Camera Dojo

Canon PowerShot S95 review: is the 2010 pocket compact still worth it?

The short answer

Yes, for stills: the Canon PowerShot S95 is a 2010 pocket camera with a 10 MP 1/1.7-inch CCD, a 28-105mm f/2.0-4.9 lens, RAW and full manual control, and Jim Grey calls it among the finest compact digital cameras ever made.

Used ones cost $399 to $534 at MPB on November 2, 2026, against the $250 to $350 Grey saw in January. The trade-offs are a battery Canon rates at about 200 shots, basic 720p video and age: Canon no longer supports it.

Sensor
1/1.7-inch, 10 MP CCD
Lens
28-105mm, f/2.0-4.9
Battery
NB-6L, about 200 shots (CIPA)
Used price
$399 to $534 (MPB, Nov 2026)
Check used pricesWhat owners say

Built from 136 opinions from 27 pages and videos. Not yet tested by Camera Dojo. Updated .

Black Canon PowerShot S95 seen from the front at an angle, switched on with the lens extended, on a white background
Photo: D-Kuru, CC BY-SA 3.0 at

The short version

The praise is consistent from 2010 launch reviews to owners writing in 2024 to 2026: crisp files with accurate color, a body about the length and width of a credit card, and a clicking ring around the lens that makes manual control quick. Imaging Resource gave it 4.5 out of 5 and a Dave's Pick in 2010, and The Phoblographer gave it 5 out of 5 in 2024. Photo Thinking files it with the clean-image digicams, not the lo-fi ones.

The complaints are just as consistent: short battery life, video with no optical zoom or autofocus while recording, a pop-up flash that rises under your finger, and no grip or viewfinder. Age is the bigger risk now. Owners report LENS ERROR shutdowns, Canon U.S.A. lists the camera as retired, and Jim Grey warns that nobody will repair it.

Good fit if

  • You want RAW and full manual modes in a camera that fits a trouser pocket
  • You like physical controls: the lens ring can click the zoom through 28, 35, 50, 85 and 105mm
  • You want clean, crisp files rather than a lo-fi digicam look
  • You shoot street, travel and everyday photos, mostly in daylight or decent indoor light

Think twice if

  • You film a lot: video is 720p with no optical zoom or autofocus while recording
  • You shoot all day and hate carrying spares: Canon rates the battery at about 200 shots
  • You want a viewfinder, a grip or a hot shoe
  • You need reach: the lens stops at 105mm, and at that end it is only f/4.9
  • You want a camera you can send back to Canon for repair: Canon U.S.A. lists it as retired

Canon PowerShot S series: S90, S95, S100, S120 and S200

Canon restarted the S series with the S90 in 2009 and ended it with the S200 in 2014. The S95 is a refined S90; the S100 that followed switched to a CMOS sensor.

ModelYearSensorWhy look for it
PowerShot S90200910.0 MP CCD, same lens and basic sensor as the S95The original, launched at $429.99; MPB listed used ones from $134 to $349 on November 2, 2026. It lacks the S95's 720p video, HDR mode, SDXC support and mini HDMI port, and the Imaging Resource reviewer said the S95's revised rear controls fixed his chief S90 complaint.
PowerShot S95201010 MP 1/1.7-inch CCD, DIGIC 4This camera, launched at $399.99. Adds Hybrid IS, 720p video and HDR to the S90 recipe. MPB listed used ones at $399 to $534 on November 2, 2026.
PowerShot S100201112.1 MP, the first CMOS sensor in the S seriesThe direct successor, for buyers who do not need a CCD. See the Canon PowerShot S100 page.
PowerShot S120201312.1 MP 1/1.7-inch BSI-CMOSWider 24-120mm f/1.8-5.7 lens, brighter at the wide end; an owner of both in the Flickr S95 group calls it the best of the S series. See the Canon PowerShot S120 page.
PowerShot S200201410.0 MP 1/1.7-inch CCDThe last S model went back to a CCD with a 24-120mm lens, but it dropped RAW.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, photothinking.com, imaging-resource.com, photographyblog.com, expertreviews.co.uk, blog.jimgrey.net, flickr.com, mpb.com, mpb.com

What owners and reviewers say, topic by topic

We sorted 136 opinions about the S95 from 27 pages and videos on 23 websites and channels. Each row shows how many people raised a topic and how many of them were positive. Open a row to read short quotes, each linked to its source.

