Canon PowerShot SD950IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 3.7x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Titanium) Reviews

• Has it all

  
  By A2L0MG489TBZ10 on 2007-10-12
  Got it 2 days ago and I'm impressed. Other reviews on net generally like the camera but think price is somewhat high and 12 MP is overkill. A) It is expensive; all new camera models are high for several months when they come out. If you can afford it without problem then you get it now. Otherwise your choice is perhaps the SD850 at $150 less or waiting a while for price drop. B) The same overkill thing was said when 5 MP, 6 MP, .... became widely available. 12, 8, 5, and lower MP settings are readily available without entering menu. I set mine on 8 MP and, if desired, will change to 12 MP if the thought occurs for special pics. Now that you can order poster sized prints for cheap prices on Shutterfly and SnapFish you'd be amazed by the ease, cost and quality of them. Also hard drive space has gotten cheap and you could keep 1000's of 12 MP files on $20 worth of hard drive space now.
  The other reviews have it right on the quality of the camera and its results. The photos are sharp, color accurate and, in Manual mode, have many SLR, non-auto type choices such as WB, exposure setting, shutter speed (long exposure) setting, color accent, focus lock, .....; The movie setting is simple to use, gives you choice of HD (15 fps, sl. jerky at rapid movement but with quality sharpness or 30 fps standard). Easy to import into iMovie without added Canon software (don't know about PC ease). Manual is logical though 220 pages in English. Has few errors, particularly for long shutter speed it states pressing "menu" but should read "disp." Finally, I dumped my Olympus Stylus 750 because I absolutely could not take photos outside on sunny days due to LCD washout and NO VIEWFINDER. Before getting the Olympus, I had read on their site that the LCD was "bright" with new technology that would not wash out. That's why I did not consider the SD700, 800, 1000, ... which have no viewfinder. That said, the 950 LCD really works well outside though I've only used it a couple times outside thus far.
  
  
  

• Impressed by the quality

  
  By A25RYAX840IQEU on 2007-11-19
  I am not too much into the digital camera world but I bought this one for my wife who previously owned a Sony DSC P100. After reviewing several web sites, especially one that only compares different pictures in different situations for a lot of cameras, the SD950 was the one that gave overall the best pictures. At least the review was not biaised by the impressions and subjectivity of the reviewer, just pictures taken by digital cameras.
  I was first tempted by a Panasonic DCM-TZ3 which has on paper better specs. However, shots in low light are disappointing for the Pana and the flash is awful, the pictures taken are not at all balanced.
  So to come back to the Canon Powershot SD 950 (Or Ixus 960 I believe, depending on your country):
  => I was first impressed by the quality that you feel when you open the box, presumably because of the titanium; but at this level of price, this is normal!
  => This is a very intuitive camera, the ergonomy is good: it is true that the on/off button is close to the shutter button but it was the same with the Sony: all it takes is a bit of habit. Also the movie mode is very easy to use, much easier than with the Sony. You can also basically post edit your film with the supplied software.
  => The pictures taken are great, I will not post some here, you can go to flickr. The 12MP can be a drawback, especially if you upload a lot of pictures but of course you can set-up your camera to take only 8MP pictures for instance.
  => The lens is bright for a point and shoot and the numeric noise is well mastered, even in low light conditions.
  => The Image Stabilizing feature works very well, Canon used here an optical solution, which is much, much better than a numeric IS found on cheaper cameras.
  => The camera is quick, not only to power on but also between shots. I was a bit afraid because I ordered a regular Kingston 2GB but even set at 12MP, this is not longer than the Sony at 5MP; in other words even with a regular memory card (no "extreme" which are more expensive), the wait between the shots is satisfactory.
  
  Now the cons.
  => I would have prefered more manual settings. You have a lot of programs (including macro, fireworks, aquarium, etc) that set the shutter speed and aperture for you but you cannot set these values yourself. It does not mean that you cannot set anything yourself, you can adjust the white balance, compensate the exposure, etc. but you would have liked to be able to set-up the aperture and/or the speed, especially if you owned a SLR before.
  => With the big LCD screen, the battery life is only correct. I would encourage you, if you have some bucks left, to buy a second battery sold on Amazon as well.
  
  To summarize, except if you absolutely want to be able to control your point and shoot like a SLR, go for the SD950, you will not regret it!
  
  

• Best SD Yet!

