I did a lot of research before actually settling on this A 95 from Cannon. The pictures look great on the LCD screen and if you hook them up on the TV, but when you download them on the PC and look at them, they kind of look dull. It was so disappointing to see the same pictures that were so vibrant and colorful on the LCD screen and on TV, look dark and lifeless.

I played with the camera by increasing the resolution and the compressoin of the picture, but to no affect. I took with many different lighting (indoor and outdoor) but I still couldn't get the pictures to have some life when I downloaded them on the PC.

I finally returned the camera. I am back to my Nikon SLR and Film rolls until I get a good Digital. I am now thinking of trying for the Nikon Digital SLR. The only thing is those are not easy to carry..

Camera used to take pictures in coastal area of Brazil. NEVER exposed or immersed in liquid. However, Canon will not warrant due to Moisture Damage. ACTUALLY told by Cust Support that taking a camera from outside to an inside air conditioned environment can cause condensation and VOIDS the warranty. Would have expected better quality and more than a couple days use for my $300 investment. Turns out this camera is disposable. If you purchase, avoid humid environments such as Florida, all of the South, etc. This camera was taken great care of and stops working just because I take pictures on a humid day.

The get-a-Canon Powershot-for-free "offers" you see spewed everywhere on Amazon don't work! All you will get is a gigantic flood of junk email, telemarketing calls, and junk faxes.

Get the real scoop from the San Francisco Chronicle. Search sfgate.com for "David Lazarus free ipod not really" and you will see what these jokers are really up to.

Having owned a canon a40(nice camera but only 2 mega-pixel),
I bought a canon a75 and was fairly happy with it until it
was stolen. Now I bought the Canon A95, and it's a big improvement on the A75, much clearer pictures, better color saturation in the pictures, better build quality, and a few more mega-pixels which is nice for cropping
pictures. So I my humble opion I would recommend this camera
without reservation. And those looking at the A75 I would recommend spending the extra money for this model.

Canon's A95 is another mixed bag from Canon. It's main goal is to try to be a G series camera for 300.00. In this regard it falls short in both speed and sharpness, but not by much. As with all P&S cameras of any price, the A95 poses quite a few obstacles to the shooter. Focus lag, limited F-stop range, punchy flash are among them. On the other hand it has excellent color balance (a big problem for cameras like the Nikon 8800, ALL Panasonics, Konica Minolta Z5 and so on). Sharpness is average for a camera in this class. For sports, kid photography and any highly critical use, most advanced shooters won't be happy with anything less than a DSLR. I bought the A95 for use on the job and as a backup camera. On the other hand the average shooter will probably LOVE the A95. It's a remarkably well made camera capable of taking great shots with some practice. If you don't need giant prints 11X14 or larger, a camera like the A95 is probably a smarter buy than many of the prosumer units currently available. Also keep in mind that those long zoom cameras do best outdoors in bright light where their contrast based focus systems work well. The A95 works best OUT of it's full auto modes. Learn to use the manual settings and you'll be taking plenty of great pictures. I highly recommend the Canon A95, but do your homework carefully and try one if possible. It's a solid pick for a family camera, enthusiast seeking a well priced starter camera or as a backup for your DSLR.

Pros
> Superior handling and ergonomics compared to compacts
> Reasonably sharp for mid size camera
> VG AF system
> Bayonet lens system for additional lenses
> Nice viewfinder
> Great swivel LCD
> Easy manual control
> Amazing color balance for a P&S
> Excellent macro mode
> usable manual focus
> Powerful flash
> Solidly built

Cons
> Noise above ISO 100 as with all P&S is limiting
> Focus lag as with all P&S limits use for getting fast kiddy pics and such.
> Dual menu system sucks
> Limited F-stop range just like most P&S cameras
> Camera is heavy with 4 AAs
> mediocre movie mode
> Flash blows highlights in AUTO modes in certain conditions
> AF assist should be brighter
> No remote option! C'mon!

Compared to:

The 8800: The Canon can't match the Nikon 8800's quality and lens no way-no-how, but it shoots faster and will get more shots in focus. It also has far better color balance than the 8800 by a royal mile. Outdoors the Canon can't compete at all. Indoors I'd rather shoot with the Canon.

The Pentax Optio S5i: The tiny Pentax lens did very well by comparison, but the Canon has the edge for color and sharpness. Pentax had better low light AF, but longer focus lag.

The Sony L1: I love the L1. It fails in ergnomics but it's a ultra compact anyway. If not for the memory stick pro I might have bought one. At 199.00 its a steal! The A95 won out due to being able to share my D70 cards.

The Nikon D70: The Canon's only advantage over the D70 is it's size. For some applications, the Canon's swivel display might also give it a leg up. The D70 has no movie mode of any kind. Beyond that the D70 simply takes better pics than any P&S/Prosumer. Happy shooting!

I surfed and "googled" and read all sorts of reviews (including here at Amazon) before settling on the Canon A95. Boy, am I glad I did!

This little gem takes gorgeous pictures, under a wide range of conditions, and with no fussiness. The controls are relatively easy to figure out (even for me, a digital virgin!), and the camera is just the right size to slip into a fanny pack and take on a trip. It's got enough heft to help you avoid camera shake, too, which I appreciate. And the swiveling LCD screen is a beaut!

So far, I've just experimented in the AUTO mode but, for now, that's more than enough to get the job done. And I'm very pleased with the results.

FWIW: a previous reviewer grumbled about the dull look of pictures on the computer screen. You can easily adjust that with the software that comes with the camera.

Bottom line: Canon knows what they are doing, and they are doing it supremely well! This is my third Canon -- I also have a Rebel SLR and a SureShot point and shoot -- and this just reaffirms for me that they are simply the best.

Read the reviews, look around -- and come back to the one little camera everyone is crowing about. You'll be glad. Like me :-)

I hestitated to move from an SLR film to digital, but was getting my film digitized anyway when it was developed. I did the numbers on the expense and decided that the camera would pay for itself in a year! I have not been disappointed. The camera takes sharp pictures at a resolution that approaches publishing quality.

Memory Card: I bought a 256mb card with the camera and it will hold 176 full resolution pictures. That's seven rolls of film worth of pictures!

