Pin sharp pics

Canon IXUS 980 IS

Canon's IXUSes have always been at or near the top, but with the 980 IS, they hit new heights, thanks to the overdue addition of more manual controls. There's been no radical overhaul to the design, although it is now available in the menacing black pictured here. It starts in less than two seconds, focuses quickly and detects faces with great accuracy. Like the Nikon, there's a 14-megapixel sensor, but unlike the Nikon, it doesn't render it horribly sluggish. Pictures are fantastic too - sharp and detailed with little noise.

At Rs 22K plus, the 980 IS is undeniably expensive, but it's one of those gadgets that's totally worth investing that bit.

Rs 22,995

Love: Manual control. Speed. Excellent photos
Hate: Lacks wide angle lens
We say: With gorgeous build and a wide selection of features, the 980 IS trounces most other compacts
Sensor: 14.7 megapixels
Screen: 2.5 inches
Zoom: 3.7x
Memory: SD, SDHC SD, SDHC BATTERY 280 shots
Size/ Weight: 97x62x28mm/ 160g

Text and Images: Business Line - Smartbuy

Also Read: Tech alert 2009 | Magic touch of mobiles