Canon IXUS 145 Review
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 16 megapixel Superfine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 5Mb.
Noise
The ISO range on the IXUS 145 is fairly limited from ISO 100-1600. Noise performance at low sensitivity is very good. ISO 100 shows no discernible noise in shadows areas. There's plenty of detail and edge sharpness is great.
Looking at the pictures at full magnification, noise does start to show through at ISO 200, but this can't be seen at normal viewing distance. In fact you can't really see noise at normal distances until around ISO 800 which is pretty good. By that stage, noise control is really suffering. Detail has been lost as noise is blurred to keep it out. However, blobs of green still remain in shadow areas.
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ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
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Sharpening
The IXUS 145 does provide very sharp pictures. However, we did also discover that adding some basic sharpening in an editing suite certainly improved the overall sharpness of the picture.
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Original (100% Crop) |
Sharpened (100% Crop) |
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Focal Range
The Canon IXUS 145 has an 8x optical zoom. The range starts at 28mm which means it stretches up to 224mm in 35mm terms.
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28mm |
224mm |
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Chromatic Aberrations
One area that the IXUS 145 suffers badly in is chromatic aberration. It occurs when not all colours focus on the sensor and appear as thin lines on sharp edges. They usually manifest as purple lines on contrasting colours. It happens usually towards the far edges of the frame where the image quality isn't as sharp, but on the 145, we found evidence in the centre.
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Chromatic Aberrations 1 (100% Crop) |
Chromatic Aberrations 2 (100% Crop) |
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Chromatic Aberrations 3 (100% Crop) |
Chromatic Aberrations 4 (100% Crop) |
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Macro
Close focusing on the IXUS 145 is 1cm. That's great for a small digital compact camera such as this. Be aware when using this mode because there's a steep image quality drop off from the centre spot.
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Macro |
Macro (100% Crop) |
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Flash
The flash on the Canon IXUS 145 has a range of 50cm – 3m at wide-angle and 1.3-1.5m at full zoom. At the widest setting, the lens does pick up some vignetting but this disappears once the camera is zoomed in.
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Flash Off - Wide Angle (28mm) |
Flash On - Wide Angle (28mm) |
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Flash Off - Telephoto (224mm) |
Flash On - Telephoto (224mm) |
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Red-eye reduction does appear using the IXUS 145. We switched on the red-eye reduction feature in the Main menu and it does reduce. It's important to remember that this is a red-eye reduction, not red-eye removal.
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Flash On |
Flash On (100% Crop) |
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Red-eye Correction |
Red-eye Correction (100% Crop) |
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Night
For the majority of night or low light shots, the Program mode should cope with the majority of situations. Program will expose up to a maximum of 1sec, so if you find yourself in a situation where you need a longer exposure, you can switch to the IXUS 145's Night mode which is actually called Long exposure. It's pretty cool, because it allows you to determine the length of the shutter speed to a maximum of 15seconds. It means that it's not just limited to night shots, but you can also do star trails or car light streaks, for example. The Long exposure mode also uses a low ISO because it's apparent that you'll be steadying the camera to prevent blurring.
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Night Program |
Night Program (100% Crop) |
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Night Scene |
Night Scene (100% Crop) |
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Sample Images
This is a selection of sample images from the Canon IXUS 145 camera, which were all taken using the 16 megapixel Superfine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.