Battery life: I bought Energizer NiMH batteries and recharger with the camera. I have yet to run out of battery power while shooting. I took a full card of pictures (176) over several days and reviewed my shots several times and still had battery life. Not only that, but the batteries recharge in 15 minutes!

Features: I have yet to use all the features (14 settings), but took pictures of a soccer game using the sports setting and the pictures were sharp. The macro takes great shots and have had some of my pictures published in a magazine. The panorama feature let's you take multiple shots and "stich" them together on your computer. The first time I used the panorama feature I did a 12" x 72" panorama of Sedona that is breath-taking. I'm trying to upload some of my shots.

Bottom line: There is no longer a reason to hang onto film. The quality is there to please all but most discriminating amateur. It's nice to see the shot immediately and try again if you blew it. You can delete the bad ones and just print what you want. And if you get the "shot of a lifetime," know that the quality is there to have it enlarged or published!

I just got my A95 after a lot of research. If you are still researching, look no further, it doesn't get any better than this all in one camera. I will post some photos later that I took on "auto" as an amateur right out of the box...my wife and kids think I'm a great photographer now! There are no real downfalls to this camera that I've found. I read about ppl complaining about shutter lag and focusing problems, rest assured, unless you are a tecno/digital camera geek you won't notice anything. I tried out the Nikon 5200 and others and they take longer and have a hard time in dark rooms.
I was slightly surprised that the included CF card filled up after a couple photos. I was sure glad I bought a 512 mb cf on ebay for $27 to go with the camera. I also bought ni/mh 2500 aa rechargable batteries and was slightly dissapointed that the charge only lasted me a day and a half of leisurely shooting. but thats why its recommended to get an extra set.
I am mostly interested in close-up's. I own a nursery and sell plants online and I needed something good for macro. If you have been wondering about this, stop here. This takes superb close-ups once you learn the easy macro-mode button and practice a little.
Overall, all I can say is "wow". Also the best place to buy right now is beach camera. buy the accessories through ebay though. I am now 100% outfitted now for $330!
Nice work Canon!

Like all these guys who wrote reviews for this item, I too did my homework and did a lot of research. I wanted nothing but the best value for my money and I never regret buying this camera. Pictures are excellent, esp. if you know how to maximize the capability of this camera.

The swiveling screen is very convenient not only to protect the LCD screen but for viewing odd-angled shots.

It uses standard size AA battery which is very handy if you run out of battery along the road and find yourself with no charger at hand.

One more thing, you can even add attachments to its lens if you want to inscrease its zoom power.

I loved using this camera! It's so easy to figure out and all the explanations are right on the flip out screen so there's no guessing which setting you are on. I used it to shoot fast moving waterfalls, and acrobats. It worked well at night and even caught fireworks and pyrotechnics perfectly. The 14 different shooting modes allow for any type of picture taking. All my wedding pictures look like they were done professionally and that makes my husband and I very happy with this camera (the first item we bought together).

These little Canon powershots are SO AWESOME.

They're easy to use, take great pictures, and are so small you can carry them with you in your pocket -- that's how I got my picture taken with the 41st President of the United States! A picture like that is priceless, and the only reason I got it was because I had the camera in my pocket!

In addition to that great experience, I also use my Powershot for taking all kinds of marketing pictures for my instructional dvds "GODDESS WORSHIP" and "NEW SEX NOW". The images are great quality and the flash cards are very easy to take out and put back in so editing the images on my Mac is simple.

This digital camera rocks! Before long, you'll be taking pictures of yourself with friends at proms and parties, and then cropping out their faces and using the pictures for your websites, blogs, hotornot and facebook websites.

Nobody knows more than I what I don't know. That's where Canon comes in. Easy, economical, fat-free, low carb technology that's easy on the draw, low tar, and has a taste that's right for me.

The Canon PowerShot (not to be confused with the Canon MoneyShot), delivers big bang for the bucks, big bam boom.

So, If you want all the rest of your days to seem sunny as sunny weather, make sure when there's housework to be done, that you do it, together!

Nobody knows more than I, what I don't know. That's where Canon comes in. Easy, economical, low carb technology that's easy on the draw, low tar, and has a taste that's right for me.

The Canon PowerShot (not to be confused with the Canon MoneyShot), brings affordable, big box technology, big bam boom.

So, if you want all of your days to seem sunny as summer weather, make sure, when there's housework to be done, that you do it, together!

I can blindly purchase Canon's Digicam, they are so reliable. I was looking for a camera that can provide me the a resolution together with a proper zoom.

This camera comes my way as it provides 3x optical zoom solving my purpose and a good resolution with 5MP at a pretty reasonable cost.

This camera was good for 3 months. I had taken it to LA last week and took a few snaps at the beach. I did NOT drop it in the water or anywhere else. After some time I started hearing clicking noises and after that there was a louder noise along with a burning smell.

Maybe the other review about moisture affecting the camera is true. It would be pathetic if you can't take pictures on the beach or near the pool etc.

After weeks of research on the web (here at amazon and at other places) reading reviews, comparisons, etc. I came to the conclusion that this is the best camera on the market for the price.

I bought mine here through amazon about 10 days before I was to leave for a long road trip from Oregon to Hollywood through many great stops such as the Redwood Forest, Yosemite National Park, Disneyland, and other great sites. Thus I was very anxious for my camera to arrive.

One week after ordering, I checked to see how far along the way it had come - I was hoping (and expecting) to get it any day. To my disappointment, it had only been shipped the day before (5 days after I placed the order) and I was certain it wouldn't arrive on time for my trip.

To my great surprise and relief, the camera was delivered by UPS only a few minutes before I was to leave. (I was packing up the car and seriously on my way out the door when he came.)

The point of my long story is that I had no time to read the instructions before leaving, so I had to rely 100% on the camera being self-explanitory and very easy-to-follow for people like me who had frankly never used a digital camera before.

Suffice it to say that it was VERY easy to learn, and I was able to get by on my 3,000 mile trip using only the auto functions.

Take a look at my pictures (uploaded to the images section for this camera) to see the results.

The only features I couldn't find (without looking it up in the manual) were: 1) the self-timer. 2) speed-shooting multiple pics pushing the button once (a series of pictures only miliseconds apart from each-other).

