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Canon PowerShot Pro90 IS An impressive update to the PowerShot "Pro" line, with a 10x optically stabilized zoom lens and 2.6 megapixel CCD! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PowerShot Pro 90 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software, & Hardware 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on PowerShot Pro 90 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software, & Hardware>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 2/6/2001

Image Storage and Interface
The Pro90 uses CompactFlash (Type I or II) cards for image storage, and a 16MB card is supplied with the camera. Upgrades up to 128MB are available separately from Canon, and up to 300+ MB from third party vendors. The Pro90IS is also compatible with IBM's MicroDrives, with up to 1 Gigabyte capacity. The memory card slot is housed in the hand grip. Insert the card with the label facing up and the directional arrow pointing toward the camera. Memory cards should never be removed while the camera is on, nor should the camera be turned off while performing operations, to avoid damaging the media. A flashing green light on the back panel notifies you when the card is in use. A small button beside the CompactFlash slot releases the card.

The table below shows the approximate number of storable images and compression ratios for a 16MB memory card:

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality (16 MB Memory Card)		Super Fine	Fine	Normal	RAW
High Resolution	Images	9	25	54	6
	Approx. Compression	4:1	12:1	26:1	1:1
Standard Resolution	Images	17	45	94	N/A
	Approx. Compression	2:1	7:1	14:1	N/A
Low Resolution	Images	35	84	161	N/A
	Approx. Compression	2:1	5:1	9:1	N/A

Canon estimates that a 16MB CompactFlash card should hold about 62 seconds of movie files.

Images on CompactFlash cards cannot be write-protected as a group, but the Pro90 allows you to protect individual images through the Playback menu. Protection prevents images from being accidentally erased, or manipulated in any other way, except when the card is formatted. The "*" button on the camera's back panel deletes the currently displayed image (with an option to cancel) during the image preview display in any Record mode, or in Playback mode. A Rotate menu option rotates the image display 90 or 270 degrees clockwise.

The Record menu allows you to reset the frame numbering sequence for new cards, or to maintain the numbering sequence regardless of a card change. Images are saved in DCF compliant (Exif Ver. 2.1 JPEG compliant) or RAW format. Movie files are saved as AVI files. Three still image sizes are available: Large (1,856 x 1,392 pixels), Medium (1,024 x 768 pixels), or Small (640 x 480 pixels). JPEG quality levels are Superfine, Fine, and Normal. Movie files are automatically recorded at 320 x 240 pixels. The RAW format automatically saves files at the 1,856 x 1,392 resolution size.

Interface software and a USB cable are provided with the camera, for high-speed connection to a computer. (A serial cable is available as a separate accessory, as the Digital jack supports both USB and serial interfaces.) The Pro90's USB interface is fairly fast, as we measured the data-transfer rate at 442 KBytes/second, falling on the upper end of data-transfer range for USB-equipped cameras we've tested to date. (January, 2001)

One of the first things any new digicam owner will need is a larger memory card for their camera: The cards shipped with the units by the manufacturers should really be considered only "starter" cards, you'll definitely want a higher capacity card immediately. - Probably at least a 32 megabyte card for a 1.3 or 2 megapixel camera, 64 megabytes or more for a 3, 4, or 5 megapixel one. (The nice thing about memory cards is you'll be able to use whatever you buy now with your next camera too, whenever you upgrade.) To help you shop for a good deal on memory cards that fit the P90, we've put together a little memory locater, with links to our price-comparison engine: Just click on the "Memory Wizard" button above to go to the Canon memory finder, select your camera model , and click the shopping cart icon next to the card size you're interested in. You'll see a list of matching entries from the price-comparison database. Pick a vendor & order away! (Pretty cool, huh?)