Canon PowerShot S5/S3 IS Macro Samples

Below are samples using various macro lenses on the S3/5.  Included are the Canon 250D, Canon 500D (the one Canon recommends for the S3), the Hoya Macro set, the Raynox DCR-250, the Hoya +10, the Raynox MSN 202 and 505, and the 37mm Tiffen +7/+10 set.  We'll also show what the built-in Macro and Supermacro modes can do. 

The focal range for the S3/5 is 6.0mm to 72.0mm, or in 35mm terms, 36mm - 432mm.  Focal lengths given in the EXIF information are actual.  To convert to 35mm film equivalent, multiply by 6.  Basic camera settings are ISO80, Large/Superfine, Custom white balance and the IS turned off (because the camera was mounted). 


S3 Lensmate 52mm with Raynox DCR-250 macro lens

All samples are straight from the camera with no sharpening or enhancement of any kind.  "Distance to subject", or "working distance" means distance between the actual macro lens and subject. Be sure to look at the full size samples so you can make a critical evaluation of the image. 

You can view either the whole image (big files, around 3-4mb) or a quarter crop (bottom left corner) which shows the corner, edges, and center of the image in a much smaller  file.  

Except for the first sample, all the images were taken at the full telephoto setting.  This allows highest magnification, greatest working distance, and lowest distortion.   Minimum and maximum working distances are given.  Width of the frame is at the minimum working distance.  The Raynox MSN202 was the one macro lens that showed significant improvement when zoomed back to the 1/2 zoom range, so we included that sample also. 

We've added a new feature that shows depth of field (DOF) for each macro lens.  A dime is about .050" thick, or about 1/20" (or about 1.25mm).  Generally, the higher the magnification, the shallower the DOF is.  This image is a 1000x750 center crop to keep the file sizes down.  Like the sample it accompanies, it's shot at 72mm or full zoom. 

As you will see, DOF of the more powerful lenses is very shallow.  For this reason it's important that the cameras sensor is parallel to the subject plane if you want sharp focus across the image.  A copy stand is handy for doing this kind of critical work.  Click here to see our setup for this test, as well as a quick tutorial.  Though this was written for the A620, it also applies to the S3/5 with a few minor exceptions.     


 

S3/S5 IS Macro Mode
with no Macro Lens

Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red rectangle to see quarter crop.

No diopter, normal macro setting at 6mm.
.

Working distance: 3 3/4"


Frame width: 4 1/4"

Click to see Depth of Field

No diopter, normal macro setting at
full zoom 72mm.

Working distance: 30"


Frame width: 3 1/2"

Click to see Depth of Field

Supermacro setting - default to 6mm. 

Working distance 1/2"


Frame width: 7/8"

Click to see Depth of Field

To the left is the Supermacro mode - the lens is fixed at full wide and focus is achieved at 0 - 3.9". The distance to subject here is about 1/2" to allow light to fall on the subject. Nice feature for some types of creative macros, but has limited usefulness otherwise - lens barrel blocks light as distance to subject decreases, has rather soft corners/edges and high barrel distortion.

 

Hoya Macro Set (+1,+2,+4) +7
with Lensmate S3 52mm Adapter

Slight edge softness/CA at +1, more noticeable as diopters increase.  The +1 effectively halves the minimum working distance of the S3.  Useful for shooting flowers and insects at a distance for example.  Minimum working distances and magnification decrease as the lens is zoomed back. 

Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red rectangle to see quarter crop.

Hoya +1

Working distance: 17" - 40" 


Frame width: 2" - 3"

Click to see Depth of Field

Hoya +2

Working distance: 12 1/4" - 22"   
 

Frame width: 1 1/4" - 1 5/8"

Click to see Depth of Field

Hoya +4


Working distance: 7 1/2" - 10"   


Frame width: 13/16"

Click to see Depth of Field

Hoya +7

Working distance:
Complete set  4 3/4" 


Frame width:  1/2"

Click to see Depth of Field

 

Canon Macro Lens 250D & 500D
with Lensmate S3 52mm Adapter

Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red rectangle to see quarter crop.

Canon 250D  +4

Working distance: 7 1/2" - 10"


   Frame width: 13/16"
Soft, but not intended for this camera.

Click to see Depth of Field

Canon 500D  +2 

Working distance: 12" - 21"  


Frame width: 1 3/4"
This is the macro lens recommended by Canon for the S3.  Good image quality, low power. 

Click to see Depth of Field

 

Raynox DCR-250 Macro Filter
with Lensmate S3 Adapter

The DCR-250 is smaller than the other lenses tested here, which is why it vignettes at the wide angle setting.  But you probably wouldn't use a macro lens at the full wide setting anyway.  As you begin to zoom towards tele, the vignetting disappears (at about 15.mm), and the DCR250 delivers sharp corner to corner performance through the complete zoom range of the S3.

(The DCR-250 comes mounted in a spring-loaded carrier which clips into threads from 49mm - 69mm.)

Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red rectangle to see quarter crop.

Raynox DCR250  +8  

Working distance: 4" - 4 5/8"


    Frame width: 7/16"

Click to see Depth of Field

Click here to view more samples with this lens.

 

Hoya Macro +10 Filter
with Lensmate S3 IS Adapter

Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red rectangle to see quarter crop.

Hoya +10

Working distance: 3 1/2"


Frame width: 11/32"

Click to see Depth of Field

Not a good match for the S3

 

Raynox MSN202 9.3X
with Lensmate S3 IS Adapter

High powered macro lens with very good image quality. 37mm thread centering in a spring loaded holder which clips into 52mm - 67mm threads.  Can also be used with 52-37mm step ring for more accurate mounting in a 52mm lens adapter.  Some edge CA which improves when zoomed back to 1/2 focal length as seen in the second sample.

Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red rectangle to see quarter crop.

Raynox MSN202 9.3X

Working distance: 1 1/4"


Frame width: 5/32"

Click to see Depth of Field

Raynox MSN202 9.3X

Zoomed back to 45.2mm


 

Raynox MSN505

Working distance: 5/8"


Frame width: 3/32"

Click to see Depth of Field

Much softer than the MSN202.  DOF is paper thin, making this lens difficult to use.  Virtually impossible to use handheld. 

 

Tiffen Macro Lens 37mm and 52-37mm step ring
with Lensmate S3 52mm Adapter

Click images to see original Large Superfine file,
or click within red rectangle to see quarter crop.

Tiffen +7

Working distance: 5" 


Frame width: 9/16"

Click to see Depth of Field

Tiffen +10

Working distance: 4" 


Frame width: 5/16"
Poor performance on the S3, even when zoomed back. 

Click to see Depth of Field