• Tiny size, light weight, strong metallic case, looks (these add up to portability)
• Automatic lens cover
• Fairly good image quality (though not breathtaking at 100%), good colour balance
• Super-Fine JPEG mode for TIFF quality at half the size
• Nice easy to use menu system, straight forward controls
• Quick Record / Playback switch
• Anti-reflective coating on LCD
• Stitch assist mode
• Large image buffer, fast processing times
• Fast power up/down times
• Superb (yet oh-so-tiny and light) Lithium-Ion battery
• USB connectivity

• Still got that "Canon" slightly cool / under saturated look to images
• Some visible noise on flat areas
• No support for CF Type II (probably a battery limit)
• Moiré pattern / early detail aliasing at distances
• Very limited low-light abilities
• Small flash makes for use only at relatively short distances
• Limited zoom (35 - 70 mm)

Overall conclusion

Here's my rating of the Canon Digital Ixus: (2 megapixel ultra compact class)

Nobody could fault Canon for producing the smallest, lightest digital camera yet, and they certainly couldn't fault them for building it with a large degree of precision and an eye to robustness. They've aimed this camera squarely at everyday photographs and it's small enough to be taken out wherever you go... Don't take the camera with you and you won't get that shot.

To a certain degree the image quality was disappointing for a brand new 2.1 mp digital camera in this age of 3 megapixel monsters, however bear in mind the tiny size of the camera, lens and imager (only 1/2.7"). It's no mean feat. If you want a camera you'll take everywhere and mostly half size (or more) your images for posting on the web or emailing to your friends the IXUS / ELPH won't disappoint.

Above Average

So which one should I buy? A question I get asked several times a day, and I wouldn't like to say. In a new addition to my reviews (after the amount of feedback I normally get) I've added a link to a specific forum in which you can discuss the review or ask me specific questions which I've not answered in these pages.

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