I'm am a loyal Canon fan and have always stuck to their larger cameras in the past. Although I could appreciate convenience of having a small camera, I felt their small lenses didn't let in enough light to capture the photo perfectly. I currently own a digital SLR Rebel for which I purchased an image stabilized lens as an upgrade. I was so impressed with the quality of my photos with the image stabilized lens, I figured if there is any possible way to get good photos from a small camera lens, an image stabilized lens would be key. This camera is great. The image stabilized lens allows for the lens to stay open for a longer period of time (while minimizing blur from shakiness), thus capturing color and light beautifully. The camera takes beautiful shots. It's weighted nicely and feels good in the hands. As with all Canon's, the buttons are laid out in a clear manner, making it easy to switch around settings. This is a great camera for someone that appreciates photography, but is looking for something small and portable. I highly recommend it.