Canon S5

[Flanigan]

Glad this was already answered, I hope you have fun with the macro modes and post some pictures. Below is a recent image taken in macro (might have been super macro)

 

[lillygator]

it's plugged in, I turn it on to the view, hit the "print" button on the camera and the light turns orange and the view goes to black and no "menu" comes up asking me if I want to download new, etc???

any thoughts?

 

[bob100]

it's plugged in, I turn it on to the view, hit the "print" button on the camera and the light turns orange and the view goes to black and no "menu" comes up asking me if I want to download new, etc???

any thoughts?

are you trying to print something or download pics to a computer?
When I download pics/video I just turn the camera on, plug in the USB cable and let the computer device manager transfer the files, have you tried that?

 

[lillygator]

yes...I am only trying to download....and my light on the camera stays orange and the screen on the camera blank, nothing!

 

[MICKEY88]

it's always best to connect using a card reader..

 

[lillygator]

I think I can do that only on my laptop.

 

[ukcatfan]

I think I can do that only on my laptop.

A card reader is as cheap as $5 from places like Buy.com and Newegg.com. You can sometimes find them free after rebate or included for free with a new card.

 

[Frantasmic]

The process you are describing appears to be the DPOF function, according to the instruction booklet that came with the camera. Is that what you want to do?

You are selecting images based on file number, date, folder, or other pre-determined criteria using the DPOF function. I think you are just wanting to transfer all your pictures to the computer, correct?

With Windows XP and Vista, you should just be able to hook up your camera with the cord that came with the camera and then select that button until the light is green (not orange) and the Camera Wizard on your computer should take over from there.

 

[DISNEYLOVER70]

I have been looking for one of these and every website I come to says not found?????

Thanks......

 

[bob100]

I have been looking for one of these and every website I come to says not found?????

Thanks......

some of the other photography forums are indicating the Canon S5 is discontinued and will be replaced, (not sure if S6 or something else) apparently all you can get is a "refurbished" model S5 which may not be worth it, .... but there are other "ultra zoom" cameras - Olympus, panasonic, etc. for around $300 - $400, do a search, I like the Canon quality but in this case it may be better to go with another super-zoom "near-dSLR" model.

 

[Metallicat]

I just saw both the Canon S3 and the S5 over at Amazon dot com and they had both cameras in stock.

I order stuff all the time from Amazon and have never had a problem with them. and returns are as easy as pie too.

 

[Metallicat]

You might want to look at the Panasonic Lumix TZ28. around the same price and size, but the Lumix is 18x zoom, wide angle, and is 10 megapixels. it has manual settings like a DSLR, and in the video mode, it records in HD. the Canon S3 and S5 does not record in HD and you can tell the difference.
My DD had a S3 but sold it and got the Lumix. she is very happy with it. they are also found at Amazon dot com.

 

[Flanigan]

Have you checked circuit city's website? I was able to get my S5 from them and pickup in store, it was a nice hassle free experience.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Mrs. Uncleromulus bought her Canon S5 at Ritz Camera Shop in April; hopefully, they still have them.

She loves that camera -- she is an avid scrap-booker and is always taking photos with it.

 

[klmall]

Sending you a PM!

 

[Pugrpooh]

I currently have a Sony H5 which I really like and I think it takes good pictures. However, I'm getting the bug to upgrade to a DSLR. I've been reading a lot about them and narrowing down the features I want. I like the Sony a300/350 and Canon xSi so far (although I think I'd really like the Nikon D90 but I don't want to spend that much now).

My question is for owners of the bridge cameras who have upgraded to a DSLR -- Has it been worth it? Do you see a big improvement over your former camera? How's the learning curve?

Thanks,
Lynn

 

[Pea-n-Me]

My question is for owners of the bridge cameras who have upgraded to a DSLR -- Has it been worth it? Do you see a big improvement over your former camera?

Wow, that last one's a loaded question! Yes, and No. Sort of. At times. On the occasions I set it properly. Once in a while. Finally.

