Testing the Canon Powershot PX: the fully automatic event photographer
5.10.2022
Translation: Katherine Martin
Though the Canon Powershot PX might be reminiscent of a surveillance camera, it’s actually supposed to function as a fully automatic event photographer. Instead, it turns out to be an expensive party trick.
At parties and other occasions, the fully automatic Canon Powershot PX is designed to take on the role of event photographer. It moves, adjusts its own focal length and above all, attempts to capture faces. It’s able to snap photos just fine. But without assistance, the camera remains stuck in one spot – and for the odd bit of party fun, it’s too pricey.
15 of the 204 images are up to par
A small, after-work get-together with drinks at our Hamburg office is the perfect occasion to give the Camera Powershot PX a whirl. I quickly install the «Connect App for Mini PTZ Cam» (Android/iOS) on my phone, which allows me to control the camera manually and adjust numerous settings. I’m even able to upload faces that I want to be photographed more often. The thing is, I don’t want to do any of that. After all, the PX is supposed to do the work itself. Nevertheless, I’ll be using the app even more frequently as the evening takes its course.
To make sure the Powershot PX doesn’t just snap the same things with different people in the frame, I continually shift it to different places. At our little buffet, on the bar table, on a tripod or even on the fire escape. The battery lasts a little more than two hours, though it can also run via a plug socket or power bank. Over these two hours, my test camera takes 204 photos and 129 videos lasting just a few seconds long. The number of frames per second can be reduced in the app to extend the battery life. Switching to the lowest setting is supposed to increase the possible runtime to up to five hours.
The camera uses a triple zoom to take photos with focal lengths between 19 and 57 millimetres. It’s equipped with a CMOS sensor with a 11.7-megapixel resolution to help with this – a sensor typical of a budget compact camera. The Powershot PX can rotate its lens 170 degrees left and right, tilt 90 degrees upwards and 20 degrees downwards.
Of the 204 photos, the app flags 34 as good. In my opinion, 15 images are up to scratch. Plus, there are a few of people with their mouths full of food, or biting into a sausage on the end of their fork. Although they’re funny to flick through at first, they’re not exactly the kind of photos you’d show off later – and I’m strictly forbidden from uploading them here. Nobody wants to see themselves on the internet looking like that.
When it comes to the full HD videos, the pickings are even slimmer. Most of them are too short, don’t start at the right moment or cut out prematurely. To make matters worse, you can hardly ever make out the sound – and even when the audio is discernible, it’s usually unimportant snippets of chit-chat.
Compact camera without post-processing
The Canon Powershot PX is reliant on good lighting. Even during the day, the snaps taken indoors under artificial lighting indicate clearly recognisable image noise. Outdoors, with sufficient brightness, the pictures look good, but the lens isn’t a fan of strong contrasts or backlight. That being said, the camera is better suited to a summer shindig than a Halloween party.
At 1/2.3 inches, the image sensor is larger than the ones on most smartphones. And yet, it still only achieves the image quality of a bargain-basement compact camera. It doesn’t have automatic post-processing, a function which spruces up the contrasts and colours of smartphone photos, and generally makes them look good.
Another important factor in determining the quality of the shots is the location of the PX, as setting it to the correct angle is essential for good photos. The Powershot PX, however, is too stationary in comparison to a human photographer. And if it’s taking a bunch of unflattering double-chin shots, it’s none the wiser. To be honest, though, these are the photos that generate the most laughs when I periodically check the app to see how many pictures have been taken so far.
Verdict: an expensive party gag
The idea of having a Canon Powershot PX sounds tempting, and can be useful in certain situations. However, the crop of usable photos is negligible, and good image quality can only be achieved with favourable external conditions. This considered, the camera looks set to remain a one-off party trick – and it’s too expensive to be just that.
When I was but a young student, I'd sit in my friend's living room with all my classmates and play on his SuperNES. Since then I've had the opportunity to test out all the newest technology for you. I've done reviews at Curved, Computer Bild and Netzwelt, and have now arrived at Galaxus.de.
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