A Few Canon PowerShot S5 IS Questions

[Martin d]

Now that Jeff Keller has given the greenlight on the S5, I'm gonna get it. But I have a few questions:

Jeff wrote in his review:


"In addition to recording stills and videos, the PowerShot S5 can also be used for recording audio clips"

1) Let's say I'm on a wildflower tour. As the guide is pointing out the flowers and their names, can I audio/record the name of each flower after I snap a photo so that the name will match up with each flower? [I'd like to download the photos onto my computer, then review the photos on the camera itself while listening for the name, and then write them down under each photo on the computer]
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J.K. wrote:


"you'll want to get a set or TWO of NiMH rechargeable batteries
(2500 mAh NiMH or better) and a fast charger."


2) When looking for a "fast charger," what should I be looking for that
lets me know it's faster than average?
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J.K. WROTE:


"you can go up to 19X total zoom at the 3 Megapixel "M2" resolution"

3) Does the S5 automatically change the megapixels from 8 to 3, or can you change the megapixel level manually? The reason I ask is that if I'm only planning on making 4-by-6 inch prints, would it be a good idea the lower the megapixels (if you can)?
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J.K. pointed out:


"There's a standard 30 fps mode, plus a fast 60 fps mode available for capturing action."

4) If I'd like to upload a video onto YouTube, should I record the movie in 30
fps, or is 60 fps okay also?
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5) In regards to an external flash, would you recommend the 430EX (which seems enough of a flash for my needs)? The 580EX II is almost the same price as the S5. This seems like a flash that would appeal to a really experienced photographer, but maybe overkill for someone like myself.

Thanks for any help

[RebelRat]

2) I wouldn't recommend a fast charger. Fast chargers will heat the batteries up too much and kill the cells faster (shorten useful life of cell). Fastest I'd suggest is an 8 hour charger (personal opinion).

[downtrodden]

1. on the S series cameras you can hit a button while the image is still on the screen to record a short audio clip to describe the picture or make other notes. I've never actually used this feature though as I like most people, find my own voice to be like nails on a chalk board.

2. I'd go with around a 1 hour charger. I've used my three sets ($10 per set) of kodak rechargeables for a year now with several charges. the file number on my S3 is currently 7084. and on my S5 it's already up to 989. I've taken 6 videos that i remember and i've also used the same batteries for my CD player... That's a LOT of usage. and rechargeable AA's are slmost as cheap as alkalines, so any shortness of life due to hour charging is negligable and not worth an arguement... Just don't go faster than one hour because this eats your battery life FAST. Use your batteries till they die, before you put them on the charger. If you want to save money, you can go for a longer charger, like 8 hours or what not, because these chargers tend to be a couple bucks cheaper... but the convenience to me is worth the extra 10 bucks.

3. you have to choose the resolution you wish the camera to shoot in. whether it be 8mp or less.

4. Can't help ya there.. i've only used the 30FPS and never uploaded to youtube, only myspace.

5. And can't help on this one either as i don't own any flash units.

Hope that helps!

~Cory

[David Metsky]

Youtube reduces the quality of the video they host so 60 fps would be wasted. You won't see that quality unless you find a place to host unmodified videos.

The audio memo is simply an audio file with the same file number as your picture. I use it mostly to describe something I've shot or to record bird songs associated with bird images I've captured.

[Turn]

30fps would be perfect for youtube :)

[Martin d]

Cory wrote:

I've never actually used this feature though as I like most people,
find my own voice to be like nails on a chalk board.


Lol


3. you have to choose the resolution you wish the camera to shoot
in. whether it be 8mp or less.


So I assume the manual that comes with the camera will advise me
how many pixels I should use if I'm planning to make, let's say,
4-by-6 inch photos?



Hope that helps!
~Cory

Yes, very much. Thank you

[David Metsky]

In general, I recommend always shooting in the highest resolution available. While lower resolution will be fine for 4x6s you may get the shot that you really want to blow up. Memory is really cheap these days, shoot big and crop down when you need to.

-dave-

[griptape]

In addition to cropping down, those shots that are slightly out of focus, or noisy at 100% can often be saved as a 4x6 print even when they look not worth keeping at 100%. Just shoot at the highest resolution.

