Gary Wolstenholme tests the compact Canon IXUS 265 HS, to see what this 12x zoom camera with Wi-Fi has to offer.
| Canon IXUS 265 HS in Compact Cameras
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Features
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
The Canon IXUS 265 HS is a stylish, pocket-sized compact camera, equipped with a 12x optical zoom lens, and is available in a range of colours. Images can be transferred via WiFi or Near Field Communications to a smartphone for ease of sharing.
The Canon IXUS 265 HS features a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, a 12x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 25mm to 300mm, and optical image stabilisation to aid taking sharp shots in low light conditions.
Being only 99.7 x 57.6 x 22.4mm in size, this camera is easy enough to stow away in a pocket or a handbag, which is impressive given the zoom range offered. On the back of the camera is a 3inch LCD screen that is clear, bright and easy to see in daylight.
1080p HD video is recorded at 30fps, and optical zoom is available while recording. Video footage uses H.264 encoding, which ensures relatively small files sizes, while retaining good quality. Video files are saved to the memory card in the popular MP4 format, which ensures the files can be played back easily with a wide variety of media.
The Canon IXUS 265 HS adopts the familiar pebble-like profile that has become synonymous with Canon IXUS cameras. The metal body feels robust, reinforcing the quality impression made by the camera. The only grip provided of the slippery metal body is a slightly raised and knurled Canon logo on the front of the camera. As a result, it's probably a good idea to make use of the supplied wrist strap to help prevent accidentally dropping the camera.
A mode switch on the top lets you set the shooting mode, and there are video record, playback, menu and wireless transfer buttons. The four-way controller can be used to change settings on the rear screen and the function button nestled within allows quick access for shooting options. On top is the on/off button, shutter release and zoom control. The base gives access to the battery and memory card compartment and connections for USB and HDMI are located on the side under a rubber flap. The screen had good viewing angles and is bright, clear and fairly easy to see in bright sunlight.
Menus – To change settings you can press the function button, located within the circular 4-way controller and this will bring up a number of common settings on the rear screen. To adjust more advanced settings you simply press the menu button and the options are spread over two screens. The menus are well laid out, and will those who have used a Canon compact camera before will feel right at home with the layout.
Wireless Connectivity - In order to connect the camera and a smartphone or tablet, Canon’s Camera window app must first be installed on the device. Once complete, the camera can be connected directly to the device via WiFi or NFC, or through your home network via WiFi.
Connecting directly to an Android device is straightforward, but we had some issues trying to do the same with an iPhone 5s, although this could equally be down to the phone itself. Connecting over a home network via WiFi is very straightforward also, although entering the password for you network can be quite fiddly on the camera.
Once connected, images on the camera can be viewed on the smart phone or tablet and then shared via whatever apps you may have on the device, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.
The camera can even be controlled via the app, which works much better than we expected. Zoom and focus can be controlled remotely, as can other options, like the flash mode for example. This can be especially useful for those who are partial to taking the odd 'selfie' photograph, as the image can be composed easily using your phone's display. The GPS capability of your device can also be utilised to add geo-tags to your images as they are taken.
Battery life - Battery life is rated at 190 shots according to Canon / CIPA test results, which is reasonable given the compact dimensions of the camera. An 'ECO' mode is also available, which extends to battery life to 280 shots.
Speed - We took a number of shots to test the camera's responsiveness, from switch on to first photo, shot to shot, focusing speed etc. We take a number of shots and then use the average to ensure accurate and consistent tests, making it easy to compare with other cameras.
The camera is responsive, with very little delay between pressing the shutter button and taking an image, especially if the lens is focused first by half pressing the shutter button.
Sample Photos - Images are sharp and flash portraits are free of red-eye, with decent skin tones. Levels of detail decrease as the ISO is raised but even images taken at ISO3200 should be good enough for sharing on the web. Colour and exposure are good, with natural levels of colour saturation. If stronger colours are required, then you may use the Vivid My Colours digital filter to give saturation a boost.
Lens Performance - Images are generally sharp in the centre of the frame, but the most noticeable image quality issues are the soft corners, particularly at the wide-angle end of the zoom range, which made even more noticeable by using the 1cm macro mode. Detail is good in the centre of images. The camera does a good job of correcting for barrel and pincushion distortion, with only a slight amount of distortion being visible in images. The camera has an extremely impressive 1cm macro mode, letting you get very close to your subject. Unfortunately, the purple lens barrel on the camera we tested reflects the onto macro subjects, giving images a pink-purple tinge.
