Canon recently turned their attention to the content creator market, introducing the compact PowerShot V1, designed mainly for video but capable enough for still photography. For photographers looking for a small yet capable camera for diverse shooting scenarios, it's worth a look.
Coming to you from Christopher Frost, this straightforward video examines the Canon PowerShot V1’s strengths and weaknesses, starting with its 16-50mm equivalent lens. The zoom covers ultra-wide to standard perspectives, making it perfect for landscape, architecture, indoor shots, and vlogging. Frost appreciates the zoom's practicality but highlights its limited background blur capabilities due to the smaller sensor and moderate aperture range (f/2.8-4.5). Despite this, the lens offers close focusing capability, ideal for product photography or detailed shots. Photographers valuing compactness and versatility over extensive depth of field control will find this useful.
The PowerShot V1 packs significant video capabilities, including uncropped 4K at 30fps and cropped 4K at 60fps, along with high-speed 1080p options. The built-in optical stabilization, dual pixel autofocus, and active cooling fan underscore its suitability for extended video sessions. Frost specifically praises the quick startup time and built-in ND filter, essential features for quick and flexible video work. However, the lack of an electronic viewfinder might disappoint some photographers who rely heavily on this feature.
Key Specs
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22.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor (1.4"-Type)
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Optical stabilization with digital stabilization for video
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16-50mm equivalent zoom lens (f/2.8-4.5)
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ISO 100-32,000 (expandable to 51,200 for photos)
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4K UHD video at up to 60fps (with crop)
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Dual Pixel Autofocus II
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3-inch articulating touchscreen
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Single SD card slot (UHS-II)
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Weight: 13.4 oz (379 g)
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USB-C charging, microphone, headphone, and HDMI ports
In practical use, Frost notes some quirks, particularly regarding handling and controls. The minimal physical controls force reliance on the touchscreen, and the rear thumb wheel is notably fiddly, leading to accidental button presses. The camera lacks a filter thread, restricting photographers who prefer external filters like polarizers. While the camera includes internal ND filters, some shooters may still find this limiting.
Still photography performance is commendable, with sharp images and pleasing colors up to ISO 800. However, noise creeps in quickly above ISO 1600, making higher ISO settings less usable. For video, Frost points out clear differences between shooting at 25 fps and 60 fps in 4K, with lower frame rates significantly improving image quality and noise performance. The rolling shutter is prominent in 4K modes, though less problematic in Full HD. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Frost.
