The Canon Powershot SD950 IS may be a bit larger than most ultra-compact but it makes up for it in image quality and performance. The 12 megapixels sensor here does show some image noise, even at ISO 200, but details are still well-kept until ISO 400 which is better than most ultra-compact digital cameras of more than 10 MP. The lens is also relatively sharp and performance is among the best of ultra-compacts.

 

There is very little to complain about with the SD950. The lens actually shows a few more defects than we would like, such as pronounced chromatic aberrations, corner softness and slight barrel distortion at wide-angle. In terms of ultimate image quality, Fuji's F-series are the only ultra-compacts to beat the Canon Powershot SD950 IS. While the 12 megapixels Fuji F100fd produces nicer images and also operates rapidly, the SD950 is much friendlier to use, is still faster and much more durable. One feature which can easily makes the F100fd more versatile is its 5X wide-angle optical zoom lens.

 

Canon has more SD-series models than ever, making it hard to decide on a specific model. Outstanding models include the SD870 IS with its wide-angle lens and 3" LCD and the SD890 IS with its longer 5X optical zoom. The SD1100 IS also gets point for being smaller than the rest of Canon's ultra-compact.