taking photos non stop on nimh 2300 rechargeble batteries?

i was planning to go for this camera, but now im confused lol.

[jinroh81]

yeah it's common feature on Canon Cameras to not have a battery indicator, sad but true.

[DerOllie]

ive got 2700nimh GP batteries, with no flash, it will last for a very lobg time, exact numbers i don't have, because i didn't use the camera for such a long time just jet.

[o0bubblie0o]

thank you ^^

[johnnybabe007]

in your opinion, which is better, the G9 or S5is?

[xmeda]

depends on what you need..

superzoom? then S5IS

want to shoot raw and extended lens range is not "must"? get G7/G9

Want both? Get dslr.. for example Pentax K200D/K20D :)

[MidnightM3]

Can you review the PowerShot A650IS? It seems like a G9 in disguise but has a nice swivel screen.

[cameralabs]

It does have a lot in common with the G9... It's getting on now though, and the new models are our priority. We went back and did the S5 IS because it was the most popular older model we hadn't covered yet...

[MidnightM3]

Thank you for the response. Looking forward to new model reviews and also tips on how to take great pictures! cheers

[anton100100100]

I would like to hear more about the image quality itself. I think that canons does adsolutely right by nog having the extreeme qide angle shooting. The image quality that the 18x zoomers produce isnt good aat all in the extreme wide and fully zoomed modes.

[cameralabs]

There's a full set of results on the image quality in our review at the Cameralabs site - you can get to it by clicking the link to the right of the video window.

[cameralabs]

The S5 IS and G9 were announced in May and August 2007 respectively. The movie quality is roughly similar to the Cybershots, but the S5 IS has setereo and lets you zoom, while the G9 has a timelapse.

[amandacatholic]

I have read reviews from camera review sites and they always complain about the S5 IS's lens cap being easily removed. What do you think about it? If you turn the camera on with the lens cap attached, will it jam because when you turned the camera on at about 0:39, the lens extended?

[cameralabs]

Believe me, the lens cap jamming the lens will NEVER happen! It falls off the instant it's knocked. PS - check the verdict page of our S5 IS review at the Cameralabs . com site to compare it against the G9.

[objectiveguru]

Hi! I just got this camera from amazon last month. There are some who bought the same model but made in China. Mine was made in Japan. Is there a big difference between the two? Are Japan made cameras costs much higher than China? One buyer told me there is and some consumers don't even put much emphasis on it. Wish you would reply. Nice review though... I always visit your site. Thanks....

[cameralabs]

I couldn't say without testing both models side by side, but I suspect they would be essentially identical.

[hanzakbar]

a panasonic SD card...in canon Camera lol..

i hope it did save the pictures in there :P

[cameralabs]

Yep, the card worked fine!

[ron519098]

Interesting to see just how much emphasis Canon are putting on the video capabilities. I wonder if this is the start of a trend towards more well-specified hybrid still/movie digicams?

[cameralabs]

I hope so, but remember the S5 IS was launched in May 2007, and Canon has since released new cameras in August 2007 and January 2008 - none of which have the same emphasis.

[dombower]

great work getting the video of the screen functions looks great. thanks great review

[MyPileOfDigitalMedia]

I just get my first digital camera -- I was looking for something close to that but not pricy for my budget. I ended up with Samsung S85 which is only around $120 and not around $300-400 as for this one. It is not as good as this one especially for movies and zooming. But it ok for a first camera -- if photography become more as a hobby for me I will consider to get next this camera or equivalent. Great review, I wonder you are planning to make a review for S85?

[cameralabs]

Hi, I probably won't be reviewing the Samsung S85 - sorry! You can see all the reviews I've done by clicking the Reviews menu on the Cameralabs website...

[tom84d]

I just cannot choose between this camera and the panasonic FZ-18 i wish i could cobbine the two cameras and have it all, the great lens od the fz-18 as well as the raw mode, but i also want to zoom w video and have the flip out display

[cameralabs]

I agree! For now you'll just have to weigh up which features you want more... we have a detailed comparison on the verdict page of our S5 IS review at the Cameralabs site if you've not already seen it...

[RisBo21]

Great review.With what camera do you record the reviews?

[cameralabs]

Thanks! I use a Sony DCR-HC96 camcorder to film the reviews at the moment...

[moonofsaudi]

very nice review gordon

[rheyzer]

very nice review gordon

[cuilmas76]

Nice review.

You'll have to fight with noise in this camera, specialy whith the sahdows but it is capable of shooting very, very good pictures and exelent videos.

The only bad experience with mine is the screen, is not working properly any more.

[pcwhizmail]

Excellent Review. The was very thorough and entertaining. Keep up the good work. 5 Stars all the way!