camera (just over 200 grams and
roughly 22mm thick), the IXUS
1100 packs a lot of punch. It has
a 12.1 megapixel back
illuminated CMOS sensor, 12x
optical zoom with image
stabilisation, is capable of full HD
1080p video (with HDMI out) and
has a vibrant 3.2-inch
touchscreen.
The touchscreen takes up most
of the space at the back with a
thin space reserved for a grip.
There is no optical viewfinder -
the only way to compose an
image is by using the LCD, but
that's common in compact
cameras these days.
Being a touchscreen camera,
most of the controls are on the
screen while the top gets the
basic controls for the shutter,
zoom, power and a mode switch.
This sort of interface takes some
time to get used to but it also
means that there are no tiny
buttons crowding up camera
surfaces - areas that are better
left uncluttered for grip in such a
small camera.
The lens folds completely into the
body and there are no other
protruding parts, which makes
the camera very pocketable.
Unlike some of the other IXUS
models though, the 1100 HS is
glossy plastic and it tends to
attract fingerprints all over.
When you want to play around,
there are a range of filters and
in-camera effects you can use.
Toy camera, fish eye, miniature
mode, poster, colour swap,
colour accent and so on can be
used for some fun, while the
handheld night scene and smart
shutter (automatic shutter
release on smile, wink or face
detection) prove themselves
useful in certain situations.
For when you need a high-speed
burst, you can get 7.8 frames per
second with a 3MP resolution
and the 1080p movie mode is
impressive - good quality video
with extra effects like slow
motion (with reduced resolution)
and with several modes like
miniature, colour swap, colour
accent, poster, fireworks and so
on - all made possible in real-time
thanks to the Digic 4 image
processor.
Take a photograph and you'll get
excellent results without any fuss
- the image processor, lens and
CMOS sensor work together to
deliver pleasing results everytime
- great colour and detail. Image
noise is kept under control upto
800 ISO which is impressive. You
can use it for any situation ,
which is saying a lot for a
compact.
The 1100 HS may not be as slim
as some of the other IXUS
models, but it scores points for
superlative image quality, build
quality and loads of features. It's
meant for someone who wants a
pocketable camera but does not
want to compromise on features.
We wished it had better battery
life (170 shots) and used some
metal surfaces instead of glossy
plastic. If you find the price a bit
too steep and want similar
performance, consider Sony's
CyberShot HX9V (Rs 16,990). It
does not feature a touchscreen
display, but it includes a 16 MP
CMOS sensor, 16x optical zoom
with stabilisation, 3-inch LCD, full
HD movie and built in GPS.
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