  
  By A2VBZVFBSIOMS3 on 2007-10-05
  This is my third Canon SD, and it's the best by far. I also have a Canon S3 IS(12x optical zoom), but the 950 with 12 megapixels takes pretty good extreme zoom shots and is about 1/3 the size of the S3. The 950 shoots digital zoom to 500+mm (35mm equivalent), and an 8x10 at that zoom lacks some sharpness but really does not have any obvious graininess. The S3 is going to get a lot of shelf time.
  
  

• Excellent Camera

  
  By A2IYQX25Y2WKEI on 2007-12-31
  I just returned from a photo shoot at the beach using my new Canon PowerShot SD950IS (with a SanDisk 2GB Extreme III SD card), and my Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1 MP SLR camera (with a SanDisk 2GB Ultra II CF card) with a Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM lens. I had each camera set to the maximum resolution, and took a number of "identical" pictures with each camera. I fully expected the Digital Rebel (2 lbs, 15 oz) to outperform the SD950IS (6.5 oz). To my amazement, the result was just the opposite. The detail, sharpness, clarity and color in the photos taken with the SD950IS were noticeably better. I don't intend to ditch the Digital Rebel, but will definitely feel that I'm not compromising on quality when I leave the bulk behind and travel with the SD950IS.
  
  

• Nearly perfect compact point and shoot camera - and more!

  
  By ASKH6TPNTTAFS on 2008-01-27
  I'm a Canon convert with this camera. I've had several small point and shoot cameras - this is hands-down the best I've owned. The previous one had some serious issues with the images, they were over-processed - detail was fuzzed out and there was nothing you could do about it. Some of the megapixel race cameras (that was 10mp) have issues because of that in-camera processing. This Canon has absolutely excellent quality images, and the camera is everything I could hope for in a camera this size. I'm amazed how well the SD950 captures the essence of light - previous cameras have been a compromise but this camera captures sunsets, clouds, vegetation, people with life-like colors. The face recognition technology makes amazingly good people shots. I like the tiny format for being able to take it with me all the time - I can bring my DSLR on planned outings, but the little Canon is always ready.
  
  I have pretty big hands and this camera is easy for me to grip and handle - other reviews noted this and they are absolutely correct. It looks sleek and smooth, but it's nearly perfect in terms of gripping it and controlling it.
  
  All-in-all, this seems to be the nearly perfect shirt pocket point and shoot camera!
  
  Pros:
  
  Pocketable, viewfinder (small but better than not having one), bright and wide view LCD display, intuitive simple controls, nice telephoto zoom, image stabilization, easy menu operation, automatic modes almost always capture what you want, excellent - especially for a 12mp camera - images, superb movie mode, decent album and editing software, easy downloading.
  
  Cons:
  
  Limited manual operation, while shooting, thumb can open battery door if you're not careful, USB door barely opens enough to get plug in.
  
  
• Coach Edition Not Worth Extra (Camera Great)
  By A11U7X02QQ2OBW on 2008-01-25
  After waiting more than a month for the Coach edition to ship, I finally received today. I was completely dismayed at the Coach case for the camera. I have a Canon Powershop SD500 Elph Coach edition which came with a magnetic snap case. It worked great..just open the flap and slip the camera out in a flash. This new fiasco of a case with the SD950IS has a zippered enclosure which must be fully unzipped to remove the camera. Even worse, you have to force the camera through the gaping rows of metal teeth to get it in or out. One of the minor complaints about the camera voiced by some is how easily it scratches. I imagine mine will have grooves from the zipper teeth as I take the camera in or out. Bottom Line: Buy the regular(non-Coach) edition and use the savings to purchase a decent case that is easy to remove the camera from and which doesn't sratch the devil out of it!!!
  
  
• It's just too slow!
  By A3BQ74RYD7E603 on 2008-03-06
  The shutters lag on this camera is just undeliverable. It you want to shoot static object's it will work OK. But if you are trying to shoot your 2-year-old toddler, it is going to be very challenging.
  
  I have had S100, S110, S230, SD550, and SD700 in the past. They all performed much better than SD950.
  
  I would not recommend SD950!
  
