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Canon's PowerShot A80 logo. Courtesy of Canon. Canon announces PowerShot A80 digital camera
By
(Wednesday, August 20, 2003 - 14:00 EDT)

Canon has today announced the latest addition to its A-series of digital cameras in the form of the new PowerShot A80.

The new model, which now occupies the top position in the A-series lineup, features a resolution of 4 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens and a tilt / swivel LCD display similar to that seen previously on the G-series cameras. It also adds PictBridge compatibility, for computer-less printing direct from the camera. It will ship in Europe in late October, at a price of €449 (equivalent to US$498 / £313 ignoring exchange rate fluctuations, taxes and duties). Canadian pricing is set at CAD$750, again with October availability.

Specifications courtesy of Canon follow:

Canon PowerShot A80
Canon's PowerShot A80 digital camera. Courtesy of Canon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Image Sensor
Type 1/1.8” CCD
Effective Pixels Approx.4.0M
Color Filter Type Primary Color
Image Processor
Type DIGIC with iSAPS technology
Lens
Focal Length 7.8 – 23.4 mm (35mm film equivalent: 38 – 114mm)
Zoom Optical 3x, digital approx. 3.6x, combined approx. 11x
Maximum f/number f/2.8 – f/4.9
Construction 6 elements in 5 groups (2 aspherical elements)
Focusing
AF System 9-point AiAF, 1-point AF (centre)
AF Lock Yes
AF Assist Beam Yes
Manual Focus Yes
Closest Focusing Distance 5cm
Exposure Control
Metering Evaluative, Centre-weighted average, Spot (centre)
Exposure Compensation +/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments
ISO Speed Equivalent AUTO, 50, 100, 200, 400
Shutter
Speed
15 – 1/2,000 sec
(Slow Shutter of 1.3 sec. or slower, available in Manual and Shutter-priority AE modes only. Shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction).
White Balance
Settings Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H or Custom
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Real-image zoom
LCD Monitor Vari-angle 1.5” TFT
Flash
Modes Auto, On / Off
Slow Sync Speed Yes
Red-eye Reduction Yes
Manual Power Adjustment 3 levels with internal flash
Built-in Flash Range 45cm - 4.4m (W) / 2.5m (T) (at ISO AUTO equivalent)
Shooting
Modes Auto, Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, Custom (2), Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Fast Shutter, Slow Shutter, Stitch Assist and Movie
Photo Effects Vivid, Neutral, Low Sharpening, Sepia, Black & White
Continuous Shooting
High Speed at approx. 2.4 fps¹ (speed maintained for up to 5 images)
Normal at approx. 1.6 fps¹ (speed maintained for up to 8 images)
Recording Pixels / Compression
Image Size (L)2272 x 1704, (M1)1600 x 1200, (M2)1024 x 768, (S)640 x 480
Compression SuperFine, Fine, Normal
Movies (M)320 x 240, (S)160 x 120
Movie Length Up to 3mins, depending upon memory card type and capacity
File Format
Still Images JPEG (Exif 2.2 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system, Digital Print Order Format [DPOF] Version 1.1 compliant
Movies AVI [Motion JPEG + WAVE (monaural)]
Sound Files WAVE (monaural)
Direct Print
Canon Printers Canon Card Photo Printers and Bubble Jet Printers with the direct print function
PictBridge Supported
Other Features
My Camera Start-up image and camera sounds customisation
Sound Memo Up to 60 sec
Intelligent Orientation Sensor Yes
Histogram Yes
Playback zoom 2x – 10x
Self Timer 2 or 10 sec.
Camera Menus English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese
Interface
Computer USB (PTP)
Other A/V output (PAL/NTSC)
Memory Card
Type CompactFlash Type I
Supported Operating System
PC Windows 98(including SE) / 2000 / Me / XP
Macintosh OS 9.0 – 9.2, OS X v10.1 / v10.2
Software
Browsing & Printing ZoomBrowser EX (PhotoRecord) / ImageBrowser
Other PhotoStitch
Drivers TWAIN (Windows 98 / 2000), WIA (Windows Me)
Image Manipulation ArcSoft PhotoImpression, ArcSoft VideoImpression
Power Source
Batteries 4x Size-AA Alkaline or NiMH Batteries (Alkalines supplied)
A/C Power Supply Yes, optional
Accessories
Case Soft Case SC-PS600
Waterproof / Weatherproof Case Waterproof Case (40m) WP-DC900
Lenses
1.75x Tele-converter TC-DC52A,
0.7x Wide Converter WC-DC52,
Close-up Lens 250D (52mm),
Conversion Lens Adapter LA-DC52D
Power Supply & Battery Chargers Battery Charger Kit CBK100, AC Power Adapter ACK600
Physical Specifications
Operating Environment 0 – 40 °C, 10 – 90% humidity
Dimensions 103.1 x 64.6 x 34.7 mm
Weight (body only) Approx. 250g
More Photos
Canon's PowerShot A80 digital camera. Courtesy of Canon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Canon's PowerShot A80 digital camera. Courtesy of Canon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
Canon's PowerShot A80 digital camera. Courtesy of Canon, with modifications by Michael R. Tomkins. Click for a bigger picture!
.

