Canon Ixus 70 Review

Posted on June 25th, 2008

With its small size, its excellent image quality and game features satisfactory, if not extended, the Ixus 70 is a very good compact camera. 

Verdict
Despite our criticisms minors, the Ixus 70 is a compact camera remarkable for its price. Most users will be satisfied with its excellent image quality and its set of useful features, if not extended. The most important feature is missing in this device is the stabilization of the optical image.

Canon positioned the Ixus 70 as the replacement for the Ixus 60, released last year, which ranks just before the new Ixus 75 in the range of the manufacturer. The resolution is now 7.1 megapixels, against 6 megapixels on the Ixus 60. If orders are arranged almost the same (despite a different design), Canon has made some changes inside.

The internal change most notable is the adoption of the new Digic III processor. Canon says it extends autonomy and accelerates the time to start, autofocus and shutter response. In addition, the processor has a sufficient computing power to add face detection and red-eye reduction (in playback mode) and offer the Ixus 70 degrees of sensitivity higher (1600 ISO, l ‘case). The fact is that we have noted an improvement in performance compared to the Ixus 60.

If the aesthetic differences are many, the Ixus 60 and Ixus 70 have a layout of controls very similar. Canon places all buttons in the right half of the housing. A slider lets you switch between the capture of photographs, video recording and playback. Apart from three dedicated buttons for the menu, display and direct printing, the only other command is a navigation pad quadridirectionnel, decorated with a touch FUNC / SET at its centre. We found it relatively difficult to use. As it is pushed in and the ring which brings together the orders is not very large, we operated several times the key FUNC / SET by mistake use the navigation keys.

The new look of the Ixus 70 pays tribute to the first Ixus with the large black circle around his target, but it has sparked mixed reactions among people to whom we showed our test model. Some were put off by its rather square, while others have admired his simple and compact. Similarly, half of these people have found it look too retro, when the other half have won. If you do not like the black and silver design, Canon also offers a 100% silver. 

So far, Canon has not seen fit to include manual exposure controls on its cameras on the Digital Ixus range, and Ixus 70 is no exception to the rule. In a sense, this decision seems logical, given that the target audience for these compacts is composed of users of automated are often unaware of the difference between setting opening and speed. We can hardly keep rigour Canon (its competitors are to stay in this together). Fourteen scene modes let you manage specific situations, such as portrait modes, fireworks and snow. Some of these modes appear in the main function menu, but Canon requires you to press once again on the menu button to see them all. In addition to scene modes, you’ll find a fully automatic mode and a manual mode that lets you choose certain options, such as exposure compensation, white balance and the method of measurement (evaluative, weighted Central or spot).
Covering a focal range of 35 to 105 mm (equivalent to a 35 mm camera), with a maximum setting opening of f / 2.8 f / 4.9, 3x optical zoom on this camera is fair with competition. However, we have noted that one effect of tiny colored fringe on our test shots, which leads us to believe he probably has a glass of better quality than other compact cameras. The LCD of 6.35 cm has a special coating intended to prevent glare, scratches and fingerprints. We have noted that very few highlights, but a large number of fingerprints. They were fortunately easy to clean, but you probably prefer to take a small microfiber cloth with you if you do not bear the scars. We have noted with pleasure that Canon still includes an optical viewfinder. Even if it is tiny and shaped tunnel, it will still practice in situations where you have no other choice, or if you do not want the light of the screen inconvenient your neighbors.

The performance was relatively satisfactory during our tests. The Ixus 70 has turned in 0.98 seconds before capturing his first shot JPEG. Thereafter, it took 1.48 seconds between every shot JPEG without the flash, against 2.44 seconds with flash enabled. The time of the shutter amounted to 0.45 seconds in our test contrasted sharply lighting, which reproduces conditions of shooting in a high brightness, against 0.9 seconds in our test under low lighting contrasts, reproduced conditions of shooting in the dark. The shooting burst was not as fast as its predecessor 6 megapixels: about 1.7 image per second (fps), all resolutions combined. The detection system face Canon has identified quickly and accurately most of the faces that we have presented. It seems to rely heavily on the eyes because it showed a slight confusion when one of our subjects has closed its own.

The image quality offered by the Ixus 70 has been excellent during our tests, with accurate colors and great clarity. The automatic white balance of the aircraft produces images pulling slightly on the yellow under the artificial lighting of our laboratory test, but the tungsten preset compensated, producing very neutral colors. Canon keeps noise under control 80 to ISO 200, even if the algorithms for noise reduction manufacturer seem slightly reduce the sharpness at ISO 200. At ISO 400, noise becomes more apparent, manifesting itself in the form of a slight veil of bluish spots délavées majority. The setting of ISO 800 sensitivity generates much more noise, but the images can be used for smaller prints (10 x 15 cm). However, this setting you will lose a lot of clarity and a certain amount of detail in dark areas. The ISO 1600 setting as to give him the impression that your photos were taken during a snowstorm. In this setting maximum sharpness becoming ancient history and details of dark areas become inaccessible. We suggest you stay below ISO 800 whenever possible and avoid setting ISO 1600. Nevertheless, this camera remains at a level equivalent or better than its competitors in terms of noise.

Canon Ixus 70 Review

Filed under Canon, Digital Cameras |

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One Response to “Canon Ixus 70 Review”

1. Canon Ixus 70 Review Says:
   June 25th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

   [...] Canon Ixus 70 Review A slider lets you switch between the capture of photographs, video recording and playback. Apart from three dedicated buttons for the menu, display and direct printing, the only other command is a navigation pad quadridirectionnel, … [...]