The New Canon V1 Is A Fail…Let Me Count The Ways

Recently Canon has announced their latest entry (return?) to the compact photo/vlogging camera segment – the Canon V1:

Canon PowerShot V1

• 22MP Type 1.4 (18.4 x 12.3mm) Dual Pixel AF CMOS sensor
• 16-50mm equiv. F2.8-4.5 zoom lens with 3EV ND filter
• Full-width 4K up to 30p from 5.7K capture
• CLOG 3 Available
• 4K/60p from a 1.4x crop (1:1 pixel capture)
• Up to 30 fps stills capture in e-shutter mode
• Cooling fan for extended video recording
• Wired or wireless video streaming
• Multi-function hotshoe for flash or audio accessories
• Fully-articulated rear touchscreen
• Headphone and mic sockets

I guess I should applaud their efforts here – everyone is wanting this type of compact “point and shoot” camera, thanks to the success of cameras like the FujiFilm X100VI and the Leica Q3.  But Canon has a knack for getting these types of cameras wrong more often then right, which I would argue is the case here.  This shouldn’t have been rocket science.  Canon should have been able to better identify what consumers want/need based on the record sales of both the Canon G7 X Mark II and Mark III.  Hell, they could have simply re-released the G7 X Mark II and I’d have been MUCH happier than I am based on the V1’s specs.  Or they could have updated the G7 X Mark III with some of what we’re seeing in the V1 and you’d have a better camera.My biggest complain here on the V1 is the lens – a 35mm equivalent 16-50mm with a variable aperture of f2.8-4.5.  Sure, a 16mm FOV is much more vlogging friendly than say the 24mm wide limit on the G7 X line of cameras.  And I get that the 1.4″ sensor on the V1 (nearly micro four thirds) provides some advantages to a camera that’s videocentric as compared to the 1″ sensor on the G7 X cameras.

 

My thing is, I’d rather use a small tripod or selfie stick on a G7 X camera to get the camera a little further from me than not have the flexibility of having the 24-100mm range and especially the f1.8-2.8 variable aperture.  THAT is why people are paying over the original retail price for like new examples of the G7 X cameras.  And why does the V1 have CLOG 3 file output available?  This is a consumer grade device – few in this segment are going to want to want to fool around with color grading video files.  Even for those who might, CLOG 3 is tough to grade properly.  IMHO, you use CLOG 3 when you want to optimize dynamic range.  I just don’t see that as an ideal, or even likely use case for this device.  Social media influencers want a small, easy to use point-and-shoot device for both photo and video.  And low light video performance is hugely important to many social influencers who want to capture a night out with friends.  I just don’t think the V1 will shine in this regard, relative to other options.  Most agree that when it’s released, the V1 will cost between $800 and $1000.00.  You can get the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 for LOT less – it’s going to be just as portable and will take stabilized video – a hugely important consideration.

The V1 is “Canon compromised” in ways which make it a non-starter when you consider other options in the marketplace.  Again, just update the Digic Processor found in the G7 X Mark II and re-release it.  That would have been a MUCH better photo camera.  And similar updates to the G7 X III would have made for a superior video camera…for me.  And I get that the V1 may not be marketed to users like me.  But my problem is I can’t really identify who this product is ideally suited.