Canon Digital IXUS 80 IS (Canon Digital Ixus 80 IS)

Member Name: adamp111

Product:	Canon Digital Ixus 80 IS
Date:	26/05/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Image quality, some neat features, looks, battery life.

Disadvantages: Limited range of default setting modes.

I bought the Canon IXUS 80 IS as a replacement for a somewhat feeble Pentax Optio M60. It acts as a fantastic demonstration of the mantra 'pixels aren't everything', since despite only boasting 8MP instead of 10MP, the Canon is a significantly better camera.

To start off with the downsides; the IXUS 80 IS is very much a point-and-shoot camera, which in itself isn't a bad thing, but when this is coupled with a very limited range of default setting modes, it becomes slightly more problematic. The absence of a 'sport' shooting mode is particularly poor. Aside from this, the only other slight disadvantage could be the time between shots, which is 2 seconds at best.

The positive elements of the IXUS 80 IS are much more numerous. First off, the camera is very stylish and good looking; smooth curves at the front complement a more simple rear design. Image quality is also good, and the Image Stabilisation is clearly very effective. Shots at night were less grainy than other camera's of a similar price/class, although there were some artefacts visible when zoomed in. A neat function that I can't help to be impressed with is that the camera zooms in on any photo you've just taken so you can check whether it's blurred or not; Canon have done well to cotton on to the fact that many people can only tell an image is blurry when they get back to their computer, by which time it's too late.

In short, the IXUS 80 IS is a very good camera, although it does somewhat miss its target market. It produces good quality images and is easy to use, which for many, is all that people need from a digital camera.

Summary: Good camera, well worth purchasing.

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