Just Posted! Canon TX1 Review
Just Posted! Canon TX1 Review
Friday, 8 June 2007 08:10 GMT
Just Posted! A quick review of Canon's unusual PowerShot TX1. This ultra-compact 7MP digital camera is has several unique features including a 'camcorder style' vertical design, 720p 'HD' movie capabilities and an optically stabilized 10x optical zoom. Find out what we thought of it after the link.
Canon PowerShot TX1 Concise Review
Announced back in February just before this year's PMA, the PowerShot TX1 is an unusual offshoot of the hugely popular IXUS / ELPH range that attempts to straddle the divide between digital stills and digital video cameras with its unusual vertical styling and 720p HDTV video capture. Despite its diminutive dimensions (it's little bigger than a pack of playing cards) the TX1 packs a fairly impressive punch, offering a 10x optically stabilized zoom, 7.1MP CCD, vari-angle LCD and 1080i HDTV component video output. So does the TX1 represent a new direction for compact digital cameras or has Canon set off down a blind alley? Let's find out, starting as ever with the headline features:
- New vertical design
- New 1/2.5-inch 7.1 million pixel CCD
- Vari-angle LCD monitor (1.8-inch)
- 10x optical (39-390mm equiv.) zoom lens - 12 elements (one UD & one Aspheric element)
- Optical image stabilization
- ISO 80-1600
- DIGIC III and Face Detection
- 720p (1280 x 720) movies at 30 fps with stereo sound
- 1080i component video output
- Flexible movie / still shooting Shoot a full-resolution still image during movie recording, or start movie recording by simply pressing record button
PowerShot TX1 specifications
| Street price | • US: $480 • UK: £300 (the TX1 doesn't appear to be officially imported into Europe) |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Plastic and metal |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5" type CCD |
| Image processor | DIGIC III with iSAPS technology |
| Image sizes | • 3072 x 2304 |
| Movie clips | • 1280 x 720 @ 30fps |
| File formats | • JPEG Exif 2.2 |
| Lens | • 39-390mm (35mm equiv) |
| Optical Stabilization | • Yes (lens shift type) |
| Focus | • TTL autofocus • AF illuminator • Face Detect AF / 9-point AiAF • 1 point AF (center) • Macro mode • Normal: 1.6 ft./50cm-infinity (WIDE), 3.3 ft./1.0m-infinity (TELE) • Macro: 3.9 in.-1.6 ft./10-50cm (WIDE) • Super Macro: 0-3.9 in./10cm (WIDE) |
| Metering | • Evaluative • Centre-weighted average • Spot (Center) |
| Shooting mode | • Auto |
| Scene modes | • Portrait • Night Snapshot • Indoor • Foliage • Snow • Beach • Aquarium |
| Shutter speeds | • 15 - 1/2500 sec (dependent on shooting mode) |
| Exposure compensation | +/- 2EV in 1/3 EV increments |
| Sensitivity | • Auto • High ISO Auto • ISO 80 • 100 • 200 • 400 • 800 |
| White Balance | • Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Custom |
| Image parameters | My Colors: My Colors Off, Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Positive Film, Light Skin Tone, Dark Skin Tone, Custom Color |
| Continuous | • Continuous (2.2 fps, no frame limit) • Continuous with AF (1.1 fps, no frame limit) |
| Flash | • Auto • Forced on • Forced off • Red-eye reduction • Flash exposure lock • Slow synchro • Normal: 1.6-6.6 ft./50cm - 2.0m (W), 3.3-3.9 ft./1.0-1.2m (T) • Macro: 1.1-1.6 ft./35-50cm (W) (when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto) |
| Storage | • SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus compatible • 32 MB card supplied |
| Viewfinder | No |
| LCD monitor | • 1.8-inch polycrystalline TFT • 115,000 pixels • Night Display, Quick Bright LCD available |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 Hi-Speed |
| Power | • NB-4L Li-ion cell • Charger included • Optional AC adapter |
In the box |
• Canon PowerShot TX1 |
| Other features | • Up to 60 sec sound memo per image |
| Weight (inc batts) | Approx 220 g (7.8 oz) |
| Dimensions | 89 x 60 x 29 mm (3.5 x 2.4 x 1.1 in) |