The Canon IXUS 70 is a standard, pocket sized digital camera. It has all the normal features you would expect from a typical point and shoot digital camera. The emphasis has been placed on quality with this camera, both in terms of build and picture quality. The IXUS 70 has seven megapixels and a three times optical zoom lens.
Image Quality
Having reviewed so many Canon digital cameras I knew roughly what to expect from my tests. Two areas where the IXUS 70 outperforms most other pocket sized digital camera is when it comes to sharpness and colours.
Starting with my three outdoor tests I can see that when it comes to focusing the IXUS 70 does a good job. Many cameras are able to focus well in the centre, but then the sharpness of the photo reduces as you move towards the edges. The IXUS 70 manages to retain most of the sharpness up to the edge. It does find focusing harder in the second shot where the lens is zoomed out and the scene becomes more distant.
Other points to note are a small amount of detail lost through sun glare in the first shot. Also in this shot some of the blue lines on the boats have a slight purple tinge.
Aside from the slight purple tinge colours are generally strong. They are not overpowering, but the IXUS 70 is capable of producing very vivid photos.
One of my favourite photos is the outdoor portrait. Face detection software is built into the camera. Just how much difference this makes is difficult to judge, but the face is certainly in sharp focus and the colours have a natural feel to them.
Another area where I think Canon have an edge is the way they are able to retain colour in a photo when the flash is being used. This point is illustrated in both the indoor portrait and extreme lowlight tests. Both shots have plenty of colour in them. Sharpness levels are also very good. The only downside is the amount of red eye that shows up in the indoor portrait. This gave me the chance to try out the built in red eye correction software and it did a fairly good job of removing the problem.
Next up is the macro shot. Again the IXUS 70 produces an above average image. I am not used to seeing this level of detail and clarity from a pocket sized digital camera.
When it comes to using higher ISO settings I see the usual deterioration in picture quality. At ISO 400 this is already noticeable, but at ISO 1600 picture quality is very poor indeed and I don't really understand why manufacturers include such high ISO levels on their cameras.
Shutter Lag
I was able to take a single photo in 0.32 seconds and five photos in 7.46 seconds. These are fairly average times. Turning the flash unit on makes a big difference. A single photo took 1.04 seconds and five photos 17.13 seconds.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style: The IXUS 70 is quite a plain digital camera. It is not unattractive though and has a solid feel to it. You can opt for a camera with a silver or black circle around the lens area.
Dimensions: 85.9 x 53.5 x 19.4mm
Weight: 125g
Batteries: A rechargeable lithium ion battery and charger are supplied with the camera. Canon estimates you should be able to take around 210 shots in between charges.
Memory cards: A 32mb SD card is supplied with the camera as standard (enough for around nine photos). The IXUS 70 is also compatible with SDHC cards.
Ease of use rating: Average - In my opinion there are easier pocket sized digital cameras out there. This view is based mainly on the icon based functions menu. It takes a bit of getting used to if you are relatively new to photography.
Points I like:
Colours - viewfinder - macro shot - build quality - advanced movies - indoor (lowlight) photos
Where it could improve:
Shutter delay with flash turned on
Verdict:
Although you pay a bit more for the Canon IXUS 70 then you do with many other pocket sized digital cameras you do get good value for money. This is a good all round camera that outperforms the majority of its rivals in most areas. It also has the added bonus of a viewfinder. Recommended.