Canon Digital Camera IXUS 185

Canon Digital Camera IXUS 185

20MP 1/2.3inch CCD sensor
• 8x optical zoom & 16x zoom plus (4x digital zoom)
• Easy Auto mode
• Auto Zoom - selects the best framing for stills and movies
• Aperture range: f/3.2 - f/6.9
• ISO: Auto, 100-1600
• Exposure Compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments
• 6.8 cm (2.7") LCD (TFT), approx. 230,000 dots
• Digital effects and creative modes
• 32 scene detection in Auto mode
• Add date stamps to your images
• Intelligent Image Stabilisation (electronic)
• Dynamic IS when capturing movies
• 720p HD movies. Aspect Ratio 4:3
• Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-11L / NB-11LH (approx 210 shots)

When you first pick up the Canon IXUS 185, it feels incredibly lightweight but looks rather cheap and that's mainly down to its plastic design which when you compare it with some other compact cameras or even smartphones, makes it look a little dated. However, the overall design is simple which means a beginner will find it easy to use. There are hardly any buttons/dials so it doesn't take long to get to grips with. Mind you, having used a smartphone as a point-and-shoot camera for so long, I will admit it did take me a while to navigate menus.
On the back is the screen which is bright and text in the menus is clear but it's not a touch screen, unfortunately. However, considering its 230k dot resolution, the price of the camera and the small screen size, it's no real surprise. You do get 100% frame coverage, though, and the brightness of the screen can be adjusted in the menu.
To the right of this are buttons for previewing images, recording video, accessing the menu, setting functions etc. On the top is the power button, shutter button and the zoom dial/lever which all feel pretty sturdy considering they're constructed from plastic. Also, thanks to a raised piece of plastic, you can push the zoom dial with one finger (just about), while still holding the camera sturdy, so you don't have to adjust your position to zoom in on detail. If you need to, there's an auto zoom function for photographing people with a [people] button which lets you zoom without using the zoom leaver but only when in the Easy Auto mode.
The bottom is where you access the battery/memory card slot (SD/SDHC) as well as a tripod thread and on the front is the flash, AF assistant/self-timer light and, of course, the 5.0 - 40.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28 – 224 mm) 8x optical zoom lens. When you zoom the lens in/out, there is a loud whirring noise but the movement is smooth and you have access to 8x optical zoom and 16x ZoomPlus (digital). Image Stabilisation is built in but it is electronic and the aperture range goes from f/3.2-f/6.9.
The position of the flash does mean your finger can get in the way so just be wary of that and the usual flash modes are built-in - auto, manual flash on/off. There's also a slow synchro setting and red-eye reduction found in the menu system.
Due to its size, the Canon IXUS 185 fits well in the hand and has a decent amount of grip. Plus, there's a wrist strap should you be concerned you may drop the camera (under this attachment is a piece of rubber which can be peeled back to reveal a joint AV out/USB port, too).
The Canon IXUS 185 won't win any design awards, it's very generic, but it's OK.