In this month's technical report, we will take a broad look at the new PowerShot TX1 launched in April 2007 (Photo 1) and focus on some of its features. The PowerShot TX1 is a compact digital camera with a 7.10 megapixel CCD and a high-resolution 10X zoom lens (35mm-equivalent focal length: 39 - 390mm) complete with an optical image stabilizer, all this in a remarkably tiny vertically oriented body.
Photo 1 : PowerShot TX1
Development concept
Canon has developed two successful compact digital camera lines to this point: the IXY DIGITAL series - appointed with a rich array of functions and centered on the concepts of high quality, compactness, and stylishness; and the PowerShot series - which puts usability first even as it boasts image quality and functionality that transcend its price range.
The PowerShot TX1 takes features from both series and wraps them in a totally new design. The resulting digital camera includes a 7.10 megapixel CCD, Canon's DIGIC III image processor, and a 10X zoom lens with an optical image stabilizer. The key development concepts of the PowerShot TX1 are as follows.
Design a new digital camera series based on the ''powerful-zoom compact'' concept
Feature 1: Vertically-oriented compact body
• Vertical orientation
The TX1 is the first Canon digital camera with a vertical design.. This striking design provides comfortable operation for both still photography and shooting movies.
Out of respect for the stainless steel aesthetic, coatings were not applied to the camera body. Instead, by alternating hairline and sandblast finishes, we brought out the natural beauty of the bare stainless steel (Photo 2).
Photo 2 : Hairline and sandblast surfaces
• Compact design
To achieve the TX1's compact form, Canon brought together its many miniaturization technologies, including super-high-density packaging using SiP (System in Package) and techniques to cut the size and weight of structural components and units. We managed to fit all the required parts including the high-resolution 10X zoom lens with optical image stabilization into a very compact vertical body.
Feature 2: Superb image quality
• 7.10 megapixel CCD (effective)
The 7.10 effective megapixel CCD in combination with the primary-color filter can render stunning images as large as 3072 x 2304 pixels.
• 39 - 390 mm (35mm equivalent) 10X zoom lens
The TX1 is equipped with a newly developed 39 - 390mm (35mm equivalent) f/3.5 (W) - f/5.6 (T) 10X zoom lens. The lens's UD and aspherical lens elements correct aberrations including chromatic and spherical aberrations.
An extremely slim lens unit (Figure 1) has been fashioned by using individual motors to drive each lens group directly.
In Super Macro mode at the wide-angle end, the lens can shoot subjects as close as 0cm. The photo field at this range is 16 x 12mm.
Figure 1 : Lens unit schematic
• Optical image stabilizer
The powerful zoom makes the inclusion of an image-stabilization system a necessity.
The TX1's image-stabilization system uses a mechanism that shifts the lens elements to counter camera shake. This mechanism provides stabilization equivalent to about a three f-stop gain in shutter speed (Figure 2) without any loss in image quality whether shooting still images or movies.
• DIGIC III imaging processor provides high-end image processing
• Precise AE and AWB based on Canon's exclusive iS APS technology
Feature 3: Extensive Functions
• Face Detect AF/AE/FE
With Face Detect AF on, the camera searches for and focuses on faces within the frame when shooting either still images or movies. If the camera cannot locate a face in the frame, it automatically switches to the regular AiAF (9-point) mode or AF (single-point) mode.
Face Detect AE notes the brightness of the face during Face Detect AF and adjusts the exposure so the overall scene is exposed correctly. In situations where the face is in shadow, the camera automatically fires fill flash.
The third mode is the new Face Detect FE. Face Detect FE detects the face in the frame and fires a fill flash adjusted for optimal face exposure. This mode permits accurate fill flashes that are not influenced by the subject's position or coloring of the subject's clothes (Photo 3).
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| Face Detect FE | Normal FE |
Photo 3 : Comparison of flash control methods
• In-camera red-eye correction
Flash photography often produces unwanted red-eye; therefore the TX1 comes with a function* to detect and correct red-eye in images after they are captured.
With red-eye correction on during playback, the camera automatically corrects for red-eye when detected in an image being played back. It is also possible to manually correct red-eye when the automatic function fails because of the face's orientation, angle, size, tone, etc. To manually correct for red-eye, the user moves the frame to the appropriate spot in the image and adjusts the size of the frame as needed. An expanded view of the frame is displayed in the bottom right of the LCD monitor to aid adjustment (Figure 3).
*It is only possible to correct images taken with a camera that has Canon's red-eye correction function.
 Red-eye correction screen |
 Manual correction screen |
 Adjustment screen |
 Save screen |
Figure 3 : Red-eye correction
• Auto ISO Shift
Shooting at higher ISO speeds (sensitivity) generally reduces blurring and camera shake but at the cost of increased image noise. The PowerShot TX1 comes with the Auto ISO Shift function, which boosts the sensitivity as needed even when a lower sensitivity is set.
With the Auto ISO Shift function on, if the camera shake icon flashes while the shutter button is held down halfway, pressing the Print/Share button will automatically raise the sensitivity to allow a shutter speed* fast enough to offset camera shake.
*In certain shooting conditions it may not be possible to set a shutter speed fast enough to prevent camera shake.
