Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Price Avg: $327.06

Basic Specifications Resolution:
8.00 Megapixels Lens: 12.00x zoom
(36-432mm eff) Viewfinder: EVF / LCD LCD Size: 2.5 inch ISO: 80-1600 Shutter: 15-1/3200 Max Aperture: 2.7 Mem Type: SDHC / SD Battery: 4 x AA Dimensions: 4.6×3.1×3.1in
(117×80x78mm) Weight: 20.2 oz
(574 g) MSRP: $500 Availability: 07/2007

The latest model in Canon’s popular line of image-stabilized superzoom cameras, the 8-megapixel Canon PowerShot S5 IS is similar to its predecessor, the 6-megapixel PowerShot S3 IS (Canon skipped a number so there’s no S4). Both have an image-stabilized 12x optical zoom lens with a focal range of 36-432mm (35mm equivalent), an SLR-like design, an articulated LCD, and a versatile feature set that mixes a full range of manual exposure controls (Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual) with easy-to-use Auto, Program, and Scene modes.

Measuring 4.6 x 3.15 x 3.06 inches (117.0 x 80.0 x 77.7mm) and weighing 1.25 pounds (574g) with battery and card, the Canon S5 IS is slightly larger and heavier than the S3 IS, in part to accommodate Canon S5 IS’s new 2.5-inch LCD. The LCD’s resolution has also been upgraded from 115,000 to 207,000 pixels. Both are welcome changes and increase the LCD’s usability, especially in bright light and when using manual focus. The Canon S5 IS now sports a hotshoe so users can take advantage of Canon’s powerful Speedlite flash units. The physical changes are rounded out by minor control changes and a new, spring-loaded lens cap in place of the S3’s slip-on design.

Internally, the Canon S5 IS’s processor has been updated to DIGIC III and, not surprisingly, the camera offers Face Detection Autofocus and Auto exposure for more accurate capture of group and single portraits. Maximum ISO has jumped to 1,600 and ISO Shift has been added so you can adjust light sensitivity on the fly if you need a faster shutter speed. Safety FE helps avoid overexposed highlights when using flash and Safety MF allows you to use autofocus to tweak manually focused images.