Digital Camera News and Reviews

Canon Powershot SD770 (IXUS 85)

Canon today announced to new compact cameras in the Powershot SD (IXUS in Europe) series. The cameras are called Canon Pwershot SD790 (IXUS 90) and Canon Powershot SD770 (IXUS 85). They share the same 10 mega pixel sensor and have the same 3x optical zoom lens (35-105mm equivalent). The biggest difference between the cameras is the design and the 3″ LCD screen on the Powershot SD790 while the Powershot SD770 has a 2.5”.
The SD770 ships in mid-April for $299 and the SD790 ships later this month for $349.



Press release:
All style, no shake: two new compact Digital IXUS cameras with IS
Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 13 March, 2008: Canon today strengthens its Digital IXUS range with the launch of two new 10 Megapixel models: the Digital IXUS 90 IS and Digital IXUS 85 IS. Both models feature Canon’s lens-shift type optical Image Stabilizer (IS)for exceptional image quality, while expressing very distinct design styles. The solid, chiselled Digital IXUS 90 IS is enhanced by a powerful shape and seamless build; while the soft minimalism of the Digital IXUS 85 IS reflects a glimmering, understated elegance.

The two models share the core imaging prowess at the heart of Digital IXUS photography. In addition to their 3x optical zoom lenses with IS, the cameras feature enhanced auto focus performance for low-light shooting. Both cameras include Motion Detection Technology¹, which works in tandem with IS to reduce all kinds of blur, and Face Detection Technology¹ with Face Select & Track and Face Detection White Balance for accurate, natural-looking people shots in all situations. Bright, clear PureColor LCD II screens (3” Digital IXUS 90 IS, 2.5” Digital IXUS 85 IS) enhance user experience thanks to their wide viewing angle, high contrast easy-view displays, and glare-resistant coatings.

“The design versatility of Digital IXUS is clearly demonstrated by these two new models,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “These are cameras that enable users to express their individuality, both in the model they choose, and the images they make.”

The Digital IXUS 90 IS and Digital IXUS 85 IS feature:

* Solid, chiselled design with flat control panel (Digital IXUS 90 IS)
* Rounded square design with bold details in piano key black or silver (Digital IXUS 85 IS)
* 10.0 Megapixel image sensor
* 3x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer (IS)
* Face Detection Technology with White Balance and Face Select & Track
* DIGIC III¹ with Noise Reduction Technology
* Automatic Red-Eye Correction in shooting and playback
* 2.5” PureColor LCD II (85 IS), 3.0” PureColor LCD II (90 IS)
* Optical Viewfinder (85 IS)
* Enhanced auto focus performs at up to 1-stop darker
* 19 shooting modes including new Sunset mode and My Colors photo effects
* Extensive movie options including VGA 30fps, Long Play and Time Lapse movie modes
* Optional accessories include Waterproof Case, Soft Case and High Powered Flash
* Easy printing with PictBridge and quick print order settings in playback mode³

Two designs, Two cameras, One Digital IXUS
Built to facilitate individual expression, these new cameras offer an evolution of two key Digital IXUS design strands. The Digital IXUS 90 IS takes the geometry of the Digital IXUS 75 and gives it a new sense of boldness and solidity. A flat key control panel enhances the camera’s seamless feel, giving it the appearance of being forged from a single piece of metal. The Digital IXUS 85 IS softens the sharp minimalism of the Digital IXUS 70, for a more fluid feel, accentuated by bold lens ring and edging details in piano black or silver.

Exceptional optics
The Digital IXUS 90 IS and Digital IXUS 85 IS both feature a 3x optical zoom lens, allowing everything from landscape shots to close-ups and medium telephoto zooms. Exceptional image clarity and compactness of form are achieved thanks to the inclusion of Canon’s UA (Ultra-high refractive index Aspherical) lens elements. The lens has a straight optical path for uncompromising image quality. Canon’s lens-shift type optical Image Stabilizer (IS) is incorporated into both cameras, vastly reducing the effects of camera shake when shooting in low light conditions or at the end of the zoom. The IS system gives both cameras a 3 stop advantage, facilitating better images in dusky conditions. Improved low-light AF performance helps users take advantage of the benefits of IS. The AF is now able to achieve focus in 1 stop less light, so the camera obtains excellent results even further into the evening.

