Canon PowerShot V1, Hybrid Camera, Built-in Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Lens, 4K Video, Vlogging, Live Streaming, Content Creation, Compact Design

The pocket camera market has become incredibly strange over the last decade or so. All of the good cameras that I have liked are no longer made and being resold at twice the cost thanks to social media. My G7X Mark III gave up after 5 years of service, so it was time to give this Powershot V1 a try, despite this being marketed as a vlogging camera and not so much for still photography. With that, I’ll review it as a stills person first with video second. The sensor size and picture quality has increased versus the G7X III, mainly due to going from the DIGIC 8 to DIGIC X sensor. The sensor is also larger and a paired down version of the same sensor on the R7 (which I have and love). Shots wide open at ISO 6400 show less grain than my G7X III did (but both can equally be cleaned up in Lightroom). Downside is that the lens is the equivalent of 18-50mm, so the zoom I had previously enjoyed on other Powershots is no longer there. I tend to shoot wide frequently so this is an annoyance. If this was an 18-100mm equivalent I would be in love. However we do have IS in the camera, so I feel like I’m able to get quality photos and videos indoors in less than great light. Macro mode is excellent and I can use this to take up close photos and not have to feel like I have to bring out the R8 and Macro lens. Video filming is nice. Like most Canon cameras, it’s fairly intuitive and you’re able to record in CLog3, which allows for more dynamic range and better quality of video. The built in microphone is pretty nice and works well but I can add additional accessories for filming (external mics, etc) so I was happy with the sound quality. It also includes a dead cat/microphone filter. It can also do subject tracking, which is pretty cool. I don’t plan on using this as a vlogging camera but I’m incredibly happy with the few minutes’ worth of video I capture at a time and can easily edit in Davinci Resolve. The camera is large, which most people find annoying but I actually like so I can hold it properly and not feel like I’m holding this with 3 fingers like I do with smaller cameras. It’s mainly made larger to handle the fans for the 4k video demands so filming lengthy videos won’t have issues. A few of the reviews that I read mentioned that the V1 had issues with SD cards. I’ve used several (v60 and v90) cards without issues (as always, good fast cards matter). There are a few irritating things with this camera. First, there’s no battery charger, so you’re charging out of the box via USB-C (20W or higher) to get started. Most likely you’ll need an additional battery anyway (the third party ones I’ve used have been fine) so it’s worth looking for one that does standalone charging. This also takes the LP-E17 batteries (same as my R8) so I can extend my filming time when out for the day. Another one of the things that I found incredibly irritating is that the lugs for camera straps have become incredibly small so I was barely able to get the Peak Design anchors on and having to resort to a small connector. I like a solid wrist strap in a camera to prevent from dropping, and the one included in the box with the camera isn’t so great. Shouldn’t be this difficult. Overall this is a really good camera with some frustrations but unlike the G7X series cameras, it’s newer technology and actually available for purchase without an inflated price. I’m happy with the stills and am able to take good footage from the camera. And with manufacturers seeming to abandon pocketable point and shoot cameras, this may be as good as it gets in 2025.

The camera doesn’t have a flash

I’m actually obsessed with the quality of my videos now. I solely used my dji osmo pocket 3 but then that broke so I got this and I love it! I feel like the quality in my videos on TikTok and YouTube increased dramatically. The battery life does suck tho so you’ll have to buy more

Love this camera! I think the quality for video is better than the actual photos themselves. Good size to carry on the go in a purse of fanny pack! Easy to figure out. Good value in my opinion!

Looks like a great camera but a 700 + page instruction manual- that is only available on line - that I had difficulty getting to and downloading - plus so many links within the manual taking me to other instructions, is very confusing. When ordering, it would have been great to know that battery charger, memory card, and cables had to be purchased separately. Almost wish I kept my old camera.