Canon IXUS 185 | Canon PowerShot ELPH 185 | Canon IXY 200

Canon’s 2017 IXUS 185 is a silver point-and-shoot built for the person who wants to pick it up and shoot, not work through a menu. It starts in Easy Auto by default, choosing the scene and locking the main setting buttons against accidental changes. Its 8× 28–224mm zoom gives it more reach than its plain little rectangle suggests, while the 20-megapixel CCD brings the warm, slightly soft character of a later compact-camera era.

THE LOOKS

The Silver body has a cool, clean finish across its flat front, top and sides. Deliberately plain, it has a black circular lens window low at left, a flash above, and discreet Canon and IXUS lettering. The 8× lens retracts completely when off, leaving a flush front. A 2.7-inch screen takes up most of the rear beside compact, clearly labelled buttons. Other confirmed official colours: black and red.

THE SPECS

The IXUS 185 has a 20-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor — an older-style sensor for a warm, slightly soft look — with Canon’s DIGIC 4+ processor. Its 8× zoom covers 28–224mm: wide enough for a group, then long enough for faraway details. The f/3.2–6.9 lens is bright at wide angle and dim at full zoom, so distant shots are happiest in daylight. There is no optical stabiliser; Digital IS uses electronic correction in its dedicated mode. It records 720p HD video and has a 2.7-inch 230k-dot screen. 95.2 × 54.3 × 22.1mm; 126g with battery and card.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

• A plain silver face: With the lens retracted, the front becomes an almost uninterrupted silver rectangle, broken only by the small black lens window and flash.

• Screen-led rear: The 2.7-inch display dominates the back, leaving a compact raised button cluster on the right-hand side and little else to interrupt it.

• A small lens in a deep black window: The circular black surround makes the retracting 8× zoom visually distinct against the otherwise pale silver body.

THE VERDICT

The IXUS 185 suits beginners, or anyone who does not want to configure a camera before every shot. Starting in Easy Auto by default, it chooses the scene and locks key setting buttons against accidental changes. The 8× zoom covers both groups and faraway details. It is not for someone who likes to dig into settings or shoot in poor light, but for daylight trips, family moments and uncomplicated snapshots, it does exactly what it is meant to do.