More than half of the 136 opinions come from reviewers rather than owners, most of them published at launch in 2010. Current owner views rest mainly on Jim Grey (2026), Photo Thinking (2024), The Phoblographer (2024), the Capslock Blog and two Flickr S95 groups. Reddit and DPReview forum threads could not be read, so the reliability picture shows what can fail, not how often.

  1. Ease of use87% positiveof 23

    One of the best-rated topics: owners and reviewers praise the clicking lens ring, the rear wheel and the simple layout. The two complaints are no manual AF point selection and a stiff mode dial.

  2. Image look100% positiveof 16

    All 16 opinions on image look are positive: reviewers in 2010 and owners today describe crisp, detailed 10 MP files with accurate color, and Photo Thinking finds the RAW files usable to about ISO 800 with little cleanup.

  3. Low light and flash53% positiveof 15

    Mostly positive: reviewers found shots usable to ISO 1600 thanks to the f/2.0 lens, though autofocus slows in dim light. The complaints are about the pop-up flash, which rises where your finger sits.

    • “The flash can be pretty annoying, as it sits right where your finger rests while taking pictures”

      Jan Andrzejewski, The Capslock Blog 2023-06Owner

    • “The fast f/2 lens and ISO 1600 allowed me to shoot a dark street-lit scene hand-held and produced a surprisingly good picture”

      Will Burrard-Lucas BlogOwner

    • “The Canon S95 does pretty well in low light”

      Shawn Barnett, Imaging Resource 2010-10Hands-on review

    • “The S95 can reach a focus lock on most subjects very quickly, though it’s sluggish in low light.”

      The Phoblographer 2010-10Hands-on review

  4. Video27% positiveof 15

    The topic with the most complaints: 720p at 24 fps with good sound for a compact, but no optical zoom or autofocus while recording.

  5. Size and weight100% positiveof 15

    All 15 opinions are positive: this is why people buy it, a camera that fits a trouser pocket, a back pocket or trail shorts.

  6. Build quality82% positiveof 11

    Reviewers and owners call it solid, with metal front and back panels and a textured finish. The one negative is the lack of a grip for long sessions.

  7. Screen and viewfinder64% positiveof 11

    The 3-inch screen is praised as big and bright, and several owners and reviewers say it holds up in sun, though one 2010 reviewer found it hard to use in bright sunlight. There is no viewfinder and no way to add one.

    • “It is luxuriously big, clear and great to use in framing.”

      Theo, Photo Thinking 2024-07Owner

    • “I’m seriously surprised at how bright and vibrant the screen is”

      Jan Andrzejewski, The Capslock Blog 2023-06Owner

    • “The S95’s screen is big and bright, and isn’t as prone to washing out in the sun as any other digital camera I’ve reviewed.”

      Down the Road (Jim Grey) 2026-01Owner

    • “it’s difficult to use in bright sunlight, but it works great in nearly any other lighting situation.”

      The Phoblographer 2010-10Hands-on review

  8. Batteries and charging30% positiveof 10

    One of the two weakest topics, with video: Canon rates about 200 shots, and Pocket-lint ran flat after around 150. Owners get by with spares, which are cheap.

  9. Reliability today38% positiveof 8

    Split: some owners report units still working after more than a decade, while others hit the LENS ERROR shutdown, and Jim Grey warns that nobody will repair an S95.

  10. Price and value38% positiveof 8

    Mixed: Photography Blog found $399.99 a lot for a compact in 2010, MPB listed used units at $399 to $534 on November 2, 2026 against the $250 to $350 Jim Grey saw in January, and one owner found repair quotes higher than the camera is worth.

  11. Memory cards and transfer50% positiveof 4

    Few comments: it takes standard SD cards, has no internal memory, and its CR2 RAW files needed Canon's own software at launch.

PositiveMixedNegative

Best settings for the Canon PowerShot S95

These are the settings owners and reviewers describe using to get the most from the S95.