  
  
  
• Destined to be a legend
  By A1AXUA3ZWXP2R7 on 2008-01-20
  I've owned around a dozen digital cameras over the years and have always been in search of the Holy Grail of image quality. I finally found it 2 years ago with the Canon EOS 5D, a full-frame 12.3 megapixel DSLR. Recently, I decided to see if I could find a compact that even came close to the 5D. Well, guess what? Here it is. Aside from the 5D, this is the best camera I have ever used. Hands down the image quality is as superb as it comes...smooth, crisp, well exposed, and clean. I now have a take-anywhere to just throw in my pocket when the 5D would be overkill. Trust me when I say that this camera will be a legend. It is that good. In fact, I'll likely pick up another one when its succcesor comes out and the price drops.
  
  UPDATE: After using my SD 950 IS for few weeks, it is clearly not anything near a Canon 5D. Although there are a lot of pixels, the 950's resolving power simply can't compete with a Canon L-class lens. No surprise of course but don't expect pro quality just because you have 12 megapixels. I still love the SD 950 IS for what it is but make no mistake about what it isn't.
  
  
  
  
  
• Best PowerShot Yet! Highly Recommended!
  By AC2EGRJTJYVBA on 2007-12-30
  This is my second PowerShot in the series. I loved my SD900, but it didn't have Image Stabilization. It makes a huge difference on this current camera and the pictures look much better. I think the colors are a bit more vibrant too. I bought it as my "carry camera" when I don't want to lug around my Rebel XT. Nice small camera. Fits well in my shirt pocket. Very sturdy feel and construction. May be too small for people with big hands. Picture quality is great.
  
  The SD950IS looks almost identical to the earlier models and shares the nice sturdy, high-quality feel that has made these cameras quite popular.
  
  I had a great time with the earlier version of this camera on my trip to Disney World. Was able to tweak the ISO settings to take pictures w/o flash in very dim areas. ISO 3200 mode was quite fun to play with. You pay a price for the noise introduced in the pictures, but it's still a clear picture where you may not normally be able to take one. At normal ISO settings, the pictures are clear with vibrant colors. The Image stabilization on the SD950IS should make for even more flexibility and fun.
  
  I've also been impressed by the movie mode on this camera and it's ability to make decent (not fantastic) movies in fairly low light.
  
  Like others, I wish the camera had more manual control, but for most purposes it's fine. When I need more control, I can use my Rebel XT. Suggest you buy at least a 2GB SD card. I also recommend Lowepro Ridge 10 (Arctic Blue) as a small camera case.
  
  
• Excellent Pocket Camera
  By AAJ1IYOUIHWF on 2008-01-25
  My former digital camera is a Nikon 4500 that was 6 years old, cost $700+, and is still working. The Canon was a major jump in MP count, size reduction, SDHC storage, and convenience. 12MP really is overkill in many cases. It produces image files from 2-6+ MB, which takes up a large amount of storage and has such detail that you can zoom and crop, but how many of us will take advantage of this on a regular basis?
  
  Even with image stabilization I've had a few shots come out blurry, even though I hold and take the photo as if there is no stabilization. There is no full manual mode , however there are several pre-set modes for different settings and events. The aiaf-artificially intelligent auto focus as well as the 'face detection,' mode of autofocus are also spotty and will focus on some very strange spots at times, which requires you to refocus or reframe the shot.
  
  The unit itself is small, light, well constructed. The only part that seems poorly thought out is the cover for the mini-usb and headphones ports. Hard to get open and awkward.
  
  Controls are very intuitive and well placed. Menu system is simple with easy navigation. The camera turns on fast and also has a fast auto focus. The LCD is large, clear, bright, and very nice.
  
  Being able to use the camera to take video that is limited to 1 hour is also a nice feature. Perfect for capturing short clips, events, scenery, etc.
  
  After researching, reading reviews, etc., the only major concern is the motor used to drive the lens assembly. There are people who have this drive fail, rendering the camera useless and Canon has not admitted to any defect or fixed the issue, but it could be a limited concern.
  
  Overall this is a great pocket camera. Some of the drawbacks, such as no true manual mode are not really legitimate, since this camera is not exactly a digital SLR, but it does serve the needs and purpose for which it is designed.
  
  
• Couldn't be better.
  By A1XKBG242NMIFT on 2007-10-13
  Got the SD950 a week ago and I am impressed. The great variety of features and the many different modes in both manual and automatic are fantastic and can't be topped for a camera that size. Picture quality is A+++ and handling is easy.
  
