The IXUS 115 HS landed in early 2011 as Canon's entry point into the HS System lineup — back-illuminated CMOS, ISO headroom to 3200, and six creative filters in a 19.9mm metal body. It sat below the 220 HS and 310 HS in the range but shared their core sensor technology, their full HD video, and their characteristic IXUS restraint in a noticeably more affordable package.
NO FILTER: SHOT ON IXUS 115H
THE LOOKS
The blue finish on the 115 HS is bold without being aggressive — a clean metallic tone that catches light well against the mirrored lens surround at the front. The body is 93.1 × 55.8 × 19.9mm with rounded edges and a smooth front face, the rear almost entirely occupied by the 3-inch LCD. Slim, solid, and clearly metal in the hand. Also available in silver, grey, and pink.
THE SPECS
12.1-megapixel 1/2.3-inch back-illuminated CMOS, ISO 100–3200. Canon 4× optical zoom, 28–112mm equivalent, f/2.8–5.9. Optical IS. DIGIC 4 processor. 3-inch LCD (230k dots). Smart Auto 32 scenes. 6 creative filters including Miniature and Toy Camera. Movie Digest mode. 1080p/24fps Full HD video, Super Slow Motion 240fps. SD/SDHC/SDXC. 93.1 × 55.8 × 19.9mm, 140g.
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
- Back-illuminated CMOS with ISO 3200 at full resolution: the HS System's whole argument — cleaner low-light shots without dropping to a reduced-resolution mode.
- Six creative filters including Miniature and Toy Camera: built in and selectable at shoot time, not just in playback — more useful than the typical post-processing approach.
- Movie Digest mode: records 4 seconds of video before each still shot, then stitches the day's clips into a single short film automatically in-camera.
THE VERDICT
The IXUS 115 HS is a compact that delivers more than its entry-level position suggests — the BSI sensor and HS System handle low light well, the creative filters give it personality, and the 28mm wide-angle is a useful starting point. The blue finish makes it the most visually interesting color option in the lineup. A well-made, quietly capable early-2010s Canon.