Camera Dojo

Canon PowerShot ELPH 180: what to know before buying one used

The short answer

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 is a 2016 budget compact with a 20 MP CCD sensor, an 8x 28-224mm zoom and 720p video, and owners call it a simple, pocketable point-and-shoot that takes good photos for the money.

It launched at $119.99 in February 2016; on November 2, 2026, restored ones cost $329.99 to $409.99 at Cute Camera Co., with a battery and charger.

Sensor
20 MP 1/2.3-type CCD
Lens
8x, 28-224mm, f/3.2-6.9
Video
720p at 25 fps
Launch price
$119.99 (Feb 2016)
Check used pricesWhat owners say

Built from 74 opinions from 25 pages and videos. Not yet tested by Camera Dojo. Updated .

The short version

Owners praise how easy it is: Smart Auto picks the settings, the buttons and menus are clear, and the body slips into any pocket. In daylight the photos look good, and two YouTube reviewers found its optical zoom holds more detail than a phone's digital zoom.

The complaints come from cost-cutting and age. There is no optical stabilization, no Wi-Fi, no USB charging and no 1080p video, the 2.7-inch screen is low resolution, and dim indoor light gives weak results without the flash. Owner reports include stuck lenses, card errors and drop damage, and Canon runs a free-repair notice for an autofocus fault on some serial numbers.

Good fit if

  • You want the direct-flash CCD digicam look in a camera that slips into a pocket
  • You want Smart Auto simplicity and real buttons instead of a phone screen
  • You mostly shoot in daylight, or with the flash at close range
  • You want standard accessories: NB-11L or NB-11LH batteries and ordinary full-size SD cards

Think twice if

  • You shoot indoors or at night without flash: there is no optical stabilization and ISO stops at 1600
  • You want 1080p video, a microphone input or Wi-Fi transfer
  • You expect a clear step up from a modern phone's image quality
  • You won't pay $329.99 or more for a camera that cost $119.99 new in 2016
  • You can't test it or return it: owners report faults that have no published repair price

Canon ELPH 180 and its siblings: ELPH 160, 170 IS, 190 IS and 360 HS

Canon sold several related ELPHs around the ELPH 180, and three of them (the 160, 170 IS and 190 IS) also use a roughly 20 MP CCD, so a listing for one of them may be the better deal. Older ELPH and SD models are covered in our Canon PowerShot ELPH guide.

ModelYearSensorWhy look for it
PowerShot ELPH 160201520 MP CCDThe predecessor. Imaging Resource says the ELPH 180 kept its sensor and 8x 28-224mm lens, so buy whichever is cheaper in good shape.
PowerShot ELPH 170 ISApril 2015About 20 MP CCDThe long-zoom sibling, with a 12x 25-300mm lens in place of the 8x.
PowerShot ELPH 180February 2016About 20 MP 1/2.3-type CCDThis camera: the cheapest of the 2016 trio at $119.99, with an 8x 28-224mm lens, no optical stabilization and no Wi-Fi. Sold as the IXUS 175 in Europe and the IXY 180 in Japan.
PowerShot ELPH 190 ISFebruary 2016About 20 MP CCDSame sensor class with a stabilized 10x 24-240mm lens and Wi-Fi with NFC. It launched at $159.99, and Imaging Resource rates its battery at 190 shots.
PowerShot ELPH 360 HSFebruary 201620.2 MP BSI CMOSThe CMOS sibling from the same launch: 25-300mm lens, 1080p video and Wi-Fi with NFC, at $209.99. Skip it if the CCD is the point.

Sources: imaging-resource.com, global.canon, global.canon, global.canon, imaging-resource.com, dailycameranews.com

What owners and reviewers say, topic by topic

We sorted 74 opinions about the ELPH 180 from 25 pages and videos on 10 websites and channels. Each row shows how many people raised a topic and how many of them were positive. Open a row to read short quotes, each linked to its source.

Owner voices are thin: short eBay, Flipkart and ProductReview.com.au reviews, iFixit repair threads (which only show what goes wrong) and five YouTube reviews, two of them (the daniel life and Tech I Own) titled for the IXUS 185, a name Canon's ELPH 180 page does not list, so read their notes as coming from a close sibling. Reddit, B&H and Best Buy reviews could not be read, and Imaging Resource's lines come from a 2016 first look based on Canon's announcement, so treat the reliability picture as what can fail, not how often.

