Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS Review
(also known as the PowerShot SD880 IS Digital ELPH)
Review Date: November 27th 2008
Author: Zoltan Arva-Toth
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Conclusion
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Ratings
(out of 5) |
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| Design | 5 |
| Features | 4 |
| Ease-of-Use | 4.5 |
| Image Quality | 4 |
| Value for Money | 4.5 |
The Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS / PowerShot SD880 IS Digital ELPH is probably the best-designed IXUS to date, both in the aesthetic and the functional sense. While our recent encounter with the Canon PowerShot E1 IS has convinced us that it's hard to be stylish on the cheap, there's no denying that the object of this present review is a major knock-out in the style department, even at a 40-50% price premium over the cheaper model.
Better still, it's actually a really usable camera. While retaining the advanced functions found on Canon compacts – such as AFL, AEL, FEL, one-touch white balance and spot metering – the new IXUS adds features like i-Contrast, Servo AF and a Face Self-timer, each of which may come in handy in certain situations. The only functions I missed were a live histogram, manual exposure control and perhaps manual focus – all of which are reserved for the flagship of the Digital IXUS line, the 980 IS (review coming soon).
In the meantime, let us just say that the lower-specified IXUS 870 IS actually has some advantages over its big brother, which mainly concern its lens and image quality. The lens of the 870 IS goes wider, has a better macro mode and produces better off-centre sharpness at most zoom settings.
In short, I can happily recommend the Canon Digital IXUS 870 IS to anyone who is looking for a small, carry-anywhere camera that feels responsive in use and produces more than acceptable image quality, at least at lower sensitivity settings and as long as the light does not get too contrasty. Control freaks, however, are advised to hold their breath until our review of the Digital IXUS 980 IS comes out...
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