AndrewFlannigan
Suspended / Banned
- Messages
- 11,977
- Edit My Images
- No
A couple of years ago, Canon released a new "thing".
Called the "Powershot Zoom", it immediately started a minor epidemic of head scratching: is it a camera that can be used as a digital monocular or is it a digital monocular that can be used as a camera? Whatever it is, I spotted one at a heavy discount and decided to try it.
The first thing I noticed is that it is very small, easily fitting into the palm of my relatively small hands.
The second thing I noticed is how few controls it has: three on the top and three on the bottom. For a long time user of conventional cameras, this represents a small problem in ergonomics, you need to release the shutter with your thumb.
The third thing I noticed is that the pictures aren't "technically good". The jpeg files need some work to make the images fit even for small postings on line and are unlikely to win any prizes at the RPS Salon.
After I got over the shock of just how different this is from any other still camera, it's fun! Sure: I could get the same images with my travel zoom cameras but they weigh twice as much and have lens covers and phyical lens movements that can go wrong, especially if they're bouncing around in my pocket. This little gadget gives a reassuring air of being made out of a block of plastic and if there are moving parts, I'm not aware of them.
So: my conclusion is that it's not for the sort of person who will carry a Leica M10 or a Nikon Z everywhere but it will be for those people who want to see that bird in the tree a bit better and would like to keep a record of it at the same time.
Called the "Powershot Zoom", it immediately started a minor epidemic of head scratching: is it a camera that can be used as a digital monocular or is it a digital monocular that can be used as a camera? Whatever it is, I spotted one at a heavy discount and decided to try it.
The first thing I noticed is that it is very small, easily fitting into the palm of my relatively small hands.
The second thing I noticed is how few controls it has: three on the top and three on the bottom. For a long time user of conventional cameras, this represents a small problem in ergonomics, you need to release the shutter with your thumb.
The third thing I noticed is that the pictures aren't "technically good". The jpeg files need some work to make the images fit even for small postings on line and are unlikely to win any prizes at the RPS Salon.
After I got over the shock of just how different this is from any other still camera, it's fun! Sure: I could get the same images with my travel zoom cameras but they weigh twice as much and have lens covers and phyical lens movements that can go wrong, especially if they're bouncing around in my pocket. This little gadget gives a reassuring air of being made out of a block of plastic and if there are moving parts, I'm not aware of them.
So: my conclusion is that it's not for the sort of person who will carry a Leica M10 or a Nikon Z everywhere but it will be for those people who want to see that bird in the tree a bit better and would like to keep a record of it at the same time.
Last edited:
