Canon PowerShot S90
Last udpate (20 November’09):
- Review & Sample Photos @ TrustedReviews
Canon PowerShot S90 is a 10 MP compact camera features 3.8x optical zoom (35mm equivalent: 28-105mm) F2.0-4.9 stabilized lens, Digic 4, Dual Anti-Noise system, ISO 80-3200, Manual Control, Raw Shooting and a 3.0 inch PureColor LCD II (TFT) screen. The camera measures 100 x 58 x 31 mm and weighs 175 g
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Canon PowerShot S90 Reviews
TrustedReviews reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“The Canon PowerShot S90 is an excellent high-spec compact camera with the emphasis on image quality and controllable versatility. The range of features, build quality and results are excellent, although the fiddly controls and slightly sluggish performance are minor disadvantages. The only real problem is the extremely high price compared to rival models.”
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Pocket-Lint reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“The good: Creative control options, Control Ring, size, image quality, useful ISO range. The bad: Video offering a little disappointing, price. Verdict: In the hand the S90 is an absolute delight, the Control Ring flirting with the playful side of photography, putting controls literally at your fingertips”
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DCI reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“Canon PowerShot S90 is rather expensive for a point & shoot camera at $430. But it has the performance to justify it, with the camera achieving excellent scores across most of our tests. Most point & shoot cameras do well in one test but poorly on others, but the S90 was good across pretty much all of them, with accurate color, low noise at most ISO settings and sharp, clear images with plenty of detail. “
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CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“The good: Excellent control system for manual, semimanual shooting; fantastic wide-angle f2 lens; very good low-light photo quality. The bad: Performance is merely average; no HD movie mode or optical zoom while recording; a couple design miscues. The bottom line: As long as you’re not expecting dSLR speed in a tiny body, the Canon PowerShot S90 is an excellent compact camera for advanced amateurs”
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NYT reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“In fact, I’ll come right out and say it: This camera takes better photos than any other pocket camera on the market. “
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PhotographyBlog reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“In terms of ISO performance the S90 excels in keeping noise down to acceptable levels. Even at ISO 3200, though detail has softened our test images reveal results that arguably, would give lesser compacts shooting at ISO 800 a run for their money, or certainly ones taking images at ISO 1600 if we’re being particularly conservative.”
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CNET.asia reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“The good: Compact and light; useful features such as time-lapse mode; options for choosing AF frame size; quick to focus; fast performance. The bad: Picture quality starts to deterioriate from ISO 400; control ring operation can be cumbersome; no multi-aspect mode. The bottom line: This advanced compact has a good range of shooting options to keep most shutterbugs occupied, but we think there is still room for improvement in some areas.”
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CNET.uk reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“We like: Superb control ring on lens; excellent image quality; able to shoot raw files; compact body; straightforward design. We don’t like: Rear controller can be frustrating; lack of a hi-def movie mode. CNET UK judgement: The Canon PowerShot S90 is a cracker. It’s not just elegant, compact and beautifully made — it also combines high-end photographic controls with a straightforward interface, a seriously good lens and image quality that raises the bar for all other camera makers “
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LuminousLandscape reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“The bottom line on noise is that ISO 80 and 100 are as clean as any tiny sensor camera yet, but should not be compared in this regard to a DSLR…if you want the world’s smallest and lightest shirt-pocket-sized (SPS) camera that shoots raw and comes in at under $500, the Canon Powershot S90 is the one to get. “
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Gizmodo reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“And the best camera’s always the one you have with you—for me, that’s this camera, which just happens to be an excellent one all by itself. “
