Verity Vine
28 maart 2025
Right then, let's get straight to it! As someone who's spent a fair bit of time putting the Canon PowerShot V1 through its paces specifically for vlogging, I can tell you it offers a compelling alternative to lugging around a standard DSLR and using whatever “movie” mode it may have. For those of us focused on creating video content, the V1 comes out on top thanks to its clever design when it comes to portability and those genuinely useful, vlogger-centric features you don't find in a traditional DSLR setup. It’s a different beast altogether, really tailored for a different way of shooting. So, this isn't just a quick glance; this is my experience after using it for hours.Size, Build and How It FeelsFirst off, it's a genuinely compact camera, small enough to slip into a bag, rucksack or jacket pocket, but don't let that small size fool you – there's some proper clever stuff going on inside this camera, and I was eager to see how it handled real-world shooting, not just the fancy marketing puff.My first impressions of the main body was that it felt lightweight and genuinely robust. The materials they’ve used have a nice, almost slightly textured feel to them, particularly around the grip areas. The body of the PowerShot V1 appears to be made from glass-filled polycarbonate, which is not just your average plastic. The material has a compelling combination of advantages, particularly for a camera designed for active use like vlogging as it enhances the inherent strength and rigidity of polycarbonate, resulting in a durable body that can better withstand the rigours of everyday use and travel. At the same time, polycarbonate remains relatively lightweight, which is crucial for comfortable handheld shooting and maintaining overall portability. So its robust yet lightweight and ergonomic design are perfectly suited to the demands of content creation and spot on for what most content creators need. The buttons and dials all have a satisfying feel to them. They don't feel loose or wobbly, and they're positioned in a way that makes them easy to access without accidentally hitting other controls. The mode dial has a nice firm rotation, so you're not going to knock it out of position by mistake. Having said that though, I did feel the dial was a little small for my sausage fingers to operate.The flip-out screen, which is a crucial part of a v-logging camera, feels surprisingly lightweight yet very robust, and it too appears to be made from glass-filled polycarbonate. The hinge mechanism is smooth but also feels sturdy enough to withstand being opened and closed repeatedly. There's a reassuring amount of resistance when you're adjusting the angle, so it stays where you put it.Even the lens, despite being retractable, feels well-integrated into the body. There's no excessive play or movement when it's extended. The zoom rocker switch has a nice tactile feel, and the zoom action itself is fast, smooth and controlled.The port covers on the side, for the microphone, headphones, USB-C, and HDMI, fit snugly and feel like they'll offer decent protection against dust and minor splashes, although the camera isn't officially weather-sealed, so I wouldn't want to test that too thoroughly in a downpour.The battery and SD card compartment door, while a bit inconveniently placed when a tripod plate is attached, itself feels well-made and has a positive latching mechanism.Considering its relatively compact size, Canon has done a commendable job of packing everything in without making it feel cramped or flimsy, and furthermore, the build quality and construction of the PowerShot V1 are definitely a strong point here. It feels like a well-engineered camera that should hold up reasonably well to the rigours of regular use, whether that’s travelling, vlogging on the go, or using it in a more controlled studio environment. It certainly gives you a sense that you've got a proper tool in your hand, not just a cheap fancy camera.Holding it, you can tell it's well put together. It's got a reassuring weight to it without being heavy. The built-in thumb grip on the back and the textured material all around made it feel really secure no matter what I was doing with it. The little tally light on the front is a welcome feature when you're recording yourself, so you know for sure when it's rolling. And honestly, it genuinely does fit into a jacket pocket when the lens retracts, which is brilliant for travelling light.Image QualityThe picture quality is genuinely impressive. That CLOG 3 profile they've included gives you a fantastic amount of leeway when you're editing, loads of dynamic range to play with. The 1.4-inch sensor really pulls its weight, capturing crisp 4K video by oversampling from a higher resolution, which makes a very noticeable difference. When you're shooting video, you're getting around 18.7 megapixels, which is a crop from the full 22.3 