Canon S5

[Groucho]

The XTi's sensor is approximately 14-15x larger than the one in the S5... the quality is definitely way beyond what the S5 can do! If there's any doubt about it, set them both to ISO 1600 and compare the results.

However, the tiny sensor in the S5 means a large depth of field, so it's easier for the S5 to get things in focus, plus it can do video, unlike the XTi, if that's a consideration.

 

[Tigger1221]

Thanks! She is going on vacation for a week. I told her to take it with her and see if she likes it! I think she really doesn't want to carry arround all the extra equipment. She has the film Rebel and used to take great pics with it. I am learing to use my camera, she just need to learn to use hers. I think she will see how much better hers is.

 

[pjacobi]

I have both a P/S camera *and* a dSLR. I use both depending upon the situation and how much effort I am willing to invest into the photo.

The dSLR will alway provide the best quality picture, but it won't fit in my pocket.

My P/S camera works just fine for family snapshots, but for a one-in-a-lifetime trip, I want my dSLR.

Try to figure out how you plan to use the camera and buy the best equipment for the job.

A dSLR *can* take great pictures, but if you just hate carrying around a big camera that you don't know how to use, you probably won't get very many good pictures. You might be tempted to leave the dang thing at home in the box.


-Paul

 

[Anewman]

I know they are completly different but my mom wants to know. I got an S5 for chirstmas and my mom got the S5. However she was comparing them today and my S5 has more zoom than her long lense and her wide range lenses only shows an inch or 2 more than mine. Her lenses are old. She doesn't want to have to change lenses to get the same results I get. She really isn't interested in buying new lenses as she says they are too expensive. So should she keep her XTi or trade it in for the S5?

Thanks,
Jill

Better is subject to personal preferences and priorities.
Yes the Xti is capable of getting better image quality, but as your mom has pointed out that might be in exchange of convenience.

For 90% of her shots when printed on 4x6 you will likely not see any difference from the S5 shots, once you print larger and get into lower light situations if used properly the Xti should be night and day superior.

But if the Xti becomes a chore and ends up being left in the closet...

 

[jann1033]

why don't you trade with her
i was in that same place a couple yrs ago and am glad i went with the dslr...even though my old brain had to suffer through a big learning curve( never used a digital and hadn't used my film in a while since it was broken) imo it was worth it. so it depends on what you want to do, just easy photos or work on your skill. if her film still works she could use that for more creative/difficult shots if she wants to. i think the shutter lag has improved some but that drove me nuts with daughter's old p&S digital

 

[Tigger1221]

why don't you trade with her
i was in that same place a couple yrs ago and am glad i went with the dslr...even though my old brain had to suffer through a big learning curve( never used a digital and hadn't used my film in a while since it was broken) imo it was worth it. so it depends on what you want to do, just easy photos or work on your skill. if her film still works she could use that for more creative/difficult shots if she wants to. i think the shutter lag has improved some but that drove me nuts with daughter's old p&S digital

The way we travel A dslr is not a good choice for me. I am constantly on the go and need to travel light. We like cruising and all that equipment would hold us up. Mom is using her camera and liking it so far. She gets back next Sat. and I will help her upload them and see how they look. (She knows how to use a camera but can't use a computer.)

 

[digman6]

I am soo new to this kinda camera ... I have a kodak easy share right now and it works great. I do want to get some AWESOME pics like you have and so I took the plunge and bought this Canon 8.1 12Xzoom S5 camera.

So before I get the book on how it works and I get scared off what can you tell me about it that will not make me throw in the towel.

My goal is to figure out by the end of next week how to get pictures at the HM concert. We are in the upper level of the concert haul but closer to the bottom. Anyhow what kind of setting does a concert need or is the book reader friendly??

I really am banking on figuring out the basics of this by the end of next week, if thats possible??

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I am soo new to this kinda camera ... I have a kodak easy share right now and it works great. I do want to get some AWESOME pics like you have and so I took the plunge and bought this Canon 8.1 12Xzoom S5 camera.

So before I get the book on how it works and I get scared off what can you tell me about it that will not make me throw in the towel.

My goal is to figure out by the end of next week how to get pictures at the HM concert. We are in the upper level of the concert haul but closer to the bottom. Anyhow what kind of setting does a concert need or is the book reader friendly??

I really am banking on figuring out the basics of this by the end of next week, if thats possible??

First off, welcome to the family!

Don't forget to participate in our thread. There's TONS of advice and pictures from many users of the entire line of Canon S-series cameras (everything from S1's thru S5's!).

Don't be scared ... it's an easy camera to use. You'll figure out the "basics" fifteen minutes after you get it out of the box and the batteries and SD card into it!

It takes great pictures in Auto mode. And, you can take 90% of your pictures in P mode (to control the ISO or just set it at 100 when in sunlight) and get *great* pictures.

The fact that it's got full Manual mode doesn't mean you *need* to use it for every picture!

The only time you really *need* to venture in to the Manual modes (Av, Tv and M) are when you are trying to achieve a specific effect like controlling the Depth Of Field (DOF)*, or taking pictures in less-than-optimum conditions (like indoors or in the dark).

For a concert (or an indoor Disney show like Beauty and the Beast or Nemo: The Musical), I've had decent luck with the following settings: switch to Av mode and select the smallest aperture possible (2.7 at wide or 3.5 at zoom), switch the Metering to Spot, and the ISO to 400.