  1. 1

    Leave Auto for P, Av or M

    RAW is not available in Auto, Low Light or Scene modes, and you switch it on in the menus. Jim Grey stays in Program so he can use the Positive Color option, because standard color looks muted to him.

  2. 2

    Set the lens ring to step zoom

    The ring clicks through 28, 35, 50, 85 and 105mm like a set of primes, which is how Jim Grey sets it; some Flickr group owners also assign the ring to zoom. Will Burrard-Lucas preferred aperture priority with the ring on aperture and the rear wheel on exposure compensation.

  3. 3

    Cap Auto ISO

    You can cap Auto ISO anywhere from 80 to 1600. Photography Blog saw no noise from ISO 80 to 400 and some at 800, while Expert Reviews called files very usable up to 1600, so pick your cap from those two.

  4. 4

    Skip Low Light mode for keepers

    Low Light mode reaches ISO 12,800 but fixes the image size at 1824 x 1368, about 2.5 MP. Jim Grey finds it so noisy he won't use it.

  5. 5

    Focus, then recompose

    There is no way to move the AF point by hand, and Jim Grey says face detection works only in Auto. Flickr group members focus on the subject with a half-press, then reframe.

  6. 6

    Turn auto flash off

    The motorized flash can pop up on its own in auto, right where a finger rests, so the Capslock Blog recommends not using the auto flash setting. Set it to off, or force it on when you want it.

  7. 7

    Stay wide in dim light

    The f/2.0 aperture exists only at 28mm; by 105mm the lens is f/4.9. Indoors, zoom with your feet.

  8. 8

    Raise sharpening if JPEGs look soft

    Photography Blog found default JPEGs a little soft, and Imaging Resource found default contrast somewhat high. The Custom option in My Colors lets you set contrast, sharpness and saturation.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, blog.jimgrey.net, photographyblog.com, blog.burrard-lucas.com, more4u2c.wordpress.com, global.canon, flickr.com, flickr.com, capslockblog.substack.com, cameralabs.com, imaging-resource.com

Is the Canon S95 good in low light?

Good for a 2010 compact, not by today's standards. Reviewers at launch found clean files to about ISO 400 and usable ones at ISO 1600, and the f/2.0 lens let Will Burrard-Lucas shoot a dark street-lit scene handheld at ISO 1600. Jim Grey's 2026 view: brilliant in low light for its time, but quickly surpassed.

The catch is the lens. The f/2.0 aperture exists only at 28mm and closes to f/4.9 by 105mm, and The Phoblographer's 2010 field review found autofocus sluggish in low light. Sources also disagree on where noise starts to matter, as the table shows.

What reviewers and owners say about S95 image noise by ISO
SourceWhat they found
Photography Blog (2010)No noise at ISO 80 to 400; some noise and slight desaturation at ISO 800
Cameralabs (launch-era review)Great to ISO 200, respectable at 400, acceptable for many uses at 800
Trusted Reviews (2010)Effectively noise-free to ISO 400; printable, well-detailed shots at 1600
Expert Reviews (2010)Very usable up to ISO 1600 in RAW and JPEG, muddy above that
Digital Trends (launch-era review)ISO 1600 fairly clear; even 3200 very usable
Photo Thinking (2024)RAW files usable to about ISO 800 with minimal cleanup
Jim Grey (2026)Noise increases from ISO 1600; the ISO 12,800 Low Light mode is too noisy to use

Photo Thinking says Lightroom's AI Denoise makes S95 RAW files look noiseless up to ISO 1600, and ISO 3200 is okay at a pinch.

Sources: photographyblog.com, cameralabs.com, trustedreviews.com, expertreviews.co.uk, digitaltrends.com, photothinking.com, blog.jimgrey.net, blog.burrard-lucas.com, thephoblographer.com

Canon S95 battery, charger and memory cards

The S95 runs on Canon's NB-6L lithium-ion battery, rated at about 200 shots per charge (CIPA). Jim Grey gets about 200, up to 300 if he skips reviewing every shot, and keeps three charged aftermarket batteries for a full day at 150 to 200 shots each. The Phoblographer reported the opposite, one charge in a week of daily shooting, and the Capslock Blog suspects its old batteries explain its weak results.