  1. Ease of use80% positiveof 10

    The most consistent praise: Smart Auto, clear menus, physical buttons and a quick start-up make it a simple point-and-shoot. One caveat: the extra flash settings only appear in P mode. Another YouTube reviewer mentions an Easy Auto setting that locks the menus, but the ELPH 180 manual lists no such mode.

  2. Build quality25% positiveof 8

    Mostly negative: owners report a loose lens cover, stiff buttons, a flash that stopped firing and a screen with pink and dark streaks after a drop, and one says it isn't built like older cameras. Two owners still call it solid for its size.

  3. Reliability today13% positiveof 8

    Skewed by repair-forum posts: seven owners describe stuck lenses, dead zoom, whirring autofocus, a stuck power button and black screens, several on used, dropped or wet units. One business user has bought three in ten years and says they hold up to rough use.

    • “On my canon elph 180 the on-off button is stuck”

      iFixit Answers 2023-01Owner

    • “Camera’s auto focus mechanism seems to be faulty; it makes a whirring sound when it tries to focus and viewing screen goes blurry”

      er0184, eBay customer review 2024-12Owner

    • “My canon camera lense is stuck and it is not working”

      Devesh Semwal, iFixit Answers 2023-01Owner

    • “I bought a camera lens for the 180 cause that was the problem with it”

      Car1, iFixit Answers 2023-03Owner

  4. Image look57% positiveof 7

    Positive to mixed: owners and video reviewers call the photos good for the price, and one owner says they beat a phone's, helped by the 8x optical zoom. The mixed notes say digital zoom softens images and the aperture is slow at the long end.

  5. Batteries and charging57% positiveof 7

    Mostly positive: owners call the battery life good, one YouTube owner says it lasts roughly a day of casual shooting, and Canon rates it at about 220 shots. The complaint is charging: there is no USB charging, so the battery needs its wall charger.

  6. Memory cards and transfer0% positiveof 7

    Negative: owners hit memory card errors, sometimes with brand-new cards, and a repair helper blames microSD cards in adapters. Buyers also note the box has no SD card or USB cable, and there is no Wi-Fi.

  7. Price and value71% positiveof 7

    Owners call it a good all-rounder for the price, and one is on their fourth. Two of those reviews date from 2016, the year it launched at $119.99 in the US; restored ones now cost $329.99 and up. Imaging Resource notes the low price came from dropping stabilization and Wi-Fi, and one reviewer sees it as a camera for kids or work photos.

  8. Video17% positiveof 6

    Six voices, mostly lukewarm: 720p clips look fine for casual use and the optical zoom helps, but there is no 1080p, no microphone input, no flip screen, and one owner finds the recorded sound weak.

  9. Size and weight100% positiveof 6

    Unanimous praise from six voices: the body slips into any pocket, one YouTube owner says it is smaller than a typical smartphone, and one traveler carries it instead of a big Nikon.

  10. Screen and viewfinder20% positiveof 5

    Five voices, mostly negative: the 2.7-inch screen looks washed out and low resolution, and one owner says it makes photos look worse than they do on a computer. Another says it stays readable in bright sun. There is no viewfinder.

  11. Low light and flash0% positiveof 3

    A tiny sample of three, all negative: an eBay owner and a YouTube owner say quality drops in dim or yellow light, and another owner only found two flash modes until learning the others live in P mode.

PositiveMixedNegative

Canon ELPH 180 price history: $119.99 new, $329.99 and up restored

Canon announced the ELPH 180 at CES in January 2016 as the cheapest of three new ELPHs, at $119.99, and it went on sale that February. It was the stripped-down model: the same 20 MP CCD as the ELPH 190 IS, but a shorter 8x lens with no optical stabilization and no wireless, according to Imaging Resource.

Ten years later, restored ones sell as retro digicams. On November 2, 2026, Cute Camera Co. in Austin asked $329.99 to $409.99 for restored ones, and its product copy pitches the original 2010s digicam look from the 20 MP CCD and the built-in flash. Read that as seller copy, not a test: by 2016 standards this was an entry-level camera.

