Monday, September 22, 2008

Canon Powershot SX1 IS - an ideal camera

Ever since I started having an interest in digicams several years ago, I have been waiting for camera to come along that has everything in one place. The problem is, as technology advances, I keep revising my wish list. At last, one camera has caught up with my wish list. It is the Canon Powershot SX1 IS, the replacement version of the S5 IS (which itself has been one of Canon's most successful digicams).

The SX1 IS has best-in-class specs for the following:
1. Wide angle zoom at 28mm focal length
2. Max aperture f2.8
2. HD movie with 1920x1080 resolution, 30fps, AVI mode
3. Articulated LCD, 230,000 pixels
4. Dedicated movie button
5. Powered by AA batteries.
6. 9-point autofocus with face detection
7. Optical image stabilization
8. 20x optical zoom
9. Aperture priority, shutter priority
10. 0 cm macro focus range

Caveat: I assume the image quality, shutter lag, and flash refresh will all be good, as can be expected from a matured camera maker like Canon.

So what can be expected from the next "ideal" digicam? Of course, there's always something new.... It would be nice to have a built-in GPS (as in Nikon's new P6000). Or have interchangeable lens with micro four-thirds sensor, which keeps the size down, but image quality up (like the latest Panasonic G1). Or, if you really want SLR-level capability with HD movie, there's Nikon's new D90; or going higher up, there's Canon's new 5D Mark II. For a photographer with movie inclination, there is no better time than this.

1 comment:

Vincent Chin said...

Congratulations on your new toy!!!
What about a SLR!!
weisin