As you can clearly see, I am not very experienced with cameras and I don't even know what half the features are called. But I was able to take magnificent pictures without even opening the manual! :)

The things I learned that I wish I knew earlier on are:
1) when taking night shots, use a tripod or lower the ISO. It was very hard to keep might shots from becomming very blurry. (The shutter is generally opened for longer to allow in more light.) If you are taking pictures of moving objects (such as people) in the dark, and don't want to use a flash (to keep more of the background in or for whatever other reason) you can lower the shutter speed beforehand. Look it up in the manual because it's not easy to explain or very intuitive.
2) Most of the time pictures will look better without the flash, but (as mentioned above) you need a steady hand or a good tripod. Sports mode helps a bit as it lowers the shutter speed some.
3) When you take a landscape picture where the mountains (or whatever) are dark and the sky very bright, you will notice that the exposure tends to be lighter, taking out much of the detail from the mountains. To fix this, you lower the frame a bit (focus on the mountains with the sky barely visible in the shot) and then lightly press the shoot button and hold it down while the camera focuses. Then (still holding the button half-way down to keep camera focused) slightly raise the camera so your frame is now half landscape and half sky. Then finish pressing the shoot button completing the picture. The exposure stays locked to the darker mountains allowing for more detail in the shot.
4) For landscapes or anything more than 10 meters from your camera, everything will automatically be in focus so there is no need to worry about it. (In Yosemite I was often worried that if I focused on a waterfall, rather than the rocks around it the shot might turn out strange, but it all was crisp and beautiful regardless of which I chose to use as the focus point.)

Last minute advice: Make sure you...
1) get one (or more) 256 or 512 flash card as the measly one that comes with the camera only allows for about 20-30 pictures. I recommend SanDisk 512 which Amazon currently sells for under $40. 512 Mb will give you well over 350 pictures on the default settings. (I believe I got 385 or so on mine.)
2) get 2 sets of rechargable batteries and a car-charger.
3) get a case with a silky lining that snugly fits your camera so as not to scratch anything. And make sure it has an outside pocket for extra batteries and an extra flash card. I recommend one that closes completely (with a zipper) so it will get protected from rain or if you drop it in a puddle or something.

That's all. Happy photo-shooting! :)

Well, just got my A95 in the mail. I was VERY reluctant to buy it, since I bought the Powershot A70 only a year and a half ago and already it is broken. The only reason I went for the A95, after feeling burned by the A70 (same at A95, except with 3.2 MP and no flip LCD) was because I had already spent lots of money on Compact Flash cards and this was one of the few that still uses CF.
Frankly, I'm really pissed off at Canon for making a camera that didn't even last 2 years under normal usage. Now all my shots have these horizontal lines across it that ruin every photo. The guy at the camera shop says it must be some problem with the chip and I can send it back to Canon for $160+!! I had heard such good things about these cameras, but I guess durability is not one of them. I'm hoping I was just unlucky with the A70 and my A95 lasts longer.

If you want to have everyone ooh and ahh over how "cute" and tiny your little silver camera is -- then this is not the camera for you. Stick to the Elph. But you will pay more for that cuteness and size. This camera strikes a balance between convenience, picture quality, size and features that is unmatched in this price range.

Like all digital cameras it won't make gorgeous pictures with bad lighting. Take that as a fact of life. Unless you carry 10 1k lights around with you - you're going to get some flat, fuzzy and perhaps slightly unfocused pictures in low light settings. If you want great night shots go for the Prosumer type Canons and buy a tripod so you can use a wide aperture and long shutter speed.

In the point and shoot realm you will have to just take a bunch of pictures and know that you will need a good program to really make them shine. I recommend Photoshop Elements. You won't find a better consumer level program.

This camera takes normal AA batteries so it is a bit heavier than those that recharge the tiny battery in the camera. With my Energizer rechargeables I never once ran out of charge in a day. That is with taking hundreds of pictures and turning the camera on and off. That is very good power management!

This camera has a flip out screen for a viewfinder. It is not the biggest screen you will find on a camera and that is one of the negatives -- but you couldn't have a flip out with a 2 or 2.5 inch screen. Don't underestimate the usefullness of that flipout! I can't tell you how many times I was able to get a shot because I was able to orient that every which way. It is more than just flipping it out -- you can rotate it back and forth too. And when you flip it around you can put it back in the camera just like all the others with the screen on the back -- plus the image flips to compensate!

Image Quality - this is where this camera truly shines. Colors are vibrant. Details are crisp. As long as you have enough light. Under cloudy conditions or night time then you won't get as good of shots but most can be corrected after the fact if you know how.

I have a Sony camera which cost me over $1000 and this camera beats it for quality of photos. I was also watching a guy in front of me at a concert taking pics with his brand new sleek flat Sony and every picture was blurry. Mine weren't exactly pro quality but they were better. Again -- low light is tough for a little point and shoot.

You can fit this camera in your pocket if you have big pockets that are loose. Tight jeans -- forget it. But you won't scratch this screen like I've heard Elph owners complain about. I suggest going to a store and trying to put it in your pocket.

Bottom line - If you want a great quality camera and don't mind it not being the latest and thinnest camera out there you can't go wrong with this. To get the same image quality you would have to buy other cameras for several hundred more. Amazon has a really great price for it too.

I've had three Canon digital Elph cameras in four years. Each has failed with a E18 error, likely because of the fragile telescoping lens. Canon did replace the first one as it was less than a year old. But the 2nd and 3rd each failed shortly after the year-long warranty ran out. I'll never buy another Canon product.

This camera is everything you've heard it was. As a photographer, I was impressed with it's digital quality, the best I've seen in any camera, yet more affordable than most. The optical zoom will come in handy for those hard to reach places, and you'll have plenty of space for your photographic documentation. It works easily with any computer, and you'll be sharing your photographs in no time, and impressing everyone you know.

Bottom line....this is the camera for you! I sold my old cannon and upgraded to this camera. Its battery life was overwhelmingly better than the previous camera I owned, which was a major perk. The picture quality is outstanding, clean and clear. Thecamera for all its many functions is actually very easy to use. I cannot begin to tell you how great of a value this digital is. You will be very happy that you will have a strong and reliable camera for a long time!

