Canon has revealed its next PowerShot N camera, the N100. While the new device ditches the quirky square form-factor of the original N, it has gained its own distinctive tricks, such as using a rear-facing camera to take photos of you taking photos. Designed with social sharing in mind, the pocketable camera also features Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity.
The Canon PowerShot N100 is clearly aimed at the social-networking crowd who want more photographic power than their current smartphone can offer, but don't want a typical compact. It boasts a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, a 5x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, and a number of creative modes designed to give you images and video worth sharing – all in a package that's still smaller than many other compact cameras.
But the most intriguing feature is its rear-facing camera, dubbed the Story Camera, which is used for a Dual Capture mode. This works by taking a selfie of the user as they take a photo, then using it as a picture-in-picture composition, with four positions and three embed sizes on offer. It's similar to features we've seen on smartphones like the LG Optimus G Pro and also works when shooting video, which the N100 can do at 1080p Full HD.
Canon's DIGIC 6 image processor is on hand to keep operation running smoothly, and the PowerShot N100 features a 5.2-mm-26-mm F1.8-F5.7 zoom lens which gives a 35-mm format equivalent focal range of 24-mm-120-mm. On the rear there's a tilting three-inch touchscreen, though unlike the original PowerShot N, this time there is also a selection of physical buttons to the side of it.
Wi-Fi connectivity is built in for easy image sharing and can be activated by the Mobile Device Connect button. Near Field Communication (NFC) also means that suitably equipped smartphones or tablets can, after an initial pairing, automatically launch the Canon Camera Window App when pressed against the camera.
Four new filter categories (Retro, Monochrome, Special and Natural) have been added to the Creative Shot mode, which is there to offer a selection of "artistic" variations of your photos. A new Story Highlights mode, which can automatically create a movie highlight reel of images and video based around events, date, or people (utilizing Face ID) has also been added.
The PowerShot N100 digital camera is expected to be available in May in black or white, for a price of around US$350.
Here's a short video showing the Canon PowerShot N100 … and why you now have to smile when taking photos, too.
Source: Canon