  
• Awesome Camera
  By A1W2LVN8JS09IL on 2007-10-16
  I have owned several Canon SD models. This is far the best so far for image quality and features. I know some say 12.1 meg pixels are over kill for this class of camera. However, it does share some of the features of the new G9 which my sister bought, which is also a great camera. For a P&S camera, you can't go wrong. The price is a little high right now. I am sure the price will go down during the holidays. I could not wait though! I am not the type to always upgrade every time the latest and greatest comes out. However, I bought this camera to serve me for a few years, as the rest of my Canon cameras I have owned.
  
  
• Outstanding Camera
  By A2E5L4ZZYS8WMD on 2007-12-06
  This camera is fantastic. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great, durable, high quality camera. You will need more hard drive space. The photos range from 2.5Mb to 4.5Mb at the 12Mb setting.
  I would also recommend buying the 4Gb Sandisk Extreme III disk, it will reduce the read/write time speeding up performance.
  
  Used this camera on our trip to New Zealand and took some great pictures.
  The camera boots and takes a photo in < 2 secs, great for unexpected shots.
  
  Very satisfied with this camera. Great job Canon.
  
  
• No Tiff or RAW, limited options, small view screen
  By A3NOBH42C7UI5M on 2008-04-03
  -I guess the best part of this camera is that it does have a separate view finder, so you don't have to use the lcd screen and battery. When in bright light it's nice to have when the LCD screen is hard to see. The image in the viewfinder is very small and a little hard to see because it is so small, but most point and shoot cameras don't have any.
  -The movies are as good, motion jpg, like most P&S cameras, they are good quality, but fairly low resolution. Some new manufacturers are using DviX and they are really nice. (both use AVI file types)
  -It is very nice that the lens retracts while you're in the mode for viewing your photos, saving battery power. Battery only lasts a few days with minimal use, but I think it's about standard for these higher resolution cameras.
  -It may be a little thing, but I like the wrist strap it comes with. It's wound like a rope instead of flat, so it holds up better and doesn't shred apart, and it has a plastic slide to tighten it around your wrist, a feature I really like (chasing a one year old around with the camera).
  -It comes on really fast, the zoom is steady but everything goes out of focus the second you start to zoom (on the LCD screen, the viewfinder seems to be better focus, but hard to see because the image is so small).
  -It takes good quality pictures and the color is good. As good an any compact I've used.
  Cons
  --The simple options (things you can get to with buttons without having to go into the menu options) are limited: flash, even on manual mode, are limited: on off and auto, no soft focus, if you want red eye you have to go into the menu, etc; shot modes, there is macro but no super macro. My Older Pentax, for example, has about 2 to 3 times the number of options.
  --The body is a little heavier and larger than many other manufacturers
  --LCD screen is really small. The compact point and shoot with the large LCD is really nice for showing off photos in the photo view mode
  --When you zoom, everything is out of focus until you depress the button to take the photo, so you don't have any idea what you're going to get. You can wait for the image to focus before depressing all the way, but it takes a long time sometimes.
  --It doesn't have a non compressed file format, like RAW or TIFF so you really need to be careful to save your original, unedited shots. Even rotating them can reduce quality in the compressed jpg format.
  --It is a little higher priced than some of the other cameras in it's category. The Pentax A40 12MP is $100 less and there are several Kodak 12MP cameras for under $200.
  
  Because of the high resolution, I'd suggest a really fast SD card because the standard 2mb read/write time is WAY too slow. The difference is waiting several seconds for a photo to write vs having it write immediately. If you want it right away (like I did), you pay top dollar.I'm sure it will come down in a short time. When I bought my Pentax A30, less than a year ago, I paid $360 and now it's $180. It started going down within a month. I guess that's expected with most electronics.
  
  All in all, it's a good camera, it got high ratings in the reviews (about 7/10)and I have canon cameras that are nearly a decade old that still work, so I'm guessing this will hold up well too.
  
  
• Design issues, cheap assembly
  By ALMLXNKU1SUMT on 2007-12-19
  The problem with the SD950 camera is the same as other SD cameras, the design of the panels leaves big gaps between the panels (mostly on the top of the camera), this camera has realy big gap problem. Canon has cut some corners to save money and this makes the camera look cheap. It is a shame because the material used for the outer panels is of excellent quality.
  The plastic battery door is also cheap and flimsy.
  Suggestion for the next SD: more screws to well tight the outer panels, and better battery doors, and, please, keep production in Japan!
  The best SD camera so far: SD850.
  
