Digital Gadgets

Canon announces DC100 - The Super-Slim DVD Camcorder

Canon expands its DVD camcorder line-up with the DC100 DVD model. This new entry-level DVD camcorder provides consumers with an affordable, high quality solution for recording precious memories. With its 25x optical zoom lens, Widescreen HR (High Resolution) recording and 2.7-inch Widescreen display panel, the DC100 model expands ease of use and enhances the affordability of video for entry-level users.

“For consumers who enjoy using video as a medium to capture life’s most precious moments, the DC100 DVD camcorder delivers excellent video quality in a compact package,” said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. “The DC100 DVD model incorporates all the original Canon technology and features that deliver excellent video quality for family and friends to cherish for years to come.”

The DC100 DVD model records directly to a DVD, allowing consumers to easily put a disc into their home DVD player and watch home movies, from the comfort of their living rooms. The Canon DC100 camcorder accepts the three-inch DVD-R/-RW discs, which can store up to 60 minutes of video (120 minutes on a double sided disc) and are compatible with many home DVD players, both old and new.

Canon chose the DVD-R/-RW format to ensure high compatibility with a range of DVD players and drives. Because it is a digital format, consumers can easily locate scenes without having to rewind or fast forward, create play lists of favorite scenes and are even able to do some quick editing.

The DC100 also comes with Widescreen High Resolution (HR) 16:9 recording, which means you can enjoy full-screen videos on your widescreen TV at home. Canon’s Widescreen HR is technically superior to that of its competitors. The display is a 2.7-inch widescreen panel that perfectly complements the Widescreen HR capability. It records sound in Dolby Digital Stereo.

All in all, a great combination of features for a movie-theatre like experience. What’s more you get all this in one super-slim package.

Few of the features are a surprise for the latest addition in this relatively new line of Canon DVD camcorders. The DC100 has a 25x optical zoom, true 16:9 widescreen shooting, and a 2.7- inch widescreen LCD. The camcorder will also offer popular features such as auto slow shutter, variable or preset zoom speeds, and the usual gamut of automatic and manual controls. This camcorder does lack a card slot, and instead records stills directly to DVD. All other models in the DC line save to a MiniSD card.

The Canon DC100 DVD camcorder will be available at the end of April 2006 for an estimated selling price of $499. Canon will debut the DC100 DVD camcorder in its booth during the Photo Marketing Association (PMA) exhibit in Orlando.

Canon launches EOS 30D

Addressing the needs of a wide range of photographers ranging from wedding and portrait specialists to photojournalists and advanced amateurs, Canon’s new EOS 30D Digital SLR redefines the mid-range of the growing DSLR market and achieves new standards of excellence for features, durability, versatility and even affordability.

Canon is pleased to announce the new EOS 30D, replacing the award winning EOS 20D. Retaining the 5fps, 8.2 Megapixel performance of its predecessor, the upgraded camera enjoys a larger, wider viewing angle 2.5in LCD, extended 100,000 shutter cycle durability, spot metering, and a variety of refinements designed to enhance the photographic experience.

Canon also expands its digital SLR lens offerings with new EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM and EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM lenses. Whether tracking the trajectory of a bridal bouquet from its ceremonial over-the-shoulder launch to its unceremonious diving reception, freezing the action on a hot news story or capturing the essence in the eyes of a portrait subject, Canon’s 8.2 megapixel EOS 30D delivers.

The EOS 30D model builds upon the virtues that made the EOS 20D Digital SLR the number one camera in its class virtually from day-one, including Canon’s proprietary 8.2-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor, powerful DIGIC II Imaging processor, fast five fps shooting capability and field-tested tough construction. This new EOS 30D Digital SLR takes professional photographers even closer to the upper reaches of Canon’s pro digital SLR line, incorporating input from users and features and innovations from the EOS 5D and even the EOS-1D Mark II N Digital SLRs, at a fraction of their respective prices.

