The Ixus 95 IS is very easy to operate, which is just as well, as Canon persists in supplying its cameras with just a printed, basic start-up guide – which barely progresses beyond switching on the camera – hiding the full instruction manual as a PDF on CD. Power on is swift, with the Ixus 95 IS ready to shoot within two seconds. Another thing you notice is that, despite its compact size, the camera is quite noisy during operation, especially when the auto-focus kicks in.
Various detection systems improve shooting and ease of use
The menu button reveals a tabbed navigation system. Here, you can adjust various set-up items including LCD brightness and a selection of camera settings, such as digital zoom and flash settings. One grumble is that the i-Contrast setting is on a second menu page, as it would be handy if this was easier to access.
The Function Set button takes you into the familiar Canon L-shaped menu with various icons for adjusting ISO, white balance, file size, colour effects, metering mode and drive mode. In terms of shooting modes, you can choose from 17 that include, auto, program AE, portrait, sunset and ISO 3200.
The LCD screen is a bit of a disappointment, especially if you’re used to using cameras with 3in displays. It was also difficult to view in bright sunlight and so full marks to Canon for including an optical viewfinder. It’s a bit on the small side, and you certainly don’t get a 100 per cent field of view, but we found it very handy when using the Ixus 95 IS outdoors in bright conditions.
The auto-focus system is fast and soon locks onto the target, and the Scene Detection system very quickly determines what you’re shooting. Face Detection – which can detect up to 35 faces in a shot – is swift and accurate. We’re also big fans of the Face Self Timer system, which means no more racing to get in the shot when you use the self timer, because the Ixus 95 IS won’t shoot until it detects an additional face in the frame.
The optical viewfinder overcomes LCD issues in bright conditions
However, we did find the optical zoom somewhat uninspiring, both at the wide angle and telephoto ends; it was especially frustrating when trying to zoom in on a distant object. Battery life is rated at 260 shots with the LCD switched on and we had no problem shooting around 200 frames and some video footage on a single charge.
Next page: Sample Shots
COMMENTS
@Mark 65
While you are quite right - my 5d mk1 with EF 24-70 lens produced far higher resolution images than the IXUS (although for posting online as .jpgs the difference is negligable). The noise processing at higher ISO's on a 5d combined with a "fast" lens allow far better (less noisy) results in low light. On the DSLR ability to fine tune & lock focus and exposure controls are also advantages. And the IXUS is unable to create those beautiful portraits where a slender depth of field puts the subject (or even just the subjects eyes) in focus and creates a wonderful (bokeh) blur of the background... (although you can achive the same in camera results with hours of photoshop)
But I forgot to mention one other advantage of the IXUS and thats the fact that by fitting in the pocket its discreet and thus far less likely to be stolen. Which is why the shots i posted links to above where taken with a £200 IXUS and not my two and half grands worth of DSLR + lens which two blokes with knifes parted me from several weeks before.
Another reg review
"However, noise levels jump significantly when you reach ISO 800."
No shit Sherlock. At 35 MP/cm2 pixel density (a 21 MP EOS 5D Mark II has just 2.4 MP/cm2) that's hardly surprising. I also have a G9 that I'm loathe to use above ISO 400 (200 if I can help it). It's a "feature" of compact cameras. It'll only be the Digic 4 helping to keep noise low at ISO 400.
Canon should be encouraged for getting with Panasonic's thinking of not using above 10 MP in a compact though, as it provides jack-all benefit for a good deal of hassle and picture degradation.
It'd be good if the reg could see it's way of comparing the camera to what it has rated the best in the category as it would provide a useful comparison reference point - side by sides in the ISO shots etc.
Liked the photographing of a cop car given their attitude to public photography though.
@Steve 116
"That aside people sometimes make a false assumption that a bulky DSLR with an expensive lens will enable them to take much better photos than a compact. Actually this isn't always true as the IXUS can in certain situations produce results that match a DSLR"
A bulky DSLR with an expensive lens shits on a compact I'm afraid, it's no false assumption. The user may not be able to take a better picture (which is probably more the point, compact auto compared with DSLR full control) but the equipment sure as hell can. I'd love to see an IXUS match a 5D Mark II with an L-series lens on the front. The quality of this pairing is truly amazing.
The examples you give are great photos but, trust me, they don't even come close to DSLR image quality and bright light (the fox photo) is the only place it'd have a chance. Massively larger photo-sites coupled with excellent optics offering around 25+ times surface area see to that (visually comparing Ixus 80 with 24-105L).
Where I think you have a point is when you get someone who buys the DSLR rather than the compact for one-upmanship reasons and their photo skills are utter gash. Seen plenty of those. Shutter going like a machine gun, hold the camera like a compact etc.
An excellent camera
I bought a canon ixus IXUS 960 IS in Singapore last year and highly rate this camera. Its capable of creating some exceptional images. The auto mode is pretty good but there's also a degree of manual flexibility, ISO settings, colour balance etc to ensure that results work under low light and in bright sunshine. I really like the cinematic wide screen format with the black horizontal letter boxing - great for landscapes and streetscenes. Also noteworthy is the panorama mode which allows the creation (using autostich software) of stunning 180/360 degree views. Finally the video mode is great - I got some great atmospheric short clips of the atmosphere at a football game.
The shutter is a bit slow sometimes as is the focussing system and I've had problems of corruption and compatability with the 4gb high density SD card I used.
That aside people sometimes make a false assumption that a bulky DSLR with an expensive lens will enable them to take much better photos than a compact. Actually this isn't always true as the IXUS can in certain situations produce results that match a DSLR and actually there's the advantage of it being compact and discreet - great for natual looking candid shots.
Some examples of work captured with the IXUS 960 -
Landscapes -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cactus23/3234691472/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cactus23/2991014419/
Panorma created with autostitch -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cactus23/2995514824/
Video -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cactus23/2668774844/
