Canon PowerShot S5 IS Review

The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is Canon’s top-of-the-range ultra-zoom compact camera, with an image-stabilized 12x optical zoom lens offering a focal range of 36-432mm, fast aperture range of f/2.7 – f/3.5 and an Ultrasonic Motor for silent auto-focusing. With an external flash hot shoe for use with selected Canon EX Speedlites, chunky hand grip and mode wheel, the S5 IS is very much styled like an entry-level DSLR camera. The 8 megapixel Canon S5 IS also benefits from a versatile 2.5 inch vari-angle LCD screen, Canon’s DIGIC III processor (as used in their range of DSLRs), Face Detection AF/AE/FE and ISO speeds up to a maximum of 1600. There’s a choice of 22 shooting modes, including Manual mode for creative control, and a 0cm Super Macro mode for extreme close-ups! With a recommended price of over £400, the Canon PowerShot S5 IS is competing directly with a lot of budget SLRs, as well as cheaper high-end bridge cameras, so does it offer enough to compete? Gavin Stoker finds out…

Website: Canon PowerShot S5 IS Review

Published: Friday, September 21, 2007

Reader Comments

1. A very fair and usefull review, along with that for the Olympus SP550 UZ I have also just read. With both currently running price for price at around £240 it finally made my mind up for me. Sorry Olympus !! Check out the Canon if you can make do with 12x rather than 18x.

   Glen Crawford at 04:01pm on Wednesday, October 03, 2007

2. very fair and unbiased review. About the camera I like the potential of the camera. Put it on Manual and go. Sharp focus is my primary concern and its top notch. I have this camera and it unable to focus for 3 times for ovew 250 shot. It gives focus error in nealy complete darkness in Ajanta caves(India).It will be if canon include an 28mm wide angle in the lens. bt anywy I love this camera. Hope canon is listening.

   Sukanta at 08:49am on Tuesday, November 20, 2007

3. Can you explain how to change the in-camera sharpening level mentioned in your review?

   Rabindra Bansi at 03:25am on Tuesday, April 01, 2008