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Canon Powershot SD950 IS Review
By Movable Type Admin
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 Click to take a QTVR tour of the SD950
The extended zoom range of the camera makes optical image stabilization (OIS) essential. Canon's lens shift OIS provides an effective antidote to camera shake, particularly at longer zoom lengths or during long exposures when even the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to picture blurring proportions. Superior to electronic image stabilization systems that simply use software to mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens proportionately to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images. The OIS found in Canon PowerShot digital cameras is based on technology developed for Canon's renowned high-end professional EOS SLR cameras. The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new "Auto ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting in low-light conditions without a flash. With Canon's new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect up to nine forward-looking human faces in a scene. The Face Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply the closest object (based on Canon's Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the best possible results. Using Canon's Face Detection, photographers can keep up to nine faces in focus at any one time no matter where they are within the image. Working in concert with Face Detection, the "Red-Eye Correction" feature helps to detect and correct red-eye during playback mode. Images can be corrected manually while viewing photos on the LCD screen. Canon's new Face Detection Technology makes for even easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles, and assist in the elimination of over-exposed faces. The "brain" of these new PowerShot cameras is DIGIC III, the gold standard on all new Canon digital cameras. The DIGIC III image processor accounts for the camera's higher performance levels, including faster start-up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long-lag competitors in the dust. The DIGIC III chip design improves image quality and offers more efficient power consumption, resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting conditions. Like all of the Canon's new models, the SD950 offers a widescreen 16:9 ratio resolution setting that facilitates creating panoramic-style prints. Additionally, all new PowerShot models support 23 languages (now including Thai and Arabic). The new cameras have an improved direct printing function that permits greater flexibility in print settings, including a face brightener setting for backlit photos. Canon also enhanced the "My Colors" mode found in the new PowerShot line. Where previously, users could only enable My Colors while shooting, the current iteration permits captured images to be retouched as well, without the need for special software applications or tools. Available My Color playback modes include Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, and Vivid Red, lighter and darker skin tones, as well as options for creating black & white, sepia, neutral and positive film effects. For those who consider the ocean depths part of the Digital ELPH camera line's "go anywhere" promise, Canon offers individual optional waterproof housing systems. With a depth rating of 40m/130 feet for many of the PowerShot Digital ELPH cameras, these models are a natural choice for underwater photo enthusiasts, SCUBA divers and even snorkelers.
As an added convenience, Canon PowerShot digital cameras also accommodate MultiMedia MMC and MMC+ memory
cards, as well as standard SD memory cards and the new, high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This way,
consumers do not have to carry around multiple memory cards in order to be able to continue to save those
special moments during extended vacations or high-photo-taking adventures. Canon PowerShot owners can
travel in sleek style.
Powershot SD950 IS Features:
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Physical Views
The SD950 compared to a standard CD disc.
The 12-megapixel SD950 IS and the 8-megapixel SD870 IS.
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Features & Controls
PowerShot SD950 IS Specifications
| Camera Effective Pixels | Approx. 12.1 million |
| Image Sensor | 1/1.7-inch CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx. 12.4 million) |
| Lens | 7.7 (W)-28.5 (T) mm (35mm film equivalent: 36 (W)-133 (T) mm) f/2.8 (W)-f/5.8 (T) |
| Digital Zoom | Approx. 4.0x |
| Optical Viewfinder | Real-image zoom viewfinder |
| LCD Monitor | 2.5-inch, low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD, approx. 230,000 pixels (Picture coverage 100%) |
| AF System | TTL autofocus Focusing frame: 9-point AiAF/1-point AF (fixed to center) |
| Shooting Distance (From the front of the lens) |
Normal: 1.6 ft./50cm-infinity Macro:2.0 in.-1.6 ft./5-50cm (WIDE), 1.3-1.6 ft./40-50cm (TELE) Digital Macro:2.0 in.-1.6 ft./5-50cm (W) |
| Shutter | Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter |
| Shutter Speeds | 15-1/1600 sec. The shutter speed varies according to the shooting mode. Slow shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction. |
| Metering System | Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot (fixed to center) |
| Exposure Compensation | ± 2 stops in 1/3-stop increments |
| ISO Speed | Auto, High ISO Auto, 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent |
| White Balance | TTL auto, pre-set (available settings: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent or Fluorescent H) or Custom |
| Built-in Flash | Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, flash on with red-eye reduction, flash on, flash off, slow synchro |
| Flash Range | Normal: 1.6-15 ft./50cm-4.6m (W), 1.6-7.9 ft./50cm-2.4m (T) (when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto) |
| Shooting Modes | Auto, Camera M, Special Scene (Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot), Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Stitch Assist, Movie |
| Photo Effects |
My Colors Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Custom |
| Continuous Shooting | Approx. 1.5 shots/sec. (Large/Fine mode) |
| Self-timer | Activates shutter after an approx. 10-sec./approx. 2-sec. delay, Custom Timer |
| Recording Media | SD/SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, MMC Plus Card, HC MMC Plus Card |
| File Format | Design rule for camera file system and DPOF Version 1.1 compliant |
| Data Type |
Still images: Exif 2.2 (JPEG) Movie: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural))
This digital camera supports Exif 2.2 (also called "Exif Print"). Exif Print is a standard for enhancing the communication between digital cameras and printers. By connecting to an Exif Print-compliant printer, the camera's image data at the time of shooting is used and optimized, yielding extremely high quality prints.
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| Compression | Superfine, Fine, Normal |
| Number of Recording Pixels (Still Images) | 4,000 x 3,000 (Large) 3,264 x 2,448 (Medium 1) 2,592 x 1,944 (Medium 2) 1,600 x 1,200 (Medium 3) 640 x 480 (Small) 4,000 x 2,248 (Widescreen) |
| Number of Recording Pixels (Movies) |
Movie: 1024 x 768 (15 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps/30 fps LP), 320 x 240 (30 fps) available up to 4GB or 60 minutes, 640 x 480 (2 hours at 0.5 fps/1 fps), 160 x 120 (3 min. at 15 fps)
Using high-speed memory cards is recommended.
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| Playback Modes | Still Image: Single, Magnification (approx. 2x-10x), Jump, Auto Rotate, Rotate, Resume, My Colors, My Category, Histogram, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Slide Show, Red-eye Correction, RAW playback, Resize, Image Inspection Tool Movie: Normal Playback, Special Playback, Editing |
| Direct Print | PictBridge compliant, and Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible |
| My Camera Settings | Start-up image, start-up sound, operation sound, Self-timer sound, and shutter sound. |
| Interface | USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mini-B), PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio) |
| Power Source | Battery Pack NB-5L (Lithium-ion Rechargeable battery) 240 shots LCD on / 580 shots LCD off / 360 min. playback time (CIPA) AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC30 |
| Operating Temperature | 0-40°C (32-104°F) |
| Operating Humidity | 10-90 % |
| Dimensions | 3.78 x 2.36 x 1.09 in. / 95.9 x 59.9 x 27.6mm |
| Weight | Approx. 165 g (5.82 oz.) (camera body only) |
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Features & Controls
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