  
• The Best Digital Elph Yet!
  By A21M1SHXG8WAFS on 2008-04-02
  I've owned Digital Elphs ever since they were just 2.0MP. I really loved that camera at the time but this new one is simply amazing. Each camera in the line has been a step up, although basically it's the same camera. You don't have a learning curve with each new one.
  
  12.1 Mega Pixels! It takes a hefty SD card to get plenty of photos, but you can now get an 8MP SD size for under $50.00. Even with a 4GB SD card, you get around 750 images at top resolution. This is all the resolution you will probably ever need. You'll be able to enlarge to poster size or crop areas with excellent results. But remember that for your average photos, you really don't need this much resolution. I had a Digital Elph which was 7.1MP for years and it was more than enough. There are 8.0MP Elphs available that you'll be extremely pleased with. This camera is for people who know who they are.
  
  Plus, the camera has all the bells and whistles that you've come to expect (just check out the Canon ad on Amazon's website): 1,600 ASA, face detection autofocus, 2.5" screen (plus a viewfinder), pretty high resolution movies with mono sound.
  
  Whether this is your first Digital Elph or an upgrade, you won't be disappointed: Beautiful color, high resolution and accurate auto focus, automatic lens cover, image stabilizer, decent zoom and made from a single sheet of Titanium. You'll just enjoy holding it.
  
  I also have the Canon Digital Rebel XTi SLR and that's a magnificent camera but who wants to carry that around on a trip? This thing fits in your purse or pocket or in an optional case that slips into your belt.
  
  Certainly Canon will further upgrade this highly successful line, but I know that I'll be happy with this one for years to come. It is simply amazing that all this technology fits into such a beautiful and small package.
  
  
• Unfulfilled hopes
  By ASLS8RZI9AOUZ on 2007-11-24
  We were quite disappointed with the inside, close shots in relatively low light. It was very difficult to produce good photos that were well focused. We may return to an 8 MP camera; our hopes were unfulfilled.
  
  
• Great Camera!
  By A19DHB9VHNJX0Q on 2007-12-08
  This is a great camera. Lots of options and easy to use. The battery lasts a long time before needing charged and charges in just a couple of hours. I went on a 5 day trip and only needed to charge it one time. The only thing that I've had any kind of issue with is the battery/card cover door. It is located on the bottom of the camera and seems to be easily dislodged. It hasn't caused any problems though because it is on a hinge.
  
  
• Canon SD950IS
  By A3GPF4HQI370K3 on 2007-11-14
  We took the camera on the Panama Canal Cruise. It took great pictures and great movies. I recommend getting the SDHC 8gb Memory card. The battery life would drain a little too quickly. The Camera would of been perfect with a 5x zoom.
  
  
• Awsome picture quality
  By A11JUZN9QLSKTP on 2007-11-23
  I got this camera 2 weeks ago. Pictures are awsome. One of my main concern was about the washout of LCD in the sun since my earlier camera Olympus had this problem but this camera does not have this issue. Price is a bit high but so is the quality of pictures. Most of the times auto mode works fine. Buy at least 2GB card since 12 MP pictures take a lot of space. 32MB card provided with this camera can only save 7-8 pictures of 12 MP.
  
  I am editing my review after using this camera for a month. The only downside I have heard from other reviews is the lowlight condition pictures. But frankly it is not bad for me. Flash works like magic even if there is complete darkness, the pictures taken by it do not show a hint about that. But thats for me. I would like to know from other owners too.
  
  
• So glad I got this camera
  By ACDJBTUIODRUR on 2008-01-13
  Last year I got a Vivitar camera for my girlfriend and it bummed us both out. No matter what we did it took 5 second from click to shoot. Settings, lighting conditions, all kinds of changes and it didn't matter. 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. ding!
  
  By then people lost their happy face and replaced it with a blink, a fake happy face, etc... My girlfriend is a big scrapbook nut and this camera was driving her nuts...
  
  NOT ANY MORE!
  
  I got her the Canon camera and now her only problem is she has too many photos to scrap with... Click wah...ding! Not even a second goes by unless we are in really dark lighting or we are moving. Then it makes adjustments and still it is like 1, t... ding!
  
  She can get action shots now. Great since both of our kids are in sports. She used to have to guess 5 seconds before her daughter hit a ball or 5 second before my son poll vaulted over the bar or 5 second before my son took down another wrestler... It was maddening!
  
