Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS Reviews: Digital Compact Camera

Photo of Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS Digital Camera

59 Real Customer Reviews - In Summary

+ This digital camera scores high on build quality. - It has no outstanding negative points. “Excellent image quality. excellent build quality. compact and comfortable to…” Tony, Walton on Thames View all 59 real customer reviews

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Product Details

2.5" Screen, 3.7x optical zoom, SD Card storage More »

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Real customer reviews

59 verified purchasers have reviewed this product.
95% of people recommend it.

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All purchasers (59)

Build Quality	9.4
Ease of use	8.7
Features	9.1
Image quality	9.3
Value for money (at time of purchase)	8.9
Overall rating	9.1

Keen amateur (12)

Experienced amateur (8)

Point & shoot (8)

Other (31)

*not all purchasers provided a score or review

David, London , “Keen amateur”

Score 9.0/10

+ Excellent image quality, even in low light conditions. The 'auto' setting is adequate for pretty well any conditions or situations that I have so-far encountered. It's very useful to have a viewfinder, an item that is beginning to disappear from digital cameras. The movie-clip quality is very high, including the sound. In an editing suite it's almost impossible to distinguish between the video from the IXUS and the video from my Sony Handycam. The camera is very small and light and an underwater housing is available for scuba.

- It's quite difficult to get perfect focus when using the 'macro' setting to photograph very small objects. It seems to work best if you position the red dot from the camera's led beam slightly in front of what you want to photograph. Once you get the autofocus right though the image quality is excellent. It's sometimes difficult to know whether you have successfully switched off the flash, as both 'on' and 'off' symbols are very similar and very small. The combination of zoom and macro seems to throw the autofocus out slightly. It's better to move the camera closer to the subject.

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2 of 3 people found this review helpful

purchased 13 Jun 2009

Anonymous verified purchaser , “Keen amateur”

Score 10.0/10

+ all what i need fron a point and shoot

- feels like a toy?

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purchased 06 Jul 2009

Alan, Cambridgeshire , “Keen amateur”

Score 10.0/10

+ Excellent product. Although I have larked 'Ease of Use' down, the only reaon for this is that as it has leading features in 'manual' mode that require learning, it would naturally not be as simple to use in this mode as other 'just Auto' camers. That said, in manual mode, it's excellent.

- Would have been nice to bundle with a case.

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purchased 09 Jul 2009

Anonymous verified purchaser , “Keen amateur”

Score 9.0/10

+ This camera has lots of features, we particularly like the colour accent setting. The picture quality is very good and easy to take good pictures.

- The dials are a but fidly and the menus take a bit of working out, if you've had a canon before it only takes 10 minutes with the manual and you can see where all the more advanced settings are.

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purchased 06 Aug 2009

kay, dartford , “Keen amateur”

Score 10.0/10

+ Great compact camera that has it all!

- Need to read up on how to use the many many options.

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purchased 18 Sep 2009

Ken, County Durham , “Keen amateur”

Score 8.0/10

+ Image quality. Loads of features.

- User guide is only on CD.- no hard copy supplied or available from Canon. It will take you a while to learn all that this camera can do.

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purchased 27 Jul 2009

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Expert reviews for Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS

PC Advisor expert review - by Andrew Harrison

The Canon IXUS 980 IS is a 14.7Mp compact camera.

This Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS review continued on PC Advisor

reviewed 29 Sep 2009

PC Advisor expert review - by Danny Palmerlee

As a fan of Canon's Digital Elph cameras, we were a bit disappointed by the current flagship model of the series, the 14.7Mp Canon PowerShot SD990 IS.

This Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS review continued on PC Advisor

reviewed 10 Aug 2009

TechRadar expert review

The Canon Ixus 980 IS is treasure trove of technology, driven by Canon's new DIGIC 4 image processing system and featuring a generously proportioned 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor that offers a mighty 14.7MP ‚Äì more than most DSLRs. Our first reaction was that image noise would be a problem but, at low ISO ratings the new Ixus is amazingly noise-free and is still very usable at ISO 800. We found that switching to the ISO 3200 Trick mode gave much smoother results and was well worth the image size limitation of 1,600 x 1,200 pixels.Lens features The typically tiny Ixus lens nevertheless offers…

This Canon Digital IXUS 980 IS review continued on TechRadar

reviewed 30 Dec 2008

Product Features

Camera Type	Compact
There are 2 main types of camera: The SLR and the Compact. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. SLR cameras use a prism to reflect the exact image as seen through the lens and so offers a more accurate viewfinder. SLR cameras have detachable lenses offering greater flexibility if you wish to take a variety of different photographs. Compact cameras have a built in lens and an ‘above lens’ viewfinder which is less accurate but they are often cheaper, more sleekly designed and easier to carry anywhere with you to capture that moment perfectly without having to fiddle with complex settings or a bag full of lenses.
resolution (Megapixel)	14.7

