Canon PowerShot G11

Canon refreshed its compact camera line-up this morning with a raft of new models including the flagship 10.0-megapixel Canon PowerShot G11 ($499). Yes, you read that right -- 10.0 MP. The predecessor to the G11, the G10, uses a 14.2MP CCD sensor.

So why the downgrade in resolution for the newer pro model? Canon today acknowledged that it was part of an effort to reduce the incidence of image "noise" when shooting at high ISOs with this compact camera.

"Less is more," explained Margaret Piemonte, a spokesperson for Canon's PowerShot line of cameras.

Piemonte added that along with dropping overall resolution on the G11 to create larger individual pixels on the imaging chip that absorb more light, the new buzzword for the G11 is its "high sensitivity system."  The system combines the new 10MP chip, optical image stabilization, and the camera's Digic IV image processor to produce better images in low light at high ISOs, she said.

Canon Brings Back the S-Series
Perhaps even more intriguing than the G11 is the new sleek and slim Canon PowerShot S90 which is the long, long awaited follow-up to the S80. (It's been so long in coming -- the S80 was introduced in 2005 -- that many had written off Canon's S-Series cameras completely.)

The S90 ($429) is a small, black very pocketable camera that uses the same 10MP imaging sensor as the G11, but has a faster 28-105mm lens with f/2-f/4.5 aperture. A f/2 lens on a pocket camera from Canon hasn't been seen since the days of the Powerhshot G6 in 2004.

"This is the 'Robin' to the G11's 'Batman,'" Piemonte said.

PowerShots Galore
Canon also announced the PowerShot SX20 IS ($399) and SX120 IS ($249) digital cameras. The two models are Canon's superzoomers for getting close to the action. The 12.1MP SZ20 IS has a 20x wide-angle (28-560mm) optical zoom with a built-in optical image stabilizer steady shaky zoomed in shots.

"With that kind of zoom, those cheap balcony seats are looking pretty good right now," Piemonte said.

The SX20 IS can also capture 720p (30fps) HD video with HDMI output. It has 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD and takes AA batteries.

The PowerShot SX120 has a 10MP sensor with 10x optical zoom lens and optical image stabilization. It has 3-inch fixed LCD screen.

New stylish and compact "Digital ELPH" cameras were also unveiled by Canon today. The SD980 IS ($329) is Canon's first camera with a 3-inch touch screen on back.

"With a sweep of a finger, you can access features in the camera," Piemonte said. "This is a hip camera for the trendy."

It uses a 12.1MP sensor and a 5x optical lens and can capture 720p HD video. It comes in five colors: silver, blue, purple and gold. Meanwhile, the SD940 IS ($299) has a 12.1 MP sensor and a 4x optical zoom lens with the ability to pull back to 28mm for wide-angle photos. It can also capture 720p HD movies and has a 2.7-inch non-touch-screen LCD.

Why the G11 Has a Lower Resolution
Though many consumers continue to be enticed by higher megapixel counts on digital cameras, some photographers have been asking for a halt to juicing up a camera's resolution since it increases noise. The 10MP G11 appears to be the first camera to address those requests.

"I don't know if the lower resolution (on the G11) was a direct result (of complaints)," Piemonte said. "I just think people will be happy to see that its a 10MP camera."

The actual physical size of the CCD imaging sensor is the same as the G10 -- 1/1.7-inch. Some photographers had been hoping Canon might try to jump into the larger chip size waters as Sigma has done with the DP1 and DP2 compact cameras, and as Olympus has done with its new EP-1.

Those three cameras use imaging sensors that are slightly smaller in size than what is in a digital SLR. In contrast, the sensor used in the G11 is about the size of the fingernail on your pinky.

Canon also did not put a high definition (HD) video mode on the G11, just a standard def movie mode that can capture 640 x 480 clips at 30 frames per second.

"We're concentrating on the advanced amateur or professional photographer who might use the G11 as a backup to their digital SLR," Piemonte said when asked why Canon chose not to go the HD route with the G11.

The G11 uses the same 28mm-140mm lens with an aperture of f/2.8-f.4.5 as the G10. In contrast to the G10, however, the G11 boats a vari-angle "flip-out" screen for help in composing over-the-head or down low shots on the LCD's live view. (Canon dropped the vari-angle screen from the G-series in 2006.)

In handling both the G11 and S90 during a Canon press event today, I felt the G11 focused quite a bit quicker than the S90 though that was only after some very preliminary testing. The S90 has an interesting "control ring" on the barrel of the lens which lets you adjust the focal length even though the lens itself doesn't extend further. You can also program the control ring to tweak other functions on the camera on the fly such as ISO or f/stop.

The S90, like the G11, can shoot in JPEG, RAW and RAW + JPEG mode and built-in optical image stabilization and the Digic 4 image processor. The 3-inch LCD on the S90 is fixed, not vari-angle. An underwater case is also available for the S90 as an option.

The G11, S90, and the SD940 (with the touchscreen) will be available in October. The other cameras will ship in September.