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August 25, 2006
[ CANON IXUS 800is ]
Price: $800
Highly recommended
The low-down: The Canon Ixus 800is is a 6 megapixel camera with a 4x (35–140mm film equivalent) image stabilised zoom lens.
The first striking feature of the Canon is the sheer beauty of its body. It is a small masterpiece of industrial design. The face area of the camera is the same as a credit card and the body is 26mm deep. It fits a pocket nicely.
Resolution, auto focus and exposure are all excellent and the automatic white balance is just about the best we have ever seen. Recent positive experience with cameras from Sony and now this nifty little unit from Canon suggest that the manufacturers are really getting to grips with an area of digital camera design that has needed attention. The Ixus 800is even copes with yellow incandescent light surprisingly well.
The Canon has selectable ISO speeds up to 800 plus an auto “hi ISO”. Results are exceptionally good meaning that the indifferent in-built flash is hardly ever needed.
Canon make much of the argument that it is not the number of pixels that matters so much as the quality of image extracted from them and the Ixus800 is a good demonstration of the theory. 6 million pixels are enough to make A4 prints without much enlargement and prints up to A3+ with moderate enlargement. And fewer pixels per square mm of sensor usually means better control of noise in high ISO pictures.
The Ixus800is allows a limited measure of manual control, just enough to be able to manipulate the way out of a tricky lighting situation.
Like this: The Canon Ixus 800is has a small optical viewfinder. Very small! But at least it is there. And, as we have come to expect from Canon, an excellent set of instruction books. Books – plural!
Dislike that: We miss having a discrete review button. Having to toggle backwards and forwards between review and camera mode via a tiny wheel is a pain.
Parting shot: The Canon Ixus 800is goes to the top of the list of pocketable digicams alongside the Sony DSC-W100. The Sony has more pixels on a bigger sensor. The Canon wins the glamour stakes. Both have optical viewfinders. The Canon has image stabilisation and costs $100 more. Both are highly recommended and whichever is chosen it will not be the wrong choice!
Posted by terry at August 25, 2006 03:18 AM
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Comments
What about the Fuji F30?
Isn't it comparabale suprior? What do you think?
I'm torn between these two cameras.
Posted by: Moi at August 27, 2006 12:08 AM
I haven't tested the Fujifilm F30 but, generally speaking, my opinion of Fujifilm cameras is high. You could buy either the Canon or the Fuji with confidence. The Canon has effective image stabilisation in the lens -- I don't think the Fuji does have this feature.
Phil Askey at dpreview.com gives the Fuji a "Highly Recommended" rating, with some reservations about the quality of images straight from the camera. Have a look at his conclusion.
Posted by: Terry at August 27, 2006 01:36 AM
Just returned from Hawaii where I used my new Canon 800IS on 500 shots ranging from evning against sunset-surfing -flower close ups-portraits etc. Wow! colors are spectacular! I deleted maybe 15 shots most for repetition. I love this thing and I don't even know how to use it to it's potential..not even close. Canon hit a home run
Posted by: jeffery martin at January 5, 2007 01:10 AM