Canon PowerShot ELPH 180

Canon released the PowerShot ELPH 180 in 2016 as a straightforward compact camera. It measures 95 x 54 x 22 mm and weighs 126 g, so it lives comfortably in a pocket or a small bag. That portability is the point: it is a camera you can have with you everywhere.

It is built for casual, everyday photography rather than specialist work. The fixed lens means there is nothing to attach or swap, and every function is contained in one small body.

It suits anyone who wants simple snapshots on holiday or around the house, and who values carrying ease over advanced control.

The 20 megapixel sensor produces files with plenty of resolution for prints and for cropping after the fact. It is a 1/2.3-inch CCD, a small format, handled by a Digic 4+ processor, straightforward internals for a simple compact.

Sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 1600, a span that soon runs out as the light fades. Once the ceiling is reached, the built-in flash becomes the practical answer for dim rooms and evening snapshots indoors.

Speed is where the limits show. A maximum burst rate of 0.8 frames per second favours considered single shots over sequences of moving subjects, and autofocus is handled by nine points.

Image stabilisation helps keep handheld shots sharp at slower shutter speeds, which eases the modest ISO range somewhat. The maximum shutter speed of 1/2000 is fast enough to freeze everyday motion.

The ELPH 180 records video at Standard HD, its maximum resolution. That level suits casual clips, family moments and sharing online, though it sits below Full HD resolution.

Frame rates reach up to 30 fps, a separate maximum from the resolution figure rather than a guaranteed combined recording mode. Recordings are saved as MPEG-4 or MOV files.

With no viewfinder, the 2.7-inch LCD handles framing for video just as it does for stills, and live view keeps the preview immediate while you shoot.

There is no built-in timelapse mode, so time-compressed sequences are not offered in camera. Treat video as a useful bonus on this stills-led compact rather than the main event.

Composition happens entirely on the 2.7-inch LCD, since there is no viewfinder. The screen offers 230,000 dots and live view, adequate for framing but coarse for checking fine focus or detail. It is fixed in place and not touch-sensitive.

A built-in flash covers dim rooms and evening snapshots. There is no way to mount an external flash, so the built-in unit is the only flash option.

Wi-Fi is built in, providing a wireless connection. There is no Bluetooth and no GPS, so the camera itself does not tag locations.

The body carries no weather sealing, so rain, spray and dusty conditions call for care and somewhere dry to stow it.

A single card slot takes SD, SDHC or SDXC media and accepts UHS-I cards, so high-capacity storage is covered. With one slot there is no second card for backup, so carrying a spare card is a sensible precaution for a long day of shooting.

The NB-11LH battery is rated at 220 shots per charge. The rating's measurement conditions are not specified, so treat it as a guide rather than a promise of real-world endurance, and a spare battery is worth packing for longer outings.

Charging happens over USB, which keeps the routine simple at a laptop or a wall socket wherever a port is handy.