Canon S90: High ISO Pocket-Sized Point & Shoot

As a professional photographer working with high traffic websites and magazines all over the globe, I've always been in a bit of a dilemma when it comes to pocket sized point & shoot cameras.

I'm always taking photos and sharing them online, even when it's not "work related." (BTW, If you're interested in unlimited photo storage online, check out this FREE Trial of Smugmug.) Often times, I'm in situations when I'm traveling or out with friends, and it's not convenient to bring my big DSLR camera (Canon 5DMk2) and lenses with me. Just think about it... I don't necessarily want to bring my 5DMk2 and lenses to a Hollywood club, or to every single restaurant I go to.

However, sometimes I just feel like I need a camera on me, because I don't want to miss out on great photo opportunities that my iPhone 3G just can't handle. (Like taking photos of that hot chick that you met at the dimly lit bar last night. You need to take a photo of her so you can verify that she's still hot the next day, and you weren't just looking through beer goggles!)

At the advice of friends, I really considered looking into buying the Canon G11. I have friends who were very happy with their older model G9 and G10 purchases, and I did like the fact that the G11 had Canon's newest Digic 4 chip (which ensures super low light sensitivity to the tune of ISO 3200+) and full manual controls. It certainly would be a step up from the Canon SD870IS that I was using previously. The 870IS was an awesome little camera, but I felt that I just needed something with more manual controls! I'm an artiste, dammit.

So after much research on DPReview, Amazon.com and similar sites, I drove to the nearest Best Buy to have a look at the G11 in person. When I held the camera in my hands, I thought it was great, but the G11 was still a lot more bulky than what I wanted. I'll admit it. I'm a big guy, but the G11 was still too thick of a camera for my pocket... and I certainly didn't want to cram a high end point&shoot camera in my jeans pocket with my iPhone, wallet, and keys.

The answer to this predicament? The Canon Powershot S90. After comparing specs, I noticed that the Canon S90 had the same Digic 4 sensor, same High ISO capability, and same manual function capability as the G11; it was even roughly the same price. The only differences were... the S90 was quite a bit slimmer than the G11; the S90 also didn't have a hot shoe for external flash (or radio triggers like PocketWizards or CyberSyncs) like the G11 did.

But hell, who cares? I mean, I do like having the option of putting a radio trigger on my point&shoot and doing some off-camera-lighting portraits (a la Strobist.com), car shoots or painting with light. But just think about it... I have a 5D Mark II for that.

The main thing I was looking for was a really good point&shoot with manual controls that still fit into the pocket of my jeans. I wanted something that had a slim form factor like some of the Sony and/or Casio Exilim cameras I've seen. (I'll be honest though - I ruled out Sony because I didn't want to be trapped into using their MemorySticks, and I ruled out Casio because their sensors don't even come close to Canon's.)

So there it is. I decided I didn't need the hot shoe on top of my pocket camera. I'd look like a dork walking around with my Canon 580EXII flash mounted on top of a G11 at a club anyway - my Canon external flash is twice the size and thickness of the damn camera! Just imagine walking around with a Canon 580EXII with a GaryFong Lightsphere on top, mounted onto a small Canon G11. That would look hilarious!

Did I make the right choice in buying the Canon S90 instead of the G11? I certainly think so... but I'll post up some of my sample photos on this blog later, so you can take a look at my pics and make your own decision.

Here's the top of my Canon Powershot S90. On the left side, you can see the motorized pop-up flash, and on the right side, you can see that it has full MANUAL controls, as well as Aperture Priority mode (AV), Shutter Speed Priority mode (TV), a VIDEO mode (it's not HD, but great quality for the web), and some full AUTO and Scene modes.

The toggle switch next to the shutter button lets you zoom in/out, and the "Ring Func" button lets you change the functionality of the moving ring that surrounds the camera lens. You can spin the ring to set the lens all the way open to F/2.0! F2 on a point and shoot?! Holy sh..... that's just unheard of. No wonder I love this camera.

Here's the back side of my S90. The round dial in the back spins to scroll through your photos in Playback Mode, and the button/dial also turns on Macro mode (for close up photos of food or other small items, with outstanding blurred depth of field/bokeh blur) and allows you to set different flash modes - full flash, flash off, and my favorite, slow-syncro flash.

Speaking of the FLASH... The Canon S90 allows you to adjust the power output of your pop-up flash!!! I showed this feature to my friend Chris, and he shook his head with a WTF look on his face... and bought an S90 on Amazon.com immediately after. He's selling his SD800IS if anyone's interested.

There are many retailers out there, but I bought my camera from Best Buy. I do have an Amazon Prime account, but I needed the camera ASAP to document the partying that would be happening during the course of my Vegas trip, which was starting the very next day. I'll post some sample pics from that trip soon!

:: Antonio from MOTORMAVENS.com