powershot « Canon Rumors

Canon PowerShot Announcements February 7, 2012 [CR2]

Lots coming
A lot of new PowerShots are coming next week according to one source. Below are the confirmed models.

A2300
A2400
A3400
A4000
A810
D20
Elph 320
SX240

I did receive other models in the list that already existed, so I removed them. The camera of note in the list is the PowerShot D20. I’d assume that’s a followup for the waterproof oddity that was the D10.

cr

Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Spotted

Canon PowerShot SX240HS
It’s not a 5D Mark III, but it’s something.

A photograph of the upcoming Canon PowerShot SX240 HS arrived moments ago. It seems it gets an increase from 14x zoom to 20x zoom. Probably a minor mp bump and DIGIC 5 as well. I’d expect it to be announced next week for CP+.

thanks anon

cr

UPDATE 5D Mark III – February 7, 2012 [CR2]

*UPDATE 2*
Another source highly doubts February 7, 2012 is the date for an announcement. All the little bits of information that are leaking say it’s close, but it may not be that close. Please do not treat February 7, 2012 as fact until I can [CR3] it.

*UPDATE*
Another source says it’s odd that Canon & Nikon would announce on the same day. I have yet to see an actual invite to a press event for February 7, 2012. Good people are saying it’s coming that day, my gut is telling me otherwise. I do think the camera will be announced well before the 1D X ships.

More mentions
A few more people have mentioned February 7, 2012 as the announcement date for the 5D Mark III. The sources are good, though I am waiting for the definitive word on the matter.

It’s mentioned that Canon will also announce new PowerShot cameras, a new Legria camcorder and Selphy printer(s).

Kevin Wang, based in Taiwan, posted on his Facebook wall that he will be an official photographer for the 5D Mark III. (thanks Hansen)

5D Mark III Specs
If I put together everything I have heard, these are the specs of the 5D Mark III.

22mp
61pt AF
7.5fps (this I’ve only seen once)
DIGIC 5+
New Battery Grip with Joystick
GPS Ready

No lenses were mentioned for the announcement date of the 5D Mark III. However, a solid source that reported the 24-70 f/2.8L II and 35 f/1.4L II a month or so ago, says both lenses will be shipping sometime in April. Lenses have always been the toughest to nail down.

cr

Canon PowerShot G1 X Brief Hands On

Canon PowerShot G1 X – A Brief Hands On
The first product on tap to check out was the new Canon PowerShot G1 X. The large sensor, perceived game changer, in the high end of point & shoot cameras. Lots of people have asked since the Sigma DP1 for Canon to make a larger sensor, great ISO performing PowerShot. It took a few years, but Canon has finally delivered.

Impressions
There was a lineup to see the camera up close and personal. The Canon reps mentioned that none of them had spent any more than 3 minutes with the camera in their hands. I had to wait about 10 minutes to get to it.

The first think you notice is the size of the camera. It’s nearly the same size as the PowerShot G12 at first glance. The one glaring size difference is the rather large lens. Even when the camera is at it’s widest focal length, the lens sticks out a fair bit. Zoom in and the lens extends further.

The camera has a very nice weight to it. I’ve always been against making point and shoot cameras too light. This one feels like a camera in your hands. The viewfinder is adequate, but I wouldn’t use it too often. The 3″ articulating screen is bright and beautiful. One of the first things I noticed was the removal of the ISO dial at the top of the caemra like on the G12. I would miss that in day to day use. There is an ISO button on the back, but that isn’t as intuitive to me. The exposure compensation dial is still on top along with the mode dial, which is great news.

The Canon PowerShot G1 X in the Hands of my Wife

Roaming around the camera you find the dials and buttons are pretty small for hands my size. However, once the camera is set up, I can’t see needing to mess around with too many things on the back of the camera.

ISO Performance
When we hear Chuck Westfall say the new G1 X will have better ISO performance than the 60D and 7D, I think most of us sit up and pay attention. Having a small camera with excellent lowlight ability makes one (me, less so my wife) giddy inside.

