S100/S95/S90 Quick-change filter holder attachment directions

Use the alcohol wipe to clean the front of the lens barrel.  Use just a corner of the wipe - use care not to squeeze excess fluid onto the camera.

Turn the camera on.  Don't zoom the lens, just remove the battery.

Slide the cardboard tube over the lens until comes to a stop against the next section of the lens barrel.

Separate the receiver from the filter holder.

Carefully peel away the clear backing on receiver, rotate it to the desire orientation, and lower one edge into the tube keeping it angled as shown.  Don't press it down just yet.

Now you can still adjust the receiver until it's rotated to your liking.  Once you press it down, there's no more adjusting possible (without removing it).

When you're happy with its orientation, press the receiver down gently and remove the guide tube (keep it in the resealable bag for the next use).  Replace the battery, and turn the camera off.  When the lens is in the closed position, press firmly on the receiver and you're done.

Removing the Lensmate S90 Quick-change receiver from the camera

Don't turn the camera on, just remove the battery.  Lay the camera on its back.  Let the thread of the removal tool find the space between the receiver and the end of the lens.  Loop it all the way around and pull the two rings apart slowly - it should easily separate the two.

Don't reuse the same adhesive once removed as it's probably been compromised in the removal process.

Attaching a replacement adhesive sticker.

To replace an adhesive sticker, first remove any residue from the back of the receiver. Acetone or nail polish remover works best. Find the slit in the kraft paper backing of the adhesive sticker and peel away the paper. While keeping the adhesive sticker centered over the receiver, press it down firmly. Now it's ready to reapply to the camera. Using the installation tube guide as before, remove the clear backing from the adhesive sticker and apply the receiver to the camera.

1. What should I set my S100 settings to, to get started quickly?
   Try this: My Canon S100 Camera Settings.


2. How much does the Lensmate S100/S95/S90 lens adapter weigh?
   The combined weight of the receiver and filter holder is about 3 grams. A typical 37mm polarizer weighs about 10 grams for a combined weight of 13 grams - or less than half an ounce.


3. Will the camera be as "pocketable" with the S100/S95/S90 adapter added?
   You'd probably not even notice the difference - the receiver itself is about 3.25mm or 1/8" thick.


4. I am going to a hot and humid climate, is the adhesive on the part that stays on the camera still going to hold?
   Yes, the adhesive is good to at least 200 deg F (~93 deg C). Humidity should not be a factor. If you want to read more about the adhesive it's 3M 9731.


5. Can I attach a conversion lens with the adapter?
   We recommend attaching only filters to the S100/S95/S90.


6. Will using the S100/S95/S90 lens adapter void my warranty?
   If you need to send the camera in for service, just remove the lens adapter. It will come off cleanly with no residue left on the camera.


7. Can I reattach the lens adapter after removing it?
   Yes. We sell the extra adhesive ring on our order page for .50. See the instructional movie for details.


8. Will the receiver on the camera lens affect the built in lens cover?
   No, the S100/S95/S90 receiver does not affect the automatic lens cover in any way.


9. Does Richard Franiec's S95/S90 Grip work with underwater housing?
   This S95/S90 grip works with the Ikelite housing, but not with the Canon underwater housing.


10. Does Richard Franiec's S95/S90 Grip fit the S100?
    No, Canon added a small grip area and Richard is working on a new grip for the S100.


11. Can I use more than one filter at a time?
    Two filters can be combined with no vignetting as long as one of them is not a polarizer. A polarizer combined with another filter will cause slight vignetting at the cameras' wide setting.


12. Can I use the new style Quick-Change filter holder with the magnetic receiver?
    Yes. Although the filter holder won't turn quite far enough to lock, its springs tension holds it securely in place.


13. Why do I need a polarizer? do I need a linear or a circular polarizer?
    A polarizer deepens blue skies and takes the glare off water and glass. For an excellent comparison see below. You can use either a linear or a circular polarizer with the S100/S95/S90. We sell the circular polarizer because it is available in a HMC multicoated filter where the linear polarizer is only available in black in a double coated.
    
    

    Place your cursor over the image to see what it looks like when a polarizer is used. The two images were taken a few seconds apart, no post processing.

1. We recommend attaching and detaching filters from the filter holder when it's off the camera. In fact, you can't unscrew the filter from the filter holder on the camera because it will just remove the filter/ holder assembly as it was designed to do. Don't over tighten the filter - it requires little force to stay attached to the holder.

2. If you use a snug fitting bag or case, we recommend removing the filter holder/filter assembly before stowing the camera. If you do leave it on, be sure to check that the filter holder is still in the locked position when you use it again.

3. Some polarizers rotate with enough friction to remove the filter holder assembly when rotated in the direction of removal. If this happens, rotate the polarizer in the direction of attachment only.

4. If you use a wrist strap, be aware that jostling can dislodge the filter holder from the camera.

Macro Samples

This test was done using the Lensmate S95/S90 Quick-Change system with the Canon S95. Because the S95 built-in lens is slightly larger in diameter and longer in length, we will have macro samples for the S100 in the near future.

The purpose of this test is to compare the built in macro mode of the Canon S95/S90 with some of the more common macro lenses/filters available. Included are the Canon 250D, the Hoya +7 Macro set (+1, +2, +4, and combined +7), the Raynox DCR-250, the Hoya +10, and the Raynox MSN 202 and 505. We then evaluate each set of samples looking for softness and/or CA, particularly in the corners.

The focal range for the S95/S90 is 6.mm to 22.5mm, or in 35mm terms, 28mm - 105mm. Focal lengths given in the EXIF information are actual. To convert to 35mm film equivalent, multiply by 4.66. Basic camera settings are ISO100, Large JPEG, Custom white balance and the IS turned off (because the camera was mounted) and self-timed shutter release. We used an aperture of f6.3 to maximize depth of field, which can be paper thin with the more powerful diopters like the MSN-202.

"Distance to subject", or "working distance" means distance between the actual macro lens and subject. In this test, we give working distance range, which is the range between nearest possible working distance and most distant.

You can view a full size quarter crop (bottom left corner) which shows the corner, edges, and center of the image.

Except for the first sample showing the built in macro mode at full wide, each macro lens is shown at 10.7mm (about 50mm equivalent) and full telephoto – 22.5mm (105mm equivalent). The first setting is halfway into the macro range, or 5 zoom steps. This allows adequate working distance for light to reach the subject. The second sample is taken at full telephoto. Width of the frame is at the minimum working distance for each sample.