Canon PowerShot TX1 Concise

Review based on a production Canon PowerShot TX1

Announced back in February just before this year's PMA, the PowerShot TX1 is an unusual offshoot of the hugely popular IXUS / ELPH range that attempts to straddle the divide between digital stills and digital video cameras with its unusual vertical styling and 720p HDTV video capture. Despite its diminutive dimensions (it's little bigger than a pack of playing cards) the TX1 packs a fairly impressive punch, offering a 10x optically stabilized zoom, 7.1MP CCD, vari-angle LCD and 1080i HDTV component video output. So does the TX1 represent a new direction for compact digital cameras or has Canon set off down a blind alley? Let's find out, starting as ever with the headline features:

• New vertical design
• New 1/2.5-inch 7.1 million pixel CCD
• Vari-angle LCD monitor (1.8-inch)
• 10x optical (39-390mm equiv.) zoom lens - 12 elements (one UD & one Aspheric element)
• Optical image stabilization
• ISO 80-1600
• DIGIC III and Face Detection
• 720p (1280 x 720) movies at 30 fps with stereo sound
• 1080i component video output
• Flexible movie / still shooting Shoot a full-resolution still image during movie recording, or start movie recording by simply pressing record button

PowerShot TX1 specifications

Street price	• US: $480 • UK: £300 (the TX1 doesn't appear to be officially imported into Europe)
Body Material	Plastic and metal
Sensor	• 1/2.5" type CCD • 7.1 million effective pixels
Image processor	DIGIC III with iSAPS technology
Image sizes	• 3072 x 2304 • 3072 x 1728 (16:9) • 2592 x 1944 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480
Movie clips	• 1280 x 720 @ 30fps • 640 x 480 @ 30fps • 320 x 240 @ 60 / 30fps
File formats	• JPEG Exif 2.2 • DCF • DPOF • AVI Motion JPEG WAVE
Lens	• 39-390mm (35mm equiv) • F3.5-5.6 • 10x optical zoom
Optical Stabilization	• Yes (lens shift type) • Continuous • Shoot only • Panning
Focus	• TTL autofocus • AF illuminator • Face Detect AF / 9-point AiAF • 1 point AF (center) • Macro mode • Normal: 1.6 ft./50cm-infinity (WIDE), 3.3 ft./1.0m-infinity (TELE) • Macro: 3.9 in.-1.6 ft./10-50cm (WIDE) • Super Macro: 0-3.9 in./10cm (WIDE)
Metering	• Evaluative • Centre-weighted average • Spot (Center)
Shooting mode	• Auto • Manual • Super macro • Color accent • Color swap • Stitch assist • Special scene • Movie
Scene modes	• Portrait • Night Snapshot • Indoor • Foliage • Snow • Beach • Aquarium
Shutter speeds	• 15 - 1/2500 sec (dependent on shooting mode)
Exposure compensation	+/- 2EV in 1/3 EV increments
Sensitivity	• Auto • High ISO Auto • ISO 80 • 100 • 200 • 400 • 800
White Balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Custom
Image parameters	My Colors: My Colors Off, Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Positive Film, Light Skin Tone, Dark Skin Tone, Custom Color
Continuous	• Continuous (2.2 fps, no frame limit) • Continuous with AF (1.1 fps, no frame limit)
Flash	• Auto • Forced on • Forced off • Red-eye reduction • Flash exposure lock • Slow synchro • Normal: 1.6-6.6 ft./50cm - 2.0m (W), 3.3-3.9 ft./1.0-1.2m (T) • Macro: 1.1-1.6 ft./35-50cm (W) (when sensitivity is set to ISO Auto)
Storage	• SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus compatible • 32 MB card supplied
Viewfinder	No
LCD monitor	• 1.8-inch polycrystalline TFT • 115,000 pixels • Night Display, Quick Bright LCD available
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed • AV out (NTSC / PAL switchable) • Component video out (1080i)
Power	• NB-4L Li-ion cell • Charger included • Optional AC adapter
In the box	• Canon PowerShot TX1 • Battery pack NB-4L • Battery charger CB-2LV • 32MB SD card • Wrist strap WS-DC3 • Stereo video cable STV-250N • Component video cable CTC-100/s • Interface cable IFC-400CPU • Software CD-ROM
Other features	• Up to 60 sec sound memo per image • Histogram • 2,10 sec or custom self timer
Weight (inc batts)	Approx 220 g (7.8 oz)
Dimensions	89 x 60 x 29 mm (3.5 x 2.4 x 1.1 in)