Engadget Logo Engajet Japanese version Canon "PowerShot Zoom" review, small + telephoto = fun!
Canon's PowerShot Zoom is a digital camera that appeared in a copy called "Telescope that can be taken."The point is not just a digital camera, but a telescope, so you can draw distant things.Up to 9.The advantage is 6 times, the magnification is modest, but the size that can be carried around in the pocket is the advantage.
PowerShot Zoom (Amazon)
○ Compact single glasses + digital camera
PowerShot Zoom is a so -called monoculars that only one side of the binoculars is separated.A simple single glasses holds a cylindrical body like a flashlight, holding it in one eye.The same is true for PowerShot Zoom, and use it on one eye to hold it.
The shape is not a cylinder but a rectangular parallelepiped, and the body is slightly rounded so that it fits in your hand.It fits your hand to make it easy to hold and stable.It is compact enough to fit in the palm, weighs about 145g, and is easy to handle.You won't get tired even if you give it from your neck.
The essential lens is 35mm format 100mm and 400mm.In addition, it covers up to 800mm with digital zoom.In terms of magnification, 100mm is 1.2 times, 400mm 4.8 times, 800mm 9.It will be 6 times.Although it does not go to the "astronomical telescope", it will be enough specifications as a monocular.
The sensor is 21.2 million pixels 1/2.Equipped with a 3 -inch CMOS sensor, it seems to be cut out as a 12.1 million pixel 1/3 CMOS sensor.There is a function of zooming simulated by the central cut out of a high -pixel sensor even in other companies' digital cameras, but this allows you to increase the magnification than the actual lens magnification.Therefore, the PowerShot Zoom lens is a slightly shorter optical magnification.
PowerShot Zoom (Amazon)
Nevertheless, there should be no deterioration of image quality because it is simply cut out.The effective pixels are 12.1 million pixels, which is not a problem (although it is a bit unsatisfactory).It's not a bad idea to give priority to compactness.
Unlike general monoculars, light entering from the lens is displayed on the EVF of the eyepiece once through the sensor.As a result, EVF is important, but 2.36 million dots EVFs look high enough and clear and play a good role as monoculars.
Equipped with optical camera shake correction (IS), blurring is considerably reduced.Originally, if you press it around the eyelash hair, you can suppress the camera shake, so the video is quite stable in combination with IS.
The actual video looks clear enough because it is an optical up to 400mm.When it comes to 800mm, the image is rough because it is a digital zoom, but you can still check what is there.As will be described later, when shooting this, the image quality will be reduced, but at least as a monocular, it is a practical image quality even if you only consider it in real time.
Video shooting is also possible.Actually, the video looks higher than the photo.The AF / shutter sound of the camera of the nearby person has entered the noisy, and the wind sound is also loud, but it will be excellent for a video shooting at 800mm.
The buttons are gathered within the reach of their fingers when holding them, and the power supply, Menu, and zoom are operated by the finger, and the shutter button is operated with the thumb.You need to get used to it, but if you use it, you will be able to manipulate it by looking at the EVF.
Overall, the operation is squeezed, and the series is smooth, such as starting up, looking into the EVF, finding the subject, zooming, and shooting.If you touch the power button one touch, it will start up immediately, so you can check the subject immediately even if you hold the monoculars.
What is different from normal monoculars is that it also supports shooting as a digital camera.It is an exceptional compact digital camera that can shoot super telephoto shooting of 100mm, 400mm, and 800mm in 35mm format.The magnification switches each time a button is pressed like a smartphone camera, but the operation itself is smooth and the AF is fast.It is a camera that makes it very fun with the feeling that you can draw a distant subject nearby.
It is better not to expect the image quality.100mm is an impression of a smartphone camera, but the image quality decreases when it reaches 400mm.When it comes to 800mm digital zoom, the details cannot be reproduced.
However, there are cameras with a magnification of 50 times and 100 times even for smartphone cameras, and the image quality is still good compared to that.It's a difficult place to judge, but it's a fun and compact range because it's simply taken.Of course, there is no doubt that if the image quality was good, it was good.
PowerShot Zoom (Amazon)
○ Comfortable smartphone cooperation
The PowerShot Zoom does not have a monitor, and the shooting and its settings can be operated in the menu in the EVF, but the operation is complicated because the button is pressed by groping while looking into it.Also, since you have to look into it all the time, there is not much freedom to shoot.
Therefore, what we want to use is the cooperation function with smartphones.By using the Canon's "Camera Connect" app, you can connect to the PowerShot Zoom and shoot the smartphone screen instead of the monitor.
It also supports Bluetooth connection.When you launch the app with the camera running, you will immediately connect to your smartphone.However, it is not so when it is said that it will be connected 100 % reliably.It seems that reconnection does not work well, especially if it is not connected for a long time.In that case, with my environment (Xperia 1 III SO-51B), it seemed to be connected well when the Bluetooth on the smartphone side was turned on and off.
If the Bluetooth is connected, you can use the function to transfer the time setting of the smartphone to the camera and the function to transfer the location information of the smartphone recorded in advance to the camera.
The function of browsing the image in the camera, which is used as a camera monitor, and the image in the camera, connect the smartphone and the camera with Wi-Fi.It takes about 5 to 6 seconds to connect.
PowerShot Zoom, which has to enter the MENU screen to the playback menu to check the shooting image, is not suitable for checking the shooting images.It would be easier to play with a smartphone.Once connected to the smartphone, the image is checked at high speed.
When an image of about 700MB including the video was transferred, it was transferred in about 4 minutes and 30 seconds.It is hard to say that it is ultra -high speed, but it is not enough to be patient.
At the time of shooting, it is possible to shoot while checking on the large screen of the smartphone.The function is minimal, and only a part of the monitor, shutter button, AF setting, etc. can be operated.It would be useful if you could set various setting items of MENU via a smartphone, but it doesn't seem to be possible.
Nevertheless, it can be used as a telescope without bother to look into it, so it increases convenience.It is also useful if you fix it somewhere and shoot while looking at the distant subject with a smartphone at hand.However, since there is no tripod hole in the main unit, it is difficult to fix it safely.Basically, it is likely to be used as a telescope and camera in your hand, and check the image via Wi-Fi after shooting.
As a whole, it is a product that you will want to use aggressively when you try it out.I was worried about the fact that the magnification was not so large, the image quality of the camera wants to do my best, and that there is no tripod hole, but there is more fun than that.
Shooting in relatively dark places like indoor sports seems to be tough, but 800mm at a sufficient level to see, 9.It can be used as a 6x single glasses.The status of the implementation is unknown at the timing of the corona, but it seems that it can be used when you want telephoto casually, such as a children's athletic meet and a nearby wild bird observation.
PowerShot Zoom (Amazon)
