Review on 📷 Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Canon PowerShot SD960IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera - 4x Wide Angle, 2.8-inch LCD - Pink by Erik Wesley

I took a Canon 960is on a Mediterranean cruise this summer and I don't have any other camera, video or photo that I'd rather have. For my money this is just an amazing little camera that gives you amazing photos and videos of better quality than you could ever imagine with a great looking and easy to use point 'n shoot system. Photos were very clear (image stabilization is very good) and colors were accurate and vibrant. Sometimes I choose the Vivid Colors or Film Positive setting for more saturated colors and they never look too saturated or grainy. The Canon 960SI feels well-balanced yet solid in your hand, and it's light enough that just slipping it into your pocket won't feel heavy. I also often choose wide angle (16:9) instead of the normal aspect ratio because I shot a lot of angles and it worked really well. this camera, even though it was video. It records in 720p HD, no it's not "real" HD and a 1080p camcorder will definitely capture better video, but the video is still pretty amazing, it will look great on a big HD TV and standard camcorders with 480i DV in the shade just a few years ago. When I got home I edited the video clips and got a really nice result that got a lot of compliments. The main downside compared to a dedicated video camera is that the audio, while acceptable, isn't outstanding or stereo. However, if you are considering the very popular FLIP MinoHD or FLIP UltraHD, this camera is definitely the best choice. I bought the Flip Ultra and played around with it for a while, but the lack of image stabilization made it almost impossible to capture any type of video without it looking pretty shaky unless you were using a tripod. The fact that the Canon 960is is the best choice for video and simply takes great photos makes it a no-brainer compared to any FLIP camera. Good facial details even in strong backlight. I found this very useful and almost never used fill flash. I left it on i-Contrast and found the results pleasing in all photos, although you'll need to disable i-Contrast if you want a dramatic contrast effect. ISO 1600 gives visible photos. Sure there's some grain and some artifacts, but much less than other cameras I've used, and in extremely low light you get usable photos and video. I usually use P (software) mode as I like to tune, but the 960 will work fine in Auto mode when given to its own gear, which is great if you're not a fan of tweaks. Auto mode also automatically knew if I wanted to take close-ups and automatically switched to close-up mode. The Canon 960 goes from off to shoot ready in less than a second. This also applied to cinema mode. Nice.Battery life was excellent. I typically shoot over a hundred shots a day and shoot a few minutes of video, and I've never felt the need to carry around an extra battery. The battery also charges fairly quickly at just over an hour. If you explore the program mode, you'll find a slow shutter speed mode that's especially good for capturing spectacular nightscapes. You'll need a small tripod (such as a flip tripod) as the shutter stays open for about a second. However, you do get wonderfully detailed night shots as the ISO can go as low as 80. NO MAJOR COMPLAINTS The burst mode was quite acceptable, capturing about two frames per second. After all, it has 12.1 megapixels to record. However, this is the only thing that could be improved. Some early reviews suggested the new 960is menus would be difficult to master, but that wasn't a huge downside. It may have taken me an extra day to get used to the menu and quickly adjust the settings, but it's second nature now. Photos with those I took with my Canon SD1000, the color fringes were much more noticeable on the SD1000 and this camera was a former PC Magazine Editor's Choice. Right now I think the Canon SD960 is the best point 'n shooter.