megapixels you get for your still photos. You've got the option of shooting 4K at a smooth 30 frames per second across the entire sensor width, or if you need that extra speed, you can go up to 4K 60fps with a very slight crop.Lens PerformanceThe fixed lens is an absolute cracker too. It's equivalent to a 16-50mm on a full-frame camera for stills, and a touch wider at 17-52mm for video, with a decent aperture range of f/2.8 at the wide end, going to f/4.5 as you zoom in. It's so surprisingly sharp right across the zoom range it has to be seen to be believed. Further, they've built in image stabilisation, which is an absolute godsend for keeping handheld footage steady. The only little thing I've noticed is that it can be a bit prone to catching the light and creating some veiling flare in certain situations. It's not a constant issue, mind you, but it does pop up in specific circumstances. What I've found is that if you've got a strong light source just outside the frame, particularly sunlight or a bright artificial light, it can cause a sort of hazy, washed-out look across the image. It's not the distinct, colourful streaks you get with some types of lens flare; this is more of a subtle reduction in contrast and overall clarity. It’s like a thin veil of light has been cast over the picture. The blacks don't look as deep, and the colours can appear a bit muted. It tends to be most noticeable when the strong light source is at a certain angle relative to the lens. I've experienced it most often when shooting outdoors on a sunny day, especially if the sun is just out of shot to the side or slightly above the frame.It's not always a massive problem, and sometimes it can even give a slightly dreamy or atmospheric quality to the footage, which might be what you're after. However, if you're aiming for a really crisp and contrasty look, it can be a bit of a nuisance. I've found myself having to adjust my shooting angle slightly or use my hand to shield the lens in those situations to try and minimise the effect. It's just something to be aware of when you're out and about shooting in bright light - not a deal-breaker by any means - but it's definitely a characteristic of the lens that I've observed through my time using the PowerShot V1.Top and Side ControlsUp on top, they've included a proper hot shoe for attaching accessories, and the integrated microphone array with the included furry windshield does a decent job of cutting out wind noise. You've got a handy rocker switch for zooming, the shutter button, a dedicated record button for video, a mode dial to switch between photo and video, and a separate switch to quickly jump between stills and movie modes. On the left side, you'll see some vents for the internal cooling fan which is something of a necessity for longer recording sessions. And on the right, you've got your ports neatly tucked away: microphone input, headphone jack for monitoring audio, a USB-C port for charging and data transfer, and a micro HDMI port for connecting to external displays.Back Panel and BottomThe flip-out screen is excellent; it's bright and clear, making it easy to see what you're doing, especially when you're filming yourself. The various buttons and dials are customisable, which gives you a good level of control right at your fingertips. There are two control dials, which I find really useful for quickly adjusting exposure settings. The battery and the single SD card slot are housed in the same compartment on the bottom. One minor annoyance I've found is that if you've got a tripod plate attached, it completely blocks access to this door, so you have to take the plate off to change the battery or card. A bit of a faff, that.The Flip-Out TouchscreenRight, the touchscreen on the PowerShot V1 is a proper little gem, and I found myself using it all the time. It's a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD, and the responsiveness is bang on the money. It's not one of those laggy, frustrating touchscreens you sometimes get; this one feels nice and immediate - joy!The touchscreen makes navigating the camera’s menus a total breeze – just a quick tap or swipe and you're where you need to be. It makes changing settings so much quicker than fiddling about with buttons alone. For things like adjusting the ISO or white balance, or even digging into the more detailed shooting settings, the touchscreen interface is really intuitive - slick!But it's not just for menus. When you're shooting, the touch AF is brilliant. You can simply tap on the part of the screen you want to be in focus, and the camera locks on almost instantly. This is especially handy when you're filming yourself and want to make sure your face is sharp. You can even tap to select a focus point and then the camera will track that subject as it moves (with Movie Servo AF in video mode).During playback, swiping through your photos and videos feels natural, just