Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS Review
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 12 megapixel JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 4Mb.
For an 'auto everything' camera the shots produced by the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS rarely disappoint, with good exposure latitude. As with the nigh-identically specified 120 IS, left on default settings colours are rendered in naturalistic hues, and with blue skies and plenty of early autumn sunshine around we were able to achieve some pleasing results without having to dive into the 'My colours' effects settings for added vividness. Overcast days can however prove more taxing, rendering grey skies white and featureless, but overall results are what we'd expect from a similar snapshot model.
If we're being picky there is some softness towards the edges of the frame when shooting at maximum 24m equivalent wide-angle setting - but it's only really visible if you're actually looking for it.
Likewise, there is some slight evidence of pixel fringing between areas of high contrast, visible when zooming right into an image, but this is much less so than on many of its rivals. And so again in many cases users wouldn't even notice - certainly not when printing out 6x4s or regular A4 letter size.
In terms of low light performance, starting lower than most point and shoot compacts courtesy of an ISO 80 setting, the IXUS 200 IS does rather well, keeping noise at low levels until ISO 800 and delivering a relatively 'clean' shot also at ISO 1600 setting, albeit with an overall softening of detail. At top ISO 3200 setting - selected by tabbing through the scene modes - definition is beginning to ebb away and the image has taken on a watercolour effect, but since it's comparable to results we've seen at ISO 1600 from lesser models, so still a setting worth having.
Noise
There are 7 ISO settings available on the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting.
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ISO 80 (100% Crop) |
ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
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Sharpening
Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are just a little soft at the default sharpening setting. You can change the in-camera sharpening level if you don't like the default look.
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Original (100% Crop) |
Sharpened (100% Crop) |
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Chromatic Aberrations
The Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS handled chromatic aberrations very well during the review, with limited purple fringing present around the edges of objects in high-contrast situations, as shown in the examples below.
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Example 1 (100% Crop) |
Example 2 (100% Crop) |
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Macro
The Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS allows you to focus on a subject that is 5cms away from the camera. The first image shows how close you can get to the subject (in this case a compact flash card). The second image is a 100% crop.
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Macro Shot |
100% Crop |
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Flash
The flash settings on the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS are Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Slow Sync Speed and Red-eye Reduction. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
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Flash Off - Wide Angle (24mm) |
Flash On - Wide Angle (24mm) |
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Flash Off - Telephoto (120mm) |
Flash On - Telephoto (120mm) |
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And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Flash On or the Red-eye-Reduction settings caused any red-eye.
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Flash On |
Flash On (100% Crop) |
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Red-eye Reduction |
Red-eye Reduction (100% Crop) |
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Night
The Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS's maximum shutter speed is 15 seconds, which is great news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 1/15th second at ISO 800. I've included a 100% crop of the image to show what the quality is like.
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Night Shot |
Night Shot (100% Crop) |
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Sample Images
This is a selection of sample images from the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS camera, which were all taken using the 12 megapixel JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.
Sample Movie & Video
This is a sample movie at the quality setting of 1280 x 720 pixels at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 12 second movie is 36.5Mb in size.
Product Images
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Front of the Camera |
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Front of the Camera / Lens Extended |
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Isometric View |
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Isometric View |
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Rear of the Camera |
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Rear of the Camera / Image Displayed |
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Top of the Camera |
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Bottom of the Camera |
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Side of the Camera |
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Side of the Camera |
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| Memory Card Slot |
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| Battery Compartment |
Conclusion
Given that this is a point and shoot pocket camera, not a tank-like super zoom nor bridge model, Canon may struggle to justify the price of the Digital IXUS 200 IS and indeed a quick internet search will reveal better deals; we found one major retailer offering it from £270 at the time of writing which, psychologically at least in coming under the £300 'barrier', is much more like it.
If you're not sold on the idea of the IXUS 200 IS' wider format screen - which in truth only really comes into its own when shooting video clips - or a slightly better than average zoom range, then for portability and value the IXUS 120 IS offers itself up as a better bet from the Canon stable.
Focusing on the IXUS 200 IS in a more positive manner, the camera is fun and surprisingly intuitive to use given its mix of touch screen and control-based operation. That said the implementation of the former, in present form at least, comes across as slightly half hearted; if wanted you can get away with not using the touch screen features at all and still the camera would function not just perfectly adequately, but well.
Ultimately the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS does all that's expected of it, the pebble inspired design you'll either like or you won't, and if it was £50-£100 cheaper any niggles would be largely by the by.
| Ratings (out of 5) | |
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| Design | 4 |
| Features | 3.5 |
| Ease-of-use | 4 |
| Image quality | 3.5 |
| Value for money | 3 |
Review Roundup
Reviews of the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS from around the web.
letsgodigital.org »
Canon aptly participates in the Megapixel race with the IXUS 200 IS. The small compact cameras already feature an extremely tiny image sensor, and to apply it with no less than 12 million pixels seems to be a contradiction. However, not as far as marketing is concerned; they seem all too happy to see high resolution figures pass by. Still, Canon is showing slight traces of change; for example with the new PowerShot G11 and S90. Both cameras are aimed at advanced photographers, and both cameras are equipped with fewer Megapixels (MP 10) than expected. This does not (yet) applies to the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS camera, but, who knows? Perhaps the next generation of IXUS cameras will await the same fate.
Read the full review »
steves-digicams.com »
With the release of the PowerShot SD980 IS, Canon has also introduced its first ever Touch LCD screen. This new ultra-compact Digital ELPH also features a 12.1-Megapixel imaging sensor, 5x ultrawide (24mm) optical zoom lens, Optical Image Stabilization, 720p HD video capture with HDMI output capabilities, and an improved Smart Auto shooting mode that includes 22 preset shooting situations. Not only is the SD980 versatile and functional, but also stylish with 4 available color choices: Silver, Blue, Gold and Purple.
Read the full review »
Specifications
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Zoom |
¹ Depending on the image size selected. |
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AF Modes |
¹ Some settings limit availability |
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Modes |
¹ Recording pixels fixed at 1600 x 1200 (ISO 3200 Mode) and 1824 x 1368 (Low Light Mode). |
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Continuous Shooting |
¹ Under conditions where the flash does not fire. |
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Movie Length |
¹ The following Speed Class memory cards are required for maximum record time: 1280 x 720, 30fps Speed Class 4 or above. 1920 x 1080, 30fps Speed Class 6 |
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Battery life |
¹ Using the batteries and memory card format supplied with the camera (where included), except where indicated. |
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* Standard Output Sensitivity / Recommended Exposure Index. |
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According to ISO 12232:2006 (20th April 2006) which specifies the method for assigning and reporting ISO speed ratings for digital still cameras. |
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All data is based on Canon standard testing methods (according to CIPA Standards) except where indicated. |
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Subject to change without notice. |
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