I did tons of research looking for the best digital camera, and as it was to be my first camera of this type, I wanted the most "bang for my buck" and something I could grow into as well as use right away. This was the best choice I could have made! I received the camera on Friday evening, by Saturday evening I was taking great, clear pictures. And by Monday was taking pictures like a professional.
I love how I have so much control over the settings, or can just let the camera do it. My favrite favorite use of the camera has been the macro setting, and the flowers shots I have been able to take are incredible!!
I had been sceptical about the folding view screen, but as was predicted in other reviews, it is a great feature.
One last note, a number of reviews mention a "flimsy battery door, and Flash Card door". I have found neither one to be as bad as was said, and feel it should hold up to much wear.
I would without hesitation recommend this camera to everyone, it seems to do everything that was said about it and more!

I take this camera almost everywhere I go to take home memories. It comes out very good. Like real people are inside the picture. I also love putting it on the computer.

I've had this camera for about eight months now and I have not faced many problems with it. It has very good features that are also easy to learn and understand. The only thing I was not quite satisfied was the night mode shooting. The pictures appear bluury and shaky and it is always better if you reduce your ISO speed and if possible keep the camera on a tripod or on any fixed surface as the shutter speed is slow in this mode.

Apart from that, I have never had any problems with the camera. All my pictures have come out well: clear and crisp. If you read the manual well; understand its varied functions and know how to operate it, this is a really nice camera and a good investment.

Have fun with your camera.

I purchased this camera a few weeks ago and I love it. This is my first digital and it is very easy to use and the pictures come out beautifully. Definitely a nice camera for the inexperienced photographer.

This camera is the perfect combination of features, price, and size. It is suitable for a person who just wants to "point-and-click" to take pictures but at the same times also allows a photo enthusiast to customize the shooting process to his or hers heart's content. There are so many options in this camera to experiment with that you'll definitely be able to take better pictures.

At around $250, this camera beats the pants off of all other cameras at this price point. Believe me, you are not going to find something equivalent at this price.

If you want a small, high quality camera at a great price, buy this camera. You won't regret it.

One word: perfect for this price. nobody can beat canon digital cameras. Sony sucks!

I was looking for a camera with enough MPs that can provide me the quality photographs with high resolution. I went through various stores and finally, I purchased this.

There were several reason behind my decision but the best of all features are:
- 5.0 Megapixel CCD sensor enables the A95 to provide superb image quality, suitable for high quality photo prints up to A3 size.
- 32 MB CompactFlash memory card and you can plug more to it.
- Easy to download photgraphs
- Easy to configure
- High quality lens

All in all, this is really useful and worth.

This is my first digital camera. In the early '70's I started with a fully manual Pentax K1000 35mm camera. Upon deciding to move up to a digital camera, I researched many brands, styles and models looking for just the camera to fit my wants, needs and pocketbook.

I wanted something I could have total creative control over, and yet my husband would be able to pick it up and take great pic's automatically. I spoke to many friends and colleagues and got the skinny on most every well known brand of camera. Over and over, the Canon A series got thumbs up.

I put the Canon A95 on my Amazon.com wish list and got it as a Christmas 2004 gift. I have used it almost daily since.

One of the many settings is for snow and here in New England we had several heavy snowfalls last winter. I have some beautiful snowstorm pictures taken at night. The detail is fabulous right down to the capture of single snowflakes. The clarity in the depth of these photos is such that you feel like you could walk right into the storm... you can feel the snow.

The one thing I am disappointed with is the nice sized, variable position view screen does not have a backlight. That can be a major drawback to someone who takes a lot of pictures in the pitch black. I don't, but there have been occasions where I tried to aim and shoot, praying I'd get the shot. Sometimes I did, others I didn't. What I mean is I could not see WHAT I was capturing, but whatever I did get was fine.

I have not purchased any other lenses for this camera (it has the versatility to change lenses just like a 35mm) nor have I seen any advertising for these lenses and other peripherals... I would like to.

Battery life is pretty good, you get ample warning when the batteries are low. I forgot extra batteries for my niece's wedding and despite low battery warnings I was able to get all the pic's I wanted. I set mine to turn off according to my needs and this saves battery life. I've used regular AA batteries until today when I bought the rechargeables.

Bottom line... Positives: great camera - loaded with features and settings, excellent pictures and total creative control.

Negatives: No backlight, hard to find add ons.

The Canon Powershot A95 is the best camera out there for the average consumer. It prints the most beautiful and clear photos. I have found it to be the fastest shot with the clearest pictures. It has almost all the settings of a professional camera and has a really nice screen to view your pictures on. I would highly recommend this camera.

I've had this camera for almost a year now. I've taken over 3000 pics with it and am very very happy with the results. I got it when it was $100 more than it streets for now, and still think it's a great deal.
LOWDOWN: If you're like me and would rather concentrate on enjoying the moment, yet be able to take pretty darn good shots when you want to without lugging all that equipment around for an SLR/DSLR, then this is the cam for you. The A95 has that important balance between pocketability, fit-to-hand, weight, and great optics and sensor.

Plainly put, i find that I have the cam with me when the opportunity presents itself, whether it's a great moment or planned shot. So I take the picture, instead of wishing i had lugged all the equip around. I just do some exposure bracketing just in case, and I'm good to go. The controls are easy, and for anyone going from 35mm SLR to this, the controls are there for you to make sure that you take a good shot. Aperture priority, shutter priority, ASA film settings, etc..
For the lazy snapshooters inside of all of us, there are enough quick settings to use that you can pretty much be guaranteed a good photo as long as you use a little intelligence.
But what about the pictures? Folks compliment me all the time on my shots, and ask about my SLR. There are about 30 photos posted on my office wall (use a real silver halide service and skip the crappy home printers). These are anything from 5 x 7 to framed 22" x 30" posters. They all look pretty damn good because of 5MP plsu smart ASICs that Canon has (plus the ability to edit them easily when needed with Photoshop Elements.)
I don't bother with the share functions, just pop the compact flash in my card reader and Elements just sucks it right in - simple.
Great sensor that can simulate up to 800ASA film (maybe faster), i think, so under most circumstances, with subjects that are not moving much, it works great. And the Scene settings work well. You should see the great Fireworks shots i got this weekend. BTW - maybe I'm not discriminating enough, but i haven't conticed a big 'purple fringing' problem.

