A new, interesting rumor came up. Canon may be working on a compact camera with a large sensor. Not a successor of the PowerShot G1 X (price & specs), but a camera like the PowerShot S110 (price & specs), just a bit a larger. The camera should have a fast lens and the new APS-C 18MP sensor featured on the Rebel Sl1/EOS 100D (price & specs), and the DIGIC 6 Image Processing Unit. No viewfinder. Pricing should be less than the PowerShot G1 X when it was released. We expect Canon to announce this camera at the end of SUmmer 2013.

Canon PowerShot G1 X price check: Amazon, B&H, Adorama, Canon USA, J&R, Digitalrev, eBay, rent it at Borrow Lenses
Canon PowerShot S110 price check: Amazon, B&H, Adorama, Canon USA, J&R, Digitalrev, eBay, rent it at Borrow Lenses
Canon Rebel Sl1/EOS 100D price check: Amazon, B&H, Adorama, Canon USA, J&R, Digitalrev, eBay, rent it at Borrow Lenses

[via CR]

B&H has the Canon Powershot G1 X bundled with a Lowepro Rezo 60 Compact Camera Pouch and a SanDisk 16GB SDHC Memory Card Extreme Class 10 UHS-I on sale for $549 (click here).

• 14.3MP 1.5″ CMOS Sensor
• 3.0″ Vari-Angle LCD Screen
• 28mm Wide Lens with 4x Optical Zoom
• DIGIC 5 Image Processor
• Hybrid Image Stabilizer
• Optical Viewfinder
• Up to 12,800 ISO
• 1080p Full HD Video
• High Dynamic Range Scene Mode
• Manual & Numerous Other Shooting Modes

B&H has the Canon Powershot G1 X on sale for $729 (click here), that’s $70 off from the regular price. Limited quantity available. The G1 X is Canon’s first attempt in the mirrorless market. While not having interchangeable lenses, the G1 X sports a near APS-C sized sensor with 4:3 ratio. Moreover, this camera comes with a fixed yet amazingly performing lens. More specs:

• 14.3MP 1.5″ CMOS Sensor
• 3.0″ Vari-Angle LCD Screen
• 28mm Wide Lens with 4x Optical Zoom
• DIGIC 5 Image Processor
• Hybrid Image Stabilizer
• Optical Viewfinder
• Up to 12,800 ISO
• 1080p Full HD Video
• High Dynamic Range Scene Mode
• Manual & Numerous Other Shooting Modes

imaging-resource published a detailed and exhaustive review of the PowerShot G1 X. And while the review confirms the many good features of the G1 X (high ISO performance, outstanding lens, good video performance, and much more), it appears that the tech-savy folks at IR found also a small problem that shows up in certain conditions: light leaking and finding a way to the sensor when it should not. The result are visible (and replicable) artifacts in the images (click here for a test shot showing the artifact). The problem occurs only at high ISO settings (>1600) and focal lengths around 50mm equivalent, and it’s most pronounced using an exposure of 1/4000. When all these parameters are given, then a «bright light source near the center or toward the bottom of the frame will produce a bright artifact in the center and right side of the image». Quoting (scroll down to the very end of the post to read about the problem and to see the test images):

The cause is likely a light leak or reflection through the lens assembly that makes its way around the shutter, allowing light to fall on the sensor either before or after the shutter opens and closes to make its exposure. Since the effect is most pronounced at 1/4,000 second, it seems that extra light is allowed to fall on the sensor after the shutter has closed to end its exposure, but while the sensor is still powered up to record light.

They sent the images to Canon asking for feedback. Canon calls the phenomenon “glowing dots”, but there are no dots. However, Canon states that «[d]ue to the limited circumstances under which the PowerShot G1X ‘Glow Dots’ phenomenon can occur, Canon does not plan to change the camera’s specifications or offer repair service for this issue.» It must be said that the setting where this phenomenon shows up is not a real world setting: you will hardly shot bright objects using a high ISO setting. True. Nevertheless, quoting imaging-resource again:

We want to note up front that this phenomenon is not very likely to show up in average everyday shooting situations, because most of us don’t shoot bright objects at ISO 1,600 to 12,800 at high shutter speeds. But those trying to achieve a special effect or even simply forgetting to change from a high ISO to a lower one when entering bright light might encounter the defect, just as we did.

Unfortunately the phenomenon occurs also when shooting a bright object, not only when there is a strong light source in the frame. Check the images of the garage door (click here) and this one to get an idea. The leak occurs through the lenses and not through the viewfinder or other openings on the camera (this was extensively tested). Concluding:

So what might be happening to cause this? While we can’t tell for sure, we think that light is bouncing off the shutter itself after it closes, but while the sensor is still sensitive to light. We think it’s happening after the shutter closes, because the effect doesn’t appear to be visible at slower shutter speeds: Our hypothesis is that the artifact is being recorded during a very short interval after the main exposure occurs. If the light levels are such as to produce a proper exposure with a shutter speed of, say, 1/60 second, the brief interval during which light from the leak accumulates after the exposure would represent a very small portion of the total exposure time, and so not be noticeable. Further supporting this theory is that the artifact fades relative to the main exposure as you move to lower ISO sensitivities, suggesting that the leak is being recorded for a relatively short, fixed duration.

Did anyone here notice the same issue on a PowerShot G1 X?

[via imaging-resource]

www.davidriesenberg.com

The rumors I reported about in the last weeks are getting more consistent. A few days ago CanonWatch broke the news about a possible announcement at the end of May or beginning of June of a mirrorless system camera. Now more information about such an announcement seem to have leaked. What can we expect Canon to announce in June? The Rebel T4i/EOS 650D and a mirrorless system camera. Both were expected for Photokina in September. Now it looks like they are around the corner. In September we will probably see a new EOS 7D and a second mirrorless camera. Stay tuned!

Update: these are the rumored specs of the next EOS 7D:

• 26MP
• Advanced AF system like the 5D Mark III
• Digic V
• 10-12 fps
• 3.2 inch OLED screen
• Wireless flash control E-TTL III

For the time being, the PowerShot G1 X is Canon’s only attempt to jump on the mirrorless bandwagon. It’s a wonderful camera with an outstanding lens, but it’s a fixed lens. And that’s not what most of us were expecting. So, let’s wait what will happen in June!

In the meantime, check the latest PowerShot G1 X pictures upload to Flickr.

[via CR]

canonrumors summed up what’s murmured about Canon’s upcoming mirrorless ILC projects to be announced in 2012 (think Photokina). Something will come for sure, since you can’t hardly believe that the PowerShot G1 X (click here for a cool G1 X deal) is the only answer Canon was able to give to the raising mirrorless system camera phenomenon. That’s what’s said we can can expect by Canon in the next months.

• Two Cameras
• G1 X Sensor Size
• APS-C a possibility in one camera
• 14 & 24 megapixels
• EF compatibility, but not EF mount.
• EVF on one camera
• 3-5 Lenses announced at launch.