ISO Noise Performance - Noise levels are kept well under control between ISO100 and ISO400, with only a slight amount of speckling visible when images are viewed at 100%. As the sensitivity of the camera is increased further, noise reduction beings to blur details in order to keep noise levels under control. Saying that, even ISO3200 will look quite good when shared on the web via social networking.
White Balance Performance - Auto White Balance (AWB) does an excellent job, leaving a slight warmth under tungsten lighting and a slightly cool appearance under fluorescent lights. Using the correct white balance pre-set provides even more accurate results, with only a very slight green/yellow cast being left under our fluorescent lighting.
Digital Filters - There are a number of colour options to choose from in the My Colours section of the function menu as well as digital effects such as a miniature effect and creative filters like the toy camera effect.
Creative shot mode - Accessed via the mode switch on top of the camera, this mode takes six images in quick succession, applying different crops and filters randomly to each image. One possible use for this mode is for sharing images via one of the popular photo montage apps on a smartphone, or simply to choose the effect you like best of the six.
Video - The camera records 1080p video at 30fps with sound, and optical zoom is available during recording. Image stabilisation helps keep the shot reasonably steady while recording, although it can take a while to settle down after movement or zoom. Video quality is reasonably good, although the footage could be smoother on occasion.
Nikon Coolpix S6800, 16Mp, Wi-Fi, 12x zoom, 1080p video - £169
Panasonic Lumix DMC SZ8, 16Mp, Wi-Fi, 12x zoom, 720p video - £129
Samsung WB35F, 16Mp, Wi-Fi, NFC, 12x zoom, 720p video - £149
You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.
The Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity works excellently with the Canon camera window app, and the ability to control the camera remotely is a boon for those who enjoy getting themselves in the picture. Overall this camera represents good value, being priced well for the features and build quality it offers.
Compact design
Good build quality
Wireless connectivity
12x zoom range
Clear 3inch screen
Good colour and exposure
Decent low light performance for the type of camera
Phone or tablet can be used as a remote control
Novel creative shot mode
1080p video
1cm macro
Soft corners at wide angle
Reflective lens barrel can cause colour casts on macro shots
Handling
Performance
Verdict
Specification
The Canon IXUS 265 HS is a stylish, pocket-sized compact camera, equipped with a 12x optical zoom lens, and is available in a range of colours. Images can be transferred via WiFi or Near Field Communications to a smartphone for ease of sharing.
Canon IXUS 265 HS Features
The Canon IXUS 265 HS features a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, a 12x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 25mm to 300mm, and optical image stabilisation to aid taking sharp shots in low light conditions.
Being only 99.7 x 57.6 x 22.4mm in size, this camera is easy enough to stow away in a pocket or a handbag, which is impressive given the zoom range offered. On the back of the camera is a 3inch LCD screen that is clear, bright and easy to see in daylight.
1080p HD video is recorded at 30fps, and optical zoom is available while recording. Video footage uses H.264 encoding, which ensures relatively small files sizes, while retaining good quality. Video files are saved to the memory card in the popular MP4 format, which ensures the files can be played back easily with a wide variety of media.
Key Features
- 16 megapixel CMOS sensor
- 12x optical zoom lens, 25mm-300mm equivalent
- Optical image stabilisation (lens shift)
- 3inch screen, 461k dots
- FullHD video at 30fps
- My colours and digital filters
- ISO100-ISO3200
- 1cm macro mode
- 3.9fps continuous shooting
- Connect camera to a smartphone via Wi-Fi / NFC
Canon IXUS 265 HS Handling
The Canon IXUS 265 HS adopts the familiar pebble-like profile that has become synonymous with Canon IXUS cameras. The metal body feels robust, reinforcing the quality impression made by the camera. The only grip provided of the slippery metal body is a slightly raised and knurled Canon logo on the front of the camera. As a result, it's probably a good idea to make use of the supplied wrist strap to help prevent accidentally dropping the camera.
A mode switch on the top lets you set the shooting mode, and there are video record, playback, menu and wireless transfer buttons. The four-way controller can be used to change settings on the rear screen and the function button nestled within allows quick access for shooting options. On top is the on/off button, shutter release and zoom control. The base gives access to the battery and memory card compartment and connections for USB and HDMI are located on the side under a rubber flap. The screen had good viewing angles and is bright, clear and fairly easy to see in bright sunlight.