This is my third DSC - had a Fuji 900 - great cam, takes better pics than my Olympus, but too big to slip into pocket; Olympus c70(?) camedia - nice lens, but needs image stabilization to take advantage of the ling lens. Not great images - lots of noise at low light settings.
This review would be five stars if not for the programming of the flash (need a slower, softer flash, or a hot shoe that i can control). The flash, when used in less than 8' from the subject, has a tendancy to blow out the details. So I shoot with natural light whenever I can. And of course, i would love if the A95 had the responsiveness and no shutter lag like a DSLR - but for hundreds less, it's quick enough.

The A95 will probably remain my main camera for some time. I may even skip plans for getting a DSLR, instead I'm ordering the A95 accessory lenses, so i may never need a DSLR....

p.s. Make sure to get a couple or three of 512MB cards - they're cheap enough now, and if you use the top resolution setting, you'll find that a card fills up on a weekend trip.

I purchased the camera thru "Amazon affiliate" and recieved the camera about a week after I ordered it. Was in perfect condition and I have used the camera for about 2 weeks now.

It's a great digital camera for the price and picture quality. It came with it's uploading software and I use the camera along with my Mac G4 and Photoshop 7- it's compatiable and I haven't had any problems so far. Bought it along with (2) 512 MB Sundisk flash cards and on the highest quality setting the cards can store about 200 pictures on each. People say the 32 MB card is worthless but for me it's a decent back up card. On a lower setting it can produce about 30 pictures but atleast I have some peace of mind I wouldn't go home empty handed.

I even dropped the camera two days ago on asphalt (!) and it still working fine. Not on pupose of course!- my camera bag was open and after trying to run across a street, it flew out and my heart sank when I heard the plactic hit the street. Other than some chipped paint and some nasty stratches on the out lens ring and a gash on the focus button/wheel it works fine as of this writing. It seems OK and I'm grateful for my luck. Hopefully all of the Canon Powershot Digital camera are made as tough as this one. Satisfied.

My only complaint is plastic doors that enclose both the batteries and CF cards is made of plastic and feels rather cheap. I'm worried more about them becoming weak and brittle as the camera ages. But hopefully it's built to last.

Very pleased so far- just wish I hadn't dropped it! Arrgh!

This camera is almost perfect!!!

Lots of features are built right into the camera. In addition, you can buy lens and filters or even an underwater case. This camera can eventually do just about anything you can think of.

The 5 megapixels are great for 8 x 10 prints or even 13x19!!!!

Would like a battery gauge that gave more warning of dead batteries and longer battery life.

This camera is great. This camera has a lot of manual options to help you develop your photography skills. Definatley get a case and some rechargeable batteries for it. The camera is a little thick, but that works out well for me since I have big hands. As with all Digital cameras of this price range, the A95 isn't the best in low light conditions without a tripod. I highly recommend that you buy this camera.

Would be nice if the screeen was bigger and the camera was smaller

For months prior to purchasing my Canon Powershot A95, I researched digital cameras and found that, across the board, the A95 was highly-rated. Finally, on my birthday, I ordered it -- and anxiously awaited its arrival.

When it arrived, I was elated -- the camera itself is gorgeous, packed with features and easy to use right out of the box. However, within minutes I noticed a small blue square visible on the LCD screen. It was a "hot pixel," which -- as I understand it -- is a pixel that's receiving too much information (as opposed to a "dead pixel" which is a pixel that's not receiving any). Disappointed, and wanting to start off with a camera in mint condition, I called Canon and was told that they would only repair or replace a camera if there were between four and six hot pixels visible. So, as a second resort, I signed onto Amazon and requested a replacement; UPS picked my camera up the next day and two days after that, my second A95 was delivered.

Thrilled, I opened the package and tried out the replacement. All was well until, a few hours later, I noticed a one white pixel and one red pixel on the LCD screen. Hoping that perhaps the pixels were only visible on the screen and not on the actual photos, I transferred the test images to my computer (via a card-reader) and found, to my chagrin, that the red pixel was present on the images themselves. Frustrated, I contacted Amazon again and was this time told that they couldn't send out a second replacement but would instead issue a full refund, along with a ten dollar credit to use towards a future Amazon purchase.

Needless to say, I'm quite discouraged and am now wondering if there is something wrong with the latest batch of A95s which was not present until now. Though I'm s till convinced, thanks to so much positive feedback, that this is quality item, I'm wary of purchasing another -- at without field testing it at the store of purchase first.

When my husband told me he wanted to buy me a new digital camera to replace my three year old camera, I told him heck no! I knew how to use my faithful Canon A70 inside and out, and I was not looking forward to the learning process for using a new camera.

I knew I'd love the clarity that additional megapixels would give, as well as the numerous enhancements Canon adds to their products as you go up the product line. Yet my answer was no to a new camera.

Fortunately for me (unfortunately for my spouse), I had a few moments recently, and I was able to download a PDF file of the manual for the Canon PowerShot A95. I discovered I could easily transfer the skills I learned by using my Canon A70 to this new camera as well as benefit from the many added perks. I went to a brick and mortar store to see the camera and hold it and discovered, with my long fingers, the camera fit as confortably as my A70. By the way, the camera feels extremely light and off balance out of the box (and in the store), but add the four AA batteries and the camera is weighted perfectly.

So I said yes to the Canon PowerShot A95, and I LOVE IT!

I had to get another lens converter for my new digital camera, and the A70 telephoto lense does not fit on the A95, but the wide angle lens does. The A95 also fits in my old camera case, and I carry it with me everywhere. The A95 turns on faster, and recovers from a shot quicker than my old camera. The LCD screen view is crisper and can be used in daylight easier (it's not perfect, but it's better than the A70).

Canon has made a computer software upgrade with added features, yet navigating through it wasn't difficult (since it was very similar to my old camera's computer software). The mini-movie feature works great indoors and the subject doesn't have to yell to be picked up by the camera's built in mike. It's good outdoors but not for speeches. With playback, the camera speaker is sufficient. The camera is even capable of playing a mini movie or showing the pictures on its card via a television once you connect the camera to your TV (cord included).

Canon has done it for me again, and I highly recommend this camera to anymore who wants a 5MP camera-size device that is easy to use, easy to program, fits comfortably in an adult's hand and provides stunning results.

If you're looking for one of those slim cameras, pass this one by. But if you want semi-professional-like camera to take majestic sunrises/sunsets, the first bloom of spring, and your grandmother celebrating her 100th birthday with bright, accurate and clear coloring, this is the camera for you!

