The Canon PowerShot 160 and Canon PowerShot SX500, both of which are available now for pre-order from Adorama, represent the latest advances in the science of making it as easy as possible to take good pictures with small cameras.
First up is the Canon PowerShot SX160, which replaces the SX150 in the lineup and offers several key changes. First is its 16MP resolution 1/2.3″ CCD sensor (increased from 14MP), along with a 16x optical zoom lens (up from 12x) that starts at 28mm (35mm equivalent).
Key Features: Canon PowerShot SX160
- 16x Optical Zoom Lens starts at 28mm
- 16MP sensor
- 720p HD Video
- 3-inch LCD monitor
- Smart Auto with 32 predefined shooting situations
- Intelligent IS with 6 image stabilization modes
- Intelligent IS with 6 image stabilization modes
- High-speed AF
- Runs on AA batteries
Going beyond the basic upgrades, the camera is full of interesting technology. It employs a variety of anti-shake, including a hybrid shift-type camera shake correction, panning motion, a mode to use when shooting videos with the lens zoomed to its longest telephoto length, and a “Dynamic” mode that works in the wide angle setting to smooth out shakiness that may occur while walking and shooting at the same time.
Canon claims the Canon Powershot SX160 has a greatly reduced shutter lag time; in fact, they claim the total lag time is 0.29 seconds, a 46% reduction over the SX150.
Shooting modes include: Manual exposure, aperture- and shutter-priority and program, Smart Auto, portrait, low light, snow, fireworks, creative filters, iFrame mode, Discreet mode (disables flash and all camera sounds), Live View control, face self timer, and more. Creative filters include Miniature Effect, Poster Effect, Toy Camera, Fisheye, Super Vivid and Monochrome.
The Canon PowerShot SX160 runs on easy-to-find AA batteries, has an ISO range of 100-800, minimum focus down to less than half an inch in macro mode. It shoots 720p HD videos. There’s a 3-inch, 230k dot LCD finder, and a zoom range equivalent of 28-448mm and f/3.5-5.9.m The camera will be available from Adorama in Red or Black.
Replacing the SX40 HS, the Canon PowerShot SX500 IS is Canon’s new superzoom compact, sporting a 24-720mm (35mm equivalent) f/3.4-5.8 lens—slightly shorter than its predecessor’s 35x optic, plus the same 16MP sensor as the PowerShot 160 (a substantial increase in pixel density from the SX40’s 12MP CMOS sensor). Despite its higher resolution, Canon claims advances it has made in noise reduction means images will be good quality at higher speeds.
Key features: Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
- 30x optical zoom lens starts at 24mm
- 16MP CMOS sensor
- 720p HD Video
- 3-inch, 461k dot LCD monitor
- Smart Auto with 32 predefined shooting situations
- Intelligent IS with 6 image stabilization modes
- Zoom Framing Assist tracks and captures moving subjects
- High-Speed AF
As with the Canon PowerShot 160, the Canon PowerShot SX500 is said to have remarkably improved lag time and high-speed autofocus, as well as a slightly better 3-inch 461k dot LCD monitor. A prominent Movie button means less burrowing through menu options when you’re ready to shoot video. Video capture is at 720p at 25fps, and the camera is compatible with Apple’s iFrame standard for faster downloading compatible Apple and Windows computers.
The Canon PowerShot SX500’s 32 scene modes include Smart Auto, which can choose the most appropriate scene. Zoom Framing Assist makes using the zoom lens easier; the camera will automatically zoom out automatically to get up close to moving subjects, then automatically zooms back. The rest of the scene modes and creative filters are the same as above.
Both the Canon PowerShot SX500 IS and Canon PowerShot SX160 IS digital cameras are expected to be available in September 2012 for an estimated retail price of $329.99, and $229.99, respectively.