1/50s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
6.92mm
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1/100s · f/3.5 · ISO 200
6.92mm
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1/200s · f/3.5 · ISO 400
6.92mm
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1/400s · f/3.5 · ISO 800
6.92mm
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1/800s · f/3.5 · ISO 1600
6.92mm
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1/60s · f/4 · ISO 100
12.52mm
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1/60s · f/3.2 · ISO 200
5mm
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1/640s · f/3.2 · ISO 200
5mm
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1/800s · f/4.5 · ISO 200
17.8mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 125
40mm
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1/250s · f/10 · ISO 100
9.48mm
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1/500s · f/3.2 · ISO 200
5mm
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1/250s · f/9 · ISO 160
5mm
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1/640s · f/4 · ISO 200
14.16mm
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1/400s · f/9 · ISO 200
5.74mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 640
40mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 640
40mm
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1/320s · f/3.5 · ISO 200
7.35mm
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1/800s · f/4 · ISO 100
13.16mm
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1/60s · f/3.2 · ISO 160
5mm
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1/200s · f/11 · ISO 160
12.84mm
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1/160s · f/4.5 · ISO 200
18.98mm
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1/640s · f/10 · ISO 200
8.02mm
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1/125s · f/4.5 · ISO 200
17.41mm
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1/640s · f/9 · ISO 100
5mm
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1/800s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
5mm
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1/400s · f/4 · ISO 100
10.23mm
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1/320s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
5mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 125
40mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 200
40mm
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1/500s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
6.24mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 125
40mm
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1/200s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
5mm
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1/125s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
5mm
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1/250s · f/6.3 · ISO 320
34.04mm
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1/125s · f/4 · ISO 100
12.84mm
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1/320s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
5mm
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1/60s · f/3.2 · ISO 160
5mm
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1/250s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
5.67mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 250
40mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 100
40mm
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1/500s · f/3.2 · ISO 100
5mm
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1/250s · f/6.9 · ISO 200
40mm
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Sample Movie & Video
This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 1280x720 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 33 second movie is 59.3Mb in size.
Product Images
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Front of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Front of the Canon IXUS 145 / Turned On |
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Side of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Side of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Rear of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Rear of the Canon IXUS 145 / Image Displayed |
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Rear of the Canon IXUS 145 / Function Menu |
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Rear of the Canon IXUS 145 / Main Menu |
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Rear of the Canon IXUS 145 / Main Menu |
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Rear of the Canon IXUS 145 / Main Menu |
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Rear of the Canon IXUS 145 / Main Menu |
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Top of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Bottom of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Side of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Side of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Front of the Canon IXUS 145 |
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Memory Card Slot |
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Battery Compartment |
Conclusion
The Canon IXUS 145 is an easy to use point and shooter, typically ideal for the happy snapper crowd. It does everything for you, even selecting the scene mode that will appropriate the best photographs.
Thankfully, should you be a little bit more savvy in the old tech department, the 145 will allow you to select the Program mode in order to take a little control over the picture settings. It's just not in the easiest place to find if you're new to the system. If you need help, there's also no longer as straightforward way of finding out. In the old days, a full manual was included in the box. Then to save paper and decrease packaging, full manuals were placed on a CD to review on a computer. These days, they don't even do that. The full manual has to be downloaded from the Canon website.
The build quality is good, but that's what we'd expect from an IXUS. For a sub-£100 camera, it's nice to have a camera with some weight to it, a solid body and a metal tripod bush. However, the lens quality doesn't seem to be on par with what the IXUS name stands for.
We're pleased with the photographs we got from the Canon IXUS 145. The colours are bright and punchy, but not to over saturated. The dynamic range leaves a lot to be desired for, but the i-Contrast feature will help with that to a degree. Failing that, as long as the subject isn't a close up or a landscape, use the flash.
Thanks to the glossy exterior, sexy design and fast response for taking pictures, the Canon IXUS 145 is a good camera for everyday shooting, taking out on nights out with friends or family and on holidays. If you're after an inexpensive camera from a good stable with nice looks and good picture quality, then take a look at the Canon IXUS 145.
| Ratings (out of 5) | |
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| Design | 4 |
| Features | 3.5 |
| Ease-of-use | 4 |
| Image quality | 4 |
| Value for money | 4.5 |
Main Rivals
Listed below are some of the rivals of the Canon IXUS 145.
Fujifilm FinePix T400
The Fujifilm FinePix T400 compact camera offers a 10x zoom, 16 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen and 720p movies, all for a street price of just £70 / $90. Read our Fujifilm FinePix T400 review to find out if it's a genuine bargain or one to avoid...
