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.

Casio UK Introduces Exilim Zoom EX-Z60 and EX-Z850

Casio will introduce two digital cameras, the 8.1- megapixel Exilim EX-Z850 Zoom (left) and the 6-megapixel Exilim EX-Z60.

The EX-Z60 has a 3x optical zoom in a small form factor with nicely rounded edges. It has a 2.5-inch LCD viewfinder and a startup time of just 1.4 seconds.

Exilim models, the EX-Z60 and EX-X850. Typical of Casio pocket cams, both models are less than an inch thick and boast over 30 scene modes. And typical of consumer point-and-shoots, both cameras sport 3x optical zooms with a 35mm equivalency of 38-114mm, 2.5” LCDs, and significant resolution—the EX-Z60 offers 6 megapixels, while the EX Z850 offers 8.1. Pricing and US availability has yet to be determined.

As an upgrade to currently available Z750, the Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z850 comes with an impressive 8.1 megapixel sensor, a 0.003 second shutter lag, and some great anti-shake DSP. Get those close-up pics with the 3x optical zoom, and check out your shots on the 2.5-inch LCD. Storage comes in the way of SD cards.

Incorporating Casio’s SUPERLIFE battery, the EX-Z850 can capture 440 shots from a single charge. Revive shot is designed to be used for digitising photographs; it restores colours that may have faded. Several flash modes are found in both EXILIMs. Rapid Flash takes three flash pictures per second and Soft Flash prevents overexposure in close-up shots. The EX-Z850 includes High Power Flash, which can illuminate subjects 12m away.

Otherwise, it’s the same 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD we’ve seen before. The 6 megapixel EX-Z60 does away with the glass viewfinder on the Z850 yet fails to increase the LCD beyond 2.5-inches or lens beyond a 3x zoom in attempts to keep the all-metal package slim.

The Z60 provides 33 scene modes for the point-and-shoot enthusiast; if this is not sufficient, users can focus manually, select from three metering options of center, multi-pattern, or spot, select sensitivity from ISO 50 to 400, adjust the flash mode among 5 options and manually adjust white balance (or select from 7 presets including Auto). Like many compacts this year, the EX-Z60 also offers Anti-Shake; there is an additional ISO 800 setting available when coupled with this feature.

The higher-end Exilim EX-Z850 Zoom features an 8.1 megapixel CCD and 3x optical zoom. Aimed at more advanced photographers, it also offers manual settings with both aperture- and shutter speed-priority options. It also includes image stabilization, which Casio calls Anti-Shake DSP. No ship date or pricing was available yet on either of these cameras.

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.

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Announced

The Canon PowerShot S3 IS is 6 Megapixel hybrid digital camera that is equally at home with photo enthusiasts and digital diehards as it is in the hands of the point-and-shoot “where do I press?” set. Remarkably, whether engaged in VGA quality videography at 30 fps with stereo sound recording, high-resolution still photography, or capturing both at the same time, the Canon S3 IS remains easy to use.

The successor to the five Megapixel S2 IS, the Canon PowerShot S3 IS enhancements begin with Canon’s newly designed 6 Megapixel image sensor that together with Canon’s DIGIC II image processor dramatically reduces “noise” for better image quality and achieves ISO equivalent speed ratings ranging from 80 to 800.

The S3 IS marks the third generation of Canon’s mega-zooming bridge camera.

Including a 6MP CCD, the f/2.7-3.5 12x optical zoom includes an Ultra-Sonic Motor (USM) for fast and quiet operation and an Ultra-low Dispersion element to reduce the effect of chromatic aberration. Canon’s optical Image Stabiliser reduces the effect of blur caused by camera shake, which can appear on photographs (and movies), enabling the use of shutter speeds three times slower than conventional cameras. Canon has also extended the sensitivity range to ISO 800.

The S3 IS can capture VGA movies at a rate of 30fps with stereo sound and individual full-resolution frames can be captured using the Photo In Movie function.

Sporting a striking new finish in gunmetal grey, the compact PowerShot S3 IS answers the demands of advanced photographers with several improvements over its predecessor, including an increased sensitivity range of ISO 80 to ISO 800, a larger 2.0″ vari-angle LCD screen, widescreen (16:9) recording, new movie features and an additional Sports mode.

The PowerShot S3 IS features:
12x optical zoom lens with USM and UD lens element
Optical Image Stabilizer
6.0 Megapixel CCD
Larger size 2.0” Vari-angle LCD
30fps VGA movies with stereo sound and Photo in Movie feature
DIGIC II, iSAPS and Flexizone AF/AE for fast, precise results and 2.3 fps continuous shooting performance
20 shooting modes and My Colors photo effects
High ISO Auto and ISO 800 for low light flexibility
Widescreen (16:9) recording

The PowerShot S3 IS caters for serious photo enthusiasts seeking extended zooming flexibility and fully featured movie recording in a versatile compact digital stills camera.

The camera’s 12x zoom lens gives you a film equivalent of 36-432 mm at a relatively quick f/2.7 at its widest angle, and f/3.5 zoomed all the way in. Even though that lens has a nice long focal length, it still retracts into the camera when not in use.

Alongside Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes, the S3 IS includes a selection of scene modes, such as: Night Snapshot, Snow, Colour Accent and Colour Swap. Other features include: 2in LCD, 0cm Super Macro mode, Widescreen mode and 2.3fps continuous shooting modes.

The Canon PowerShot S3 IS hits the shops in May for £449. Find out more by calling 08705 143723.

The S3 keeps the earlier model’s 12x optical zoom, ups the megapixel count from 5 to 6, pushes the maximum ISO to 800, bumps the flip-out LCD to 2 inches and adds a 60fps QVGA movie mode. Pricing has yet to be announced, but it should be in line with the S2, which currently sells for about $400.