So, this is yesterday news, we just got buried putting up even more awesome stuff for you to buy on our website and didn’t get the post done, so, here it is today.
This is Canon’s new ELPH: the PowerShot SD4000 IS over here in the States. It’s getting a fair amount of buzz. Why, you ask? Well, let’s start with the 10 megapixel CMOS sensor with DIGIC IV processor. Not too shabby, big C. Then, add 3.8x optical zoom with IS, covering an equivalent range of 28-105mm. Which is getting pretty common these days, so to add some buzz factor back let’s make that lens f2-5.6. Yup, f2 at the wide end, now we’re talking. The other f2 point-and-shoot in Canon’s stable certainly didn’t hurt anyone’s feelings. Might as well add ISO up to 3200 to that, just in case.
So, that’s the basics, now what? A continuous shooting rate ranging between 3.7 fps and 8.4 fps depending on the situation seems like a good plan. Now, video. 720p with HDMI is nice, but it’s starting to be expected. How to stand out some? How about a Super Slow Motion Mode that records at around 240fps and then plays them back at 30fps? That’s the sorta thing you had to look here for before.
So, you know, other than that, it’s just another point-and-shoot. Albeit one with some insanely minimal rear controls and a huge 3″ wide-aspect LCD. And aperture- and shutter-priority modes. Other than those.
Coming… soon?
During the ’70s, a producer/director friend of mine used to roam the LA punk scene with an amazing little 35mm camera, the Minox 35 GL. It was the smallest 35mm camera ever produced. Its sharp Minotar lens shot beautiful pictures and thanks to the high ISO films that were being perfected in those days, one could shoot in very low light. There has never been any digital equivalent in size and low light capabilities until now, with Canon’s introduction of the S90. With the G11 and S90 cameras, Canon has finally reversed the maddening pixel race. Pixel density on the G11 has been reduced from its predecessor’s 34MP/cm² down to 23MP/cm² and low light performance has greatly improved. The S90 uses the same sensor and its f-2 maximum aperture helps to make this the best p&s for available light shooting.
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