Digital Home Thoughts - News & Reviews for the Digital Home

So the parade of compacts continues. Canon yesterday announced a bunch, and I will start with the more interesting ones. The Powershot ELPH 320 HS and ELPH 530 HS (IXUS 240 HS and IXUS 510 HS respectively outside of North America) are the latest additions to the ELPH/IXUS line up. The 320 HS features a 16 megapixel sensor with a 5x optically stabilised 24-120mm equivalent f/2.7-5.9 zoom lens, while the 530 HS features a 10 megapixel sensor with a 12x optically stabilised 28-336mm equivalent f/3.4-5.6 zoom lens. This uses folded optics to get fit into the small body. The two ELPHs share a lot of features otherwise, with a 3.2" HVGA touchscreen LCD and very little physical controls, 1080p video at 24 FPS, still shooting at up to 5.2 FPS, and new here, built-in wifi that in addition to uploading to various services, also allows transferring files to a smartphone, with an app coming for iOS and Android. The 530 HS also uses microSD cards instead of the usual SD cards for storing its photos. I sense many cameras will switch to the smaller form factor as time goes by; this is the third camera announced in 2012 utilising the smaller format. The two cameras will ship in late March, with the 530 HS going for US$350, and the 320 HS going for US$280. More cameras after the break!

DCResource: Powershot ELPH 320 HS / ELPH 530 HS

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"Canon has released three EF lenses, including an updated 24-70mm F2.8 II USM. The latest version features what is promised to be a more durable body, despite being a little smaller. In addition to this high-end full-frame standard zoom, there are completely redesigned semi-fast 24mm and 28mm F2.8 primes, both of which feature USM focus motors and image stabilization."

Canon has updated three lenses, including a highly popular one, and leaves me slightly confused. For some strange reason Canon has seen it fit to add IS to light wide angle primes, but thinks the heavier 24-70 with a telephoto end needs it less (which in my opinion, does not). Sometimes you wonder what the camera companies are thinking. In any case, the 24-70/2.8 L II is a new lens, and not just minor update to the previous 24-70/2.8 L. It promises better image quality, and better physical durability. The 24/2.8 and 28/2.8 have small wideangle primes, but now come with IS (which I still find utterly weird), and newly designed optics. No word on pricing or availability.

Phew. Compared to Fuji's product diarrhoea, Canon has released just two more cameras from its popular ELPH/IXUS line. The one above, is the Powershot ELPH 520 HS, or IXUS 500 HS in Europe and parts of Asia. The camera boasts a 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, an optically stabilised lens with a huge (for a compact) 12x 28-336mm equivalent f/3.4-5.6 zoom lens, a 3" HVGA LCD, and 1080p videos at 24 FPS. Like all HS cameras, it is capable of some high speed stuff, which in this case results in a 6.8 FPS frame rate in continuous shooting mode at a reduced resolution, and the requisite 240 FPS videos at QVGA resolution. The camera is really tiny; it is a fraction larger than the very small Pentax Optio S5n I had in 2005, and that only had a 3x zoom lens. Something had to give, and the result is a compact camera that uses microSDHC cards instead of the usual SDHC cards. The camera will ship in March 2012 at US$300.

The Powershot ELPH 110 HS, or IXUS 125 HS, has a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor. an optically stabilised 5x 24-120mm equivalent f/2.7-5.8 zoom lens, a 3" HVGA LCD, and 1080p vidoes at 24 FPS. Similar to its sibling, it offers a continuous mode of 5.8 frames per second at a reduced resolution, and the same 240 FPS videos at QVGA resolution. The camera will ship in February for US$250. Both cameras have some new automated features for casual shooters, so check out the source link for more, along with more photos of both cameras!

Today, it is Canon's turn in the limelight. Unfortunately for you all EOS lovers, there is no new DSLR, but there is something fairly interesting (which would have been more so if not for all the leaks) in the new Powershot G1X, which is like the G12 compact, but boasting a sensor that is slightly larger in size than a Micro Four Thirds sensor.

As an aside, who comes up with these names? Between Panasonic's GX1, this Canon G1X, all the other G and X cameras, as well as the current D cameras, there is going to be some mighty fine confusion in the near future. Hint: The current Latin alphabet has 26 alphabets. Can we use some of the others?

