Canon PowerShot SX160 IS (Red)

The good: The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS has a large selection of shooting options from full manual to full auto; big, easy-to-press controls; and the convenience of AA batteries.

The bad: The SX160 IS will eat through alkaline batteries; shooting performance is good, but not fast; and picture quality drops off above ISO 400, so it's not a great choice for handheld low-light shots.

The bottom line: The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS is a good, inexpensive travel-zoom option for those wanting more control over results or who are just getting into photography and don't want to empty their wallets.

The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS is not for everyone. It's big and bulky. It doesn't have the best shooting performance or image quality. And it certainly doesn't have all the latest and greatest features found in many of Canon's higher-end PowerShots.

But, here's why I like it. For about $150 ($80 less than its original price), you get a competent point-and-shoot camera that does more than just automatic snapshots. That makes it a nice fit for those who want to learn more about controlling shutter speed and aperture without a big investment. Its 16x zoom lens with image stabilization gives you some good framing flexibility. And although some might prefer a high-power rechargeable battery, the SX160 IS' two AA batteries make it very convenient when traveling or for infrequent photographers.

The more expensive Canon PowerShot SX260 HS is a better choice if you can afford it, getting you improved photo and video quality and faster performance. Otherwise, this is a good option for beginners or casual photographers or just anyone looking to take nicer photos than a smartphone can deliver.

Picture quality:
Though you probably won't want to use its photos at full size, the SX160 IS overall produces very nice photos, especially for its price and features. Pixel peepers will see noise even at ISO 100, but it's not noticeable at reduced sizes. Up at ISO 400 is where it starts to be more visible.

Going above that you'll start to see more color noise, artifacts, and loss of detail. The camera stops at ISO 1600, which is really fine since I can't imagine a higher sensitivity getting usable results. The camera definitely favors dropping shutter speed over raising ISO when left in auto. That's good in general, but if you're not paying attention it could result in blurry photos.

Video quality is very good, too, but as with its photos, you'll see more noise the less light you have. The lens does zoom while recording and when it's zooming in you will hear some motor sound picked up by the stereo mics in front in quieter scenes. Overall, though, if you just need to capture the occasional clip for Web sharing, it does a fine job.

Shooting performance:
Editors' note: We recently updated our testing methodology to provide slightly more real-world performance information, so the results aren't necessarily comparable with previous testing. Until we're finished refining our procedures, we will not be posting comparative performance charts.

One of the big drawbacks of the SX160's predecessors was shooting performance; all of them have been pretty slow on all accounts. This model gets a much-needed new autofocus (AF) system. Canon says algorithm improvements, lighter lens elements, a stronger lens motor, and reductions in processing and AF scan times all result in faster focusing and less shutter lag. Being faster doesn't necessarily mean it's fast, but it is improved from the SX150 IS in some ways.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

From off to first shot still takes about 2 seconds, which given the bigger lens is good. The shot-to-shot times averaged 1.4 seconds without the flash, though using the flash drove that wait time up to 7 seconds. Shutter lag -- the time from when the shutter release is pressed to when the image is captured without prefocusing -- was a minimum of 0.3 second in good lighting, and jumped to 0.7 second in low light.

There are two main continuous shooting options: one with autofocus on every shot and one that sets focus and exposure with the first shot. The latter is faster, capturing at about 0.8 frame per second. The continuous option with AF slows down to about 0.6fps. Add in the shutter lag for the first shot and you'll have to be pretty good at anticipating action to get the shot you want. Basically, don't buy this if you're regularly going to be shooting fast-moving subjects unless you're a good judge of timing.

Design and features:
The downsides to having a long zoom lens and AA batteries for power are size and weight. A camera needs room to hold a bigger lens and batteries (bigger than a lithium ion pack at least), and they make it heavier. That said, its bigger size does make it easier to handle despite the slight grip on the front, and the weight helps keep the camera a little steadier when shooting.

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By: Dilusha On 8:53 PM

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Canon shutters the EOS 5D Mark II, makes Mark III man of the house

Given the advent of the EOS 5D Mark III, it's hardly a surprise to see that the Mark II has been quietly moved to Canon's retired list. The full-frame DSLR was famous for its HD video prowess and was quickly adopted by Hollywood, where it was used to film an entire episode of House back in 2010. While the spirit of the 5D lives on in the latest revision, the old dog most definitely deserves a toast 'round the fire.

Filed under: Cameras

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Via: British Journal of Photography

Source: Canon (Translated)

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By: Dilusha On 8:58 PM

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Canon PowerShot SX160 IS (Black)

The good: The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS has a large selection of shooting options from full manual to full auto; big, easy-to-press controls; and the convenience of AA batteries.