Bye-bye to blur – Motion Detection Technology
Activated in High ISO Auto, Canon’s intelligent Motion Detection Technology works to eliminate the blur caused by subject motion and camera shake. When these are detected, the system provides an ISO boost between ISO 80-800 – counteracting motion blur to improve action shots and night snaps, without compromising shots where no ISO boost is needed. Combining inputs from Face Detection Technology, the optical Image Stabiliser, changes in scene brightness and changes from frame to frame, Canon’s Motion Detection Technology is a comprehensive solution to motion blur.

Enhanced Face Detection Technology
Equally comprehensive is Canon’s approach to Face Detection Technology. The Digital IXUS 90 IS and Digital IXUS 85 IS include Face Select & Track, which allows you to select a single face from a crowd of up to 35 detected faces. The optimum focus, exposure, flash and – in a new addition – white balance will then be set for that face, tracking the subject as they move around the frame.

Canon’s Red-Eye Correction draws on Face Detection Technology in order to eliminate red-eye from photographs. Whenever a face is detected in a shot, red-eye is checked for. It can then be either removed automatically while shooting or in playback mode. New AF Point Zoom allows the photographer to magnify the AF frame when the shutter button is pressed half way, so that facial expressions can be checked before shooting.

As well as powering features including Face Detection Technology, Canon’s DIGIC III image processor enables quick response times and fast buffering speeds. The processor also features advanced Noise Reduction Technology for excellent image quality at high ISO settings.

Intuitive ergonomics, easy menus
The Digital IXUS 90 IS and Digital IXUS 85 IS both feature high resolution PureColor LCD II screens. These screens offer a number of benefits over conventional LCD screens, including improved colour contrast for enhanced visibility, a wide viewing angle for easy shooting and instant image sharing, anti-glare coatings for viewing under bright light, and anti-scratch coatings.

The Digital IXUS 90 IS features a 3” screen, while the Digital IXUS 85 IS has a 2.5” screen. The Digital IXUS 85 IS provides additional photo framing options thanks to its Optical Viewfinder (OVF).

A host of features enable users to enhance their shooting options. Users can choose from a range of 19 shooting modes, including a number of Special Scene modes that automatically optimise camera settings for common shooting subjects. Both cameras feature Sunset scene mode for optimum capture of this tricky subject. Movie options include Long Play (LP) mode, which uses only half the memory of standard movies, and Time Lapse movie for the creation of fun and atmospheric accelerated film clips.
Several menu features also let users manipulate their images in-camera, without the need for computer software. The Trimming function offers image trimming to predetermined sizes. This function is integrated with Face Detection Technology – if several faces are detected in frame users can jump between faces to create instant trimmed portraits. The Image Resize function enables users to create smaller image files by reducing the number recording pixels in larger images. The original image can then be deleted in order to save space on the memory card, leaving the new file an ideal size for e-mailing and uploading to the web.

Olympus E-420 with 25mm f2.8

Retro cases for Olympus E-420

Olympus has announced a successor to E-410. The new ultra compact DSLR camera E-420 is claimed to be the world’s smallest DSLR to date with its weight of 380 grams (13.4 ounces).

Here are some of the features that the E-420 is capable off.
-On-Screen Autofocus
-Face Detection Technology
-New and Improved HyperCrystal II™ Technology
-Shadow Adjustment Technology
-Perfect Shot Preview

Along with the new camera Olympus also announced a new ZUIKO DIGITAL 25mm f2.8 pancake type lens that make the DSLR even more compact.
Another exiting tidbit is the retro cases that you can buy for the E-420 making your camera look like an old school SLR.


