Canon PowerShot G1X leaks: $799 with child-detector

Canon's new PowerShot G1X has been prematurely detailed, a 14.3-megapixel flagship set to be unveiled at CES 2012 next week. Leaked, just like the Fujifilm X-Pro 1, by Wells Fargo, the G1X is being targeted at "advanced amateurs" along with point-and-shoot professionals, toting a 4x (28-112mm) optical zoom and an F/2.5-16 aperture.

The CMOS sensor measures in at a sizable 1.5-inches, has a shallow depth of field, and the new Canon is capable of up to 6fps high-speed burst shooting or 4.5fps at full resolution. There's 14-bit RAW file support and one of Canon's DIGIC 5 processors to crunch pictures, bringing improved low-light support with it.

Other features include multi-area white balance adjustment and new Smart Auto settings for those who prefer to leave complexities to the camera itself. A "child-weighted" face detection system sounds ideal for the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang while there's also an HDR mode and handheld night scene, presumably for reducing blur during longer exposure times.

Full HD 1080p video recording and a 720p "Movie Digest" mode for automatically collating a video log of stills round out the main specs; everything else will have to wait for Canon's own unveil next week. The Canon PowerShot G1X will ship in February, Wells Fargo says, priced at $799.