The sensor is only part of the look. Vintage Camera Hut, a UK dealer, says the CCD look comes from the sensor, lens, flash, processing and settings together, and filmlab.lv, a Latvian dealer, says the flash often matters more than the sensor. So before paying $329.99, compare a few cheap digicams and our best vintage digicams list.

If you want this camera's sensor and lens, also search for the ELPH 160: Imaging Resource says the ELPH 180 kept both unchanged.

Sources: dailycameranews.com, global.canon, imaging-resource.com, cute.camera, vintagecamerahut.com, filmlab.lv

How to get the digicam look with a Canon ELPH 180

These settings come from Canon's specifications, an owner's iFixit thread and the flash advice of filmlab.lv. Our Y2K digicam look guide covers the style in more depth.

  1. 1

    Leave it in Auto in daylight

    Filmlab.lv says Auto on a CCD compact often gives a vivid result in sunny weather, so the flash can stay off outdoors. Auto mode works between ISO 100 and 800.

  2. 2

    Switch to P to force the flash

    The flash has four modes: Auto, On, Slow synchro and Off. One owner on iFixit only saw Auto and Off until they shot in P mode. The On setting gives the direct-flash look filmlab.lv describes: sharp shadows and a bright face on a dark background. P mode is also where ISO 1600 lives.

  3. 3

    Zoom out and stay within 3 m

    Canon rates the flash at 50 cm to 3.0 m (about 1.6 to 9.8 ft) at the wide end, and filmlab.lv says a small flash lights a person well at one to three meters but not a big room. Don't get so close that the face turns white, and put a wall or objects behind your subject.

  4. 4

    Keep the lens wide in dim light

    There is no optical stabilization, only a Digital IS mode, and the aperture closes from f/3.2 at the wide end to f/6.9 at full zoom. Zooming in indoors without flash makes blur more likely.

  5. 5

    Use close focus, but step back when zoomed

    Auto focuses as close as 1 cm at the wide end. At full zoom the minimum distance is 1.3 m (about 4.3 ft), so back away from the subject when you zoom in.

  6. 6

    Try the built-in effects

    Fish-eye, Miniature, Toy Camera, Monochrome, Super Vivid and Poster are shooting modes, along with Fireworks and a Long Shutter mode that goes to 15 s. Rest the camera on something steady for long exposures.

Sources: filmlab.lv, filmlab.lv, filmlab.lv, id.canon, global.canon, ifixit.com

ELPH 180 battery, charger and memory cards

The ELPH 180 runs on Canon's NB-11L battery, and the higher-capacity NB-11LH fits too. Canon rates it at about 220 shots per charge, or about 300 with ECO mode on; according to the manual, ECO dims the screen after about 2 seconds idle and turns the camera off after about 3 minutes. Owners call the battery life good, and one YouTube owner says a charge lasts roughly a day of casual shooting.

There is no USB charging. The battery charges outside the camera in the CB-2LF wall charger, which takes about 2 hours according to the manual. A used camera's battery has lost capacity with age, so filmlab.lv suggests buying a spare with the camera.

It takes full-size SD, SDHC and SDXC cards; Canon's table lists SDHC from 4 to 32 GB and SDXC from 32 GB up, and no card comes in the box. An iFixit helper says this camera doesn't like microSD cards in adapters, so use a full-size card and format it in the camera. If the screen says Memory card locked, slide the card's write-protect switch back.

There is no Wi-Fi. Copy photos with a card reader, or connect the camera's Mini-B USB port to a computer.

ELPH 180 accessories, prices checked November 2, 2026
ItemWhat to buyPrice
BatteryCanon NB-11LH (the NB-11L also fits)$59.05 new at Unique Photo; $51.95 at Glazer's (sold out)
ChargerCanon CB-2LF$46.40 new at Unique Photo; used from $8.99 on the same page
Memory cardFull-size SD, SDHC or SDXCNot included; skip microSD adapters
TransferCard reader or Mini-B USB cableNo Wi-Fi, and the manual's box contents list no USB cable

Charge a new battery before first use: according to the manual, Canon ships the pack uncharged, and a charged pack slowly loses power if it sits.