On to the G1X proper, the heart of the camera is an 18.7mm by 14mm CMOS sensor with 14 megapixels. That's about 1mm longer on each end than a Micro Four Thirds sensor. Then sensor itself goes from ISO 100 to ISO 12,800, and is mated to an optically stabilised 4x 28-112mm equivalent f/2.8-5.8 zoom lens. Given the size of the camera, the dimmer telephoto end of the zoom is a trade-off Canon had to make. The LCF is a 3" VGA affair mounted on an articulated arm, but unfortunately the optical viewfinder is the same useless optical tunnel similar to those on all Canon G series cameras. Personally I would have liked a high resolution EVF even if it meant a hump in the camera. The camera also does 1080p videos at 24 FPS. A big minus in my eye is the loss of the ISO dial; it has gone back to being a function on the directional pad instead. The Powershot G1X will ship in February for US$800.

All-in-all, while the camera looks competent, I cannot help but feel this is a feeble attempt to counter the mirrorless march. For US$600 it is possible to get the Panasonic G3 with the 14-42 kit lens, which loses a couple of dials and buttons and a slightly slower and shorter lens, but adds a high quality EVF and the ability to change lenses. Both the giants are behind in this race, first Nikon with its Jekyll and Hyde One system, and now Canon with this. One hopes Canon has more up its sleeve. What do you Canon die-hards think? In any case, check out DPReview's comprehensive preview for the details.

"As you can see, the PowerShot S100 got a bump in resolution, zoom power, and continuous shooting performance -- plus it now has a GPS receiver. The S100 retains the compact metal body and customizable lens ring of its predecessor, plus full manual controls (with RAW support), an HDR mode, and larger-than-average sensor. The PowerShot S95 was one of my favorite cameras from last year. Will the same be true for the S100? Find out now in our review!"

The S100 is a nice upgrade from the S95, unlike the S95 itself, which was a small bump in terms of specs from the original S90. The 24mm equivalent wide-angle is a highlight for me, and the images have a smoother look to them compared to its CCD predecessor. All-in-all, I think this is the small compact camera to beat.

"The EOS-1D X is the new flagship camera in the Canon DSLR range, taking the best of the EOS-1D and EOS-1Ds cameras and melding them into a single unit that gives both high resolution and high speed shooting. No longer do you need to choose between the two when both are available in one body."

Here is some more information about the 1D X, straight from Canon Europe. Regardless if you have the money to buy one, it should be interesting for those of you who wonder at what a top-of-the-line camera is like.

"Canon has announced the launch of the EOS-1D X, its latest flagship professional DSLR. The 18MP camera is built around a full-frame sensor capable of shooting at up to 14 frames per second (12fps with AF), allowing it to replace both the 1D Mark IV and 1DS Mark III in Canon's lineup."

I am not sure if this will truly replace the EOS-1DS series, but after Nikon's success with the D3 and D3s, Canon probably felt the old 1D and its APS-H sized sensor needed a rework, and the EOS-1D X is the result. Canon certainly is seeking to upstage Nikon in all areas: The 1D X has an 18 megapixel sensor that allows ISO 512,000 natively, and ISO 2,048,00 when boosted. Despite the huge number, I would like to remind readers that it is just two stops above the native ISO limit. Ah, the wonders of multiplication. Other areas of improvement (and one-upmanship) include a new 61 point AF sensor with 21 cross sensors, improved AF tracking (after the 1DIV fiasco) with what Canon calls EOS iTR AF, a new 100,000 pixel RGB sensor (a Canon first), and up to 14 FPS continuous shooting (12 FPS with AF tracking). There is even a gigabit Ethernet port for transmitting photos, along with dual Compactflash card slots.

The improvements also extend to the video side of things, with 1080p video available in 24p, 25p or 30p, and 720p available in 50p or 60p. Manual audio level control is present, along with a stereo mic-in jack, and on the software side of things, Canon promises better codecs that offer intra-frame or inter-frame compression, along with timecode embedding (cue squealing from video editors).

