Aside from these features the functions and controls are inline with most point and shoot cameras. Build quality feels good and the camera sports a simple yet stylish design.
Why Buy the Canon IXUS 120 IS?
This camera has a touch of class about it. It feels good in the hand and takes good quality snapshots.
Image Quality Canon IXUS 120 IS test shots
Outdoor 1 (Medium Zoom)
The IXUS 120 IS ticks most of the right boxes in this test shot. It copes with the glare of the sun well. This leads to high levels of detail showing on the boats and the colours remaining true. There is a sharp look to the photo and the shot remains in focus as you move out towards the edges.
Outdoor 2 (No Zoom)
There is plenty of colour in this photo, but the shot retains a fairly natural look. The sharpness of the photo is above average when taking into account the lens is fully zoomed out.
Outdoor 3 (Maximum Zoom)
This is a very good effort for such a small digital camera. Sharpness is good once again. The colours are well balanced with a bit on punch to them.
Outdoor 4 (Building)
Looking at all my outdoor scenes I like the amount of brightness the IXUS 120 IS is able to inject into the shots. When taking into account the small size of the lens I am very happy with how crisp my test shots look. There is very little fall off in sharpness as you move away towards the edge of the photo.
Outdoor Portrait
There are no problems with this photo. There is enough pep in the colours the camera has produced and sharpness is impressive once again.
Indoor Portrait with Flash
As with other Canon digital cameras the IXUS 120 IS manages to produce just the right amount of light. The light has managed to brighten the darker areas, such as the hair. This helps to show extra detail. The light is also subtle enough to ensure there is still plenty of colour in the skin tones. This also means that there is very little shine showing on the face due to flash light reflecting back off the face and into the lens.
Indoor Portrait without Flash
There is a small amount of noise that just takes the edge of the photo, but the IXUS 120 IS does a better job than most cameras. So if you find yourself in a reasonably well lit place where flash is not permitted you should be able to produce an acceptable photograph.
Colours
I found the colours to be vivid, but not overpowering. They are well balanced and work well for scenes with a high level of contrast.
Macro
You will be hard pressed to find a pocket digital camera that can take a close up shot that is much better than this one. The model I tested was a black one. It has a matt finish and this helps when photographing shiny subjects as the camera is less likely to appear as a reflection in the photo.
Noise
Noise levels are reasonable. Unless you are taking photos outdoors in good light or you are using flash small amount of noise is always likely to find its way into a shot.
Overall
Based on my tests the IXUS 120 IS is one of the best small cameras for picture quality. It can handle most photo opportunities.
Shutter Lag and Recycling Times
Shutter delay times were standard. A single shot took 0.34 seconds and five shots were timed at 15.30 seconds. Times with flash were a fair bit slower at 1.14 seconds for a single shot and 18.03 seconds for five.
The time taken to turn on the camera and take the first shot was 1.15 seconds. This is an excellent time and one you will find hard to beat.
You can compare this camera to other models by taking a look at the Shutter Lag Comparison Table.
Style
At exactly 20mm wide there are not many smaller digital cameras than the IXUS 120 IS. Personally I like the simple design. The camera is available in four colours, silver, black, blue and brown.
Dimensions
89.5 x 54.9 x 20mm
Weight
120g
Batteries
Lithium ion (NB-4L). Canon estimates you should be able to take around 220 shots before the battery needs to be recharged.
Memory Cards
No memory card is supplied by Canon with the IXUS 120 IS and there is no memory built in. The camera is compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards.
Click here to save money on SD cards..
Ease of Use Rating
Good. I found the menu screens very easy to read. Camera functions such as White Balance and ISO levels have been placed in their own separate menu area.
Points I Like
Picture quality, style, build quality, HD movies, turn on time
Where it Could Improve
Shutter delay with flash
Alternatives
If you are looking for a pocket camera with extra features and a touch controlled LCD screen, try taking a look at the Sony Cybershot TX1.
Verdict
The Canon IXUS 120 IS is a bit more expensive than most pocket cameras. You do get plenty for you money though. Picture quality is very good and this looks and feels like a well made camera.
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