Wrong battery polarity in Canon S5 Digital Camera, HARM?-?

Does anyone know for sure, as opposed to guess, if you put in the correct batteries in the wrong polarity for a Canon S5, all 4 AA will the camera work, or will it work and just be damaged.

Anyone with knowledge and not a guess, this is a costly error I think.

I have an S2 and I once put the batteries in backwards. The camera didn't work but wasn't damaged.

I can't tell you for sure but I SERIOUSLY doubt it's possible to damage a camera by putting in the batteries backwards!