Canon IXUS 240 HS Review

Overview

The Canon IXUS 240 HS is a stylish, pocket camera. It has 16 megapixels and a 5x zoom lens. Looking at the features on offer there are two that stand out as big attractions. These are Wi-Fi connectivity and a touch control LCD screen. In addition the IXUS 240 HS is able to shoot High Definition Movies. It can also create slow motion movie clips.

Compared with other pocket digital cameras at this price point the IXUS 240 HS has the following:

Plus Points

• Full High Definition Movies
• Wi-Fi Connectivity
• Touch Control LCD Screen
• Image Stabilisation for movies as well as stills
• Slow Motion Movies

Negative Points

• No 3D shooting
• No 360 degree panorama mode

Why Buy the Canon IXUS 240 HS

If you would like a small, touch controlled digital camera, but you also care deeply about picture quality then you are likely to find the IXUS 240 HS a good choice. When it comes to the quality of the pictures it takes it is up there with the best cameras in this category. If you like the idea of transmitting pictures by Wi-Fi that is also likely to be a big attraction as there are very few digital cameras offering this feature.

Features

Megapixels and Zoom

The IXUS 240 HS has 16 megapixels and a 5x zoom lens. The lens has a focal length equivalent to 24 - 120mm in 35mm format.

Wi-Fi Connectivity

This is one feature that makes the IXUS 240 HS stand out against the competition. Very few digital cameras offer the ability to transfer photos by Wi-Fi. You need to set up details of where you want to transfer images to using the menu system. Once that has been done transfer is very easy.

Memory Cards

You can use SD, SDHC or SDXC cards to store images.

Batteries

As with the vast majority of the latest digital cameras power is supplied by a lithium ion battery. Canon estimates you should be able to take up to 170 shots between charges. Both a battery and a charger are supplied as standard.

Movie Mode

You can shoot Full High Definition Movies. This is the highest definition currently available for a digital camera. Canon have included Image Stabilisation for movies as well as still images. This should give your video clips a smoother look.

You can also shoot short movie clips that can be played back in slow motion.

LCD Screen

The LCD screen is 3.2 inches in size.

Shooting Modes

Canon have equipped the IXUS 240 HS with the following preset shooting modes: Portrait, Smooth Skin, Smart Shutter (Smile, Wink Self-Timer, FaceSelf-Timer), High-speed Burst (4.0MP), Handheld Night Scene, Low Light (4.0MP), Fish-eye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Soft Focus, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Color Accent, Color Swap, Snow and Long Shutter.

Macro Mode

For close up work the camera can focus from 3cm away from your subject.

Image Quality

Picture Quality Summary

Picture quality compares very well against other pocket cameras. The pictures this camera takes are in sharp focus and there is an additional touch of quality over and above what I am used to seeing from this type of camera.

Outdoor Scenic Shot 1

The main point that stands out from this picture is the edge to edge sharpness. There is a small loss of detail in the lightest areas of the shot, but this is unlikely to be much of an issue unless you are looking at full size images.

Outdoor Scenic Shot 2

That extra quality mentioned in the summary comes into play with this shot. When a lens is zoomed out completely many digital cameras struggle to produce a really sharp shot. That is not the case here and the end result is a shot that has a much greater degree of sharpness throughout the picture. As with other Canon digital cameras if you enlarge the image to full size on a computer screen or make an exceptionally large print you are likely to see some evidence of purple fringing at the edges of light objects.

Outdoor Scenic Shot 3

This is another above average shot. The biggest difference between this and similar shots taken with other small pocket cameras is the way sharpness is maintained as you move away from the centre of the photo.

Outdoor Building

Once again the IXUS 240 HS does very well when it comes to overall picture sharpness. The brickwork on the building has a greater degree of clarity than you normally see. As in the second test shot there is a small amount of purple fringing showing if you enlarge the image to full size.

Outdoor Portrait

Almost every digital camera is capable of producing sharp looking portraits when you are a few feet away from your subject. The IXUS 240 HS has no problems with this shot. If you are looking to take a lot of shots of friends and family from relatively close in this camera is a good choice.

Indoor Portrait With Flash

When you take photographs using flash there are three main factors to look out for. The first is that there is enough light, the second is that the light is spread evenly away from the centre and the third is the light is not so strong that it washes colour out of the picture. The IXUS 240 HS does well on all counts. There is just about the right amount of light and it reaches out into the corners of the shot.

Indoor Portrait Without Flash

You will need good light if you want to take portrait or any other type of photograph indoors without using flash. The IXUS 240 HS is as good as any small snapshot camera in these conditions.

Macro

For a small compact digital camera the quality of the macro mode is very impressive. You can get close into your subject and sharpness is about as good as you can hope for with this type of digital camera. Backgrounds have a pleasing blur to them with your main subject standing out from the background.

Colours

Canon digital cameras seem to be able to produce particularly vibrant colours. Together with the brightness in the pictures this makes a particularly appealing combination.

Noise

Noise levels are not an issue with the IXUS 240 HS as long as you are taking pictures in reasonable light. If you decide to increase ISO levels to around 800 or 1600 or if you are taking shots in lowlight then you will see some noise in your pictures. This is the same with any pocket camera.

Top Rated Cameras in this Category

Canon IXUS 510 HS Rating 86/100

If you are prepared to pay a bit more for extra quality then the Canon IXUS 510 HS is likely to be of interest to you. For a pocket camera picture quality is very good. Add in the impressive set of features including a touch screen and Wi-Fi and you can start to see that you do get more for your money compared to a lot of digital cameras. The power of the lens also gives you plenty of scope for capturing a wide range of photo opportunities. It is true you pay a little extra than with more standard pocket cameras, but if you also include the stylish look of this model there is a lot on offer for the price tag.

Read Review: Canon IXUS 510 HS Review

Canon IXUS 125 HS Rating 86/100

If you are looking for a pocket camera and you are prepared to pay extra for picture quality and build quality then the Canon IXUS 125 HS is a good choice. Although it doesn’t have all the latest features like 360 degree panoramas it does an excellent job when it comes to taking pictures. It is straightforward, easy to use and will fit into just about any pocket.

Read Review: Canon IXUS 125 HS Review

Canon IXUS 1100 HS Rating 85/100

The Canon IXUS 1100 HS is a very good choice if you are looking for a pocket digital camera with a combination of a longer zoom lens and touch control. Once you get used to the screen and improve your touch accuracy it responds well. Picture quality compares favourably with other pocket cameras. The style and build suggest a bit of extra class too. The IXUS 1100 HS ticks most of the boxes for a camera in this category.

Read Review: Canon IXUS 1100 HS Review

Related Pages

Canon IXUS 240 HS Specification

Canon IXUS 240 HS Sample Images

Digital Camera Reviews

Canon Digital Cameras

Review Date

Review Date: May 2012