like on your phone. You can pinch-to-zoom to check the sharpness and details of your shots too.The screen itself is nice and bright, making it easy to see what you're doing even when you're outdoors. And the fact that it's a vari-angle screen means you can flip it out and rotate it, which is essential for vlogging and shooting from different angles. Whether I was holding the camera up high, down low, or facing it towards myself, I could always see what I was framing.So, I felt that the touchscreen integration on the PowerShot V1 was really well done - superb, in fact! It makes the camera feel modern and user-friendly, and it definitely sped up my workflow. It's not just a tacked-on feature; it feels like a core part of how you interact with the camera. I reckon anyone who's used a smartphone will feel right at home with it.Useful ExtrasIt's got a built-in 3-stop neutral density (ND) filter, which is incredibly handy for controlling exposure in bright conditions without having to mess with shutter speed or aperture too much. The dynamic range it captures is really quite impressive, comparable to Canon's more advanced R8 camera in some respects. Low-light performance is respectable, though you do start to see a bit of smearing of fine details as you push the ISO up. There is a bit of rolling shutter effect, particularly when you're shooting in 4K at 60 frames per second, so fast-moving subjects can look a little distorted. The image stabilisation is a combination of optical in the lens and digital in the camera, and it works pretty well to smooth out handheld wobbles. The autofocus system is quick and reliable, on par with other recent Canon cameras I've used. If you want to go manual focus, you can control it using the up and down buttons on the back or by using the touchscreen.Studio ApplicationsThis camera really shines if you're doing things like podcasting, live streaming, or any kind of recording where you need to run for extended periods without overheating, all thanks to that internal cooling fan. It'll happily run indefinitely if you've got it plugged into a USB-C PD power supply, which is a massive plus for studio work.The Dual Pixel CMOS AF systemWhen it comes to autofocus, the PowerShot V1 truly shone, thanks mostly to its Dual Pixel CMOS AF system. In my time with the camera, I found the autofocus to be consistently quick and accurate, locking onto subjects with impressive speed and maintaining focus with precision. Focus transitions are remarkably smooth and natural, a crucial aspect for achieving professional-looking video footage. The V1’s tracking performance is also excellent, reliably following moving subjects and keeping them sharp, which is a major advantage for vlogging. Face and eye detection is particularly noteworthy, ensuring that people remain in crisp focus. And for those moments when you want to take control, the responsive touch AF allows you to instantly select your desired focus point with a simple tap on the screen. It really felt like the autofocus on the V1 was a reliable and high-performing feature that significantly enhanced both photo and video capture.How I Used the PowerShot V1Here's that explanation of how I used the most common features of the V1, in the hope it will give you a rough idea how easy it is to handle.Turning It On and Getting ReadyFirst things first then, start by inserting an SD-card and then charge the battery! Use a quality PD USB-C cable and plug the camera into a Power Delivery (PD) capable power supply (or PD capable power bank if you’re out and about). It has to be a PD capable charger otherwise the camera won’t charge! PD power banks and chargers are very common these days, so it’s likely you’ll already have one to hand. When it comes to the SD-Card, make sure the card is a decent speed, especially if I'm planning on shooting 4K video. You'll want a card with a Video Speed Class rating of V30 or higher. Then, it's a simple case of turning the camera on using the power button, flip the screen out, and you’re good to go.Basic ShootingFor most everyday stuff, I'd likely stick to Scene Intelligent Auto (A+) mode. It's very good at figuring out what you're trying to shoot and adjusting the settings automatically. If I wanted a bit more control, I might switch to Program AE (P) mode, which lets me adjust things like ISO while the camera sets the aperture and shutter speed.Focusing is usually spot on with the camera's autofocus. I'd often use touch AF to quickly select my subject on the screen. For video, I found the Movie Servo AF absolutely perfect in keeping things in focus while I was recording.Zooming is a doddle with the zoom lever, and I'd use the shutter button to take photos or start and stop video recording. However, I did find the lever quite small to use, and would have preferred something a little bigger to operate.Getting CreativeWhen I wanted to get a bit more creative, I'd start playing around with the shooting modes. There's a bunch to choose from, like portrait, landscape, and close-up. I'd also experiment with things like HDR mode for scenes with a lot of contrast, and the built-in ND filter for shooting in bright light.For video, exploring the different recording sizes and frame rates was a worthwhile exercise. 