Canon IXUS 160 | PowerShot ELPH 160 | IXY 150

Canon released the IXUS 160 in early 2015 as the entry point into the IXUS lineup — 20-megapixel CCD, 28mm 8× zoom, and classic IXUS proportions in a plastic body. No optical stabilization, no Wi-Fi, no metal shell. What it has is a 20MP CCD producing warm, characterful output at base ISO, a 28mm wide-angle that fits a whole group in frame, and a flash reaching 3.5 metres. Red is the most visually committed of the four color options.

THE LOOKS

In red, the IXUS 160 has a glossy plastic finish that catches light across the curved edges — the glossy surface picks up scratches more visibly than the other color options, worth knowing. The body is 95.2 × 54.3 × 22.1mm, 127g, with the 2.7-inch LCD on the rear and a clean front face. No grip, no texture — slippery to hold, which is the trade-off for how it looks. Also available in silver, black, and white.

THE SPECS

The 20-megapixel CCD is the headline — an unusually high-resolution CCD sensor at a time when most cameras at this price had switched to CMOS. The 8× zoom covers 28–224mm equivalent, useful from wide group shots to moderate telephoto. No optical IS, so it works best in good light — digital stabilization is the fallback. DIGIC 4+ processor, Smart Auto reading 32 scenes. 720p/30fps video. Flash to 3.5m. Eco Mode. SD/SDHC/SDXC, 95.2 × 54.3 × 22.1mm, 127g.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

• 20-megapixel CCD in 2015: unusually late for CCD technology at this price — the sensor type producing the warm, characterful output that defines the digicam aesthetic.
• 28mm wide-angle 8× zoom without optical IS: wide enough for groups and interiors, 224mm at the long end — works best in good light where the lack of stabilization doesn't show.
• Flash reaching 3.5 metres at wide angle: enough to light a group shot across a room without everyone looking washed out — a practical spec that matters more than it reads on paper.

THE VERDICT

The IXUS 160 kept the CCD sensor when most of the market had moved on — a 20-megapixel CCD in 2015 at this price was an unusual choice, and the output shows it. Warm, slightly soft, exactly the early-2010s digicam character people are chasing now. The plastic body and lack of optical IS are the honest compromises. Red commits to being noticed — the glossy finish works better as a color statement than a fingerprint-resistant surface.