Cologne, Germany, 2002 - Today sees the introduction of the new 4 Megapixel PowerShot S45, incorporating Canon's high-performance DIGIC processor and 3x zoom lens with fast f2.8 aperture. The PowerShot S45 is the successor of the TIPA Award winning PowerShot S40 and is aimed at the advanced user who wants full photographic control in a compact digital camera.

Canon's unique DIGIC processor is the heart of the camera linking six key elements: CCD Control, AE/AF/AWB, signal processing, JPEG compression, memory card control and LCD monitor display - to deliver the outstanding images and overall performance that hallmarks Canon cameras.

"We expect the PowerShot S45 to continue the exceptional success of the award winning S40," says Hiroshi Komatsuzaki, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging. "With significant technologies such as DIGIC and FlexiZone AF/AE the PowerShot S45 is sure to be a winner with its combination of great features and compact design."

Quality
Quality in the PowerShot S45 is driven by three major elements: Lens, Sensor and Image processing.

This camera is equipped with a compact, retractable 3x optical zoom covering the 35-105mm (35mm film equivalent) range. Constructed from 7 elements, including 2 aspherical elements, and arranged in 5 groups the high quality compact lens has a fast F2.8 maximum aperture to deliver great quality images shot after shot.

The new intelligent orientation sensor automatically rotates the images after each shot, it also ensures that before the shutter is released the camera can optimise its settings to best capture the scene. To then digitising the captured scene, the high quality 4.0Megapixel CCD sensor employed in the award winning PowerShot S40 is used.

Once the shutter is released the images are processed by the high-speed DIGIC processor, which executes complex imaging algorithms that are optimised for low noise and high quality. These three elements combined in this compact digital camera deliver high-resolution photo prints and offers greater accuracy in colour reproduction.

Technology
Canon has designed the DIGIC processor specifically for great image processing. Combining the 6 key elements of CCD Control, AE/AF/AWB, signal processing, JPEG compression, memory card control and LCD monitor display, the PowerShot S45 delivers better quality images than it's predecessor, and with the speed advantage of DIGIC, battery life is improved too. The DIGIC processor is a major component essential to ensure the image quality that is a Canon camera hallmark.

Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space (iSAPS) is a new technology, which allows the PowerShot S45 to deliver superb images. Each time a picture is taken with the Canon digital camera, the scene focussed on and shooting information are analysed and cross-referenced against Photographic Space data. Photographic Space data is a vast library of statistical information created out of 60 years of camera manufacturing to make pictures better.

The PowerShot S45 also features an intelligent orientation sensor, which detects the orientation of the camera to optimise, the metering and white balance in all situations. The orientation sensor allows the camera to automatically rotate the image for playback on a TV or when transferring images to a PC with Canon Software. As the camera now has additional feedback about the scene, it can improve the pictures by automatically compensating for bright areas of sky in the top of portrait format shots.

Photo Flexibility and Creativity
13 shooting modes including 1 custom setting in the PowerShot S45, gives photographers better flexibility to handle any shooting situation and gives added control over the photo result. Featuring two new Canon technologies, 9-point AiAF and FlexiZone AF/AE the camera can focus on the subject wherever they are in the frame. 9-point AiAF improves focus performance since the focussing area is larger than before. With FlexiZone AF/AE there's complete control of the position of the focus and exposure point in the viewfinder frame ideal for off-centre and even on-the-edge compositions.

The PowerShot S45 also allows for manual focussing and focus bracketing which is a new feature; taking three shots one at the selected focus, one in front of and one behind it's ideally suited for macro photography. The PowerShot S45 also includes digital effects such as sepia, B/W, low sharpening, vivid and neutral settings which can be used in all modes.

Movie mode with in-camera editing functions, further sets the PowerShot S45 apart form other digital cameras. Movie recording and playback means that users can record at 320x240 pixels or at 160x120 and are capable of 3 minutes of recording at 15 frames per second. By compressing the movie with Motion JPEG (video) and WAVE (mono audio) it is saved as an AVI file and ready to view on PC or TV.

Directly connectable to all Canons' Direct Printers, The PowerShot S45 delivers superb quality photo images totally bypassing the PC. Simply connect the camera to a Canon direct printer; select the desired shot, and a full colour card-size, postcard size or A4 size photo is easily printed in minutes.

The PowerShot S45 is one of Canon's digital cameras to feature the "My Camera" mode to personalise start-up images and operation sounds. Select from the factory choice or create your own.

Software
The PowerShot S45 is compatible with both PC and Mac and has a full suite of advanced software.

• New ZoomBrowzer EX 4.0 - Central to image management, ZoomBrowser EX files, prints and even transfers images to a computer and camera.
• New File Viewer Utility - for the faster transfer, preview and conversion of RAW image files.
• Picture Transfer Protocol - PowerShot S45 can be used in PTP mode for driverless connection to Windows XP and Mac OS-X (v10.1).
• New ArcSoft Camera Suite 2.0 - advanced package for both still image and video clips.

• 30 m waterproof case
• Car battery charger