Still remember the Canon IXUS 300 HS, which is also known as the SD4000 IS Digital ELPH? PhotographyBLOG has a comprehensive review of this compact digital camera. As a reminder, the Canon IXUS 300 HS features a back-illuminated 10-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 3 inch LCD screen, a 3.8x (28-106mm lens) with a fastest aperture of f/2.0 and optical image stabilizer, a 3.7 frames per second burst mode at full resolution, a 720p HD movie recording with stereo sound and an HDMI port. Here is the verdict:
With a 10 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor and fast f/2.0 lens, the IXUS 300 HS was always going to deliver the goods in terms of image quality. Noise doesn’t rear its ugly head until ISO 800, with even the fastest 3200 setting proving usable, something that you can’t say about too many compact cameras, and chromatic aberrations are also well controlled. Only a slight softness in the corners and some barrel distortion at the 28mm wide-angle setting detract from an otherwise stellar performance.
Available in blasted steel silver, matt black, glossy white and high gloss red, the Canon IXUS 300 HS retails for $350 each.
Canon is about to launch another point-and-shoot camera ‘IXY 30S’ for the Japanese market. This compact camera packs a 10-megapixel CMOS image sensor, a 3.8x optical zoom lens, a 3-inch display, an SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card slot, a USB port, an HDMI output and has the ability to record 1280 x 720 HD video at 30fps. The IXY 30S will become available in Japan starting on May 27th for 40,000 Yen (about $429). [Canon]
Canon has officially announced the Rebel T2i as a successor to the Rebel T1i/500D. This entry-level all-in-one dSLR camera supports a 18MP still mode and records up to 1080p 30fps videos. The Canon EOS Rebel T2i is scheduled to be delivered to U.S. dealers in early March 2010, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $799.99. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $899.99.
Canon today unveiled the latest Canon SD3500 IS or also known as the Digital IXUS 210 in Europe. Available in black, gold, silver and pink, the Canon SD3500 IS features a sculpted metal exterior, a 14.1-megapixel image sensor and a 24mm genuine Canon lens. The camera also supports a 3.5-inch PureColor II Touch TFT LCD, a 5x optical zoom, Face Detection, Smart Shutter, an HDMI out, a Touch AF, a tap control, and Smart Flash Exposure. Its card reader reads SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC, MMCplus and HC MMCplus.
Canon has added a new point-and-shoot camera to its PowerShot range by announcing the SX210 IS. Powered by a DIGIC 4 Image processor, this compact camera boasts a 14-megapixel CCD image sensor, a 28mm wide-angle lens, 14x optical zoom lens and a 3.0-inch widescreen PureColor II G LCD display. Not to mention, it also features a range of advanced technologies including Image Stabilization, Smart Auto, Motion Detection, Face Detection and 720p HD video recording at 30fps. The PowerShot SX210 IS is scheduled to be available in late March for an estimated retail price of $349.99. [dpreview]
Canon has announced two new budget-friendly digital cameras to its range with the introduction of the PowerShot A490 and A495. Designed for fun, everyday use, these user -friendly cameras offer a 10-megapixel image sensor, 3.3x optical zoom lens, a bright 2.5-inch LCD display and a microSDHC/SDXC card slot. They also come with a number of advanced features including Smart Auto with Scene Detection (up to 13/18 different shooting scenes for A490/A495), i-Contrast technology, Face Detection, Red-eye Correction, FaceSelf-Timer (A495), Motion Detection and the ability to capture 640 x 480 video at 30fps with sound. The PowerShot A490 and A495 will start shipping in late February for an estimated retail price of $109.99 and $129.99, respectively.
Canon's Vixia HF S21 is their camcorder Cadillac. Just look: 3.5-inch touchscreen, dual SD card slots, face detection from the PowerShot series, and image stabilization with glass from Canon's high-end binoculars.
