Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Now 2 Mega Pixel more, RAW  and finally a 720p HD video mode.

So I guess there will be no SX2 then?

For all of you who think 2 more megapixel might not be a good idea with a 20x lens and a tiny sensor, here a lossless crop from a original foto of the Canon SX20 which I downloaded from the Canon Japan website. 
After seeing that, I am quite happy for my decision to move to the SONY HX1.

For more info and a brochure, go to Canon England

hasta la vista - baby

on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 I posted

Is the Sony HX1 really the SX1 Killer?

Yesterday I found this info: 
Kleiner Vergleich: Nikon D60 * Panasonic LX3 * Sony DSC-HX1 
and that took care of the "the HX1 fotos are not so good" 
I read a lot about the video and multishot modes from people who did some experimenting with it, something no review is able to tell you.

I think I can sum up my decision to get me a Sony HX1 and to test her out in one sentence.
This might be the most advanced, most easy to use and most fun camera from all the superzooms in 2009.
This blog has come to an end for now, you can find me exploring the SONY HX1 if she can live up to my expectations. 

greetings from Hong Kong

SX1 to your doorstep €417

same old same old

I had some hopes in the new Panasonic but what a disappointment.

But the FZ38 has still the tiny crappy viewfinder and the substandard 2.7" screen with the extremely limited viewing angle. (try to shoot something below the line of sight the display turns dark! It is just optimized for over head shooting.)
and try to manual focus and see if it is sharp on the displays.

And more megapixel and now stereo wow what a impressive upgrade.
Combine that with the buy only Panasonic batteries or the camera explodes and you loose all warranty and you got a total winner.
Canon had perfect stereo with wind filter already in the S2 since 2005 and big viewfinders (sadly no big resolutions) and swivel screens.

Compared to all other super zooms in 2008/09 this is the most half assed as cheap as possible "upgrade"

You need a bad camera to learn what is important

Last Friday I found an offer of a 10 mpix camera with HD video for 199 €. It sounded too good to be true.

Her name: Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD
A model from last year with 28mm wide and a 15x zoom and 1280x720 HD video with a 2.7" screen. The screen and viewfinder were similar  to the Panasonic FZ28 I tired a while ago.

For that amount of money I could have an inexpensive in between camera and wait another year until the next generation HD hybrids come out with the features and the quality I wanted (hopefully).

Now  I am a fan of the big screen and when I say big screen I mean big as in room hight size. One of my dreams was to have a beach scene in HD on the screen so real looking that you have the feeling you are there. The VGA quality of the Canon S2 is great but the resolution is too low to make it look real. I hoped the S2000HD would be able to satisfy me there. 

Next to the Media Markt here on our little island between the Sahara and the Caribbean is a beach where I just took the camera out of the box and mounted her on a tripod and started my video experience. 
At home on the 42" full HD screen it looked terrible, on the laptop screen it was not better. I experienced big fluctuations in brightness and out of focus periods in the 5 min video. Also the stills I took were terrible compared to the Canon S2 or even my trusty pocket Ricoh R6.

So, what was happening? The wave action has some areas where the water turns from blue to white. This makes the picture brighter and the camera makes the picture darker to compensate. That is normal but the way the S2000HD did the adjustments are plain terrible. You can see for yourself on vimeo. The next day I went to the beach with the S2000HD and the S2 to compare this problem. At home I noticed that the Canon adjusts the picture too to compensate but it is so subtle that it is barely noticeable. I also noticed that the S2 had some out of focus parts in the video and then I understood that the only way to solve this problem was a camera what allowed me to lock the focus and the exposure during the video.

The S2000HD states that if you switch from optical zoom to digital zoom the focus stays locked. I tried it but still got out of focus errors in the video.
I also noticed that the S2000HD needed 8 second to zoom into a picture in preview while the S2 makes this in 1 second.

Well the Finepix S2000HD is a very crappy camera from the bad quality stills to the jumpy exposure video and is topped with a terrible menu system and handling. If you try to manual focus there is no magnification and the only way you see that it is sharp is when the color of the focus frame changes.

You can watch a 20 sec clip form the S2000HD on vimeo, just watch the skyline .

Fujifilm Finepix S2000HD.

To quote South Park: "You know, I learned something today"

On the must have list from my next Hybrid will be now focus and exposure lock in video mode and after reading through the Sony HX1 manual it seems Sony does not have these features. The Canon SX10 and SX1 both have focus and exposure lock.

Update, I just re read a review on my Canon S2 and looked into the manual to see if she has the same features as the SX1/10 and found out she has even more...
Talking about evolution. - Oh and she has 20 MP/cm² while the SX1/10 has 35 MP/cm² pixel density.

over 10% price hike in the UK and 55€ cashback

When you click on the prices on the right, you will notice that the prices are much higher than I posted a few months ago. I guess that reflects the weak Pound. But on the bright side Canon has in May a 50 Pound - 55€ cashback promotion for the SX1 SX10 cameras.

