Canon IXUS 200 IS

The latest touch screen wonder from Canon

Meet the new Canon IXUS 200 IS pocket-sized compact, which enters at the upper end of the Ixus range of cameras. With a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom and its star attraction of touch screen capabilities, this camera certainly has a lot going for it.

Starting with the style stakes, this camera is beautifully designed with curves in all the right places. It has a distinct pebble shape to it, with soft rounded edges complemented by the smooth frosted finish on the paintwork. Our test model was an attractive mint green colour, but it also comes in frosted pink, champagne, baby blue and silver.

Despite the touch-screen technology, there are also some buttons and controls to be found, although some are harder to find than others. We are referring in fact, to the Playback and Menu button, which sit at the top and bottom of the right hand side. These two controls are decked out in the same colours as the body making them pretty well camouflaged with the rest of the body. For the camera-savvy this will be seen as a neat design quirk, but for the less experienced it may add a touch of confusion into the mix.

Centrally placed between these two buttons is the D-pad, which is surrounded by a scrolling circular wheel. This is used for swift navigation through the menus and works very well. The D-pad itself plays host to the self-timer, macro and Landscape modes, flash options and the display modes. Along the top, the Ixus 200 IS sports a rather neat triangular mode switch to flick from Movie, Shoot and Auto. It’s another subtle design touch, which gives this camera its edgy feel.

For those not so adept to using touch screen in their daily lives will be pleased to hear the touch screen is not relied upon for everything. In fact it has a few select roles, which it performs very well, including scrolling through images in playback, zooming in on images in playback and selecting functions displayed on the LCD screen. The D-pad also shares this navigational role if preferred. The standout feature of the touch screen is being able to select an object in the scene you are about to shoot and ask the camera to focus and expose for that object. This is great for both static and moving objects, as long as the speed of the object is not too rapid (fast moving sports is a bit of a big ask).

The camera performance is generally pretty good in other areas too. We love the versatility of the 24mm wide-angle lens, coupled with the extra reach of the 5x optical zoom. Watch out for a touch of softening around the edges in those wide-angle shots, although this is not such a worry in telephoto. The biggest problem we came across was chromatic aberration, which refers to the purple fringing you find on areas of high contrast. This is pretty prevalent when viewed up close, so be mindful of this if you plan to crop into your shots.

The Ixus 200IS proves its worth in daylight images, producing great colours and some nice details. Foliage is vibrant, skies are rich blues and skin colours are warm and true-to-life. Take the camera indoors or place it in a scene with compromised light and the results are not so rosy, with noise creeping in at ISO 400. The effects of noise reduction can be seen as areas of detail begin to loose sharpness, which is a great shame. This should not deter those looking to grab snapshots here and there, as you can capture some great shots. However, if you are looking for a camera to use for more serious photography work, you may want to look for something that is more versatile in all lighting conditions.

Overall this is a pleasing model, with a lot going for it. It’s easy to use, has great handling and the touch screen options give it a modern twist that is actually very useable. You will find great deal online that make this camera even more appealing, so certainly consider it if you need a point and shoot for every now and then.

Final Verdict This camera has a got a lot going for it, but doesn’t quite deliver as well indoors as it does outdoors. Perfect for the outdoors photographer though. OVERALL

Rosie’s big passion is travel photography, with a love of capturing different cultures on camera, from scenery and landscapes through to people and food. She studied photography at college and hopes one day find time to submit her images to the Royal Photographic Society for accreditation.