Released by Canon:

New look Canon PowerShot S60 packs 5.0 Megapixels

Canon, leader in photographic and imaging technology, is pleased to announce its latest 5.0 Megapixel compact digital still camera, the PowerShot S60. A comprehensive array of technology firsts for the PowerShot S-Series include new lens materials that allow a reduction in lens size enhancing a new elegantly sleek body shape. Also new for the S-Series is the 28-100mm focal length lens with 4cm macro, simultaneous RAW and JPEG file recording, optional 2x tele-converter, and a 40m depth waterproof case. The camera includes a new pre-set white balance mode for underwater photography, Print/Share button, 15 second to 1/2000 sec shutter speeds, and a new user interface.


"We are already seeing many professional photographers carrying compact digital cameras in addition to their usual kit," said Malcolm Hills, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging in the UK and Europe. "The pocket-sized PowerShot S60 is perfect for those moments when a smaller camera is needed and with many features included from our digital SLR range it will appeal to professionals and photography enthusiasts who can’t afford to compromise on specifications.”



Starting with the optics
Drawing on its 60 year heritage of precision optics and lens manufacture experience, Canon has equipped the camera with a new 3.6x optical zoom lens. The lens features Canon's new UA (Ultra-high refractive index, Aspherical) lens, allowing for the design of a more compact lens with no compromise on image quality. This contributes to making the body almost 8 percent thinner than the popular PowerShot S50 this camera replaces, even though it has a 28mm wide angle and higher zoom ratio. The 28-100mm focal length range expands to 200mm with the addition of an optional 2x tele-converter.


Updated and integrated
The user interface is dramatically improved, with an ergonomic SLR-style Mode Dial on top of the camera for shifting quickly and easily between 13 different shooting modes. Up to 180 second movies (30 seconds at VGA resolution) can be recorded with sound, playback and in-camera editing. Shutter speed range increases to span 15 sec to 1/2000 sec.

Super efficient
To keep the camera 'at the ready', start up time has been reduced by approximately 20 percent compared to the PowerShot S50, while an already class-leading battery capacity has been increased by 26 percent with the introduction of the more powerful NB-2LH battery. This performance is due in part to the incorporation of Canon’s unique DIGIC image processor. DIGIC is purpose built by Canon to execute the complex algorithms necessary to properly calculate functions such as white balance and colour rendition, with no trade-off in camera responsiveness. By keeping all key functions on a single chip, size and power consumption are also reduced. The overall result is more shots at a higher rate with stunning image quality.

Fast and accurate
DIGIC also drives a two frames per second (High Speed) continuous shooting speed, and supports 9-point AiAF for fast, accurate focusing even when subjects are not centred. FlexiZone AF/AE allows scrolling around the frame's Auto Focus areas to select the desired subject, for which exposure is weighted accordingly. The camera also includes iSAPS – a type of artificially intelligent photographer's assistant that instantly analyses each scene. iSAPS makes adjustments even before the shutter release is pressed to optimise exposure, white balance and auto-focus settings in every shooting situation.

Professional features
The PowerShot S60 includes several features from Canon’s range of digital SLR cameras, which includes the popular EOS 300D and EOS 10D. One of these is the ability to record RAW files. The camera embeds a JPEG thumbnail in recorded RAW files, allowing for quick reviewing and avoiding the cumbersome wait for file conversions when all that is required is a small preview image.

Advanced Printing
As soon as the camera recognises successful connection to a direct printer or Windows computer, a blue light on its Print/Share button illuminates to indicate that printing or file transfer can commence. Connection via USB cable to any PictBridge compatible printer, such as Canon's Bubble Jet i990, enables printing without first transferring to a PC. When connected to a Canon compact photo printer such as the Canon CP-330, the camera/printer combination allows for 'movie-prints' (sequential frames of a movie clip printed as thumbnails on a single card) and photo IDs (passport style ID photographs).

Free online image sharing
Membership to Canon’s web portal, CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, expands to allow uploading of movie clips. These are first compressed for faster uploading using an upgraded version of the Canon ZoomBrowser software . CANON iMAGE GATEWAY gives PowerShot S60 customers 100MB of free album space on the Internet for storing and sharing favorite photographs and albums – a private online photo gallery. Function icons, themes and sound effects can also be downloaded so the camera’s look and feel is always fresh.

Software
Software supplied includes browsing and printing software ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) and ImageBrowser (Mac). Other software includes PhotoStitch, plus photo and movie manipulation software ArcSoft PhotoStudio and VideoImpression. Drivers include TWAIN (Windows 98/2000) and WIA (Windows Me). Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) support allows the camera to connect to any Windows XP and Mac OS X (v10.1/v10.2/v10.3) system without the requirement for a driver installation.

Pricing, availability and reader enquiries
The PowerShot S60 will be available from June 2004 for £449 RRP inc. VAT.

