A new point-and-shoot camera? In 2025? That might seem surprising if you aren’t up on the latest trends. The reality is the prices of used and older compact cameras have gone through the roof. There’s a real interest, especially among younger people, for capable cameras separate from their phones.
Canon follows recent announcements by Nikon, Panasonic and others with its new camera in a category once thought dead. The PowerShot V1 records 4K video at 60fps, takes 22.3-megapixel photos and has a stabilized zoom lens.
Perhaps most interesting, and hinting that there may be more cameras to come in the future, is that the V1 features an entirely new, 1.4-inch image sensor. Most of the V1’s likely competitors, like the Sony ZV-1 II, have 1-inch sensors. A larger sensor generally translates to better image quality.
For Vloggers and more
Lacking an electronic viewfinder or built-in flash, the V1 is intended primarily for video. It records 4K30 full-frame and 4K60 with a slight crop. The new sensor uses the same Dual Pixel autofocus as what’s found on Canon’s R6 MkII. There are both mechanical and electronic shutters, with a 1/2,000 maximum shutter speed for the former, and 1/16,000 for the latter.
Getting light to that new, relatively large sensor is an f/2.8-4.5 lens that goes from an ultrawide 16mm to a more portrait-friendly 50mm (35mm equivalent). That’s GoPro-levels of wide angle and will likely come in handy — pun very much intended — for handheld video recording and selfies. Mechanical and electronic image stabilization help keep video smooth and photos blur-free. There’s also a three-stop neutral density filter to allow for wider apertures or longer exposures in bright light.
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