Canon adds five new shooters

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This story was printed from CNET Asia.
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Canon adds five new shooters

By Leonard Goh
04/09/2008
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/digitalcameras/0,39001469,62045787,00.htm

Canon has always been known for its quality products over the years, and this can be clearly seen in its latest range of cameras. Rather than to go with the recent trend of incorporating compact shooters with higher-resolution sensors and touchscreen displays, the Japanese imaging giant has chosen to engineer its newest offerings toward improving image quality and ease of use.

Seen here is the pink PowerShot E1, and we think this shade may be a hit with the ladies.
(click for more information)

Although Canon UK earlier announced that the PowerShot E1 was "designed by women, for women", Canon Singapore told CNET Asia that the E1 is suitable for teenagers, too. Apparently, different regions will market this camera to different target audiences. The curvy couture and pastel hues lend a feminine touch to the shooter, but don't be deceived by its cartoonish facade. Under its hood is a 10-megapixel sensor coupled with 4x optical zoom. Framing is done via the optical viewfinder or the 2.5-inch LCD.

Also showcased at the Canon event was the EOS 50D dSLR. Canon told us this model will not succeed but instead run alongside the EOS 40D. It has a 15-megapixel sensor, 3-inch LCD, nine autofocus points and a maximum ISO sensitivity of 12,800. Making its debut on the 50D is the DIGIC 4 image-processing engine, which promises faster and better performance. At the launch, we had a quick hands-on with the pre-production set and we were fairly impressed by the solid build quality of the camera. Focusing was fast and high ISO shots retained plenty of details. We will do an in-depth review once we have the actual unit.

The EOS 50D feels solid and focusing was fast when we had a brief hands on with it.
(click for more information)

The PowerShot SX 110 IS replaces the superzoom model SX 100 IS. Some of the enhancements include ramping up the resolution from 8 to 9 megapixels, and screen size from 2.5 to 3 inches. The chassis has also been reworked to create a smaller footprint but the SX 110 IS retains a 10x optical zoom lens and full manual exposure controls found in its predecessor.

The other two PowerShot models are the A2000 IS and A1000 IS. Both models have 10-megapixel sensors, but their zoom range and display sizes are different. The A2000 IS has 6x optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD, while the A1000 IS has only 4x optical zoom and 2.5-inch display.

All the cameras are expected to ship in Asia toward the end of September.

Model name	In a nutshell
Canon PowerShot E1	Notable features: Available in pink, blue or white 10 megapixels 4x optical zoom Optical viewfinder 2.5-inch LCD Optical image stabilization SD/SDHC card expansion slot Powered by two AA-sized batteries What to look out for: This fun-looking camera has identical specifications to the PowerShot A1000 IS but sports another style to target the younger crowd. Pricing and availability: S$319. Available from end September.
Canon EOS 50D	Notable features: 15 megapixels 3-inch LCD with Live View DIGIC 4 image processor 1.6x focal length crop Maximum ISO sensitivity of 12,800 Nine-point autofocus CompactFlash card expansion slot What to look out for: This midrange dSLR feels solid and incoporates a lot of features to cater to more expereienced photographers. Pricing and availability: S$2,099 for camera body only. Available from end September.
Canon PowerShot SX 100 IS	Notable features: 9 megapixels 10x optical zoom Full manual exposure control 3-inch LCD Optical image stabilization SD/SDHC card expansion slot What to look out for: This superzoom model is more suitable for those who want advanced controls over their shots and a long zoom range to boot. Pricing and availability: S$499. Available from end September.
Canon PowerShot A2000 IS	Notable features: 10 megapixels 6x optical zoom 3-inch LCD Optical image stabilization SD/SDHC card expansion slot Powered by two AA-sized batteries What to look out for: The A2000 IS is suitable for those who are looking for a powerful and reliable yet easy-to-use shooter. Pricing and availability: S$399. Available from end September.
Canon PowerShot A1000 IS	Notable features: 10 megapixels 4x optical zoom Optical viewfinder 2.5-inch LCD Optical image stabilization SD/SDHC card expansion slot Powered by two AA-sized batteries What to look out for: The A1000 IS is a scaled down version of the A2000 IS and is probably targeted at first-time digicam buyers. Pricing and availability: S$399. Available from end September.