Canon Shrinks Summer Imaging Introductions

By Greg Scoblete On May 19 2003 - 6:00am

Slimming down for the summer, Canon introduced a new digital camera and two new dye-sublimation photo printers that feature diminished dimensions compared to their predecessors.

The new digital camera, the PowerShot SD100, is the smallest and lightest Canon Elph to date. The reduced size, 15 percent smaller in volume and 8 percent lighter than the PowerShot S230, was made possible through miniaturization technology that includes a new optical lens design, a smaller built-in flash unit and a new condensed battery.

The new Elph is also the first Canon digital camera to use SD memory.

Canon's latest offering features 3.2-megapixel resolution and a new white-platinum finish crafted in stainless steel. It sports the same feature set as the S230, including Canon's exclusive DIGIC Image Processor (which allows the user to capture up to 3 minutes of video at resolutions up to 640 by 480). In addition, the new camera uses Canon's exclusive iSAPS technology to enhance the speed and performance of the camera's autofocus, auto exposure and auto-white-balance functions, while a 9-point AiAF autofocus system improves focus performance including focusing on off-center subjects.

The new camera will be complimented by a waterproof housing, sold separately, that will allow the adventurous to descend 130 feet underwater. The new housing is equipped with a flash diffusion plate for softer, more evenly illuminated light. The front lens glass is constructed in two separate layers to prevent fogging when submerged under water.

Canon also introduced two new dye-sublimation printers that are approximately 40 percent smaller and 13 percent lighter than current models in the line. The Canon Card Photo Printer CP-200 and CP-300 allow users to create color prints directly from any current model PowerShot camera with the use of a USB cable.

The printers can produce three different sized prints: miniature stickers, wallet-size and 4-by-6-inches with a choice of bordered or borderless prints. The CP-300 can be portable with an optional battery pack.

Both printers are compatible with DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) to facilitate batch printing, e-mail transfers and print ordering through online photo labs.

Pricing and availability of the PowerShot SD100, CP-200 and CP-300 printers were not available.