Hi there,
Hoping to get some independent views on my camera choice.
I am looking at buying a P&S camera that I can slip in my pocket and take with me on those days where my SLR is just not suitable. I am a fan of Canon (for what it is worth my SLR is canon) and have therefore pretty much focused on these. I provisionally set a nominal maximum of £200. The two I have ended up looking at are the Ixus 950IS and Ixus 860IS.
With the release of the Ixus 960IS the 950IS is now at a very competitive price (I have found it as low as £175 without much digging). Although it is now 'old' technology it still looks a very attractive option. The 860IS is pushing the boundaries of my budget but looks a very nice package, with review on this website noting it was the best compact camera yet.
In an ideal world, the viewfinder of the 950IS would be nice but is not essential. Manual control of aperture and/or shutter speed would have been nice too... but this does not appear to be an option for manufacturers developing this range/size/type of camera. Other than that requirements are simple. Small (both fit in this category) and capable of taking a damned good picture.
Having read the reviews of the two, particularly the useful comparisons on this site, I can't really see any discernable differences. The 950IS comes out on top for picture quality by half a mark, but the 860IS is better in all other areas.
I guess what my question boils down to is the 860SI worth the extra pennies or would I be getting a better deal by sticking with the cheaper 950IS? I was hoping to gauge peoples thoughts or experiences with either that may help me make up my mind.
thanks in advance.
D