Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II camera unveiled with large sensor

Canon has announced a new high-end compact camera, called PowerShot G1X Mark II, for enthusiast photographers as well as professionals looking for a tiny, but handy shooter.

One of the most sought-after cameras in Canon’s line-up is not a DSLR. As curious as it may be, a compact model is a device which has captured the photographers’ dreams for a long time.

We are talking, of course, about the Canon PowerShot G1X, a tiny device with a large 1.5-inch-type CMOS sensor. The long-awaited shooter is its replacement, which has just become official as the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II.

Canon introduces PowerShot G1X Mark II compact camera with large 1.5-inch-type sensor

Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II features a 12.8-megapixel 1.5-inch-type image sensor and 24-120mm f/2-3.9 lens.

The new premium compact camera features a new 12.8-megapixel 1.5-inch-type CMOS image sensor and it is powered by the DIGIC 6 image processing engine.

The image processor offers a continuous shooting mode of up to 5fps and a very fast autofocus system that includes 31 focus points.

Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II sports a 5x optical zoom lens that will offer a 35mm equivalent of 24-120mm and a maximum aperture of f/2-3.9.

This lens is worth receiving more attention as it comes wrapped in Dual Control Rings. The result? A similar level of control that a user has on a DSLR lens, so that zooming and focusing is controlled manually and with ease.

Professionals might be disappointed by Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II’s lack of an optical viewfinder

A high-resolution 3-inch tilting LCD touchscreen sits on the back of the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II compact camera.

Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II is intended for professional photographers. It features optical image stabilization, ISO sensitivity of 100-12800, 14-bit RAW photos, and custom white balance support.

A shutter speed range between 60 seconds and 1/4000th of a second is available, while a 3-inch tilting high-resolution LCD touchscreen allows photographers to capture shots from tricky positions.

Unfortunately, there is a major catch, as the new model loses the optical viewfinder found in its predecessor. If you still want to compose your shots almost like a pro, then you will have to buy an external electronic viewfinder that can be mounted on the hot shoe. However, it costs a penny under $300.

It is worth noting that the new PowerShot model captures full HD videos at 30fps and sports a stereo microphone for high-quality audio recording.

Canon to release WiFi-enabled premium compact camera this April

Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II sports the mode dial and the shutter button on the top. A pop-up flash can also emerge, while the hot shoe is used for attaching external accessories.

One of the most important areas of a camera is quickly becoming the connectivity one. As small as the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II may be, it still has enough room for built-in WiFi and NFC.

These features can be used to instantly connect to a nearby smartphone or tablet in order to transfer content, so that you can share it on social networks. However, photos can also be transferred to a computer via USB 2.0 or HDMI ports.

Storage is supplied by an SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot, which will not take its toll on the camera’s total weight, circling around 553 grams / 19.51 ounces, including batteries.

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II is sized at 116 x 74 x 66mm / 4.57 x 2.91 x 2.6-inches and it will become available for $799.99 as of April 2014.