In addition to its introduction of new Selphy and Pixma printers, Canon on Monday unveiled new PowerShot digital cameras and EOS digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras.
New PowerShot A-series point-and-shoot models
Canon refreshed its PowerShot line of point-and-shoot digital cameras with the A620, A610 and A410 models. The A620 and A610 feature 7.1 and 5.0 megapixel resolution, respectively, but both share 4x optical zoom with a focal length of 7.3 – 29.2 mm and a maximum aperture of F/2.8 – 4.1; manual and automatic shooting modes, including 8 “special scene” modes, a 9-point autofocus system and the ability to record 30 frame per second (FPS) movies at VGA quality and 60 FPS movies at QVGA quality. They use four AA batteries and support rechargeable NiMH batteries; they interface with a Mac or PC using USB 2.0 and write to a MultiMediaCard flash card (the A620 includes a 32MB card, the A610 a 16MB card). The cameras feature 2.0-inch LCD screens. Both cameras will be available in September for $399.99 and $299.99, respectively.
The A410 is billed as an entry-level digital camera that replaces the PowerShot A400 model; it features a 3.2 megapixel sensor, 3.2x optical zoom with a focal length of 5.4 – 17.3 mm, continuous shooting of up to 2.5 frames per second for the capacity of the Secure Digital (SD) or MMC card, and a 1.5-inch LCD screen. It supports eight “special scene” modes including Portrait, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets and more. Unlike the A620 and A610 models, the A410 only requires two AA batteries, and comes with a 16MB MMC card.
New Powershot SD Digital Elph models
Canon also refreshed their line of Digital Elph point-and-shoot cameras; its fashion-oriented, diminutive digital camera line. The new models include the SD550, SD450 and SD30.
The SD550 and SD450 are 7.1 and 5.0 megapixel models, respectively. Both are being added to the Digital Elph line alongside the existing SD500 and SD400 models. Features include 2.5-inch LCD screens and a new user interface tailored to the larger screen size. They’re about the same size as the SD500 and SD400 models, according to Canon, and also feature optical viewfinders for users who prefer not to use the LCD. The cameras include 3.0x optical zoom lenses, built-in rechargeable batteries, 32MB and 16MB SD memory cards, respectively, and software and other accessories; they’re coming in September for $499.99 and $399.99.
The SD30 Digital Elph will be available in four new metallic color finishes: Tuxedo Black, Rockstar Red, Glamour Gold and Vivacious Violet. Each new finish touts a matching color-coordinated case. The SD30 Digital Elph has 5.0 megapixel resolution, 2.4x optical zoom lens and 4.0 digital zoom. It also features 1.8-inch LCD, 16 shooting modes and other features. It comes with the CS-DC1 Camera Station, which provides one-step battery charging, video output, file transfer and direct printing via an included remote control. Look for it in September for $399.99.
New flagship S-Series camera
Canon’s new flagship S-series PowerShot is the PowerShot S80, an 8.0 megapixel camera with a 28mm wide lens, 2.5-inch LCD, 3.65x wide-angle optical zoom and other features. Compared to the S70, the S80 features faster auto focus and can record 15FPS video at 1024 x 768 pixels (XGA size). The body is made of aluminum magnesium alloy and high-gloss aluminum, with silver banding over a black front-piece.
The PowerShot S80 features 21 shooting modes including 12 special scene modes; a real-time histogram lets you adjust exposure compensation by viewing numerical results, which Canon claims makes it easier to adjust. It writes to SD cards (a 32MB card is included) and can transfer files to a Mac or PC using USB 2.0. The PowerShot S80 is coming this October for $549.99.
EOS-1D Mark II N Digital SLR
Canon also introduced a new top-end digital SLR camera, the EOS-1D Mark II N. At $3,999, it’s bound to appeal mainly to professionals, although that marks it as $500 less than its predecessor when it first appeared.
The EOS-1D Mark II N features 8.5 frame per second burst mode for up to 48 full-resolution JPEG images. It features a 1.3x lens conversion factor, 2.5-inch wide-angle view LCD monitor, and faster startup time 0.2 seconds (from 0.3).
The EOS-1D Mark II N can save simultaneously to CompactFlash (CF) and SD memory card slots, and supports RAW and JPEG images separately in each memory card. It connects to a Mac or PC using USB 2.0.
EOS 5D
The new EOS 5D is a new digital SLR camera coming in October with 12.8 megapixel resolution, with a suggested retail price of $3,299. The camera can shoot up to 3 frames per second and can record up to 60 full-resolution JPEG images in a single burst. It has an ISO range of 100 – 1600 in 1/3-step increments and nine types of white balance settings; 35-zone exposure metering, 3.5 percent spot metering, PictBridge support and more.
It’s housed in a 28.6 ounce magnesium body and supports nine-point autofocus. It also has a 2.5-inch LCD display. The shutter is rated at 100,000 shots, and the camera features an improved grip and mode dial from previous models, a modified terminal cap share and clearer rear controls.