Menus – To change settings you can press the function button, located within the circular 4-way controller and this will bring up a number of common settings on the rear screen. To adjust more advanced settings you simply press the menu button and the options are spread over two screens. The menus are well laid out, and will those who have used a Canon compact camera before will feel right at home with the layout.
Wireless Connectivity - In order to connect the camera and a smartphone or tablet, Canon’s Camera window app must first be installed on the device. Once complete, the camera can be connected directly to the device via WiFi or NFC, or through your home network via WiFi.
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| The Canon Camera Window app connects the camera to the phone or tablet via WiFi or NFC |
Images can be viewed on the device or shared via other apps |
The camera can even be controlled via the app over WiFi |
Connecting directly to an Android device is straightforward, but we had some issues trying to do the same with an iPhone 5s, although this could equally be down to the phone itself. Connecting over a home network via WiFi is very straightforward also, although entering the password for you network can be quite fiddly on the camera.
Once connected, images on the camera can be viewed on the smart phone or tablet and then shared via whatever apps you may have on the device, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.
The camera can even be controlled via the app, which works much better than we expected. Zoom and focus can be controlled remotely, as can other options, like the flash mode for example. This can be especially useful for those who are partial to taking the odd 'selfie' photograph, as the image can be composed easily using your phone's display. The GPS capability of your device can also be utilised to add geo-tags to your images as they are taken.
Battery life - Battery life is rated at 190 shots according to Canon / CIPA test results, which is reasonable given the compact dimensions of the camera. An 'ECO' mode is also available, which extends to battery life to 280 shots.
Speed - We took a number of shots to test the camera's responsiveness, from switch on to first photo, shot to shot, focusing speed etc. We take a number of shots and then use the average to ensure accurate and consistent tests, making it easy to compare with other cameras.
| Shutter Response | 0.1secs |
| Wide - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.35secs |
| Full zoom - Focus / Shutter Response | 0.4secs |
| Switch on Time to Taking a Photo | 1.7secs |
| Shot to Shot without Flash | 1.08secs |
| Shot to Shot with Flash | 2.25secs |
|
Continuous Shooting - JPEG (shots before slow down) |
3.8fps (4 shots) |
The camera is responsive, with very little delay between pressing the shutter button and taking an image, especially if the lens is focused first by half pressing the shutter button.
Canon IXUS 265 HS Performance
Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.Canon IXUS 265 HS Sample Photos
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Sample Photos - Images are sharp and flash portraits are free of red-eye, with decent skin tones. Levels of detail decrease as the ISO is raised but even images taken at ISO3200 should be good enough for sharing on the web. Colour and exposure are good, with natural levels of colour saturation. If stronger colours are required, then you may use the Vivid My Colours digital filter to give saturation a boost.
Canon IXUS 265 HS Lens test images
Previous
Next
Lens Performance - Images are generally sharp in the centre of the frame, but the most noticeable image quality issues are the soft corners, particularly at the wide-angle end of the zoom range, which made even more noticeable by using the 1cm macro mode. Detail is good in the centre of images. The camera does a good job of correcting for barrel and pincushion distortion, with only a slight amount of distortion being visible in images. The camera has an extremely impressive 1cm macro mode, letting you get very close to your subject. Unfortunately, the purple lens barrel on the camera we tested reflects the onto macro subjects, giving images a pink-purple tinge.
Canon IXUS 265 HS ISO test images
Previous
Next
ISO Noise Performance - Noise levels are kept well under control between ISO100 and ISO400, with only a slight amount of speckling visible when images are viewed at 100%. As the sensitivity of the camera is increased further, noise reduction beings to blur details in order to keep noise levels under control. Saying that, even ISO3200 will look quite good when shared on the web via social networking.
Canon IXUS 265 HS White-balance test images
Previous
Next
White Balance Performance - Auto White Balance (AWB) does an excellent job, leaving a slight warmth under tungsten lighting and a slightly cool appearance under fluorescent lights. Using the correct white balance pre-set provides even more accurate results, with only a very slight green/yellow cast being left under our fluorescent lighting.
Canon IXUS 265 HS Digital filters
Previous
Next
Digital Filters - There are a number of colour options to choose from in the My Colours section of the function menu as well as digital effects such as a miniature effect and creative filters like the toy camera effect.
