135compact.com APS ultra compact cameras Conon Ixus II
The Canon Ixus II aka Elph 2 is a small upper mid-range to advanced zoom camera built for APS film*(see below). So it is no 35mm
camera, the APS main format is 30.2x16.7mm, a bit bigger than half
format. APS has been released in 1996 and was discontinued in 2011.
* The APS (advanced photo system)
film is 24 mm wide and has three image formats: H for "High
Definition" (30.2 × 16.7 mm), C for "Classic" (25.1 × 16.7 mm) and P
for "Panoramic" (30.2 × 9.5 mm). The "C" and "P" formats are made by
cropping the full image which is always taken on the film. So the
formats are just a code recorded on the film. The "ix" in the camera
name stands for "information exchange", date and camera settings could be written on a magnetic area on the film. MRC stands for "mid roll change". The APS system was a very advanced photo system indeed, but digital cameras made it obsolete.
This camera was released in 1999. I chose to show this model because it's quite small,
much smaller than half format cameras, and its design has been continued as a digital camera. Its main features are:
23-46mm F4.2-5.6 Canon lens, including 2 aspherical elements, autofocus with focus lock, min. focus 0,45m Electronic shutter, 2-1/800 (1/900 at 46mm) Size 87x57x24.5, Weight 170 gr. without battery 25-10000
ISO, automatic coding, self-timer, automatic film advance
and spooling, time/date/settings/greetings recording possibility
Camera closed and manual.
Camera front open. The
lens only moves out a little to wide angle position. On top: wide/tele switch around the shutter release, self timer. Flash guide number ~10 (m/ISO 100). Lens moved out to tele position. Back and bottom view. From top: Viewer and
2 indication lamps, format switch and on/off button. Small LCD screen
in the middle, indicates flash mode, date, full battery, film presence,
film number. Bottom edge: far left: battery compartment.
Takes a CR2 battery. 4 mode switches: flash, printing, greetings and
time. 3 more setting switches, accessible with a pointed tool. Bottom
right: Film compartment door with tripod socket, only opens when film
is rewound.
This
camera is very easy to use, switch it on and it's ready.
Autofocus is responsive and works well. Putting a film is easy as well,
you drop the film into the compartment and that's it. It has quite some custom
manual settings if needed. Auto
flash at start, which is the case with most ultra compacts, can be permanently switched off (!).
It's
a very good point and shoot camera
with a wide angle to normal lens, good picture quality, high quality
finish in a very small and light pocketable body.
