Canon this week announced their new fall 2009 lineup of point-and-shoot cameras. Almost every family except Canon's cheapest A-series cameras got some new additions. Most notable among these were the new high-end cameras, the Canon PowerShot G11 and the more compact Canon PowerShot S90. In addition, Canon released new compact zoom cameras in the Canon PowerShot SX20 and the PowerShot SX120, as well as a couple new high-end Digital ELPH devices.
Canon PowerShot G11 puts the Power in PowerShot
 It's been some time since Canon refreshed the top-end of its point-and-shoot lineup, especially in the more compact space. The new PowerShot G11 replaces the venerable Canon PowerShot G10 at the top of Canon's non-DSLR lineup, and the new model has seen some improvements and intelligent new choices. For one thing, the new Canon PowerShot G11 packs fewer pixels onto a sensor roughly the same size as the previous generation. We've always found lower pixel density equals improved image quality, so we're happy to sacrifice a few pixels for better pics, though some buyers might balk at the apparent step down from 14.7-megapixels to only 10-megapixels.
The new Canon PowerShot G11 also sees the return of the articulating LCD display. The 2.8-inch screen on the back of the PowerShot G11 can flip out and rotate. The camera also gets the impressive level of control that we appreciated on its predecessor. It's really about fitting DSLR-like quality into a fixed-lens design, and the G11 can shoot in RAW format for the ultimate in post-processing tweaks.
The PowerShot G11 comes with a fairly versatile 28-140mm equivalent lens, providing 5X zoom from an appreciably wide starting point. Though you can't swap out the lenses, the PowerShot G11 does have a wide range of accessories available, from Canon Speedlite flashes to an underwater housing and even a tele-converter lens for longer range. The Canon PowerShot G11 is scheduled to be available in October for an estimated price of $500.
The sleeper hit of the season
 What got us excited in Canon's announcement was the return of the high-end S-series of cameras. The last of the bunch, the Canon PowerShot S80, was released way back in 2005. This family line takes the sensor and most of the guts of the larger and pricier G-series of cameras and fits them into a more compact shell. The Canon PowerShot S90 is compact indeed, looking more like a Canon ELPH camera than its much larger predecessors. Like the PowerShot G11, the PowerShot S90 uses a 10-megapixel sensor and a lens that starts at a wide 28mm, though it doesn't achieve quite the range of the larger camera, at only 3.8X optical zoom. That lens is still capable of fast shooting with its wide F/2.0 stop, so it should perform well in low light conditions.
The screen on the back of the Canon PowerShot S90 is even larger than the screen on the G11, a 3-inch LCD. Around front, the PowerShot S90 gets a control ring around the lens that can be customized for a number of functions. Just twist the ring to change ISO sensitivity, zoom or even manual focus. Like the PowerShot G11, the Canon PowerShot S90 can also shoot in RAW format for more creative control in the editing process.
So what does the PowerShot S90 lack that the PowerShot G11 will give you? The G11 has plenty more knobs and dials for easier control on the go. No digging through menus when you can easily twist a dial. Also, the PowerShot G11 has more access to accessories, like external flash units or lens enhancements. The G11 also gets a longer focal range for more zoom power. Otherwise, we expect quality to be close for these two cameras, and the Canon PowerShot S90 makes an attractive choice as the more compact and less expensive of the two. The Canon PowerShot S90 will be available in October for $430.
All I wanna do is zoom-a zoom zoom zoom
Canon also enhanced their current super-zoom lineup with a couple new cameras. The Canon PowerShot SX20 IS features a 12.1-megapixel sensor with a 20x wide-angle optical zoom lens (28-560mm equivalent) and optical image stabilization. The Canon SX120 IS features a 10-megapixel sensor with a 10x optical zoom lens (36-360mm equivalent) and optical image stabilization, a must-have feature on both of these long-range compacts. Of the two, the PowerShot SX20 packs a much more impressive array of features, but it's also the more expensive of the two by far.
 The Canon PowerShot SX20, in addition to its zoom capabilities, offers high-definition, 720p video recording with H.264 support. The camera also features an HDMI output on board so you can display your HD movies on a high-def television. Like the Canon PowerShot G11, the SX20 also features a vari-angle LCD, so you can turn and twist the 2.5-inch LCD screen to the best shooting angle. The PowerShot SX20 uses AA batteries for power. The camera will be available in September for $400.
 The lower-end Canon PowerShot SX120 doesn't have the high-def video recording or the vari-angle LCD screen of its big brother, and this camera is aimed at making pictures easier. Canon includes an Easy Mode for people who find Auto Mode too confusing. The screen is still a respectable 3-inches, even if it doesn't swivel out, and like the SX20, the Canon PowerShot SX120 uses AA batteries. The PowerShot SX120 will be available in September for $250, a $150 price break over the PowerShot SX20.
A pair of ELPHs
 Rounding out Canon's point-and-shoot camera announcements was the introduction of two new additions to the current Digital ELPH lineup. The compact family is most notable for its sleek, polished and stylish looks, but at the high end these cameras come packed with shooting features. This week, Canon announced their newest top-of-the-line ELPH, the Canon PowerShot SD980 IS, which spotlights a large, 3-inch touch panel LCD with a touchable interface design for easy navigating through images and menus. The new PowerShot SD980 IS is Canon's first foray into the touch sensitive menus that have popped up on other manufacturer lineups.
 Otherwise, the two new Digital ELPH cameras are quiet similar. The slightly cheaper Canon PowerShot SD940 IS doesn't use a touch sensitive screen, and the zoom is somewhat more limited. The PowerShot SD980 gets a 5X zoom lens, while the SD940 only uses a 4X zoom. Otherwise, both cameras feature a 12.1-megapixel sensor with somewhat wide lenses. The SD980 features a 24mm lens, while the SD940 pulls back to only 28mm. Both cameras shoot high-def video at 720p resolution, and both feature an HDMI output to watch HD movies on a big screen.
The Canon PowerShot SD980 IS will be available in October for $330. The Canon PowerShot SD940 IS will be available a month earlier, in September, $300. For an extra $30, we'd definitely want to give the SD980 IS a spin before we gave up the touch interface.
|
_it00.jpg)
|
Archive