The Ixus 900Ti is the new top-of-the-range model in Canon's Ixus line-up. The real headline grabber is that the Ixus 900Ti has a huge 10-megapixel CCD, which means it can take higher resolution photos than many Digital SLRs.
Despite the 900Ti's SLR-beating resolution, it's very easy to slip into a pocket and carry around. The 'Ti' refers to its titanium shell and while not as slim as much some of the compact camera competition, it's still little bigger than a pack of cards.
In use, the Canon feels really responsive. Flick the on switch and it starts up straightaway, plus the delay between shots, even with flash, is impressively short. The speed of operation is matched by a clear, concise on-screen menu system. All the icons are self-explanatory and you'll rarely find yourself reaching for the manual.
It's rare to find an optical viewfinder on a modern compact, but the Ixus has one in addition to its large 2.5in screen. The only issue is that the optical viewfinder is tiny, which makes it rather awkward to use. Its usefulness is further compromised by only showing around 80% of the actual captured image. As the TFT screen was clearly visible even under strong sunlight, the optical viewfinder is only really useful when you're desperate to conserve battery power.
Sensitive side
Delve a little deeper and the Ixus's feature list is quite impressive. The higher resolution CCD and more comprehensive range of ISO settings are the most obvious improvements on the 900Ti's predecessor - the Ixus 800. The addition of an ISO 3200 setting allows you to snap in very dark situations where flash is undesirable.
Images are noisy at these higher sensitivity settings, but noise control and sharpness is above average up to ISO 400, and is still acceptable at 800. ISO 1600 is extremely noisy and while ISO 3200 has less noise than you might expect, picture detail is very smudgy since resolution is limited to 2 megapixels in this mode. Since image stabilization is conspicuous by its absence, you'll need the Canon's full range of high ISOs to keep fast-moving subjects sharp in low light.
Full control over aperture and shutter speed isn't available, but there is a long exposure option for shots up to 15 seconds long. However, it's a real shame that the 900Ti lacks more comprehensive manual shooting options - with 10 megapixels at its disposal, more control would be very welcome. Other less well-specified compacts have better manual modes, as well as the option to take snaps in a high-quality uncompressed RAW file format.
Point-and-shoot
There's lots to keep your average point-and-shooter happy though, and the camera works remarkably well in automatic mode. Accurate focusing and exposure are made easy by Canon's face detection technology, which recognises the main subjects in a shot and tailors exposure and focus accordingly. With 18 discreet shooting modes to cover most photo opportunities, even novices will quickly be able to take great pictures.
The combination of Canon's high-quality lens and a 10-megapixel sensor produces very high quality images that are big enough for very large prints, even with extreme cropping. Fine details such as hair are recorded very well at the lowest ISO settings and we really liked the natural colour and contrast in outdoor pictures.
We weren't so keen on the supplied 32MB memory card, which is far too small to be of much use. At the 900Ti's maximum resolution, even a 512MB card can only store 116 shots, so we'd recommend getting a 1GB card for around £20 if you don't want to be constantly running out of room.
If you want super-high quality photos with point-and-shoot simplicity there are few cameras as well suited to the task as the Ixus 900Ti. If it's manual control you're after, then you'll have to look elsewhere, though.
System Specifications
10-megapixel
3x optical zoom
SD memory card
Verdict
If you're looking for a stylish, high resolution compact, then the Ixus 900 is a good buy.
Computer Buyer Online