Nikon Coolpix S5300
The Nikon Coolpix S5300 is a stylish and fully-featured compact camera. The S5300 offers 16 megapixels, an 8x zoom with 25mm wide-angle setting, built-in wi-fi connectivity, 1080p HD movies and a 3 inch LCD screen. Read our expert review of the Nikon Coolpix S5300 to find out if it's a bargain or not...
Olympus VH-410
The Olympus VH-410 is an affordable compact camera with a lot of premium features. You get a very capable camera for just £120 - 16 megapixels, 5x wide-angle zoom, 3 inch LCD touchscreen, 720p movies, all housed in a metal body. Read our Olympus VH-410 review to find out if it's a bargain or not...
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ7 is a new mid-range travel-zoom compact camera. The stylish Panasonic SZ7 offers 14 megapixels, a 10x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen, 10fps burst shooting and 1080p HD movies. Read our expert Panasonic DMC-SZ7 review now...
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350 is the world's slimmest camera with a 20x zoom lens. This affordable travel-zoom also offers an 18 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, 10fps continuous shooting, built-in wi-fi/NFC connectivity and Full HD movie recording. Priced at around £239 / €289 / $299, read our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX350 review to find out if it lives up to its full promise...
Review Roundup
Reviews of the Canon IXUS 145 from around the web.
uk.pcmag.com »
The Canon PowerShot Elph 135 has an appealing price tag, but for just $10 more you can get an identical model with image stabilization.
Read the full review »
Specifications
IMAGE SENSOR
| Type | 1/2.3 type CCD |
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| Effective Pixels | Approx. 16.0M |
| Colour Filter Type | Primary Colour |
IMAGE PROCESSOR
| Type | DIGIC 4+ with iSAPS technology |
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LENS
| Focal Length | 5.0 – 40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28 – 224 mm) |
|---|---|
| Zoom | Optical 8x ZoomPlus 16x Digital Approx. 4x Combined Approx. 32x¹ |
| Maximum f/number | f/3.2 – f/6.9 |
| Construction | 8 elements in 7 groups (1 double-sided aspherical lens) |
FOCUSING
| Type | TTL |
|---|---|
| AF System/ Points | AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point), 1-point AF (fixed to centre) |
| AF Modes | Single, Continuous (Auto mode only), Servo AF/AE, Tracking AF¹ |
| AF Lock | Yes |
| AF Assist Beam | Yes |
| Closest Focusing Distance | 1 cm (W) from front of lens in macro |
EXPOSURE CONTROL
| Metering modes | Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame), Centre-weighted average, Spot (centre) |
|---|---|
| AE Lock | Yes |
| Exposure Compensation | +/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments. Enhanced i-Contrast for automatic dynamic range correction |
| ISO sensitivity | AUTO, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600 |
SHUTTER
| Speed | 1 – 1/2000 sec. (factory default) 15 – 1/2000 sec. (total range – varies by shooting mode) |
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WHITE BALANCE
| Type | TTL |
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| Settings | Auto (including Face Detection WB), Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom |
COLOUR MATRIX
| Type | sRGB |
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LCD MONITOR
| Monitor | 6.8 cm (2.7") LCD (TFT), Approx. 230,000 dots |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Approx. 100% |
| Brightness | Adjustable to one of five levels. Quick-bright LCD |
FLASH
| Modes | Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Slow Synchro |
|---|---|
| Slow Sync Speed | Yes. Fastest speed 1/2000 sec. |
| Red-Eye Reduction | Yes |
| Flash Exposure Compensation | Face Detection FE, Smart Flash Exposure |
| Flash Exposure Lock | Yes |
| Built-in Flash Range | 50cm – 3.0 m (W) / 1.3 – 1.5 m (T) |
| External Flash | Canon High Power Flash HF-DC1 Canon High Power Flash HF-DC2 |
SHOOTING
