Conclusion Get the lowdown
Features How it compares
Performance Real world benchmarks
Differences Technical showdown
Reviews Word on the street
Competition Others to consider
Discussion Answers and opinions

Full specs

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

8 MP
12x f/2.7
1/2.5" CCD
2.5" LCD

older Released May, 2007

The downside of such high quality is that the AVI files are large - at the best quality setting (640x480 / 30fps) you're burning around 2MB every second, so if you intend to shoot a lot of movies you're going to need to invest in some big, fast SD cards.

by DPReview (Jul, 2007)

Conclusion Check out the Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Nikon D5100

Nikon D3200

61%

85%

FeaturesView Details

24%

100%

93%

Popularity

42%

60%

58%

PerformanceView Details

83%

81%

ReviewsView Details

SortableScore

First reviewed December, 2011

Features Key features of the Canon PowerShot S5 IS

8 MP

1/2.5"

That said, movie quality is superb, smooth and artefact free (and pretty stable thanks to the IS), and the range of controls offered excellent.

by DPReview (Jul, 2007)

megapixels

0 MP

D320024.1 MP

PowerShot S5 IS8 MP

D510016.1 MP

30 MP

The most important is a resolution boost from 6.0 megapixels to 8.0, although it still has the compact-sized 1/2.5-in CCD sensor.

PowerShot S5 IS by TrustedReviews (Feb, 2011)

More megapixels on a point and shoot camera doesn't deliver better image quality.

PowerShot S5 IS by Hoop-Mama

sensor size

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

1/2.5" sensor

PowerShot S5 IS 1/2.5" sensor

Nikon D5100

APS-C sensor

D5100 APS-C sensor

Nikon D3200

APS-C sensor

D3200 APS-C sensor

Minor issues inherent in a camera of this sensor size and lens zoom range do exist.

PowerShot S5 IS by Rachel-L.-Barr (Aug, 2007)

The S5 IS bumps up to 8 megapixels from the S3's 6-megapixel sensor, increases the LCD size from 2 to 2.5 inches, and adds trendy bonus features like face-detection autofocus/autoexposure, maximum sensitivity of ISO 1600, and an ISO-shift mode that lets you jack up the setting with a button press when the camera tells you the shutter speed is too slow.

PowerShot S5 IS by c|net (Jun, 2007)

wide angle lens

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

36 mm

PowerShot S5 IS 36 mm

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

24 mm

PowerShot SX50 HS 24 mm

Fujifilm FinePix S3250

24 mm

FinePix S3250 24 mm

I now use the lens tube for the wide angle since it was made for the S5.

PowerShot S5 IS by Mr.-DAVID-Geer--Korngold-Fan (Apr, 2008)

So if you photograph buildings or similar with wide angle lens this camera may not suit you and a $200 upgrade could buy you something with a wider angle.

PowerShot S5 IS by Mr.-DAVID-Geer--Korngold-Fan (Apr, 2008)

aperture size

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

f/2.7 lens

PowerShot S5 IS f/2.7 lens

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

f/3.4 lens

PowerShot SX50 HS f/3.4 lens

Fujifilm FinePix S3250

f/3.1 lens

FinePix S3250 f/3.1 lens

Like the previous Canon super-zoom IS models, the S5 has a full range of manual exposure controls, with a shutter speed range of 15 seconds to 1/3200th of a second, and aperture values adjustable in 1/3EV increments to the minimum aperture of.

PowerShot S5 IS by TrustedReviews (Feb, 2011)

This aperture setting would usually occur under bright conditions (auto) or manually set.

PowerShot S5 IS by D.-Dietrich--duanekimonline

zoom range

FinePix S325024x

PowerShot S5 IS12x

PowerShot SX50 HS50x

50x

I actually used a S3 with this worn out zoom controller and it was quite annoying, as you could only zoom fast.

PowerShot S5 IS by David-Devine

The 12x zoom is nice if you are a peeping tom, but Canon should have given a wider wide angle zoom if you like to shoot groups of people.

PowerShot S5 IS by Richard-W.-Heller (Sep, 2007)

body size

PowerShot S5 IS117 x 80 x 78 mm

PowerShot A3400 IS95 x 56 x 21 mm

PowerShot A81095 x 62 x 30 mm

It feels nice, is substantial without being too heavy or big (though, it really is too big to be considered a "point and shoot;" it is too big for most pockets), and seems well built.

PowerShot S5 IS by gregg (Sep, 2007)

Size and weight; truly carrying a larger and heavier camera would have been tough on this trip.

PowerShot S5 IS by P.-Cleveland--Giri-Images (Jan, 2008)

Performance Real world tests of Canon PowerShot S5 IS

battery life

0 photos700 photos

PowerShot S5 IS 170 photos

D5100 660 photos

D3200 540 photos

imaging-resource.com

Battery life is no different than other digital cameras, and in fact battery life was much better than the smaller digital Canon Powershot camera we took with us.

