4.0 / 3.2 Megapixel Models Are First to Provide Full-Size Direct Print Capabilities With New Canon S820D Bubble Jet Printer

LAKE SUCCESS, NEW YORK, October 2, 2001 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon, Inc. (NYSE: CAJ), once again strengthens its commitment to digital imaging with the introduction of the new PowerShot S40 and S30 digital still cameras. The PowerShot S40 (4.0 megapixels) and S30 (3.2 megapixels) fit between the PowerShot S300 Digital ELPH and the PowerShot G2, and are thus positioned as upper-mid-range products that can be used and enjoyed by every kind of photographer from beginner to pro. The new cameras expand the number of current PowerShot models to eight, ranging from the entry level PowerShot A10 to the high-end PowerShot Pro90IS. The Canon PowerShot S40 and S30 will be available at authorized Canon USA dealers by the end of October and have street prices of approximately $599 and $799 respectively.

The PowerShot S40 and S30 feature a high-resolution 7.1-21.3mm 3X optical zoom lens (equivalent to 35-105mm in the 35mm format), 3-point autofocus, and an extensive selection of 13 shooting modes ranging from fully automatic to fully manual. Other advanced features include compatibility with Type I and Type II CompactFlash (CF) cards, a high speed plug-and-play USB Interface, Movie Mode, a new feature called My Camera Settings, Microsoft Windows XP compatibility, plus Direct Printing using Canon’s new S820D Bubble Jet printer.

“Canon’s mission has always been to make photography fun and affordable for everyone,” said Yukiaki Hashimoto, vice president and general manager, Photographic Products Group, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “The new PowerShot S40 and S30 have allowed us to bring this concept to an even higher level. And the Direct Printing feature now possible with a full-size Bubble-Jet printer will certainly add to the fun photography brings to millions of people every day."

The PowerShot S40 and S30 are a visual departure from other PowerShot models. Their stylish, elongated metallic aluminum exteriors and large clamshell-type lens covers give them an elegant appearance, and improvements in the control layout make them even easier to use. For example, a new multi-controller combines the functions of the Omni Controller and Set buttons used in previous models. In addition, the PowerShot S40 and S30 digital cameras are the most compact 3X optical zoom models in their class thanks to other changes in the camera’s design. As a case in point, the camera’s battery and CompactFlash card make more efficient use of space by resting next to each other inside the camera and using a combined compartment cover.

Direct Printing with S820D Bubble Jet Printer
Earlier this year, Canon recognized the desire to provide a full solution from image capture to hard copy prints when it introduced Card Photo Printer CP-10, a dye-sublimation printer capable of producing wallet-sized prints directly from selected Canon PowerShot cameras without the need for a personal computer.

The popular acceptance of the CP-10 gave Canon the incentive to expand the Direct Print capabilities of the PowerShot S40 and S30. As a result, the new digital cameras can connect directly to Canon’s new S820D Bubble Jet photo printer via USB cable to produce full-size 1200 x 1200 dpi 8-1/2 x 11-inch color prints in as little as two minutes. A simple and intuitive menu display on the camera provides easy instructions and one-touch operation.

High Resolution and Image Quality
The PowerShot S40 is equipped with a 1/1.8-inch, 4.0 megapixel CCD sensor, allowing users to produce full-color, high-resolution images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels. The PowerShot S30, with its 1/1.8-inch 3.2 megapixel CCD sensor produces images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels. Both cameras offer three additional resolution settings of 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480, as well as the choice between RAW files for maximum image quality or 3 levels of JPEG compression for smaller file sizes and ease of use. Like Canon’s PowerShot A10/20, S110/300 and new G2 models, the PowerShot S40/30 use RGB primary color filters on their CCD chip for maximum color reproduction accuracy. The primary color filters, along with digital signal processing and proprietary noise reduction, work together to produce exceptionally high image quality that is unique to Canon.

Three-Point Autofocus and Manual Focus Settings
The PowerShot S40/S30 both use a three-point autofocus system to ensure perfectly focused images even when shooting off-center subjects. In Creative Zone exposure modes, the user can manually select any of the three focusing points by pushing a button on the back of the camera and using a selector switch. The active focusing point is indicated by a white box on the LCD monitor. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the box turns green or yellow to indicate autofocus completion status.

The S40/S30 manual focus function has been made easier to use by displaying a numerically indexed distance scale on the LCD monitor. Additionally, the portion of the image covered by the active focusing point is digitally enlarged during manual focusing to ensure maximum focusing precision. This feature works with all 3 focusing points, and combines the advantages of an enlarged view without losing the overall composition of the scene.

Exposure Modes
The PowerShot S40/S30 provides users with 13 exposure modes divided into 2 basic categories: the Image Zone and the Creative Zone. Exposure modes are selected on the top of the camera using a rotary dial.

Image Zone modes are fully automatic, and intended to optimize camera settings according to the scene. Selections include Full Auto, Pan Focus, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Color Effect, Stitch Assist, and Movie.

