Canon IXUS 230 HS Digital Camera - Black (12.1 MP, 8x Optical Zoom) 3.0 inch LCD

Zoom into life

The IXUS 230 HS is a small yet powerful compact camera – in fact, at just 22.1 mm, this is the first Canon camera to offer an 8x optical zoom in such a slim and compact body. With its 8x zoom lens, Full HD movie capability and the low-light skills of the HS System, this fashionable, elegant addition to the IXUS range is the perfect partner for nights out. Smart Auto lets you focus on living life to the full, safe in the knowledge that the camera will do all the hard work choosing the right settings for you to capture the best images.

Features include:

• 28 mm wide-angle 8x optical zoom lens
• Canon’s unique HS System for excellent low-light performance
• Smart Auto detects 32 different scenes for the ultimate in “point and shoot”
• Full HD movies (1080p) with optical zoom, stereo sound, Powered IS and HDMI-CEC
• High-speed Burst and Super Slow Motion Movie help capture fast action scenes
• 12.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor
• Slim metal body with a 3.0" (7.5 cm) PureColor II G LCD screen
• Intelligent IS automatically adapts the optical Image Stabilizer to the scene
• iFrame movie (720p)
• Handheld Night Scene for clear nightscapes
• Face Detection including Smart Shutter with Smile Detection and Wink Self-Timer
• Creative shooting modes including Toy Camera Effect, Monochrome and Miniature Effect
• Movie Digest records before each shot to create a bonus movie
• Onscreen Hints & Tips explain all functions

Compact but powerful zoom

The impressive 8x optical zoom capability in a camera as compact as the IXUS 230 HS makes it one of the slimmest, super-zoom cameras of its kind. The zoom lens features Canon’s precision optics and a 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer, which means significantly reduced blur and ultra-sharp images, even in low-light conditions and when the zoom is fully extended. You can therefore capture truly unique scenes in any light conditions and detailed close-ups, even from afar.

The lens is the most important part of any imaging device and all Canon cameras incorporate lenses designed and manufactured by Canon to the most exacting standards - based on over 70 years of experience. Although initially designed for Pro and EF lenses, Canon’s award-winning technology has been adapted for its range of IXUS and PowerShot digital cameras for outstanding results. So you can be assured that the same quality that professionals so admire is at the heart of every Canon camera.

Striking, super-slim, elegant camera

The IXUS 230 HS fuses leading optical technology with stand-out design. This elegantly-styled compact camera features an ultra-slim stainless steel body available in a range of vibrant colours so you can select the shade which best suits you. It also boasts a large 3.0" (7.5 cm) PureColor II G LCD screen with toughened scratch resistant glass, meaning it’s not only stylish but practical too.

Capture the scene exactly as you see it with the Canon HS System

The IXUS 230 HS features the powerful Canon HS System, which combines a 12.1 Megapixel high sensitivity CMOS sensor with Canon’s advanced DIGIC 4 processor. The system allows for incredibly high image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The increased sensitivity of the HS System allows it to capture a wider dynamic range, reducing over-exposure of highlight areas and loss of detail in shadows. It all adds up to a remarkable quality of image in all light conditions – enabling you to preserve your memories in perfect detail, whether in stills or video.

In low-light, camera shake is controlled
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Low-light

The Canon HS System truly excels in low-light conditions. Capturing well exposed subjects inside, against dark backgrounds or outside in low-light can be difficult. The flash range is not sufficient to light up the background but turning it off can cause blurring from the instability of handheld shooting. With the Canon HS System, background illumination is improved, dark areas are reduced, and camera shake is controlled – maintaining complete image clarity and eliminating blur.

Less noise, clearer detail

The HS System allows for significant noise reduction at all ISO levels while maintaining accurate colours and crisp detail. The camera also supports a maximum ISO speed of 3200 at full resolution, while an extended maximum ISO speed of 6400 is available at 3.0 Megapixel resolution, allowing the camera to capture the natural ambience of dimly-lit environments without the flash.

Meanwhile, Canon's i-Contrast feature also offers improved contrast and greater detail in tricky lighting conditions. Available in either shooting or playback mode, i-Contrast analyses the exposure, dynamic range and other image characteristics of a shot then adaptively increases the contrast in dark areas to produce heightened detail in those regions. It does this without over-exposing correctly exposed parts of the image, while the camera's noise reduction technology ensures minimal noise in the adjusted areas.

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Effortless shooting for the whole family with Smart Auto

Smart Auto mode allows the IXUS 230 HS to automatically analyse conditions and select the optimal setting so you can concentrate on your subject, confident that the camera will produce superb results. Advanced Scene Detection Technology automatically analyses shooting conditions, detecting people, distance, brightness, colour and movement, then selects the perfect setting from 32 specially defined scenes. So whether you're photographing flowers, a captivating sunset or friends in the park you can be certain you'll get the image you want.

Smart Auto is also more than just scene detection. Servo AF/AE detects moving subjects to ensure focus and exposure is always correct, while Smart Flash Exposure optimises exposure and flash controls to ensure your subject is perfectly lit whilst dark and light areas are accurately reproduced. Or if you want to add a completely new dimension to your footage select Miniature Effect for dramatic and compelling miniature-style videos.

Without Intelligent IS close-up shots can be blurred
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Blur-free images whatever the situation with Canon’s Intelligent IS technology

The IXUS 230 HS benefits from Canon’s Intelligent IS technology using optical methods (lens shift) which is renowned as the most effective method of hand-shake correction. So whether you’re shooting stills or movies, Intelligent IS automatically identifies the shooting situation and then selects the most appropriate type of image stabilization from seven possible modes. For example, when capturing a close-up of a flower the camera will automatically select Macro IS with Hybrid IS technology, but then it will switch to Powered IS when filming distant subjects with the zoom. This allows you to focus on framing the image you want, safe in the knowledge that the camera is working to eliminate as much camera shake as possible, even if you need to move with your scene.