Sources: id.canon, imaging-resource.com, pdisp01.c-wss.com, filmlab.lv, asia.canon, ifixit.com, uniquephoto.com, glazerscamera.com

Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 specs that matter

The ELPH 180 is a 1/2.3-type CCD compact with Canon's DIGIC 4+ processor. It saves JPEGs only, at up to 5152 x 3864 pixels, and Canon lists no RAW option.

Burst shooting is slow, about 0.8 frames per second in Auto and P (about 2.2 in Low Light mode), so it suits people and places more than sports or pets on the move.

Key Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 specifications
SpecELPH 180
SensorAbout 20 MP CCD, 1/2.3 type (6.17 x 4.55 mm per Imaging Resource)
Lens5.0-40.0mm (28-224mm equivalent), 8x, f/3.2-6.9
Close focus1 cm at the wide end; 1.3 m at full zoom
ISO100-800 in Auto; 1600 in P mode
Shutter1 to 1/2000 s; Long Shutter mode to 15 s
StabilizationNo optical stabilization; Digital IS mode
Screen2.7-inch, about 230,000 dots; no viewfinder
Video1280 x 720 at 25 fps, MOV with H.264
BatteryNB-11L, about 220 shots (about 300 with ECO mode)
Size and weight95.2 x 54.3 x 22.1 mm; 126 g (about 4.4 oz) with battery and card

Sources: id.canon, imaging-resource.com, global.canon, dailycameranews.com

What to check before buying a used ELPH 180

Many ELPH 180 faults on iFixit follow a drop or water or involve a stuck lens, and none of the US shops and Canon pages checked publishes a repair price for this model. Check these before you pay, or buy where you can return it.

  1. 1

    Read the serial number

    Canon's service notice covers an autofocus fault on cameras whose serial number starts with 11, 12, 21, 22, 23 or 24. Look inside the battery cover: a black marking means Canon already checked and corrected that unit. Canon U.S.A. repairs confirmed cases free of charge.

  2. 2

    Test autofocus near and far

    Shoot something close and something distant, including at full zoom, and view the results enlarged. Filmlab.lv says autofocus fails most often on used compacts, and one eBay buyer received a unit whose autofocus whirred while the screen went blurry.

  3. 3

    Run the lens in and out

    The lens should extend and retract smoothly, with no sticking or grinding. A Lens error message or a lens stuck out can mean a broken gear, a broken motor or something blocking the lens, per an iFixit helper.

  4. 4

    Fire the flash and check the screen

    Make sure the flash charges and fires. Look for cracks, dead pixels, or pink and dark vertical streaks, which an iFixit helper ties to a damaged screen, lens, sensor or cable after a drop.

  5. 5

    Ask about water and drops

    An iFixit helper says drying a wet camera doesn't repair it, because corrosion stays on the circuit boards. Treat a camera with a wet history as a gamble.

  6. 6

    Get a return window

    Cute Camera Co. gives a full refund within 30 days of delivery, then store credit minus a 20% restocking fee through day 60. Without a window like that, test every function before paying.

  7. 7

    Budget for a battery and a card

    Plan on a spare NB-11L or NB-11LH and a full-size SD card: the old battery has aged, and no card comes with the camera.

Sources: usa.canon.com, filmlab.lv, ebay.com, ifixit.com, ifixit.com, ifixit.com, cute.camera

Canon ELPH 180 problems: autofocus notice, lens and card errors

Canon has published one notice for this camera, a free autofocus repair on some serial numbers; the rest come from owners' iFixit threads, so they show what can go wrong, not how often.

Autofocus fails to lock (Canon service notice)

Raised in 1 opinion

How you notice
In rare cases the autofocus doesn't work and photos or movies come out blurry even though the focus frame appears. Canon says only cameras whose serial number starts with 11, 12, 21, 22, 23 or 24 can be affected.
Fix
Check the serial number on the bottom and look inside the battery cover. A black marking there means Canon already checked and corrected the camera. If the serial matches, there is no marking and the fault shows up, Canon U.S.A. repairs it free of charge (the notice page lists Canon Customer Support's number). The notice shows no end date, so contact Canon before sending a camera in.
Typical cost
$0 at Canon U.S.A. for a confirmed unit under the notice. No US shop publishes a price for an out-of-notice autofocus repair.

