Canon PowerShot S50 Review
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Review
Date: Aug 4, 2003 |
Image Quality
The
Canon PowerShot S50 is a digital camera targeted
to serious amateur photographers. What this means
is that it can be used as a point-and-shoot digital
camera (and we guess that probably most people
who buy it use it as such), but if you so desire,
it has the features to allow you to be creative
with the exposure control. We have therefore used
Programmed AE most of the time, but also used
scene modes, Shutter-Priority mode and Aperture-Priority
mode so as to test out the capabilities of the
S50.
All the pictures on this and the other pages (including
the navigation pictures at the top of each page)
have been taken by the S50 for this review. The
pictures on this page provide a good sample of
what the S50 is capable of and I have provided
the 800x600 version. Remember that this version
is of slightly lesser quality than the original
2592 x 1944 version. Please open and download
only once to your hard drive -- and save
me some precious bandwidth. Thanks!
| Clicking
on a picture version will display the 800x600
version in a separate window. Leave that separate
window up for all the other images will also
display in that same separate window. |
 For
my first pictures with the S50, I decide to visit
Kariya
Park, a Japanese Garden close to my workplace
in the heart of Mississauga. It's noon and the Sun
is high in the sky. There is a pond, a bridge, and
tall grass growing out of the water. The first test
is of the autofocus, "If I take a picture of
the bridge through the tall grass blades, where
will the camera focus on?" As this picture
shows, the camera picks out the grass blades and
produces razor sharp images of them. Program AE,
shutter speed 1/800 sec., aperture F2.8 and ISO
50. [File size: 2.8 MB]
 Here
is another shot of the same bridge, but this time
from a different angle and framed by two trees.
The bridge is in focus with the stone work quite
visible. I am pleasantly surprised at how, even
from that distance, the S50 is also able to pick
up the color of the dress of the child on the bridge,
as well as the color of the baby carriage being
pushed by the woman. Look carefully, and you'll
just about notice the fishes in the pond. Program
AE, shutter speed 1/250 sec., aperture F2.8, ISO
50. [File size: 3.5 MB]
 On
the way back from Lunch, I pass by the beautiful
Mississauga
City Hall (Civic Center) and pulls over on the
spur of the moment. Luckily I find a parking spot
on a side street close by, and trek back to the
very front of the building all the way to the edge
of Burnhamthorpe Street. The S50 does a superb job:
the words behind the cascading waters are captured
clearly enough so that we can read: "In Memory
Of Those Who Gave Their Lives For Freedom".
In this photo, I angle the camera slightly upward
to ensure I capture the top of the tower, and this
explains the upward convergence of the vertical
lines; it's just a matter of perspective. Program
AE, shutter speed 1/1,000 sec., aperture F5.0, ISO
50. [File size: 2.2 MB]
 This
panorama picture of the Loblaws
Empress Market (at Yonge Street & Empress Street,
Toronto) is taken indoors and is a composite of
five images taken handheld. It's a difficult picture
for the camera to meter properly since the supermarket
is not evenly lighted, with some areas quite dark
and other areas (where the produce is displayed)
with bright spotlights shining on them. White Balance
is set to auto and tends towards the warm side.
On the far right is a staircase that takes you to
the street level (from where I took this picture).
The S50 seems to have exposed for the bright areas
and underexposed the staircase. In fact, on the
whole, you get an underexposure effect (though nothing
that cannot be easily adjusted in Photoshop with
the levels and brightness controls). From looking
at other similar pictures I've taken with the S50,
I believe this picture gives a good indication of
how the S50, when set to Program AE and auto white
balance, fares in difficult lighting situations.
If this was just a single frame picture, I could/would
have bracketed the exposure to ensure proper exposure,
and the S50 conveniently provides Auto Exposure
Bracketing. Program AE, shutter speed 1/60 sec.,
aperture F2.8 and ISO 50.
[File size: 1.7 MB]
 The
S50 focuses up to 10 cm (3.9 in.) close. That's
a bit closer than one hand breadth away (my handbreadth
equals approximately 15 cm). Here I am trying to
get some pictures of the Clematis vine in my backyard
when I notice a small green insect jumping from
leaf to leaf, stopping just long enough on each
leaf to make the next jump. Quickly I press the
Macro button, aim and click the shutter release
button. Less than a second later and the grasshopper
has disappeared among the leaves. (I wish I could
have gone in even closer than 10 cm for a tighter
composition and more detail.) That was fun and I'm
pretty impressed that the S50 allowed me to operate
fast enough to catch this little critter. Green
on green is not much contrast, but the S50's autofocus
is spot on. Program AE, Macro ON, shutter speed
1/80 sec., aperture F2.8, ISO 50. [File size: 1.9
MB]
 Here
is a picture of the same Clematis vine entwined
around a euonymus that, through the years, has climbed
all the way up the fence. I did not get a lot of
blooms this year on any of my trees and plants.