It's got 64GB + SD card storage; the S20 is 32GB and the S200 is card storage only, for $1400, $1200, and $1000, respectively.
Down range is the smaller HFM series, which smaller, with a 2.7-inch touchscreen. Autofocus on both series works like you'd expect: touch the screen to focus. The HF M31 is $800 w/ 32GB storage + SD card; the M30 has 8GB + card storage, and the M300 is just card storage, for $680.
Last is the first ever Vixia camcorder under a thousand bucks: The entry-level R series doesn't have a touchscreen, or a bunch of other features in the pricier models (except smart auto), and it starts at $500 w/ no on-board storage, going up to $550 for 8GB internal, and $690 for 32GB.
The camera of the moment, the popular PowerShot S90 is a small but perfectly formed compact for the keen photographer. Concentrating on image quality rather than simply joining in the megapixel race (just like Sony's TX1 / WX1 models), the S90 offers DSLR-like results in a pocketable device, making it the perfect second camera for any self-respecting DSLR owner. A sensible resolution of 10 megapixels and fast zoom lens make the S90 an excellent choice when the lighting drops. This is one camera that you carry everywhere and still achieve breath-taking photos that will look great on your wall. [Review]
Samsung can always be relied upon to deliver more for less, and the HZ15W is certainly no different. The HZ15W can't quite match every feature that its main rivals offer, but it does cost a lot less than them. With an amazingly versatile 10x zoom lens, high-definition video and a wealth of beginner-friendly modes, this well-designed camera is simple to use yet offers enough features and quality to satisfy more experienced photographers. The HZ15W could well be the only camera that you ever need. [Review]
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 is not only one of the best video compacts on the market, it's also one of the best cameras full stop. Support for the AVCHD Lite format almost doubles the recording time, albeit at the expense of editing ease. The dedicated Record button, stereo microphone, wind cut function and audio sampling at 48kHz combine to make the TZ7 a star performer for moving images. It's also a fantastic stills camera too, with an incredibly versatile 12x zoom and top-notch image quality - a great do-it-all, carry-everywhere device. [Review]
Sony has long ruled the roost in the 'it's so slim you can barely see it' category, and the desirable TX1 continues that tradition. Combining a sturdy yet stylish metal body, clever sliding front plate and impressive folded lens optics in a frame that's just 14.1mm thick, the TX1 still manages to pack in a 4x zoom lens and 3-inch touch-sensitive rear screen. You also get the added bonus of Sony's impressive 'Exmor R' back-illuminated CMOS image sensor, which greatly improves low-light performance. Available in a variety of attractive colors to match your personality, the TX1 is guaranteed to look as good as you. [Review]
Best wet and rugged
Pentax Optio W80 ($210)
Ed note: Brian Lam reviewed most every rugged camera under the sun last summer, and his favorite all around performer went to the Pentax W80, a Jack-of-all-trades rugged cam featuring a 5x internal zoom lens. Its picture quality doesn't compete with the best point and shoots, and the W80 can only be dropped from around 3 feet, but it can go underwater up to 16 feet and function in temperatures down to 14 degrees. [Review]
There are obviously a lot of other great cameras this year for every budget and level of experience. See all of Photography Blog's camera reviews here (http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/).
Canon has added a new high-end compact camera to its range by presenting the PowerShot G11, the successor to its multi award-winning PowerShot G10. Aimed at professional photographers, the G11 comes equipped with a high sensitivity 10-megapixel CCD sensor, 28-140mm wide-zoom lens, 5x optical zoom and a 2.8-inch vari-angle PureColor II VA LCD. Other advanced features worth mentioning include Dual Anti-Noise System, i-Contrast technology, RAW shooting and P/A/S/M shooting modes. The Canon PowerShot G11 sells for $499. [dpreview]
For a long time with Canon, if you weren't dropping nearly three grand on a 5D, you were stuck with a vastly lesser DSLR. The $1700 7D is Canon's first semi-pro DSLR, and actually it's my favorite yet.
