PowerShot V1vs Z5
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Vlogging & Travel — PowerShot V1 (2025): The PowerShot V1 is Canon's best compact camera — a 1-inch stacked sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4K/60p, built-in ND, and an articulating screen in a pocketable body. It is the compact camera Canon's content-creator audience has been waiting for, and a genuine step forward over the G7X series.
Entry-Level Full-Frame & Dslr Switchers — Z5 (2020): The most affordable route into full-frame Z — dual card slots, IBIS, and a capable sensor at an accessible price.
Who should buy what
PowerShot V1 (2025)
- Content creators who want Canon's best compact for vlogging and social media
- Travel photographers who want 4K and a zoom lens in one pocketable body
- Vloggers upgrading from G7X series who want better AF and video specs
- Photographers who want a capable compact backup body
Z5 (2020)
- DSLR photographers switching to full-frame mirrorless for the first time
- Enthusiasts who want full-frame image quality on a tighter budget
- Photographers stepping up from APS-C who don't need fast burst or 4K
- Z5 II shoppers on a budget — the original Z5 is now excellent value used
Quick take: The z5 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the powershot v1 is the most affordable; only the z5 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | PowerShot V1 (2025) | Z5 (2020) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £900 | £999 |
| Sensor | 22.3MP 1-inch Stacked CMOS | 24.3MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 22.3MP | 24.3MP |
| Video | 4K/60p, 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (with crop), 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF with face and subject detection | Hybrid AF — 273 phase-detect points, eye/subject detection |
| Stabilisation | Optical IS (lens) + electronic stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 20fps (electronic) | 4.5fps |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 340g (with battery and card) | 590g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 112.0 × 65.0 × 50.0mm | 134 × 100.5 × 69.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.8× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Fixed Canon zoom lens (equivalent wide-to-tele) | Nikon Z mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | PowerShot V1 | Z5 |
|---|---|---|
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Travel | ||
| Casual | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | ||
| Landscape | ||
| Everyday | — | |
| Sports | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history