Canon reboots its legacy PowerShot series with the announcement of the PowerShot V1 digital camera, replanting its flag in the renascent point-and-shoot space with a video-friendly compact. Released in tandem with an interchangeable lens option, the EOS R50 V, the V1 is intended as the flagship of the PowerShot branch of the V-series cameras and features a brand-new sensor, a full-frame equivalent 16-50mm f/2.8-4.5 built-in wide-angle zoom lens, a 3” vari-angle LCD touchscreen, and enhanced video capabilities to appeal directly to vloggers and content creators.
As the flagship V model, V1 video tops out at 4K60p with a 1.4x crop, with a built-in cooling fan and vents that allow capture times of up to two hours at this maximum setting. When shooting at a slower 4K30p, the camera makes the full use of the sensor with footage oversampled from 5.7K.
In video mode the camera has a maximum ISO 25600 for use in low-light situations and comes equipped with Canon Log 3 for wider dynamic range and more flexibility in post-production color grading. Multiple in-camera movie modes are supported as well.
The camera’s 22MP, Type 1.4 sensor is a brand-new design developed in-house by Canon. Almost twice the area of a 1” sensor of the G7X Mark III, but smaller than an APS-C sensor, the V1’s Type 1.4 market analogue is a Micro Four Thirds sensor, differently slightly in its native 3:2 aspect ratio. With this larger sensor—one of the largest of its class—it achieves a higher image quality, improved low-light performance, and smoother bokeh.
Joining the new sensor is Canon’s DIGIC X image processor, and with it, Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system—the same found in the R6 Mark II, achieving high-speed and high-precision AF with eye tracking in people and animals and enhanced subject tracking.
While primarily catering to video content creation, the V1 still functions well as a stills camera, with RAW continuous shooting reaching up to 30 fps. Light sensitivity gets an added stop at ISO 51200, and a built-in ND filter adds three stops of light reduction for shooting in bright environments. With no built-in flash, the V1 does have Canon’s multi-function hot shoe to take external strobes.
Despite weighing barely more than a pound with battery and media, the camera’s compact form-factor still accommodates connections for headphone, microphone, USB-C, and HDMI. The camera has one UHS-II SD card slot. Connection to the Canon Connect smartphone app is possible via both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and wired via the USB-C. Wired connection also allows the use of the V1 as a webcam.
For more information about the new camera, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product page for the Canon PowerShot V1. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.
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