New Camera: Canon S95

Wired has published its 10 Most Significant Gadgets of 2010, and there aren’t many surprises. Apple landed three devices on the list: its iPhone 4, the MacBook Air, and the iPad (Wired’s #1 pick), which seems to annoy some of Wired’s readers to no end.

But what really caught my eye was the inclusion of a point-and-shoot camera, Canon’s PowerShot S95. Wired’s editors raved about the little camera’s features and especially its fast and long-zoom lens. I was excited to see it on the list because I got one for Christmas*, courtesy of My Lovely Bride.

I’m still learning how to use the camera, but first impressions are that it’s a very serviceable replacement for an entry-level SLR, and for many people may be the only camera they need.

Canon has packed an amazing array of features into the pocket-sized device: 10 megapixel stills, 720p HD video, 28-105mm (equivalent) zoom lens, high speed image processor, and image stabilization. It has the ability to capture images in RAW format as well as JPG+RAW, and provides multi-aspect image mode options. The camera also accommodates Canon’s HF-DC1 external flash for more control over flash photography (the link is to Canon’s site, but you can get it for $100 via Amazon.com).

The S95 allows full manual control of shooting modes, but it also has a myriad of preprogrammed modes and special effects, including the in-camera ability to replace colors in a scene, to lighten or darken skin tone, to create HDR photos, and to apply a tilt-shift effect to the image. It can even snap a photo in self-timer mode when someone in the scene winks at the camera. (Is there a big demand for that?)

One of the minor miracles of the camera is how quickly it’s ready to shoot when you turn it on. I tried to measure the interval between pressing the “on” button and completion of the ready mode, but it was only about one second.

If you’re looking for a carry-everywhere camera that provides the flexibility of an SLR, the ease of a point-and-shoot, throws in HD video, and is less than $400, I can’t imagine a better alternative than the S95.

*Funny story about this. I opened the gift and apparently had a puzzled look, because Debbie said, “well, you put it on your wish list!” I didn’t remember doing that, and she claimed that I had blogged about it just a few months earlier. I knew my memory was spotty, but didn’t realize it was that bad. A day or so later she said she went back on the Gazette and found the post where I mentioned I’d like to have one…and it was from October, 2009 (and just a brief mention in a Random Thursday post at that). I felt a bit better.