Canon IXUS 120 IS and 200 IS: Why, a touchscreen! How novel

These aren't just cameras: these are Canon IXUS cameras. The IXUS 200 and 120 may not be pushing the envelope of compact camera design, but they are slick little snappers

Richard Trenholm

Richard Trenholm was CNET's film and TV editor, covering the big screen, small screen and streaming. A member of the Film Critic's Circle, he's covered technology and culture from London's tech scene to Europe's refugee camps to the Sundance film festival.

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Richard Trenholm

Aug. 20, 2009 7:58 a.m. PT

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The IXUS brand is the most popular make of compact camera out there, but it's hardly on the cutting edge of innovation. The Canon IXUS 200 is the first Canon to feature a touchscreen. Isn't that exciting? We bet Kodak, Nikon, Samsung, Panasonic and Sony all wish they thought of that first -- oh wait, they all did. Still, the 200 and the IXUS 120 are both sleekly styled and decently specced snappers.

The 200 boasts a very respectable 24mm wide-angle lens, and 5x optical zoom, which is pretty impressive given the dinky dimensions.

Slender as the 200 is, it's still not as lean as the 120, the slimmest IXUS ever. Both models include guides to help novices with shooting tips, and both shoot 720p high-definition video.

The IXUS 200 and 120 join the PowerShot G11, S90 and SX20 in today's new line-up. Click through our gallery to see the IXUS 200 and 120 in action.

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And there it is: Canon's first touchscreen. So, er, what's with the buttons? Tapping the 76mm (3-inch) screen allows you to focus on that point. More fun though is the option to erase a picture by swiping your finger, or move through your images by tilting the camera.