Canon IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS

 The Canon IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS is a 16 Megapixel point-and-shoot compact with an 8x optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD screen. The earlier 2012 IXUS / ELPH range was exclusively built around Canon's High sensitivity back-illuminated CMOS sensors, with each IXUS / ELPH model carrying the HS suffix. 

The range also relied on Canon's newest Digic 5 processor. For 2013 though, Canon has reverted to CCD sensors and the older Digic 4 processor for the lower end of the IXUS / ELPH range which includes the IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS, the IXUS 135 (not available in the US) and IXUS 132 / ELPH 115 IS. These three models replace the earlier entry-level IXUS 125 HS, expanding the range from four to six.

The change of sensor and processor means the new IXUS / ELPH models lack some of the features of their predecessors. The sensitivity range has a maximum setting of 1600 ISO compared with 3200 ISO on the earlier models, there are fewer Smart Auto scenes and fewer selectable shooting modes too. The IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS also lacks the 1080p Full HD movie mode of the older IXUS / ELPH models, with a top quality 720p HD mode at 25fps.

Camera Design

A glance at the IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS and it's clear that, while a lot's changed on the inside, the exterior is little different from the earlier IXUS 125 HS / ELPH 110 HS. Measuring 95 x 56 x 21mm and weighing 133g including the battery and card, the IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS is more or less the same size and weight as its predecessor. It's solidly constructed with a metal shell and is available in one of four colours. I reviewed the dark grey model which is handsome in an understated sort of way, there's also silver or, if you prefer something bolder, pink, and red. 

Lens and Stabilisation

The IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS has an 8x optical zoom with a 35mm equivalent range of 28-224mm. It's the same lens as on the other two entry level ELPH / IXUS models, the IXUS 135 and IXUS 132 / ELPH 115 IS. 8x is a capable range for a compact in this price range, providing a maximum telephoto focal length of 224mm which will get you reasonably close for field sports and the occasional wildlife shot, though if you shoot a lot of this kind of thing and want long telephoto reach you should really be looking at the PowerShot SX280 HS or one of the Panasonic travel zooms like the TZ40 / ZS30. 

At the wide angle end of the range the IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS is well suited for landscapes and interiors, though it lacks the 24mm super wide angle view of the earlier ELPH 110 / IXUS 125 HS and many other compacts in this price range. But it's easy to be critical and the fact is that the IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS will get you nearly twice as close to the action as its predecessor with a range that will be more than adequate for most situations.

With a maximum aperture of f3.2-6.9 the IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS's lens isn't quite as bright as the f2.7 maximum aperture on the earlier IXUS 125 / ELPH 110, but with Canon's Intelligent IS optical image stabilisation you can shoot using much slower shutter speeds than would ordinarily be possible without blurring as a result of camera shake. Canon claims Intelligent IS provides 3 stops of stabilisation on the IXUS 140 / ELPH 130 IS, to test that claim I zoomed it to its maximum 224mm zoom and took a sequence of shots in fading light both with and without the stabilisation enabled.

Sample Image

 

 

 Video Review