Want to use an even smaller digital camera? Try Ixus<\/p>\n
By Zatni Arbi<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Not long after Canon released PowerShot A50,
\nthey came out with PowerShot S10. Before I could try out this 2.1
\nmegapixel model, they launched the 3.4 megapixel PowerShot S20. I
\nwas still requesting a test unit of this sleek digital camera
\nwhen I was handed a PowerShot S100 instead.<\/p>\n
About two months ago, this model had not been launched in
\nIndonesia, although it had been written about in several
\npublications, including Singapore's The Business Times. This
\nsmall digital camera is better known as the Canon Digital Ixus.<\/p>\n
It may be the case that the PowerShot S20 is still the most
\ncompact 3.4 megapixel digital camera. The Ixus is not a 3.4
\nmegapixel, it is a 2.1 megapixel, the same as PowerShot S10. It
\nmeans that this camera, which has exactly the same width and
\nheight as a credit card, is capable of capturing images with a
\nresolution of 2.1 million pixels. The CCD is 1\/27th of an inch,
\nand the manual says the best file formats are Superfine\/Large
\nwith 1600 x 1200 pixels and Fine\/Large with 1600 x 1200 pixels.
\nTo save space on the Compact Flash (CF) storage media, the
\nresolution can be lowered to Fine\/Small (640x480).<\/p>\n
I tried an 8 MB Type 1 CF to use with this camera, which could
\nhold only 14 Fine\/Large shots. A larger capacity should be used,
\nperhaps the 16 MB CF. You may even want to have some extra CFs in
\nyour pocket if you intend to take a lot of pictures, although you
\ncan always erase the unwanted images easily. Interestingly, I had
\nno problem replaying the 2.1 megapixel images on my older, 1.3
\nmegapixel PowerShot A50, which also uses the same type of CF.<\/p>\n
Although it is small, it has a depth of 1.1 inches. That
\nsomewhat reduces the perception of its size, especially when held
\nin the hand. The body is made of aluminum-type metal and has a
\nsolid feel. Its weight, without the battery and the Compact
\nFlash, is 190 grams.<\/p>\n
The tiny lens is just 5.4-10.8 mm, which is equivalent to 35-
\n70 mm with 35 mm films. The sensitivity is equivalent to ISO 100.
\nFor nighttime shots, use the Slow Synchro mode, which slows the
\nshutter speed and adjusts the flash accordingly. The optical zoom
\ncapability is 2x, while the digital zoom can be upped to 4x. For
\na 2.1 megapixel image, the digital zoom beyond 2x can sometimes,
\nhowever, give a less than satisfactory result.<\/p>\n
Because of its diminutive size, I thought this camera would be
\ndifficult to use. Not true. Canon has streamlined the interface a
\nlot and has reduced the number of buttons. The zoom control is a
\nring around the shutter release button. The power button is
\nneatly recessed next to it. At the bottom of the sharp and bright
\nLCD there are only three buttons with clear marks on them.<\/p>\n
Quick recharge<\/p>\n
One impressive feature of this camera is its very short shot-
\ntaking interval. It takes the camera only 1.7 seconds to get
\nready for the next shot. An internal memory buffer helps make
\nthis possible, as images can be stored temporarily in a faster
\nstorage before being written to the CF. In Black-and-White mode,
\ntwo shots can be achieved per second in Continuous Shooting Mode,
\ngood for journalists who do not really need color pictures for
\ntheir publications.<\/p>\n
It is also the first Canon digital camera to use a three-point
\nfocusing mechanism called AiAF. What this does is use three
\ndifferent focus points and then automatically selects the one
\nthat gives the best focus for the target.<\/p>\n
The digital signal processing has also been improved since the
\nPowerShot A50. It took noticeably less time for the image to
\nappear on the LCD display after each shot than it takes with the
\nolder camera. The same is true when switching from one image to
\nthe other during image previewing, which is much faster than the
\nA50.<\/p>\n
The camera is connected to a PC via the USB port, and should
\nbe faster than the A50, though, as the older camera uses the
\nserial port. Canon also supplies an S-Video cable that allows the
\npictures to be directly displayed on a TV. I found this feature,
\nwhich is also available on my A50, very useful. During a recent
\nreunion, for example, I was able to show pictures I had taken of
\nformer classmates on a large TV set.<\/p>\n
If you're an underwater buff, you can even buy an optional
\nall-weather accessory that will allow you to take this camera
\ndown to a depth of three meters. Unlike the A50, the Ixus box
\ndoes not contain the AC power kit. You would have to buy it if
\nyou wanted to use the camera with AC power and save the battery.
\nIt would be useful if Canon put this kit back in the box. The
\nbattery is a Li-ion. You might want to purchase an extra battery
\nor two if you take and preview a lot of pictures.<\/p>\n
Other useful features include White Balance to compensate for
\nthe impact of different lighting conditions (daylight, cloudy,
\ntungsten or fluorescent), the Black-and-White mode and the Stitch
\nAssist facility that allows a combination of several shots in one
\nlarge picture.<\/p>\n
As I didn't have access to a photo printer during the two-week
\ntest, I was unable to check whether Canon had improved the color
\nquality of its digital cameras. On the TV screen, the colors look
\ngreat, though.<\/p>\n
At about Rp 5 million, Ixus is not too highly priced. It is
\nsturdy and extremely compact. If you have some experience with
\ndigital cameras, this one will be easy for you to learn and use.
\nHowever, with such rapid product development, one cannot help but
\nwonder what Canon will come up with next. (zatni@cbn.net.id)<\/p>",
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