A few years ago, when I was planning to graduate from my 1982 vintage Sears Electra to a digital camera, a 3.2 megapixel Canon was considered state-of-the art. Now, when even DSLRs are fiddling in the 8-megapixel to 12 megapixel range, Canon has come up with a point-and-shoot, sporting a 14.7-megapixel image sensor and promising a shot that can put even professional cameras to shame.

But the Canon IXUS 980 IS is not just about megapixels; it is a complete package. In fact, this compact and sturdy camera is the next best thing to a DSLR. To start with, Canon has improved on most features in its IXUS and Powershot ranges and added a few new ones too. While the 980 doesn’t have a touchscreen, the new dial, which reminds one of the iPod, more than makes up. It helps you shift through the picture styles and change the values with ease on the 2.5-inch LCD. The camera comes with the regular auto, quickshot, manual/ programme/ scene and video modes. But I did find the camera a bit tough to get used to in the manual mode, though it offers shutter speeds up to 1/1600 and two preset apertures.

The 980, however, is not meant for those who will ponder over shutter speeds, for this is an aim-shoot-forget camera all the way. And this is where Canon scores with an easy to use interface and reduced shutter lag. The camera also treads into Photoshop territory by presenting a colour accent mode, which allows you to take away all but one specified colour—however, the option can be unleashed only after a good read of the manual. The widescreen mode is ideal for squeezing in the entire family on a single frame and clicking landscapes. The digitised macro function is great if you like to zoom in on your neighbourhood ant family while the underwater shooting mode can capture your submarine exploits, provided you get a waterproof case along with the camera.

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