Are you in the market for a new digital camera? Looking for one that might not only give you the quality shots that you long for but also complement your style when you are out for events or special occasions? This issue, Alafista fills us in on the brand new Canon IXUS 230 HS.
Recently I had the good fortune of landing a set of the newly released Canon IXUS 230 HS. At first glance, you can tell that it is a sleek digital compact camera that suits someone who wants to make a bold fashion statement. You'd definitely stand out in the crowd with its sexy curves and eye-catching vibrant colors: blue, pink, green, purple, silver & black.
Just like its predecessor, the 220HS, it has a very slim design making it easy for you to slip it into your pocket. At the same time, the build quality is to a high standard so I’m sure it can survive the everyday knocks especially if you are the type to always bring it along to capture pictures and videos of everyday moments. That is a very important personal consideration since I usually carry many gadgets and it would be a hassle to carry a bulky DSLR everywhere I go.
In terms of image quality, I’m a big fan of Canon’s HS technology because of its low light performance. The combination of the lower resolution, high sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC IV processor allows me to capture a very accurate reproduction of colours while keeping noise well under control. Many times, I found myself shooting at ISO 800 in low light and was very satisfied with the image quality. Hence, it’s a breeze to take everyday photos that are well exposed and sharp.
Apart from image quality, the IXUS 230HS is also jam-packed with features. One of my favourite features is the macro function because it has a very impressive minimum focus distance of just 3cm. Couple that with the interesting suite of fun creative modes (fisheye, toy camera effect, monochrome) and I was able to take many interesting shots of my figurines.
Canon has made a clever move by shifting some of the buttons (main menu button, auto/normal modes) to the side of the camera so that the back now accommodates a lovely 3 inch LCD screen. A larger screen is definitely better to view your photos on and the high-resolution screen makes it much easier to see regardless of whether you are standing under the bright sun or in a dark room.
The menus on Canon cameras have always been easy to navigate and the IXUS 230 HS is no different with good, clear explanations of all the settings. Most of the frequently used features (e.g. resolution, ISO, aspect ratio) are easily accessed via the functions menu and you simply use the navigation pad to work your way around and press the middle button to confirm. The main menu covers the less used modes (e.g. adjusting the focus frame size, flash settings, and setting the date and time). Shooting in video mode is also quick and straightforward because there is a dedicated button. In conclusion, using the 230HS is so easy I’m sure anyone with or without any photography experience would be able to familiarise themselves with it within a day.
The Canon IXUS 230HS makes a great compact camera that I would use for my daily photo documentation of activities, regardless of whether I’m travelling or going to a party. Of course, it’s a great camera for the holiday season as well and I’m sure it will work well capturing the beautiful Christmas decorations around town or at home when the children are unwrapping their presents around the Christmas tree. At the same time, it’s so simple to use that you can be confident enough to hand it to a fellow stranger who is a novice in photography and still be able to capture great shots for that memorable group shot during important events.
Another IXUS Experience brought to you by the Canon IXUS Style Council