Canon did not disappoint! It's feature rich and the price is right.

Author's Rating:

Pros: Sturdy, sleek design. Very ergonomic with intuitive controls and menus. Great pictures and great video!

Cons: Does not come with battery charger or case. 32MB Compact flash is a little small.

The Bottom Line: 
Perhaps you are an enthusiast, but your spouse just wants to point and shoot. This camera will keep you both happy! I definitely recommend the Canon A95!

Author's Review
Don't read this review if you are looking for hard technical data. Stuff like chromatic aberration (purple fringing) and noise levels at ISO 400 are best left to the experts. My opinion is intended to complement the more technical reviews with feedback based on emotion and overall impression. If that's what you're looking for, read on!

I wanted another 5 megapixel camera, but something my wife and kids would feel comfortable taking anywhere. The Minolta DiMage 7i that we unloaded on eBay six months prior was just too clunky, and a real pain to take places. Plus it ate batteries and was generally just slow. So you can imagine just how pleased I was at the speed, ease of use, and picture quality of the very affordable A95.

It starts fast. Focus is fast, accurate and sharp. There is a mode for almost any condition, as well as manual mode for the more adventurous. And I can't stress just how intuitive this camera is to use. There is almost nothing more gratifying that picking up a piece of equipment, flipping through the manual as quickly as possible to get just the basics, and then fire it up like you've been using it for years. I never got that feeling with my DiMage. I haven't used and reviewed every camera out there. So perhaps this is just a case of technology improving since my last camera purchase.

And here's a surprise: the video mode on this camera is incredible! I just assumed it was going to be low quality like my Minolta, and never really gave it any thought, but I might actually take some video with this one! It takes video in full resolution 640 X 480 pixels, as well as 320 x 250, and 160 X 120, with sound! But be careful, this is not meant to replace a camcorder. Full resolution video will eat up a memory card in no time. But if you are somewhere with this camera and suddenly see something (Elvis, perhaps) that has to be filmed and with reasonable quality, the A95 will do the trick!

On a final note: compared to my DiMage 7i, the A95 is a battery miser. I put in my rechargeable AA batteries, start shooting, and never once worry about running out of juice before I'm done.

Conclusion: If you are looking for a balanced, high quality 5 megapixel camera at a great price, you should check this one out! My only suggestion would be for Canon to add a battery charger and at least a 128MB compact flash. But then they'd have to raise the price!