New from Canon: Another SX model, an ELPH and the rather unique little N100, all NFC-enabled

 

 

Canon announced three new offerings this morning in the compact world for those of you looking to step up from smartphone limitations and expand your zoom range and low light performance in a small package: the SX600 HS, the ELPH 340 HS and the new concept camera the N100. All three models sport a first for their line, allowing Near Field Communication between the camera and NFC equipped Android devices.

Also new to the SX and ELPH lines, and coming on the N100, is Creative Shot mode first seen on the Canon N. In this rather clever mode the camera intuitively selects a range of creative filters and crop selections and delivers 5 JPEG options of the shot while still preserving the original image as a back-up. All three models are also Wi-Fi compatible.

The Canon SX600 HS is a sleek compact that sports 18x optical zoom range (25-450mm eq.) and a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor with a DIGIC 4+ processor. Yet another new and compelling feature on this model is Hybrid AUTO, which takes still images and short video clips and combines them into a video highlight reel of a vacation or a shooting outing with no software or editing required. For more details please see our Canon SX600 HS preview.

 

The Canon SX600 HS sports 18x optical zoom range and a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor

The Canon ELPH 340 HS is the successor to the ELPH 330 HS and includes a slightly longer 12x zoom range than the previous 10x of the 330 HS, and ups the resolution by roughly 4 megapixels to a new 16 megapixel CMOS chip with a DIGIC 4+ processor onboard. And like the SX600 HS, this little ELPH comes with Hybrid AUTO mode as well. If you're interested in the latest from the storied ELPH line, read more in our Canon ELPH 340 HS preview!

 

The Canon ELPH 340 HS features a 12x optical zoom range and a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor

Last in this latest trio is the unique little N100, the second camera to come out in the "N" line, which has a 5x optical zoom range (24-120mm eq.) with OIS and a 12 MP CMOS sensor coupled with a DIGIC 6 processor. Perhaps its most interesting feature is Dual Capture mode, allowing the photographer to take a picture while a rear-facing camera simultaneously captures his or her picture and places it into the photo. Some smart phones have this capability, but it is still a rather new feature in the point-and-shoot world. For more on this unique little offering please visit our Canon N100 preview.

 

The Canon N100 has a 5x optical zoom range and a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor

The PowerShot SX600 HS is expected towards the end of February 2014 at an estimated retail price of US$249.99, and will be offered in red, white and black; the PowerShot ELPH 340 HS is expected to start shipping in March 2014 at an estimated retail price of US$199.99, and will be offered in purple, silver and black; and the PowerShot N100 is expected to start shipping in May 2014 at an estimated retail price of US$349.99, and will be offered in white and black.