The bad: The SX160 IS will eat through alkaline batteries; shooting performance is good, but not fast; and picture quality drops off above ISO 400, so it's not a great choice for handheld low-light shots.

The bottom line: The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS is a good, inexpensive travel-zoom option for those wanting more control over results or who are just getting into photography and don't want to empty their wallets.

The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS is not for everyone. It's big and bulky. It doesn't have the best shooting performance or image quality. And it certainly doesn't have all the latest and greatest features found in many of Canon's higher-end PowerShots.

But, here's why I like it. For about $150 ($80 less than its original price), you get a competent point-and-shoot camera that does more than just automatic snapshots. That makes it a nice fit for those who want to learn more about controlling shutter speed and aperture without a big investment. Its 16x zoom lens with image stabilization gives you some good framing flexibility. And although some might prefer a high-power rechargeable battery, the SX160 IS' two AA batteries make it very convenient when traveling or for infrequent photographers.

The more expensive Canon PowerShot SX260 HS is a better choice if you can afford it, getting you improved photo and video quality and faster performance. Otherwise, this is a good option for beginners or casual photographers or just anyone looking to take nicer photos than a smartphone can deliver.

Picture quality:
Though you probably won't want to use its photos at full size, the SX160 IS overall produces very nice photos, especially for its price and features. Pixel peepers will see noise even at ISO 100, but it's not noticeable at reduced sizes. Up at ISO 400 is where it starts to be more visible.

Going above that you'll start to see more color noise, artifacts, and loss of detail. The camera stops at ISO 1600, which is really fine since I can't imagine a higher sensitivity getting usable results. The camera definitely favors dropping shutter speed over raising ISO when left in auto. That's good in general, but if you're not paying attention it could result in blurry photos.

Video quality is very good, too, but as with its photos, you'll see more noise the less light you have. The lens does zoom while recording and when it's zooming in you will hear some motor sound picked up by the stereo mics in front in quieter scenes. Overall, though, if you just need to capture the occasional clip for Web sharing, it does a fine job.

Shooting performance:
Editors' note: We recently updated our testing methodology to provide slightly more real-world performance information, so the results aren't necessarily comparable with previous testing. Until we're finished refining our procedures, we will not be posting comparative performance charts.

One of the big drawbacks of the SX160's predecessors was shooting performance; all of them have been pretty slow on all accounts. This model gets a much-needed new autofocus (AF) system. Canon says algorithm improvements, lighter lens elements, a stronger lens motor, and reductions in processing and AF scan times all result in faster focusing and less shutter lag. Being faster doesn't necessarily mean it's fast, but it is improved from the SX150 IS in some ways.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

From off to first shot still takes about 2 seconds, which given the bigger lens is good. The shot-to-shot times averaged 1.4 seconds without the flash, though using the flash drove that wait time up to 7 seconds. Shutter lag -- the time from when the shutter release is pressed to when the image is captured without prefocusing -- was a minimum of 0.3 second in good lighting, and jumped to 0.7 second in low light.

There are two main continuous shooting options: one with autofocus on every shot and one that sets focus and exposure with the first shot. The latter is faster, capturing at about 0.8 frame per second. The continuous option with AF slows down to about 0.6fps. Add in the shutter lag for the first shot and you'll have to be pretty good at anticipating action to get the shot you want. Basically, don't buy this if you're regularly going to be shooting fast-moving subjects unless you're a good judge of timing.

Design and features:
The downsides to having a long zoom lens and AA batteries for power are size and weight. A camera needs room to hold a bigger lens and batteries (bigger than a lithium ion pack at least), and they make it heavier. That said, its bigger size does make it easier to handle despite the slight grip on the front, and the weight helps keep the camera a little steadier when shooting.

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By: Dilusha On 10:07 PM

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Canon PowerShot SX160 IS (Red)

The good: The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS has a large selection of shooting options from full manual to full auto; big, easy-to-press controls; and the convenience of AA batteries.

The bad: The SX160 IS will eat through alkaline batteries; shooting performance is good, but not fast; and picture quality drops off above ISO 400, so it's not a great choice for handheld low-light shots.

The bottom line: The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS is a good, inexpensive travel-zoom option for those wanting more control over results or who are just getting into photography and don't want to empty their wallets.

The Canon PowerShot SX160 IS is not for everyone. It's big and bulky. It doesn't have the best shooting performance or image quality. And it certainly doesn't have all the latest and greatest features found in many of Canon's higher-end PowerShots.

