Canon compacts, esp G9 and S90/S95

[JABB]

I have a G9 which I like but it is still too large to carry full time.
Would I do well to upgrade / sidestep to a S90 or is it worth the extra for a S95. I don't do video so this isn't a factor.

[LongQ]

JABB said:

I have a G9 which I like but it is still too large to carry full time.
Would I do well to upgrade / sidestep to a S90 or is it worth the extra for a S95. I don't do video so this isn't a factor.

Depends on the porice difference and how you feel about them as cameras.

I've just obtained a G11 and an S90 as the 'pocketable' options for a trip. My older compacts are past their best and no RAW capability. Both are 'refurbs'. If you can wait a few weeks I'll write up my impressions of the effective differences. My initial impression is that whilst the S90 and G11 specs seem to be, image wise, very similarly targetted the differences seem greater than one might imagin for practical use beyond the Auto settings.

I'm not really sure about the S90 to S95 comparison. My impression was that there might be little to choose in reality other than the higher video spec but I may have missed some aspect of the update. Given I have rarely played with video and the price difference between the S90 and S95s on offer was quite substantial the S90 seemed like a good way to go for something pocketable.

I'll be able to do some proper image quality comparisons in the next month but the other obvious differences - articulated screen, flash shoe, readly available filter adapter and so on, suggested to me that having both was a good thing to try out.

[GetCarter]

S100 out on Jan 1st. If you can hang on it'll be better and S95 prices will fall.

[JABB]

LongQ
Interesting you have bought both. Do I take it you feel the S90 isn't quite up to the G, but smaller to take everywhere?

Steve, will you be upgrading?

[GetCarter]

I'll read the reviews. I've read Ken 'God takes after me' Rockwell's, and he really rates it, but suggests if one has the S95, just hang onto it.

As mentioned before I really rate it (for something so small that lives in a jacket pocket).. Being able to limit ISO and exposure bracket makes it a handy little camera for those (many) times that one doesn't have a DSLR to hand.

This taken last week - really dark: (ETA click to sharpen... bloody 750 nonsense)

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 23 October 13:34

[Eggman]

I've been mulling the purchase of a G12 for some time, but yesterday I noticed an Olympus XZ-1 in the window of a camera shop and it stopped me in my tracks.

I suspect the G12 may have a slight edge on image quality, but this thing offers similar amounts of control, appears way more pocketable and has a 28mm (equivalent) f1.8 lens! I've long fancied a fast wide angle like that - very tempted by it.

[craikeybaby]

For stills there's pretty much nothing in it between the S90 and S95. In the last month or so my Dad was able to pick up an S90 from the Canon refurb store on eBay for under £150, which I think is a bit of a bargain!

[JABB]

Rightly or wrongly I have bought a S95. ( If GetCarter can get good shots, I may be able to get some reasonable ones, or that is my thinking! )

[TimmyWimmyWoo]

I've got a refurb S95 as I can't really take an SLR with me on my motorbike. I've fallen in love with it – I'm getting shots that I just wouldn't have got with an SLR because I don't want to lug it around with me. Shoots RAW, handles noise pretty well for a compact and is generally very nice to use. I've not got any mega shots with it, but that's more down to me than the camera I have found that the RAW files need far less work than my old 20D.