What's New and Dandy
What makes it my favorite Canon so far is actually everything that's completely new to Canon—DP Review has a nice summary here, in pictures. But in short, while this might sound weird, it shoots more like a Nikon than any Canon DSLR I've used. This is primarily because of the new 19-point autofocus system and the color metering system that goes with it. You're able to select AF zones—clusters of AF points—while in the past with Canon you've been limited to a full AF blast or picking out a single point. The system is also more customizable, so it can be locked with different default focus points depending on whether you're holding the camera horizontally and vertically orientations. Against Nikon's D300s, Canon's new AF system mostly kept up, and definitely performs better than autofocus on the 5D Mark II.
The new viewfinder now provides 100 percent coverage, unlike previous Canons in this range, and it uses a new polymer LCD network for the graphical overlay to display AF points, grids and other displays, so it's more flexible and feels more fluid. (It also just looks swankier, and again, more Nikon-like.) Your other viewfinder (when you're shooting video, anyway), the LCD screen, is a 3-inch, 920k dot display like the 5D Mark II and it's still excellent, with a wide viewing angle, nice color and the right amount of crispness.
Sensor and Image Quality
Truthfully, I've been mildly surprised at the quality of photos that've come out of the 7D, which uses an absolutely stuffed 18-megapixel, APS-C sized sensor. (So, there is a 1.6x crop factor.) For comparison, the D300s has a 12MP sensor that's the same physical size (Update: For nitpickers, yes, Nikon's DX format is marginally larger than Canon's APS-C sensor, with the D300s's sensor coming in at 23.6 x 15.8 mm to the 7D's 22.3 x 14.9 mm.) The the D3 only goes for 12 megapixels on its bigger full-frame (35mm-equivalent) sensor. The 5D Mark II has a 21MP full-frame sensor. And typically, the more pixels you try to cram on a sensor of a given size, the more the image quality degrades, especially when it comes to low light, high ISO shots.
I was expecting a noisefest, or at best, seriously noticeable noise reduction employed by the camera's software. It is clear that Canon's using incredibly sophisticated noise reduction algorithms with the dual Digic IV processors onboard, though the effects are less drastic than I expected. It's most apparent, actually, when you directly compare photos taken with the D300s. Looking at photos taken with the 7D and D300s at 100 percent crops, the D300s's images are noisier, but they also preserve more detail. For web-sized images, the 7D's images look better, with less noise and more smoothness.
I've got two sample galleries—an array of sample shots, and then another directly comparing the 7D with the D300s in low light situations, using identical settings for photos. 100 percent zooms follow photos in both galleries. Or you can download full size photos from Flickr here and here.
Video
You can get sense of Canon and Nikon's philosophical differences with the difference in their buttons for video: Canon makes a distinction between Live View and video mode, while Nikon is ready to start shooting video as soon you tap the live view button on the D300s. Creating video is a separate, dedicated event for Canon, in other words, and there is a semi-serious video camera that happens to be built into a DSLR. Nikon's D300s, on the other hand, is a DSLR that happens to shoot video.
With video, the 7D simply has the upper hand—video is very much a legitimized use of this camera, not a secondary one like the D300s. (As expected from a company with an entire wing dedicated to camcorders for pros and consumers.) Not only does it have full manual controls, I find that it's slightly easier to use that the D300s while shooting video—not to mention the whole shooting in a real video codec at 1080p, yadda yadda. Three clips here: A melange of video above, and then by two videos, one from the 7D, one of the D300s, that mirror each other. Both were shot at ISO 6400, and you should be able to catch them at full res if you click over to Vimeo.
Build and Controls
The 7D is heavy, heavier than the 5D, but it's also slightly sturdier, with a build quality and weatherproofing that that's slightly in between the 5D and Canon's definitely pro 1D. It feels about the same in your hand, though. And it's roughly comparable to the D300s.