But, here's why I like it. For about $150 ($80 less than its original price), you get a competent point-and-shoot camera that does more than just automatic snapshots. That makes it a nice fit for those who want to learn more about controlling shutter speed and aperture without a big investment. Its 16x zoom lens with image stabilization gives you some good framing flexibility. And although some might prefer a high-power rechargeable battery, the SX160 IS' two AA batteries make it very convenient when traveling or for infrequent photographers.

The more expensive Canon PowerShot SX260 HS is a better choice if you can afford it, getting you improved photo and video quality and faster performance. Otherwise, this is a good option for beginners or casual photographers or just anyone looking to take nicer photos than a smartphone can deliver.

Picture quality:
Though you probably won't want to use its photos at full size, the SX160 IS overall produces very nice photos, especially for its price and features. Pixel peepers will see noise even at ISO 100, but it's not noticeable at reduced sizes. Up at ISO 400 is where it starts to be more visible.

Going above that you'll start to see more color noise, artifacts, and loss of detail. The camera stops at ISO 1600, which is really fine since I can't imagine a higher sensitivity getting usable results. The camera definitely favors dropping shutter speed over raising ISO when left in auto. That's good in general, but if you're not paying attention it could result in blurry photos.

Video quality is very good, too, but as with its photos, you'll see more noise the less light you have. The lens does zoom while recording and when it's zooming in you will hear some motor sound picked up by the stereo mics in front in quieter scenes. Overall, though, if you just need to capture the occasional clip for Web sharing, it does a fine job.

Shooting performance:
Editors' note: We recently updated our testing methodology to provide slightly more real-world performance information, so the results aren't necessarily comparable with previous testing. Until we're finished refining our procedures, we will not be posting comparative performance charts.

One of the big drawbacks of the SX160's predecessors was shooting performance; all of them have been pretty slow on all accounts. This model gets a much-needed new autofocus (AF) system. Canon says algorithm improvements, lighter lens elements, a stronger lens motor, and reductions in processing and AF scan times all result in faster focusing and less shutter lag. Being faster doesn't necessarily mean it's fast, but it is improved from the SX150 IS in some ways.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

From off to first shot still takes about 2 seconds, which given the bigger lens is good. The shot-to-shot times averaged 1.4 seconds without the flash, though using the flash drove that wait time up to 7 seconds. Shutter lag -- the time from when the shutter release is pressed to when the image is captured without prefocusing -- was a minimum of 0.3 second in good lighting, and jumped to 0.7 second in low light.

There are two main continuous shooting options: one with autofocus on every shot and one that sets focus and exposure with the first shot. The latter is faster, capturing at about 0.8 frame per second. The continuous option with AF slows down to about 0.6fps. Add in the shutter lag for the first shot and you'll have to be pretty good at anticipating action to get the shot you want. Basically, don't buy this if you're regularly going to be shooting fast-moving subjects unless you're a good judge of timing.

Design and features:
The downsides to having a long zoom lens and AA batteries for power are size and weight. A camera needs room to hold a bigger lens and batteries (bigger than a lithium ion pack at least), and they make it heavier. That said, its bigger size does make it easier to handle despite the slight grip on the front, and the weight helps keep the camera a little steadier when shooting.

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By: Dilusha On 10:44 PM

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Hands-on review: Updated: Canon EOS 6D

As soon as you pick up the 20.2MP Canon EOS 6D you notice that it's quite a bit different from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III. It's smaller for a start, being similar in proportions to the Canon EOS 60D. And although it still feels pretty durable, it doesn't feel quite so tough as the cameras further up Canon's DSLR line.

We have now received a full-production sample of the Canon 6D so our review is underway and will be published here soon. In the meantime take a look at the results of our lab tests carried out on this camera.

There's also no mini-joystick multi-controller for selecting the AF point, instead there's a navigation pad inside the dial large dial on the back of the camera.

The menu system also looks a bit different, with a long list of option tabs across the top of the screen. All the usual features that you would expect to find in there are present, with one or two new additions. The custom functions section, for example, has an Autofocus option, and it's possible to adjust how the AF system responds to a change in subject distance.

This makes the Canon EOS 6D a more versatile, customisable option than the Canon EOS 60D for sports photographers - although the maximum continuous shooting rate is only 4.5fps. There's no M.Fn button next to the shutter release for adjusting the focusing options, though.

There's an interesting option in the Playback menu that enables you to create a photobook direct from the camera. This is a pretty exciting option that ties in with Canon's Project 1709 cloud storage plans, since this will enable photographers to order prints and books to be made via the internet.

There are 'only' 11 AF points, but they are pretty well spread across the frame, and the system is as responsive as we have come to expect. The subject is brought smartly into focus after half pressing the shutter release, even when light levels are quite low.