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Wired reviews the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“The S90 is the best compact camera I’ve ever used… Performance in our shooting was very, very good. Shutter lag was basically non-existent, and images were sharp and nicely balanced in all situations. Low-light shots were especially good, with ISOs up to 3200 yielding usable images. “
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KenRockwell has a preview of the Canon PowerShot S90 and writes;
“From the prototype I used, I’m dubbing the S90 as the best compact digital camera that Canon, or anyone, has ever made. “
Rating: Recommended
Canon PowerShot S90 User Reviews
A Compact Camera Suited for Serious Photographers | Rating:
“… The S90 is a well designed, solid camera. The build quality is excellent. It’s small, but easy to handle. It has features that aren’t even on my DSLR and is quite capable. All-in-all, a very good camera and well worth the money.” - by Jeffrey
Keeper | Rating:
“Yes. Its a keeper. Easy to use, portable, some nice features, low light performance is amazing (tested ISO 400 and 800 mostly). Zoom is abit on a short side, but thats understandable. Love the front and rear rings and custom button. Waited a few years for this to come out. LX3 is also a great camera but zoom range and size killed it for me.” - by Ilya
walk around photography | Rating:
“… This camera is not for those who want an all in one. It takes video, but not HD. There are cheaper cameras that can take nice shots. If you want the ability to shoot RAW though, and really enjoy still photography, and never want to be caught without your camera….buy this. By the time I’ve actually played with this enough to know what all it can do, my 5 stars will be 5 stars with emphasis. “ - by Kevin
Canon PowerShot S90 Sample Photos
- Canon PowerShot S90 Sample Photos @ TrustedReviews
- Canon PowerShot S90 Sample Photos @ DCI
- Canon PowerShot S90 Sample Photos @ PhotographyBlog
- Canon PowerShot S90 Sample Photos @ CNET.uk
- Canon PowerShot S90 Sample Photos @ Gizmodo
- Canon PowerShot S90 Sample Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 @ Canon
Canon PowerShot S90 Sample Photos
Canon PowerShot S90 User Manual (PDF)
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Canon PowerShot S90 Specifications
| Recommended price |
• $429 |
|---|---|
| Sensor |
• 1/1.7" Type CCD |
| Image sizes | • 3648 x 2736 • 3648 x 2048 • 2816 x 2112 • 2272 x 1704 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @ 30fps • 320 x 240 @ 30fps |
| Maximum clip length | Up to 4GB or 1 hour |
| File formats | • Still: JPEG (Exif v2.2), RAW
• Movie: MOV [H.264 + Linear PCM (monaural)] |
| Lens | • 28-105mm (35mm equiv) • f = 6.0 - 22.5 mm • 3.8x optical zoom |
| Image stabilization | Yes (Lens-Shift) |
| Digital zoom | up to 4x |
| Focus | • Auto focus :TTL - 9-point AiAF - 1-point AF (center or Face Select and Track) • Manual focus |
| AF modes |
• Single |
| AF lock | Yes (on/off selectable) |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | Closest focus distance 5 cm |
| Metering | • Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame) • Center-weighted average • Spot (center) |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 125 • ISO 160 • ISO 640 • ISO 2500 |
| AE lock | Yes |
| Exposure compensation | +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments |
| Shutter speed | • Auto (1 - 1/1600 sec)
• 15-1/1600 sec |
| Modes |
• Auto • Shutter Priority AE • Low Light |
| Scene modes |
• Portrait • Indoor • Fireworks • Nostalgic |
| White balance |
• Auto (including Face Detection WB) • Daylight • Flash |
| Self timer | • 0-30 sec (1-10 frames) • FaceSelf Timer |
| Continuous shooting | • Approx. 1.9 shots/sec. • AF: Approx. 0.6 shots/sec. • LV: Approx. 0.8 shots/sec. (until memory card becomes full) |
| Image parameters | My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color) |
| Flash | • Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Slow Sync, Red-eye reduction • Slow Sync Speed : Fastest speed 1/500 sec • +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments • Face Detection FE compensation • Safety FE • Flash exposure lock |
| External Flash | Canon High Power Flash HF-DC1 |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0 inch PureColor LCD II (TFT)
• 461,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • HDMI mini connector • AV out (PAL / NTSC switchable) |
| Print compliance | PictBridge |
| Storage | SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus |
| Power | Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-6L |
| Weight (no batt) | 175 g |
| Dimensions | 100 x 58 x 31 mm |
Canon PowerShot S90 Press Release
LONDON, UK, 19th August 2009: Today Canon announces the PowerShot S90 - marking the return of the Canon PowerShot S-series. The PowerShot S90 continues the PowerShot S-series tradition with impressive, fully manual features that deliver excellent image quality and user experience, including:
Canon’s Dual Anti-Noise System with an f/2.0 wide-angle lens, a 3.0 inch, PureColor II LCD display and an intuitive new lens Control Ring.