Good product. It takes good pictures. Lots of settings, like sepia and black&white.

Processes pictures fairly fast. Although i've seen faster.

Prepare to spend the money on rechargeable batteries, and a charger, or you'll spend it all in batteries, and still not have a charger.

Overall, i really like the camera.

I have tried several digital cameras, but this one really impresses me. The quality of the pictures is the best one comparing with similar cameras; besides, it offers several functions that make the beginner to get professional style pictures. It comes with everything needed to start taking pictures, so no additional items are immediately required.

Google "Canon" and "e18". The lens mechanism is very sensitive to any dust that might be in your camera bag. Once you get the error , you'd better hope a year hasn't passed because it costs $150 to fix. Canon is currently about to be hit with a class action lawsuit because of this. See the Girard Gibbs & De Bartolomeo law office web site.

We love this camera, and we haven't even begun to explore the manual settings yet. Got it 2 days before our holiday, and with very little experimenting were taking absolutely beautiful pictures. The sunset pictures really amazed me, point & click and end up with beautiful colors & great definition. Loads of fun!

At mid-$200's this is an excellent value. I've had the camera for about a week. I'm a professional photographer and own several professional digital Fuji bodies. I needed a good point and shoot to carry with me for casual family shooting. I am surprised and pleased with the quality of the images, especially at 50 ISO and fine settings. I only need about a 1 to 1.5 mb file size to get an excellent 5x7, which is really the largest size I would ever need for this application. Plenty of features, including a full Manual setting if you need it.

The only negative so far is that it does not focus very well in moderate to low light, especially at the higher focal lengths (and accompanying higher F stop)but I guess that's understandable for a slower lense. To compensate, in lower light I tend to shoot at the widest zoom settings.

Overall I am extremely pleased with the results for a point and shoot.

This is really a cool product. It has lot of good features that makes this product handy to use and preferred over others.

To state a few features:
1) Optical zoom of 3x sufficient for a good photgraphy
2) Supports big sized snaps with its 5MP resolution
3) Easy to handle the various modes of the cam
4) Good battery backup
5) You can add a memory chip to get more snaps

Here are my thoughts, point-by-point:

- 5.0 megapixels of Canon quality. Canon's reputation for high-quality images is well-deserved. You may find less expensive 5.0 megapixel cameras out there, but if you get a Canon, you'll know where the extra money went. And you won't regret spending a penny of it.

- Ease of use. If you're a complete newbie, you can just set the camera in Auto and snap away. But if you're looking for a little more control, it's at your fingertips, and it won't take long for you to learn the menu system. If you've used other Canon digital cameras, you'll feel right at home. (But of course, if you want to know the A95's functions inside and out, there's no substitute for reading the well-written manual.)

- Lots of shooting options. There are some 14 different shooting modes available to cover just about every conceivable situation. Personally I use only two or three, but it's nice knowing they're there.

- A great lens. Canon has long been known for quality lenses, and the one in the A95 is no exception. It features 3x optical zoom and a maximum aperture of f/2.8--shoot near and far, and in a wide range of lighting conditions. (Quick tip: to shoot indoors or in low light without using the flash or a tripod, change the ISO setting.)

- Flexible (but somewhat slow) autofocus. The autofocus system automatically selects between nine points, making it easy to capture off-center subjects with ease. Unfortunately, it can be tricky getting subjects in motion, especially in low-light situations. This takes practice and a bit of trial-and-error to overcome. Hopefully Canon will address this shortcoming in the future.

- "Vari-Angle" LCD. This is the feature that won me over. It can be manipulated very much like many camcorder LCDs, flipped out from the camera body and turned to face a wide range of angles. With the screen turned to face the same direction as the lens, you can even use the A95 as a mirror! And when the camera is not in use, the screen can be folded into the camera body, protecting it from damage. The screen measures 1.8" diagonally and is clear and crisp, even in harsh sunlight.

- Size and weight. The A95 is a lot of camera in a little package--at least compared to a full-featured digital SLR. It's compact, but not pocket-sized (unless you have rather large pockets). If you don't already have a gear bag or a purse, I recommend getting a case with a shoulder strap if you plan on carrying it around a lot. Also, the A95's got a decent amount of heft to it. Personally I don't mind the weight; coming from the professional world, I like the feeling of something solid in my hand.

- Batteries and battery life. One reason the camera weighs a bit is because it uses four AA batteries. Opinions vary on this, but I consider this a positive. If my batteries die, it's easy to drop in a new set and get going again. The A95 will use either conventional alkaline batteries or NiMH rechargeables; I recommend picking up a set or two of the latter. They're available cheap from a wide variety of places (something I can't say about the proprietary rechargeables found in most other digital cameras, other Canon models included).

My only complaint in this department is that there's no visible battery life indicator on the LCD; you're only told when a battery set is on its last legs. I wouldn't worry too much about this. You can get hundreds of shots out of a single set of alkaline AAs and can get even more out of a set of rechargeables, and you can extend battery life further by limiting your use of the flash and LCD. But keep a spare set handy, just in case.

- Uses CompactFlash memory. The A95 uses CompactFlash Type I, which is compatible with Canon and Nikon's digital SLRs. If you already have a digital SLR, you'll be able to share memory cards (as long as they're Type I, not the thicker Type II). If you're a pro looking for a camera for casual use, this is something to think about.

You'll definitely want to pick up a high-capacity card; you'll only get about 10 pictures, if that, out of the included 32 MB card. I recommend at least a 512 MB card--the bigger the better. I also recommend getting a USB CompactFlash card reader for your computer. Connecting the camera to your computer directly drains battery life (unless you have an AC adapter, not included with the camera). Use that battery life to shoot more pictures!

- Attention to detail. Canon's A series may be their "value" line, but there's nothing cheap about the feel of this camera. Every button gives solid tactile feedback. The shutter has a well-defined distinction between half-down (to focus) and full-down (to shoot). And thanks to the built-in orientation sensor, photos shot vertically are oriented properly in playback mode. Little touches like these make all the difference.

Conclusion

There are cameras that are smaller, lighter, better-looking, less expensive, and with more features. If you want smaller, lighter, or better-looking, try the Canon S or SD series. If you want something less expensive, try the other A series models like the A510. If you want more features, move on up to an SLR like the Digital Rebel. But it's hard to find a camera that can balance all of these considerations as well as the A95. It's a rare gem of a camera that has something for everyone--ease of use for a beginner, more features and control for an amateur or professional. And given the rich feature set and Canon's renowned picture quality, it's an incredible value.

