ET Review: Canon Ixus 240 HS

Cost: Rs 15,995

Rating: * * *

Specifications: 16MP CMOS sensor, 5x optical zoom with IS, Digic 5, 3.2-inch LCD, flash, 1080p video, built in Wi-Fi, HDMI out, SD slot, 145 grams

Positives: Compact, metal body feels good in the hand, built in Wi-Fi for instant sharing, numerous shooting modes

Negatives: No manual control, no viewfinder, no add-on accessories possible, low screen resolution

NEW DELHI: Canon’s HS (High Sensitivity) range of cameras is a great place to start looking when you need a small camera that performs well in low light. The combination of backit sensor, image stabilisation & ‘bright’ lens always delivers ‘better than expected’ results when the sun goes down.

The IXUS 240 HS is as compact as they come, with a weight of just 145 grams and thickness of roughly 20mm.

Clad in aluminium (in a choice of several colours), the 240 HS looks great, very stylish and is solidly constructed.

Most camera controls have been moved to the 16:9 aspect ratio touchscreen. Considering the small size of the camera, this may not be to everyone’s tastes. However, those who like multiple modes in their camera will not be disappointed — it has a special low light mode (at 4 megapixels), toy camera, fish-eye, miniature, color accent, color swap, burst mode (reduced resolution) and different movie modes (like super slow motion). It can shoot full HD movies with stereo sound in good quality and optical zoom is available during video recording too.



The built in Wi-Fi offers some interesting possibilities. For instance, you could sign in to your Facebook and Twitter accounts in the camera and directly upload photos (when in range of your Wi-Fi network). Or, you could download the free iOS app and wirelessly view the photos stored from the camera on your iPhone/iPad.



The lens is sharp throughout the 5x range and even manages some excellent macro shots. ISO performance is good up to 1600. Overall, the 240 HS is a great camera — the only fault is the lack of advanced controls (manual, RAW etc).

Those looking for more features in the same price should consider Sony’s CyberShot HX10 (18MP CMOS, 16x optical zoom, full HD video) for Rs 16,990.

Image courtesy: Canon