Canon S5

[russellc]

Does anyone know if the new S5:

. handles continuous video to the SD card limit, as opposed to the 1Gb/9 minute capacity at the moment? I use video a lot on my S3; it is brilliant.

. apart from the hot shoe, larger screen and being 8 megapixel , are there any other "real" improvements that would result in better pics, make me sell my S3 and upgrade?

All comments welcome.

[David Metsky]

The S5 has a 4G file size limit, not unlimited.

It has the Digic III chip with face recognition, better red eye reduction, and better color. ISO goes to 1600.

[griptape]

^Keeping in mind that it's 2 extra megapixels and ISO 1600 on the SAME size sensor as the S3. Meaning it's still very noisy, and the extra megapixels won't help THAT much when it comes to being able to get away with nosier shots at smaller print sizes.

[russellc]

Thanks guys.

[Martin d]

I use video a lot on my S3 (1Gb/9 minute)

Hi russellc, bear with me, I've never owned a digital camera or camcorder, and I'm on the fence as whether to buy the S3 or S5.

Okay, let's say you have a 2GB or 4GB memory card in your S3. You're shooting a video, and you've reached the 9 minute max because of the 1GB file memory limit. Can you just go right into your next 9-minute video with a break in the action, or do the contents have to be cleared out of the S3 before you can go on to shooting your next movie?

Thanks

[David Metsky]

Yes, there's a momentary break while the buffer is cleared (say 5 seconds, tops) and then you can start a new video.

The S3 is limited to 1G files sizes, the S5 is limited to 4G (32 minutes) file sizes.

-dave-

[TooMuchButtHair]

Hi russellc, bear with me, I've never owned a digital camera or camcorder, and I'm on the fence as whether to buy the S3 or S5.

Okay, let's say you have a 2GB or 4GB memory card in your S3. You're shooting a video, and you've reached the 9 minute max because of the 1GB file memory limit. Can you just go right into your next 9-minute video with a break in the action, or do the contents have to be cleared out of the S3 before you can go on to shooting your next movie?

Thanks

With the S3, once you hit the 1GB/9 minute file size limit, recording stops. However, you can record as many 1GB movies as your memory card will allow. The S5 allows movies upto 4GB, and if you have a SDHC card, you can record two 4GB movies. That's a big, good quality movie with stereo sound to boot.

As for the S5 and noise, I'd imagine it would have lower noise at a given ISO, as compared to the S3 (ie, at 400 ISO the S5 would have a cleaner picture). I've only played with my dad's S3, and I must say it's pretty awesome. It auto-focues very well during the movies, even while zooming all the way out to the full 12x zoom. I don't know how popular the 320x240 at 60 frames per second option is with you guys, but they are really smooth movies. It's great to be able to take a movie of my dog, and see it in slow motion without it being choppy. Since the S5 is keeping that very cool feature, I'll be picking one up when it comes out mid-July.

[Martin d]

With the S3, once you hit the 1GB/9 minute file size limit, recording stops. However, you can record as many 1GB movies as your memory card will allow. The S5 allows movies upto 4GB, and if you have a SDHC card, you can record two 4GB movies. That's a big, good quality movie with stereo sound to boot.

Thanks for the info TooMuchButtHair & David Metsky , sounds like the S5 is worth the extra $150. [I CAN'T WAIT FOR Jeff KELLER'S REVIEW!!]

[griptape]

I'll be picking one up when it comes out mid-July.

It's been available since mid June.

[TooMuchButtHair]

It's been available since mid June.

From where? Newegg has it on auto-notify, and amazon is saying July 15th...