Sample shots
Taken at 1/60sec shutter speed, F 2.8 and ISO 80, this shows the vibrant colour reproduction
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Performance was good close up. This 20p coin was shot at 1/60 sec shutter speed, F 2.8 and ISO 500
Click for full-size image
When it comes to results, the Ixus 70 is as equally impressive – although not without its flaws. First off, the face-detection system was very good and locked onto faces when we run off a series of shots in a crowded market. On the other hand, the camera suffered from poor red-eye performance and many of our flash shots needed the Ixus 70’s built-in red-eye correction to sort things out.
Powering up only takes a second, but the flash slows down operation time
The red-eye correction system isn’t bad, although we have seen better, and you’d probably want to touch up the images with editing software for a more thorough job. On a brighter note, macro performance was good for a camera of this type and overall picture quality was a sharp as Stephen Fry’s wit, although noise increases somewhat above ISO 800.
Verdict
This camera is no massive leap forward on the Ixus roadmap, and it doesn’t offer a lot in terms of features or functionality. But then the Ixus 70 doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a highly portable, pick-up-and shoot camera that can deliver good picture quality. Which it does.
Canon Digital Ixus 70 compact camera
COMMENTS
Simulated
"That sounds very interesting - I'll have to give it a go."
In fact I did, I stuck the firmware onto a card and although it's a bit fiddly (the raw files are in a peculiar Canon-specific format), it's very interesting. Flash sync at 1/1600th of a second, minute-long exposures, and focus bracketing (thus allowing for huge depth of field, if you stack the photos) in a camera costing pennies!
28mm
The lack of Wide-angle isn't a Canon compact thing- I have an IXUS 850 and that has a 28mm-equivalent lens.
Rotunda
Thanks for the photos - it's good to be able to look into the refurbished Rotunda and see what they've done to it!
review policy
It's our policy here at The Register Hardware, that if a product is available to purchase, then it is eligible for review it. Regardless of whether it's the very latest in that particular range or not.
Five by five
"With open-source firmware loaded via SD-card this camera can do things like 65-second exposures down to 1/10,000 second as well as generate RAW images"
That sounds very interesting - I'll have to give it a go. My main concern with the Ixus is that it feels as if the software has been deliberately crippled so that the camera doesn't overshadow the rest of Canon's range. Physically it feels pretty solid and it's an excellent pocket size, but the almost total lack of manual controls bothers me - that, and the .jpg processing, which is smeary at higher ISOs. Hopefully with .raw this can be turned off.