Controls aren't radically different from other Canon DSLRs of this caliber—that is, it's what you'd mostly expect from a DSLR that sits in between the lower end 50D and the higher end 5DMkII, though it's a bit closer to the latter. While the menu system feels completely unchanged—leaving more advanced features, like the orientation autofocus a bit inscrutable—a few things are new on the outside: The power switch is up on the top left, under the mode dial; there's a dedicated button for switching to RAW/JPEG; a quick action button; and a new toggle switch for Live View and video, which you engage by pressing a start button in the center.
You Already Know If You're Going to Buy This
The real question for Canon users who want something more than the lower end 50D is whether they go for the 7D, at $1700, or full bore to full-frame with the $2700 5D Mark II. The 7D has a 1.6x crop factor which is useful for sports, a better autofocusing system, shoots faster, is slightly more rugged, and is $1000 cheaper. The 5D is full frame—which I suspect is the real consideration for folks—and takes slightly better photos at higher resolutions.
Obviously, if you're locked into Nikon, with thousands of dollars in lenses, you're not going to jump to Canon, or vice versa. But Canon's dedication to DSLR video is proving formidable in carving out a new kind of market that Nikon might have some trouble competing in, since they're a dedicated still camera company, not a video company, too, like Canon. Really, both the D300s and 7D deliver for the money, though I think the 7D delivers more, since it's packed full of newer technology and for the people who want it, the video component is truly killer. Either way, it's proof that competition is good—it clearly wouldn't exist without the D300, and the D400 will be that much better because of it.
Canon's EOS 7D is a pretty grandiose piece of image-recording equipment, whether you're talking about its size, features or price. You're probably aware of the 18 megapixel APS-C sensor and dual DIGIC 4 processors already, but we've all had to be a bit more patient than usual in waiting for the pro reviews to come out. Dpreview doesn't disappoint though, with a thoughtful 31-page tome awaiting the keen reader, and we've also got more digestible video reviews from DPhoto Journal for the less patient among you. If you're after direct comparisons against competing models, such as the Nikon D300s, you'll find those sprinkled in among the reviews as well, with Cameratown throwing in a direct head-to-head with Canon's own 5D Mark II. The 7D was found to produce 'virtually no visible noise' all the way up to ISO 1600, and scored further points for its gorgeous 100 percent frame-covering viewfinder and fast 19-point AF. With a weather-sealed, highly ergonomic body design, ridiculously fast processing and a sensor so good that 'in most situations the lens, rather than the camera, is likely to be the limiting factor,' the only thing reviewers could criticize was the somewhat uncompetitive pricing, but that's likely to soften with time anyway. Read on... if you dare.
We've already seen some sample footage from Canon's new professional EOS-1D Mark IV DSLR (and should be seeing plenty more come December), but a pre-production version of the camera has now turned up at the Canon Pro Photo Solutions 09 show in London, and TrustedReviews managed to get an early hands-on with it. As you might expect, the camera definitely seems to impress in person, with the 1.2 kilogram body providing a feeling of 'solid reliability and competence,' while its ergonomics also apparently represent a more subtle but welcome improvement over previous Canon offerings. Unfortunately, the folks at TrustedReviews weren't able to share any sample shots, but they did get a chance to try out the camera's 45-point autofocus system, which is said to be 'extremely fast,' and its tracking function reportedly had no trouble focusing even in dark, low contrast situations with a 400mm telephoto lens. Hit up the link below for a few more hands-on shots and impressions.
According to ‘EOS’ logics, Canon is preparing to launch another DSLR camera namely the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark IV. Although it’s not officially announced, the camera is said to be the successor of Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III and will feature a 30+ megapixel image sensor. The camera itself is expected to make its debut at Photokina 2010. Stay tuned for more updates.
