Revisiting the Quirky Canon PowerShot N Digicam 10 Years Later

In January of 2013, Canon introduced a bizarre compact digicam referred to as the PowerShot N. A decade later and with “classic” level and shoots making a comeback, how effectively does this unusual little digicam maintain up?

Whereas the smartphone digicam will be blamed for the all however full collapse of the point-and-shoot class, Canon has tried various things to make its small cameras stand out.

At first look, the tiny rectangle-shaped PowerShot N seems to be nothing greater than a lens and a display, which was and continues to be an enormous departure from conventional digicam design. Whereas this digicam wasn’t an enormous industrial success, it didn’t cease Canon from attempting new issues. Even lately the corporate has launched the PowerShot Zoom, the PowerShot Decide, and the IVY Rec, all takes on the digicam that considerably deviate from the standard design.

Surprisingly, the PowerShot N has aged comparatively effectively and is able to producing very nice images in a compact kind issue that’s nonetheless enjoyable to make use of.

What an Odd Little Digicam

The PowerShot N just isn’t intuitive to make use of within the least. As a result of it lacks a normal shutter button (the one seen buttons are the on/off, playback, and smartphone share), should you handed this digicam to somebody you’re principally assured to confuse them. From a contemporary perspective, you’ll in all probability anticipate that because it doesn’t have a shutter, images will be captured by tapping the rear display.

Nope. Whereas it’s a fairly responsive contact display (particularly contemplating its age), the one possibility there may be to report a video. To really take a photograph, it’s a must to click on the down on one of many two rings that encompass the lens system. The ring that’s closest to you zooms the lens out and in whereas the ring that’s closest to the entrance of the lens doesn’t spin in any respect, however solely clicks.

It’s a wierd design alternative as a result of I’d by no means assume to push down on what seems to be just like the zoom ring.

As you would possibly anticipate, the settings are fairly restricted. It has a tiny, measly flash that’s what I’d describe as “effective,” can shoot in JPEGs that max out at 12 megapixels, or 4,000 by 3,000 pixels, and it may’t seize in RAW. What it may do is shoot video, which is shockingly 1080p Full HD decision. Is it “good” Full HD? Completely not. The pixels lack element, the colours are weak, and the footage has a distinctly “outdated” look. I find it irresistible. It’s a blast from the previous. The digicam data all these choices to a microSD card, however you possibly can in all probability join it on to a pc if you could find a miniUSB cable — I couldn’t.

The PowerShot N may also seize in a number of selectable types, and considered one of its settings will create a set of images throughout all these types from a single click on, which is a fast strategy to see which model of the photograph you truly like relatively than needing to manually seize all of them individually. This setting is named “Artistic Shot” and is initiated by a change on the suitable facet of the digicam.

Technologically, the PowerShot N was fairly superior. Because it was designed to fight the rising risk of smartphones cameras, Canon geared up it with the power to hook up with gadgets by way of WiFi and there may be even a quick-share button on the facet of the digicam. I don’t know what the app is that was alleged to work with this factor, so I couldn’t inform you how effectively that also works –if in any respect.

One final thing to notice is that whereas the rear LCD articulates, it doesn’t absolutely flip up. Canon was so shut, however missing this characteristic is a large letdown. Consider the selfie machine this might have been. Alas, Canon solely considered taking pictures from behind the digicam, not in entrance of it.

These Images Aren’t Half Unhealthy

Objectively, the choices within the PowerShot N are just about consistent with what I anticipate from a majority of smartphones even at the moment. Certain, most have a RAW photograph possibility now and just about all of them shoot not less than 4K, however let’s be actual: most common folks aren’t taking pictures in RAW on their iPhone. They’re additionally importing compressed movies to Instagram, so it’s not like that 4K is actually being put to make use of.

From that perspective, the PowerShot N continues to carry up surprisingly effectively.

I took the PowerShot N with me once I ventured right down to San Diego final 12 months to judge the Canon R6 Mark II and I used to be repeatedly stunned by what it was capable of do and the way folks reacted to seeing it.

Objectively, images that don’t over-challenge the digicam look fairly darn good. Pictures will be sharp and detailed and whereas I wouldn’t anticipate it to have the ability to seize motion, it does handle to get the overall gist of a state of affairs for the sake of reminiscence.

Whereas the filter choices are a neat addition, a number of of them degrade the standard of a photograph fairly badly as they contain some stage of digital zoom. These images don’t have a whole lot of decision to start with, so a lot of these results don’t have a lot to work with.

Additionally, it mechanically artistically chooses some crops, which will be neat but in addition unusual. Like, beneath, is an unique:

However as well as, the PowerShot N determined {that a} zoom of a foot was going to strike my fancy. This was generated with the “Artistic Shot” multi-photo seize setting.

Different occasions, the impact will be very nice, although:

General, I’m actually happy with the images out of the PowerShot N and should you confirmed a few of these to me with out telling me what digicam took them, I’d not have guessed they got here out of a bizarre point-and-shoot that was launched a decade in the past. I’d as an alternative assume they have been shot on a comparatively latest smartphone, which I believe is fairly excessive reward.

An Consideration Grabber

Whereas this isn’t one thing a road photographer could be pleased with, I used to be pleasantly stunned by how a lot consideration this little digicam bought. Each time I pulled it out of my bag, somebody would touch upon it and normally snort. Level-and-shoot cameras like this have all however vanished, so seeing one within the wild is kind of the oddity.

The faculty-aged college students on the tennis court docket thought it was the best little factor ever and it sparked a dialog about “classic” cameras and the way well-liked they at the moment are.

Except for making me really feel like an historic fossil of a human after listening to them think about the PowerShot N “classic,” it goes to indicate that Technology Z actually has a mushy spot for the digicam expertise we took with no consideration again then. I don’t actually know what that claims about me or them, however it’s one thing that places a smile on my face.

Look, I’m not going to go as far as to say that the PowerShot N is an effective digicam, however it’s unquestionably an fascinating one. A decade in the past it was bizarre and that hasn’t modified fast-forwarding to at the moment. One other factor that’s remained constant? It’s enjoyable.

And pictures must be enjoyable.