Canon Powershot S5 IS - Cosmetics
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The design of the S5 is similar to its predecessor, with a few minor changes. The LCD screen has gotten bigger, and the camera's overall width has gotten larger. The dimension of the S5 are 4.6x3.1x3.1 inches, and it weighs in at about 1 pound (without the battery). So the S5 has gotten larger in size when compared to the S3, but its hardly noticeable.
The balance of this camera is good, giving it a solid feel that is comfortable to hold. The S5 is larger than most of its competitors, which are under 1 pound and not quite as wide. The difference in size isn't that big of a deal, because this class of camera tends to be on the bulky side. If the size of the camera is an issue, you should look into smaller point-and-shoot cameras that are pocket-sized, such as the Canon SD850 IS.
The S5's controls are set up similar to its predecessor with the shutter release, zoom controls, and a function dial being placed on top of the camera. The remainder of the controls can be found on the rear of the camera. There is a nice 4-way directional control, which helps navigate through the menu options. You can also find a programmable function button, as well as an ISO button.
The LCD display is pretty cool, and very functional. Not only has Canon increased the size and resolution of this display, but they have also kept intact the fully movable LCD screen that can be twisted and turned to the user's discretion. This is a great feature when you want to be able to take shots where you may need to hold the camera up high, or down low, to get the shot. An example of this would be at a concert where you would have to raise the camera above your head and take a shot over the crowd in front of you.
I also like the Optical viewfinder which works really well with this camera. It is very accurate, and is a good size for the S5. This feature is nice, because it can save battery life by shutting off the LCD display and using the optical viewfinder.
Overall, the design of the S5 could use some updating, but for the most part it is very functional and comfortable. The controls are laid out well, which makes for easy operation.
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