As a professional content creator, the one (absolutely essential) thing I ask for on any camera I use is the ability to have manual control over certain functions to allow creativity as well as proper exposure, etc.  Having experience with many different digital and film SLRs as well as HD camcorders, I've come to love certain things about each that make it difficult to use anything less than the best…or the best that my money can buy that is!  You simply can't have a great video camera and a great still camera in the same body.  Beyond that, I've found that many shots that I wish I could get (either still or video) have passed me by simply because I didn't have my video or still camera with me.

Why do I keep missing these perfect photo ops?  Well, I simply don't have the room or the desire to haul around a professional SLR or camcorder with me.  Even as light-weight and small as these cameras have become, its not like they can just fit into your back pocket.  I turned to the Canon SX1 IS for help.  After reading quite a few forums and talking to some fellow photo professionals, it seemed that this small point and shoot might just be what I was looking for…and hey, it's got 1080p video capabilities too!

Even if the size and weight of the professional camera wasn't a problem, people tend to notice you when you have a Canon 5D with a 70-200mm L series lens on the front and a battery grip to boot.  Lets just say that people can get a little uncomfortable if its pointing in their direction.  Same problem with a video camera: if I show up with my Panasonic HVX200 in public and I'm not being paid to shoot somewhere, people tend to ask questions.  Also, there's always that guy (or girl) photography or video enthusiast who has to ask about your camera and then proceeds to tell you all of their creative dreams and ambitions.  I'm not trying to dog these folks (I may have been one myself once) but there are times that you don't want your creativity interrupted.

I've spent several weeks now playing around with the Canon SX1 IS and have found that it performs pretty darn well in the types of situations when you don't really want to be noticed but still want to get some great shots.  Security personnel seem to ignore you too, even if you are somewhere that frowns on professional photographers taking pictures without permission.  I carry it with me almost everywhere I go simply because I can.  I also know that if the worst happens in the way of theft or damage, its not like I'm out seven grand.