Moderate power, but probably the best camera in the field

The positive characteristics that are enumerated in the other reviews, I can confirm:
+ Very compact and light, so to have always with you
+ Operation works well for acclimatization
+ Under optimal conditions very good, natural image quality.

Are also partly because of serious problems with the conditions. The biggest disadvantage and constant annoyance when used in nature is the impossibility of the aperture values, and thus to control the depth of field. For some reason, the camera chooses as good as ever, the maximum aperture and thus the least depth of field, and then dissolves with 1 / 500s from. Mind you in landscape mode, not in the sports program! This may for close-range shots in good light, for example, for groups, etc., may be acceptable. For landscapes, and even worse in subjects with multiple image planes (eg family between blossoming lilac bushes, several children playing) reliable muddy pictures come out with an often inappropriate focus field.

Other weaknesses shows this Ixus at the lighting in high-contrast motifs. The images are either too bright or too dark and noisy. With a lot of patience can be corrected by measuring towards many in different zones, then the focus is moved quickly. This patience motives living but not.

Come all the factors together, I can remove 85% of the images of the last tour. Since you do not rankommt the aperture, image composition is hardly possible or a matter of luck. It is quite incomprehensible, like a photo expert how Canon can leave just the most basic image design tools, and then to program a lot of meaningless or unnecessary software gimmicks.

In conclusion, I agree with a previous speaker: who has a reasonably high-quality mobile phone camera can save these IXUS. However, I must keep good that it is the best in its price range that I could find by trial CANON. Everyone else had significantly poorer image quality, greater delay and usually even less settings.
As such, it is well suited as a snapshot camera, especially since they may actually be doing thanks to their compactness always. Like a good phone just ...