Canon PowerShot S5 IS

The Canon PowerShot S-series digital cameras not only hold a comfortable position in the ultra-zoom market with their 12x optically stabilized zoom lenses, but are also known as excellent hybrid models. With their stellar Movie modes and feature-laden specs, the SLR-styled S-series has been enormously successful. The latest in the bunch is the Canon PowerShot S5 IS, which sports 8 megapixels and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor that folds out and rotates. The S5 retails for $499.

Front (7.5)
The front shows off the SLR-like look with the large, tall hand grip on the left and zoom lens on the right. The grip has a rubbery surface coating the inner portion where the fingers hold the camera. At the top of this hand grip is a round shutter release button surrounded by a zoom ring with a textured nub to turn it right and left. To the right of the rubbery hand grip’s top is a logo for the PowerShot S5 IS, with the 8-megapixel resolution count boasted near the bottom. Sandwiched between the resolution count and the lens is a half-moon-shaped button that can be pushed to twist off the rim around the lens: this allows conversion lenses to be screwed on.

Just above the PowerShot S5 IS logo is a small LED that acts as the self-timer, red-eye reduction, and tally lamp. Often, the self-timer and autofocus assist beam share the same lamp, but the S5’s autofocus assist function works from a larger lamp on the right shoulder of the camera body. In between the lamps are two microphones and a built-in flash unit crowning them. A chrome Canon logo sits at the edge of the unit, visible when the flash is closed. Beneath the flash and microphones is the lens labeled "Canon Zoom Lens 12x IS" along the top of the rim and "6.0-72.0mm 1:2.7-3.5 USM" along the bottom. The outer rim has tiny grooves in it for conversion lenses — it is reminiscent of the Canon G7’s lens.

Back (7.75)
The back of the Canon S5 looks very similar to the S3’s back, except with cleaner lines and a neater layout. The S3’s buttons are positioned in curves and grooves, but the S5’s are in straight lines. The S5 has a large 2.5-inch LCD screen mounted on a frame with a joint on the left side. This allows users to fold it out and rotate it. On one side of the monitor is the Canon logo, while the other side shows the screen. The back looks somewhat like a DSLR because of the plethora of control buttons, which are spread across every available surface.

Above the left corner of the LCD monitor is an LED-adorned button with print, transfer, and shortcut icons next to it. To its right is the side of the viewfinder where the grooved edge of the diopter dial sticks out. The electronic viewfinder is decently sized and encased in soft rubber. To the right of the viewfinder is a chrome button with a red dot in its center; it is unlabeled but is how movies are recorded. This button, separate from the shutter release for still pictures, allows users to take full-resolution pictures while actively recording video. It also allows users to start recording a movie no matter what mode the mode dial is set on.

On the right side of the S5’s back are several buttons and a platform that rises slightly where the thumb rests. At the apex of this tiny hill is the multi-selector, with an exposure compensation icon at the top and dots pointing out each direction. Directly above it is the power switch, which can be seen from the back although it resides on the top. Just below the multi-selector are two circular buttons: set/AF frame selector and menu. To the left of the multi-selector are a few bumps to keep the thumb from sliding. Along the right edge of the LCD monitor are three more circular buttons: function/delete, ISO, and display.

Left Side (7.5)
The left side of the camera body has a circular pattern of holes that make up the speaker grill. Above this is a wide and thin chrome loop for the included neck strap. The hinge of the LCD monitor can be seen on the rear side of the camera. The side of the lens can be seen too; it is here where a printed red label specifies the 12x optical zoom. Two circular black buttons also reside here — the manual focus button on top and the macro button on bottom.

Right Side (7.5)
The right side looks abnormally large and flat. The grip seems to be wider than on the S3, perhaps to accommodate people with larger hands. Near the rear of the camera are two rubber covers with tiny slivers for fingernails to pry open. The top cover houses the power adaptor port and the bottom cover protects the separate USB and AV ports. Above the rubber covers and slightly more centralized is another chrome neck strap eyelet.

Top (8.5)
The top of the Canon PowerShot S5 IS is reminiscent of a DSLR with its chunky shape, hot shoe, and huge mode dial. The lens protrudes from the left side of the top with the built-in flash just behind it. Behind the saddle of the built-in unit is the hot shoe with five chrome connectors and two brackets to hold external accessories on the camera. Behind the hot shoe is the rubber eyecup that surrounds the viewfinder. On the left shoulder is a circular button for the flash/voice memo functions. To the right of the flash and viewfinder hump is the large mode dial, with grooved edges and large letters and icons representing the 13 positions. In the lower right corner of the top is a tiny off button surrounded by a small ring. The ring turns the camera on when pushed to the left. When pushed right, it powers up in the Playback mode. At the front edge of the large hand grip is the chrome shutter release button surrounded by the large zoom ring. Just behind it is the self-timer/burst button, placed in a divot rather than on a bump like the prominent shutter release button.

Bottom (6.5)
The bottom of the camera looks enormous. The hand grip extends far upward on the left side; it is occupied by a battery compartment that holds four AAs. There is a spring-loaded switch in the middle of the compartment door to lock the batteries in. Nearly in the center of the camera is a metal tripod socket surrounded by a few grooves to provide some traction on a mounting plate.