Overview
The Canon IXUS 105 is a typical pocket camera. Compared to other similar digital cameras it is tough to beat. Picture quality is top class for a camera of this small size and I was very impressed with this camera in general.
In terms of features it has 12 megapixels and a 4x wide angle lens. It feels like it is well made and is priced at a small premium to many other brands.
The IXUS 105 handles well. There are no real problems when it comes to ease of use. Key features such as flash are controlled through buttons on the back of the camera with zoom being applied via a ring on the top of the IXUS 105.
There are four colour variations: silver, pink, brown and a light blue.
I like this camera it is a very good choice if you are looking for a good quality, small camera.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
4x
2.7 inches
90.5 x 55.8 x 21.2 mm
140g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
3cm
No
No
Lithium-ion Rechargeable
SD / SDHC / SDXC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
The IXUS 105 does most things very well. The highlight for me is the sharpness of my second test shot. This is taken with the lens zoomed out completely. The majority of small digital cameras with wide angle lenses find this shot a stiff challenge. The IXUS 105 outperforms most of its direct challengers. Sharpness in general is outstanding for a pocket camera. This view is confirmed by my test shot of a building where the picture is in sharp focus from edge to edge.
Another area where the camera does well is with its handling of glare from the sun. There is a small amount of flare in my first test shot, but on the whole this problem is countered very well. I also like the colours in the photos.
There is a tiny amount of purple fringing showing when the lens is zoomed right out, but this is only likely to be an issue with extreme sized prints.
Portraits
All three of my portrait shots work well. If I was being fussy I would pep up the warmth of my outdoor portrait a little, but that point aside I am happy with my results.
In my opinion Canon cameras are better at controlling flash than any other brand. This leads to well balanced lighting. All areas of the shot have enough brightness. The fact that the flash is not overpowering means that plenty of colour remains in the shot. Often it is not easy to see flash has been used in a shot.
I am also impressed by my test portrait taken without flash. The IXUS I05 does well to keep noise levels down, lock focusing and add definition to the shot. As with any digital camera you will need to use flash in most lowlight situations, but this camera is capable of producing pleasant window light portraits.
Macro, Colours and Noise
It will be difficult to find a pocket camera that will produce much better close ups than the IXUS 105. It can focus from 3cm from the subject, so you should have no problem getting in close.
As with other Canon models the colours are vivid. This is a big plus point when it comes to landscape type shots and I especially like the colour of the foliage in my shots and how it is contrasts with the blue skies.
Noise is only likely to be an issue in shady areas and with lowlight scenes. Aside from this the camera handles noise well.
Summary
I have no complaints about picture quality. This camera stands up very well against other similar models.
Style
The IXUS 105 has the edges rounded and the lens unit is surrounded by a silver circle. Otherwise it is looks like a fairly typical pocket camera.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.37 seconds
10.14 seconds
1.18 seconds
22.52 seconds
2.28 seconds
Ease of Use
There is nothing especially taxing about the IXUS 105. The menu screens are easy to read. It does have a few extra options in the menu system compared with similar pocket cameras. The majority of these allow fine tuning, so if your main requirement is ease of use you are unlikely to need to dip into these very often if at all.
Points I Like
Picture quality - style - build quality
Where it Could Improve
Shutter delay with flash
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
The camera used in this review of the Canon IXUS 105 was kindly provided by UK Digital Cameras
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Related Pages
Canon IXUS 105 Review Canon IXUS 105 Specification Canon IXUS 105 Sample Images Canon IXUS 105 Features
Review Date
April 2010