[Visual Reality]

I'm going to have to disagree with downtrodden above on the charger. 4 hours is the fastest you want to fully charge NiMH batteries in order to keep their life expectancy normal. Sanyo states 2hrs is ok as well with their Eneloops, however do NOT use a 1 hour fast charger. Why trash these expensive batteries? Protect your investment.

Plus using a 4-8 hour smart charger will get you a fuller charge in each battery.

[Martin d]

I'm going to have to disagree with downtrodden above on the charger. 4 hours is the fastest you want to fully charge NiMH batteries in order to keep their life expectancy normal. Sanyo states 2hrs is ok as well with their Eneloops, however do NOT use a 1 hour fast charger. Why trash these expensive batteries? Protect your investment.

Plus using a 4-8 hour smart charger will get you a fuller charge in each battery.


After reading your post I searched around and the Maha C401FS NiMH / NiCd Charger gets the best reviews for the its price range ($40ish). It has two charging modes: 100 minutes & 5 hours. I'll use just the 5 hour mode, and buy two sets of batteries (2500 or 2700 NiMH's I guess).

Thanks for the advice

[Paul79UF]

In response to downtrodden's comment about using the batteries till they die before charging -

with NiMH batteries you can top off or recharge them at any time, so using them until they die before you put them in the charger is not necessary.

[Martin d]

In response to downtrodden's comment about using the batteries till they die before charging -

with NiMH batteries you can top off or recharge them at any time, so using them until they die before you put them in the charger is not necessary.

Thanks for clearing that up. I found the comment confusing once I started searching around and noticed chargers with the 'Top Off' feature. [Some chargers are said to drain whatever remaining power in them before recharging.]

[bascom]

On the front of the S5, there is a small circle on the top left above the words "powershot S5 IS". What is this, the AF lamp? On the top right side there is another circle to the right of the speaker. What is that circle?

[David Metsky]

According to Jeff's review, the item on the left is the self-time/tally/red-eye light. The AF light is on the right.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s5-review/index.shtml

[bascom]

Thanks I didn't read that far in the review past the IS demo photos. Most cams combine those into one light. The S's have two lights.

[David Metsky]

Thanks I didn't read that far in the review past the IS demo photos. Most cams combine those into one light. The S's have two lights.

The S2 and S3 have the same setup. The S1 didn't have an AF-lamp.

[SpecialK]

1) Let's say I'm on a wildflower tour. As the guide is pointing out the flowers and their names, can I audio/record the name of each flower after I snap a photo so that the name will match up with each flower? [I'd like to download the photos onto my computer, then review the photos on the camera itself while listening for the name, and then write them down under each photo on the computer]

Nope, as I undertand it you get only one audio clip, not one for every shot. You could however, make short movies with audio, and take the still shot in the middle...

[downtrodden]

Nope, as I undertand it you get only one audio clip, not one for every shot. You could however, make short movies with audio, and take the still shot in the middle...


And sadly, a swing and a miss. Just tried it out.. you can take a picture and while the picture is still being previewed, you can hit the flash/audio button at the top of the camera, just next to the flash. This will bring up a recording menu for record, play, erase and exit. You can record an 80 second audio clip for each picture you take. (in burst, the last picture taken as it's the picture displayed for the preview) Erasing in this menu erases the sound file attached to the image, NOT the image itself.

I would recommend setting your review time to 5 seocnds *mine is at seven seconds* so the picture doesn't go away before you press that damned button. (sure it doesn't take seven seconds to press the button, but it may take that long to decide if you even want to KEEP the shot. Oh well.

So there ya go. You can record an audio clip numbered as the same number as the image, to describe the image or notes about it.

~Cory

[donato]

5) ...In regards to an external flash, would you recommend the 430EX (which seems enough of a flash for my needs)? ...

I just got the 430EX: IMO it's way more than enough! Extremely happy here with the combo S5IS / 430EX!

[SpecialK]

you can take a picture and while the picture is still being previewed, you can hit the flash/audio button at the top of the camera, just next to the flash. This will bring up a recording menu for record, play, erase and exit. You can record an 80 second audio clip for each picture you take. (in burst, the last picture taken as it's the picture displayed for the preview) Erasing in this menu erases the sound file attached to the image, NOT the image itself.


~Cory

Hi Cory:

Yep, tried it myself. A S3/S5 feature upgrade over the A620, though the manual is apparently wrong, as it says...

"Up to 1 minute of recordings can be added to any ONE image." (Caps mine.)