Spares are cheap. On November 2, 2026, Focus Camera listed a Koah 1300 mAh battery sold for the NB-6L and NB-6LH, with a charger, at $12.99. Check what comes with a used camera: Photo Thinking found its S95 in a charity shop without a charger.

There is no internal memory, so you need a card. The S95 takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards; SDXC support was new over the S90. Photography Blog says 720p video needs a Class 4 or faster card, and full-size fine JPEGs average about 3 MB. Cards over 32 GB are SDXC and use the exFAT file system, so check that your card reader supports SDXC before you buy a 64 GB card.

To move files, use a card reader or the camera's USB port, a dedicated mini-B-compatible connector. RAW files are Canon CR2; at launch Pocket-lint's photo software could not open them, and Canon bundled Digital Photo Professional on a CD. Today Photo Thinking edits them in Lightroom.

  • Battery: Canon NB-6L, about 200 shots per charge (CIPA)
  • Charger: included in the box; Photography Blog's spec table lists the CB-2LYE
  • Cards: SD, SDHC or SDXC; Class 4 or faster for video
  • Waterproof case: Canon WP-DC38, rated to 40 m; K&M Camera in New York had a used one at $49.99 on November 2, 2026

Carry at least one spare NB-6L: Jim Grey keeps three charged for a full day of shooting.

Sources: global.canon, blog.jimgrey.net, thephoblographer.com, focuscamera.com, photothinking.com, imaging-resource.com, photographyblog.com, sdcard.org, pocket-lint.com, kmcamera.com

Canon S95 vs Panasonic Lumix LX5: which one?

Canon PowerShot S95Panasonic Lumix LX5
Lens28-105mm, f/2.0-4.9Wider 24-90mm
SizeSmaller; Cameralabs calls it genuinely pocketableLarger
Hot shoeNone, so no add-on viewfinderYes
Video720p, no optical zoom or autofocus while recordingAutofocus and zoom while recording
Image qualityCleaner JPEGs per Expert Reviews; Cameralabs preferred it above ISO 400RAW files look about the same as the S95's, per Expert Reviews
Getting readyQuicker to start shootingSlower to get ready, per Cameralabs

Pick the Canon PowerShot S95 if

  • Pocket size matters most: Expert Reviews says the S95 slips easily into a trouser pocket
  • You mostly shoot JPEGs and want cleaner files at higher ISO
  • You want the longer 105mm end

Pick the Panasonic Lumix LX5 if

  • You want a hot shoe for a flash or an add-on viewfinder
  • You film clips and need autofocus and zoom while recording
  • You want the more complete enthusiast camera: Cameralabs says most would agree the LX5 has more for the enthusiast

Sources: imaging-resource.com, cameralabs.com, expertreviews.co.uk, cnet.com, en.wikipedia.org

What to check before buying a used Canon S95

Canon no longer supports the S95, so test these points before you pay, or buy from a seller with a return window.

  1. 1

    Run the zoom end to end

    Power it on and zoom from 28 to 105mm and back a few times. A 'Lens error' message followed by shutdown means a stuck zoom, which a Flickr group member says almost all S-series PowerShots get eventually, especially after years in storage.

  2. 2

    Force the flash on and fire it

    The flash is motorized. One owner's S95 would not raise it after years unused until electronics cleaner freed it.

  3. 3

    Check focus in P mode

    Take a few shots of a detailed subject and check them at full size. Jim Grey's own S95 has started to miss focus occasionally as it ages.

  4. 4

    Test with a fully charged battery

    Canon's lens-error advice (written for the A Series) starts with taking the battery out and fitting a fully charged one, so rule out a tired battery before judging the camera.

  5. 5

    Ask what is in the box

    Confirm the battery and charger are included; all six MPB listings on November 2, 2026 had both. Spares are cheap, but factor them into the price.

  6. 6

    Weigh the price against the risk

    Jim Grey warns that unless you find a lightly used creampuff, it will fail sooner rather than later and nobody will repair it. A seller warranty or return window is your safety net: MPB gives 6 months and B&H 90 days.

