The Canon PowerShot V1 has a 16-50mm equivalent lens. Despite its vlogging focus it can capture Raw stills, too. Rendering: Canon

Canon has announced the PowerShot V1 large-sensor vlogging compact, but for now, at least, it is only available in Asia. We get the impression it will be made more widely available at some point in the near future but Canon is giving no details.

The V1 is a "video-first" compact camera with a 16-50mm equivalent, F2.8-4.5 zoom lens. It's built around a 22-megapixel Type 1.4 (18.4 x 12.3mm) sensor with Canon's Dual Pixel AF II system. It features a fully articulating rear display and a windscreen for its top-mounted microphones, but no built-in flash or electronic viewfinder.

Key specifications:

• 22MP Type 1.4 (18.4 x 12.3mm) Dual Pixel AF CMOS sensor
• 16-50mm equiv. F2.8-4.5 zoom lens with 3EV ND filter
• Full-width 4K up to 30p from 5.7K capture
• 4K/60p from a 1.4x crop (1:1 pixel capture)
• Up to 30 fps stills capture in e-shutter mode
• Cooling fan for extended video recording
• Wired or wireless video streaming
• Multi-function hotshoe for flash or audio accessories
• Fully-articulated rear touchscreen
• Headphone and mic sockets

The camera has a control ring around its lens, but we don't know if it rotates smoothly or clicks when turned.

What is a Type 1.4 sensor?

The sensor is essentially the same size as a Four Thirds chip, but in the wider 3:2 aspect ratio. Its pixel size matches that of the 33MP EOS R7, strongly suggesting it is a variant or cropped version of that sensor: an approach Canon previously took with its G1X series of large-sensor enthusiast cameras.

Conceptually, the Canon PowerShot V1 is essentially akin to a PowerShot G1X Mark II (pictured), mixed with Sony's ZV-1 Mark II vlogging compact. Photo: Richard Butler

The V1 can shoot 4K video at up to 30p using 5.7K readout from approximately the full width of its sensor, or can deliver 60p from a 1.4x cropped region. As with the EOS R7, that equates to a roughly 1:1 pixel region of the sensor. The camera has a built-in fan, and we're told it can shoot 4K/60 for over two hours if you set the overheat threshold to 'High.'

Even with that 1.4x crop, the 8.2-25.6mm lens still gives a 26-71mm equivalent field of view when shooting 60p video.

We were impressed by the sensor in the EOS R7, so the idea of a compact that can shoot Raw using a cropped version of that sensor is an attractive one. That's especially true as the V1 has the Human and Animal detection modes from the R7, and full P,A,S,M control modes.

Video capabilities

Rendering: Canon

The V1 can capture 10-bit Log footage using the Canon Log3 response curve, giving the option to color grade after shooting. It can also tether to a smartphone over USB and Wi-Fi and, if connected to a computer, be used as a video camera for streaming.

The new compact has optical stabilization that can be combined with electronic stabilization in video mode. There's also a 'Subject Tracking IS' mode that uses the stabilization (optical and digital) to maintain the subject's position in the frame and correct for motion.

The camera also has dedicated movie scene modes for "close-up demos," where the autofocus will override face detection if you hold something up close to the camera and one that applies a skin-smoothing effect to the output.

Rendering: Canon

There are mic and headphone sockets to enable high-quality audio capture, along with Canon's multi-function hot shoe connector, which allows the use of audio accessories and a range of flashguns. The camera has an in-lens shutter, which should allow flash sync across its shutter speed range. There's also a built-in 3EV neutral density filter to allow the use of video-appropriate shutter speeds when shooting in bright light.

For now, the PowerShot V1 is only being released in Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, with the company saying it will be available in late April 2025. Our first chance to get our hands on it will be at the CP+ trade show in Japan next week.

Canon PowerShot V2 specifications