Canon Powershot Pro1 Review

The Pro1 employs a high-speed and variable speed Canon Ultrasonic Motor (USM) to operate the zoom lens mechanism.

The Pro1 features the first Canon L-series lens ever incorporated into a compact digital camera. It's a 28-200mm (35mm format equivalent) f/2.4-3.5, 7x optical zoom constructed of 14 elements with two aspherical elements, one UD-glass element and one Fluorite crystal element.

The focal length of the zoom is controlled by turning the ring on the lens barrel. This is a "fly by wire" zoom mechanism that is electronically changed with an ultrasonic motor, it is not mechanical. This same lens ring is also used to manually adjust the focus when in Manual Focus mode.

The LH-DC10 petal-shaped lens hood is included and attaches via a bayonet locking ring. The macro capabilities of the L-series lens allow for close focusing to 3.9 inches at full resolution while the "super macro mode" permits close-focus to 1.2 inches (at a moderately reduced five megapixel resolution).

The Pro1 features a hybrid autofocus (TTL + external metering sensor) system with a user-selectable Continuous or Single AF mode. AF lock and Manual focus are available. The AF focus area may be positioned anywhere in the frame. The normal AF range is 50 cm (1.6 ft.) - infinity (Wide) and 1 m (3.3 ft.) - infinity (Tele).

Macro Focus mode allows for a zoom range of 28-63mm with 3.9 inches to 1.6 feet coverage and 63-90mm with 1.0 to 1.6 feet coverage (90-200mm is not available in macro mode.) The area covered in macro mode is approx. 6.2 x 4.5 in. at wideangle, approx. 3.4 x 2.6 in. at 63mm and approx. 5.9 x 4.4 in. at 90mm.

Super Macro (enabled in the menu) permits even closer focusing from 1.2 inches to 1.0 feet (3 to 30 cm) with a zoom range of 42-90mm. The area covered is approx. 1.7 x 1.3 in. at 42mm and 1.4 x 1.0 in. at 90mm. The resolution can only be set to M1, M2, M3 or S. If the resolution is L or RAW it will be automatically changed to M1. The lower resolution is used to prevent edge vignetting at this extreme magnification.

The Pro1 accepts optional accessory converter lenses (attached with an optional LA-DC58C lens adapter) including the TC-DC58A Tele Converter Lens that extends the range of the zoom to a maximum of 300mm, and the 58mm 500D Close-up lens. The camera features a menu-operated converter function that sets the camera's lens to the proper position for using these converter lenses.

The Pro1 uses a high-resolution TFT color LCD with 235,000 pixels as the eyelevel finder.

The diopter is adjusted via a knob on the side. The Monitor button switches between EVF and LCD displays.

Rotate the LCD all the way forward and flip it around for framing self-portrait shots and use the included wireless controller to trip the shutter.

When the LCD is not needed it can be rotated around and positioned "face in" to protect the display from damage or greasy nose prints.

The Pro1 has a builtin, multi-mode E-TTL speedlight that can be set set to automatically "popup" when needed. The flash's working range (at ISO 100): 50 cm - 5.0 m (1.6 - 16 ft.) (Wide) and 1.0 - 3.5 m (3.3 - 11.5 ft.) (Tele)

The flash has modes for normal auto, auto with red-eye reduction, forced on, forced off and slow synchro 1st curtain (leading) or 2nd curtain (trailing) timing.

The hot shoe allows the easy attachment of external Canon speedlights. The Pro1 is compatible with all EX-series Speedlites 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 550EX (but does not use the AF-assist lamp). It is also compatible with the Canon Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX and Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX and permits flash exposure compensation of up to +/- 2 stops.