Canon PowerShot SX210 IS, Digital IXUS 210, 130, 105: Make life worth living again

Canon has announced four cameras whose jolly hues aim to make life tolerable once more for those trapped in the perpetual grey misery of the British winter

Charles Kloet

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Charles Kloet

Feb. 9, 2010 5:07 a.m. PT

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Canon has announced four cameras whose fruity colours aim to make life worth living again for those trapped in the interminable grey misery of the British winter: the PowerShot SX210 IS compact superzoom (pictured), and Digital IXUS 210, 130 and 105 compacts.

The SX210 IS, the successor to the PowerShot SX200 IS, wears the pants in this little menagerie, boasting a 14.1-megapixel resolution and a 14x wide-angle optical zoom. Like the IXUS 210 and 130, it can also record 720p video (the SX210 IS can zoom while recording too). Films can be played back on its 76mm (3-inch) LCD display, or a high-definition TV via the mini-HDMI port.

Aperture, shutter-speed, ISO and focusing controls are available to those who fancy getting down and dirty with the SX210 IS, while a 'smart auto' mode handles everything for those of a lazier disposition.

In common with the IXUS 210, 130 and 105, the SX210 IS records to super-high-capacity SDXC memory cards, as well as standard SDHC cards, and boasts a plethora of diverting face-detection features, including one that lets you take a shot just by winking at the camera. That should come in especially handy for people with locked-in syndrome, like that unfortunate fellow from The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

The SX210 IS will be available in March for around £360, in black, purple or blingtastic gold. Hit 'Continue' with considerable gusto to ogle the touchscreen 120 and its IXUS stablemates.

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The 14.1-megapixel IXUS 210 is similar to the SX210 IS in terms of features, but has a shorter, 5x optical zoom and an 88mm (3.5-inch) touchscreen.

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You can assign finger gestures to commonly used functions on the IXUS 210, negating the need to go poking through menus. The 210 will be at large from March for about £350 in a choice of black, gold, pink or silver.

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The 14.1-megapixel IXUS 130 is a shiny beastie for those who like to keep things simple. It has a 69mm (2.7-inch) LCD, 4x wide-angle zoom and a slim, 18mm-thick carcass. It'll be available in black, orange, pink and silver from March for around £280.

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At the bottom of the pack sits the 12.1-megapixel IXUS 105. It has a 68mm (2.7-inch) screen, a 4x wide-angle zoom and can shoot videos at a VGA resolution. You can pick it up from March for around £190 in brown, pink, silver and turquoise.