Here are a few images that accurately reflect the abilities
of any given camera model. The images are altered only in
terms of size and sharpness after reduction and by the JPEG
compression used. Unless otherwise mentioned, assume that
any marbling or artifacts visible in the images are due to
the compression required to display them here. We feel however,
that they still faithfully represent the results we experienced.
STILL LIFE PHOTO
This subject is photographed in a room that has a mix of fluorescent and
incandescent light, but which is not brightly lit. The camera's flash is
used to add fill light. The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.
Set to the wide angle end, the camera's metering tries to
balance the ambient light and the light added by the flash.
The result is a well exposed image, but the auto white balance
does appear to be affected by the mixed ambient lighting,
which remains dominant, producing an image that has a slight
yellow overtone.
Also worth noting, although the ISO sensitivity is set to
Auto, the camera elects to use the lowest setting of 80 ISO.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.7
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60 sec.
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
On
Quality:
Super fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
30.6 MB
Focal Length:
36 mm (35 mm Eq)
There is no trace of noise in the
image, but the overall image sharpness is a touch soft.
ZOOM PHOTO
Now we zoom in on a specific area. The intent is to test the sharpness
of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same
distance as with the preceding photo.
The 12X optical zoom of the S5 IS allows capturing a small
area of the subject. With this tight framing, the surrounding
areas lose their importance and the automatic white balance
is able to yield much more accurate and natural colours.
The sharpness in the image is very high, and the image reveals
the worn texture of the old photographic paper envelope. Moreover,
there is no discernable noise in the image, even in dark areas
such as around the lenses of the old Yashicaflex.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60 sec.
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
On
Quality:
Super fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
3.26 MB
Focal Length:
432 mm (35 mm
Eq)
Aperture: f8,
shutter speed: 1/80 sec., 80 ISO, Av mode.
MACRO PHOTO
As did its predecessors, the PowerShot S5 IS offers two
macro modes: the Standard Macro mode lets
the camera focus from 10 to 50 cm (3.9 to 18 inches), as measured
from the front element of the lens, while the zoom is at the
wide angle end. This mode allows the use of the optical zoom
as long as the camera is moved back from the minimum distance.
The second mode is the Super Macro mode,
which locks the zoom at the wide angle end, and allows the
camera to focus on a subject that is between 0 and 10 cm (0
to 3.9 inches) from the front element of the lens.
This image was captured with the
camera approximately 1 cm (0.39 inch) from the subject. To maximize
the depth of field the aperture priority mode was used, and
the lens set to a small aperture.
BUILDING PHOTO
This image is our outdoor test. The architecture of the building, in particular
the angled girders, immediately show the presence of jaggies. The shadowed
entrance can also often reveal the quality of the exposure.
Inspecting photos of the building captured with the wide
angle end of the S5 IS, it can be noted that images are less
sharp in the corners than at the centre. On the other hand,
there is no discernible chromatic aberration, and barrel distortion
is not noticeable with this type of subject.
Benefiting from perfect lighting, the exposure the camera
yields is excellent.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter:
1/400 sec.
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Super fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
4.1 MB
Focal Lgth:
36 mm (35 mm Eq)
ZOOM PHOTO
Zooming in on the entrance of the building,
the shadowed entrance takes on a greater importance for the
metering and can cause an overexposure of sections that are
directly lit.
This image, captured with the telephoto end of the zoom,
is a good example of the accuracy of Canon's metering. The
image reveals a lot of detail in the shadowed areas behind
the glass doors, but at the same time avoids overexposing
the areas that are brightly lit.
The sharpness of the image is excellent, and there is no
trace of pincushion distortion. However, a slight chromatic
aberration can be seen on the strongly contrasting edge of
the concrete waste container near the doors.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter:
1/400 sec.
Resolution:
3264 x 2448
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Super fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.26 MB
Focal Lgth:
432 mm (35 mm
Eq)
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures, a photo taken at night
is included here.
To capture the
best image possible at night, the S5 IS's Manual mode is the
most effective. Not only does the Manual mode provide control
over aperture and shutter speed, it also allows setting the
sensitivity and the white balance, important elements to control
noise and obtain the most life-like colours.
While shooting at night, it is often necessary to "override"
the camera's metering as it simply tries to reproduce the
ambient light, and tends to produce an image that is too dark.
Although the city is illuminated
by a mix of light sources, setting the white balance to incandescent
allows capturing an image that has colours closer to reality.
Similarly, setting the sensitivity to 80 ISO limits the intrusion
of noise into the image.
The PowerShot S5 IS uses a dark frame noise
reduction system, a system that captures a second frame
with the same exposure time as the first but without opening
the shutter, and uses the noise gathered over the course of
the second exposure (15 seconds in this case) to identify
and eliminate the noise from the first exposure before saving
it.
And, as always with cameras equipped with an image stabilizer,
the latter is turned off when the camera is mounted on a tripod
as it can cause an interference otherwise.
Test Photos