Press release:
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., March 5, 2008 – Olympus today announces the extremely portable E-420 – perfect for everyone who wants to step up to the power and performance of a digital SLR (single lens reflex) yet enjoy the ease of use and ability to compose images on the LCD common to point-and-shoot cameras. Weighing a mere 380 grams (13.4 ounces), the E-420 is 20 to 40 percent lighter than competing DSLRs. Good things come in this small package, including Live View, which enables users to hold the camera away from their faces and interact with their subjects – ideal when capturing photos of children, for example.

This lightweight 10-megapixel DSLR offers heavyweight technologies, including a bigger, more viewable 2.7-inch LCD and consumer-friendly fast On-Screen Autofocus, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology and Perfect Shot Preview to get the most out of the Live View experience. Additionally, when it comes to Live View, not all LCDs are created equal. At 2.7-inches, the portable E-420 LCD is large enough for users to compose and review images without squinting. The small camera’s LCD is not just larger, it is part of a camera with technologies intelligent enough to take advantage of the Live View photography experience. These innovative technologies include:

• On-Screen Autofocus works as seamlessly as a point-and-shoot to display subjects in focus on the LCD the instant the shutter is pressed half way;

• Face Detection Technology targets and locks on up to eight faces to ensure they are in focus and crystal clear for amazing portraits;

• New and Improved HyperCrystal II™ Technology delivers twice the contrast and better viewing in extreme lighting conditions, a broader range of color detail, and a wider angle of view on the LCD so you and your friends can see it up to 176 degrees off-center;

• Shadow Adjustment Technology captures detail in the bright areas of a frame and opens up detail in the shadows that other cameras would render too dark or underexposed; and

• Perfect Shot Preview enables you to view and select your favorite effect right on the LCD, and see how the image will look before you even capture it, so you know that what you see is what you get.

“The Olympus E-420 delivers the professional-grade image quality of a digital SLR with the simple operation of a point-and-shoot camera,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager – DSLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Thanks to the camera’s small size and lightweight body, users can take the E-420 everywhere, and they will never miss another shot because the of the camera’s straightforward controls. Additionally, our innovative technologies help consumers get more from Live View.”

World’s Smallest Digital SLR
A camera designed to be held away from the face lets you take great photographs without weighing you down. The E-420 is small enough to fit into a purse or a jacket pocket and light enough to shoot with comfortably all day. Measuring 5.1 inches by 3.6 inches by 2.1 inches (excluding protrusions), it is the world’s smallest digital SLR. And at a featherweight 13.4 ounces, only its predecessor (E-410) weighs less. The E-420’s new ergonomic grip on the front of the body allows for easier one-handed operation and ensures a secure hold in the most challenging shooting conditions.

One of the World’s Thinnest Lenses Meets the World’s Most Compact DSLR
The world’s smallest DSLR deserves a similarly compact lens, and Olympus has it: the ultra compact Zuiko 25mm f2.8 digital specific lens. This 0.9 inch-thick lens offers a fixed 50mm equivalent angle of view. Together with the E-420, the Zuiko 25mm f2.8 lens will offer the ultimate combination of ease of use and portability.

Photographers can also purchase the E-420 in a kit with a compact, Zuiko Digital 28-84mm equivalent (ED 14-42mm Four Thirds) f3.5-f5.6 lens that perfectly matches the imager so light strikes the sensor directly to ensure rich, accurate colors and edge-to-edge sharpness. Both lenses (Zuiko 25mm f2.8 and 28-84mm f3.5-f5.6) are part Olympus’ expanding line of 100 percent digital lenses – designed specifically for digital photography. Unlike other camera companies, Olympus does not rely on old film lenses, which often result in images with soft edges or other imperfections.

The Live View Experience
Olympus was the first to bring Live View to a consumer DSLR (the E-330 in 2006), and Live View has revolutionized DSLR photography. Anyone who has photographed young children knows that you get the best reactions when you hold the camera away from your face and maintain eye contact and an engaging smile. If you have tried to take photos high above the heads in a crowd or low near the ground, you will appreciate that it is easier to use a swivel LCD screen than to climb a ladder or lie on your stomach.

