The stylish PV1 delivers superior imaging performance despite its small, sleek design. The model is equipped with an Optical Image Stabilizer employing Canon’s original lens shift image-stabilizing technology. The system compensates for camera shake-a common occurrence when shooting by hand or in a moving vehicle-to ensure smooth, steady, natural-looking images in all shooting modes. The innovative lens-shift system also contributes to the camcorder’s compact, lightweight body and, unlike electronic image-stabilizing methods used in competitive models, optically corrects camera shake, resulting in absolutely no degradation of image resolution.

A Progressive Scan CCD image sensor realizes high-resolution video and still images. Each and every light-gathering pixel on the CCD is used to produce a full-frame video image 60 times per second. Conventional interlace-type CCDs only create a half frame of image data alternately every 60th of a second, which can result in an annoying image flicker on the television screen when the playback is paused. By contrast, Canon’s Progressive Scan CCD enables users to capture sharp, blur-free still images even when shooting rapidly moving subjects.