Thursday September 18, 2008

Canon SX1 IS specifications announced : 20X optical zoom, 10-megapixel CMOS sensor, HD 1080p video

dpreview.com :

Canon has announced a pair of 10 megapixel successors to its PowerShot S5IS 'super zoom' compact digital camera. Both the PowerShot SX10 IS and PowerShot SX1 IS feature 28-560mm (equivalent) 20x zoom lenses, DIGIC IV processors, improved image stabilization system and wealth of new features. The SX1 IS is particularly interesting as it is the first PowerShot to feature a Canon CMOS sensor, which allows the camera to offer 4.0 fps (full resolution) continuous shooting and true 1080p HDTV movie capture at 30fps.

- The Canon SX1 IS beats even the rumored specifications by a mile. The S6IS/S7IS folks have been completely thrown off by the new numbering scheme. The successor to the Canon S5IS has morphed into two products, the higher-end Canon SX1 IS and its sibling, the Canon SX10 IS.

20X optical zoom and 560mm equivalent is several steps forward from the 12X zoom and 436mm equivalent of the S5IS. Some forummers are complaining about the relatively "slower lens" at f5.7 compared to the f3.5 on the S5IS but others are saying that's only fair in a linear comparison. Of course, extreme telephoto in low light situations is obviously a no-no situation unless you are willing to fork out for a DSLR/lens combination that would both cost and weigh at least 3 times as much. Or simply bring a tripod.

The CMOS sensor on the SX1 IS is intriguing to say the least, but at this point people are waiting for a head-to-head comparison between the CMOS on the SX1 IS and the CCD on the SX10 IS, this being a rare case where everything else is the same - 20x zoom lens, body, DIGIC 4 image processor. Of course with the usual small pinhead sensor of 1/2.3" this is no DSLR, so the choice of CMOS for the SX1 IS could really just be solely for the data transfer speed for HD video recording. One might speculate that the CMOS sensor might lead to improved battery life but that will remain to be seen. Watch for a slew of SX1 vs SX10 head-to-head comparisons in coming weeks as the community gets their hands on the production models.

And finally, HD video. Canon had already announced HD video with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II which took the world by storm (a DSLR with HD video recording!), which kind of answers my grouse all along (that "DSLR's don't take video") but that kind of camera is way, way beyond my more modest budget, so I'd settle for an ultra-zoom PowerShot for regular use instead. I'd still maintain that full 1080p HD 1920x1080 is kind of overkill for my daily use, but it might be good to have this capability around perhaps for special occasions. Be prepared to shell out for a bunch of high-capacity memory cards and a 1-terabyte hard drive - or two.

(2008-09-18 17:59:58 SGT) [Tech] Permalink

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