The Canon IXUS 800 IS presents a very stylish look. It has a metal body and the build quality of the camera appears to be good. In terms of features the camera is quite straightforward and is basically a point and shoot camera in a smart shell. In terms of size the IXUS 800 IS will fit into a good sized pocket, but it is just a little on the large size for me to consider it to be a true pocket sized camera. This is a six megapixel model.

Optical image stabilisation is the key feature. This is the first Canon IXUS model to include stabilisation. One of the reasons why image stabilisation is useful in a digital camera is because of the way these cameras are typically held when taking a picture. People tend to use the LCD screen to line up a shot. This causes them to hold the camera away from the body. It is much harder to keep the camera rock steady and the resultant movement can lead to blurred pictures. Image stabilisation can also come in handy for lowlight photos.

The camera has a 4x optical zoom lens. This is a step up from the 3x that is standard for this range. In my opinion when it comes to zoom every little helps.

Other noteworthy features include a large 2.5” LCD screen. The IXUS 800 IS is also one of the decreasing numbers of digital cameras to offer a viewfinder as an alternative method of lining up a shot. There are also a wide range of colour options. These include being able to swap colours and to show a single colour in an otherwise black and white photo.

The IXUS 800 IS also has an advanced movie mode. As well as being able to produce the standard TV quality movies there is also a special second mode. This allows you to take short one minute movies, but with a very fast frames per second speed. The fast recording speed then allows you to playback the movie in slow motion. This feature is popular with people who wish to analyze something like a golf swing.

As with other cameras in the Canon range I do not consider the IXUS 800 IS to be one of the easiest digital cameras to get to know. It can be used in fully automatic mode. Therefore you should have no problem clicking away and taking photos. If you want to dig deeper into the camera it takes a bit longer to find your way around then with other more simple brands such as Sony and Panasonic. It is worth it in the end though.

In terms of picture quality I was impressed with the test shots I managed to take. I regularly find that the images taken with Canon cameras are sharper than with other brands. The IXUS 800 IS confirms this and it is possible to take crisp photos with the camera. It also performed well indoors when the light was not so good. These conditions can cause digital cameras to struggle, but I consider the IXUS 800 IS to be one of the better bets in lowlight. I should point out though that I did have a problem with red eye in portrait shots when I needed to use the flash.

If you are looking for a good quality camera then I am happy to recommend the Canon IXUS 800 IS. In my view it is a clear step up from many of its rivals. It does not come cheap though and it sells at a premium to just about every other digital camera in its class.