Canon Powershot SD950 IS

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Canon PowerShot SD950 IS Compact Camera

Powershot SD950 IS Review, by Tracey Capen November 14, 2007

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• Reviewed by: LexClaude

  Strengths: There are many: Durable case, 12 Mega-Pixel, HDSD Capability, Video Camera Capability, Easy User Interface, Red-Eye Correction in Camera

  Weaknesses: microphone sensivity to wind noise, frame rate on high resolution video, USB/AV Out access door, size, price relative to comparables

  Overall: This is my second digital camera. I used my first 5 MP camera for 5 years. I know the Canon SD950 is more camera than I probably need, but decided to go with it since I tend to buy higher-end products and use them for a long time. The market is full of very good and compact cameras in the $200 range, so the SD950 at it's minimum price of $350 in Dec 07, is an expensive camera. It's also a more "traditional" size - small enough and easy to hold, but not a camera you will find carrying in your shirt pocket like so many on the market. I purchased this camera with one special functional capability in mind: using it as a camcorder. I stopped using my old camcorder about the time I started taking digital pictures, so I thought, if I could upgrade my camera after 5 years and add the ability to take "usable" video pictures with the same unit, that would be great. As for the weaknesses: Size - its bigger than most point-and-shoots out there, but its quality and capability make it worth the bulk. Price - as mentioned above, it's expensive, but well worth it I think. Microphone wind noise while taking outdoor videos - this may be common to all cameras, don't know, I can live with this minor consideration when taking outdoor action videos. Frame rate while taking high resolution (1024) videos - Video pictures while shooting at the 1024 definition seem to be a bit "jerky", maybe taking at 15fps. Access door for the USB/AV out connections - the door/cover is very secure when closed, but getting it opened to access the ports is a bit tricky, it may become easier after more use. Now for the strengths: very strong case (titanium) - seems to be very resistant to scratching. High mega pixel pickup - at 12 mega pixels, I believe it's the highest for point-and-shoots at this time, wow the pictures are sharp. At the next to highest resolution setting, the pictures take approx. 2mb per picture - that's high requiring more storage space, but storage space is very inexpensive these days. Video capability - eventhough the high resolution setting seems to be a bit "jerking" due to frame rate compromise, the standard (480) setting produces remarkably smooth video pictures as good as my old camcorder. If you want high resolution video pictures, this video functionality will not serve, but is a very good compromise since most of the video moments are impromptu and of short duration. With this camera, you are always ready to add some video to your picture taking. I love this feature. Taking videos with your point-and-shoot has usually meant limited recording time given former storage constraints. With the HDSD capability in this camera, I purchased an 8gb card and I can take just over 60 minutes of video at the 480 setting. If you think this isn't much, remember that that about all you could take with an old camcorder on one tape and the benefits of having that material digitally right out of the camera, well, that priceless. User Interface - it has been very easy to learn how to use the camera. On-Board Red-Eye Correction - if you have taken many digital pictures, you know that even with camera set to take in the red-eye prevention mode, you still get the red-eye phenomenom. Correcting red-eye has been a rather time consuming process in the past. The greatest feature of the SD950 for me has been the ability to correct the red-eye in the camera right after I take the picture and in just a few seconds - wow, I love this. Overall, I love this camera and believe I will be happily using it for many years.

• Reviewed by: dhishi

  Strengths: Lots of options for those quick snaps. Nice body.

  Weaknesses: Bulky and heavier then the other SD series.

  Overall: I have owned Sony V1 and Canon Pro1. The Sony V1 tends to plagued with an extremely poor color accuracy. The Pro1 is a great camera but bulky to carry around so I was looking for a small camera. From previous experience, the name Canon is the cream of the crop for digital cameras. I tried the Canon SD750 and SD850. Both are good but the SD950 beats them all. For an additional $100, it is money well spent on SD950 when it comes to memories of my kids.I use this for both picture and movies. I do have a Camcorder but the quality of the SD950 movies are excellent and saves money when recording to a 4GB SD card.The pictures are good however it does face some clarity when zoomed in when comparing with my Pro1. I guess you can't get everything on a compact camera. Colors are rich and accurate with the AWB. The best feature I like about the camera is the high ISO levels. It goes upto ISO 3200. Pictures are grainy but it lets you take night shots without the flash. The image stabilization takes care of the shaky night pictures.The flash does not do justice at ISO 80 ( limited range and red eye issues ) unless you move up over ISO 200. You can get an external flash to resolve this.Movie modes are excellent at 640x480 but moving upto 1028x768 at 15fps does give ghost effects and light issues.Start up times are quick but does face focusing issue on fast moving objects. Wish it had a manual focus option. You can control shutter speed for only longer shutters but not for faster speeds. But this is a compact camera so do not expect too much. The DIGICIII processor is excellent however it does face the issues of packing too many pixels on a small chip. If you are looking for manual options or other then a compact camera look elsewhere like the Canon G9 or an SLR.Overall, this is money well spent on a compact camera.

