Canon TX1 Brings HD Video Capture to a Pocket Digital Camera by John Neely Published on Feb 22, 2007 10:20 AM

February 22, 2007 – Yesterday, Canon unveiled a new 7.1-megapixel digital still camera in their PowerShot line with a design that looks more like an upright ultra-compact camcorder.  Dubbed the TX1, the new PowerShot captures 720p high definition video, and seems poised to compete with Sanyo’s Xacti VPC-HD2 (Review, Specs, Recent News, $585.36), another “hybrid” still/video product. The TX1 will hit store shelves in March at an MSRP of $499.99.

In photos released by Canon, the TX1 looks much like an upright version of the silver-bodied PowerShot digital still cameras that has been modified to accommodate video-style shooting.  Unlike its PowerShot siblings, the “front” of the TX1 is the long edge of the body, and like a pistol-grip camcorder, the 10x optical zoom lens sits at the top of this edge.  In addition, the 1.8” LCD swings out from the left side on a swiveling camcorderesque hinge, and features a Pure Color triple layer coating that resists fingerprints, scratches, and solarization.  Image controls have migrated to the long back edge of the body for easy access.

The PowerShot TX1features an OIS (optical image stabilization) system, and Canon’s Digic III still image processor.  In still mode, the camera includes face detection, and an  ISO rating of up to 1600.

In video mode, the camera records footage using Motion JPEG compression at data rates of up to 4480KB/sec. According to Canon, this equates to approximately 4.375MB/sec (megabytes), or approximately 35Mbps (megabits), putting it well above the 25Mbps maximum data rate of DV. Video and stills can be recorded to SD/SDHC, MMC, and MMC Plus flash memory cards at capacities up to 4GB.

Most controls typically associated with camcorders are available during video capture on the TX1, including zoom, AE, and manual and automatic white balance modes. In playback mode, VCR functions like slow-motion and pause are available, and an AV cable allows HDTV playback.  Clips can be transferred to a PC for editing via a USB cable.

While the Sanyo Xacti HD2 is positioned as an HD camcorder first and a still camera second, this Canon PowerShot is billed as a digital still camera that also shoots HD video.  As camcorders and digital still cameras take on stronger hybrid features, the distinctions between the two categories will become increasingly blurred, especially in the consumer realm.

Canon, wisely, is not marketing the TX1 as a comparable model to the high definition camcorders from their video division, though there is still some lurking danger for consumers. The buzz-term of "HD" is enough to capture the imagination of many an unwary buyer. The problem is that the technical specifications of "high definition" allow for a wide swath of interpretations, from the very high quality to the abysmal. One shoud not expect that a still camera using a dated compression such as Motion JPEG should compete with camcorders using HDV and AVCHD. Though Motion JPEG is intraframe and may potentially display better motion than interframe MPEG compressions, big promises from tiny HD camcorders have been made before, as in the Sanyo VPC-HD1 (Review, Specs, $499.99), and failed to stand up to comparisons with larger, more expensive models.  

The upcoming PMA show will likely witness the proliferation of hybrid camera/camcorders, and it will be interesting to see which company takes the early lead. The Canon TX1 retails for $499.99 and will become available in March.