The Canon PowerShot S5 IS extensive feature set combined with its image-stabilized 12x optical zoom lens will please photographers who want a solidly built and capable non-DSLR camera with all the bells and whistles.
Aside from the omission of a RAW mode, the Canon S5 IS is one of the more capable megazooms on the market. External controls and easy access to setting changes add to the Canon S5’s appeal, as does its excellent movie mode with stereo sound. The Canon S5’s automatic and semi-manual functions will be comforting to snapshooters looking to step up and/or develop their photographic skills. Noise and chromatic aberration issues, unfortunately, detract from the camera’s otherwise pleasing image quality.
Still, the Canon S5 IS serves as both a camcorder and a long zoom, all-purpose event capturing device, and we think it’s one of the best on the market.