Canon is even seeking to upstage Nikon in the UI department: Where Nikon offers two buttons between the camera grip and the lens mount for the photographer to use, Canon is offering four for the EOS 1D X user; two for each orientation. Talk about leaving no stone unturned. Incidentally this makes the Canon UI starting to look more like the Nikon.

The EOS 1D X will only be available in March 2012 for US$6,800. Canon is probably hoping to pre-empt Nikon's D4 announcement, whenever that is. More photos after the break. See the link to DPReview for an overview, as well as the very compact Wifi and GPS accessories for the EOS 1DX.

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"Today, we've got a pair of Canon point-and-shoots to show you. The S100 is the successor to the highly regarded S95, while the SX40 HS takes on the super-zoom market with its 35x lens. Both cameras use the company's new DIGIC 5 image processor, which brings high-speed burst shooting and 1080p video to the party."

Canon has launched a pair of high-end compacts, both of which are upgrades to popular cameras. The S100 is an update to the S95, which features a new 12 megapixel CMOS sensor which is made in-house by Canon, a new 5x optically stabilised 24-120mm equivalent f/2.0-5.9 lens, and now offers 1080p video at 24 FPS. The LCD is the same 3" HVGA affair, as is the wonderful front control ring, but the new version also adds GPS and a high speed movie mode (not too different from the HS line of compacts. It can also do a burst of 8 shots at 9.6 FPS. Available in November for US$440, in both titanium (yuck) and classic black. Check out DPReview's preview as well!

The SX40 HS has a pretty amazing 35x optically stabilised 24-840mm f/2.7-5.8 lens, a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, a 2.7" articulated LCD, and 1080p videos at 24 FPS. The camera can also do the same high speed videos as implied by the HS moniker, and like the S100, features an 8 shot burst mode, but at a higher 10 FPS. Available in late September for US$440.

DPReview Preview of the Canon Powershot S100

We start off a week of camera announcements with... three compacts from Canon. First up are two additions to the ELPH/IXUS line, the ELPH 510 HS and the ELPH 310 HS (also known as the IXUS 1100 HS and IXUS 230 HS respectively). The ELPH 510 HS features the same 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor found in many recent Canon compacts, a 12x 28-336mm equivalent f/3.4.-5.9 stabilised optical zoom lens, which is pretty impressive on a camera less than an inch thick. Canon also claims improved stabilisation for the new cameras. There is 1080p video at 24 FPS, as well as a number of other video modes, including the high speed modes at up to 240 FPS. All this is handled through a 3.2" HVGA touchscreen LCD, which given the size of the screen and the camera, means there're practically no buttons on the rear of the camera. Hope you like touchscreens in your cameras. The ELPH 310 HS is similar, but drops the zoom down to 8x, giving a 28-224mm f/3.0-5.9, and drops the screen down to a non-touchscreen 3" HVGA LCD, but this means the buttons are back. Both cameras will be available in October, with the ELPH 510 HS going for US$350, and the ELPH 310 HS for US$260.

Next up is the Powershot SX150 IS, a budget superzoom replacing the SX120 IS. The camera offers a 14 megapixel CCD sensor, a 12x 28-336mm f/3.4-5.6 stabilised lens, 3" QVGA LCD screen, and 720p videos at 30 FPS. Pretty much the same as the SX120 IS save for the 14 megapixel sensor. It does offer some manual controls, which is not saying much on a small sensor compact. Available in September for US$250.

More photos after the break.

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"The so-called 'Travel Zoom' category was effectively invented by Panasonic, with the Lumix DMC-TZ1. Released in 2006, the TZ1 was the first camera with a 10x optical zoom lens that could truly be called 'compact', and although Panasonic had the field to itself for a while, it wasn't long before other manufacturers started to move into the same space. Fast forward to 2011, and almost all of the major camera manufacturers offer compact cameras with at least 10x optical zooms, up to almost 20x in some cases."