The E-420 solves these problems with its Live View LCD, which enables photographers to hold the camera away from their faces and at angles they just cannot reach by using the optical viewfinder alone. The E-420’s new Live View autofocus functionality now simplifies the process by working just like a point and shoot. By simply pressing the shutter button halfway, your subjects come into focus on the LCD, so when the perfect moment occurs it is easy to capture sharp images.

A viewable LCD is where a great Live View experience begins. Few things are more annoying for a photographer than squinting to see an image on an LCD screen in bright sunlight or a dimly lit room. The E-420 solves this problem with its large, bright 2.7-inch LCD display that incorporates new HyperCrystal II technology. This display offers twice the contrast for better viewing in extreme light conditions (i.e. when the sun is at your back), a broader color gamut that displays a greater range of color detail, and a 176-degree viewing angle.

Always Find a Face in the Crowd
A camera this consumer-friendly is perfect for taking portraits of friends and family while out and about. The E-420’s Face Detection feature distinguishes between people’s faces and the background. It tracks up to eight faces within the image area and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks their faces.

Bright Day or Deep Shadow, Never Miss a Detail
Shooting scenes with shadows can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark and bright areas. The E-420 addresses this challenge with Shadow Adjustment Technology that compensates for extreme contrast when shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. Now users can preview and capture images with the same fine contrast they see with their own eyes.

Preview All the Possibilities
With 18 pre-set scene-select modes for every imaginable shooting scenario and full manual controls, the E-420 offers a world of possibilities to photographers. Additionally, Perfect Shot Preview enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-window screen on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature shows photographers what their images will look like beforehand under various settings, ensuring that they capture exactly what they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.

Enlarge Your Photos
Capturing, enlarging and displaying amazing images on your wall is a snap thanks to the E-420’s 10 million pixels for high-resolution photos. The 10-megapixel sensor gives users the flexibility to enlarge prints to the sizes supported by many of today’s printers, or crop the image to print only a part of the image that is important to them. The high-performance Live MOS image sensor in the E-420 delivers excellent dynamic range for accurate color fidelity and a new state-of-the-art amplifier circuit dramatically reduces noise and captures fine image details in the highlight and shadow areas.

Improved Auto White Balance
Many digital SLR users want to focus their attention on things other than white balance while they are on the move. As a result, the E-420 features an improved automatic white balance performance with a new algorithm for more accurate color.

TruePic III for Image Clarity & Speed
Olympus’ TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible for every photo with accurate color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies and precise tonal representation in between. TruePic III also lowers image noise by one step to reduce graininess in images shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations.

Worried about missing the winning goal at the soccer game? The image processor on the E-420 enables it to shoot up to 3.5 frames per second in sequenced shooting mode, which means that photographers will be able to capture fast-paced action as it happens.

Dust Reduction System for Spot-Free Images
Life moves too fast to spend time worrying about dust ruining your images. Olympus’ proven Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave Filter™. The patented ultrasonic technology vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor and captures it on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on. These spot-free photos liberate users from hours spent retouching photographs at the computer or sending their cameras back to the manufacturer to remove dust trapped inside.

Media Versatility
Accepting both CompactFlash Type I & II, Microdrives, and xD-Picture Cards, the E-420 provides a choice of data storage options for enhanced flexibility, and it is possible to transfer image files from one card to the other right inside the camera.

Wireless Flash Capability
If you decide to venture into the arena of advanced lighting, the E-420 is ready to meet the challenge. The E-420 is compatible with the Olympus FL-50R and FL-36R wireless electronic flashes that are designed exclusively for digital photography. When these flashes are used in combination with the E-420, wireless multi-flash photography is possible. The E-420 can control up to three wireless flash groups independently, with several flash units per group.

Availability
The Olympus E-420 Digital SLR will be available in May 2008. It includes: E-420 Body, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLS-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCS-1), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS Master Software CD-ROM, Manuals and Warranty Card.