Canon PowerShot S95 - The Almost Pro Compact Digital Camera

The terms "ultra-slim" and "ultra-intelligent" sound like they pertain to the newest female spy TV show star, but no, they are a description of the Canon PowerShot S95.

Another term - hybrid IS - fits right in as the Canon Corp has upped the technology in a semi-budget model compact camera.

Would you ever think that there would be a professional compact camera? Perish the thought!

But wait! Features that would lend themselves to more professional shooters are incorporated into a very compact, very capable point and shoot digital camera in the Canon S95.

Actually, it is not so much a "point and shoot" camera, simply because it has so many available controls and shooting modes.

One excellent example is the ability to record images in RAW, the preferred format for almost all pros. In RAW, you do not lose any image information due to JPEG compression. And just like many pro DSLR models, you can record both RAW and JPEG at the same time in order to get your JPEG photos uploaded to Facebook or Flickr quickly and still be able to work on the RAW images to get them pixel perfect.

Another pro-type feature of the Canon PowerShot S95 is the wide aperture lens. At F2.0 you can take much better quality photos in low light situations. Throw in the Hybrid IS to compensate for camera shake, and you can take excellent pictures during inside events like birthday parties or school performances (you know, those places where flash photography is frowned upon).

Yet another "headed toward pro" feature is the larger image sensor. It is nearly twice as large as the sensors on most compact cameras. This allows for much cleaner, less noisy images. You can have your pictures printed in very large sizes without seeing the image noise that is a major complaint of compact cameras.

Finally, the Canon S95 has a "hot shoe" so you can attach a professional type flash unit. This means better quality lighting and you can also separate the flash from the camera to get the flash where you want it (for more professional shots, of course).

The S95 will provide a serious photo hobbyist or even a pro the power to go from full-auto to full-control in a camera that is small enough to carry anywhere in a pocket or purse. Plus it provides high performance that many consider to be the best in its class.