Canon Powershot TX1 Digital Camera Announced - Something A Bit Different

[Ben Stafford]

Canon decided to break the mold a little bit with the introduction of the Powershot TX1. This very compact 7.1 megapixel camera features a 10x optical zoom, image stabilized lens, 720p HD video recording, 1.8 inch Vari-Angle LCD - all in a camera the size of a deck of cards. The TX1 will be available starting in March 2007 for $499.

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The TX1 gets the DIGIC III processor and all the nice things that go along with it - faster camera operation, better battery life, etc. The extra processing power enables Canon's face detection system - now improved on the TX1. Now, the benefits of facial detection can be used during movie capture as well and there is better detection of faces that are slightly turned away from the camera. Also, the DIGIC III benefits allow the TX1 to shoot up to ISO 1600.

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Speaking of video, the TX1 can record high definition (HD) 720p, wide screen (16:9) movies in addition to more typical 640x480, 30fps movies. Audio can be record in stereo, at a sampling rate of 44 KHz. A feature called MovieSnap allows you to capture a high resolution still image during movie capture.

There are 14 shooting modes on the TX1: Automatic, Camera Manual, Super Macro for close-up work, Color Accent, Color Swap, Stitch-Assist, Movie (including HD), and seven Special Scene Modes: Portrait, Night Snapshot, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach and Aquarium.

For full details and specs on the TX1, see its product page at Canon's site.

[bTaryag]

Wow this looks like a cool camera.

I am a bit disappointed Canon did not release an S4 to replace the S3. I was holding off from buying the S3 because the S4 is just around the bend.....

I wonder if Canon feels that this camera is similar enough to the S3 that this can be it's successor? This is an ultrazoom (albeit not that ultra) and has a rotating LCD, and is a high end P&S non-DSLR camera.

I guess I'll hold off on this 'till it's available and is reviewed.....

[Ben Stafford]

I'm pretty sure that this isn't a successor to the S3. The S series are full-featured cameras (with manual exposure modes and other advanced features). Also, don't despair, the PMA trade show has not come and gone yet. There's still time to announce cameras.

[Andrew]

Oh man, this would be perfect for my needs at trade shows. Don't need the face detection, but the combined movie / camera features are fantastic and love the sound of the size!

[Eliwood]

Just to make it crystal clear, if you study the dimensions, it's the same size as a Digital ELPH / SD series camera. That's tiny!

This is definitely not an S4 successor but rather a new breed of ultracompact ultrazoom that got kicked off by Panasonic with its TZ series of cameras.

[bTaryag]

Just to make it crystal clear, if you study the dimensions, it's the same size as a Digital ELPH / SD series camera. That's tiny!

This is definitely not an S4 successor but rather a new breed of ultracompact ultrazoom that got kicked off by Panasonic with its TZ series of cameras.

That's good.... I am hoping for an S4 that has some things this (and the S3) does not. To start with, I would like a 28mm wide angle.... definitely not 39mm. And the lens on this one is pretty slow....