Canon PowerShot Pro1 San Jose CA

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Originally published at Internet.com

The PowerShot Pro1 is Canon's entry into the 8-megapixel realm. Compact and sleek, the Pro1's body is a combination of alloy and tough textured plastic that offers a smooth shape but one which has a noticeable weight.

More than simply an 8 megapixel camera, the PowerShot Pro1 is also the first compact digital to sport a 7X Ultrasonic lens that is electronically controlled by a ring around the barrel. The ergonomic design of the Pro1 borrows heavily from the design of SLR cameras. The grip area is accentuated, and topped not only by a chromed 2-stage shutter release but also by a Command Dial that can be both rotated and clicked in like a mouse button. The Command Dial serves to select apertures or shutter speeds in some modes, and can be used to make some menu selections. Besides these, four more controls are arranged on top of the camera, with the Mode Lever, which has the Off switch in the middle, closest to the back.

The Mode Lever starts the Pro1. When pushed to the side, it sets the Pro1 to the capture mode, while when pushed to the other , it starts the Pro1 in playback mode. Since the Mode Lever returns to the centre position, Capture is indicated by an led glowing red-orange, and playback by the same LED glowing green. Worth noting, with the Pro1 in playback, pressing the shutter release lightly switches the camera to the capture mode. Although the Pro1 is equipped with an electronic viewfinder (EVF) in addition to an LCD monitor, the level of detailed information shown on either of these is selectable, and some settings may not always be visible. However, most settings are indicated on the Display Panel atop the camera, allowing the user a quick overview of the camera's status.

Three other buttons are sandwiched between the Command Dial and the Mode Lever: Lights the display panel for approximately 6 seconds, making it clearly legible under low light or at night. Selects the metering mode. Three modes are available:

Evaluative: which divides the frame into several zones for light metering. The metering is able to evaluate complex lighting conditions, take into account the position of the subject, the brightness of both foreground and background. Centre-weighted: a system that gives greater importance to what is at the centre of the frame but which also takes the surrounding area into account. Spot: meters the area at the centre of the frame; or can be set to follow the autofocus point which may not always be at the centre (Spot AE Point). Continuous Shooting modes:
Standard Continuous Shooting: can capture images at up to 1 frame per second until the internal memory becomes full at which point the capture rate slows down. High Speed Continuous Shooting: can capture photos as fast as 2.5 frames per second until the memory buffer becomes full, requiring the Pro1 to start saving the images to the memory card which slows down the shooting rate. Self-timer and Remote Control: the self timer can be set to release the shutter after either a 2 second or a 10 second delay. The Remote Control, supplied with the camera, is picked up by either one of 2 sensors embedded at the top of the grip on the front and side. In addition to releasing the shutter, the remote control is able to control the zoom. In playback, it can be used to zoom in and out of photos and change the way the image is displayed by controlling the amount of information overlaid on the photo and even showing a histogram.
Selects the Flash modes: Auto with red-eye reduction, Auto Flash on with redeye reduction, Flash on, Flash off. The Pro1 has a pop-up flash that can be set to release automatically as needed, or manually, a selection made in its menu. Likewise, Slow Synch with either front or rear curtain is available if enabled in the menu. Magnifies an image up to 10 times in playback.
While the second button serves for: Macro mode which can be used within a focal range of 28 to 90mm (35mm equivalent). Between 28 and 63mm, the camera is able to focus on a subject from 10 to 50 cm (3.9 to 19.5 inches) from the front of the lens. And from 63 to 90mm, the Pro1 can focus on a subject 30 to 50 cm (12 to 19.5 inches) distant. In playback the button can be used to show thumbnails (9 per screen) of the images on the memory card. It is worth noting that in playback the zoom ring can also be used to zoom in and out of captured images, a system that is remarkably easy and natural to use. (See the Characteristics section of the review for more information on the Pro1's zoom lens.) Starting with the Mode Dial, which is positioned next to the EVF at a sharp angle, the back of the Pro1 also offers an array of controls. As is usual with advanced Canon cameras, the Mode Dial is "divided" into two areas: the Creative Zone and the Image Zone, zones which are separated by the Auto mode:

Auto Mode turns the Pro1 into a point and shoot camera. The Creative zone encompasses programs that allow the user to set most or all camera parameters for the shot:

Program Mode lets the user retain control over most other camera settings while the Pro1 chooses the aperture and shutter speed, which is nevertheless displayed in the viewfinder, or on the LCD monitor once the shutter release is half-pressed. Program Shift is available, but obtaining alternate combinations of aperture and shutter speeds requires pressing the button when the camera has selected an aperture and shutter speed, and then turning the Command Dial to change the selection. Shutter Priority lets the user select the shutter speed with the Command Dial from a range that covers from 1/4000 sec to 15 seconds while the Pro1 selects the aperture. Aperture Priority lets the user set the aperture with the Command Dial from f2.4 to f8 when the zoom is at the wide angle end; from f3.5 to f8 at the telephoto end. Manual Mode gives complete control over all settings to the user. Both apertures and shutter speeds are selected with the Command Dial which is clicked to switch back and forth between apertures and shutter speeds. An exposure compensation bar is displayed on either the EVF or the monitor, and should the difference between the camera's standard exposure and the selected values be more than ±2EV, a red +2 or -2 is indicated. Custom Modes 1 and 2 make it possible to save preferred settings in either of two Custom modes. The settings that can be set include the shooting mode (P, Tv, Av, or M); Menu settings, any of the functions available to these modes, the manual focus location, the zoom location.
The Image zone provides shooting modes that are selected according to the image type:

Portrait Mode Landscape Mode Night Scene Mode Stitch Assist Mode (Panorama)
Included in this section is the Movie Mode:

The Pro1 can capture movies at any one of 3 frame sizes, and all use a 15 frames per second rate: * 640 x 480 pixels for a maximum of 30 seconds. * 320 x 240 pixels for a maximum of 3 minutes. * 160 x 120 pixels for a maximum of 3 minutes.

