Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon PowerShot S5 IS Digital Camera - Black (8.0MP, 12x Optical Zoom) 2.5" LCD

I'm not a camera buff and cant tell you about its F stops and stuff like that but I can tell you what its like to use as a relatively simple camera. I've got a small compact camera but wanted something that just took better pictures - sharper, better zoom, all that kind of stuff, but didnt want a 3Kg lump needing a rucksack to cart around. This just does it all - great, really great pictures, sharp, lovely colour, just brilliant. Really simple to use, plenty of stuff you can do to use it maually or just point and squirt - either way, it works a treat every time.

Theres three drawbacks in my opinion. First the flash doesnt pop up automatically - you have to flip it up when the flash symbol appears in the viewfinder. Second, the lcd screen has to be opened up - its not like a compact camera LCD screen. Third - it really needs a dedicated battery pack, but other reviewers have suggested that decent NiMh batts are fine - I find disposable ones dont last that long.

This camera I've had now for over a year and it still brings me joy everytime I use it. Like others have said, the lens cover and battery/memory card cover are a bit flimsy and the strap is a bit tricky to get on securely, but the rest of the camera I cant fault. The 12x zoom is really great and very useful. 8m pixels isnt that many considering mobile phones nowadays have 5-8m pixels, but this camera still packs a punch and produces some great photos.

It took me a few weeks to get used to completely and to figure out how to use it effectively, but this is my first 'proper' camera. My previous was a coolpix 5200.

For a compact camera, this is great buy. If your after something that takes raw, hdr effect stuff and wanting to take photos of the moon's surface from your bedroom, then this isnt the camera for you. But if you want a camera that takes great photos, is easy to use and, looks like one but isnt priced like a dslr, then this one to go for.

I have never bothered to write a review before but had to in this case. This is the best value of any product i have had. It has just been used for a month on my trip to India and never missed a beat even after being dropped twice on to rocks from 10 feet (don't ask)

Just fininshed down loading the pictures and videos and am blown away with the quality, i may by another as a back up.

Simple to use, tough and produces great pictures with no fuss, nuff said

I have had this cmera for about six months now. I am pleased with it.
The good points:
Internal flash quite good.
Well built;/solid feel.
Great zoom.
Great video.
Quick start up.
It takes four AA batteries-rechargeable save money but you are not tied to a specific battery
Tilt view screen useful, I didn't think I would use it.
Bad points:
Lens cap never stays on. Really annoying. (Canon makes cameras right?)
The batteries struggle with the flash. It takes time to charge up the flash.

I like this camera it it not a DSLR but it is cheaper and the zoom is great. You have to pay alot for this on a DSLR
Yes this is a compromise but the price compared to DSLR is so much cheaper.

This is a really good camera, depending what you want. It is more of a jack of all trades in that an SLR has better image quality and a traditional compact is easier to carry around. But that was the reason I bought it. I need something a can carry that takes up little room - to get that I'd need multiple lenses etc.
It really isn't fair to compare with a DSLR - if you want one buy one - but if you want to try something more advanced than a point and shoot have a look at this.