Delivery
* Battery (Li-on 760 mAh)
* USB cable, RCA cable
* Hand Strap
* Manual, manual and software CD
Processing and size
The Ixus 115 HS is very small and compact and consists almost entirely of metal. The camera can look very sophisticated and stable. Despite its small size, it is still acceptable in hand.
Service
The Ixus offers like most compact cameras little direct selection buttons. This one has to search deep in the menu, most settings. Via the directional pad can directly be called up only the exposure compensation, flash, and the display of the focus mode. A very good feature for all filmmakers: Videos can be started immediately from the Photo Enhance via an extra button. The Play mode and the menu can also be accessed via keys. The keys themselves are all very small - too small for large hands. A relaxed service is expected by many to be almost impossible. Considering the fact that the camera is very compact and large buttons are hard to implement, I would like to evaluate only a small gripe this however. Lack settings are anyway less served the keys.
Ports, battery and flash
Are located on the side, hidden behind a protective cap, USB and an HDMI port. About the USB port the USB is connected to RCA cable. The battery lasts for about 200 pictures and a few minutes of video: It's just enough for longer trips. The flash can be automatically turned on and operate with Slow Synchro. In addition, he can of course be switched off. The illumination of the photos is uniform.
Speed
From not to be underestimated is in a compact camera the "Snapshot capability". Here 115 absolutely convince the Ixus. From power-on to first image takes about two seconds. This value can be just as impressive as the focusing time. In the wide-angle image by approximately 0.3 seconds in focus at the telephoto end are likely to pass about 0.5 seconds. (A subject with sufficient contrast required)
Display
The display has 3 inches and 230,000 sub-pixels (ie 76,800 pixels) standard fare in the entry-level compact cameras. The image quality is accordingly (if necessary) enough. For image preview (Play mode) you have to zoom into the picture much. Basically the display is however just about acceptable. Will anyone else in this price range already 460,000 sub-pixels, Canon needs to catch up here. (Probably just a matter of profit margin)
Image Stabilizer
An image stabilizer is of great value when an image is to be exposed a little longer. Therefore possess virtually all compact cameras - the absolute entry level except once - a way to stabilize the image. In the test, the image stabilizer was able to offset about two diaphragms. This means that according to the formula for the freehand limit (1 / focal length), the focal length can be halved twice. At 28 mm focal length, exposure time of about 1/7 second is necessary so that the image is sharp. Compared to other cameras, the image stabilization works average. Better systems achieve three to four stops.
Image Quality Photo
First I want to mention the results of some theoretical tests. (Remarks: Without aid no laboratory accuracy can be achieved, a tendency, however, is apparent in each case)
Distortion and vignetting:
In general, the distortion and vignetting is problematic only when using lenses with extreme values. (Eg Super Zoom or very fast lenses)
Since the Ixus neither has a large zoom range, yet is very bright, should - in ordinary work of the engineers - there are no problems. In practice, it looks this way: If 28 mm focal length, so the maximum wide angle of the Ixus, there is only a minimal distortion. Without this test picture anyone would notice. Even at 112 mm, the maximum focal length, distortion is extremely low.
The very good results also apply vignetting (shading of the image border = Eckenabdunkelung). Only the "test chart" reveals a slight vignetting. In practice, these drops do not on.
Sharpness:
Many compact cameras suffer from a severe loss of sharpness on the screen. Even with the Ixus you can see a little sharpness waste but it is very small and is located in the safe range. (The loss of sharpness can vary from model to model!)
ISO test:
The test images can convince: The noise filter has the noise under control, although the image is not smoothed to death. A slight loss of texture can be seen at ISO 400 and ISO 800, but the picture is by no means mushy. It was not until ISO 1600 textures will only be resolved coarse. For a camera in this price range, the result is quite remarkable. The HS sensor does a good job.
Picture quality Video
The Ixus 115 as one of the first compact cameras under 200 euros offers a video recording with full HD resolution (1920x 1080). Also possible: The small HD resolution (1280x 720), which for many years standard SD resolution (640 x 480) and Super Slow Motion video (640 x 480 at 120 fps, 320 x 240 at 240 fps).