As per all the unreleased cameras that Canon is displaying, I was not able to put a memory card in the G1 X to get some sample images. However, one of the first things I did was switch the camera to ISO 12,800 and take a couple of pictures and view them on the big 3″ screen. If the display is accurate, the performance of ISO 12,800 is fantastic. You can see some noise reduction smoothness, ut the detail and file quality is there.

This wasn’t the ideal way to test a camera for ISO performance, however I think most of us have pretty trained eyes when judging through an LCD.

Availability?
I was told we’d see the first shipments of the G1 X in February.

Preorder The G1 X at B&H for $799

Our Coverage of CES 2012

January 10, 2012
CES
Follow on our forum

Welcome to CES 2012
We’ve arrived and are ready to cover all things Canon! We’ll also be coving a few other things too.

I have posted a page that we’ll update throughout the day. You’ll see it at the top left of the site.

Read our coverage of CES 2012

cr

CES 2012: Chuck Westfall Talks PowerShot G1 X Live Tonight

From Imaging Resource
Excited by the possibilities of Canon’s first large-sensor fixed-lens camera? Got a question left unanswered after reading our preview? Now, you’ve a chance to ask it for yourself! We’ll be conducting a Q&A session with Chuck Westfall, Technical Advisor with the Professional Engineering & Solutions Division at Canon U.S.A., Inc., live from the show floor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The session takes place on Monday, January 9th 2012, at 6:15PM Pacific time (that’s 9:15PM Eastern time; click here to convert for other time zones.)

If you’d like to get a jump on the question-asking (or if you won’t be around when the event goes live), tweet your question to @ir_lab, and mention G1X in the text somewhere, and we’ll try to get to your questions during the active session Monday.

The live Q&A will take place at the URL below.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/G1X/G1XA.HTM#live-qa

Preorder the G1 X at B&H for $799

cr

Canon PowerShot G1 X Preorders

January 9, 2012
Ad Post

From B&H
B&H has a write-up about the new PowerShot G1 X here. Read all about this new camera.

B&H Preorder for PowerShot G1 X is live.

From Adorama
You can now preorder the new Canon PowerShot G1 X from Adorama for $799.

Preorder from Adorama

cr

Canon PowerShot G1 X Announced

London, UK, 9th January 2012 – Canon today introduces the PowerShot G1 X – a revolutionary new compact camera with a large CMOS sensor, designed to produce DSLR levels of image quality and control in a highly portable metal body. Created for professional and serious photographers, the PowerShot G1 X creates a prestigious new category at the top of Canon’s legendary G-series line-up, and redefines the performance achievable from a compact camera.

A high-quality camera in its own right or the perfect complement to a professional DSLR, the PowerShot G1 X combines EOS sensor technology with DIGIC 5 processing power, a new precision Canon lens and extensive manual control – creating the finest compact camera Canon has ever produced. Designed to be highly portable, the PowerShot G1 X features a zoom lens which retracts into a discreet, robust metal body, providing photographers with an unimposing camera that delivers high quality images and superior handling.

Professional levels of image quality
Incorporating Canon-developed technologies and expertise trusted by professionals worldwide, the PowerShot G1 X offers a level of image quality previously only possible with a Canon DSLR. It’s Canon’s first compact camera to feature a large, 4:3 aspect, 14.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor measuring 18.7mm x 14mm – similar in height to the APS-C sensors used within EOS DSLR models. Featuring the same pixel size and structure as the EOS 600D, and a surface area approximately 6.3 times larger than the sensor in the acclaimed PowerShot G12, it provides DSLR image quality in a body small enough to carry anywhere.

The increased sensor size allows photographers to have greater control over the depth of field, with increased potential to creatively and artistically isolate a subject from its background. Improved dynamic range enables users to accurately capture shadows and highlights within the same frame, while the 14.3 Megapixel resolution allows for the output of large-sized prints, or permits images to be cropped for more powerful compositions.

The PowerShot G1 X also features a range of benefits that result from the advanced CMOS sensor technology developed within Canon’s EOS range. On-chip noise reduction ensures images are clear, even at high ISO speeds, while a 4-channel read-out provides high speed image capture – ensuring fast, responsive performance in all conditions.