CHDK on SX1 and SX10

It seems the the development of the chdk to add new features to the SX series is well under way.
SX1
SX10
I just saw the nice timelapse video rexburke did:
Taken with a Canon SX1IS, running CHDK (still Beta) and the Ultra Interval script.

Shot 300 frames at 5 second intervals in Av mode with video compiled using PhotoLapse (freeware) at 15fps

I tried it at 30 fps for smoother viewing but the clouds wizz by too fast. Maybe better to have shot it at 2~3 second intervals.

oh crappy day

I just went through the SX1 review from dpreview and with remarks like:

- Image quality, while not terrible is actually slightly worse then the much cheaper SX10 IS, and high ISO noise performance is firmly in compact territory. And for a 600$ camera this is a joke.
- Below the thumb rest is the newly designed muti-controller, with the one major design flaw on the SX1 IS (the scroll wheel). The problem with this new controller is the scroll wheel which is so soft and unresponsive it is almost unusable. I agree 100%
- Viewfinder ...it's not as nice as the 0.44 inch, 235,000 pixel, 4:3 one from the SX10 IS (which is cheaper). The EVF in the SX1 IS is certainly usable, but the one in the SX10 IS is noticeably better. And the SX10 viewfinder would work so much better with the SX1 too. It is just plain stupid to make both dispalys 16:9 and the sensor 3:4. A nicer 3:4 viewinder for fotos and a nice 16:9 display for video would be the perfect solution.
- As it stands the SX1 - whilst interesting - offers too little to justify its high price. The first review where I could read it so plain.

And in the forum I found the question
What I could not understand is:
" What it comes down to is that the price difference between the SX1 IS and SX10 IS could buy you a nice HD video camera that would give you as good - if not better - video quality."

So, there is a full HD camera out with a 20x zoom an image stabilisation for 200$ and no one told me about that? I buy in an instant when somebody can tell me where.

So I will sit this round out and will see what panasonic does with the replacement of the fz28, but to be honest, I don´t have high hopes.

Crappy Viewfinders

What is it with the modern HD Superzooms and the crappy viewfinders?
The SX1 is very bad and now Sony with her new HX1 (copycats) has a tiny crappy viewfinder also.
"like the LCD screen, the viewfinder is a 4:3 aspect ratio screen, so you get big black bars along the top and bottom when shooting high definition video. This isn't helped by the fact that the viewfinder is rather small; it looks like a small TV viewed from a distance."

Is the viewfinder just there to show "we have one"? It looks like a DSLR but with a nearly unusable viewfinder. I tried nearly all modern superzooms and the best on so far was the big one from the SX10 with a usable resolution.

Sorry Sony HX1 and Canon SX1 I am not willing to pay top money for a crappy product.
If Canon would install the SX10 viewfinder on the SX1 than the viewfinder would be perfect for fotos and the swivel display for video.

Sony HX1 the SX1 Killer?

3 March 2009 1:0 
High-zoom Cyber-shot HX1 debuts ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor

 
Extraordinary image quality plus high-speed shooting 

• 9.1 effective megapixel ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor for high-speed shooting and reduced image noise 

• High speed continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second 

• Premium quality G Lens with 20x optical zoom and 28mm wide angle 

• Record 1080/30p HD movie clips 

• ‘Sweep Panorama’ mode captures extra-wide landscapes 

• 3.0” tilt-angle Clear Photo LCD Plus screen 


The Cyber-shot HX1 by Sony, teams stunning picture quality, lightning-fast shooting and powerful creative features in a stylish, supremely easy to use camera. 

The new flagship of the Cyber-shot range showcases a range of sophisticated image sensing, optical and processing technologies that offer unrivalled creative possibilities. 

Offering cutting edge performance and a powerful 20x optical zoom range, the compact HX1 fits effortlessly into a weekend bag or small travel case. It’s an ideal companion for anyone who needs top-flight imaging performance and advanced shooting functions without the bulk of packing a digital SLR and all its accompanying lenses. 

At the heart of the HX1 is a new Sony-developed ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor with an effective resolution of 9.1 megapixels. Originally developed for the Sony Alpha digital SLR programme, ‘Exmor’ technology delivers outstanding images with reduced noise, especially when shooting in high ISO settings. 

In tandem with the powerful BIONZ image processor, the ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor supports full-resolution shooting at an incredible 10 frames per second (max) using a mechanical shutter. Outpacing many pro-spec digital SLR cameras, this super-fast shooting rate is ideal for capturing high-speed action or spontaneous events like parties, where anything can happen in a moment. 

The ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor supports two new shooting modes that reduce image noise when you’re shooting in low light. If you’re capturing static subjects, new Handheld Twilight mode grabs a high-speed burst of six frames, combining them to create a single optimised image with dramatically reduced noise levels. If your subject is moving, Anti Motion Blur mode also superimposes six frames to produce one crisp, composite image with less subject blur. 

Also powered by the ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor and BIONZ processor, ‘Sweep Panorama’ is a brand-new shooting mode that captures breathtaking landscapes, city scenes and more. Just hold down the shutter button and swing the camera horizontally (or vertically). The Cyber-shot HX1 seamlessly stitches together a high-speed burst of frames to create an extra-wide, high resolution image. Panoramas can be viewed as a scrolling preview on the three-inch LCD screen or new S-Frame digital photo frames or previewed on a PLAYSTATION®3. 

Making its Cyber-shot debut is a new G Lens that has been designed to complement the extraordinary imaging possibilities of the ‘Exmor’ CMOS sensor and BIONZ processor. 

Developed originally for the Sony Alpha Digital SLR family, the G Lens in the HX1 teams aspherical lens elements and ED (extra-low dispersion) lens for uncompromising optical precision. You’ll experience superb resolution and minimal chromatic aberration at all settings, from 28mm wide-angle right up to 560mm super telephoto. This generous 20x optical zoom range accommodates a huge range of shooting possibilities, from landscapes and fun-filled family moments to action-packed sports events. 

The Cyber-shot HX1 is the first compact camera from Sony that’s capable of shooting 1080/30p HD movies. It captures crisp, detail-packed HD video clips plus stereo sound at a smooth 30 frames per second. 

HD movies and still photos can be enjoyed with superb quality on your BRAVIA or any HD Ready television*. BRAVIA Sync displays the camera’s playback screen on the TV screen, allowing handy control of slideshow, zoom, image index and other functions with your BRAVIA TV’s remote. 

The Cyber-shot HX1 makes it brilliantly easy to get great results without the worry of adjusting camera settings correctly. Intelligent Scene Recognition has been enhanced with the addition of Smile Shutter. This lets you capture beautiful smiles automatically, even in tricky situations like twilight or backlighting. 

The camera’s tilt-angle 3.0” LCD gives extra flexibility for framing your shots comfortably in any position. Clear Photo LCD Plus technology delivers superb picture quality and contrast, with a resolution of 230,000 dots that’s capable of resolving fine details. 

A new jog dial simplifies ‘click and rotate’ selection and adjustment of camera settings. For extra convenience, there’s also a Digital SLR-style Custom button that can be assigned to Smile Shutter, White Balance adjust or metering mode select functions. 

The Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 digital compact camera is available from the beginning of May 2009.

The SX1

Canon brings the Powershot SX1 IS to the US market at an MSRP of $599.
There will also be a firmware update enabling RAW capture. Existing SX1 IS owners will also be able to download the Digital Photo Professional software to edit white balance, exposure compensation and sharpness of their RAW files before converting them to JPEG.

---

Well, Gordon finished his review today and it is the most comprehensive review on the SX1so far.

He confirmed the sub par viewfinder but if that is not a too big issue, then the SX1 is a nice camera.

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS review from Gordon Laing on Vimeo.

is it focused now?

As I mentioned in November already, the viewfinder from the SX1 is crap.

After reading through all reviews from the SX10 and SX1 nearly nobody talked about the way the viewfinder effects the manual focusing. The least professional (sorry guys compared to a real camera review site) reviews from Trusted Reviews mentioned exactly this problem.

"The SX1 also has an electronic viewfinder, but herein lies a small mystery. The official specification of the SX10 states that it has a 235k resolution EVF, but as I mentioned in my review it appears to be very coarse, with the dots plainly visible, and far too low-res for manual focusing. The same is unfortunately true of the viewfinder on the SX1, but the published specification both on Canon’s website and in the camera manual state that the resolution is only 148k dots, which would make more sense, and makes me think that the resolution stated in the SX10’s specification is a misprint."

Well I liked the viewfinder from the SX10 and it is a huge improvement to the viewfinder from the S1 to S5. 
 
This is not very accurate, but should give you an idea what a double in pixel count does at shooting 10 Mp pictures.

SX10 / SX1 best superzoom

Well it took dpreview just 2 months to finally get the SX10 on the table of the test lab but they confirmed most what I mentioned 2 months ago. They even noticed the very big and nice viewfinder and also found the wheel crappy. Since there is now a  comparison between the 
Canon Powershot SX10 IS
Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD
Fujifilm FinePix S8100fd
Nikon Coolpix P80
Olympus SP-565UZ
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28
Sony Cybershot DSC-H50
it should be easy to pick the right superzoom.

The last weeks I downloaded all the SX1 clips the internet could spit out, some even in real resolution. After fiddling a bit to find the right program to recompress I ended up with SUPER what does a nice job to actually use the SX1 video on a computer.

