Compact Camera News

Canon just took the wraps off of a very cool new camera: the PowerShot G3 X, which boasts a 25x optical lens with image stabilization and a one-inch, 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor. For those keeping score at home that means this relatively compact camera has a zoom lens equivalent to 24-600mm with an aperture range of f/2.8-f/5.6.

The larger sensor size, for a compact camera, combined with Canon’s DIGIC 6 image processor, also means the Canon G3 X can shoot relatively low noise images in low light shooting conditions at higher ISOs. (The G3 X has an ISO range of 125-12,800.)

And because the optical image stabilizer in the Canon G3 X is a “5-axis intelligent system,” it has control over horizontal, vertical movement, along with pitch, yaw, and roll adjustments, helping it capture sharper images in a range of shaky shooting conditions, according to Canon spokesperson Chuck Westfall who briefed Shutterbug about the camera before tonight’s launch.

The new Canon PowerShot G3 X also has built-in WiFi and NFC and is built with a durable, magnesium alloy camera body and a comfortable grip, offering the same dust and water resistance as Canon’s 70D digital SLR, Westfall said. Canon is calling the G3 X camera “the most rugged G-series model yet.”

The Canon G3 X features an adjustable 3.2-inch LCD touchsceen with 1.62 million dots of resolution on back that tilts away from the camera body at up to 180 degrees and 45 degrees down, allowing photographers to compose shots from a variety of tricky angles.

The Canon G3 X has a 31-point autofocus (AF) system and can shoot up to 5.9 frames per second with virtually no buffer lag (depending on the SD card used) or frame limit, making it a fairly decent compact camera for shooting sports and action.

The Canon G3 X can shoot 1080p Full HD video (at 24p, 30p, and 60p in the MP4 format) and has an external stereo microphone jack, a headphone jack, and manual control of exposure and audio levels. The G3 X also features a live HDMI output while recording video, which allows for direct connection to external video recorders and playback of recorded movies on an HDTV.

The PowerShot G3X will sit between the Canon G1 X Mark II and the G7 in the company’s premium compact G series line.

Here’s a rundown of the other key features of the new Canon PowerShot G3 X:

• One-inch, 20.2MP CMOS sensor

• EOS-style control layout

• Raw, JPEG, or Raw+JPEG file recording

• Built-in ND (Neutral Density) Filter

• Built-in flash

• Flash/accessory shoe accepts an optional electronic viewfinder (EVF)

• Compatible with EOS Speedlite system

• Built-in Wifi and NFC

• Star Mode captures images and video of starry night skies

The Canon PowerShot G3 X will go on sale in July 2015 for $999.