Sources: flickr.com, blog.jimgrey.net, support.usa.canon.com, usa.canon.com, photothinking.com, mpb.com, bhphotovideo.com

Known problems and what fixing them costs

These are the faults S95 owners report most often, with the fixes found in owner posts and Canon's own support pages; Canon U.S.A. now lists the camera as retired.

LENS ERROR message and shutdown

Raised in 3 opinions

How you notice
The camera shows 'Lens error' and turns itself off, often with the zoom stuck partway. A Flickr S95 group member says almost all PowerShot S-series cameras get this eventually, especially after years in storage.
Fix
Canon's lens-error article, written for the PowerShot A Series, says to turn the camera off, remove the battery, fit a fully charged one and power on, and to arrange professional service if the error continues. A Flickr group member suggests a spray of electronics cleaner (not WD-40) on the sides of the barrel and gentle tapping; the owner who tried it saw no change.
Typical cost
No US repair price found. The Flickr owner said repair quotes were considerably more than the camera is worth.

Sources: flickr.com, support.usa.canon.com, usa.canon.com

Short or fading battery life

Raised in 7 opinions

How you notice
Canon rates about 200 shots per charge. Pocket-lint ran flat after around 150 shots plus a little video, and the Capslock Blog found battery life weak, though its author suspects his batteries are old.
Fix
Carry spares. Jim Grey keeps three charged aftermarket batteries for a full day, at about 150 to 200 shots each.
Typical cost
$12.99 for a Koah 1300 mAh NB-6L-type battery with charger at Focus Camera (November 2, 2026).

Sources: global.canon, pocket-lint.com, capslockblog.substack.com, blog.jimgrey.net, focuscamera.com

Flash will not pop up

Raised in 1 opinion

How you notice
The motorized flash stays down. One Flickr group owner's S95 refused to raise it after years of non-use.
Fix
Force the flash on in the menu to test it before buying. That owner freed it with electronics cleaner.
Typical cost
No published repair price found.

Sources: flickr.com

Missed or slow focus

Raised in 2 opinions

How you notice
Jim Grey's aging S95 occasionally misses focus, and The Phoblographer's 2010 field review found autofocus sluggish in low light. You cannot move the AF point by hand.
Fix
Focus on the subject with a half-press, then recompose, as Flickr group members advise.
Typical cost
None.

Sources: blog.jimgrey.net, thephoblographer.com, flickr.com

No official repair route

Raised in 3 opinions

How you notice
Canon U.S.A. lists the S95 as retired, with no product support. Jim Grey writes that nobody will repair it, and a Flickr group member doubts Canon still has parts for long-discontinued models.
Fix
Buy from a seller with a warranty or return window. Independent repairers exist: a commenter on Jim Grey's review had a dropped S95's sensor fault fixed by a repairer on eBay.
Typical cost
No US repair quote found.

Sources: usa.canon.com, blog.jimgrey.net, flickr.com

Canon's old CCD recall does not cover the S95

How you notice
Canon's 2005 free repair covered certain A-series and S-series PowerShots whose third-party CCD sensors failed with distorted images. That was five years before the S95 came out.
Fix
No Canon recall or service advisory for the S95 turned up in the research, so do not count on a free repair.
Typical cost
Not applicable.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org, usa.canon.com

Photos taken with a Canon PowerShot S95

Two photos shared on Wikimedia Commons by people who took them with a PowerShot S95.

What a used Canon PowerShot S95 costs today

Canon no longer sells the S95, so you are buying used. It launched at $399.99 in 2010. On November 2, 2026, MPB listed six used units from $399 to $534 and B&H had one at $499.95, all with a warranty. Jim Grey reported used ones selling for $250 to $350 in January 2026, and Domus advised in July 2025 not to pay more than 150 euros, so what you pay depends on where you buy. A commenter on Grey's post says CCD sensors are having a moment.