| Modes | Smart Auto (32 scenes detected), P, Portrait, Live View Control, Digital IS, FaceSelf-Timer, Low Light (4.0 MP), Fish-eye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Snow, Fireworks, Long Shutter |
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| Modes in Movie | Smart Auto (21 scenes detected), P, Portrait, Miniature Effect, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Snow, Fireworks |
| Drive modes | Single, Continuous, Self-Timer |
| Continuous Shooting | Approx. 0.8 shots/sec.¹ (until memory card becomes full)² |
RECORDING PIXELS / COMPRESSION
| Image Size | 4:3 - (L) 4608 x 3456, (M1) 3264 x 2448, (M2) 2048 x 1536, (S) 640 x 480, (W) 4608 x 2592 Resize in playback (M2, S) |
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| Compression | Fine |
| Movies | (HD) 1280 x 720, 25 fps, (L) 640 x 480, 30 fps Miniature Effect (HD) 5fps, 2.5fps, 1.25 fps Miniature Effect (L) 6fps, 3fps, 1.5 fps |
| Movie Length | (HD) Up to 4 GB or 29 min. 59 sec.¹ (L) up to 4 GB or 1 hour² |
FILE TYPES
| Still Image Type | JPEG compression, (Exif 2.3 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system, Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant |
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| Movies | MOV [H.264 + Linear PCM (monaural) ] |
DIRECT PRINT
| Canon Printers | Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and Canon Inkjet Printers supporting PictBridge |
|---|---|
| PictBridge | Yes |
OTHER FEATURES
| Red-Eye Correction | Yes, during shooting and playback |
|---|---|
| Histogram | Yes |
| Playback zoom | Approx. 2x – 10x |
| Self Timer | Approx. 2 or 10 sec. or Custom |
| Menu Languages | English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Chinese (traditional), Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Ukrainian, Romanian, Farsi, Malaysian, Hindi, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Hebrew |
INTERFACE
| Computer | Hi-Speed USB (MTP, PTP) dedicated connector (Mini-B compatible) |
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| Other | A/V output, dedicated connector (PAL/NTSC) |
MEMORY CARD
| Type | SD, SDHC, SDXC |
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SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM
| PC & Macintosh | Windows 8, 8.1 / 7 SP1 / Vista SP2 / XP SP3 Mac OS X 10.7, 10.8, 10.9 |
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SOFTWARE
| Browsing & Printing | ImageBrowser EX |
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| Other | Camera Window PhotoStitch |
POWER SOURCE
| Batteries | Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-11L (battery and charger supplied) |
|---|---|
| Battery life | Approx. 230 shots Eco Mode: Approx. 310 shots Approx. 240min. playback |
| A/C Power Supply | Optional, AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC90 |
ACCESSORIES
| Cases / Straps | Soft Case DCC-1370 Soft Case DCC-1350 Soft Case DCC-1320 |
|---|---|
| Flash | Canon High Power Flash HF-DC1 Canon High Power Flash HF-DC2 |
| Power Supply & Battery Chargers | AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC90 |
| Other | Canon AV Cable AVC-DC400 |
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Operating Environment | 0 – 40 °C, 10 – 90% humidity |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 95.2 x 54.3 x 22.1 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 127 g (including battery/batteries and memory card) |
| Zoom | ¹ Depending on the image size selected. |
|---|---|
| Continuous Shooting | ¹ Under conditions where the flash does not fire. ² Depending on memory card speed / capacity / compression setting. |
| Movie Length | ¹ The following Speed Class memory cards are required for maximum record time: (HD) 1280 x 720 Speed Class 4 or above. (Full HD) 1920 x 1080 Speed Class 6 or above. (iFrame) 1280 x 720 Speed Class 6 or above. ² Depending on memory card speed / capacity / compression setting. |
| AF Modes | ¹ Some settings limit availability. |
- All data is based on Canon standard testing methods (according to CIPA Standards) except where indicated.
- Subject to change without notice.
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