The travel zoom area is probably the last major growth area for compacts in light of compacts getting squeezed from smartphones at the low end and cheap DSLRs and cute mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras on the high end, so it would be nice to see some more innovation in this area, instead of so-so image quality tacked to a design that has not changed much from the TZ1's launch in 2006. Still, they are still popular enough, and DPReview takes a look at some of the latest round of travel zooms, and there's a surprise winner in the round-up. Hint: The brand starts with an "N". I always thought their compacts were on the lacklustre side, and in fact, the sample images are not very inspiring in some cases; the camera gets a win mostly in the way it handles and operates. Hit the link for the roundup!

"The so-called 'Travel Zoom' category was effectively invented by Panasonic, with the Lumix DMC-TZ1. Released in 2006, the TZ1 was the first camera with a 10x optical zoom lens that could truly be called 'compact', and although Panasonic had the field to itself for a while, it wasn't long before other manufacturers started to move into the same space. Fast forward to 2011, and almost all of the major camera manufacturers offer compact cameras with at least 10x optical zooms, up to almost 20x in some cases."

The travel zoom area is probably the last major growth area for compacts in light of compacts getting squeezed from smartphones at the low end and cheap DSLRs and cute mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras on the high end, so it would be nice to see some more innovation in this area, instead of so-so image quality tacked to a design that has not changed much from the TZ1's launch in 2006. Still, they are still popular enough, and DPReview takes a look at some of the latest round of travel zooms, and there's a surprise winner in the round-up. Hint: The brand starts with an "N". I always thought their compacts were on the lacklustre side, and in fact, the sample images are not very inspiring in some cases; the camera gets a win mostly in the way it handles and operates. Hit the link for the roundup!

"The so-called 'Travel Zoom' category was effectively invented by Panasonic, with the Lumix DMC-TZ1. Released in 2006, the TZ1 was the first camera with a 10x optical zoom lens that could truly be called 'compact', and although Panasonic had the field to itself for a while, it wasn't long before other manufacturers started to move into the same space. Fast forward to 2011, and almost all of the major camera manufacturers offer compact cameras with at least 10x optical zooms, up to almost 20x in some cases."

The travel zoom area is probably the last major growth area for compacts in light of compacts getting squeezed from smartphones at the low end and cheap DSLRs and cute mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras on the high end, so it would be nice to see some more innovation in this area, instead of so-so image quality tacked to a design that has not changed much from the TZ1's launch in 2006. Still, they are still popular enough, and DPReview takes a look at some of the latest round of travel zooms, and there's a surprise winner in the round-up. Hint: The brand starts with an "N". I always thought their compacts were on the lacklustre side, and in fact, the sample images are not very inspiring in some cases; the camera gets a win mostly in the way it handles and operates. Hit the link for the roundup!

"Choosing a digital camera used to be a simple process that was heavily dictated by the amount of money in your pocket. Now the same money can buy you different benefits and compromises, making the decision much more complex. Here's a look at your camera-buying options, the pros and cons of each, and some specific suggestions to help you pick the perfect camera for your needs."

Lifehacker has a long article on how to choose a camera (and it even includes a guide on cameras in phones), but I recommended not going through the recommended picks just because they are there. Seriously, a Sony NEX-3?

"The outfit's now selling its beginner-friendly EOS Rebel T3 in red, brown, and metallic gray -- all in addition to your garden-variety black, of course. Sure, that's tame by Pentax's wacky standards, but for Canon it's pretty... outlandish."

For those in Europe and Asia, this is nothing new. The EOS 1100D (as the T3 is called there) has already been available in these colours for months now. Personally, I think the red is striking, but its a real pity that the lenses that come with the coloured DSLRs do not match: They are still the same black 18-55 lens. Promotional price is now US$550, so now is a good time to grab them if you want them funky colours.

Product Category: Digital Camera (Point-And-Shoot Variety)

Manufacturer: Canon

Where to Buy: Amazon [Affiliate Store]

Price: $143.96

Specifications: Provided by Canon

Pros:

• Pocked-sized - perfect for on-the-go photo ops;
• Wide array of customizable settings;
• Light without feeling flimsy.

Cons:

• Poor performance in low-light conditions;
• Slow processing at times.

Summary: This is not a technical review of the camera. This model has been out for a while, and has been examined in its full photo-taking glory by many experts. Instead this is a review of what it's like for a total amateur to own and operate this camera.