Canon IXUS 265 HS Other sample images
Previous
Next
Creative shot mode - Accessed via the mode switch on top of the camera, this mode takes six images in quick succession, applying different crops and filters randomly to each image. One possible use for this mode is for sharing images via one of the popular photo montage apps on a smartphone, or simply to choose the effect you like best of the six.
Video - The camera records 1080p video at 30fps with sound, and optical zoom is available during recording. Image stabilisation helps keep the shot reasonably steady while recording, although it can take a while to settle down after movement or zoom. Video quality is reasonably good, although the footage could be smoother on occasion.
Value For Money
The Canon IXUS 265 HS is available for £149 which is about the right price considering what the camera offers, when compared to these cameras below:Nikon Coolpix S6800, 16Mp, Wi-Fi, 12x zoom, 1080p video - £169
Panasonic Lumix DMC SZ8, 16Mp, Wi-Fi, 12x zoom, 720p video - £129
Samsung WB35F, 16Mp, Wi-Fi, NFC, 12x zoom, 720p video - £149
You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.
Canon IXUS 265 HS Verdict
Those looking for a well-featured, easy to use compact camera that is small enough to fit in a pocket or handbag while still sporting a decent zoom range should certainly consider the IXUS 265 HS, even if the wireless connection features aren't a priority. Images are good quality for a camera of this type, even if the corners can be a little soft when using the wide angle end of the zoom range.The Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity works excellently with the Canon camera window app, and the ability to control the camera remotely is a boon for those who enjoy getting themselves in the picture. Overall this camera represents good value, being priced well for the features and build quality it offers.
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The Canon IXUS 265 HS offers a decent zoom range in a compact camera with built in Wi-Fi. |
Canon IXUS 265 HS Pros
Compact designGood build qualityWireless connectivity12x zoom rangeClear 3inch screenGood colour and exposureDecent low light performance for the type of cameraPhone or tablet can be used as a remote controlNovel creative shot mode1080p video1cm macroCanon IXUS 265 HS Cons
Soft corners at wide angleReflective lens barrel can cause colour casts on macro shots| FEATURES |
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| HANDLING |
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| PERFORMANCE |
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| VALUE FOR MONEY |
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Canon IXUS 265 HS Specifications
| Manufacturer | Canon | |
| Lens | ||
| Max Aperture | f/3.6 - f/7 | |
| 35mm equivalent | 25mm - 300mm | |
| Optical Zoom | 12x | |
| Image Sensor | ||
| Pixels | 16Mp (Megapixels) | |
| Pixels (W) | 4608 | |
| Pixels (H) | 3456 | |
| Sensor Type | Back-lit CMOS (B.S.I.) | |
| Sensor Size | 1/2.3inch | |
| Sensor Size (width) | No Data | |
| Sensor Size (height) | No Data | |
| Aspect Ratio |
| |
| LCD Monitor | ||
| LCD Monitor | 3in | |
| Screen resolution | 461k dots | |
| Touch Screen | No | |
| Focusing | ||
| Min Focus | 1cm | |
| Focusing modes |
| |
| Exposure Control | ||
| Shutter speeds shortest | 1/2000sec | |
| Shutter speeds longest | 15sec | |
| Bulb mode | No | |
| Exp modes |
| |
| Metering |
| |
| ISO sensitivity | 100 - 3200 | |
| White balance |
| |
| Exposure Comp | +/-2 | |
| Shooting Options | ||
| Continuous shooting | 3.9fps | |
| Video | ||
| Movie mode | Yes | |
| Video Resolution |
| |
| Video FPS | 30fps | |
| Stereo Sound | No Data | |
| Optical Zoom with Video | Yes | |
| Other Features | ||
| Image Stabilisation | Yes | |
| Interface | ||
| HDMI | Yes | |
| USB | USB 2 | |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | |
| Storage | ||
| Card Type |
| |
| File Type |
| |
| Power Source | ||
| Battery Type | Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-11LH | |
| Battery Life (CIPA rating) | 190shots | |
| Box Contents | ||
| Box Contents | IXUS 265 HS, User Manual Kit, Battery Pack NB-11LH, Battery Charger CB-2LFE, Wrist Strap WS-800, AC Cable | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Weight | 147g | |
| Width | 99.7mm | |
| Height | 57.6mm | |
| Depth | 22.4mm | |
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Photographs taken using the Canon IXUS 265 HS
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