Tech Blog

[#1]

Canon just announced the successor to the much loved PowerShot S90--the new and improved PowerShot S95. The camera has been updated in several ways but still keeps the title of being a "serious photographer's compact" with full manual control. I was thinking of getting a Venn Diagram together for the similarities and differences between the S90 and the S95, but point-form works just fine:

Improvements the S95 offers over the S90:

-Updated sensor now capable of shooting HD video (720p), whereas S90 shot VGA

-New "Hybrid IS"* system accounts for additional types of movement (angular and shift-shake), better suited for macro photography

-High-sensitivity (HS) System with even better noise control than the S90 and  the option to limit the maximum sensitivity in auto ISO mode.

-Capable of shooting multiple aspect ratios (3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:9, and 4:5)

-SDXC** card compatible

-Mildly-updated body design (slightly slimmer with a 29.5mm thickness) and control ring with greater flexibility

-Slip resistant coating

-Now a "clicking" rear multi-control dial - an issue that Canon addressed based on feedback from S90 owners (including myself because it rotated too freely)

-Scene Detection technology through the "Smart Auto" mode

-High dynamic range (HDR) mode

Features kept from the S90:

-1/1.7" CCD, 10MP sensor (same as the G11)

-Full manual control

-RAW shooting capability

-HDMI port

-Canon f2.0-4.9, 28-105mm (35mm equiv.) lens - translates to a 3.8x optical zoom

-capable of 12,800 ISO in "low-light" mode (or "Amnesty International" mode, credit: Ken Rockwell)

-3.0" PureColor LCD with 461k pixel count but now with enhanced strength due to tempered glass

-Rechargeable NB-6L Li-Ion battery

It's pretty clear that the S95 will continue the legacy of a pocket-sized DSLR by improving what the S90's already good at. As a happy owner of the Canon S90, I'm sure this successor will be a great choice for those who decided to hold out for a year. I use the S90 for almost all of the time due to it's portability, full manual control, and low light performance. This past weekend I took over 700 photos and 35 minutes of video with the S90 and had nothing to complain about. Battery life lasted right until the end of the night and a recharge after 150-200 shots was all you need to be mindful of.

Just an observation:

S90 announced: August 19, 2009

S95 announced: August 19, 2010

*IS = Image Stabilization

**SDXC = Secure Digital Extended Capacity (32 GB to 2 TiB)