• Reviewed by: silbernagels

  Strengths: High resolution for easy cropping, face detector, movie mode that allows zooming.

  Weaknesses: Slightly larger than most ultra compacts, in-box SD card much too small, one the higher end of cost.

  Overall: I put this camera right to the test...I'm not sure that the titanium is worth the extra $ you put into this little camera but the picture quality is certainly there.I was hoping to find a compact with more optical zoom, but choose the Canon line which allows me to shoot some video clips and zoom in/out too. Microphone isn't to par with the S5, but decent enough.The high 12.1 MP is great for enlarging and cropping photos, but eats through memory cards quickly...especially with video. I would have hoped better from Canon than a measly 32MB card in the box. You will need to budget for the extra SD card that you need to buy separately. To add to the cost of it, because of the large file sizes, you need to consider the faster writing SD cards.I like the comfortable finger placement/grip of a Canon and easy to find zoom and trigger. Unlike other ultra-compacts you can hold it easily without getting fingers in the way of the flash or shutter and pass it off to friends without much explanation of which buttons to push.A little weightier than some compacts but still fits in my jeans pocket, not bad for a petite lady, but I'm much more comfortable with it in my purse.Great large LCD screen, but even better for me is the optical viewfinder. I frequently let my battery go to low and still want to get those last few shots. Oh well if the accuracy is a little off, just don't zoom too much and crop what you need to later...at least you got the shot.

• Reviewed by: schil2

  Strengths: Image quality and design.

  Weaknesses: Hefty price tag and slow in taking photos (between shots time).

  Overall: The Canon PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH Camera was bought as a Christmas present for our son. This camera is quite impressive for a point and shoot...image quality and optical viewfinder great. Sleek design with comfortable grip in a titanium casing.

• Reviewed by: KinghamRobert

  Strengths: 1. Optical Image Stabilization2. 3.8 Optical Zoom3. Battery power level indicator.4. Titanium encased body5. Ability to turn on review feature without deploying the lens6. Abundant scene function

  Weaknesses: Having had several Canon "pocket sized" digital cameral, this is the very best they have produced. No weaknesses I have found.

  Overall: This is my first "review" so please bear with me. To begin with, I first looked into "travel sized" digital cameras several years ago. My search was for a camera that would not be too bulky and was digital so I could use my personal computer for producing books with picures on our various travels. Interestingly, my resource was the various "expert" and "user" reviews available on the internet (I suggest anyone interested in buying a new digital camera to go this route.} I came to the conclusion that Canon was the premier producer of these cameras. It had the quality lens, features, computer processor, fit and finish of body parts, among other things. My last Canon was a SD450 (about 1-1/2 years old at this point) and I thought I would probably not need to replace it for many years. However, when we were on a South American vacation earlier this year, I found it frustrating that I could not take a decent, hand held picture in various museums, churches, etc. where I could take photos - but without flash. I was not dragging a tripod and the results were blurry, at best. This drove me to look into the various Image Stabilation systems avaiable now and found that the concensus was that optical solutions are preferable to digital. Today there are several Canon "IS" versions - but the Cadillac among them is the SD950IS. It was a little pricey but I was able to buy one for $399 and felt it was worth every cent. A little concerned about the 12.1 megapixel size and the impact on picture to picture speed, I purchased two SanDisk Extreme III chips and this concern disappeared. I also bought an extra battery pack (I always recommend this to anyone thinking of buying a travel camera.) The only thing I could not buy was a Canon carrying case that would accommodate the larger than usual size of the SD950IS (are you listening Canon?) By the way I find the extra weight and size an advantage (for me anyway). I also appreciate the attention to detail that Canon employed in locating the slightly raised logo on the front of the camera and the handy shape of the back control that helps one to hold firmly onto the camera with one hand. I could on, but you get the idea - I think the Canon SD950IS is a "five star" camera and would not hesitate it to anyone who wants the "best" in this format digital cameras.

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