Crave more point-and-shoot news this morning? Yeah, we feel ya. Still, we're compelled by the dark digicam overlords to tell you about the new SX and A-series of
Powershot cams from
Canon. The first camera in the new SX ultra-zoom series is the $300, 8 megapixel SX100 IS shooter (pictured). It features a 10x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, DIGIC III image processor, OIS, advanced face detection, 30fps VGA recordings, 19 shooting modes ranging from manual to fully automatic, and a chubby little grip to keep hold of the action. The budget minded A-series then, gets a pair of 6x, optical stabilized zoomers with the 12.1 megapixel A650 IS and 8 megapixel A720 IS for $400 and $250, respectively. The A650 even brings an old school, 2.5-inch flip-out LCD for shooting around corners. Look for the new A-series models starting in September with the new SX100 hitting in October.
Read -- SX100
Read -- A-series
posted Aug 20th 2007 8:18AM
I really like the form factor on that thing...the Sx series from Canon has always been one of my favorites but definately on the bulky side. This looks like it cuts down on that bulk, while still maintaining the features, albeit a slightly smaller zoom.
The A650 is nice... better zoom and better resolution than the A640. Let's hope they've really given this DIGIC III, so the face-detection works as it does on the A560. Too bad they still have that ridiculous slide to switch between record and play-back. The do have a "play" button apparently on the SX, so why haven't they thought about doing this one right?
Canon, if you're listening -- the practical way to switch between record and playback is using a single push-button with shutter priority: Pushing it toggles between playback and record, and hitting the shutter while in playback also switches back to record. Get it right.
Keeping the physical slider switch still puzzles me as well, when they have other cameras with a playback button (20d for instance). I guess you can't accidentally get in playback mode :) I love the super handy A series. Original one I owned shot over 13000 images and still works. Second with fold out screen is racking up more images every day - gets all the angles I can't get to with dslr.
LOL they have to keep some functionality exclusive to digital SLR's these days don't they?
Being an owner of a 350D and reasonable lens's I do sometimes wonder if we are approaching the stage where I can ditch the heavy / bulky stuff and go with something like this!
I think the press are being encouraged to do this!
"The A650 even brings an old school, 2.5-inch flip-out LCD for shooting around corners."
Spoken like someone who has never used a camera with a swivel LCD.
It's not for shooting around corners, it's to let you shoot from different angles. Waist level. Down with the kids. Over your head. All those shots are easy with a swivel LCD. It's one of the best features of my last two Canon A series cameras.
So the A720 is a 8mpix update to my A710?
7 is enough!
Also I like the toggle switch thing, you can select playback before turning the camera on.
use more pics
thanks