Pixiq

I’ve been poking around the reviews of the Canon PowerShot S95 that was released last week and I have to say that I’m struggling to find anyone who has a bad word to say about it. With a 10 mega-pixel sensor, a 28-105mm f/2-4.9 lens, fully manual and RAW capable shooting, and an HD video mode, Canon has built on the S95′s predecessor (the S90) to provide a pocket-sized picture-making-machine of tactile sleekness and wonder that might appeal to the dSLR user.

So what is it that dSLR users do actually look for in a compact camera? Will Burrard-Lucas summarises it neatly:

• image quality should be compromised as little as possible
• the camera needs to allow full manual control
• it needs to be able to fit into a pocket, otherwise you might as well take a dSLR.

And yes, the reviews really do suggest that Canon has nailed this one, with low-light sensitivity, hybrid image stabilisation, fully manual mode, the groovy control ring on the front of the camera, and measurements at 100 × 58 × 30 mm.

PhotographyBlog says ‘The list of improvements [from the S90] may be relatively small, but they add up to make the Canon S95 one of the most compelling pocket cameras on the market.’ Read exactly why they think it’s one of the most compelling compacts around.

Digital Camera says ‘Overall the Canon PowerShot S95 is a brilliant digital camera which definitely carries on from the ever successful Canon PowerShot S90.’ Digital Camera’s full review is here.

Complex says ‘The camera market is over-saturated, but this little dark shooter is a keeper. When people see the photos, they’ll be like, “You took THAT with THIS?”‘ See why Complex thinks that the S95 is keeper.

TechRadar says ‘Impressive. Most impressive.’ More than three words available here.

David Pogue wrote a whole love-letter to the S95: “And all of this means that you, little S95, can take amazing, sharp pictures in low light without the flash. Your designers have shrewdly dropped the ludicrous quest for more megapixels—you have 10 megapixels, just right—in favor of something that really matters, like better photos.” The whole thing is well worth reading.

Will Burrard-Lucas says ‘The image quality is great for a compact and I like the fast wide-angle lens. Finally the ease of use of the manual controls is exactly what I was looking for. There are a few things that the camera is missing such as an optical viewfinder, a hot shoe for an external flash and a better zoom, but these omissions are what help make the camera so small so I can live with them.’ Will’s full review, together with pictures, can be enjoyed here.

All of this for £399 (€479 or $400). Canon can help you out more.

Pictures thanks to Will Burrard-Lucas.