Released last year to almost uniformly good reviews, the ultra slim-line 12.1-megapixel Canon IXUS 100 IS is the kind of unobtrusive, light, high-spec option the majority of people are after when choosing a new digital camera these days. You want it for holidays, you want it for weekends away, you want it for taking pictures for insurance claims… y’know the usual usage. Well the 100 IS ticks all those boxes, it’s “a gem” in fact as CNet puts it.

Initially pegged as a model that might be more about style than features – and it does look good to be fair to the people at Canon – a glance through the reviews that have crept out on the 100 IS since it began selling last spring thankfully reveals that while the you get a slimmer, lighter model than previous Canon digitals, there’s no sacrifice on the overall quality of the product.

Hairy arms, slimline cameras - the unveiling of the Canon Digital IXUS 100 IS line last year.

Camera.co.uk summed up the general mood of the reviewing public calling the 100 IS a very good, pocket sized option that “scores highly for picture quality, style and features”.

It’s got an 87 x 54.5 x 18.4mm stainless steel body that should fit snugly into the palm of your hand and only weighs 115g. Meanwhile, PhotographyBlog.com has a nice turn of phrase to describe the lure of its curved looks saying it’s “sure to appeal as much to teenage girls and young women searching for that all-important ‘bling’ as it is city bankers or lawyers looking magpie-like for an attractive accessory for their top pocket, the focus here is on beginner targeted user-friendliness”. Nothing like a good backhanded compliment we say.

This particular review also notes that this model saw the debut of the Canon’s Scene Detection/Smart Auto technology, which, as the reviewer notes is a “very close relative of the Intelligent Auto functionality found in Panasonic‘s Lumix series”.

New features help the 100 IS capture moving subjects correctly whilst “avoiding blur”. Big Oasis fans apparently in Canon, bah-dhum-tish!

Continues PhotographyBlog, “Setting the 100 IS to ‘smart auto’ mode, the Canon Digital IXUS 100 IS selects from one of 18 optimised choices depending on the scene and conditions it’s presented with. It makes this selection, claims Canon, based on subject brightness, contrast, distance from the lens and overall hue.

“Keeping operation pulsing along is the inclusion of the latest Digic IV processor, as featured in Canon’s latest DSLRs.” It continues, “This also powers handholding functions including motion detection, aiding capture of moving subjects whilst avoiding blur, plus iContrast, which lifts shadow areas of an image to even out exposures, face detection plus blink detection, face self timer and, as usually found on entry-level Canon models, auto red eye correction.”

Over at TrustedReviews.com we find one of the few less than enthusiastic reviews about, as it complains of a battery-card hatch that “is rather flimsy”, while they’re also not too impressed by the plastic pop-off cover concealing the HDMI and A/V Out sockets. Though, these little dents in the armour don’t stop it getting an impressive 8/10 overall.

Racing through the features on offer, it notes how, like most new compact cameras, it can shoot HD video, in 1280 x 720 resolution at 30 fps with mono audio via a built-in microphone. “Optical zoom cannot be used while recording, but can be pre-adjusted before you begin,” it adds. “Video playback on a digital TV is possible via the HDMI socket.”

Performance wise the enthusiasm certainly picks from TR noting that the 100 IS starts up “very quickly in just over a second”, and shuts down again in just over two seconds. “In single shot mode it has a shot-to-shot cycle time of 2.2 seconds, which is good but not exceptional, while in continuous shooting mode it can maintain one frame a second, which is also about average for a modern compact camera,” it adds.

For those who never leave for a night out without their camera there are a few things to note. Starting with the positive, the low light performance is excellent with the auto focus “just as fast in low light”, while thanks to a good AF assist lamp it will work in total darkness at a range of several metres.

The black IXUS 100 IS option may be the one to go for if you’re a little accident prone.

However, should you go for the Silver option several reviews do warn that those of you out there partial to dropping valuable electronic goods on the ground after a few drinks will find that it’ll scratch up fairly quickly. If you’re not a complete clutz though, the silver option should be fine.

Elsewhere the flash is also surprisingly powerful for its size, “easily surpassing its stated maximum range of 3.5 metres” according to a few reviewers. Continues TR, “Image quality is of a very high standard, although not without its faults. Noise control is good, but no better than most other premium 12MP cameras”.

It notes that the 100IS produces good image quality at 400 ISO and usable pictures at 800 ISO. “Canon has sensibly capped the maximum sensitivity at 1600 ISO rather than including a useless 3200 ISO setting for the sake of it as many manufacturers do,” adds the wonderfully blunt TR.

“IXUS! IXUS! Together standing taaaaaaaaallllllllll”

CNet, as we mentioned earlier, loved the 100 IS (“the best thing about this camera – apart from the super-sexy styling – is that everything just works”) and their quick run through of its merits also makes for good reading.

They’re not uniformly positive of course, noting that, with regards to the lens on offer – which has only a 3x zoom range and extends from the camera when you switch it on – “you  can’t just slide the 100 IS back into your pocket between shots, you have to power it down to make the lens retract first”.

It’s not a wide-angle zoom, either they point out before pulling up and adding a dose of reality to proceedings by pointing out that such complaints a little unfair given that this is a model that makes no bones about the fact that it’s as a stylish “snapshot camera, and it succeeds brilliantly.”

Indeed it does, and with this echoing the views of most out there we’re giving the IXUS 100 IS a Review of the Reviews Rating of 8/10. A good looking, quality option for those who want a decently priced digital camera with enough features to keep you occupied should conversation dry up on the nights out you bought it for in the first place:o)

Komplet price: €179

The ins and outs…

Ultra-slim IXUS design
12.1 MP
3.0x optical zoom with optical IS
Smart Auto mode with Scene Detection Technology
DIGIC 4
Motion Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology
2.5” PureColor LCD II
i-Contrast
HD Movies (1280×720, 30fps) and HDMI connection