PowerShot S5 IS by G.-Gardner--nwwriter (Apr, 2008)

I was a little concerned about 4AA battery life.

PowerShot S5 IS by Gregory-Nole--G.N. (Jun, 2008)

max continuous shooting

PowerShot S5 IS1.5 fps

PowerShot SX50 HS13 fps

PEN E-PL58 fps

Continuous shooting is fixed at about 1.5 frames per second (fps), regardless of image size, and can run for about 18 shots before it starts to slow.

PowerShot S5 IS by c|net (Jun, 2007)

It's disappointing to see the fall in continuous shooting performance, which - though allowing you to shoot until the card is full - is, at 1.5 or so frames per second, lagging slightly behind most competitors.

PowerShot S5 IS by DPReview (Jul, 2007)

Our analysis How does it stack up against its top 10 competitors

pros

Shoots video

standard-def video
Has a flash hot shoe

Generic
Fast lens

f/2.7
Has a viewfinder

Gives you more flexibility when framing your shot
Has a flip out screen

Great for recording movies
Better macro lens

0 mm
Fast max shutter speed

1/3200 s

cons

Quite narrow lens

36 mm
Quite less recently announced date

May, 2007
Quite small screen

2.5"
Quite low resolution

8 MP
Low resolution screen

207 k dots
Shoots low definition video

standard-def video
Slow rapid fire

1.5 fps
Can't capture 3D scenes

No automatic 3D
Fewer photos per charge

170
Doesn't shoot RAW

Less capability to adjust white balance and exposure
Doesn't support panorama

No automatic stitching
Doesn't support HDR

No automatic HDR
Doesn't support high speed video

Lacks the ability to create slow motion video
Heavy

550 g
Thick

78 mm
Big

117 x 80 x 78 mm

full specs

Reviews Word on the street

	Read the review (Jul, 2007) The S5 IS is the first model in this range to sport a hot-shoe for use with external flash units, a very welcome addition.

	Rated 74% Read the review (Jun, 2007) White balance is excellent under a variety of conditions.

	Rated 90% Read the review (Feb, 2011) The S5 is also a highly capable video camera, with 640 x 480 resolution at 30 frames a second, or 320 x 240 at 60fps, and high quality stereo audio provided by two microphones mounted above the lens.

	Rated 83% by 165 users at amazon.com Overall I am very happy with it and don't hesitate to recommend it for great family photos, vacations, or random shots of the dog playing with your little niece. Rated 100% by by Gregory-Nole--G.N. (Jun, 2008) GOOD MENUS: Menus are easy to use and intuitive. Rated 100% by by K.-Franklin--Are-we-there-yet The camera features the ultrasonic focusing motor of the Canon DSLR lens which makes it focus faster than most point and shoot cameras. Rated 100% by by D.-L.-Howe--dave (Sep, 2007)

Lens

This camera produces sharp, perfect color pictures and has the capabilities of switching lenses.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 100% by by DC-Gal (Apr, 2008)

The Canon lens produces very little wide-angle distortion.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 90% by by TrustedReviews (Feb, 2011)

Concerning the image stabilization with the 12x zoom, I never sought big zooms so I never thought how nice they could be.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 80% by by Argonaut (Feb, 2008)

Video

The picture quality in the A80 is quite good, but we were looking for a larger zoom, some extra pixels for the occasional enlargements we do (I am no expert, but from all of the reviews I have learned that too many pixels can be a problem-plus our A80 only has 4 mega pixels and takes great pictures), and DVD quality video.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 80% by by gregg (Sep, 2007)

The only big flaw that I've found out so far, is that while recording a movie, you can take pictures...well the movie is interrupted to take a picture.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 80% by by M.-Mckenzie (Jun, 2007)

Movie sound isn't in perfect sync with picture, but unless you're Spielberg almost no one will notice.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 80% by by Richard-W.-Heller (Sep, 2007)

Sensor

Yes it's loaded with adjustable features and a great zooming video mode, but what good are all these bells and whistles if the pictures don't look that good even at the lower ISO settings.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 60% by by C.-Trench--gear-shopaholic

We've included comparisons at each camera's lowest ISO setting (S5 IS: ISO 80, SP-550UZ: ISO 50), ISO 400 and ISO 1600 (the top setting on the S5 IS).

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | by DPReview (Jul, 2007)

With a vast array of shooting modes and ISO settings, you can get some absolutely amazing photos out of this camera.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 100% by by Hoop-Mama

Zoom

For the money and the zoom range, it is well worth the money.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 80% by by Kathleen-M.-Moore (Aug, 2007)

Optical zoom is awesome.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 60% by by MS (Jun, 2008)

The telephoto end is equivalent to 432mm, great for picking out details.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 90% by by TrustedReviews (Feb, 2011)

Image quality

This camera is great and would recommend to anyone looking for a camera that produces quality photos with some flexibility but doesnt find the need to spend the extra cash on a Nikon or Pentax.

Canon PowerShot S5 IS | Rated 100% by by Pure-gold (Sep, 2007)