Not that I've done anything to earn them either.
I subscribe to the Lazy Gardener modus operandi
which says that if a plant survives in my garden
with minimal (and I mean minimal) care, then
it has earned its place in my garden ;o). This picture
can do with some sharpening and one of the Photo
Effects the S50 provides is Low Sharpening. Program
AE, shutter speed 1/80 sec., aperture F2.8, ISO
50. [File size: 2.8 MB]
 Indoor
pictures are always challenging. We go visit the
newly opened IKEA
Vaughan and while taking a break at their restaurant,
I snap a couple of pictures. This is of a children's
playground in the middle of the restaurant (a wonderful
idea). Wall to wall windows are behind me so I decide
to use natural light. White Balance is on auto.
The S50 fares well in this difficult shot, though
some noise is apparent in the shadows. Program AE,
shutter speed 1/60 sec., aperture F3.5 and ISO 50.
[File size: 2.2 MB]
 Here's
a close up shot of my six-year old son's favorite
toy: Jack
Hammer™ of Rescue Heroes™ fame. He
wants to contribute to this review and proposes
one of his toys. Since most of you won't have a
studio setup for close up photography, we go outside
instead for natural light. I place the action hero
on top of my SUV and point the camera straight up
to isolate the action figure against the bright
sky. He climbs piggy back on my shoulder, and while
I frame and hold the camera straight, he presses
the shutter release button. The S50 auto exposes,
auto focuses, auto white balances, and here is the
result! I would say it ain't bad at all... and my
days as the official photographer at Photoxels may
just be numbered. Thanks a lot, S50! ;o) The colors
are pretty much faithfully reproduced: you can differentiate
between the orange top, burnt orange pants and red
power saw; the black and silver boots; and, the
blue top and the green inserts on the boots. Program
AE, Photo Effect Vivid, Macro ON, shutter speed
1/200 sec., aperture F2.8 and ISO 50. [File size:
1.7 MB]
 This
is as close as you can get with the S50 in Macro
mode (10 cm / 2.9 in.). The Morning Glory has just
opened up in the early morning sunlight, with morning
dew still on it. It almost fills the entire frame,
and I guess I could have used zoom to get closer
still. This shot is taken handheld, using the bright
1.8 in. LCD to compose and frame. Program AE, Macro
ON, Spot Metering, Photo Effect Low Sharpening,
shutter speed 1/250 sec, aperture F2.8 and ISO 50.
[File size: 1.6 MB]
When
I first visited the Richmond
Hill Public Library a couple of days ago,
I was immediately struck by the beauty of the
architecture as well as of the surrounding landscaping.
So I determined to go back to take some pictures
for this review. Again, only a wide-angle shot
can do justice to the beauty of the place, so
I take a panorama. I decide to use Landscape scene
mode this time and snap 3 pictures handheld. The
included PhotoStitch software is quite easy to
use and does a pretty good job. [Some overlap
ghost images (pillars and lamp post) are faintly
visible at the seams when viewed carefully, so
I will have to experiment with the software a
bit more.] It is a cloudy day with grey skies
but the S50 is still able to resolve and capture
the "Central Library" sign on the upper
left corner of the building. Landscape scene mode,
shutter speed 1/60 sec., aperture F5.6 and ISO
50. [File size: 2.3 MB]
Need
a place to upload your photos? Free photo sharing
and photo hosting web site at cassepoze.
A
Personal Word
The
Canon PowerShot S50 produces superb pictures in
Program AE mode. I also like the fact that, though
not ultra compact, I can still slide it into my
Jeans pocket thanks to its sleek design. The 1.8
in. LCD has excellent resolution (118,000 pixels).
The S50 is a camera that is easy to use as a point-and-shoot
while providing flexible exposure control for
those who need it.
Overall,
I enjoyed using the S50. Even after two weeks
of use, there are still features of this camera
I haven't tried yet. The Canon PowerShot S50 is
a digital camera a beginner amateur photographer
will enjoy growing into. For serious amateur photographers,
the Canon PowerShot S50 provides all the exposure
control they need for quality creative photography.
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