Canon's TX1 Merges HD Stills And Video

Canon's new Powershot TX1 not only offers a 7.1 Megapixel stills performance but also 720p (1280 x 720) at 3ofps.

The TX1 can continuously record up to 4GB at 720p on fast SD cards giving you about 13 minutes of HD footage.

The sensor is a new single 1/2.5 CCD with a 10X optical zoom equivalent to 39–390mm ƒ3.5~5.6 (35mm film equivalent)• Macro focusing 3.9 inches ~ 1.6 feet; Super-Macro from surface of front element ~ 3.9 in.• 12 element design, including one UD and one Aspheric element• Special new optical and mechanical technologies keep lens design ultra-compact

Canon also offer optical an Image Stabilisation system which makes long telephoto zoom practical, even in less than ideal lighting conditions.

Hitting the US stores at the beginning of March at around $500 with a component cable (there is no HDMI out). The model doesn't even make the Canon UK web site so anybody's guess when it will be available.

Canon's official press release on the TX1 HERE