Sorry, I know two fifths of bugger all about cameras but mrs deadly has plopped for this one from John Lewis. It’s a Canon Powershot S95. What are the goods and bads?

Quite nice. Review here.
I used to have an old PowerShot S75. Good cameras, well made.

You might also want to consider the Canon G12, which is slightly bulkier but a bit more “serious”:
http://www.dpreview.com/products/canon/compacts/canon_g12

Looks too cheap, I think you should be spending somewhere in the region of 4-5k on the body alone. Anything less can’t really be called a camera. Beyond that I can’t help, I only deal in real cameras.

I like them. S100 is soon to be released, but S95 still looks really good. I’d buy it.

how the other half 😯

(canon’s are decent cameras around that price point, better lenses than many other brands in that kinda range)

Is that form-factor a requirement?

Mrs Grips just spent slightly less on a Sony Cybershot TX10 which is waterproof and shockproof, but still small and svelte.

Personally I’d go for this slightly larger – Olympus XZ-1. Should take significantly better pictures.

I had one of these Canon Powershots and it were marvellous.

EDIT: Until it got wet, now it’s crap.

G, why would you go for the G12 for a hundred squid more?

http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/prod1598.html

Kerso was selling them for £269 last time I got his price list

My Nephew is a pro ‘tog in That London’s famous London and he used the S90 as a walkaround camera with great results

I’ve got an S95.

Bloomin love it. Best thing about it is it is so small you can take it everywhere. Pictures taken with it have been mistaken for SLR pics and you wouldn’t take an SLR with you everywhere (or a G12 for that matter).

In the hands of someone better than me it would be er… even better 🙂

Here’s my picassa album https://picasaweb.google.com/107924463712607063923

G, why would you go for the G12 for a hundred squid more?

Mainly I prefer that form factor: chunkier dials, bigger buttons and more direct controls rather than faffing in settings menus. I also like having an optical viewfinder.

The articulated screen, ability to use an external flash and longer lens are also plus points.

It’s the best compact in the world, until the S100 comes out, according to Ken Rockwell.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm#pocket

I had a play with one in Jessop’s the other day. Quite a shock to the system going back to a compact after using a dSLR for a few weeks.

Oh yes, and seb rogers reckoned it was the only compact he’d buy from those he tested.

So, erm, it looks good for a compact then. Cheers DezB. And cheers all for comments from others. 🙂

Only problem is, I never remember to get my finger out of the way of the flash when it pops up!

Depending on what you want the camera for and if zoom is of interest after lots of testing I went for the Sony DHX 9V. Take a look at this blog which has some really interesting not widely known points.

http://hx9v.blogspot.com/?zx=f72aee65e47b1bb1

I looked at this and the Olympus XZ-1. Went for the Olympus in the end as it’s got a faster lens across the zoom range. The video is not as good as the Canon though.

It’s the best compact in the world, until the S100 comes out, according to Ken Rockwell.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm#pocket
Yes, but he wears his camera on his belt.

I think you’ve found your reason why you shouldn’t buy this camera.

I’ve got the S90, the immediate predecessor to the S95. It’s ace, get one.

I’m never going to wear a camera on my belt but I’m more than willing to take buying advice from those who do. 😀

The XZ-1 has a much wider aperture and larger sensor than other compacts, so it can take blurry background portraits and is great in low light. I’d go for it for sure unless small size was a major consideration. Having said that, it’s hardly big.