So the SX10 is the best superzoom and the SX1 adds the 4fps and the full HD video.
The new cameras from Olympus and Kodak are no match for the SX1 that leaves just 1.5 months more to wait for the  PMA 2009, March 3rd -5th , 2009 to see if Sony wants to take Canon on.
But comparing the last 5 years and the Canon S series against the Sony H series I doubt that they will be able to best the SX1.

---

... and for all the people who think the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28 is better than the SX10, please compare side by side the:

Viewfinder tiny screen and hard eye piece against big screen and soft eye piece
Display unusable below eye level against full swivel and twist
Camera feels like a toy against feels and looks like a DSLR (subjective but I had them both in the hand and compared side by side)
The Raw and the 720p video mode with bad mono audio are nothing to me when I can not use the viewfinder to manual focus or shoot below the line of sight.
BUT your priorities might vary.

Batteries are not included

The from Canon supplied batteries are just for putting in a clock or remote or testing the camera.
Get any kind of pre charged battery what tells you they hold the charge for a long time. 
Use any charger but best is if you charge slow.
The best charger is one which can test the battery capacity.

I use the La Crosse charger since several years and it is worth the money.

Why, you ask? Because even new batteries can be already partially defect. Like my new VARTA Ready2Use.

The 2100mAh Ready2Use I got from VARTA had one dud cell. While 3 were having around 1900mAh one had only 1400mAh.
After 3 test cycles (takes about one day per cycle to test)  they read 2000mAh and 1500mAh.
So I changed one package (they come in 2) and now the batteries stay in the camera for a long time while I shoot hundreds of fotos. Works like the Lithium-ion batteries, but cheaper and more easy to replace.

But also sometimes they just lie to you with the high capacity cells.

This crap went straight away back to the dealer.

BEAUTY and BEAST at CES

So Kodak comes out with the Z980 with 24x zoom and Olympus announces the SP-590UZ with 26X zoom.
The Kodak with a 1280x720 video mode and the Olympus with a 640x480 video mode (are they kidding???).
But they have at least one unique invention, a BEAUTY and a BEAST mode.


Beauty Mode lets you soften shadows and smooth wrinkles or blemishes on your subject’s face – all in the camera and as you capture the image! Additionally, subtle edits can be made post-capture using the Beauty Fix mode. Choose “Clear Skin” to smooth a person’s complexion, “Dramatic Eye” to slightly emphasize the eyes, and “Sparkle Eye” to brighten and enhance the contrast of the iris and pupils. You can also apply all three edits at once. Have fun customizing your brilliant images without a PC and costly image editing software.
With the Beast mode you get crows feet, spotty skin, droopy eyes and can choose between 3 types of warts.

So the new Kodak or Olympus are no match for the SX1.

Now lets see what Sony does to replace the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50. With just 15x zoom she looks pretty dated by now. Hopefully the drop the flip display and convert to a variangle display.

The next big Photography Show is PMA 2009, March 3rd -5th , 2009

Make the SX1 video work for you

My goal was to find an easy to use free software what converts the Canon SX1 monster files into a good quality format what works with low power hardware.
That is a 1,6 MHz notebook with a Centrino Duo 2 GB and a Nvidia GO 7300 XP SP2 and a 1,6 MHz notebook with an AMD Turion X2 1 GB with an ATI XPress 1100  XP SP2
 
I liked best so far SUPER it is free, simple and powerful.
Get it here.

Drag the video file into the program, choose:
AVI - MPEG-4 - MP3
video setting: No change, 16:9, 30pfs, bitrate 4000
audio setting 44100, 2, 128
CTRL+T to set the path where you want to have your file
hit encode
now you have an AVI file 8% of the original size in full HD with mostly acceptable compression artifacts.
Want to have it in better quality, try 5000-6000 or 8000 if you want it really good.

I put a couple sample pictures below so you can see for yourself how the compression/quality ratio is.

Test results
The Centrino Duo 2 GB and a Nvidia GO 7300 XP SP2 had no problem after the conversion with any file to play.
The AMD Turion X2 1 GB with an ATI XPress 1100  XP SP2 had problems with even the 4000 kbps files and required a down sampling to 1280x720 to play the video files smoothly.










Look at the concentric rings in the left circle, you will notice the compression artifacts here the most. As usual click on the pictures for full size. The pictures show only 1280 from the 1920 pixel since they are done via screen capture from my 1280x800 screen.

encoding 4000 kbps


encoding 6000 kbps


encoding 8000 kbps

want to know more? look here

some new SX1 Reviews

Added some new reviews and interesting pricing in the UK.
Since the British Pound is now nearly equal with the Euro the price for the Canon SX1 is now under 400€ in the UK.