Combining the large sensor with the DIGIC 5 image processor, the HS System in the PowerShot G1 X sets new standards for low-light performance, with a maximum fullresolution ISO range of 100 to 12800 – a level never before seen in a Canon compact. Photographers can shoot using the ambient light in even the darkest of conditions, capturing natural shots with incredible detail and low noise – providing a powerful basis for low-light photography.

Precision lens technology
Developed using the same design, manufacturing and quality processes as the world renowned EF lens range, the lens in the PowerShot G1 X is built to achieve professional levels of image quality. Utilising Ultra high refractive index Aspherical (UA) elements and precision glass moulding technology, the lens achieves both a compact size and pin-sharp clarity for the most discerning of photographers. The lens retracts compactly into the camera body while offering a flexible 4x optical zoom range of 28mm – 112mm, giving photographers the option to use the zoom creatively and change the framing and perspective of their shot. A 6 blade aperture also combines with the largesized sensor to produce beautiful background blur.

To help ensure optimum image and Full HD movie clarity, the lens features a 4-stop optical Image Stabilizer (IS), allowing photographers to shoot in darker conditions and use shutter speeds up to four stops slower than would be possible without IS. The optical Image Stabilizer is supported by Intelligent IS which analyses the focal length, focal distance and type of camera movement and applies the most appropriate Image Stabilizer mode1. For example, when a panning motion is detected, Panning IS is activated and stabilises in only one direction for more artistic capture of movement across the frame. Hybrid IS technology is also included to capture macro subjects without the blur associated with shift camera shake.

The lens also includes an in-built 3-stop Neutral Density (ND) Filter, permitting the use of wider apertures in bright light to achieve a shallower depth of field, or to use slower shutter speeds to intentionally blur motion.

Extensive control
Following on from the control historically offered by the PowerShot G-series, the PowerShot G1 X offers Full Manual Control with shooting mode and exposure compensation dials for quick and intuitive access to a range of settings. For maximum control over the final image, the PowerShot G1 X fits seamlessly into the EOS photographer’s workflow, supporting 14-bit RAW capture for smooth gradations and natural colours which can be fine-tuned using the supplied Digital Photo Professional (DPP) software.

Giving photographers the option to capture split-second action, the PowerShot G1 X features High-speed Burst HQ, capturing bursts of six full-resolution shots at 4.5fps to freeze fast-moving action. Alternatively, users can shoot continuously at 1.9fps right up to card capacity in JPEG format – ensuring longer sequences of action are captured.

High quality, Full HD movies
The PowerShot G1 X supports Full HD (1080p) movie capture instantly at 24fps, via a dedicated movie button. Taking advantage of the camera’s large CMOS sensor, users can experience high quality movies, even in low light conditions, with the shallow depth of field associated with a larger sensor. Additionally, the 4x optical zoom can be used whilst filming, offering versatility, while stereo sound is also captured.

Professional handling
With its robust, stainless steel chassis and compact design, the PowerShot G1 X offers professional-quality handling. A large vari-angle, 7.5cm (3.0″) PureColor II VA LCD screen allows photographers to shoot from virtually any angle or position, to get the composition they desire. The bright, high-resolution, 920k dot LCD provides a sharp, detailed platform for image framing and review, while an optical viewfinder (OVF) with dioptre adjuster gives photographers the option to shoot according to their individual style. A newly-integrated manual pop-up flash provides the option to add additional light to a scene, and, using the hotshoe, external Canon Speedlite flashes can also be used.

Advanced shooting modes
A range of advanced shooting modes are provided to assist photographers in capturing challenging scenes and situations. When shooting in very dark conditions without a tripod for example, Handheld Night Scene captures a high-speed sequence of shots, combining the data to produce one well-exposed image with minimal blur.

Additionally, High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode captures scenes with a particularly high range of bright and dark tones, taking multiple exposures and combining them to deliver rich detail in shadows and highlights.