Optical Zoom Ratio	3.7
The amount by which the camera optics (lens) can bring the subject closer.
Screen Size in Inches	2.5
Screen size is measured diagonally from corner to corner.
Digital Zoom Ratio	4
Not to be confused with optical zoom, digital zoom enlarges a portion of the image thus simulating optical zoom. In doing so, some image quality is lost.
Face Recognition	Yes
A function for automatically detecting peoples faces and correctly adjusting the focus and exposure to take the best photo
Image Stabilisation	Yes
If a photo is taken at a slow shutter speed, or at a long focal length, the effects of ‘hand shake’ will be amplified. Some cameras come with built-in image stabilisation which is designed to act against this to produce sharper images. It’s great for low light shots without a tripod, like at a gig.
Colour	Multi
The main colour of the product.
Memory Card Slot	Yes
Having a memory card slot allows you to save data to a memory card and then transfer it to another device. For example you may put a photo from your camera or mobile phone onto a memory card and then plug it into your printer to print directly. Memory card slots come in many formats: Compact Flash Card Memory Stick Duo Micro SD Card MMC SD Card SDHC Card
Media Format	SD Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media Format	MMC Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
Media Format	SDHC Card
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
PictBridge	Yes
An industry standard allowing images to be printed from camera to printer, without needing a computer. CIPA PictBridge Standard Website
Macro Mode	Yes
This mode allows close-up photograpy of small objects such as insects and flowers.
Video Recorder	Yes
Video recording functionality allows the capture of videos in mpeg or avi format which is great if you want to capture a whole scene, not just one moment.
Manual Focus	Yes
Almost all modern cameras have autofocus. Manual focus allows you to override the autofocus and set the distance yourself. This is especially useful if your camera is struggling to focus in a low-light or confusing scene.
Timer	Yes
Having a timer function is essential if you want to get into the shot yourself. Make sure your camera has this feature if you plan to go on holiday and capture photos of you and your friends or family having fun together.
Under Water	No
An under water feature means your camera is safe to dive with, usually between 3 and 5 metres. Most dSLR cameras will require expensive separate housing so consider investing in a waterproof digital compact first.
Dimensions (mm)	62.2x96.7x27.9
The size of the device in millimetres, in width x height x depth.
Weight (g)	160
The weight of the product in grams.
Flash	Yes
Whether or not your camera has an in-built flash. Flashes are essential for fully capturing a low light image.
Resolution (Pixels)	4416 x 3312
A camera sensor, that captures the photograph, is measured in pixels. The number given here is the horizontal amount of pixels followed by the vertical quantity of pixels. The more pixels a camera sensor has, the bigger and higher quality the image will be.
Shortest Shutter Speed	1/1600
This is the fastest speed at which the camera can take a photo. Faster shutter speeds really freeze the action and are great for sports photography.
Longest Shutter Speed	15"
This is the longest exposure your camera will take. The longer you take a photo for, the more light is let in and the more motion is captured. Long shutter speeds can give fantastic, artistic results. Try photographing the night sky at 30s or longer to see how the rotation of the Earth causes the stars to curve through the scene.
Max. Aperture Lens 1	f2.8-5.8
Measured in f-stops the aperture of a lens dictates the maximum amount of light captured. If you want to do low light photography look for something with a wide aperture like f2.8. The widest aperture is given as a range as it changes when your lens is zoomed in.
USB Port	Yes
Socket for connecting devices such as a computers and other components
WiFi	No
Wifi allows you to connect your device to wireless routers or modems which allows you to connect to broadband internet.

Also known as: Canon IXUS 980 IS, Digital Ixus 980IS, Digital Ixus 980 IS

Digital Cameras Buyers' Guide

Photos taken with this camera

Manufacturer's Description

The 14.7 MP Digital IXUS 980 IS blends technical excellence with a unique, stylish black or silver design. Powered by Canon’s latest DIGIC 4 processor, it combines advanced auto features with Manual control.

Features

* 14.7 MP Digital IXUS in black or silver * 3.7x optical zoom, optical IS * Manual Control and 20 other modes * DIGIC 4 * Face Detection Technology * Anti-blur Motion Detection Technology * i-Contrast * 2.5” PureColor LCD II plus OVF * Multi Control Dial, My Menu * VGA movies

Exquisite Style. Exceptional Performance.

14.7 Megapixels
With an incredible 14.7 Megapixel sensor for stunning high-resolution shots, the Digital IXUS 980 IS provides abundant detail for huge prints and creative image manipulation.

High Style
The Digital IXUS 980 IS offers exquisite styling and a premium build quality, finished in a choice of two colours: black or silver.

Advanced optics
A high quality lens with 3.7x zoom ensures versatility and superb results when shooting both stills and movies. Canon’s renowned optical Image Stabilizer technology counteracts camera shake for outstanding image quality.

Take control
The first Digital IXUS with Manual Control, the Digital IXUS 980 IS allows shooting in more demanding conditions, or creative experimentation. A further 20 automatic modes include QuickShot, for extra-responsive shooting of fast moving objects or fleeting events.

DIGIC 4
Incorporating the latest in image processing technology, DIGIC 4 delivers extraordinary noise reduction. The result is richly detailed, clean images, even when shooting at high ISO speeds. DIGIC 4 also drives exceptional processing speeds and responsive operation.

Face Detection Technology
Great people shots are assured with the latest Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB, even for faces on angles and far away. Face Select & Track optimises settings for a chosen person, while FaceSelf-Timer waits for you to enter the frame for great group shots. Auto Red-Eye Correction eliminates red eyes during shooting and playback.

Abolish blur
The Digital IXUS 980 IS combats blur with High ISO Auto and Motion Detection Technology, which ascertains movement of both camera and subject to set the optimum ISO. Servo AF tracks moving subjects to ensure they remain in focus.

Optimum contrast
i-Contrast boosts brightness in dark areas of an image. The result is improved contrast with retained detail in tricky lighting conditions.

Large LCD
The 2.5" PureColor LCD II offers exceptional contrast and colour rendition, plus a wide viewing angle for easier framing, playback and menu navigation – even at angles and in bright sunlight. An optical viewfinder offers choice when framing shots.

Easy access
The Multi Control Dial provides fast, convenient and accurate access to menu items, functions and images during playback. Customise the menu system with My Menu for rapid access to the functions you use most.

Movies
Shoot spontaneous, high-quality 30fps VGA movies with sound.

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