Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Value (6.0)
The Canon PowerShot S5 IS retails for $499, the same introductory price as the S3. The difference is that the S3 was the top dog in its time and the S5 now has much more competition in the ultra-zoom market. The $499 price tag is steep; it is one of the most expensive ultra-zoom cameras along with the $499 Olympus SP-560UZ. There are plenty of other cameras that sell for less and have more features. If the camera’s autofocus was faster, its burst was snappier, and its pictures were noise-free, paying $499 wouldn’t be so bad. But Canon still has lots of improvements to make – and some competitors have already made those improvements. The Canon S5 was announced in July 2007, so its price should hold high for awhile. The older S3, however, is still a great camera and its age has demoted its price to a steal at less than $300.

Comparisons
Canon PowerShot S3 IS – This digital camera is a year older and has the previous generation of image processor. The processor has served it well, though. Its noise levels remain lower and its dynamic range is more robust. The S3 has 6 megapixels and the same 12x optically stabilized zoom lens. These SLR-styled cameras share the same variety of exposure modes and many of the same features, although the older S3 does not have the Auto ISO Shift function. The S3 also misses out on the included hot shoe. The bodies of the two cameras are similar except the hand grip is slightly shallower on the S3 and its buttons are more scattered than the neat, straight layout of the S5. The Canon PowerShot S3 IS has a 2-inch LCD screen that folds out and rotates, but its resolution is almost embarrassing at 115,000 pixels. The S3 has the same great Movie mode and still provides a lot of great features; it can be found for less than $300.

Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS – This digital camera’s specs sound familiar: 8.2 megapixels and a 12x optical zoom lens that is optically stabilized. The $299 price tag is a lot less expensive, though. The SLR-like body is slightly smaller and definitely lighter at 10.6 ounces. It has 16 Scene modes and a clean layout. Up to 10 faces can be recognized with the Kodak Z812’s face detection technology. High definition pictures and videos can be captured and output, a fairly new feature on the market that is currently only offered on select Sony models and the Canon TX1. High-resolution videos are backed up with stereo audio, something the Canon S5 has as well. Videos on the EasyShare are restricted to 30 minutes, though. The Kodak Z812’s manual controls aren’t very impressive: shutter speeds are limited to 1/2-1/1000 of a second, and custom white balance isn’t even an option. The Kodak has a 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000 pixels and 32MB of internal memory.

Olympus SP-560UZ – This camera has the same $499 retail price as the S5. It also has 8 megapixels and an SLR-shaped body. Its 18x lens is longer and wider at 27mm. Like the S5, it features optical image stabilization. It has an excessively detailed Guide mode with lots of tutorials about how to take better pictures. It offers 25 Scene modes, JPEG and RAW shooting, and an Underwater mode to match the optional $379 underwater case that can take it 40 meters below the ocean’s surface. The Olympus SP-560UZ has face detection and ISO adjustments up to 1600 at full-resolution. Its Movie mode has a major quirk: users can either use the optical zoom while recording or activate the audio, not both at once. The SP-560 has a similarly-sized body but it weighs less at 12.9 ounces unloaded. It requires four AA batteries to power it. It has a 2.5-inch LCD screen with smoother 230,000 pixels. It also has 47MB of internal memory and includes a slot that accepts xD-Picture cards up to 2GB.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 – This SLR-shaped digital camera also has 8.1 megapixels and a full range of Manual and Automatic modes, but comes with a longer 18x optical zoom lens. It’s optically stabilized, too. To sweeten the deal, the FZ18 can shoot RAW and RAW + JPEG files along with the standard JPEG. It also has face detection technology that can recognize up to 15 faces. In addition to the 640 x 480-pixel videos, there is a wide 848 x 480-pixel video resolution that shoots at the same smooth 30 fps. The camera body is about the same size, but weighs a lot less. It comes with a lithium-ion battery and charger to reboot it every 400 shots; this is preferable to the hefty and expensive AA batteries that power the Canon S5. The Panasonic’s lens is wider at 28mm but its LCD doesn’t fold out and rotate. The LCD does have other familiar specs, though; 2.5 inches filled with 207,000 pixels. The FZ18 has a quick 3 fps burst, but it maxes out at four shots at full resolution. Another disadvantage is that it doesn’t include a hot shoe. The price, however, is very enticing at $399.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H9 – The 8.1-megapixel Sony H9 offers many of the same features and even a few upgrades for $20 less. It has a longer 15x optical zoom lens along with optical image stabilization. It has the full range of Manual and Automatic modes in an SLR-shaped body, and an interesting "Advanced Sports Shooting mode" that uses a continuous tracking autofocus system along with quick shutter speeds that flip as fast as 1/4000 of a second. It has a larger 3-inch LCD screen that folds out from the camera body, but it tilts up and down instead of rotating like the S5’s monitor. The Sony H9’s layout includes a "home" button that is an access point to just about everything on the camera; there is also a Function guide that is helpful for beginners who want everything spelled out. The H9 has the same top video resolution of 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps and, like the Canon S5, can use its optical zoom lens while recording. The Cyber-shot adds a NightShot mode that uses infrared light to capture subjects in no-light situations, helpful for wildlife photography at night. It also has high definition output capabilities, but only if an optional $40 cable is purchased from Sony.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters – This digital camera has plenty of features for this demographic: Automatic and Scene modes, an intuitive layout, and simple menus.

Budget Consumers – With a $499 retail price, the S5 is priced at the high-end of the compact digital camera market. It is even on the pricey side for ultra-zoom models. Those on a budget and bound for a Canon should consider the still respectable S3, which sells for less than $300.

Gadget Freaks – The folding and rotating LCD monitor, face detection, and MovieSnap function are all desirable features. These users should also check out the Sony H9, which is $20 cheaper and has an interesting Infrared mode.

Manual Control Freaks – A full range of manual control is available, so these consumers will be satisfied.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists – The manual controls are pleasing to this audience, but the poor performance in noise and dynamic range tests just might ruin the deal.