Canon Digital IXUS i7 Zoom First Thoughts

The Canon Digital IXUS i7 Zoom (aka Powershot SD40) - pictured above* in Blue - only £166 from Amazon UK - it seems to be excellent value for money. The camera has 7.1 megapixels, a 2.4x optical zoom lens, a 1.8" screen, VGA video at 30fps, is ultra compact and made out of metal, it comes with a docking station, a remote control, and is available in four colours. However it doesn't come with a case, so I bought the Leather Hama Arezzo Photo DF10 Camera bag (pictured behind the i7) from Asda for £10. It was the smallest camera case they had!

The Digital IXUS i7 Zoom is, in my opinion, the modern day version of the Sony Cybershot DSC-L1, which Sony discontinued in favour of ultra-slim digital cameras with large 2.5 or 3-inch screens (they can't fit screens this big on cameras the size of the i7 Zoom). When it comes to ultra-compact digital cameras, I'm a BIG fan of these "chocolate bar" sized digital cameras such as the Canon Digital IXUS i7 Zoom, and Sony DSC-L1 (even though mine broke).

I remember paying £125 in March 2004 (less than 3 years ago) for a 3 megapixel Canon Powershot A300 that featured no optical zoom, a 1.5" screen, and a bulky body that's probably twice the size of the IXUS i7 Zoom. You get a lot for your money these days, although you still don't get a case with the camera - some things never change :)

* Click here to view "Actual Size" picture - it's actual size on my monitor.