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This is really neat, if nothing, it's another excuse to see the Aurora Borelias!

"The 1100D takes a series of familiar-sounding components and folds them together in a distinctly conventional but still capable-sounding package. So there's a 12MP CMOS chip that is likely to date back to the 450D/XSi, coupled with Canon's now-standard 9-point AF system and the 63-area iFCL (Focus, color and luminance sensitive) metering system first seen in the EOS 7D."

The Canon Rebel T3/EOS 1100D is something I thought I would never see. After letting the predecessor languish in obscurity for a good two years, it looked like Canon had given up on the ultra-budget DSLR. With the T3/1100D, it looks like they have not. On paper it looks like a competent if slightly rehashed. Still, the low price means it should sell well. I am rather amused by the red; pity Canon did not come up with a matching lens! For you die-hard 1st gen Zune lovers, there is also... brown. Coloured up versions available at our affiliate store.

"One of the most popular digital camera genres in recent years has been what some have called the "travel zoom". These compact cameras have typically featured lenses of around 10X - 14X, large LCDs, and HD movie modes. In 2011, camera manufacturers really put the "travel" in travel zoom, by adding GPS receivers to their cameras. So, not only do you now have a camera which can go anywhere, but you'll know exactly where you took the photo."

One advantage of dedicated cameras is the ability to offer a zoom lens, so huge zoom factors are still pretty much a selling point. Combine that with a compact size and the result is a camera that still sells pretty well in this age of smartphones. I was a bit surprised at the winner of this shoot out, but I won't spoil the surprise, other than saying that the initial debut of the line was very lacklustre to begin with. Well done C... I mean, camera company!

"The new kid on the block can most succinctly be described as a 550D with an articulated screen, that also incorporates many of the beginner-friendly features we first saw on the more enthusiast-orientated EOS 60D. Perhaps most notable of these is 'Basic+', a simple, results-orientated approach to image adjustments in the scene-based exposure modes, that allows the user to change the look of their images and control background blur without needing to know anything technical about how this all works."

Canon, the masters of the incremental upgrade, have done it again. I think the above paragraph sums up the EOS 600D nicely: A 550D with a swivel LCD and some software changes. Still, that makes it a pretty decent camera, as the 550D was no slouch to begin with. For someone looking for a new DSLR in the Canon camp, it is hard to go wrong with it. I wonder though, if Canon is going to make anything exciting ever again...

Apologies; this originally went up on the 7th but due to a glitch did not make the front page.

Well, with the CP+ show (organised by the Japanese camera trade association CIPA) starting on the 9th of Feb, naturally there will be a few new camera announcements. Today Canon leads the headlines, starting with the consumer Rebel T3i and T3 (EOS 600D and 1100D in Europe and Asia) cameras. Canon, being the master of incremental upgrades, made me look very hard for the upgrades to the T3i. The main changes are the addition of a swivel LCD (the LCD itself remains the same 3" VGA screen), new video modes of 1080p at 24, 25 and 30 FPS with the promise of full manual control, and the ability to control compatible flashes wirelessly via the internal flash. A few changes to the software side of the camera, like a new A+ Auto mode (taken from Panasonic), Creative Filters (taken from Olympus) and a "Feature Guide" (taken from Nikon) to guide new shooters round up the upgrades. The core of the camera, which features an 18 megapixel APS-C sensor rated at ISO 100-6400 with 9 AF points and 63 zone metering, remains the same. The camera will ship in March for about US$800 body only, US$900 with the new 18-55 IS II lens, and US$1100 with the 18-135 IS lens.

Up next is the Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D), which has a bit more upgrades. The camera has a new 12 megapixel sensor rated at ISO 100-6400 (I guess from the 40D), and utilises the same 9 point AF and 63 zone metering system from its bigger brothers. Cost-cutting measures include the lack of a swivel LCD, a smaller 2.7" QVGA LCD, 720p video at only 30 FPS, and a cheaper, less solid body. The camera will ship in March for about US$600 with the 18-55 IS II lens.

Rebel T3i/EOS 600D Preview

Rebel T3/EOS 1100D Preview

Images of the Rebel T3 and the rear of the T3i after the break. Read more...