Canon PowerShot S200
MRP: Rs 20,000

As camera phones are trying their best to make point and shoots obsolete, manufacturers seem to be taking up the challenge by making entry-level digicams smarter. For starters, point and shoots these days have started sporting larger sensors, and offer DSLR-type framing controls — you can not only shoot in camera RAW, but also play around with aperture settings, ISO values, and control shutter speeds. Although, those looking for cameras with interchangeable lenses often prefer Nikon or Canon, both brands also offer a wide spectrum of options in the point and shoot models too. Canon already has the PowerShot G1 X with a 1.5" sensor, and now, its latest offering comes with a smaller 1/1.7" CMOS sensor. While this one is slightly bigger than that of the Nokia Lumia 1020 (1/1.5"), it definitely larger than what you find in run-of-the-mill snappers. Here's what we feel about it after getting it right off the box.

In The Box
Apart from the camera, you will get the NB-6LH battery pack, a wrist strap, a 4 GB memory card, and a camera carry pouch.

Look And Feel
The PowerShot S200 that we have received is a white-hued model. The most obvious observation is that its body is too glossy, and has no visible grips. So if you have butter fingers, like I usually do, the smartest thing to do is attach the wrist strap. While I don't really think the piece is tacky, but a matt finish would have been a better option. Like most snappers these days, it has two control rings — one around the lens, and the other around the menu dial. This 10.1 MP camera with 5x optical zoom does a decent job with image stabilisation, even at the highest zoom. That said, we will reserve our verdict for the complete review.

Ergonomics
The camera is quite compact, but then that sleekness comes at the price of ergonomics. There is nothing to grip the camera firmly, and the glossy finish makes matters worse. Like I mentioned above, better to get the wrist strap in place before taking this baby out fishing. Also, it takes some time to figure out where the Flash button is, but its build is better than the one seen on Sony's RX100M2.

UI And Initial Experience
This is a non-touch based camera with a 3" LCD screen, a norm with most snappers these days. In the Auto mode, the camera is intelligent enough to gauge the focal distance of the subject in focus and switch to macro mode. Considering that this is a 1/1.7” CMOS sensor, with apertures as wide as f/2.0, you can expect decent amount of details in low-light captures. I didn’t really test its Wi-Fi, and movie capture abilities, but the initial few test shots that you can check out below offer good amount of details in daylight. All in all, at first glance, this camera seems impressive. Whether it justifies the Rs 20k price tag (MRP), we will let you know in the full review soon.

Specifications

• 10.1 MP (effective).
• DIGIC 5 processor.
• Sensor size: 1/1.7 inch (CMOS).
• 5x zoom.
• Image Stabilization System (IS): Lens-shift type.
• 3" LCD Monitor.
• Shutter Speed   1 – 1/2000sec.

Tags : Cameras, Canon, PowerShot