Sources: usa.canon.com, filmlab.lv

Lens error, or a lens stuck out

Raised in 3 opinions

How you notice
The camera shows Lens error and shuts off, or the lens stays stuck or stops zooming. An iFixit helper says a grinding sound means a broken gear; with no sound, the motor may be broken or something is blocking the lens.
Fix
Canon's manual says the error can happen if the lens is held while it moves or after use in dusty or sandy places, and that frequent errors may mean damage. One iFixit user cleared the error on a Canon IXUS 145, a different camera, after about an hour of careful cleaning with a swab, a toothpick and a little rubbing alcohol, and says it may not work for everyone. A broken gear or motor needs a repair shop.
Typical cost
No US shop or Canon page publishes an ELPH 180 lens repair price. For scale, restored units cost $329.99 to $409.99 at Cute Camera Co. in October 2026, and a used one was $250 at ccdgear (sold out).

Sources: pdisp01.c-wss.com, ifixit.com, ifixit.com

Memory card error

Raised in 3 opinions

How you notice
The camera reports a memory card error or won't accept a card, sometimes even a new one.
Fix
According to the manual: reinsert the card the right way round, format a supported card in the camera, and check the write-protect switch. An iFixit helper says this camera doesn't like microSD cards in adapters and suggests a full-size card. One owner says Canon support told them it sounded like a port problem.
Typical cost
A new full-size SD card is the cheap first test; a card-slot repair has no published price.

Sources: pdisp01.c-wss.com, ifixit.com, asia.canon

Black or snowy screen, black photos

Raised in 1 opinion

How you notice
Live view is fuzzy or black and shots come out solid black, sometimes after a drop.
Fix
An iFixit repairer says that if the photos are also black on a computer, the fault is in the CCD sensor, the main board or both, and that no service manual or spare parts turned up online for this model.
Typical cost
No published repair price. For scale, restored units cost $329.99 to $409.99 at Cute Camera Co. in October 2026.

Sources: ifixit.com

Pink cast or dark vertical streaks after a drop

Raised in 1 opinion

How you notice
Vertical pink or dark bands on the screen, sometimes in the photos too.
Fix
An iFixit helper says streaks only on the screen usually mean a bad LCD, while streaks that also show in the saved photos could mean a lens, CCD or flex cable problem.
Typical cost
No published repair price.

Sources: ifixit.com

Water damage

Raised in 1 opinion

How you notice
After getting wet and drying out, the screen looks normal but photos come out almost white.
Fix
An iFixit helper says air-drying doesn't undo water damage: the boards need cleaning with high-grade isopropyl alcohol or an ultrasonic cleaner, and corrosion can remain.
Typical cost
No published repair price.

Sources: ifixit.com

Stuck power button

Raised in 1 opinion

How you notice
The on/off button sticks or stops responding.
Fix
An iFixit helper says to open the camera, clean it and reseat the button; if that fails, the button part may need replacing.
Typical cost
No published repair price.

Sources: ifixit.com

Tired battery

How you notice
Far fewer shots per charge than Canon's rating of about 220, and the Charge the battery message arrives sooner.
Fix
Replace it with an NB-11L or NB-11LH. A used camera's original battery has lost capacity with age, so a spare is a sensible first buy.
Typical cost
Canon NB-11LH: $59.05 new at Unique Photo and $51.95 at Glazer's (sold out) on November 2, 2026.

Sources: pdisp01.c-wss.com, filmlab.lv, uniquephoto.com, glazerscamera.com

A photo taken with the ELPH 180 (sold in Europe as the IXUS 175)

A Wikimedia Commons contributor took this photo with an IXUS 175, the same camera sold in Europe.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 price today: restored, used and accessories

The ELPH 180 is discontinued; it launched at $119.99 in February 2016. On November 2, 2026, Cute Camera Co. in Austin sold restored ones for $329.99 to $409.99 by cosmetic grade, with a battery and charger, and ccdgear listed a used unit at $250 (now sold out).

  • Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)

    Restored, Average cosmetic grade, fully functional, Silver body, battery and charger; 30-day refund, then store credit to day 60

    $329.99

    See listing

  • Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)

    Restored, Good cosmetic grade, Silver body, battery and charger

    $359.99

    See listing

  • Cute Camera Co. (Austin, TX)

    Restored, Very Good cosmetic grade, Silver body, battery and charger

    $409.99

    See listing

  • ccdgear

    Used (sold out), Silver body; sold out, so a price reference only

    $250

    See listing

  • Canon U.S.A. (February 2016)

    New, launch price, Silver or red; the reference point, no longer sold new

    $119.99

    See listing

  • Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)

    New, Canon NB-11LH spare battery

    $59.05

    See listing

  • Glazer's Camera (Seattle)

    New (sold out), Canon NB-11LH spare battery

    $51.95

    See listing

  • Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ)

    New; used from $8.99, Canon CB-2LF battery charger

    $46.40

    See listing

Prices checked on November 2, 2026. They move every week, so treat them as a range, not a quote. eBay sold listings, KEH and MPB could not be checked automatically (blocked, or no ELPH 180 listed), so there is no sold-price average here. Check eBay sold listings before paying a store price, and ask for a return window.

Video reviews worth your time

  • Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 Review! (New for 2016)

    Kevin Breeze, 2016

    The Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 is an affordable, user-friendly point-and-shoot camera best suited for casual photographers seeking solid photos and optical zoom on a budget.

    • 0:21 Unboxing the camera and included accessories
    • 0:44 Overview of key technical specifications
    • 1:54 Demonstrating sample video and photo performance
    • 3:27 Examining the rear screen and control buttons

  • Canon Powershot ELPH 180 Review | Compared to a Smartphone

    Scott J. Waldron ~ Photo Video Audio, 2022

    The Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 provides dedicated physical controls and an optical zoom lens, though its screen and overall image quality remain fairly basic compared to modern smartphones.

    • 0:14 Overview of physical body features and port layout
    • 0:55 Walkthrough of menu settings and autofocus options
    • 4:55 Side-by-side photo comparisons against a smartphone
    • 6:21 Side-by-side video recording test against a smartphone

  • Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 vs Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 | IXUS 185 vs IXUS 190 cheap vlogging camera

    the daniel life, 2017

    The Canon IXUS 185 offers good optical zoom and close macro capabilities in a pocket-sized body, but its low-resolution screen and lack of modern video features make it difficult to recommend over a smartphone.

    • 01:12 Comparing the physical design of the IXUS 185 and IXUS 190.
    • 02:33 Testing macro focusing distance on tea and coffee cups.
    • 03:51 Demonstrating optical zoom performance on industrial equipment.
    • 04:43 Connecting the IXUS 190 model to a smartphone via Wi-Fi.

  • CANON IXUS 185 UNBOXING & SPECS REVIEW | Canon Powershot Elph 180 Camera 📸 | Tech I Own #5

    Tech I Own, 2021

    The Canon IXUS 185 is an affordable, ultra-compact point-and-shoot camera suitable for everyday photo snaps, though its video resolution is capped at 720p and low-light performance is limited.

    • 01:40 Unboxing the camera accessories and battery charger.
    • 06:24 Inserting an SD card and turning on the camera screen.
    • 11:50 Navigating through the camera menu settings.
    • 13:44 Displaying the full technical specifications list.

  • Canon Powershot ELPH 180 Review

    Hjiaa Nation, 2017

    The reviewer recommends the Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 as a solid, easy-to-use point-and-shoot camera for everyday photos and basic video recording.

    • 0:22 Front view of the Canon PowerShot ELPH 180
    • 0:41 Demonstrating the zoom controls and lens extension
    • 1:24 Testing the built-in flash and focus lamp
    • 1:55 Demonstrating autofocus speed on the LCD display

Questions people ask about the ELPH 180

Is the Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 a better camera than my phone?

