Satisfying my camera lust

I've wanted this model since I heard it would be out, and now I've got it. The Ixus 800IS is currently the top of the line for the Ixus family, with the other two Ixus models being promoted by Canon being the Ixus60 and Ixus65.

I bought the Ixus60 3 months ago, before the Ixus 800IS was available where I am. I preferred the Ixus55 to the Ixus60 at the time; but the Ixus 800IS blows the other 2 Ixus cams away.

In my earlier reviews of the Ixus55 and Ixus60, I spoke of the wonderfully tiny size of the cameras. It has to be noted that the Ixus 800IS is NOT as small or as stylish as the double-digit Ixus models. It's a little heavier too, and has a bluish grey finish that doesn't look so pretty. But it's the performance that counts.

In terms of specifications, this camera is a 6-megapixel model like the Ixus60. It boasts ISO800 light sensitivity, again like the Ixus60. And it has an optical viewfinder, just like the Ixus60. Perhaps the only difference to me (other than the weight) is that it has image stabilisation. Since trying out image stabilisation on the Panasonic Lumix FZ5 I've been a big fan of having this on any compact camera I buy - though you still have to test it out as different image stabilisers perform differently.

In terms of physical ease-of-use, I admit I prefer the Ixus55 and Ixus60. They have a power-on button at the top, where it's less likely to be pressed by mistake. They also have a simple three-stage slider that allows you to choose between camera mode, video mode, and playback. In contrast, the Ixus 800IS has its power button at the back, near the viewfinder. You switch camera, video, manual, auto, scene and playback modes through a physical wheel that's a little hard to shift, even with my fingernails. You're not going to be able to choose modes easily. On the other hand, you're not going to switch modes accidentally, either.

The Ixus 800IS continues with the Ixus tradition of featuring a menu button at the bottom right corner, and a function/set button surrounded by a ring with four directional arrows on it. This takes some getting used to for users new to the Ixus. Some functions, the basic ones like changing the date or controlling whether it produces sound when you press buttons, you access through the menu button. Other functions, such as the My Color and scene modes, you access through the function/set button in conjunction with a lot of navigation through the arrow keys.

There are an awful lot of special scene modes but I don't play with this very often. I prefer spontaneous shots and by the time you've chosen your scene mode your photo opportunity has probably passed you by.

I typically leave my Ixus on manual mode, with vivid colour, auto white balance, auto ISO, image stabilisation on when you take the picture (rather than continuous, which I think wastes battery life), LCD off, infrared focus off, and no flash. I have also switched AiAF off, as one of the photo review sites says this makes pictures sharper. The manual says I should be able to get 700 shots if I take pictures with the LCD off, and so far so good. The Ixus50 was good for 500 shots and the Ixus60 for 600 shots or so, so this is merely incremental and I'm not that impressed. But you have to admit that being able to take so many pictures on one battery charge is very useful.

So far, I've noticed that the Ixus 800IS has very quiet operation compared to the other Ixus cams I've used. All Canons work fast, but this seems more responsive than usual. I should mention that I have a Kingston Ultimate 133x 1GB SD card in there, and you really can tell the difference when it's erasing pictures or saving video.

I also like the colour and the sharpness of this camera. You can get some pretty sharp pictures with an Ixus, but they look sharper with this model. The colours look better, and you get fewer 'misses' with indoor lighting. What happens with the Ixus55 and Ixus60 is that you might get blurry shots without a flash. You're more likely to get them in perfect focus with the Ixus 800IS - so I figure it's the image stabilisation. This is important because macro mode with flash on the Ixus60 results in over-exposed pictures. You won't have that problem with the Ixus 800IS since you get them in perfect focus even without the flash. The colours aren't too bad, either, so there seems to be some kind of indoor lighting compensation going on. It's not as good as the Olympus technology for this, but it's pretty good.

I would, however, not recommend trying out pictures at ISO800 or with the AutoISO Hi mode on. You're supposed to be able to take pictures in darker conditions than usual and without using flash with these 2 modes. Sometimes you can, but not always. And the pictures are generally so grainy/noisy as to be totally awful. I have yet to find a situation where it's actually come in useful for taking a picture - I'd either switch on more lights, or use the flash. Maybe if you're taking a picture of a newborn baby and don't want to use the flash.

This is definitely going to be my primary camera from now on, and I'd recommend it highly. The other Ixus models are fine for general use but if you want to make sure you get superb shots most of the time, splurge on this model. It's definitely a bit more expensive than the Ixus60, but it's worth it.