  • MPB

    Used, good, Body with Canon NB-6L battery and CB-2LY charger, 6-month warranty; three listings, two with a wrist strap

    $399

    See listing

  • MPB

    Used, excellent, Body with NB-6L battery and CB-2LY charger, 6-month warranty; two listings, one with a wrist strap

    $464

    See listing

  • MPB

    Used, like new, Body with NB-6L battery, CB-2LY charger, wrist strap, manual and original packaging, 6-month warranty; one listing

    $534

    See listing

  • B&H Photo

    Used, 8+ moderate wear, Body, B&H 90-day warranty; the only used S95 listed

    $499.95

    See listing

  • Used market, per Jim Grey

    Used, Body, typical selling range reported in January 2026

    $250 to $350

    See listing

  • Domus (buying advice)

    Used, A July 2025 guide to buying cheap used compacts advises paying no more than this for an S95

    Under 150 euros

    See listing

  • Canon (2010 launch price)

    New, discontinued, Official US launch price, for reference

    $399.99

    See listing

  • Focus Camera

    New, third-party, Koah 1300 mAh battery for the NB-6L and NB-6LH, with charger

    $12.99

    See listing

  • K&M Camera (New York)

    Used, rated 8, Canon WP-DC38 waterproof case, rated to 40 m

    $49.99

    See listing

Prices checked on November 2, 2026. They move every week, so treat them as a range, not a quote. Prices come from the MPB and B&H listing pages on November 2, 2026, and they change often. B&H says a new S95 is no longer available. Check the listing before you buy, and favor sellers that offer a warranty or return window.

Video reviews worth your time

  • Canon PowerShot S95 Review

    infosyncvideos, 2010

    The Canon PowerShot S95 is a highly recommended point-and-shoot camera that delivers excellent image quality and rich manual controls in a compact, pocketable body.

    • 0:49 Design overview and lens control ring explanation.
    • 2:33 Demonstration of shooting features and manual controls.
    • 4:30 Evaluation of image quality and sample photo breakdown.
    • 5:24 Discussion of video recording limitations.

  • Canon PowerShot s95 review - general overview

    LEXPIX, 2011

    The Canon PowerShot S95 is an exceptionally compact pocket camera praised for its customizable control ring, comfortable ergonomics, and solid overall value.

    • 00:15 Overview of main physical additions to the S95 body
    • 00:58 Comparing camera size against a leather wallet
    • 02:18 Demonstrating image playback speed using the rear dial
    • 03:40 Showing the motorized pop-up flash mechanism

  • Canon Powershot S95 Best compact cameras from Techradar.com

    PHOTORADAR, 2011

    The Canon PowerShot S95 is a compact, pocketable camera featuring full manual controls, raw shooting, and a bright f/2.0 lens for advanced portable photography.

    • 0:08 Introduction to the Canon PowerShot S95
    • 0:32 Overview of top controls and shooting mode dial
    • 0:51 Demonstrating customizable lens ring settings
    • 1:04 Showing rear panel controls and menu wheel

  • Canon Powershot s95 Review + Photos from Oahu Trip

    Darth Reptilis, 2025

    The Canon PowerShot S95 is a durable, highly portable compact camera that delivers crisp photos with a vintage point-and-shoot character.

    • 1:12 Overview of the Canon PowerShot S95 model and release history.
    • 4:48 Demonstrating the bottom compartment for battery and SD card access.
    • 7:38 Powering on the unit to display interface features and grid toggle.
    • 10:04 Showing the pop-up flash mechanism and checking different flash modes.

  • Canon PowerShot S95 Review

    blueshirtreviews, 2011

    The Canon PowerShot S95 offers advanced manual features and strong low-light performance in a pocket-sized design, despite minor drawbacks like 720p video limits and a stiff mode dial.

    • 0:15 Reviewer showing the compact Canon PowerShot S95.
    • 0:34 Demonstrating the customizable front ring around the lens.
    • 1:01 Showing the mode dial located on top of the camera.
    • 1:20 Displaying scene modes on the camera screen.

Questions people ask about the S95

Is the Canon PowerShot S95 a good camera?

Yes, for stills in decent light. Jim Grey (2026) calls it among the finest compact digital cameras ever made, The Phoblographer gave it 5 out of 5 in 2024, and Imaging Resource gave it 4.5 out of 5 and a Dave's Pick in 2010. The limits are a battery rated at about 200 shots, basic 720p video and the risk that an old unit fails with no official repair.

Sources: blog.jimgrey.net, thephoblographer.com, imaging-resource.com

Which is better, the Canon PowerShot S90 or S95?

