Canon Unveils Holiday Slate Of Cameras, Printers

Lake Success, N.Y.— Canon fired off another volley of digital cameras and photo printers in anticipation of what may be a stronger than anticipated holiday selling season for the imaging category.

Many of the new models will offer the third generation of the company's DIGIC image processor, which the company credits with providing a faster startup, autofocus and shutter speeds, longer battery life and less noise when shooting in higher sensitivities to ISO 1,600.

The company updated its G-series of PowerShot cameras with the 10-megapixel G7. It will feature a new face detection autofocus/autoexposure (AF/AE) mode that works with its 9-point AF system. The face detection mode can track up to nine faces when the shutter button is depressed halfway and optimize exposure and focus based on the company's Intelligent Scene Analysis technology.

The $599 G7 will feature a 6x optical zoom SR-coated lens with optical image stabilization, a new 1.4x/2.3x digital tele-converter to recreate the effect of having a tele-converter lens attached the camera, and a new Safety Zoom feature that activates the digital zoom while reducing image resolution but stopping before image quality is threatened.

Additional features of the G7 include a 207,000 pixel, 2.5-inch LCD, 25 scene modes including a new ISO 3,200 mode, a 1.4 seconds start-up time, and compatibility with new SDHC memory cards.

The company will also add three new Digital Elphs to its lineup in October. All will incorporate the new DIGIC III processor, face detection AF/AE, ISO 3,200 and widescreen scene modes, and the Safety Zoom feature.

The 10-megapixel PowerShot SD900 will be the top-of-the-line Elph, housed in a titanium body. It replaces the SD550. The SD900 sports a 230,000 pixel 2.5-inch LCD, the new 1.4x/2.3x digital tele-converter and a high resolution XGA/15fps movie mode. The new Elph is compatible with SDHC memory cards and will retail for an estimated $499.

The 7.1-megapixel SD800, for an estimated $399, features a 3.8x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization, light sensitivity to ISO 1,600, and a 207,000 pixel 2.5-inch LCD.

Finally, the 7.1-megapixel SD40 offers a 2.4x optical zoom and 1.8-inch LCD with 15 brightness settings. The camera will ship with a dock for charging the camera and transferring images to a PC. The SD40 is housed in a stainless steel casing and will be sold in four colors (sepia, rose, blue and gray) for an estimated $349.

Canon also added a new compact photo printer to its lineup. The Selphy ES1 will sport a new vertical design, integrated paper and ink cartridge system and Canon's DIGIC II imaging processor. It features a retractable handle, an optional rechargeable battery, a built-in retractable USB cable to connect to a digital camera and in Infrared port. The ES1 can also accept images from Bluetooth-enabled devices with an optional adapter.

The ES1 offers a 2.5-inch LCD screen, built-in templates and calendar layouts, and photo enhancement technology. It produces a print in roughly 60 seconds.

Finally, Canon introduced its top-of-the-line photo all-in-one, the seven color Pixma MP960. The $399 unit features a 3.5-inch LCD screen with a scroll wheel and new interface buttons, print resolutions up to 9,600 by 2,400 dpi, one picoliter droplet sizes, and the ability to print a borderless 4-inch by 6-inch print in roughly 35 seconds.

In copy mode, the MP960 can crank out 30 pages per minute (ppm) in black and 22 ppm in color. It can automatically duplex documents and photos and features two paper trays.

The MP960 incorporates a 4,800 dpi, 48-bit color scanner, IR support, memory card slots and the ability to print from Bluetooth devices with an optional adapter.