I'm a "push here dummy" camera person, although it's a running joke in my family just how many pictures I take. This camera takes lovely pictures even for me. I particularly appreciate the LCD display. When not in use, it is folded against the back of the camera with the display facing in and thus protected. When the camera is on, you can twist it to be visible from the front of the camera, pull it out to the side, push it flat against the back of the camera, or leave it in place and save some battery.

I bought this without having actually handled it; it is somewhat bigger than most digital cameras although not cumbersome. My biggest complaint, and something that would have made me reconsider buying it, is just how long the lag actually is between pushing the button and taking the picture. I read about it, but it just didn't seem like such a big deal. And it probably isn't, if you are shooting landscapes and posed pictures, or if you are really good at predicting what is going to happen in 3 seconds. However, if you generally photograph younger kids or pets, try this one out in person before you buy, and decide if you can work around that delay. The pictures are wonderful, but they may not be the ones you were wanting to get.

This Camera is very awesome. It takes pictures impeccably and is just like State-of-the-art stuff. The only regret I have of buying it is that it didn't ship ontime for me to take it to England (although Amazon promised to ship it earlier). Now I'm back, I can't get my hands off it. I love the zoom feature, and also the Video Camera feature.It's pretty neat and I'll recommend it for any Amazon buyer needing a Digital Camera.

I owned a Canon Powershot A40 for a few years and was always happy with the resulting pictures. The A95 is almost the same camera, but has 5 mega pixels instead of 2.1. There are some differences in the features, i.e., the A95 has more features, and an improved movie function. My use of the camera is basically regular pictures of the family, holidays, etc. The panorama feature is one that I've used as well. There is software with the A95 that allows a user to edit their pictures. One thing that the A95 does allow is for better enlargements. The 5 mega pixels will give decent resolution for 8 x 10 prints. The A95, like the A40 allows you to use regular AA batteries and also the compact flash card (which I already had). The A95 is the same size as the A40. The price of the A95 is also attractive.

I had been contemplating on buying a digital camera for a few days, wanting to get a good idea of which camera was for me. I am not a digital camera/photography expert, but I still know quite alot about cameras. Even if this camera is not for you, I would still only go with a Canon camera - nothing less except maybe a Konica Minolta. It cost me $299.99 at Fry's Electronics and everywhere I've looked, it's that same price.

This is a very comfortable camera to be held in the hand, even if it is a bit thick. Having immediate family members that didn't like flat-faced cameras such as the Canon Elphs, I considered getting a Canon A series. I previously owned an A70 and now I have upgraded to an A90. I am simply ecstatic about this camera - definitely worth it! The picture quality is amazing for the price! With 3x Optical and 4x Digital zoom, you can be sure to get the photos you need. Sporting a nice 5 megapixels, this is a great camera for simple family vacations to really shooting breathtaking scenes like waterfalls or canyons, etc., that demand quality when you can't afford to have bad pictures! Canon A series has always had a good number of shooting modes, this model having 14! It pays to read the manual so that you can maximize the most of this little wonder. Practically everything is customizable and easy to change - you can stitch photos together with ease to form panoramic shots, choose from 8 different scene modes like foliage, snow, beach, and so forth, and much more.

One thing I like about this camera alot is that it is not hard on your budget. This is not like those other money-saving cameras that may give you a few good features at the cost of other critical features. You get everything you pay for plus some with the Canon A95. Also, it uses CF (Compact Flash) memory cards - cheap, high speed, and lots of space for all the photos you need to take. Included is a 32 MB memory card with the camera, but you should probably upgrade to at least 128 MB ($14.99), or even better, 256 MB ($29.99). This may seem alot for extra space, but compared to Sony Memory Sticks (only memory format that Sony uses) which take a heaping bite out of your wallet, you won't regret buying a bigger memory card.

The LCD screen is revolutionary on the A95. Measuring in at a comparitively small 1.5 inches, it nevertheless delivers crystal clear photo viewing. If you prefer bigger LCDs, sorry, but in this camera's price range, generally alot of small LCD cameras are the most popular either way as they tend to have the best quality (Konica Minolta G500 and G600!) This LCD flips out of the case like a video camera recorder and then you can flip it around and set it back in so that the screen faces you! That way, when the screen is in its original position, it can't be scratched! A very valuable feature in the camera field. The software included is relatively easy to use - install the CD and plug the camera into your USB. You can even manage photo transfer on the camera itself instead of using your computer's keyboard. The USB is fast and the cord is long, so if you have USB ports on the back of your computer, don't worry - the cord is long enough for you to safely extend the camera onto your desk.

The only possible "con" I could find in this doesn't have to do with picture quality or lack of features; It's the fact that this camera (as well as all of the A series) takes 4 AA batteries. The camera battery life is fine and all, but be prepared to take a charger and maybe 2 sets of 4 Rechargable NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydroxide) batteries when you take this camera with you on vacations. The batteries are about $10.99-12.99 for a 4 pack (I use Energizer, my camera gets alot of power out of them). Included with the camera is 4 cheap Panasonic alkaline batteries, which generally run out fast.

Overall, however, I would highly recommend this versatile, virtually perfect camera. From total beginners to cameras to photography veterans, this camera will suit anyone.

Pros:

1)The zoom feature AFTER you take the picture: The pic maintain its quality even after zooming super close up

2) The flippy LCD monitor that lets you see what you're doing when you take a picture of yourself and a friend in front of the Eifle Tower or whatever.

3) Takes really good pictures of flowers close up. My Dad is a landscaper and he uses this camera exclusively for flowers.

4) The software works well for my purposes. Let's you edit, adjust color, redeye etc, and make slide shows! Wow!

CONS:

1) I have not had a good experience with the red eye preventer thing. When I take pics inside they often have redeyes, but the software takes care of this.

2) The flash is so bright I can't take a proper picture of my cat. His eyes are always half closed. Not good for people who like to take pictures of their cats indoors.

3) It's kind of bulky.

This is a great camera. The batteries seem to last forever compared to my rechargable Nikon 4300. The controls and settings are very intuitive, and the results are fantastic. I'd recommend this camera to anyone looking for a sturdy, reliable digital camera.

