Wire leak spoils Canon G1X mirrorless rival, Elph 110/520 HS
updated 08:50 am EST, Thu January 5, 2012
Canon G1X to carry large sensor and wide aperture
Wells Fargo has leaked virtually every camera designer's plans for CES and PMA next week but has provided unusually large amounts of detail for major Canon releases. The PowerShot G1X is Canon's long-awaited if indirect response to mirrorless rivals and carries a large, 1.5-inch, 14.3-megapixel CMOS sensor to let it take in more light and detail than most compacts. Although the 4X, 28-112mm equivalent lens is still non-removable, it now has a wider maximum aperture of f2.5 (better than f2.8) to improve low light and soften backgrounds.
The G1X runs on the more recent DIGIC 5 processor and can now shoot 14-bit RAW photos as well as up to 4.5 frames per second at full resolution (6FPS otherwise). Its software now has handheld night and HDR shooting presets as well as a face detection system that can prioritize children. Photographers can take video at 1080p and have a 720p movie digest mode to create a "video log" of still photos.
Two regular point-and-shoots, the Elph 110 HS and Elph 520 HS, are joining the group. The 110 HS runs on a 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, 1080p video with the 720p movie digest, a 5X (24-120mm) lens, and up to 5.8FPS at four megapixels. Picking the 520 HS drops the resolution to 10.1 megapixels but gets a much longer-ranged 12X (28-336mm) lens, enhanced image stabilization, and a faster 6.8FPS continuous shooting.
Canon ships the G1X and 110 HS first, pricing them at $799 and $249 each, while the 520 HS is due in March for $299.
Casio, GE, Kodak, Olympus, Panasonic, and Vivitar are all known to be introducing cameras, though most are direct upgrades. Casio plans a 16-megapixel EX-ZR200 camera with a 12.5X zoom and fast shot-to-shot times. GE will get into CMOS-equipped cameras for the first time with the 14.4-megapixel, 15X-lensed Power Pro G100, and near-bankrupt Kodak is planning the Wi-Fi EasyShare M750 with a three-inch touchscreen and iOS, Android, and BlackBerry sharing apps.
