Canon IXUS 75 Digital Camera Review

With a 3in LCD screen, stylish metallic casing and Digic III Processor, the IXUS 75 is more than your average compact camera, with the added advantage of a Face Detection system meaning you are always in focus.

Canon IXUS 75 Specification

• Image Sensor: CCD - 7.1 Million pixels
• Image Size: 3072 x 2304 pixels
• Optical zoom: 3x
• Lens range: 35-105mm
• Focusing: TTL Auto
• Macro : 3cm
• White balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Florescent, Florescent H, Custom
• ISO Sensitivity: Auto, Hi, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600
• Exposure: Program AE
• Exposure compensation: 1/3 EV step, +/-2EV
• Metering: Evaluative, CW, Spot
• Monitor: 3.0" P-Si TFT LCD
• Movie Mode:Yes
• Scene Modes: Portrait, Night, Snapshot, Kids and Pets, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Indoor, Aquarium, Underwater
• Shutter Speed: 15-1/1500sec
• Storage:SD, SDHC, MMC
• Batteries: RechargeableLithium-ion
• AC Adaptor: Optional
• Video Output:Yes
• Size/Weight: 91.6 x 19.6 x 56.8mm - 130g
• Transfer:USB

At £209, the IXUS 75 is mide price range, up against cameras such as the Olympus 750, Optio 730 and the Samsung L74W.

Canon IXUS 75 Modes and features
The IXUS 75 features Canon's DIGIC III imaging processor, which provides super-fast responses and advanced noise reduction, as well as automatic face detection which brings human faces into sharp focus and corrects any exposure errors. Alongside this is Canons' iSAPS technology (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) which optimises key camera settings before a shot is even taken.

Automatic shooting modes include auto, manual, digital macro, colour accent, which leaves only the colours specified on the LCD and colour swap, to transform certain colours into different ones. There are also various shooting modes which can be set according to the location and subject. These include Portrait, Night, Snapshot, Kids and Pets, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks and Indoor, Aquarium and Underwater (for use with waterproof casing.)

There are several white balance options to choose from such as auto, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, florescent, florescent H and custom, as well as ISO settings ranging from 80 to 1600. Shooting modes include single shot, continuous, and self timer which can be set at 10 seconds, two seconds or a custom time. Exposure compensation can be adjusted to suit tricky lighting conditions, and there is a macro mode which allows you to shoot from as close as 3cm.

Another interesting feature of the IXUS 75 is that it allows you to organize your pictures categorically in camera by using the My Category function. There are also several themes that can be selected to suit the individual and various colour options that can be added once a picture has been taken including lightening and darkening skintones. As well this, as the IXUS 75 has automatic picture realignment when in playback mode.

Canon IXUS 75 Build and handling
The IXUS 75 is a stylishly designed and compact camera with an exceptionally large 3in LCD screen. Menus are easily accessible and the camera itself feels sturdy and well built.

On the top of the camera is a mode switch by which video, scene or auto mode can be selected, alongside a power on button and zoom rocker.

On the back of the camera is a access to print functions, playback, menu access and display modes, as well as a touch-control dial allowing the user to change ISO settings, shooting mode, flash settings and select Macro mode.

Canon IXUS 75 Flash options
The flash options of the IXUS 75 are limited with a choice between Flash On (which cannot be used in auto mode), Automatic Flash and Flash Off.

There are no Red Eye reduction modes offered in the flash menu and this is activated or de-activated in the shooting menu, which can be confusing at first. This works by firing an orange beam of light before the shot is taken to reduce the pupil size and likelihood of red-eye occuring.

There is also an option in the menus to correct Red-Eye during playback once an image has been taken.

Canon IXUS 75 Performance
Taken in manual mode as the IXUS 75 has no specific scene mode for landscape, the landscape test shot has good detail and there is no colour fringing in areas of colour transition.

The colour chart test shows that whie the flesh tones and green mixes are fairly accurate, the blues and mixes containing blues are considerably brighter and there is also a noticeable difference in the red colours.

The portrait test shows a good true to life likeness and there appears to be no loss of detail in areas such as the hair and eyebrows. Skin tones are also accurate. In burst mode the IXUS 75 is capable of 15 shots in 10 seconds, which is a phenomenal amount for a camera of this size, and the buffer clears almost immediately ready to fire again.

One thing that was slightly worring was that when taking portrait shots, the green Face Detection square struggled to find the correct area to focus on, and had to be re-composed several times before it focused on the face.

The colour chart test shows that the while the blue mixes are quite a lot brighter and the reds slightly lighter, the greens and flesh colours are actually quite accurate.

The portrait shot test provides a good rendition of detail in the hair, eyebrows and skin.

This portrait shot renders good detail in a low-light conditions and the face detection system has focused in the correct area providing a sharp, well-exposed result. Unfortunately there is a very noticeable red-eye in both the subjects, as Red Eye Reduction was not activated in this shot.

Taken in manual mode, as the IXUS 75 does not have a specific landscape mode, the landscape shot test is free from any colour fringing or noise in the shadowy areas of the picture and shows good detail in all areas.

The ISO80 test.

The ISO100 test.

The ISO200 test.

The ISO400 test.

The ISO800 test.

The ISO1600 test.

Canon IXUS 75 Verdict
The IXUS 75 scores well on all accounts. It is stylishly designed, well-built, and performed well in all of the ePHOTOzine tests. It boasts an array of additional features including various scene modes, automatic face detection, DIGIC III technology and the added benefit of iSAPS. ISO modes range from 80 to 1600, macro modes focus from as close as 3cm and the LCD is exceptionally large making for ease of menu access and playback function. Also the burst mode capabilities were highly impressive - overall a fantastic all-rounder.

Canon IXUS 75 Plus points:
Large, easy-viewable LCD screen.
High ISO settings
Phenomenal results in burst mode

Canon IXUS 75 Negative points:
Face Detection sometimes struggles
Blue colour mixes slightly out
Slightly cluttered functions

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The IXUS 75 costs around £209 and can be purchased from the ePHOTOzine shop here.