Canon's IXUS 980 IS
Canon’s IXUS 980 IS raises the bar in terms of what a point-and-shoot camera can offer and while it is arguably one of the chunkier ‘compact’ cameras on the market the device’s larger footprint is certainly put to good use.
In the land of the digital camera, pixel count is king; at least that is what most casual photographers are interested in. This camera is not above indulging in this arms race either, sporting a frankly ludicrous 14.7 megapixel lens – probably enough to take a good quality, billboard-sized photograph.
Beyond that increasingly immaterial number, however, there are some far more useful features in terms of both hardware and software. The optical zoom stretches to 3.7 times normal size, for example, while the ‘IS’ in device’s the title refers to the image stabilisation technology that is built-in – particularly useful when you are using the zoom to its maximum potential.
The flash is surprisingly strong too allowing for some sharp photographs in even the poorest of lighting conditions; while the stunning 2.5” LCD screen displays the results beautifully, allowing you to make a much more informed decision on what to cull and what to keep.
Other small features like red eye reduction, facial recognition and motion detection technology all add towards generally good results from minimum effort – which is a critical factor for those who just want a camera they can use at a whim.
Interestingly the processor the whole camera is based on is the Digic 4, the same custom-made chip that Canon is using in its professional-end devices. This in itself symbolises the real appeal of the IXUS 980.
In the camera market there are typically three segments; the compact camera that sits in your pocket and allows for quick and easy photographs, the professional SLR which is only used to its full potential when coupled with the right lens and function setting and the ‘Bridge’ device which fills the gap between these two ends of the market, offering a stepping stone for those moving from one side to the other.
The IXUS 980 is technically a compact camera, although with its powerful hardware and huge pixel count it is really a ‘Bridge’ device. The ‘Auto’ function is easily selected for those who want to just take simple photographs but there are also a plethora of features to be chosen from for those looking to do something a little bit fancier.
If anything it is fair to say that there are too many options on offer, making it hard for a new user to acquaint themselves with each one without first reading the manual. The controls on the device are also disappointingly unintuitive for a Canon device with too many buttons, wheels and switches to deal with in the process of getting from A to B.
These kinds of niggles are easily overcome once you are willing to familiarise yourself with how things work but good technology should never require a user to re-learn basic functions just so they can use the device properly. In this particular instance, however, the extra effort is worth it.
An edited version of this review appeared in Business & Finance magazine on the 6th November 2008.
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