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[NPL] Canon Powershot S10: Smallest 2.1 Megapixel w/Zoom

Canon Introduces Powershot S10, World’s Smallest and Lightest 2.1 Megapixel
Digital Camera With A Zoom Lens

– USB Interface and Type II CompactFlash Compatibility –
– New CD-300 Digital Printer Offers 300dpi, full-Bleed 4×6-inch Prints –

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ — Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in
optical and imaging technology, today announced the PowerShot S10, a 2.1
megapixel digital camera that combines the benefits of digital imaging with
features and functions traditionally found only in conventional 35mm
cameras. This latest addition to Canon’s line of PowerShot digital cameras
enters the market as the smallest and lightest 2.1 megapixel camera with a
zoom lens(As of July, 1999). Canon also announced a new digital printer for
output of high-resolution, borderless, 4×6-inch prints.

The PowerShot S10 incorporates a host of innovative features that improve
operation ease of use and image quality, including an Image Selector
button; a dual interface that allows users to connect the camera directly
to USB or RS-232C serial ports on their computer; newly designed GUI menu;
and five picture-taking modes. In addition, the PowerShot S10 is compatible
with Type I and Type II CompactFlash(TM) memory cards, including IBM’s
340MB microdrive, allowing hundreds of images to be stored at high
resolution and more than 1,000 images at lower resolutions.

“The PowerShot S10 and CD-300 printer each represent Canon’s commitment to
providing our customers with high-quality products that combine the
benefits of digital imaging with conventional photography,” said Yukiaki
Hashimoto, vice president and general manager, Photographic Products Group,
Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Our heritage as an optics and imaging company will
continue to drive development of more Canon digital cameras that are both
sophisticated and easier to use.”

PowerShot S10 Features

The PowerShot S10 features an elegant, sturdy all-metal body equipped with
numerous features including a 35-70mm f/2.8-4 all-glass aspherical lens to
minimize image distortion. A 2x and 4x digital teleconverter extends the
zoom range of the lens to 8x when used in conjunction with its 2x optical
zoom capabilities.

An Image Selection Mode button on the back of the camera helps keep the
camera’s control functions centralized, providing easy access to the five
IMAGE modes — slow-speed shutter, high-speed shutter, Night Scene,
Landscape, and Black-and-White. Using this button, users can also manually
set or adjust any number of custom camera functions, including flash modes
and ISO speeds from 100-400.

Other camera features include scrollable Image Enlargement during playback
to check image sharpness; contrast and sharpness adjustments that can be
applied as the images are written to the CompactFlash card; spot metering;
AE Lock; auto/manual white balance; and exposure compensation of plus/minus
2 EV in 1/3 increments.

The new camera also features a 1/2-inch, 2.1 megapixel CCD sensor that
creates full color (and black-and-white) high resolution images up to
1600×1200 pixels when set to its Large mode. The camera also offers two
additional resolution settings of 1280×960 (Medium mode), and 800×600
(Small mode), which is ideal for on-screen applications, such as Web sites
and CD-ROMs and allows more images to be recorded on a single CompactFlash
memory card. Obtaining the full potential of the 2.1 megapixel CCD, the
PowerShot S10 is equipped with a dedicated digital signal processing
integrated circuit (IC) to achieve high-speed and complete processing of
image detail. All images are recorded as JPEG files, with a choice of
Super-Fine, Fine or Normal compression settings. A built-in buffer memory
allows continuous burst-mode shooting of up to 1.7 frames per second even
when the S10 is set to its maximum resolution.

Image Management Software

Bundled with a suite of programs enabling image management, editing,
compositing and printing, the PowerShot S10 comes with Adobe(TM)
PhotoDeluxe(TM) and PhotoStitch for both Macintosh and Windows, as well as
with ZoomBrowser EX for Windows and PowerShot Browser for the Mac.
PhotoStitch, which has been upgraded since the PowerShot A-series, now
makes it easier to automatically obtain camera property information such as
orientation, image sequence and focusing distance. Features integrated in
both ZoomBrowser EX and PowerShot Browser include TimeTunnel and
SlideShowMaker. When using ZoomBrowser EX, users can take advantage of
PhotoRecord to produce album-like prints by easily selecting a template to
automatically lay-out and print images in a few short steps.

Streamlining the process of tagging images with print ordering
instructions, the PowerShot S10 supports the Digital Print Order Format
(DPOF). This newly-developed standardized method allows the camera’s
built-in LCD monitor to be used for tagging individual images with printing
instructions, such as quantity and size. This feature, which Canon
co-developed with Eastman Kodak Company, Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., and
Panasonic, has now been licensed to more than 70 camera, printer and
photofinishing equipment manufacturers worldwide and is rapidly becoming
more popular.

CD-300 Digital Printer

The Canon CD-300 dye-sublimation digital printer, introduced to replace the
existing CD-200, incorporates a number of enhancements that improve speed,
performance and image quality. The new design equips the CD-300 with front
loading capabilities for easy insertion of paper and ink cassettes. The
CD-300 can be used with or without a personal computer, providing
high-resolution, photo-quality borderless 4×6-inch prints at a resolution
of 300 dpi (dots per inch), compared to the 144 dpi obtained with the
CD-200. Optional paper and ink cassettes can also used to produce miniature
labels and borderless 4×10-inch panorama prints.

Without effecting the print speed of the CD-300, each print is laminated
with a special clear UV coating to extend its longevity by protecting
against moisture, fingerprints and scratches. The new printer also supports
DPOF, enabling the CD-300 to read and print specific JPEG images made with
the PowerShot S10, or any other digital camera that offers the DPOF
feature. The CD-300 accepts input from Type I and Type II CompactFlash and
PCMCIA cards, NTSC composite video, S-Video, and PC computers.

Accessories and Availability

The new PowerShot S10 is also supplied with the following standard
accessories: Interface Cable for USB (IFC-200PCU), Macintosh Serial
Interface Cable (IFC-200MC), PC Interface Cable (IFC-200PCS), Video Cable
(VC-100), Wrist Strap (WS-100), one 2CR5 Lithium Battery, an 8MB
CompactFlash Card (FC-8M) and the PowerShot Solutions Software CD-ROM.

Optional accessories include the Power Supply Kit DK110 (which contains
Compact Power Adapter CA-PS100, rechargeable Battery Pack NB-5H, and DC
Coupler DR-100A), soft case and digital printer CD-300.

The PowerShot S10 digital still camera and CD-300 digital printer will be
available at authorized Canon dealers in mid-October. Retail pricing will
be set at that time.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. is an industry leader in professional and consumer
imaging solutions and, through its parent company, Canon Inc., is a top
patent-holder of imaging technologies. The company’s comprehensive product
line includes networked multifunction devices; digital and analog copiers
(color and black and white); printers, scanners, image filing systems, and
facsimile machines; camcorders, cameras and lenses; and semiconductor,
broadcast and medical equipment. Canon employs 12,000 people at more than
30 facilities throughout North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.

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