• Continuous Shooting AF mode
The TX1 includes the Continuous Shooting AF mode for situations where the user is shooting a burst of photos of a subject that is moving in and out of focus. With the Continuous Shooting AF mode set, and AF is selected the camera will refocus before each shot while continuously shooting.
• Enhanced movie functions
Canon has enhanced the camera's movie modes to take advantage of its powerful zoom (Table 1). In one of these modes, the camera can take professional-quality 1280 x 720 movies in a 16:9 aspect ratio at 30 fps, a first for a Canon digital camera (Figure 4).
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*LP mode
The TX1 also introduces the new LP (long play) mode for longer recording times while maintaining the 30 fps frame rate. Optical zooming and stereo audio recording are also available while recording in this mode.
Figure 4 : Comparison of relative movie sizes
• HDTV-compatible component video output
Today's digital cameras routinely feature pixel counts in the range of 5 to 10 megapixels; images so large their resolution can not be fully appreciated on conventional televisions. But as HD and other high-resolution TVs increase in popularity, more and more people are now able to view digital camera images at much higher resolutions.
To address this the PowerShot TX1 is equipped with a component video jack that can output HDTV-compatible D3 standard*1 video signals. This added connectivity gives you more opportunities to enjoy watching beautiful still images*2 in HD.
*1 1920 x 1080 pixels.
*2 Movies are output after converting them from the recorded frame size to 1920 x 1080 pixels.
• Aquarium mode
On previous cameras, the Aquarium mode disabled the flash to avoid reflections from glass surfaces. On the TX1, however, the flash can be fired in Aquarium mode, which is useful when taking photos of people or groups in front of an aquarium tank (Photo 4).
Photo 4 : Aquarium mode
• Sound Recorder function
The TX1 comes with Sound Recorder, a feature previously found only on high-end models. This function can record up to two hours of stereo audio, making it ideal for recording meetings or events.
• Support for high-speed, high-capacity SDHC memory cards and MMCplus cards
Using a high-capacity SDHC memory card makes it possible to take even more still images and to record even longer movies.
Previous models were able to record up to 1 GB for one continuous movie, but the PowerShot TX 1 extends this limit to 4 GB* Consequently, the TX1 can continuously record a movie at 640 x 480 pixels and 30 fps for more than 30 minutes.
The TX1 also accepts new MMCplus cards.
*Movie recording will stop after 1 hour even if the 4 GB recording capacity has not been reached.
• ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto modes
• Safety Zoom mode
• Auto Category/My Category
• Resume playback function
• My Colors for retouching
• Smooth continuous shooting
• Multiple jump functions
• Histogram display for captured images
• Record sound memos up to 60 seconds long
Feature 4: Comfortable operation
• Movie button
Like the PowerShot S5 IS, the PowerShot TX1 has a Movie button. Pressing the Movie button immediately starts movie recording regardless of what the current mode is, so you won't miss any precious moments of the event you wish to record.
• ISO read-out
Owners of previous PowerShot and IXY DIGITAL cameras have asked for a display on the LCD monitor of the actual ISO setting when the camera is in Auto or High ISO Auto modes.
Because of this feedback, we designed the PowerShot TX1 to display the actual ISO setting on the LCD monitor when the shutter button is held down halfway in Auto or High ISO Auto modes (Figure 5). The same ISO read-out is shown during playback as well.
• Four-way controller
The four-way controller (Photo 5) gives you access to all major controls with just your thumb without changing your hold on the camera.
• Definable Print/Share button
For some time now Canon digital cameras have featured the Print/Share button, which starts printing with just a single button press. On the TX1, however, you can define this button to perform a shortcut function while in a shooting mode.
One of the following functions can be assigned to this button: exposure compensation, white balance, custom white balance, digital tele-converter, display overlay, display off, and play sound effect (shutter sound 3).
• Shooting parameter read-out
To make selecting shooting parameters easier and more visual, the shooting parameters are displayed on the LCD monitor.
The four-way controller is used to navigate through the settable shooting parameters: the up and down keys scroll vertically and the left and right keys scroll horizontally. While navigating, the currently selected parameter is highlighted and the parameter's icon and name are shown in the center of the screen.
• Vari-Angle LCD monitor
The Vari-Angle LCD monitor can be rotated to match the recording orientation (Photo 5). To protect the screen from fingerprints, dust and scratches, it is finished with a number of coatings including a fluorine coating and a hard coating (Figure 6).
• 3:2 Guide
• USB 2.0 High Speed compatible
• Playback/forwarding of magnified images
• Clock Display mode that can be viewed during playback
• Power-saving functions (Auto power down, display off)
• Mute mode
Feature 5: Enhanced print functions and digital communications
• Layout printing (print multiple images on one sheet)
The TX1 supports printing of ''contact-sheets'', 35-image and 20-image index prints with shooting information, Canon cameras features since the fall of 2006
• PictBridge compatible
• Exif 2.2 compatible
• TX1 owners can use the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY Web site
Feature 6: Accessories
• HF-DC1 high-power flash unit
This month we presented an overview of the PowerShot TX1. Table 2 lists the main specifications of the camera. The camera is sold with the kit shown in Photo 6. No recommended retail price is set.