This top-of-the-line Digital Elph is a good mix of style and substance. Encased in a titanium body design, it’s sleek, stylish, light, and strong – while still remaining compact. Despite its powerful 12.2 mp sensor, it still delivers good image quality in most conditions, thanks to the DIGIC III image processor. It has Image Stabilization, a 3.7x zoom covering 36-133 mm (film equivalent), and a 2.5”, 230k LCD. One slight ding: writing those 12mp files to the buffer slows down between-shooting times, but the good news is that (like most PowerShots) the 950 IS not only rates excellent at ISO 200 and below, but it can handle high ISOs better than overpixelated P&S cameras like the more expensive 12 mp Canon G9. The SD 950IS might be one of Canon’s best low-light P&S cameras, with excllent performance at ISO 800, acceptable performance at ISO 1600, and a reduced-resolution 3200 ISO setting is available should you ever need it.

This compact Sony W-series camera has somewhat deceptive features. True, it has a streamlined, modern design that some might even find more attractive than an ELPH. But on paper, the specs aren’t that hot: 7 mp and 3x zoom are about average for a modestly-priced camera. Take it out into the field, however, and you’ll see it’s like Goldilocks’ porridge: just about right. The sensor is large enough for big prints but not enough to sabotage the sensor noise, plus there’s a Carl Zeiss lens for crisp images, optical stabilization, face detection, and a fast burst rate – some reviewers have reported 2.7 fps, significantly higher than Sony’s own specs of 2.2 fps. It also has Auto ISO, and a maximum aperture of f/2.8 at the widest setting – great for portraits with blurred backgrounds and available-light shots. The next model up, the DSC-W90, has a bigger sensor, but for a low-light fanatic, less MPs usually means better performance. The W80’s user-selectable ISOs go from 100 to 3200, with acceptable ISO 800 performance, helped along by the fast 9-pt. autofocusing.