To be honest, I have not used THIS camera yet.. but I did use a similar model, the A60. As another reviewer warned, there is a weakness in the design causing many Canon A## users to experience an issue with the zoom control. (The error code is 'E18'. a.k.a the 'E18 Issue'.) Here is a link to describe the issue and several possible resolutions, including repair via Canon.

http://blogs.yucs.org/~dwallach/archives/000812.html
(or google "E18" and "Canon")

That said, I enjoyed my now-dead Canon very much and am still considering getting the A95.. of course, with extended warranty.

For those familiar with the PowerShot series, this is one of the best in the line that I've ever used.

The cleverly designed ergonomic grip (where the batteries are actually located) fits much better than previous models. Canon simplified their menus and buttons, which is great for both veterans of this line and complete beginners. The LCD screen moves and rotates rather slowly, but once it's locked it's secure.

Problems you sometimes hear about the photo quality (flash washes out picture, blurry images, etc.) may come from the AUTO setting. Users really need to utilize the other settings to get that shot to look just right.

My only gripe is that they provide only 32MB for their Compact Flash card. Fortunately, larger sized ones are available at more reasonable prices than a few years ago.

A great camera overall for your average point and shoot photographer. Professional photographers should know by now to move on to other Canon lines.

I used Amazon for the first time and am very pleased with my purchase. I was amazed by the fact it was at my door within a couple of days even though I chose the basic shipping (3 to 5 business days.) As far as the camera, I am extremely pleased. It takes GREAT pictures. I used Amazon's personal reviews to make my choice. I was looking at another choice, but upon reading the reviews, I changed my selection. While the other camera was rated extremely high on quality of pictures, I found one user who had a problem because he had accidentally dropped his camera from not too far a highth and it broke a door off and the camera stopped working. The manufacturer wanted the price of a new camera to fix it. A user of the Canon A95 wrote that he had dropped his and it continued to work (although he didn't recommend trying this yourself.) Well, I guess I had to find out myself. I took it on my first trip ever to Hawaii. On the FIRST day, I accidentally dropped it from a hight of probably 4 feet right onto the black, sharp, hard Lava rock. I freaked. I just knew it was toast. When I examined it, I found a little ding on the memory card door and the card had popped out a little. I pushed the card back in, closed the door (it still opened and closed properly), and lo and behold, the camera still worked perfectly! I highly recommend this camera for GREAT quality pictures and it is most definately a must for the klutzes of the world like me.

To those folks who've complained that the Canon A95 has a long time lag between pushing the button and capturing the image: push the button half-way down while aiming at your subject and the camera will set the exposure and the focus; keep on holding the button in that position until the perfect moment arrives to snap the picture; then push it down the rest of the way and the picture will be taken nearly instantaneously.

By the way, the dial on top of the camera that lets you choose among various modes tends to rotate pretty easily if a finger happens to rub against it. So I've made a habit of checking the dial frequently to be sure it's in the mode I intended (which for me is usually "AUTO" mode).

I've had the camera for 7 or 8 months now, have taken thousands of pictures, and have been delighted with it.

Another aside: I don't use the Canon software (although I used Canon software with an earlier Canon camera). To transfer the pictures to my computer, I use a "card reader" (available for $10 to $20) that plugs into a USB port; when I insert the CF card into the reader, the card looks like a disk drive to the computer, so I just copy and paste the files to where I want them. (For editing photos, I use Adobe Photoshop Elements on one computer, and Irfanview (which is free) on all of my computers.)

I love this cam very much. My dad gifted me on my birthday and we as a family using it at all occasions.

Bought this camera to replace a malfunctioning Canon A70. I am pleased how Canon has designed this camera to be a point and shoot or a creative instrument of photography. I got this camera to compliment my Digital Rebel. I use it for the times when I just want a camera in my back pocket to grab a quick shot of something. I hope it last longer than the camera it's replacing.

I really like this camera... it's easy to use and takes great pictures... a bit bulky, but it's worth the price... the tiny ones of equal quality cost a lot more...

I absolutely love this camera. I am a novice and it is so simple to use. It makes crystal clear pictures and you can do fun things with it. The price was just right. I would recommend this camera to anyone.

I am totally pleased with the camera. I'm still learning all the features since this is my first digital camera I didn't realize how much you can do with them. Also,I ordered from Amazon.com and saved $30 by using Super Saver Shipping and of course their already low price. Highly recommend this camera.

This was a birthday gift for my mother. She couldn't be happier! It takes awesome pictures!! The quality is impeccable.

Very easy to master basic functions. Excellent image quality. Many more features than can be quickly utilized.

This camera is awesome! It's 5 megapixels which makes every shot crisp and clear! And the swivel display makes taking portaits for yourself, or pictures with friends a lot easier! You don't get any more of those off-center pictures with someone's head cut out! The only downfall to this camera is that it's a little bit big and clunking, but it's awesome features, and specs make up for it!

I gave this camera as a gift and so far the feedback has been very good. I like the viewfinder. Also, it seemed like a good value, and Canon is my top brand preference.

This is a good value for a family camera. We really like being able to take short videos and high res stills with one camera. The batteries last for weeks at the rate we use them. We recommend buying NiMH batteries and a good charger to save money on batteries.

This is my first digital camera and I think it is the greatest.

I searched for 3 months for a new camera. Read CNET reviews, read forums, checked reviews. Needless to say, it confused me. I love photography, and I own a web development company, so I wanted something that would produce nice images.

Well this nice little camera did so much more than I expected! As of yet, several months later, I still don't understand all of the settings - however, just using the basic auto features, I've taken great images of sunsets, cloudy days and more. Shortly after I bought the camera, I went on a trip to a place I'd never been, so I took waaay too many photos. One of the best things was the video setting. I just turned it to the video camera picture and hit the start button. When I got home, I had hours of video which I was able to add effects to and music, thus making my own video! All without reading the book and using the included software!! Wow!

The other great thing that I love about the camera is the disc space. I had a 512M card and I could not fill it each day of vacation, including tons of video!

What sold me on this camera and made me buy it, was some of the photos I saw people take with it - nighttime skylines of San Francisco with no enhancements, just the offered settings - that was fabulous.

So, if you're looking for a fantastic camera with a nice little price, this is the