The Canon PowerShot Pro1 (2004) Might Be the Most Fun $60 I've Spent
I feel like I’m getting far enough into my photography journey to finally understand the #therearenobadcameras philosophy.
After spending time with modern flagship cameras in all kinds of situations, I’ve come to realize something: the biggest limitation isn’t the camera. It’s me, standing behind it.
Part of my practice now is picking up a range of older cameras. There are so many fascinating machines that were cutting edge in their day, just sitting around waiting for someone to shoot them again. Another benefit is that older cameras are incredibly inexpensive. I can buy a box of old gear that is still incredibly fun to shoot and can teach me a lot along the way.
The oldest (and most surprising) model I’ve used so far is the Canon PowerShot Pro1, released in 2004.
Canon PowerShot Pro1: Quick Specs
- Released: February 2004
- Sensor: 8 megapixel 2/3” Sony CCD
- Lens: Canon L-series, 7.2 to 50.8mm (28 to 200mm equivalent), f/2.4 to f/3.5, 7× optical zoom
- Shutter Speed: 15 seconds to 1/4000 second
- ISO: 50 to 400
- Storage: CompactFlash (Type I/II) and Microdrive
- Screen: 2.0-inch vari-angle LCD (235,000 dots)
- Weight: Approximately 545 g
- Original Price: Around $1,000
This camera is fun.
It shoots surprisingly quickly for a 2004 camera. The menus are simple and easy to navigate, which is one of the underrated benefits of older cameras. Nobody was trying to cram a hundred computational photography modes into a menu system back then.
It also has some wonderfully quirky features from a time when camera companies seemed a little less serious. You can change the shutter sound to a dog barking, which is exactly as delightful and pointless as it sounds.
Here it is in action:
Video: Dog bark shutter sound demo (coming soon)
Here’s a handful of shots from my first roll with it, so to speak.
Build Quality
This thing feels incredibly solid. It has the nicest battery door I’ve ever used, if that’s a metric you’re willing to accept (I certainly am). Everything about the body has a reassuring density that many modern plastic-heavy point-and-shoots just don’t have.
Canon was clearly very proud of this lens. The Pro1 remains the only PowerShot ever built with an L-series lens, the same designation Canon reserves for its professional EF lenses. Canon made sure you’d notice too, complete with the signature red ring around the barrel.
What I Don’t Like
No camera is perfect, and the Pro1 definitely shows its age.
- RAW files take a while to write.
- Autofocus can hunt in low light.
- The rear LCD feels tiny by modern standards.
- ISO 400 is about as far as you’d realistically want to push it.
None of those are deal breakers, but they’re worth knowing before you buy one.
Should You Buy This Camera?
I think the answer is yes.
It’s slower, a little clunky, and undeniably dated by modern standards. But it makes fun photographs, has an excellent lens, and feels wonderfully well built. That’s a combination that’s hard to argue with for about $60.
I’d happily recommend the Canon PowerShot Pro1 to anyone curious about older digital cameras, especially if you’re interested in the unique look of early CCD sensors or simply want something different from today’s mirrorless cameras.
I picked mine up on eBay for about $60. You probably won’t find one on MPB or KEH, but they’re common enough if you’re willing to hunt a little. Here’s a live eBay search for the Canon PowerShot Pro1. Just ignore the listings for Canon’s newer PowerShot models. They’re cool cameras too, just a completely different lineup.
This camera has been so much fun that I’ll keep updating this post as I spend more time with it. As I add more sample photos and learn its quirks, I’ll update this review with anything interesting I discover.