Record fast-paced, Full High Definition movies with stereo sound

For moments that are best caught on video, the IXUS 230 HS offers the capability to record HD movies at 1080p with HDMI-CEC compatibility. The full 8x optical zoom is available during shooting and stereo sound guarantees clear, CD-quality audio every time.

In addition, the IXUS 230 HS benefits from an HDMI port, allowing you to display your stills and videos on your HD TV or monitor directly from your camera. Additionally, if you have an HDMI-CEC compatible TV then you can even use your television remote control to browse through your images from the comfort of your sofa.

The lens’ quiet motor allows you to use the full range of the optical zoom during recording with minimum audio interference plus a dedicated movie button allows you to instantly start movie recording so not a moment is missed. And in most modes, the movie will take the settings from the particular stills mode you are in – e.g. monochrome, sepia or even Miniature Effect.

The IXUS 230 HS also supports a different format for recording its HD movies too - iFrame Movie. This Apple™ format is designed to speed up the editing and importing process by keeping the content in its original recorded format. Of course, if you have a PC with Microsoft® Windows you can still upload your movies onto that as well.

High Speed Burst allows continuous shooting
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High-speed shooting

Canon’s high sensitivity CMOS sensor also offers the capability to shoot at super high speeds which provides excellent benefits in a range of situations.

High-speed Burst

In High-speed Burst mode the IXUS 230 HS can either take 8.7 shots per second at 3.0 Megapixels, or 3.5 shots per second at full 12.1 Megapixels resolution. This allows you to capture fast-moving subjects, so whether you’re shooting sports events or life in motion you will never miss a moment of the action.

Super Slow Motion Movie

Super Slow Motion Movie mode slows down fast-moving subjects by capturing QVGA resolution video at a staggering 240 frames per second (VGA resolution at 120fps) - they can then be played back at normal speed for a spectacular slow motion effect. This is perfect for analysing a golf swing, recording a bird in flight or just for a bit of fun. The free software included with the camera supports multi-speed playback, allowing for your footage to be viewed both at real or slow motion speed, so you’ll never miss a moment.

Handheld Night Scene

Handheld Night Scene mode allows you to capture clear, detailed night scenes. With this mode selected the camera takes consecutive high speed shots and then combines the image data into a single image, ensuring the best possible exposure with the least amount of blur – perfect for handheld shots taken at night.

Explore your creativity

In addition to being the ultimate stylish super-zoom compact, the IXUS 230 HS also features several creative modes for fun and exciting results. These include Miniature Effect (also available when shooting movies), Super Vivid, Poster Effect as well as Fish-eye Effect, which distorts the image to offer a unique view on a more traditional scene. With Toy Camera Effect you can capture colourful shots that look as though an early pinhole camera has been used. With Monochrome you can achieve black and white, sepia or blue monochromatic tones for more atmospheric images.

The IXUS 230 HS also allows for multi-aspect shooting, which means you can produce images of different shapes and sizes, including square and widescreen 16:9 format. Plus, if you want to create photobooks, the Photobook Setup mode will help you to select the most suitable images when creating a unique album.

Fast, intelligent processing for superb image quality

Face Detection Technology

Face Detection

With Face Detection, up to 35 faces can be detected in each shot - focus, exposure, flash setting and white balance are then automatically adjusted for optimal results with natural-looking skin tones.

Face Select & Track

Face Select & Track allows a single face in a crowd to be selected and tracked as the main subject.

Smart Shutter mode for effortless group shots

Canon’s Smart Shutter mode uses Face Detection Technology to allow users to take both group shots and self-portraits more easily and in a more relaxed way. The shutter can be triggered remotely in three different ways:

• Smile Detection - the shutter is triggered when the camera detects a smiling face within the frame.
• Wink Self-Timer - the shutter is triggered two seconds after the subject in the frame has winked, removing the need for a remote control.
• FaceSelf-Timer - this enables perfect group shots or self-portraits by automatically triggering the shutter two seconds after a new face has entered the frame.

Capture everything with the Movie Digest feature

Unique to Canon cameras, Movie Digest allows you to create a VGA quality film telling the story behind the images you’ve captured that day. Every time a still image is captured, the preceding 4 seconds is automatically recorded as a movie clip - these are then automatically collated into one complete video showing the highlights of the day.

Shoot with confidence

Easy Hints & Tips provides onscreen guidance so even beginners can operate the camera with confidence straight from the box. Menu explanations are always easy to understand and when settings are changed the relevant icon displays in an easy-to-see orange colour delivering a sophisticated and pleasant operating experience.

Power efficient with quick recharge

The IXUS 230 HS runs off an intelligent rechargeable Li-Ion battery that will give you hours of shooting pleasure and is quick and easy to recharge.

Automatic Red-Eye Correction

Automatic Red-Eye Correction is available in both shooting and playback mode and accurately removes the red-eye effect that can be caused by a flash.

Upload to YouTube

For fast and easy uploading of your clips to social websites like YouTube, Easy Web Upload software is included free in the box. This will display your movie clips and can also store your YouTube login details – so you can simply select your clip and upload with just one click.

Accessories

The IXUS 230 HS is compatible with a range of accessories including an AC adapter kit, a battery charger and a battery pack, an HDMI cable and a high power external flash unit, the HF-DC1, which can be used to supplement the built-in flash giving you more flexibility to explore your creativity.