Canon PowerShot SD950 IS Compact Digital Camera - Features
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Features
The list of features in the SD 950 IS is very similar to those in the SD900, with a few additions. I have already mentioned a few of these features: the increase in maximum resolution from 10 to 12 mega-pixels, increase in optical zoom from 3x to 3.7x, and the addition of an optical viewfinder (not available in some of the most recent Canon SD-series cameras).
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
The OIS used in the SD950 is among the best in the industry, and it is based on the same OIS system used in Canon's very popular Rebel line of DSLR cameras. Basically, this feature allows you to minimize camera-shake due to movement in the photo or by the camera actually shaking. This is especially evident when zooming in on objects. This feature will not diminish the quality of an image like some other cameras' digital image stabilization will. Because this feature is optical, it maintains the image quality.
The OIS feature in the SD950 has 3 modes:
1. Continuous: OIS is always active (drains battery life the most).
2. Shoot Only: Activates OIS when shutter button is pressed.
3. Panning: Activates OIS on a vertical axis (good for shooting images moving horizontally in the frame).
Face Detection
This feature is becoming increasingly popular in new digital cameras. The face detection feature in the SD950 will seek out up to 9 faces in the frame. Once the camera detects a face in the frame, it will automatically adjust the focus, exposure, and flash to the most ideal settings. This feature does have limitations, though, as it will not recognize faces unless they are looking toward the camera. Overall, though, this feature can be very useful for family portraits or other group shots.
Movie Mode
This camera will record video with sound. There are several video modes in the SD950, including a high resolution setting (1024 x 768 pixels). At the high resolution setting, the SD950 only records at 15 frames per second (fps). At all of the lower resolution settings, you can record at a much smoother 30 fps.
The 3.7x optical zoom cannot be used when recording video, which is a little disappointing, although it's quite common in this type of camera. You do have the option of using the 4x digital zoom while recording video, but it will lower the quality of the picture.
Voice Recorder
You have the ability to record sound to play while viewing photos, which works great for slide shows. You can also use this feature to tell the story of particular photos with short sound clips that play while you are viewing the photo.
There are two different sound qualities available for the voice record feature. Of course, the higher quality format uses more memory than the lower quality format. PopPhoto.com reports that the higher quality sound format is "CD-quality," while the lower quality sound format sounds a lot like the quality of a phone.
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