Top lining the improvements that set the EOS 30D Digital SLR apart from its worthy predecessor are:

* 8.2 Megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor
* 5fps and 30 large JPEG frame burst
* 2.5in/230K pixel LCD screen with 170deg wide viewing angle
* Picture Style image processing parameters
* Spot metering and High Precision 9-point AF system
* DIGIC II image processor with 0.15 sec start-up time
* Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software
* 100,000 cycle shutter durability and rugged magnesium alloy body
* Simultaneous RAW and JPEG recording
* Wide 100-3200 ISO range
* E-TTL II Flash
* PictBridge compatibility
* Complete compatibility with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites
* USB 2.0 Hi-Speed and Video Out connectivity

Some notable enhancements include a new 2.5-inch 230K color LCD, Canon’s more flexible Picture Style menu, an increased burst depth, and the welcome ability to change the ISO while looking through the viewfinder. Those of you looking for more than a refined 20D will have to wait and see if we get the rumored 10 megapixel 35D announcement before the day is up. More pix after the break. With a street price rumored to be $1399, the newest member of the EOS lineup is nicely priced. The question is, does it offer enough of a feature upgrade for current 20D users? Time will tell.

Increasing the new camera’s flexibility and ease of use, the ISO speed can now be set from 100 to 1600 in 1/3 stop increments, rather than full stops (and can be pushed to 3200 with ISO expansion). What’s more, users can see the ISO setting in the EOS 30D SLR’s viewfinder while changing it (and not simply on the monitor display as on the EOS 20D model), which in turn permits photographers to keep their eyes on their subject.

Recognizing the need for efficient and effective work flow controls - particularly for professional photographers - the EOS 30D Digital Camera has improved folder management, providing manual folder creation and raising the number of images in each folder to 9,999 (from 100 as it was on the EOS 20D model). The unit offers enhanced camera-controlled direct print features and incorporates both direct print and direct download capabilities with the single press of the camera’s print/share button.

PowerShot A620 is a 7 megapixel digital camera with a 4x optical zoom lens and 2 inch LCD screen. The A620 replaces the slightly older and very popular PowerShot A95 in the Canon line-up. Under the surface, the Canon A620 uses the same advanced DIGIC II processor for fast performance and image processing as the company’s digital SLR cameras. The LCD screen is a vari-angle model which twists in all directions.

There are 8 different scene modes on offer for beginners and more advanced Manual, Shutter-Priority and Aperture-Priority modes for those who desire greater control. VGA movies at 30fps, a My Colors mode that allows special in-camera colour effects, 1cm Super Macro mode and PictBridge and USB 2 support complete the specification. The Canon PowerShot A620 offers a lot of features that will suit different ability levels, but is it as good as the specification suggests? Read my extensive review to find out.

More: photographyblog.com

From baby things to wedding rings and holidays to golden days, the Canon Elura 100 Mini DV camcorders offers the performance and ease-of-use to help consumers capture life’s special moments in vivid detail. Small enough to fit in a coat pocket but with all the technology and features to deliver outstanding video and photos of mom, dad and the kids, the new Canon Elura 100 camcorder is “The Official Camcorder of Life.” The Elura 100 includes Canon’s Widescreen HR (high resolution) feature that allows users to enjoy a full-screen image on their widescreen TV. The new Elura is also compact, offering a sleek but stylish design that is 35 percent smaller and 26 percent lighter than the previous Elura models.

Canon Elura 100 - LCD display - Canon’s Widescreen HR feature not only delivers a wider picture, but in contrast to other systems, uses a wider area of the CCD image sensor to strike more pixels and deliver higher resolution for superior widescreen image quality. Each Widescreen HR model uses a 2.7-inch Widescreen display panel making it easy to compose shots in cinema style. The Canon Elura 100 camcorder is both Windows Certified and Mac compatible and will be available at the end of February 2006 for an estimated selling price of $399. As widescreen television sets begin to replace standard TVs, consumers can appreciate the ability to frame and record in Widescreen HR and later enjoy full-screen playback on their widescreen TV for a theatre-like experience at home.

Canon Elura camcorder - CCD and Secure Digital - “Consumers bought widescreen TVs in droves this past holiday season and the latest ZR and Elura camcorders from Canon are the perfect products for showing off life’s precious moments in true widescreen,” said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon USA., Inc. “From celebrations to graduations, Canon’s camcorders can capture life’s fast, fun and fleeting moments which is why we’re branding all of our new single CCD image sensor camcorders as ‘The Official Camcorder of Life.’ With the launch of our latest camcorders that have single CCD image sensors and SD memory card slots we are also launching ‘DoubleShot.’ A Canon DoubleShot camcorder shoots excellent quality video and incorporates many of the same features found on Canon cameras for amazing photos too.”

More: ces-show.com