Review of the Canon IXUS 950

www.canon.co.uk Canon’s IXUS range is renowned for coupling stylish design with market-leading feature sets. The new IXUS 950 IS attempts to follow this trend, continued by the recently released IXUS 70 and 75 models. With an 8MP sensor, the 950 IS gains a megapixel on those two models from the off. A 4x optical zoom (35-140mm equivalent) lens is present, together with optical image stabilisation. The ISO range stretches from 80 to 1600, with a high ISO auto option also offered, alongside a 9-point AiAF face detection autofocus system. Image capturing is controlled through Auto, Manual or 16 scene modes. The design of the 950 IS maintains the sleek curves and chrome details synonymous with the IXUS range, with the three-tone metallic finish making it an eye-catching model. However, the chassis is somewhat bulgy, and at 165g is by no means light. The viewfinder is so small it’s hard to even see through it, however the 2.5in LCD makes the viewfinder more of a selling point than a necessity. Focusing and shooting speeds are impressive, though. OUR VERDICT The IXUS 950 IS continues the tradition of the IXUS brand in delivering quality, but the price tag is somewhat prohibitive considering it doesn’t offer a lot more than the much cheaper IXUS 70 and IXUS 75 models. What Digital Camera Score 87%