  I would suggest getting the SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card with MicroMate USB 2.0 Reader (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package) San Disk 4 GB Extreme III. Your pictures at 12mp are going to be large and you need 4 Gb to take 100 photos. It is extreme on the data transfer so you can click, click, click and not wait for the transfers to happen. Plus, it has a USB reader included so if you are somewhere that doesn't read SanDisk cards, you have a USB solution.
  
  
• 950 lost some of the features of the 750
  By AVA5C0DH8XD15 on 2008-01-14
  The Canon SD 950IS takes good pictures, but the change from a relatively cubicle shape to a 'jelly-bean' shape makes it hard to hold, and difficult to place on a flat surface. Also, it is much thicker than our SD750, and the bulk makes itself felt when trying to hold the camera for multiple pictures. It simply does not fall into the hand the way the SD750 does. This appears to be change for the sake of change, rather than a real improvement. We find that we continue to use the SD750 more than the recently purchased SD950IS.
  
  
• A little disappointed :(
  By A3UIBIYXD3L232 on 2007-12-26
  I bought the camera for my wife as a Christmas gift. I guess I just expected something better for the price. The picture quality outdoors is decent, NOT GREAT. Picture quality indoors with low lighting is not that great - typical for digital cameras. I also did the manual selection and raised the iso but the pictures turned out too grainy. I used to own the first Canon G series (3 megapixel) bought it more than 5 years ago and the quality is almost the same. The only thing I like about this camera is that it's compact and it comes with a great software for organizing the pictures (GREAT SOFTWARE!!!). If you're looking for something that takes great picture and not too concern about the size, I would suggest looking into the Canon G series or Nikkon D40.
  
  
• Great camera
  By A1SZVV5JRHW0FJ on 2007-11-24
  I hava had Canon digital cameras since the S100. All of the have been great, good pictures and very pocketable. Thi one is a bit bigger but it is gorgeous, great controls. The zoom is a lot better than the ususal 2x-3x. Another thing that I really like is the optical viewer, it isn't very accurate but a lot of times i use it. Top notch quality as always.
  
  
• good pictures flimsy construction
  By A1QLL0XKZ4K1GS on 2007-12-30
  I have found the camera takes good pictures but paying extra money for the titanium construction is a joke. the titanium is very thin and almost like plastic. i carry tha camera in my pocket and it has scratches near the battery cover. also the battery cover doesnt lock shut. most times when i pull it out of my pocket the cover pops open. i put a thin piece of duct tape over the cover to keep it shut.
  
  my son carries a olympus stylus 770sw. pictures aren't quite as good but built like a tank. waterproof and shockproof. if you use occasionally canon is fine. for everyday use olympus much more durable
  
  
• Good for Outdoors but not Indoors
  By A166V5ZMJE913T on 2008-07-28
  You always take the good with the bad with any point-and-shoot camera. So whether this is the camera for you depends on how you plan to use it.
  
  Good Points: It's attractive and takes good shots in full outdoor light. Has just enough manual adjustments to give you some flexibility, though it's really a P&S no matter what. Power up time is relatively quick, though not instantaneous enough to capture a fast-moving toddler.
  
  Not-So-Good Points: this camera is surprisingly bad indoors. If you use the flash, it will give you clear shots, though you'll end up with photos that have a very bright subject and dark backgrounds - the kind you used to get with those Kodak disposable cameras. Should be better than that for a camera at this price. Plus, when you use the flash, there is a 1-2 second delay before the shutter clicks while the camera charges up the flash.
  
  If you do not use the flash, you are likely to get a lot of blurry shots. I tried it in our dining room on a sunny afternoon with plenty of natural light. Even with ISO set to 400, the camera "shake" indicator lit up, alerting me that it would be blurry - which it was. This happens even with the Image Stabilization turned on. One look at the exposure tells you why: 2.8f at 1/15! By comparison, my Canon 5D with a 50mm 1.4f lens registered the exact same shot at 4f and 1/250.
  
  Another irritation is the USB port door, which doesn't seem to open far enough to allow you to easily insert the cable. Also, the door is attached by a single, flimsy plastic tab that seems certain to snap off before too long. Apparently this is an ongoing problem with the whole line (based on what I've read in other reviews).
  
  Bottom line: great camera for tossing into a bag on an outdoor vacation. Not so great camera for shooting good looking pics anywhere inside that is not lit like a fashion shoot.
  
