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Canon Canon PowerShot TX1

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Ratings

4 / 5 - PCWorld, Aug 1, 2007

5 User Reviews Add your own »

Pricing

$438.00 - $449.99 From 2 Vendors Get Best Prices »

Spec Navigator
Digital Format
Display
Exposure
Image Processor
Included Hardware
Lens
Shutter
Storage
LCD Screen
Exposure Controls
Dimensions
Power
Flash
Lens Features
Connectivity
Other Features

Digital Format

Digital Print Order Format (DPOF)

Yes

Display

Viewfinder

None

Exposure

Shutter Priority

Image Processor

Number of image sensor pixels	7.1 megapixels
Image sensor	CCD
Maximum horizontal image resolution	3072
Maximum vertical image resolution	2304
Image sensor quantity	1
Image format	JPEG
White balance	0

Included Hardware

A/V cable
Wrist strap
USB cable.
component cable

Lens

Accessory Lens	No
Lens Model	Canon Zoom Lens 10X IS
Telephoto Aperture Maximum	5.6 mm
Wide-Angle Aperture Maximum	3.5 mm

Shutter

Starter Media or Internal RAM

Yes

Storage

Media Slots

SD Card

LCD Screen

LCD screen size

1.8 inches

Exposure Controls

Maximum shutter speed	2500
Minimum shutter speed	15
Bulb setting	0
ISO equivalencies	80 1600
Exposure settings	0
Exposure compensation range	0
Number of scene modes	7

Dimensions

Width	1.2 inches
Depth	2.4 inches
Height	3.5 inches
Weight	7.9 ounces

Power

Number of Batteries	1
Power source	Rechargeable lithium ion

Flash

Flash characteristics

Flash Slow Sync
No

Lens Features

Camera body only	No
Optical zoom	10 X
Minimum focal length	39
Maximum focal length	390
Lens mount	Interchangeable
Focus features	No

Connectivity

Interface connection

Other Features

General features	Pict Bridge
Image stabilization	Hardware
Included components	No

4 / 5 - PCWorld, Aug 1, 2007

5 User Reviews Add your own »

$438.00 - $449.99 From 2 Vendors Get Best Prices »

Lab Tested
How We Test Cameras »

Pros

10x zoom and optical image stabilization

Records high-definition video

Cons

Small LCD

Short battery life

Canon PowerShot TX1

Canon PowerShot TX1 Review, by Paul Jasper July 19, 2007

Though The Canon PowerShot TX1 resembles a miniature camcorder, it's best suited for still photography. You hold the TX1 vertically instead of horizontally, an odd orientation for a point-and-shoot camera. The design, while compact, comes at the hefty price of $500.

The TX1 fits neatly into your right hand. When you power the unit on, the lens barrel pops out from the front edge, and you can operate the zoom lever with your thumb. An LCD panel flips out from the side of the camera. Separate buttons let you quickly switch between shooting still photos and capturing movies. The shutter release sits at the top, and you can access a video-recording button beneath the zoom lever.

The camera's price may seem steep for a 7.1-megapixel model, but the trim metal case contains many high-end features. The lens zooms to 10X and comes with optical stabilization, which can reduce the effect of shaky hands when you're shooting distant subjects. Automatic face detection makes taking portraits easier by matching the focus and exposure to your subject. You can record 720p HDTV-quality video at 30 frames per second. The camera even has stereo sound, recorded by twin microphones in the back of the LCD panel; when I tried recording video at the highest quality setting, however, I filled a 4GB SDHC media card in less than 15 minutes.

In our formal tests the TX1 produced high-quality images, earning a score of Very Good. Our jury was most impressed with the TX1's color accuracy. Photos taken in natural light showed better exposure than when we used flash. My informal shots of the ocean and country landscapes also looked attractive. Colors appeared very natural, though slightly muted due to the bright sunlight. Getting sharp shots with decent contrast was easy.

I had a few issues with the camera's novel design, however. At 1.8 inches, the LCD is a little small by today's standards, but it's hard to imagine how a larger screen would fit on a camera this compact. The TX1 lacks manual modes, though you can use exposure compensation to gain more control in varying light conditions. You get no optical viewfinder, which can be useful for tracking moving objects or shooting in bright sunlight (when the LCD can be difficult to see). The camera's tiny joystick is a little fiddly when navigating the on-screen menus. Finally, battery life is relatively low: The TX1 took only 190 shots on a single charge in our lab tests.

If you're already comfortable using a camcorder, the TX1 could be a good choice for taking still photos and short video clips. It's hard to imagine packing a 10X zoom into a smaller package. That small size, unfortunately, leaves you with a small LCD and comes at a high price.

Paul Jasper

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User Reviews

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User Reviews From Around the Web

Reviewed by: retromangia

Strengths: very portable! records in stereo sound which most point and shoot cameras do not. great HD 720p video

Weaknesses: taking pictures requires a steady hand thanks to the way the button is placed.

Overall: This Canon TX1 is the smallest, best HD video camera you'll find on the market. what makes this camera better than the competition is that it records in full stereo sound. Most Camera's of this small size only record in Mono. The picture quality is very good, and even low light recording is very descent. This truly is the smallest, greatest HD camera you will find. Buy it!
Reviewed by: Elrond

Strengths: 720p HD resolution camcorder (must be in widescreen mode), small form factor, current prices

Weaknesses: Still camera not as consistent, hard to find merchant selling USA version for cheap

Overall: I have been thoroughly pleased with this Canon TX1 since I got it 3 months ago. I took it on a trip to Disney, and I captured lots of short video clips that I wouldn't have normally because it's so darn easy to carry around. I definitely wouldn't have carried my current miniDV camcorder on certain rides because of the bulk. The result was a great home video that the kids and wife very much enjoyed. Still images can come out great at 7 megapixels but I noticed are not as consistently sharp as on my Canon SD400. It's not the perfect camcorder or the perfect still camera, but it's the perfect combo and the perfect size. What good is a gadget like this if you don't carry it around?One thing: be wary of online dealers who are selling grey-market items. Mine was a Chinese version that was missing the component cable. The camera itself worked fine and was made in Japan, but I had to deal with customer service in order to get the cable and ensure I was getting warranty coverage.
Reviewed by: kenwong439

Strengths: small size, good video most of the time.

Weaknesses: pictures are bad outdoor, and worst indoor. video sometime take a second of two to re-focus whenever you move, or the subject moves.

Overall: I had a few digital camera before this, and this is the worst camera to use indoor. I expected the outdoor picture will be better, but they were not too much improvement either.The video are pretty good, except for the lack time to re-focus whenever the subject moves.Battery is weak, but you can buy more.I did not expect too much from this hybird, but I do expect it to perform at least as good as my 4 yr old s40, and it did not.
Reviewed by: carrionsong1

Strengths: digital still, small size, can take both good videos and pictures.

Weaknesses: Video quality is just above average.

Overall: Bought this camera for my wife as a Valentine gift.She is very satisfied with this camera. We are planning to buy another one for her sister.Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a camera/camcorder hybrid.
Reviewed by: serguzest

Strengths: Small, 10x zoom.

Weaknesses: Video format, no docking station, small LCD, button locations.

Overall: I had been waiting for a hybrid camera camcorder and finally this was it. The ones I bought before had a lot of difficulty focusing during low light conditions, but this one is ok (not as good as my previous Panasonic though).The power button and the video start/stop button is in very bad places. I wish it recorderded in MPEG2 or MPEG4, which would make much longer recording. Also a docking station would be nice that can be used to charge and transfer. And LCD might have been a little bigger.Other than those, it's nice to have something that can both take photos and record video reasonably well.