 |
| (Photo Credit: Canon) |
Canon announced four new PowerShot digital cameras on Feb. 8, including three stylish Digital Elphs and a compact ultra-zoom. Highlights include the SX210 IS’s 14x optical zoom lens and the SD3500 IS’s 3.5-inch touch screen LCD.
All four new digital cameras come with optical image stabilization, an expanded list of scene modes, a few new image effects like fish-eye and miniature, and an improved smart auto mode. The Canon SX210, SD3500, SD1400 and SD1300 come in at least three color options to appeal to trend-setters who want to personalize their cameras. All of the cameras except the SD1300 have a new smart shutter mode that automatically takes a picture after a wink or a smile, and a low light mode that boosts the ISO up to 6400 to avoid using the flash.
The Canon PowerShot SX210 IS follows the SX200 IS with more resolution and more zoom, among other improvements. The SX210 IS has 14.1 megapixels as opposed to the SX200’s 12.1 megapixels. The new model also has a 14x optical zoom lens, while the SX200 has a shorter 12x version. Both cameras have a 3-inch LCD screen and 720p HD videos, as well as a built-in HDMI connector. The new SX210 makes a few minor improvements with stereo audio, SDXC and Eye-Fi compatibility, and an enhanced control dial. The Canon SX210 IS will be available in March for $349.
The Canon PowerShot SD3500 IS has a 3.5-inch touch screen that acts as the viewer and controller for the camera. Users can drag function icons to different locations on the screen and operate the camera with taps of the finger. The touch screen is certainly the fanciest feature, but the SD3500 also has 14.1 megapixels and a 24mm wide 5x optical zoom lens. It also has Eye-Fi compatibility and 720p HD videos. It will retail for $329 later this month.
The SD1400 and SD1300 share the same compact body type, wide 4x optical zoom lens, and 2.7-inch LCD screen, but the two cameras are still very different. Resolution is just the start: the PowerShot SD1400 IS has 14.1 megapixels and the SD1300 IS has 12.1 megapixels. The SD1400 is the pricier at $249 while the SD1300 is noted in the company press release for its “value” at $199. The pricier model has a longer list of scene modes as well as HD video recording.
"The new Canon PowerShot Digital cameras are designed for consumers seeking a blend of eye-catching style and advanced image capture technology in a compact, easy-to-use form," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A., in the company press release.