Although the Canon EOS 6D has HDR capture like the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, this is a JPEG only option, so it's not quite as exciting for serious photographers as the raw HDR capture option of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III.

Wi-Fi connectivity is a key new feature for the Canon EOS 6D. We weren't able to test this with the pre-production sample that we got to use, but it was good to see that you can create a nickname for the camera to make it easy to recognise when you're trying to connect.

We look forward to testing this function when we get a full production sample camera in for our Canon EOS 6D review.

Being able to upload and share images directly has obvious advantages, and it ties in nicely with Canon's Project 1709 beta cloud storage program, announced at the same time as the Canon EOS 6D. This enables you to store, index and view images on a range of devices, wherever you are - provided there's an internet connection.

An iOS and Android app also makes it possible to see the Live View image on a smartphone screen and trigger the camera's shutter remotely. We have yet to see if this will also enable you to remotely adjust key aspects such as the exposure or the focus point, but it's a step in the right direction, especially for wildlife and macro photographers.

The Canon EOS 6D also has GPS technology built in, which enables images to be tagged with location data as they are captured, making it easy to identify where they were taken post-capture, which is useful for travellers and forgetful photographers.

Even when the camera is turned off, the GPS can record your journey, and it will be interesting to see how this impacts battery life.

Unlike the Canon EOS 650D, the Canon EOS 6D doesn't have touchscreen technology, and the 3-inch 1,040,000-dot Clear View II LCD screen is a fixed rather than an articulating unit.

This provides a decent view in a range of light conditions, but predictably direct sunlight is still a problem, and it's a shame that the screen can't be tilted.

One disappointment is that, unlike the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, the Canon EOS 6D doesn't have a rating button, so images can only be assigned a score out of five via the menu. It's an easy enough process, but it's not the same as simply hitting a button to rate an image and make it easy to identify when you download it to a computer.

Being a DSLR, the Canon EOS 6D also has an optical viewfinder, and this provides a nice bright view without any obvious dimming or corner shading.

One key difference from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III and Canon EOS 7D is that the Canon EOS 6D only accepts one SD card.

While this enables the camera to be smaller, we wonder what the implications will be for dedicated Live View users and video shooters, since there's bound to be lots of heat generated, which could result in extra image noise or recording shutting off. We'll be looking at this when we get a full production sample in for testing.

Speaking of videographers, these users will be disappointed to learn that the Canon EOS 6D doesn't have a headphone port to enable audio to be monitored - there's just a mic port to facilitate cleaner sound recording.

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By: Dilusha On 12:13 PM

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Canon enables scanning to your mobile devices

Scan to mobiles and the cloud

Canon has launched three new document capturing solutions aimed at the mobile workforce market.

The new solutions comprise of a new free app, CaptureOnTouch Mobile, for iOS and Android, a new ultra-compact imageFORMULA DR-C125W desktop scanner with integrated Wi-Fi, and the Canon Wi-Fi unit WU10, an optional Wi-Fi accessory for Canon's portable scanners.

The new free CaptureOnTouch app allows mobile workers, to capture documents directly to their iPhone, iPad and Android devices and share them immediately to cloud applications or direct to pre-defined office workflows.

Using the app, users can share documents immediately to their favourite pre-installed cloud-based apps, such as Evernote or Google Drive.

The app supports high-quality image capturing with double-sided batch scanning in colour, and features such as automatic document size detection, deskew and blank page deletion.

The new ultra-compact imageFORMULA DR-C125W is Canon's first scanner to include built-in Wi-Fi functionality, allowing users to scan documents wirelessly to their smartphones and tablets.

The imageFORMULA DR-C125W can also easily be shared by office workers across a team or department by integrating it into their company's existing Wi-Fi network. Users can also connect and scan from their laptops or desktop PCs using their preferred ISIS/TWAIN based imaging applications, using Canon's Scanner Wireless Connection Utility.

Add Wi-Fi and power to your imageFORMULA P-215 scanner

In addition to the app and the imageFORMULA DR-C125W Canon have also added a scanner add-on to retrofit Wi-Fi to their existing portable imageFORMULA P-215 scanner.

Additionally the integrated battery in the WU10 also provides power to the scanner, which means no external power source is needed. It is possible to scan up to 400 coloured images with the Canon Wi-Fi unit WU10's fully-charged battery.

The Canon Wi-Fi unit WU10 and imageFORMULA DR-C125W are available now and the CaptureOnTouch Mobile app is expected to be available as a free download via the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) from the middle of November 2012.

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By: Dilusha On 6:17 PM

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