We had an all too brief hands-on with Canon's PowerShot G11 way back in August, but the first real flood of reviews has only just recently started, and now seemed like as good a time as any to get you caught up on some of them. As you might expect, one of the real stand-out features is that swiveling LCD, which is not only good in and of itself, but 'one of the best of its type' according to What Digital Camera. Other reviewers like Wired UK and CNET UK also found that G11 delivered some noticeably better results than the previous G10, with it aided especially by the surprising but welcome shift from the old 14.7-megapixel sensor to a new 10-megapixel one that offers an improved dynamic range and better performance at high ISO settings, among other advantages. On the downside, the camera is somewhat bulky, and PhotographyBlog says it fails to live up to Canon's claims of it being the 'ultimate compact,' especially when you consider some of the similarly-sized (but admittedly pricier) Micro Four Thirds offerings available.
Canon held off about as long as it could, but it finally caved to the pressures of adding a pressure-sensitive screen to one of its Digital ELPHs. The SD980 IS goes down as the first-ever touchscreen PowerShot, offering a better-than-average set of specifications, a few color options, an attractive size and a 720p movie mode that helps to set it apart from some of its VGA-quality contemporaries. We took the cam for a quick spin just to see how Canon's adaptation of the touchscreen felt in real-world use, and we've posted up our impressions -- along with a few sample galleries and a raw 720p video clip -- just beyond the break.
You might be forgiven for not spotting the SX20 IS in the maelstrom of announcements Canon hit us with last month, so here's a thorough breakdown of the cam for your delectation. Replacing the year-old SX10, the SX20 IS adds 720p video recording at 30 fps and takes the pixel count up to 12 million. Strangely, it was features from the older model that earned praise, with the reviewers liking the 2.5-inch vari-angle display and UltraSonic Motor, which provided a smooth and silent zooming action. Their major gripe was image noise at ISO 400 and above, though picture quality was considered above average and macro performance was singled out for commendation. Hit the read link for sample snaps and footage plus the enlightening conclusion.
The specs for the upcoming Canon EOS 7D have been unveiled. This high-end DSLR will come with a 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor, a 3-inch LCD display (920,000 dot resolution, 160 degree viewing angle), DiG!C 4 imaging processors and an ISO range of 100 to 6400, which extends to 12800. a 1.0x optical viewfinder with intelligent display with electronic horizon line, and EOS Integrated Dust Removal system. There is no info on pricing so far. Stay tuned for more updates. [Neutralday]
Canon USA has released their new VIXIA HF S11 Dual Flash Memory camcorder that features a Genuine Canon HD Video Lens, Canon designed and manufactured 8.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor and Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor, all of which allow the video recorder to produce breathtaking video and stunning 8.0MP photos. It also features Genuine Canon Face Detection, Instant AutoFocus, and the ability to record in 24p Cinema Mode or 30p Progressive Mode.
Canon also released a new camcorder accessory, the RA-V1 Remote Control Adapter for professional-level functionality when shooting from a tripod. The Canon Vixia HF S11 will be launched later next month for $1,500, meanwhile the RA-V1 Remote Control Adapter is priced at $120.
Canon has announced the PowerShot SD980 IS Digital ELPH 12.1MP camera that features a 3-inch touchscreen display with a 5X optical zoom. Available in silver, blue, purple and gold, the PowerShot SD980 features 720p HD video shooting capabilities plus HDMI output connector for easy playback of video and photos on HDTV. The Canon PowerShot SD980 IS Digital ELPH Camera will be launched in October 2009 for $329. [Canon]
Canon might have announced a slew of new compacts today, but we're thinking the most exciting news might be this image of the legendary EOS 7D. That flash button would indicate the presence of a built-in flash, and those mic holes hint at video features, but apart from that we've got little else to go on -- there are whispers that the Best Buy inventory system is listing the body at $2700 and the kit with an EF 28-135 lens at $2900, but we can't verify those at the moment. We're dying to find out more about this one, stay tuned.
Mark Goldstein is the Editor of 