Color Effect allows users to choose between Vivid, Neutral, Sepia or Black and White and the Movie mode has been improved to provide not just one but two resolution modes with sound: QVGA (320x240), and Q2VGA (160x120). The maximum recording duration is 30 seconds in QVGA and two full minutes with Q2VGA.

Creative Zone modes offer more control. They include Program AE, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority and Manual. Program AE has been improved with the addition of Program Shift, which allows the user to bias the exposure towards higher shutter speeds or smaller apertures than the standard setting. Manual mode has also been improved with the addition of a numerical metering display. Like the G2, the PowerShot S40/S30 Creative Zones offer user-selectable settings for exposure compensation, flash exposure compensation, auto exposure bracketing, white balance, and other parameters. A new "Fluorescent H" white balance setting allows better color matching for daylight-type fluorescent light sources.

Metering Modes
The new PowerShot S40/S30 models offer users three different types of Metering: Center-Weighted Average, Spot, and Evaluative. With center-weighted average metering, the camera measures light over the entire image and places proper exposure emphasis on the center of the frame. Spot metering measures a specific portion of the frame, and can be locked to the center or linked to the active focusing point. Evaluative Metering, however, takes the entire scene and divides it into several sections. For each section, the camera evaluates a number of complex lighting factors based on each individual section such as the position of the subject, the brightness, the background, and backlighting. The result is a properly exposed image throughout the entire scene.

Continuous Shooting
In addition to the normal continuous shooting mode which allows digital capture at 1.5 fps (S40) or 2.0 fps (S30) for up to 9 frames in Large/Fine mode, the new cameras also offer a High-Speed Continuous mode that allows pictures to be taken continuously at an even faster pace of 2.5 fps (S40) or 3.0 fps (S30) for up to 5 frames in Large/Fine mode. High-Speed Continuous shooting is made possible by changing the method in which image data is temporarily stored in the buffer.

Wide ISO Range
Unlike conventional film-based cameras, digital still cameras can alter exposure sensitivity from frame to frame by adjusting the ISO setting on the camera. PowerShot S40 users can select any ISO from 50 to 400, including Auto. PowerShot S30 users can even select an ISO 800 equivalent speed, a sophisticated feature rarely seen in this product category. As a rule, noise increases as the ISO rating increases. However, the PowerShot S30 is able to achieve practical image quality in spite of this high speed, thus allowing a wider range of photographic opportunities in low light conditions.

Histogram Display
The PowerShot S40 and S30 are capable of displaying a histogram of the photo image on the LCD monitor in a manner similar to the PowerShot G2. The histogram allows users to check the overall exposure of each photo. Additionally, if any portion of the photo is grossly overexposed, warning signals are displayed.

Voice Memos
The new PowerShots also support a Voice Memo function which allows users to record up to 60 seconds of audio which can be attached (as a separate .WAV file) to any still image in Playback mode. Movies and voice memos can be played back on the camera itself, through a connected video monitor, or with a compatible personal computer.

"My Camera Settings"
The Canon PowerShot S40 and S30 are the first Canon digital cameras to incorporate a new feature called "My Camera Settings." This feature allows users to customize settings for start-up images and sounds, as well as sounds for shutter operation, self-timer operation and camera setting adjustments. Three samples are provided for each setting, and users can create their own "My Camera Settings" using the bundled software. The purpose of the "My Camera Settings" is to make digital photography as fun as possible, especially when taking pictures of children who are often amused by the sounds, making them more likely to smile.

Image Management Software
The Canon PowerShot S40 and S30 are among the first Canon digital cameras to be shipped with full support for the new Microsoft Windows XP operating system. The Windows XP logo on the package indicates that the bundled driver software has passed Microsoft's stringent WHQL (Windows Hardware Qualification Lab) compatibility requirements.

Other bundled software includes ArcSoft's Camera Suite for still image and movie editing, as well as Canon's own ZoomBrowser EX 3.1 (for PC) and ImageBrowser 2.1 (for Mac); PhotoRecord 1.4 (Windows only); PhotoStitch 3.1.4 (Windows) and PhotoStitch 3.1.2 (Mac) and RAW Image Converter 1.2. RemoteCapture 2.1 enables a USB-connected PowerShot S40 or S30 camera to be controlled by a compatible personal computer. Many camera settings such as focal length, resolution, compression, flash mode, etc., can be adjusted and images can be recorded directly to the PC.

In addition to all of these software applications, the S40/S30 is supplied with plug-in modules and TWAIN drivers as well as a WIA driver for Windows XP/Me and a USB Mounter for Mac OS 9.0 and 9.1. The WIA driver and USB mounter allow a compatible PC to mount the camera as a hard drive on the desktop and display thumbnails to facilitate simplified image data transfers. Canon is currently working together with Apple Computers to provide for OS X's Image Capture application as well. Updated drivers will be posted on Canon USA's www.powershot.com Web site as soon as they are available.

Kit Components and Dedicated Accessories
The PowerShot S30 and S40 will be supplied in a standard kit containing the following items: