Canon Ixus 430 Digital Camera [4.0MP , 3 x Optical]

First of all, I decided to stick with Canon because I was so very pleased with the overall quality of my previous camera, the A70. The lens problem was probably a fluke so I decided that shouldn't weigh heavily against a new Canon. Second, the menus are so intuitive that no one really needs the manual.

Here goes a list of what this camera has and hasn't got. I'm sure this will be extremely useful to you.
- This is a successor or the Ixus 400, launched a year ago. The only difference is that the 430 has got a "Direct to Printer" button on the back. That's it.
- The camera is a bit on the heavy side for its size. Which means that it's really small, it just feels "dense".
- Unlike the A70 which was very very ugly and even heavier this camera is small and sleek. Let me just say that you'll look good with it :-)
- Lens quality is extremely good. Maximum aperture is a Canon-standard 2.8.
- The flash range is longer than the advertised 3.5 metres and is even better if you manually change the sensitivity to ASA 400.

- This camera combines the ease of use of a point and shoot - because that's what it is - with the quality (lens, build, software, options) of a higher range camera.
- It's possible to stitch up several pics in one - for example to build a panorama picture. This works extremely well and the results are superb. For this you need to use the software on the CD.
- You can take video clips with sound. The only limit on length is the size of the memory, not 3 or 5 minutes like some fellow Amazon reviewers say!
- Speaking of memory, this camera accepts Compact Flash cards which are still the cheapest format on the market. A 128MB card can cost as little as £25 - but check out Amazon prices.
- You can customize the camera to give it your personal touch - meaning that you can change the startup image, system sounds, etc. It's a bit gimmicky... but hey, it's fun!
- You can show your pics or watch video clips on your TV. This is extremely useful to show pictures to your friends - all you need is a TV. The picture quality is very good and you can hear the sound recorded in the video too. The cable is supplied.
- After you take a picture you can inspect it by actually zooming into it. That way you can check the quality of the image and decide if you want to discard it and take another one.

Less positive points:
- Although you can manually change the exposure with 1/3 stop increments you don't have control over the shutter aperture or exposure time. Actually, it's not something most people use. The A70 had this but I only used it once - and even then it was just a test.
- The lens is a very narrow 7.4 mm at its widest. Some larger cameras out there are wider, to 5.4 or 5.6. This means that when you "zoom out" you see a lot less in the screen than with a camera with a 5.6 lens. It's no problem with portraits but a bummer for landscapes, buildings, etc. But then, you can always stitch up a couple of pictures and the results are even more pleasing so it's nothing to worry about.
- The battery isn't a standard AA you can buy anywhere, so buy another one extra with the camera for backup just in case the first one dies on you just when you're about to take "that" important picture. A battery charger is included in the kit so you don't have to worry about that.
- Note that the mains cable doesn't connect to the camera, so you'll have to take the battery out. Be careful when opening the battery lid because you may unwittingly damage it after much use.
- Because of the above it would be a good idea to get a passive card reader to transfer images to your PC. That way the battery will last longer. There are plenty of inexpensive card readers on the market, just get one that accepts as many formats as possible.

All in all, I'm extremely pleased with this camera and thoroughly recommend it. Buy it, you will not be disappointed.

With the supplied memory card of 32MB it's possible to take 14 pictures at the best quality and highest resolution while at it's lowest resolution and highest quality you are able to take 120. I would definitely recommend you buy a larger memory card and keep your 32MB as spare which will give more space to play around without having to worry about how much more you can store. The camera uses a CompactFlash card in a Type I slot therefore you cannot use thicker cards like the Microdrive.

The Ixus 430 can record videos up to 3 minutes in length with sound although even with a larger capacity memory card the limit will still be 3 minutes. It has 1.5" color LCD with a non-reflective coating that makes it quite visible in bright light as well as resistant to smears. It is great for playing back your videos and viewing pictures.

I would recommend buying this camera if you want a good point and shoot camera that is small and produces brilliant pictures even in low light conditions.

I've been playing with it constantly since I got it and haven't been able to find a fault with it yet! The size is perfect - not too small and not too big. The LCD and buttons are well laid out and intuitive. Within 15 minutes of playing with the camera and dipping into the well-written manual, I had most of the features sussed.

The build quality is excellent, with a brushed-metal feel to the casing it gives the impression that you won't break the camera easily. The only niggle I can find with the build is the rubber cover for the AV/USB-out sockets, which isn't a problem but would have been nice to have a proper cover.

The picture quality is also amazing. I haven't really got much to compare it to, but the shots turn out every bit as vibrant and detailed as I'd hoped when I shot them. See the reviews at dcresource.com and Steve's Digicams for more technical info and samples, but note that the Ixus 430 may be listed as the S410 as it's known in the States.

If there was one thing I would add to the package, it would be a bag or pouch to keep the camera in. But you can pick these up for less than a tenner at most places, so it's not a major issue.

Overall, I'm extremely impressed with this little beauty. If you're thinking of getting one, go for it - you won't be disappointed!