Apart from the IXUS 1000 HS, Canon South Africa yesterday released two other new cameras, namely the PowerShot S95 and the PowerShot SX130 IS.

First on the list is the follow-up to their very impressive S90, the PowerShot S95, an advanced compact digital camera perfect for photographers looking for improved low light performance and manual control.

The S90 with its dial-ring at the front made a huge impression on us, and it seems like the S95 builds on the S-series’ standard, offering users a camera with a compact body featuring advanced low light performance coupled with extensive manual control. The PowerShot S95 features a 28 mm wide-angle lens with 3.8x optical zoom.

The device is also the first in the Canon range to feature advanced Hybrid Image Stabilising (IS) technology. The IS technology counteracts camera shake and reduces blur while also counteracting angular and shift shake.

The PowerShot S95 isn’t acclaimed as a compact camera without  reason and sports a slim waistline only 29.5 mm thick. High quality external coating, like that used on the EOS 7D improves grip and slip-resistance and the device supports Canon’s Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software.

Canon took customer feedback from owners of the previous model to heart and the multi-control dial now features a more pronounced ‘click’ sound to prevent unintentional changes in settings from slipping through.

Users can view their pictures and access additional settings via the 3.0” 461k-dot PureColor II G LCD display that features a tempered glass outer layer. This layer offers enhanced strength, high contrast and a wide viewing angle for greater visibility.

The S95 is also capable of high definition 720p movie recording at 24 frames per second (fps) and features an integrated HDMI port making it easy for videos to be viewed, controlled and copied using a compatible HDTV.

The PowerShot S95 offers a variety of features and is perfect for users who cherish portability but would also like to use some more advanced photography techniques.

PowerShot SX 130 IS

The other PowerShot model which was revealed yesterday is the PowerShot SX130 IS, a camera which Canon claims is a family-friendly, flexible compact camera with impressive imaging technology.

The SX130 IS has a 12.1 Megapixel sensor  with DIGIC 4 image processing, allowing for outstanding picture quality. It features 12x optical zoom which ranges from wide angle (28 mm) to telephoto (336 mm), enabling it to take high quality wide-angle group shots. 

Canon’s Image Stabilizer technology is also present on this model, helping to reduce blur associated with camera shake.

A 3.0” 230k-dot LCD screen with an optional Hints & Tips option makes navigating through the menu system a breeze for the whole family. The camera sports a wide range of family friendly features such as ‘Easy Mode’ which removes most icons and buttons.

This doesn’t mean ‘Easy Mode’ pictures will necessarily be of lower quality as ‘Smart Auto’ and ‘Scene Detection’ technology will identify up to 28 different shooting conditions and automatically adjust settings so as to produce the best possible result. ‘Smart Flash’ exposure technology also automatically adjusts the flash levels according to conditions, from dimply lit corridors to glaring sunlight, users can just point and click.

The SX130 IS also supports 720p HD video recording and raises the bar by providing continuous autofocus, ensuring all moving subjects in the video appear sharp and clear.

And there is storage space for Africa on the device as the SX130 IS supports the new SDXC memory cards which enables up to 2 TB of video and photo’s to be stored without needing to switch cards.

No prices have been revealed yet.