For zoom, yes; for overall image quality, often not. Two YouTube reviewers found its 8x optical zoom holds more detail than a phone's digital zoom, and one eBay buyer says its images beat their phone's. But Scott J. Waldron's side-by-side calls its screen and image quality fairly basic next to a modern smartphone, and owners say it struggles in dim light.

Sources: ebay.com, youtube.com, youtube.com

Is the ELPH 180 good in low light?

Not without the flash. Auto mode stops at ISO 800 (ISO 1600 is only in P mode), and there is no optical stabilization. One owner says quality is pretty bad under yellow or dim light, and filmlab.lv advises not to expect clean night shots without flash from a CCD compact. Use the flash within about 3 m, zoomed out.

Sources: id.canon, ebay.com, filmlab.lv

Does the Canon ELPH 180 have image stabilization?

Not optical. Imaging Resource and Daily Camera News both say the lens has none, and Imaging Resource points to the ELPH 190 IS, which has a lens-shift stabilizer. The ELPH 180 does have a Digital IS mode, which according to the manual combines consecutive shots to cut shake and noise when the flash doesn't fire.

Sources: imaging-resource.com, dailycameranews.com, global.canon, pdisp01.c-wss.com

Does the Canon ELPH 180 have Wi-Fi?

No. Imaging Resource says Canon left out wireless connectivity along with image stabilization to keep the price down. To copy photos, take the SD card out and use a card reader, or connect the camera's Mini-B USB port to a computer.

Sources: imaging-resource.com, id.canon, filmlab.lv

What video does the ELPH 180 record?

720p (1280 x 720) at 25 frames per second, or 640 x 480, saved as MOV files with H.264 video and mono sound. According to Canon's spec chart, one clip stops at 29 min 59 s or 4 GB, and a 16 GB card holds about 2 h 21 min of 720p. One owner finds the footage good but the sound weak.

Sources: imaging-resource.com, id.canon, downloads.canon.com, ebay.com

Can the ELPH 180 charge over USB?

No. The battery charges outside the camera in the CB-2LF charger, which takes about 2 hours according to the manual, and an IXUS 175 buyer on Flipkart notes the lack of USB charging. A replacement CB-2LF was $46.40 new at Unique Photo on November 2, 2026, with used ones from $8.99.

Sources: flipkart.com, pdisp01.c-wss.com, uniquephoto.com

Is the ELPH 180 the same camera as the IXUS 175?

Yes. Canon's Camera Museum lists one camera sold as the PowerShot ELPH 180 in the Americas, the IXUS 175 in Europe and other regions, and the IXY 180 in Japan, marketed from February 2016. Search all three names for manuals, batteries and sample photos.

Sources: global.canon

Does the ELPH 180 come with a memory card, and which one should I use?

No card comes in the box, according to the manual and an IXUS 175 owner. It takes full-size SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, and Canon's spec chart says a 16 GB card holds about 3,017 Large (5152 x 3864) Fine JPEGs. Skip microSD cards in adapters, which an iFixit helper says this camera doesn't like.

Sources: pdisp01.c-wss.com, productreview.com.au, asia.canon, downloads.canon.com, ifixit.com

What people compare it with

  • Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 IS (IXUS 180)

    Same 20 MP CCD class with a stabilized 10x 24-240mm lens and Wi-Fi with NFC; it launched at $159.99. The stabilizer costs battery life: Imaging Resource rates it at 190 shots, against about 220 for the ELPH 180.

  • Canon PowerShot ELPH 160

    The 2015 model the ELPH 180 replaced. Imaging Resource says the sensor and 8x lens carried over unchanged, so buy whichever is cheaper in good shape.

  • Canon PowerShot SX420 IS

    A 20 MP CCD superzoom from February 2016 with a 42x 24-1008mm lens. Restored ones started at $169.99 at Cute Camera Co. on November 2, 2026, but it weighs about 325 g against the ELPH 180's 126 g, so expect a much heavier camera.

  • Older Canon ELPH and SD compacts

    Cute Camera Co. listed a restored ELPH 135 from $299.99 and an SD1100 IS from $269.99 on November 2, 2026, in the same range as a restored ELPH 180. Our ELPH guide covers the older models.

Every source behind this page

Read them yourself. How we pick and count them is in our methodology.

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