Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs Canon PowerShot SD970 IS

Canon PowerShot S95

77

"Image quality is still excellent, with a usable ISO range of 80-800 and fast f/2.0 maximum aperture, albeit only at the wide-angle lens setting, making the S95 very well-suited to low-light, hand-held photography."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's iso-noise
"Something that was glaringly missing from the S90 - HD video capture - has been rectified on the S95, with 720p movies at 1280x720 pixels resolution available at 24fps complete with stereo sound."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S95

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.0
Size
Really small
Compact 99x58x29 mm
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Sensor size
Large sensor
1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Light sensitivity (boost)
High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS

49

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SD970 IS

Size
Really small
Compact 96x57x26 mm
Thickness
Thin
1"
Weight
Light-weight
160 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon S95

Wide angle Much better wide angle 28 mm vs 37 mm
Help
More than 20% better wide angle
Aperture Much wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/3.2
Help
At its widest zoom, the S95's lens captures much more light (1.4 f-stops)
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The S95's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
Canon PowerShot S95 Learn more about
the Canon S95

Advantages of the Canon SD970 IS

Size Smaller 96x57x26 mm vs 99x58x29 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Macro focus Better macro capability 2 cm vs 5 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 2.5x closer to the lens
Weight Lighter 160 g vs 193 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Zoom Slightly more zoom 5x vs 3.8x
Help
Around 80% more zoom
Thickness Thinner 1" vs 1.2"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Learn more about
the Canon SD970 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent compacts, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot S95
77 vs 49
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S95. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a compact.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the S95 or the SD970 IS,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

1
votes
by Alex-Ayala last month
Canon S95 vs Nikon P310

I am an architect and I need a canara for outdoor shooting, I use the images as a suport for my...

0
votes
by Maria-Mangiore-Kohrs this month
Canon 310 HS vs Canon S95

Somewhere in the middle.... not an expert at all but not really a beginner either... posed dance...

One person recommends the Canon 310 HS:

" Maria, I recommend the Elph 310 HS is your best selection for your criteria.  primarily because ..."

0
votes
by Gloria-Isaac-Hills this month
Canon G12 vs Canon S95

I want the ability to shot landscape shots and zoom in on mountains and such. 

-1
votes
by Johnette-LaBorde last month
Canon G12 vs Canon S95

I am a beginner wanting mostly sloe up- people shots- not si much landscape- aI also have a Niko...

1
votes
by Randy-Roussel last month
Canon 300 HS vs Canon S95

Not a beginner but no where near an expert. I enjoy taking pictures and making movies for the litt...

2 people recommend the Canon S95:

" I also agree with Alex.  The faster glass and larger sensor in the S95 will allow for faster shu..."

"Hi Randy, I'm recommending the S95, but you should consider its successor the S100. The S100 (and ..."

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/1600 of a second
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
S95:720p @ 24fps
SD970 IS:720p @ 30fps
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
S95:28 mm
SD970 IS:37 mm
Zoom Poor zoom Help
S95:3.8x
SD970 IS:5x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Screen size Has a significantly smaller screen
Screen resolution Has a slightly lower resolution screen
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $307

Zoom Has much more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$299

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier

Canon PowerShot S95 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Much larger
Supports 24p No 24p support
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Size Much larger
Supports 24p No 24p support
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319 - $330

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Aperture Much narrower aperture
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Much larger
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$299

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Supports 24p No 24p support

Canon PowerShot SD970 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Canon ELPH 510 HS

Canon ELPH 510 HS

Travel zoom

$239

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Aperture Narrower aperture
Weight Significantly heavier
Olympus C-7000 Zoom

Olympus C-7000 Zoom

Pro digicam

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Aperture Wider aperture
Screen size Much smaller screen
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Samsung WB850F

Samsung WB850F

Travel zoom

$482 - $535

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom Much more zoom
Size Larger

appearance

Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot SD970 IS

discussion

Showing 0 comments