Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Canon’s new PowerShots are basic, but a powerful model is in the works

Canon is heading into the 2015 CP+ camera show in Japan with two new PowerShot models, the SX410 IS megazoom (bridge) camera and the pocket Elph 350 HS. The company is also teasing us with a new high-end PowerShot that’s currently in development: the G3 X.

Ideal for vacations, the SX410 IS is a budget-friendly megazoom that has a 40x optical zoom lens – a first in an entry-level camera from Canon. The camera uses a 20-megapixel CCD sensor, so it can only shoot videos up to 720p. There are plenty of auto modes, but there’s no Wi-Fi. The camera will come in red or black, and will sell for $280 in March 2015.

HR_SX410IS_BLACK_3Q_CL

There’s nothing radical about the Elph 350 HS. It has the familiar Elph boxy design, and it’s easy to pocket. This new flagship Elph is a step-up from the 340 HS, with a higher-megapixel CMOS sensor (20.2, versus 16). Zoom remains at 12x. The camera has Wi-Fi and NFC; the predecessor also has wireless connectivity, but Canon says newer models are using an improved version. Unfortunately, we weren’t impressed with the 340 HS, so we’re keeping our expectations low for this updated model. The 350 HS will sell for $210, and come in black or silver.

HR_ELPH350HS_BLACK_3Q_CL

What we are really excited about is the G3 X. From the specs, it looks like Canon could be positioning it as a Sony Cyber-shot RX10 and Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 bridge camera competitor. The G3 X has that familiar boxy-but-tough look of Canon’s advanced G-series. It has a 1-inch sensor and a long 25x optical zoom lens. The camera looks like it’s a step-up from the G7 X, a camera that packs a lot of power and that we love. Details are scarce, but this is one model to watch.

PowerShot G3 X

Editors' Recommendations

Les Shu
Former Digital Trends Contributor
I am formerly a senior editor at Digital Trends. I bring with me more than a decade of tech and lifestyle journalism…
Compact mega-zoom, mirrorless macro lens, and pro flash make up Canon's newest gear
canon powershot sx620 hs efm 28mm speedlite 600ex rt sx620hs featured

A compact 25x long-zoom camera, macro lens, and professional flash are the latest gear from Canon. The company announced the PowerShot SX620 HS, a pocket point-and-shoot with a long lens, the first macro lens in the EF-M (mirrorless) lineup, and a flagship flash with faster recycling time.
SX620 HS long-zoom compact
Canon has updated its SX-series of long-zoom point-and-shoots with the new PowerShot SX620 HS, a 20.2-megapixel camera with a 25x optical zoom lens. It’s compact enough to fit into small pockets, while the long zoom gives you tremendous reach in a small form factor. Cameras like this are ideal for travel, or any casual photographer who wants a long zoom without having to buy a bulky camera.

The SX620 HS has a longer zoom range than its predecessor, the SX610 HS with 18x zoom (which itself was a minor improvement over the SX600 HS). Otherwise, the cameras are very similar. The new camera has kept the same design, but it has a more substantial grip on the front. It has also retained the 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and Digic 4+ image processor, as well as Wi-Fi and NFC, 3-inch LCD (922,000 pixels), and Full HD 1080 video capture at 30p.

Read more
New Nikon Coolpix long-zoom cameras can shoot 4K video
nikon coolpix long zoom b700 b500 a900 featured

In addition to its new premium DL-series, Nikon is introducing three new long-zoom (megazoom and super-zoom) cameras to its Coolpix lineup. Besides having a long optical zoom lens, the B700 ($500), B500 ($300), and A900 ($400) have Nikon’s new SnapBridge “always on” wireless connectivity, while some models can shoot 4K video. The cameras will go on sale in the spring.

With a traditional DSLR-like super-zoom body, the B700 uses a 1/2.3-inch 20.2-megapixel back-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor. It’s not a large sensor like the 1-inch variant used in the DL-series, but it’s typical of point-and-shoots. The lens has a 60x zoom with Dual Detect Vibration Reduction and 5-Axis Hybrid Vibration Reduction (optical and digital) for videos, and the camera can shoot 5 frames per second (fps) continuously. The B700 can shoot RAW photos and 4K videos at 30p. The 3-inch LCD is a vari-angle type that flips out and tilts into a variety of positions. ISO sensitivity ranges between 100-3,200. For more advanced users, there are several shooting modes and manual settings.

Read more
Canon’s G7 X Mark II unveils improved processor, 40x zoom in compact SX720 HS
canon powershot g7x mark2 sx720 hs markii featured

Canon’s PowerShot series has two new compact cameras, each targeting different users in the point-and-shoot market. The G7 X Mark II and SX720 HS are both successors to existing products (the G7 X and SX710 HS, respectively, which remain in the lineup).
PowerShot G7 X Mark II
A new model in the advanced PowerShot G-series, the compact G7 X Mark II retains the same form factor as its predecessor, however there is a new textured grip on the front. It uses the same 1-inch sensor (although 20.1 megapixels instead of 20.2, due to the image processing) and 4.2x f/1.8-2.8 stabilized lens, but the image stabilization has been enhanced to better detect panning motions.

The G7 X II is the first Canon camera to use the all-new Digic 7 image processor. Canon says the Digic 7 is more powerful, with better subject tracking performance (not just with human faces, but also things like pets) and detection of faces with similar tonality as the background, as well as noise reduction; it provides a one-stop increase in noise reduction in JPEGs or movies. ISO tops out at 12,800, expandable to 25,600.

Read more