If all you want to do is to spend some time with the kids and let them observe nature, a high-end ‘birding’ camera might be a bit of an overkill.
All you need is the Canon Powershot ZOOM, a 12.1 MP camera that’s as small as a power bank and even lighter than one. It also weighs a mere 145g, which means you can easily have it on you at all times without much inconvenience.
In a way, the Powershot ZOOM is like an extension of your smartphone camera. Image: Canon
As such, it seems perfect for hikes or a bit of bird-spotting with the kids from a safe distance – perhaps a bit of otter action too. It also has face-tracking capabilities, so it can also be used to record footage of childrens’ games at events and the like.
This compact monocular camera has three magnification modes – 100m, 400m (both optical) and 800m (digital) – so you can zoom in and out quickly. Designed to be used with one hand, you can easily take pictures or videos with just a push of a button as well. The ZOOM has autofocus and four-axis image stabilisation built-in, though we’re not sure how stable you can be when recording pictures or videos at maximum distance.
You can capture wildlife images from a safe distance. Image: Bernard Teo for Canon
The ZOOM is easily charged with a USB-C cable, and a full charge gets an hours worth of videos or 150 photos. With wireless connectivity, it functions just like any other Canon camera. you can easily transfer files to share on social media or control the camera remotely in real-time.
The Powershot ZOOM will be available in April at $459.
If you need an idea of how far it can reach, this picture says it all. Image: Ryan Cheng for Canon
