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Natalie Hitchins is news editor of What Digital Camera magazine and a former editor of Digital Photographer. Here she picks the best digital cameras to slip in your pocket or handbag Click to view Top 5 Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras.
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Best for Handbags (Canon IXUS i7 Zoom) |
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 Canon’s IXUS cameras have long been leaders in the style stakes, sporting delectable designs, faultless ergonomics and innovative features. The 7-megapixel i7 is no exception, making the most of its diminutive dimensions by packing in slick user-friendly features for fun, creative point and shoot photography on the go.
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Available in four colours including steel grey, denim blue, sepia and sizzling pink, the i7 is an all-metal marvel featuring a 1.8-inch LCD, 2.4 x optical zoom and high maximum sensitivity of ISO 1600 for flash-free low-light photography. Like many of its super-portable contemporaries, the i7's shooting features are honed for a party lifestyle, with particular emphasis on night and portrait performance.
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Automatic Operation |
 An effective face detection, auto-focus and exposure system ensures superb people shots by automatically detecting faces in the frame and setting focus and exposure accordingly. A ‘my category’ function takes this feature one stage further, by tagging each image based on face detection, and the shooting mode used, for easy image navigation, printing and deleting.
While shooting is fully automatic, there are 17 scene modes to help users get the best from particular shooting situations such as night snapshot, kids & pets and fireworks. A further ‘high ISO auto’ mode automatically sets a suitable high ISO setting to allow for faster shutter speeds while reducing the blurry effects of camera shake.
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Processing Power |
At the heart of the camera lies Canon’s celebrated DIGIC III processor, which provides the super quick responses, excellent image quality and advanced noise reduction you can expect from the i7. iSAPS technology is also on hand, analysing each scene to optimise key camera settings before your shot is taken.
Andrew Kelm at Goodgearguide.com is similarly impressed by the i7’s sprightly performance. “With a rather small shutter lag of .05 of a second and a shot-to-shot time of 1.3 seconds, you won't have much downtime between pictures. Meanwhile the 1.3 second power up time is extremely fast, and ensures the camera will be quickly ready if you are caught by surprise.”
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Market Leader |
As we’ve come to expect from cameras by market-leader Canon, image definition and colours are stunning - a view shared by many. “The i7 is an awesome pocket-sized digicam,” says Steve’s Digicams. “I feel it will make just about any user who wants an ultra-compact model very happy by offering great image quality, robust performance, ease of use, and let's not forget the stylish and durable body that comes in four different colours.”
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 Reviewers at Imageresource.com agree. “The small and snazzy i7 is a digital camera that puts as much importance on style as it does on picture-taking. And while it wouldn't look out of place dangling from a wrist on a night out on the town - or on the fashion runway, for that matter - this model's 7-megapixel imaging chip and a host of new features such as Canon's speedy DIGIC III processor and helpful Face Detection AF/AE technology are designed to produce quality photos. In most basic shooting situations it does just that.”
Our only niggles would be the smaller than average LCD screen and zoom range. However these are by-products of all cameras with tiny dimensions, and larger IXUS's with bigger screens and lenses are also available for those who value features over form. In essence the i7 offers many more pleasant surprises than unexpected drawbacks. Glamorous, effective and fun to use, the i7 is a true mini-marvel that will fit into your lifestyle as easy as it does your handbag.
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| TYPICAL PRICES - £165/$325 to £230/$450 |
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