Worth it? Yes. For me. I wanted to learn once and for all how to use an SLR. I've put a ton of effort into it for a very long time and I'm finally beginning to see some progress, though I still have a long way to go. Everyone's different here. Some buy one and use it on Auto and are perfectly happy. Others are able to master the whole thing fairly quickly. I'm somewhere in between. But yes, I'm glad I finally did it.

As for the learning curve, I've chronicled my thoughts about that here. Hope you find it helpful. Feel free to join in, and good luck.

 

[JimbobJimbo]

I upgraded from a Canon S5 to a Canon Rebel XSi. I have to agree with
Pea-n-Me that at times I see an improvement, if I have the settings right. But it was with out a doubt worth it. I'm having a lot of fun learning with it. There is definatly potential there to see a Big improvement.

 

[zackiedawg]

Ditto to the other two responses. Moved from an H5 myself, to the A300. Yes, the potential for better photos in some areas is certainly there - high-speed motion, high ISO shooting for handheld low light, and the flexibility to shoot outside the fixed lens range of the H5. And in other areas, a DSLR will likely equal the output of a superzoom (in areas where superzooms perform admirably already, such as long telephoto, landscape, daylight, etc.).

And you'll likely find a DSLR will require a bit more attention to your settings, to the technique, and sometimes a bit more tweaking in post to get the most out of the photos (many folks don't realize it, but the photos they love from their P&S cameras are usually quite a bit more 'punchy' and colorful than real life, while most DSLRs are tuned very conservatively to return realistic saturation, color, and contrast...which means the photo may not look like what you were used to from the P&S and initially seem disappointing).

Also, keep in mind that to get anything close to the zoom range of an ultra-zoom, you have to spend comfortably into 4-figures just for lenses - even higher if you are trying to equal the sensitivity level of those ultrazoom lenses (usually F2.8-4.0 or so). Ultra-zooms are great bargains and amazingly flexible...and still probably the perfect camera for 75% of the photo-taking amateur public. I dare say many who have DSLRs would probably get better results, more consistently, and with much less effort, had they just gotten an ultrazoom.

For those who have been shooting with an ultrazoom for a while, and find themselves bumping into the limitations, or wanting to experiment and expand their photography beyond the constraints of the camera...plus are willing to accept the much higher cost and much lower convenience (alot more size and weight for a DSLR and several lenses)...then a DSLR is the next logical evolution.

I personally love my decision. I did start to find myself wanting to push into types of photography beyond the capabilities of my H5. Hand-held low light and fast-shutter night photography, indoor photography, and action photography with fast-moving subjects were the areas the H5 couldn't venture or severely limited me. I made the move to the A300, and committed to buying at least 3 types of lenses - one all-purpose walk-around lens to replace the one-piece convenience of the H5 (the Sony 18-250, which gives me 27mm to 375mm of range, compared to the H5's 36mm to 432mm); one low light lens (Minolta 50mm F1.7), and one big telephoto for wildlife to equal what the H5 could do with the HD1758 1.7x teleextender (Tamron 200-500 gives me 300mm to 750mm, compared to the H5 + 1758 range of 720mm).

My total cost so far has run just about $2,100, which I considered acceptable to pursue and expand my photography...and of course, I'm always keeping an eye out for a few extra specialty lenses to suit other desires (lens lust is a disease you cannot avoid once you get a DSLR).

 

[bob100]

Also, keep in mind that to get anything close to the zoom range of an ultra-zoom, you have to spend comfortably into 4-figures just for lenses - even higher if you are trying to equal the sensitivity level of those ultrazoom lenses (usually F2.8-4.0 or so). Ultra-zooms are great bargains and amazingly flexible...and still probably the perfect camera for 75% of the photo-taking amateur public. I dare say many who have DSLRs would probably get better results, more consistently, and with much less effort, had they just gotten an ultrazoom.

The Canon S5 forums have plenty of discussion threads on people who have upgraded and the consensus is most don't regret it (but they keep the S5 for macros and video!) I'm not ready yet to follow the dSLR path and spend 4 figures on the camera body and appropriate lens but sure, someday it will probably get me. The big advantage I see for dSLR is the low light capability and now that's not a big part of my photography but if I had small kids or took a lot of portraits or night shots then maybe I would get the upgrading fever