The EOS-1DX D-SLR, which was announced earlier, was unveiled at the CP+ expo. In addition, Canon has revamped its line up with six 16 megapixel A series entry-level PowerShot models.
The models are best understood as three distinct groups within the range: the A810 and A1300 are traditional AA-battery A-series cameras with 5x, 28-140mm equivalent zooms, the A2300, A2400 and A3400 are slim cameras with the same lens and lithium-ion batteries, and the A4000 tops the range with an 8x zoom. The A810 is the least expensive model, costing around £99. The A1300 adds an optical viewfinder. The A2300, being built around a lithium-ion batteries, is much slimmer and much closer to what might previously have been sold as an IXUS/ELPH. The A2400 adds image stabilisation and the A3400 gains a touchscreen. Finally the A4000 has a 28-224mm equivalent stabilised lens though without the touchscreen.
Canon broadens its superzoom line
Canon has launched two SX series compact superzooms, the SX 260 IS and SX 240 IS. The SX 240 IS does not feature GPS and will not be announced by Canon USA. Apart from that, both are 20x compact superzooms with 25-500mm equivalent lenses featuring the company’s latest 7-mode image stabilisation system. They feature 460k dot screens and the ability to shoot burst of images at 10.3 frames per second. Both use 12MP back-lit CMOS sensors.
Canon ventures back in to the water with the rugged D20
Canon has launched its second waterproof rugged camera, the 12megapixel D20. It has a 5x, image stabilised 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens, featuring the company’s latest 7-mode IS system. It also includes GPS and a 460,000 dot 3 inch LCD. Unlike the company’s D10, the D20 is a relatively small, periscope-lens card camera. It is waterproof to a depth of 10m and shockproof from a height of 1.5m.
Canon renews full-frame lenses with the release of three EF lenses
Canon has announced three new lenses. The EF 24-70mm f2.8L II USM zoom is an update to the EF 24-70mm f2.8L USM, while the EF 24mm f2.8 IS USM and EF 28mm f2.8 IS USM are the world’s first wide-angle prime lenses to feature optical Image stabiliser (IS) technology. The lenses are ideal for landscape and reportage, for they combine fast apertures with IS to enable sharp results when shooting handheld, even in low light conditions.
