Canon is crowdfunding its monocular-style PowerShot Zoom concept camera in Japan

Last year, at CP+ 2019, Canon showed off a number of concept cameras with new and unusual designs. While some of those concepts are still just that, at least one more is well on its way into the consumer market — in Japan, at least.

The Canon PowerShot Zoom is a monocular-style point-and-shoot that’s being crowdfunded on Makuake, not unlike the approach Canon took with its Ivy Rec camera. Inside the almost cartoon-looking design is a 12.1-megapixel 1/3” CMOS sensor that works alongside a DIGIC 8 processor to capture stills and record Full HD video at 1080p.

In front of the sensor is a zoom lens that can toggle between 100mm and 400mm (full-frame equivalent) focal lengths. You can also double that to an 800mm (full-frame equivalent) focal length when combined with the camera’s digital zoom.¹ The device features built-in image stabilization, Canon’s Face AF technology, a USB-C port for charging and a microSDXC card slot.

The camera features three buttons on the top: power, menu and zoom, as well as three on the bottom: a dial, a capture button for stills and a capture button for video. Photos and video can be transferred via the microSD card or wirelessly when paired with Canon’s accompanying smartphone app.

The PowerShot Zoom is currently being crowdfunded in Japan through Majuake. The campaign has already raised over $280,000, far surpassing its initial goal. Japanese backers are able to secure the first units for around $300.

There’s no mention of whether or not the PowerShot Zoom will become available outside the Japanese market at this time.

Disclaimer: Remember to do your research with any crowdfunding project. DPReview does its best to share only the projects that look legitimate and come from reliable creators, but as with any crowdfunded campaign, there’s always the risk of the product or service never coming to fruition.

¹Canon had previously said it hoped to have intermediary focal lengths during zoom, but it appears that feature isn’t available at this time.