Canon Ixus 700

Posted by T3 Online on Thu 3 Jan 2008

Whack a curve on the end of a box. Design genius!

Canon is the king of making a basic rectangle look sexy. So we were surprised that the design of the new flagship IXUS 700 has been embellished with a subtle curved edge. It still looks and feels as though it has been hewn from a hunk of solid metal, but the new "perpetual curve" is a piece of design genius.

Technically speaking, the big news is the seven-megapixel sensor and super-fast operation -- but while this isn't the fi rst compact snapper to offer that, it's definitely the most stylish.

A good-quality 3x zoom lens is backed up by a crystal-clear two-inch LCD for framing and reviewing. The 700 utilises the same DIGIC II processing system as on Canon's pro cameras, so super-fast start-up and image writing are the order of the day.

Other neat features include the My Colours option, which enables you to monkey around with the colour on your shot, but helpfully saves an undoctored copy. There's also a choice of movie modes, including a 60 frames per second option, and everything is easily accessible via the impressive control layout on the back panel.

The AiAF autofocus system produces images that are pin sharp pretty much all the time, and there's also a healthy selection of manual features available to keep the more serious enthusiast happy when it comes to adjusting focus and exposure. But the best news is that image quality is fi rst rate, bursting with natural colour and detail.

Resolution isn't the only factor in producing good pictures, but coupled with everything else, the IXUS 700 is a worthwhile purchase over and above the hoi polloi of five-megapixel jobs snapping at its heels.