Make sure you 'pre-focus' (half-press the shutter button) while aiming at the brightest area of the subject and you'll probably get shutter speeds of 1/40 or 1/60 ... *just* fast enough to freeze people on stage if they aren't moving too much. The IS will help, but I'd also recommend switching to Continuous mode, and taking as many shots as you can; some will be sharper than others.

The manual will make it clear how to set the settings I'm talking about, but it doesn't do much for "use these settings in these conditions" -- however, there are lots of those sorts of discussions in the S3 "family" thread.

* not that you have *that* much control, as it is a small-sensor camera.

 

[MICKEY88]

The fact that it's got full Manual mode doesn't mean you *need* to use it for every picture!

The only time you really *need* to venture in to the Manual modes (Av, Tv and M) are when you are trying to achieve a specific effect like controlling the Depth Of Field (DOF)*, or taking pictures in less-than-optimum conditions (like indoors or in the dark).AV and TV aren't actually manual modes they are aperture priority and shutter priority..

For a concert (or an indoor Disney show like Beauty and the Beast or Nemo: The Musical), I've had decent luck with the following settings: switch to Av mode and select the smallest aperture possible (2.7 at wide or 3.5 at zoom), switch the Metering to Spot, and the ISO to 400. 2.8 although the smallest number is actually the largest aperture..

Make sure you 'pre-focus' (half-press the shutter button) while aiming at the brightest area of the subject and you'll probably get shutter speeds of 1/40 or 1/60 ... *just* fast enough to freeze people on stage if they aren't moving too much. The IS will help, but I'd also recommend switching to Continuous mode, and taking as many shots as you can; some will be sharper than others.

The manual will make it clear how to set the settings I'm talking about, but it doesn't do much for "use these settings in these conditions" -- however, there are lots of those sorts of discussions in the S3 "family" thread.

* not that you have *that* much control, as it is a small-sensor camera.

 

[npmommie]

so far i can see the sensor is different in these 2 and the canon has is and the fuji does not.
any opinions?
i want something good to take portraits of the kids inside in natural light.
and to use in general, but mostly to take good face shots

 

[YEKCIM]

Comparison

Canon goes longer, Fuji goes wider. Canon has IS, Fuji does not. Fuji has larger sensor, so better low-light performance at higher ISO's. Fuji has stronger flash. Canon is lighter. Canon has motorized zoom; Fuji has manual zoom. Canon may be less expensive and more widely available. xD memory used on Fuji is more expensive than SD memory used on Canon. Other minor differences, too - see link.

~YEKCIM

 

[digman6]

Wow thanks so much , I kinda thought it was going to be REALLY hard to figure out. Glad to know its not to bad to work, that makes me think I will get this down with out to much trouble.

I am so used to the point and shoot of my Kodak Easy share and when I see the pictures I get now that I think are *really good* when I see all these on here I think HUH wait til I get me new one!

Thanks for helping me out, I am sure I will be coming by often for help

I never thought you could really get that good of pictures without a *professional* taking them.

 

[jann1033]

any new camera is a change..i have a dslr and my daughter wanted me to take a photo with her powershot P&s ( no eyepiece, just the lcd screen ) and i was lost
read your manual as soon as you get it with your camera in hand then practice practice practice and don't be afraid of auto till you get the hang of it. i've found canon in general to be pretty user friendly( only brand i really have experience with)

 

[digman6]

I guess I am so used to pointing and shooting. the camera does it all and nothing for me to do . However I really LOVE seeing the pictures you all are getting that I broke down and bought a new one.

I figure if I can get the basics down at least for now that would be good. My goal is to get the baiscs down and I really want to get AWESOME pictures of this Hannah Montana concert for dd's.

I am sure I will understand what you are talking about with some of the things all of you say once I get me new camera

Thanks all so much again

 

[Groucho]

The Fuji also offers proper zoom and focus rings.

You can also consider the S9000 or S9100, they will take CompactFlash cards, which aren't as expensive as xDs but more than SDs.

If you're spending that much, you're getting very close to the price of an entry-level DSLR, which will offer much more camera and quality than either of these (though less zoom with the basic lens), that might be something to consider also.

 

[digman6]

I have been reading thru this book and messing with the controls I am a hands on learner first of all so I am struggling

I am trying to figure out the setting for when we go to our concert..this is sooo annoying.

I am not sure if the settings in the menu are were they should be or if they need to be adjusted? I am not sure I understand what they are talking about! Camera lingo in this book is over my head or something

I am a hands on learner or one of those if you do A,B,C = D

Anyone any tips ??

 

[GrillMouster]

It might help if you were a bit more specific about what you're asking.

 

[actionvaughn]

Are you asking what the best settings are for taking pictures of at a concert? Everyone's really helpful at the Canon S3 IS/S5 IS Family Thread.

 

[GrillMouster]

It sounds like you're asking not only for the best settings for a concert, but for instructions on how to navigate all of the menus and options on the camera. What kind of concert is it? indoors/outdoors? day/night? will you be up close or far away? Will there be lots of motion on stage?

General advice for a low-light event from the crowd would be to turn off the flash, use large aperture (low f-stop value), and crank up the ISO, and try a shutter speed of 1/125 and adjusting from there. Since the images will be for your own personal enjoyment, not for professional use or publication, don't get hung up on the whole issue of increased noise due to high ISO. I'd rather have a noisy or slightly blurry image than no picture at all.

 

[madge]

try the short courses book for the S5- it's an e-book that walks you through the settings of the camera, step by step.

www.shortcourses.com