Expanded potential through accessories
Ideal for EOS DSLR users, the PowerShot G1 X is compatible with a range of EOS System accessories, allowing photographers to instantly expand the potential of the camera. Canon’s EX Speedlite flash units can be used for creative lighting, while the WP-DC44 waterproof case provides protection to a depth of 40m – ideal for shooting in the heavy rain or taking shots underwater – with full access to all controls.

An optional lens Filter Adapter, FA-DC58C, also enables photographers to use a range of filters, such as a circular polariser to enhance blue skies or remove reflections. For more even lighting when shooting macro subjects, a Macro Ring Lite adapter (MLA-DC1) allows Canon’s Macro Ring Lite or Twin Lite flash units from the EOS System to be used.

Offering truly advanced levels of professional control alongside unprecedented image quality, the PowerShot G1 X is the ideal camera for professional and serious photographers who demand DSLR flexibility and quality from a compact camera.

PowerShot G1 X – key features:

Large 14.3 MP CMOS, DIGIC 5, HS System
Compact 4x zoom; Intelligent IS
7.5 cm (3.0″) vari-angle LCD; OVF
Full Manual, RAW, DPP
Full HD, HDMI
High-speed Burst HQ
Smart Auto
Extensive accessories
HDR mode and ND filter
Optional 40m waterproof case

UPDATE 3 Canon PowerShot G1X Revealed

Canon PowerShot G1X
Canon U.S.A. is unveiling two PowerShot Elph-series point-and-shoot cameras and a new flagship Power-Shot G-series model. The G1X (shipping in February at a $799 suggested retail) will be positioned for advanced amateurs and professionals looking for a walk-around point-and-shoot model and offers a large 1.5-inch 14.3-mega-pixel CMOS image sensor and a 4x (28-112mm) optical zoom lens.

It is said to have a shallow depth of field and an aperture range of F/2.5-16 affording better low-light capability.

Other new features include 14-bit RAW file support, a new DIGIC 5 image processor with improved low-light support, high-speed burst HQ shooting of up to 6fps/4.5 fps at full resolution, multi-area white balance adjustment, expanded Smart Auto settings, child-weighted face detection system, handheld night scene and HDR mode. It will shoot up to FullHD 1080 video and includes a 720p Movie Digest mode to automatically compile a video log of all still shots.

PowerShot G1X Specifications

14.3mp CMOS (1.5inch) Sensor (1/1.5″ probably)
4x Zoom (28-112)
f/2.5-16
14bit RAW
DIGIC 5
6fps/4.5fps
Multiarea White Balance
HDR Mode
FullHD 1080p Video
720P Movie Digest Mode

New ELPH Compacts
The new Elph models both offer improved low-light shooting and the new DIGIC 5 image processor. The Elph 520HS (shipping in March at a $299 suggested retail) offers a compact form factor, MicroSD card slot, 12x zoom lens starting at a 28mm wide angle, 10.1 -megapixel CMOS image sensor and ISO range to 3,200. Also included is a 3-inch LCD, 58 scene Smart Auto settings, Intelligent Image Stabilization, burst shooting speeds of up to 6.8 fps at 4-megapixel resolution, and body color options of silver, blue, green and red.

The Elph 110HS (shipping in February at $249) offers a 16.1-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 image processing to 3,200 ISO, FullHD 1080p video recording, 5x (24-120mm) zoom, intelligent image stabilization, 3-inch 461,000-dot LCD, 58-scene Smart Auto settings, high-speed burst shooting of 5.8fps at 4-megapixel resolution, full-size SD card slot and Movie Digest mode up to 720p HD resolution.

Source [CRF] via [WF]

Update #3
I’m told the url and posting are 100% legit. There’s still some discrepancy in the sensor size, but we’ll see soon enough. I’m trying to hunt down an official Canon release.

Update #2
The URL of the original leak has brought about some questions. It’s actually from mworld.com and not wellsfargoadvisors.com.

We’ll try to substantiate the information.

Update on sensor size
Most people seem to think the sensor size is actually 1/1.5″, which is smaller than the Nikon 1.

*Thanks John

cr