Canon announces five new compact cameras

Canon will release five new compact cameras in the first quarter of 2016, two in the PowerShot series and three in the Ixus line. The Ixus cameras fall under the ‘point-and-shoot’ segment, while the PowerShots belong to the compact bridge cameras.

The PowerShot SX540 HS and SX420 IS feature 50x and 42x optical zoom respectively. The SX540 HS is equipped with a Digic 6 processor with a 20.3 megapixel CMOS sensor and can film in full HD, while its cheaper brother, the PowerShot SX420 IS, is equipped with a 20.0 megapixel sensor with a Digic 4+ -Processor. Both cameras have WiFi and NFC. When zooming in considerably, the camera activates a function that makes it easier to keep a centered subject in focus.

Three models are added to the Ixus line with type numbers 285 HS, 180 and 175. The cameras successively have a maximum optical zoom capacity of 12x, 10x and 8x. Like the PowerShots, the two most expensive models, the 285 HS and 180, have image stabilization that should keep the centered subject consistently sharp, even when zooming in far. The Ixus 285 HS has a 20.2 megapixel CMOS sensor and the other two cameras have a slightly different 20 megapixel sensor. All three cameras have a Digic 4+ processor and have WiFi and NFC. Only the 285 HS is capable of recording full HD video.

The PowerShot cameras will be available in Europe from March and will have a suggested retail price of €380 for the SX540 HS and €270 for the SX420 IS. The Ixus cameras will be available from February. The Ixus 285 HS will receive a suggested retail price of 220 euros, the Ixus 180 will cost 160 euros upon introduction and the Ixus 175 changes owner for 110. Canon announced the cameras at CES in Las Vegas.

Canon PowerShot SX540 HS, SX420 IS, Ixus 285 HS, 180 and 175