(Credit: Canon)
Canon is jumping back into the compact camera space feet first. Its first premium compact camera in years, the PowerShot V1, is set to make its public debut next week at the CP+ camera show in Yokohama, Japan, but the company has meted out some early details.
Compact cameras are currently enjoying renewed interest driven by younger creators, to the point where supply cannot keep up with demand and some have turned to the used market to find their perfect camera. Canon clearly hopes to change the story with the V1 and give creators and photo enthusiasts a pocket camera that delivers strong performance.
Spiritual Successor to G1 X
The V1 is billed as a hybrid camera that puts its video features at the forefront. In that regard, it can be seen as a sequel to 2023's PowerShot V10, a flip-style vlogging camera aimed at the consumer market, but the two cameras otherwise share little in common. The V1 is far more similar to the retired G1 X line, both in form factor and sensor size, though to be fair the V1's toolkit is far more capable when it comes to autofocus and video recording specifically.
(Credit: Canon)The traditional candy bar form factor makes the V1 a better choice for creators who snap both pictures and video versus the V10, which has a design that's far more conducive to handheld and tabletop movies. The V1 looks like most small, fixed-lens cameras and includes a sculpted handgrip. It doesn't include an EVF or flash but does have a flip-out touch display for self-recorded photos and video.
An Emphasis on Video
The spec sheet looks pretty healthy, too. The V1 uses a new sensor form factor, a Type 1.4 CMOS chip that's roughly the same size as a Micro Four Thirds sensor, but with the more common 3:2 aspect ratio. It's matched with a fixed 16-50mm F2.8-4.5 (full-frame equivalent) zoom lens with a mechanical leaf shutter and selectable 3-stop neutral density filter. For stills it records in Raw or JPG format at 22MP in 3:2 or 18MP at 16:9. There's no built-in flash, but you can attach a Speedlite strobe to the hot shoe.
The focus system is powered by a Digic X processor and leverages the same Dual Pixel CMOS AF II subject recognition and tracking algorithms that Canon uses in interchangeable lens models like the full-frame EOS R6 Mark II. Based on this, we expect the camera to focus well; the R6 Mark II includes reliable face and eye detection, plus a host of subject-recognition modes, all of which carry over to the V1.
Video specs are robust, too. The V1 records at 4K60 with a cropped angle of view and does 4K30 with a full sensor width, both in 16:9 widescreen. Flat C-Log color is available for experts who want to color grade, along with a full array of polished, ready-to-share profiles. The lens includes optical stabilization, which is bolstered by electronic vibration reduction to better support handheld recording.
(Credit: Canon)The V1 has a high-quality internal microphone and ships with a fuzzy cat windscreen that clips into the hot shoe. A 3.5mm jack is included for external audio, too. The camera also has a built-in cooling fan, which allows it to record at 4K60 for up to two hours continuously without overheating. Content creators will also like its live streaming capabilities; the V1 supports UVC/UAC webcam protocols so it's just a matter of plugging the camera in via USB-C and selecting it as a video source in your web browser or OBS to stream.
Exclusive to Asia, for Now
The PowerShot V1 looks like a heck of a good camera for travel, content creation and vlogging, and light, everyday carry. Vloggers and photographers in North America are going to have to wait a little while to get one, however. At launch, the V1 is only available in China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
"Eventually, hopefully, you'll see it US-bound," a Canon USA rep tells us, adding that "2025 is a really good bet" in terms of timing. We'll have more details on the V1 when it comes to the North American market.