Rediscovering the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200: A Comprehensive Review

 

As I was cleaning out my garage recently, I came across a forgotten gem, the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200. This compact digital camera was a trusted companion for my travels several years ago, and I couldn’t resist taking it out for a spin again. Here’s my review of this little powerhouse.

Design and Build:

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200 has a sleek and stylish design, with a compact and lightweight body that makes it easy to carry around in your pocket or purse. The camera is available in multiple colors, including black, silver, red, and purple, giving you plenty of options to choose from. It has a solid build quality and feels sturdy in your hand, despite its compact size.

The camera features a 3-inch LCD screen on the back, which is bright and easy to read, even in bright sunlight. The screen is not touch-sensitive, but the buttons on the camera are easy to use and responsive.

Image Quality:

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200 is equipped with a 20.0-megapixel CCD sensor and a DIGIC 4+ image processor. The camera has a 12x optical zoom lens, with a focal length range of 25-300mm, which is impressive for such a small camera. The lens has optical image stabilization, which helps reduce camera shake and produces sharp images even at full zoom.

In terms of image quality, the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200 performs admirably, especially in good lighting conditions. The camera produces sharp, vibrant images with accurate colors and good detail. However, in low light situations, the camera struggles, and images tend to be noisy and lack detail. The camera also has a maximum ISO sensitivity of 3200, which is relatively low, limiting its performance in low light situations.

Features and Performance:

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200 has a range of features that make it a versatile camera for both beginners and more advanced photographers. The camera has several shooting modes, including Auto, Program, and Scene modes, which allow you to adjust settings to suit different shooting conditions.

The camera also has several creative filters, including Fish-eye, Toy Camera, and Miniature, which add a fun element to your photos. The camera can shoot 1080p Full HD videos at 30fps, and the video quality is good, with sharp details and accurate colors.

One of the standout features of the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200 is its built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity. This allows you to easily transfer photos and videos to your smartphone or tablet, or even upload them directly to social media sites. The camera also has a dedicated Wi-Fi button, making it easy to connect to your smartphone or tablet.

Battery Life:

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery life is relatively good, allowing you to take around 180 shots on a single charge. However, the battery life may vary depending on how often you use Wi-Fi connectivity and the camera’s other features.

Conclusion:

Overall, the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200 is an excellent compact digital camera that offers impressive image quality, versatility, and portability. It’s an ideal camera for beginners who want a high-quality point-and-shoot camera, as well as more advanced photographers who want a compact camera that they can carry around.

Fast facts about the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200:

• The camera has a 20.0-megapixel CCD sensor and a DIGIC 4+ image processor.
• It has a 12x optical zoom lens, with a focal length range of 25-300mm.
• The camera has optical image stabilization to reduce camera shake and produce sharp images.
• It has a range of shooting modes, including Auto, Program, and Scene modes.
• The camera can shoot 1080p Full HD videos at 30fps.
• It has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, allowing you to transfer photos and videos to your smartphone or tablet.
• The camera is available in multiple colors, including black, silver, red, and purple.
• The battery life allows you to take around 180 shots on a single charge.

Pros and cons of the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS / IXUS 185 / IXY 200:

Pros:

1. Compact and lightweight design, making it easy to carry around
2. 12x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization produces sharp images even at full zoom
3. Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity for easy photo and video transfer to smartphones and tablets
4. Multiple shooting modes and creative filters add versatility and creativity to your photos
5. Good battery life, allowing you to take around 180 shots on a single charge
6. Sleek and stylish design with multiple color options

Cons:

1. Struggles in low-light situations, with images often appearing noisy and lacking detail
2. Maximum ISO sensitivity of 3200 is relatively low, limiting performance in low-light situations
3. The LCD screen is not touch-sensitive, which can be a downside for some users
4. The camera lacks a viewfinder, which may be a drawback for some photographers who prefer using a viewfinder to compose their shots
5. The camera does not shoot in RAW format, limiting post-processing options for more advanced photographers.

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS, IXUS 185, and IXY 200 are essentially the same camera, marketed under different names in different regions. The only difference between these versions is the name and branding, while the features, specifications, and performance remain the same.