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| (Credit: Canon) |
The backlit CMOS sensor craze is dipping into more consumer-friendly markets. The Canon PowerShot SD4000 IS was announced with a 10-megapixel sensor and an f/2.0 lens that make up Canon’s “High Sensitivity System.” The SD4000 will be available at the end of this month for $349.
The freshly announced SD4000 takes the helm of the Digital Elph line over the SD3500, which sports such amenities as 14.1 megapixels and a 3.5-inch touch screen LCD. The SD4000 has less resolution and a 3-inch LCD screen, but really distinguishes itself with its high sensitivity features. The backlit CMOS and Digic 4 processor work together to “[help] reduce noise at high ISO speeds,” according to the May 11 press release. The SD4000’s ISO range reaches up to 3200, while the SD3500 topped out at 1600. The new camera’s wide f/2.0 aperture on the 3.8x optical zoom lens will allow lots of light to hit the image sensor, making it easier to suppress noise.
The Canon PowerShot SD4000 is the first SD-series camera to offer high sensitivity, as well as the first to offer manual control over aperture and shutter speed. It is also the fastest of the Digital Elphs, with a continuous shooting speed that can reach 8.4 fps.
The flashy camera can be speedy in other ways too: the SD4000 can record videos at a frame rate of 240 fps and then played back at 30 fps, making the subject appear to be in slow motion. The high-speed/slow-motion videos record in 320 x 240 pixels, but the camera can also record in standard and high definition.
Although the SD4000 departs from a few Digital Elph traditions with its manual controls, the new model keeps the slim design that is prevalent in the lineup. The PowerShot SD4000 measures 3.9 x 2.1 x 0.9 inches.
“With the introduction of the new PowerShot SD4000 IS, Canon is putting the power of high-quality photography in an ultra-compact size to amplify the experience and quality customers see when shooting with a Canon camera,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. in the company’s press release. “The two functions in the HS System allow our customers to capture the clearest pictures in any setting, resulting in more of a professional look.”
