The ideal companion on your next adventure: the Canon IVY REC

Adventure offers a release from everyday life, a chance to experience the great outdoors and to live in the moment. Whether you're climbing a mountain, running through the woods or kayaking down a river, the super-portable and rugged Canon IVY REC won't hold you back. Designed to clip on to a backpack, belt or harness, the shockproof¹ and waterproof² Canon IVY REC enables bikers, hikers, climbers and rafters alike to leave bulky cameras and expensive smartphones at home, and simply shoot on the go.

We put the Canon IVY REC in the strong, nimble hands of Molly Thompson-Smith, a 22-year-old professional climber, and asked her to try it out while tackling some of the most notorious boulders in the UK's Peak District. Here's how she got on.

"I think having something small and portable is becoming more and more important for people who want to spend long days outside," says Molly. "When I go out climbing I've got shoes, pads, harnesses… there's so much stuff that I need.

"On a climbing trip in France, the approach to the crag was an hour of uphill walking. I took my DSLR on the first day, but by the second day I thought, 'it's just not worth it – it's not worth the extra weight and space in my bag'. But that was such a shame because the views were incredible."

The Canon IVY REC is built for adventure and designed with portability in mind. At just 110.5mm wide and weighing only 90 grams, the camera added barely any extra weight to Molly's kit. The clip, which doubles as a viewfinder, also meant she was able to attach it to her belt. "I climb with a rack of quickdraws [climbing tools] on my side," she says, "so having a small camera on the back didn't get in my way at all."

Molly often wants to capture the moment when she reaches the top of her climb – especially if it's a significant achievement – but she was always worried about carrying her smartphone. "It's just too stressful," she says. "I'd worry about dropping it or cracking it against a rock."

Fortunately for Molly, the Canon IVY REC brings peace of mind. Not only is there no screen to crack, but it's been engineered to withstand the impact of a two-metre drop¹ and can survive being submerged in up to two metres of freshwater for 30 minutes², making it ideal for water-based pursuits such as canoeing and paddleboarding.

"Clipping the Canon IVY REC onto my harness or chalk bag and knowing it was tough enough to take a few knocks, was really reassuring," says Molly. "It was so good to be able to get that final shot at the top."

Despite describing herself as an "amateur" when it comes to photography, Molly had no trouble getting used to the 13MP Canon IVY REC, which can shoot full HD 1080p video at up to 60fps as well as stills. "It's a pretty self-explanatory camera and super easy to use," she says. "You just clip it on and use the dial with one hand. The symbols are easy to select, there's no fiddly touchscreen, and it can be wiped clean, so you don't need to worry about using it with chalky or muddy hands.

"To train, people recreate outdoor climbs in the gym," Molly continues. "Before this camera came along, there were so many times I sat on the rope looking at an outdoor hold thinking, 'I wish I could take a picture of this so I could recreate it'. Having the ability to take actual pictures of the holds 40+ metres up is brilliant, especially if that's where the crux of the climb is. It really is such a useful camera."

For more creative captures, including stunning selfies, the Canon IVY REC features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth so you can connect it to your smartphone and use the free Canon Mini Cam app³ as a remote-control shutter. The app also enabled Molly to keep her followers happy – straight after her climb she was able to transfer her images and video to her smartphone and share them on social media.

The affordable Canon IVY REC is available in four striking colours – grey, pink, green and blue – so you can pick a shade that stands out against your chosen terrain, whether that's rocks, mud, sand or water. "I feel like I can take it wherever I go," says Molly.


Written by Natalie Denton