Canon V1 | The Ultimate Compact Vlogging Camera? | First Look

Canon have expanded their Powershot series with the V1, a powerful but compact camera targeted more toward content creators and vloggers hence the V (which also stands for video). There are plenty of features to satisfy photographers however thanks to its new 1.4-inch 22.3MP sensor making this a great choice for hybrid shooters. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a pre-production model and took it to Purton Ship Graveyard to test it out.

Watch the full video below for a first look.

Key Features

The Canon PowerShot V1 weighs just 379g and measures a mere 118.3 x 68 x 52.5mm making it portable enough to take with you anywhere. It features a new 22.3MP 1.4-inch sensor along with a 16-50mm f/2.8 lens and is capable of Unlimited 4K 60p recording which is aided by an Active Cooling fan. There is a tally lamp so that you can be assured that you are recording and Canon Log 3 is also available to give you greater editing options.

The camera comes with Dual Pixel CMOS AF II for reliable auto focus to keep up with moving targets and an internal 3 stop ND filter for filming in brighter conditions. We have a mode dial along with customisable buttons, a vari-angle screen and a comfortable grip to reduce hand fatigue.

In regards to connections we have a USB-C connector which can be used to power and charge the camera as well as data transfer and to use the camera as a 1080p webcam. There is a micro HDMI connector, Headphone and Mic Jack as well as a multi function shoe. There is also a wind muff included for better audio quality when using the built-in mics of the camera.

Lastly, we have a single SD card slot and the LP-E17 battery to power everything.

Vlogging

The V stands for video or vlogging and it would seem that this is Canon’s answer to Sony’s ZV series of cameras. The Sony ZV-1 II has an 18-50mm zoom length whereas the Canon V1 has a 16-50mm f/2.8 lens 35mm equiv, however, the 16-50mm focal length is when taking photos whereas you get 17-52mm for video which is still more than adequate enough to get everything in frame. The V1 also features a larger 1.4 inch sensor as opposed to the usual 1.0 inch sensor found in many compact cameras, making it capable of delivering better image quality and greater sensitivity.

The camera offers long-duration video recording thanks to a built-in cooling fan that dissipates heat from the V1 to enable recording times of over two hours* even at 4K30P.

It is possible to capture video at up to 4K 60P (cropped) as well as high-quality 4K30P oversampled from 5.7K. The camera supports 4:2:2 10-bit log recording, allowing for enhanced dynamic range in high-contrast scenes and greater flexibility in post-production as well as 14 different colour profiles which can be applied to your footage immediately.

*Measurement conditions: Ambient temperature 30°C, monitor shooting, Wi-Fi disabled.

Photographic Capabilities

The Canon V1 offers Dual Pixel CMOS AF II for reliable and consistent autofocus across a wide area, even when tracking fast-moving subjects such as children or pets. There is a built-in 3-stop ND filter that can be toggled on or off, or left on automatic. The V1 is more than capable of capturing fast moving targets thanks to high-speed continuous shooting at up to 30fps. The mechanicals shutter offers a maximum speed of 1/2000 a second while the eclectronic shutter offers a maximum speed 1/16000 a second.