  
• Canon 950is
  By AAQ42ATVNZ1UL on 2007-11-07
  Unbelievable! The images are sharp and well exposed. I have had to put the resolution on M2 because of the file size. It's a tad larger than my other Elph but still small emough to fit in my pocket or shirt. I also purchased the Canon acessory package. Case, battery. wrist and neck strap. To complete the package I also bought the Kingston card reader. It's plug and read unit that works very well right out of the box. All in all it's a package that will be with me for a long time.
  
  
• Top of the Line Compact Digital Camera
  By A3LP4V6T0UCQSD on 2007-11-19
  The best digital camera that I have ever owned. It shoots perfect pictures, has an optical viewfinder (many Canon digitals do not) and image stabilization (great when using zoom). Additionally, it has an incredible 12 megapixels and face detection which gives excellent exposure and great detail when shooting people.
  
  
• too much hype!
  By A1GP0RPBS8QO17 on 2007-12-16
  I just bought this camera 1 week ago. I did a lot of reading reviews, since that's all I could do. they dont cary this camera in stores that you can check it out. I biught it to my sorprise, too much hype for nothing! I have a Canon S410 4mega pixels and it have the same features and the same quality pics! I am a Marine so I take pics of cool stuff on base and the camera its just a waste of money. If you want to have a nice looking camera this is the camera for you. I would sudgess to you to buy a S410 for 100 bucks insted of the 950
  
  
• Great Camera but not simple "Point and Shoot"
  By A5KZOZ5675230 on 2008-02-15
  This is a great little camera, but it is not for those who want something very simple such as a "point and shoot". While it has an "auto" mode, it also has 10 preset other modes that can be somewhat tailored to your particular operating situation, and also a "manual" mode which has significantly more adjustment capability. However you cannot set shutter speed if that is important to you. The User's Guide is approximately 240 pages long and quite well written (in English, not foreign spoken "English"), although most people will not read it.
  Before purchasing, I debated between this 12MP camera with a 2.5" LCD and separate viewfinder, and the SD870IS with 8MP and larger 3" LCD but no viewfinder. I would have been satisfied with either, but chose the SD950IS for my particular usage primarily because of it will take 4000x3000 pixel images (12MP). It should be noted you can also take smaller images with both cameras (8MP, 5MP, 2MP and 0.3MP for the SD950IS) which will allow putting more on the memory card (you will want to buy a separate memory card because the one that comes is only 32MB; I bought a 2GB which should store more than 300 images at the highest settings). While the layout of the controls are slightly different on each camera, they are basically the same.
  I have not used the movie mode.
  The included software is pretty good, although it is not as extensive as the specialized photo software from Adobe.
  My main complaint is that it is very difficult to open the cover door to connect the camera to a computer to download the images, and someone with large fingers may not be able to do it easily. Also that door is very flimsy and if not handled carefully might break off.
  Plan to read and study the entire User's Manual to get the full benefits of this camera. Canon makes good products.
  While I found other stores advertising the SD950IS for a significantly lower price than Amazon, when I called them and tried to order it, I was told it would be 4-6 weeks even though their web site said it was "in stock". Be careful with other stores; Amazon shipped it free in 3 days (however it was by USPS and took 6 more days). And Amazon will refund any price reduction within 30 days (I have received it).
  
  

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• aVinci Media SMG-51-0003 Polar Express DVD Kit
• Adobe Photoshop Elements 7
• Corel Photo Album 7 Deluxe
• Davis & Sanford VOYAGER3H Voyager Tripod with 3 Way Pan and Tilt Head

• Canon Digital Elph Accessory Kit for Canon SD880IS, SD990IS, SD890IS, SD950IS, SD900, SD870IS, SD850IS & SD790IS Digital Cameras
• SanDisk 4 GB Extreme III SDHC Card (SDSDRX3-4096-A21, Retail Package)
• Canon PSC-55 Deluxe Leather Compact Case for SD430, SD500, SD550, SD600, SD630, SD700IS, SD800IS, SD850 IS, SD900,SD950IS & SD870IS Digital Cameras
• Sandisk Ultra II SDHC 4GB SD Memory Card (SDSDH-4096, BULK Static Pack, No Reader)
• Canon IXUS 950 IS ClearTouch Anti-Glare Screen Protector (Single Pack)