Reader enquiries: www.canon.co.uk

Specifications

DIGITAL CAMERA		PowerShot S60
IMAGE SENSOR	Type	1/1.8" CCD
	Effective Pixels	Approx.5.0M
	Colour Filter Type	Primary Colour
IMAGE PROCESSOR	Type	DIGIC with iSAPS technology
LENS	Focal Length	5.8 - 20.7 mm (35mm film equivalent: 28 - 100mm)
	Zoom	Optical 3.6x, digital approx. 4.1x, combined approx. 15x
	Maximum f/number	f/2.8 - f/5.3
	Construction	8 elements in 7 groups (2 aspherical elements)
FOCUSING	Type	TTL
	AF System/ Points	9-point AiAF, 1-point AF (Any position is available or fixed centre)
	AF Point Selection	Manual selection using Flexizone AE/AF
	AF Lock	Yes
	AF Assist Beam	Yes
	Manual Focus	Yes
	Focus Bracketing	Yes
	Closest Focusing Distance	4cm
EXPOSURE CONTROL	Metering modes	Evaluative, Centre-weighted average, Spot (centre or linked to focusing frame)
	AE Lock	Yes
	Exposure Compensation	+/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments
	AEB	Yes
	ISO Speed Equivalent	AUTO, 50, 100, 200, 400
SHUTTER	Speed	"15 - 1/2000 sec (Slow Shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. and more, available in Manual and Shutter Priority AE modes only. Shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. and more operate with noise reduction)."
WHITE BALANCE	Type	TTL
	Settings	Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater, Custom
VIEWFINDER	Viewfinder	Real-image zoom, optical viewfinder
LCD MONITOR	Monitor	1.8" P-Si TFT, approx. 118,000 pixels
	Coverage	100%
	Brightness	Adjustable to one of two levels
FLASH	Modes	Auto, Manual Flash On / Off
	Slow Sync Speed	Yes
	Red-eye Reduction	Yes
	Flash Exposure Compensation	+/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments
	Flash Exposure	Lock Yes
	Second Curtain Synchronisation	Yes
	Built-in Flash Range	55cm-4.2m (W) / 55cm-2.0m (T) (at ISO 100 equivalent)
SHOOTING	Modes	Auto, Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, Custom, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Fast Shutter, Slow Shutter, Stitch Assist, Movie
	Photo Effects	Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening, Sepia, Black & White, Custom
	Drive modes	Single, Continuous, Self-timer, Wireless control
	Continuous Shooting	High Speed at approx. 2.0 fps(1) (speed maintained for up to 8 images) Normal at approx. 1.5 fps(1) (speed maintained for up to 8 images)(2)
	Intervalometer	Up to 100 shots in 1 - 60 minute increments (2)
RECORDING PIXELS / COMPRESSION	Image Size	(L)2592 x 1944, (M1)2048 x 1536, (M2)1600 x 1200, (S)640 x 480
	Compression	Superfine, Fine, Normal or RAW (max. resolution only)
	Movies	(L)640 x 480, 10fps (M)320 x 240, (S)160 x 120, 15fps
	Movie Length	"Up to 3mins, (320x240, 160x120) (2) Upto 30sec. (640 x 480) (2)
FILE FORMAT	Still Image Format	JPEG (Exif 2.2 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system, RAW, Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
	RAW+JPEG simultaneous recording	Yes
	Movies	AVI [Motion JPEG + WAVE (monaural)]
	Sound Files	WAVE (monaural)
DIRECT PRINT	Canon Printers	Canon Compact Photo Printers and Bubble Jet Printers with the direct print function. (ID Photo Print, Movie Print supported on CP printers only)
	PictBridge	Yes
OTHER FEATURES	My Camera	Start-up image and camera sounds customisation
	Sound Memo	Up to 60 sec per image
	Intelligent Orientation Sensor	Yes
	Histogram	Yes
	Playback zoom	Approx. 2x - 10x
	Self Timer	Approx. 2 or 10 sec.
	Menu Languages	English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese
INTERFACE	Computer	USB (Mini-B, PTP)
	Other	A/V output (PAL/NTSC)
MEMORY CARD	Type	CompactFlash Type I / II (Microdrive compatible) (3)
SUPPORTED OPERATING SYSTEM	PC	Windows 98(including SE) / 2000 / Me / XP
	Macintosh	OS 9.0 - 9.2, OS X v10.1 - v10.3
SOFTWARE	Browsing & Printing	ZoomBrowser EX (PhotoRecord) / ImageBrowser
	Other	PhotoStitch
	Drivers	TWAIN (Windows 98 / 2000), WIA (Windows Me)
	Image Manipulation	ArcSoft PhotoStudio, ArcSoft VideoImpression
POWER SOURCE	Batteries	Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-2LH/NB-2L (NB-2LH battery and charger supplied)
	Battery life	"Approx. 240 shots (LCD monitor on) Approx. 550 shots (LCD monitor off) Approx. 210 min. (Playback) * Under Canon testing standard"
	A/C Power Supply	Optional, Power Adapter Kit ACK700
ACCESSORIES	Case	Soft Case SC-PS900
	Waterproof / Weatherproof Case	Waterproof Case (40m) WP-DC40
	Lenses	Tele-converter 2.0x TC-DC10 Conversion Lens Adapter LA-DC10
	Remote Controller/ Switch	Wireless Controller WL-DC100
	Power Supply & Battery Chargers	Compact Battery Charger CB-2LTE, AC Power Adapter Kit ACK700, Car Battery Charger CBC-NB2
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS	Operating Environment	0 - 40 °C, 10 - 90% humidity
	Dimensions (WxHxD)	114.0 x 56.5 x 38.8 mm (excluding protrusions)
	Weight (body only)	Approx. 230g

1 Large/Fine with LCD monitor off
2 Depending on memory card speed / capacity
3 Compatible with all memory card capacities, including cards of 2GB and more