4K at 30fps would be my go-to for most things, but I'd switch to 60fps for smoother motion or 120fps for slow-motion effects.Reviewing and SharingAfter shooting, I'd review my images and videos on the screen. The playback controls are pretty intuitive. If I wanted to share anything, I could either connect the camera to my computer or use the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth features to transfer them to my phone.Customising the CameraTo make the camera work exactly how I want it to, I spent some time customising the settings, like the button functions, display options, and autofocus settings.And that's pretty much it for a basic shoot! Those were the features I used most often, and how I used them. Of course, there's a lot more to the camera than that, but those are the ones that get you up and running to capture some great photos and videos.How I Used the PowerShot V1's More Advanced Features.This is where you can really start to fine-tune things and get some truly impressive results. Having used these features, here’s what I’d recommend having a tinker around with.Fine-Tuning FocusAutofocus is great, but sometimes you need that extra bit of precision. So it’s worthwhile exploring the different AF operation and AF method settings. By way of example, when I'm shooting a subject that's moving erratically, I'd probably use Servo AF to keep them in focus. And for portraits, I'd make sure eye detection AF is switched on.I'd also get to grips with manual focus if you can. The ability to tweak the focus precisely, especially in video, is invaluable. The manual focus peaking feature is a big help here, highlighting the in-focus areas.Mastering ExposureGetting the exposure right is crucial, so move beyond the automatic modes and start using the creative zone modes. Aperture-priority (Av) mode would be my “go-to” for controlling depth of field, while shutter-priority (Tv) mode is perfect for capturing motion, whether I want to freeze it or blur it by panning with the subject. And for maximum control, I'd use Manual (M) mode.Also, make good use of exposure compensation to fine-tune the brightness of my shots, and I'd experiment with different metering modes to get the best exposure in tricky lighting conditions.Colour and StyleTo get the colours looking exactly how I want them, I'd dive into the white balance settings. There are presets for different lighting conditions, but I'd also use custom white balance to get accurate colours in specific situations.Explore the Picture Style settings. These let you adjust the overall look of your images and videos, with options for things like contrast, sharpness, and saturation. I'd probably create my own custom Picture Style to get a consistent look across my work.Advanced VideoThe PowerShot V1 is a cracking video camera, so spend time tweaking the video settings. Experiment with different recording formats to find the best balance between quality and file size. Also, pay close attention to the audio settings, using the microphone and headphone jacks to get the best possible sound.For more cinematic results, explore the Canon Log 3 setting, which captures a wider dynamic range and gives you more flexibility in post-production.CustomisationTo make the camera truly yours, delve deep into the customisation options. Reassign button functions to put your most-used controls right at your fingertips. Also, set up the My Menu to quickly access my favourite settings.ConnectivityFinally, make sure you are comfortable with all the connectivity options. Use the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to quickly transfer images and videos to other devices like your phone or laptop, and explore the options for controlling the camera remotely.My Final ThoughtsSo there you have it. As you can see, the Canon PowerShot V1 is an incredible V-logging camera that has a multitude of advanced feature beyond the basic speed/aperture/ISO reciprocity, and by mastering these advanced features, you could really unlock the full potential of the PowerShot V1 and capture some truly exceptional photos and videos with this beauty. It’s an absolute corker for anyone serious about creating content; It's got the image quality, the features, and the build to handle a wide variety of shooting situations, and it's small enough to take just about anywhere. Oh, just a quick note about the 5-stars despite some of mediocre points I've outlined. I honestly feel that the Canon PowerShot V1 is the best point-and-shoot vlogging camera I have used, and not much else comes close to it right now.