Canon IXUS 115 HS review – Features

Canon’s IXUS series has long been one of the leading compact camera brands, and the introduction of HS technology has solely served to enhance this reputation. The Canon IXUS 115 HS is the latest in the fashionable line of these models, and promises good image quality in a compact and eye-catching body.

The model boasts a 4x stabilised optical zoom that covers a focal range of 28-112mm in 35mm equivalent terms, which also offers a macro close focus point of just 3cm. The compact features a 12MP backlit CMOS sensor which is supported by both a DIGIC 4 processor and Canon’s HS technology which promises improved performance in low light conditions.

As this IXUS is more towards the lower-end of the range, consumers will no doubt welcome the addition of Smart Auto mode, which assesses the scene and picks the mode to suit the conditions. Again, as is somewhat to be expected for a camera more aimed at the consumer of those looking for a first-time compact, the Canon IXUS 115 HS is lacking in manual exposure control, although the 32 scene modes do offer the suitable controls for most conditions.

Other features of the Canon IXUS 115 HS include a 3in PureColor II G LCD screen – although the screen is striking on first glance, it disappointing that the resolution sits at just 230k-dots, which is definitely at the lower end of the scale.

As is the case with a vast amount of compact cameras arriving to the market these days, the IXUS 115 HS ships with full HD movie capture at 1080p resolution and 24fps, while video capture is also supported by dynamic IS for extra stability when shooting. Finally, the Canon IXUS 115 HS is complete with an HDMI output connection for simple connectivity to an HD TV or monitor.