Heritage Cameras Description
An interesting and collectable compact camera with eye control for APS film from Canon
- Canon APS film camera made in Japan
- 4x wide-angle-to-telephoto zoom lens
- Hybrid AI-Auto Focusing with five points
- Unique Canon eye-control viewfinder
- Built-in flash doubles as lens protection
- Includes Canon soft case & neck strap
- With batteries/film for testing purposes
- Excellent+++ (8.5/10) and fully working
This is a Canon IXY GE camera with eye-control for APS film, originally only sold in Japan. It's based on the earlier IXY G model, sold in Europe as the IXUS Z90 and in the Americas as the ELPH 490Z. The IXY GE is the only compact film camera we're aware of with Canon's unique eye-control feature – this didn't appear on any other APS or 35mm models, and certainly no other makes. APS offered several advantages over 35mm including multiple picture formats and information exchange, plus much easier loading and unloading in potentially smaller and lighter cameras. IMPORTANT NOTE: APS cameras don't accept 35mm film and APS film is no longer made so they're now mainly of interest to collectors, though outdated APS film, processing and other services are still available at the time of writing (January 2024).
The IXY GE (first sold in 1997) is the first compact camera with Eye Control. The camera senses where you are looking in the viewfinder and performs the desired operation. You can zoom in or out or switch print formats (C, H, or P) with your eye. The camera also records IX information magnetically including date (up to 2029) and picture quality improvement data. The camera has a novel and futuristic design, the front is metallic and the large lens cover also hosts a built-in flash. The 22.5-90mm zoom lens (equivalent to 28-112mm in the 35mm format) uses hybrid AF system with five focusing points (Ai-AF) for excellent image quality. Other features include drop-in film loading, automatic parallax correction and mode settings with icons. Remote control is possible with the Canon RC-5 transmitter (not included).
The camera comes with a copy of the instruction manual for the Canon ELPH 490Z / IXUS Z90 (without eye control), plus an outdated film and batteries for testing purposes.
An excellent camera for Canon and/or APS collectors.
Compatibility
APS cameras accept film designed for the Advanced Photo System only, and 35mm film cannot be used. Outdated APS film is still available from some sellers, and it can still be processed in various places. Many such labs also offer an extra scanning service where your pictures are supplied on disc or for download as well as (or instead of) prints. Once you have the scanned pictures they can be used in the same way as those from digital cameras, so they can be uploaded to the Internet and shared with friends and family online.
Please contact us before buying if you have any questions about compatibility with your equipment. E&OE. Our text and images are copyright © Heritage Cameras 2024, and may not be used without permission.