During movie recording the AE, AF, white balance and zoom settings are set and locked to the settings of the first frame. As noted earlier, the Pro1 is equipped with an electronic viewfinder (EVF). The viewfinder provides a reasonably detailed image, but is not as detailed as the EVF of some other comparable cameras. A diopter adjustment is provided on the left side of the exit pupil, which allows most people who wear glasses to adjust the viewfinder to their vision.

Selection of the EVF or the monitor is made with a small button on the left. The PowerShot Pro1 has a pop-up flash that can be set to release automatically when the camera deems the ambient light to be insufficient, or released manually by setting the appropriate option to Manual in the menu.

In addition, the Pro offers an accessory shoe compatible with Canon's Speedlite 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 550EX, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX and Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX. Canon compatible third party flash units can also be used. The Pro1 provides an articulated 235,000 pixel 2-inch LCD monitor. The LCD screen can be opened to the left, and rotated 180° up, making it face the front and allowing it to be pushed back onto the camera's back, or rotated 90° down.

The system, used previously on other Canon digital cameras, makes it possible to protect the screen of the monitor by turning it to face the camera with its metal back facing out.

The other external controls of the PowerShot Pro1 are arranged on the right side of the LCD monitor. Of particular interest is the button which calls up the Function menu. The Function menu is the means to adjust the six most common photographic settings: * ISO: Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400 ISO. * Effect: Off; Vivid (emphasizes contrast and colour saturation); Neutral (tones down contrast and saturation); Low Sharpening; Sepia; Black and White; Custom Effect (freely adjust contrast, sharpness and colour saturation). * Bracketing: Exposure bracketing ±2EV over 3 shots; or Focus Bracketing over 3 shots (selected position, further away, closer). * Flash Compensation: (in all modes except Auto) ± 2EV in 1/3 EV increments; or: * Flash Output: (in Tv, Av and M modes if the Flash Adjust option of the menu is set to Manual) Normal, or +1, or Full. * Image size: (see the Characteristics section of the review.) In Playback the button serves to 9 images ahead or back, either when a photo is displayed full screen, or when thumbnails are displayed.

Three buttons are aligned on the outer edge of the Pro1's back. Although the design of these controls looks nice, the quality of their position, in our opinion, is debatable, as they can be pressed accidentally while handling the camera: Switches the Pro1 to Manual Focus. Manually focusing the camera is done using the zoom ring while a distance scale is displayed on the EVF or the monitor, and the central portion of the image is magnified. In addition, the MF button can be used to lock the focus when the auto focus is set and the shutter release is held halfway. In playback or if pressed while an image is displayed immediately after capture, the button serves to capture a sound bite, up to 60 seconds, which will be associated with a particular image. In the capture modes, this button serves to lock the Auto Exposure (AE-Lock) or if the flash is forced ON, locks the flash exposure. Moreover, the button can also be used to delete an image immediately post capture while it is displayed on the EVF or the monitor, or in playback. The last button on the edge of the camera is the button. In the capture modes, the button serves simply to either clear the screen of all superimposed information, leaving only the AF area, or restore the overlaid info.

In the playback mode, the button cycles through 3 image presentation styles. The first simply displays the image free of any superimposed info; the second adds a modest amount of data; and the third displays both the shooting data and histogram. The remaining 3 controls on the back of the Pro1 are near the 2 inch LCD monitor. First, a 4-direction control called the Omni-selector serves to navigate the camera's menu, and review images in playback. In addition, both Up and Down arrows of the Omni-selector have a specific function in all the capture modes except the Auto mode:

Controls exposure compensation and displays an exposure scale at the bottom of the EVF or the monitor (see image below). A compensation range of ±2EV in 1/3EV increments is possible. Displays the white balance settings at the bottom of the screen with the following options: Auto; Daylight; Cloudy; Tungsten (incandescent); Fluorescent (cool white or warm white); Fluorescent H (daylight fluorescent); Flash; and 2 Custom settings that can be set to specific ambient light and memorized.
The last two buttons are SET and MENU. If the MENU button is self-evident, calling up the 3-part camera menu (see the Characteristics section of the review), the other button, SET, has a dual role indicated by the AF point selection icon: .

Pressing the button once in the capture mode turns the AF frame in the viewfinder, or on the monitor, green. Then, using the Omni-selector, the frame can be moved gradually to another part of the frame. Once the photo is captured, the AF area can be returned to the centre by holding the button for a couple of seconds.
The zoom control however deserves a special mention. Using a 40-step system, the control offers smooth and fluid zooming reminiscent of a mechanical system. Moreover, pressing the Mode Lever to the while turning the zoom ring slightly to one side or the other makes the lens travel quickly from one end to the other of its focal range. A nice touch.