14 DAY TRIAL // We've talked on several occasions about Canon's rather unusual habit of making a large number of announcements in single day, followed by long periods of inactivity. And, once again, the company has proved that old habits die hard, since it came up with a very large number of cameras, targeting various market segments. Two of these products are the SX1 IS and the SX10 IS, which bring some pretty interesting novelties to the table, the SX1 IS being the first PowerShot ever to feature a CMOS sensor.
According to the company, this duo of digital cameras is actually designed to jointly replace one of the company's top performers, the PowerShot S5 IS. However, while the SX10 IS represents somewhat of a "natural" evolution, the SX1 IS marks a whole new approach for Canon.
Hence, both PowerShot SX1 IS and PowerShot SX10 IS feature resolutions of 10 Megapixels. While the SX10 IS sports a CCD sensor, the SX1 IS has been equipped with a Canon CMOS sensor, this being the reason why the PowerShot SX1 IS is able to shoot full-resolution JPEGs at speeds of up to 4fps.
Moreover, due to the fact that it incorporates a CMOS sensor, the PowerShot SX1 IS can record 1080p (30fps) High Definition video, which can then be played on any HDTV via a built-in HDMI connection. The SX10 IS also offers video recording capabilities, but we're only talking about a more modest VGA resolution. Nevertheless, movies on both cameras are enhanced with CD quality stereo sound, optical zooming and Face Detection Technology.
Featuring a Canon 20x wide-angle (28mm) optical zoom lens, the PowerShot SX1 IS and PowerShot SX10 IS can be used for shooting a wide variety of photos, while the Ultrasonic Motor (USM) combines with Voice Coil Motor (VCM) technology for near-silent operation and speed for sports or wildlife subjects. Both models feature Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer, while the PowerShot SX1 IS also includes Canon’s Advanced Tele-Converter for an extra 2x zoom.
Another innovation brought about by these two new PowerShots is the full manual control over both aperture and shutter speed. Additionally, the PowerShot SX1 IS also incorporates Canon’s WC-DC300 controller, which allows wireless control of shooting and playback. Plus, the new cameras are compatible with a wide range of Canon accessories, including the Speedlite EX flash units.
The Canon PowerShot SX10 IS will arrive in stores across the world in late October and will sell for an estimate $399.99. Unfortunately, there's no pricing information available for the SX1 IS, which, apparently, will only be available in Europe and Asia, since Canon's North-American website doesn't provide any info regarding this particular model.