The S95, by a small margin. It keeps the S90's lens and basic sensor and adds Hybrid IS, 720p video, HDR, SDXC support and a mini HDMI port, and the Imaging Resource reviewer said the revised rear controls fixed his chief S90 complaint. Cameralabs found still-photo performance essentially unchanged, so a cheaper S90 makes sense if you mostly shoot stills: MPB listed used S90s from $134 to $349 on November 2, 2026, against $399 to $534 for S95s.

Sources: imaging-resource.com, cameralabs.com, expertreviews.co.uk, mpb.com, mpb.com

Why are Canon PowerShots so expensive now?

Part of the reason, according to a commenter on Jim Grey's 2026 review, is that CCD sensors are having a moment. Used S95s sold for $250 to $350 in January 2026 by Grey's account, and MPB asked $399 to $534 on November 2, 2026, against a $399.99 launch price in 2010. Grey adds that nobody is innovating in compact digital cameras anymore, because the smartphone has taken their place.

Sources: blog.jimgrey.net, photographyblog.com, mpb.com

Why is my Canon PowerShot S95 blurry?

Three things to check. Default JPEG sharpening is a little soft, according to Photography Blog, so raise it in the Custom setting of My Colors or sharpen later. The AF point cannot be moved by hand, so focus on the subject with a half-press and recompose, as Flickr group members advise. And Jim Grey finds the stabilizer limited, so slow shutter speeds in dim light can still show shake.

Sources: photographyblog.com, more4u2c.wordpress.com, blog.jimgrey.net, flickr.com

Why did my Canon S95 stop working all of a sudden?

The most common report is a 'Lens error' message, after which the camera shuts itself off because the zoom is stuck. Canon's lens-error article, written for the PowerShot A Series, says to remove the battery, fit a fully charged one and power on again, and to arrange service if the error continues. A Flickr group member suggests electronics cleaner on the barrel and gentle tapping, but the owner who tried it saw no change and found repair quotes higher than the camera's value.

Sources: flickr.com, support.usa.canon.com

What is the lifespan of a Canon PowerShot S95?

There is no official figure. Many still work: The Phoblographer's was 14 years old in 2024, and the Capslock Blog's lens mechanism had no issues after more than a decade. Jim Grey gives the other side: it is an old camera, it will fail sooner rather than later, and nobody will repair it.

Sources: thephoblographer.com, capslockblog.substack.com, blog.jimgrey.net

Which Canon PowerShot is better than the S95?

Within the S series, an owner of both in the Flickr S95 group calls the [Canon PowerShot S120](/cameras/canon-powershot-s120/) a huge improvement and the best of the S series. Jim Grey names the [G7 X Mark III](/cameras/canon-powershot-g7-x-mark-iii/) as the nearest current Canon option, at around $875 from leftover stock in January 2026.

Sources: flickr.com, blog.jimgrey.net

Can the Canon S95 shoot video?

Yes, 720p at 24 fps with stereo sound, but you cannot zoom optically or autofocus while recording; only 4x digital zoom is available. CNET found the stereo mics surprisingly full-sounding, while Digital Trends found indoor clips noisy. Use a Class 4 or faster card.

Sources: photographyblog.com, cnet.com, digitaltrends.com

What people compare it with

  • Canon PowerShot S120

    A 2013 S-series model with a 12.1 MP BSI-CMOS sensor and a wider 24-120mm f/1.8-5.7 lens that is brighter at the wide end; an owner of both calls it a huge improvement over the S95.

  • Canon PowerShot S100

    The 2011 successor, with 12.1 MP and the first CMOS sensor in the S series, for buyers who do not need a CCD.

  • Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

    The S95's main 2010 rival, with a wider 24-90mm lens, a hot shoe and autofocus while filming, in a larger body.

  • Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

    Jim Grey calls it the nearest current Canon option, at around $875 from leftover stock in January 2026: much newer, and far pricier than a used S95.

Every source behind this page

Read them yourself. How we pick and count them is in our methodology.

Show all 37 sources

Editorial reviews 12

Manuals and references 10

Independent blogs 6

Video reviews 5

Forums 4

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