Original Source Press Release:

CANON'S POWERSHOT A80 DIGITAL CAMERA PACKS FOUR MEGAPIXELS INTO PORTABLE PACKAGE FOR POWERFUL PICTURE TAKING

Canon's New PowerShot A80 Delivers Professional Features at an Entry-Level Price

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2003 — Canon's rugged new four-megapixel PowerShot A80 Digital Camera combines brilliant image quality, crisp Canon optics, and advanced features including a 3X optical zoom and a Vari-Angle LCD Monitor in an affordable and easy-to-use package.

The PowerShot A80 is the new flagship of the PowerShot A-series line-up, which also includes the A60, A70, and A300. The new model is also the first PowerShot to support PictBridge*, the new standard for high-quality direct printing. The PowerShot A80 will be delivered to authorized dealers in October at a suggested list price of just $499.

"We packed advanced features into an entry-level PowerShot digital camera to provide consumers with professional capabilities at an affordable price," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE CAJ). "This lightweight durable digital camera also captures eye-catching high-resolution photos with its sharp Canon zoom lens and exclusive DIGIC image processor."

Housed in a compact metal body, the PowerShot A80 digital camera is solidly built yet light weight at 8.8 ounces. The camera features a 1/1.8 inch, 4.0 megapixel CCD sensor that captures images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels with exceptional detail and color fidelity. Canon's exclusive DIGIC processor improves image quality and increases camera responsiveness and image processing speeds compared to general purpose CPUs found in other comparable digital cameras.

PowerShot A80 Key Features:

  • 4.0 Megapixel digital camera with 3X optical zoom/11X combined zoom
  • Durable and compact metal body equipped with a 14-mode Command Dial, 9-point AiAF and 270° Vari-Angle LCD Monitor for flexibility and ease of use
  • Canon-exclusive DIGIC image processor with iSAPS technology for fast, high-quality image processing, improved responsiveness and decreased power consumption
  • Intelligent Orientation Sensor for automatic rotation of vertical-format shots
  • Improved control layout with larger dial and buttons
  • Multiple manual overrides and customizable My Camera function plus Movie Mode (max 3 min) and voice memos with sound and speaker
  • Broad range of optional accessories including wide converter (0.7x), tele-converter (1.75x), close-up lens, waterproof case (up to depths of 130 ft.), AC adapter and car battery cable
  • Uses easy to find AA-size batteries and Type I CF card removable storage
  • Supports PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) driverless PC connection with Win XP and Mac OS X

With *PictBridge compatible cameras or camcorders, consumers can easily print pictures at home, the office or while traveling, with any PictBridge compatible printer. Users simply connect the camera or camcorder to the printer with a USB cable and then select images and print settings from the camera's LCD monitor. The PowerShot A80 Digital Camera can also print directly to any Canon dye-sublimation or Bubble Jet Direct compatible printer for fast, high-quality photos.

Canon developed the proprietary DIGIC (Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit) image processor specifically for use with its line of digital cameras. The technology combines the jobs of image processing and camera function control into one chip. Because it was specifically designed for use in digital cameras, it is also capable of handling JPEG compression/expansion; memory card control; LCD/Video control and processing; gain control (control of CCD signal amplification); Auto Exposure; Auto Focus; Auto White Balance control and most other functions of the camera or camcorder. The result is a product that offers faster and more powerful auto focus than ever before, faster image processing, longer battery life, and the ability to record 3-minute movie clips with sound.

The DIGIC chip's high-speed processing enables Canon's exclusive iSAPS (an acronym for Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology that improves picture quality by "predicting" certain camera settings like focusing distance, exposure and optimum white balance based on zoom focal length, overall light level and tonal distribution data. With iSAPS, the PowerShot A80 camera can analyze a scene just before the image is made and in doing so, increase the speed and precision of the camera's autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance.

Canon's PowerShot A80 Digital Camera will be available in October for a suggested retail price of $499.

About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune’s Most Admired Companies in America, and is ranked #39 on the Business Week list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2002, with global revenues of $24.5 billion. Canon U.S.A. employs more than 10,000 people at over 30 locations. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.

# # #

Specification and prices subject to change without notice. Actual price is determined by retailers and may vary.
*For a list of PictBridge enabled printers visit http://www.cipa.jp/pictbridge/.
DIGIC is a trademark of Canon Inc.
PictBridge is a trademark.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.

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