The picture quality of the videos is very good. Since the camera does not provide permanent autofocus (it is once focused in front of the trigger), should comply with the object distance during the films about. Also, the optical zoom does not work in video mode. Digital zoom is a purely electronic magnification and is not recommended its use. (Note: the Ixus 220 HS autofocus and optical zoom are enabled owners of 220 HS, however, criticized both the rate of AF, as well as its noise The 115 HS has been disabled both features at the Ixus, thus need not necessarily be a disadvantage.. ). For fast pans shutter effect is visible on the video of the Rolling. This means that actually fall just standing objects apparently in the pivoting direction. This effect results from the CMOS technology and can be mitigated only by slower panning. The slow-motion video of the Ixus 115 HS is merely a gimmick because of its low resolution.
Video Modes:
Resolution images
per second bit rate required memory card
1920 x 1080 24 ~ 34 Mbit / s Class 6
1280 x 720 30 ~ 23.5 Mbit / s Class 4
640 x 480 30 ~ 10 Mbit / s Class 2
320 x 240 30 ~ 2.5 Mbit / s Class 2
640 x 480 120 ~ 10 Mbit / s * approx Class 6
320 x 240 240 ~ 2.5 Mbit / s * approx Class 4
Note *: The data rate of the slow playing video is this bit rate. During recording, this is significantly higher. Putative data rate if an identical compression is used as at 30 fps: 40 MBit at 640 x 480 and 120 fps; 20 MBit at 320 x 240 and 240 fps.
The recording time of Video mode is according to Canon for about 10 minutes at (Full-) HD and SD about an hour. Probably (unaudited) but the limit of 29:59 minutes will not be exceeded. The recording time of the slow-motion video is strictly limited in time.
The size of video per minute can be calculated by the following formula: (bitrate / 8) x 60 -> in Full-HD are the ~ 255 Mbyte / min
I have the Ixus 115 HS with a SanDisk Ultra II (Class 4) 8GB tested. Since the Ultra II Class 4, despite more than 34 Mbit / s creates, were full HD videos no problem. Nevertheless, I would advise all buyers, at least a Class 6 card to buy.
Practice
Unwrapped, turned, made photo. The Ixus 115 HS to make photos is very simple and is also very fast. As mentioned in point speed, it is quickly ready to start and also the focus works quickly. While the photographer in automatic mode can hardly adjust something (and therefore very little "wrong"), provides the program mode at least rudimentary settings for exposure, ISO and the AF mode are among the most important. For many different scene modes such as a long-term exposure can be made. Less useful, but quite fun: Thumbnail or fisheye effects. Something incomprehensible, however, is working the automatic mode. The ISO value is increased, ggleichzeitig but used the ND filter. In Program mode, the shutter is left open as long as possible, so it must be.
Conclusion and Evaluation
Pro:
* Quality workmanship
* Very compact
* Good focal length
* Quite bright in wide angle
* Virtually no distortion and vignetting
* Barely feathering (may vary depending on the camera)
* Good image quality (photo and video)
* Full HD Video
* High ISO capability with good results
* Extra Video Trigger
* Nice gimmicks (Slow-motion video, Miniature Effect, Fish-eye Effect, ...)
Cons:
* Display below average
* Partly nonsensical actions of automatic
* Battery life just adequate
* Visible chromatic Aberrartionen with strong contrasts
* Buttons very small (because of the size, only a small gripe)
Conclusion
The Ixus 115 HS is for me primarily a fair-weather camera, although they can also convince with less light. The image quality of photos and videos is good, the beautiful and the good focal length Aperture wide angle are ideal. The small buttons difficult to operate. A smaller display (one at that dissolved a little higher) would have more room for slightly larger keys left. Overall, the Ixus 115 can convince me almost completely. Apart from a few points of criticism, it is a small and good camera with lots of nice features.
The Ixus 115 HS you would actually give 4.5 stars. Since this is not possible here, I forgive because of the small "flaws" 4 stars. Score 2+