Exceptional image quality in all conditions
The PowerShot S90 features Canon’s Dual Anti-Noise System, combining a high sensitivity 10.0 Megapixel image sensor with Canon’s enhanced DIGIC 4 image processor. Photographers can capture full resolution images - even in tricky lighting conditions - with the Dual Anti-Noise System taking maximum advantage of the available light, while substantially reducing image noise.
This is particularly useful in low-light portrait and landscape photography, where users are able to shoot high quality full resolution images even at ISO 3200. DIGIC 4 also includes an enhanced version of i-Contrast: Canon’s Intelligent Contrast Correction technology, which delivers a wider dynamic range to reduce high-light blowout while retaining low-light detail.
The f/2.0 Advantage
Canon has fitted the PowerShot S90 with a wide aperture f/2.0 wide-angle lens to help photographers take full advantage of the Dual Anti-Noise System. The f/2.0 wide-angle lens allows twice as much light into the camera as an f/2.8 lens, enabling photographers to use faster shutter speeds to reduce blur or achieve a shallower depth of field.
The camera also includes Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, which uses a lens-shift system to minimise camera shake and image blur – effectively giving photographers a 4-stop advantage over less capable cameras.
To help users capture the perfect shot, the PowerShot S90 includes a 3.0 inch LCD display, which features Canon’s PureColor II LCD technology. It enables users to frame and review images easily thanks to an exceptionally wide viewing angle, 461k dot resolution and great colour rendition.
Sophisticated performance, sensational ease of use
As befits a camera of this calibre, the PowerShot S90 features a wide range of powerful manual and automatic controls that give photographers creative freedom.
The PowerShot S90 features an intuitive lens Control Ring, which enables users to adjust the settings of various functions by twisting the selector at the base of the lens barrel to the left or right. The Control Ring can be used as a quasi-manual zoom offering a closer view of subjects in 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm and 105mm steps.
Additional settings can be assigned, such as ISO (in 1/3 stop increments), shutter, aperture, focus and exposure compensation - giving photographers a satisfyingly tactile experience. The Control Ring also helps enhance user interaction with the camera by offering fast, accurate scrolling through menus, functions and images. In new Nostalgic Mode the Control Ring can also be used to add an aged effect to the shot, from a subtle faded look to full grainy black and white.
Smarter Scene Detection
For more creative control, users can also choose from a variety of Scene Modes (SCN on the Control dial) that enable them to choose the best settings for particular shooting situations – ideal for creative effects or when shooting in difficult lighting. A new Low Light mode can help users capture reduced resolution 2.5 Megapixel images in very dim light at ISO speeds of up to ISO 12800 and at a fast 2.4 frames per second.
Photographers can also choose from a range of creative modes including Aperture priority AE, Shutter priority AE, Program AE, Manual and Custom modes. Choosing and using different camera settings is now even easier thanks to an improved menu navigation system, which includes ‘Hints & Tips’ on most settings and features.
The PowerShot S90 allows fine custom adjustment of the camera’s white balance settings – enabling compensation of different kinds of tungsten, fluorescent and other light conditions for perfect results every time.
For quick and easy snaps, the PowerShot S90 includes Smart Auto with Scene Detection Technology. This selects the scene type from 22 variables, applying the best settings for optimum output – a great asset to those who love to point-and-shoot without worrying about the technical details. Smart Auto now measures movement of objects or people in a scene, activating Servo AF/AE to ensure that the focus and exposure are locked onto a subject.
In addition, the PowerShot S90 offers RAW format shooting and support for Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software, making it easy to integrate the camera into a user’s digital workflow. Users will also find it easy to share images captured on the camera with family and friends, thanks to an HDMI mini port, which enables the camera to be connected to a compatible TV using an optional cable.
With a strong heritage and impressive range of features the PowerShot S90 is the ideal compact camera for technology and photographic enthusiasts alike.
See also: Canon | Digital Camera
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Great Great camera - I got it on a holiday in Philly, I am very happy with it