Canon PowerShot Pro90 ISAn impressive update to the PowerShot "Pro" line, with a 10x optically stabilized zoom lens and 2.6 megapixel CCD!<<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, Software, & HardwareReview First Posted: 2/6/2001 |
Video OutAn NTSC audio/video cable accompanies the Pro90, for connection to a television set. We assume that European models come with the necessary PAL cable, since the Set Up menu offers an NTSC and PAL setting. Once connected to a television set, the camera's LCD monitor automatically switches off. All Playback and Record functions are available (except the Stitch Assist exposure mode). The remote control can also be used to control image playback and recording.
PowerThe Pro90 uses a BP-511 rechargeable lithium battery pack for power, which can be recharged inside the camera via the accompanying cable. (It also doubles as an AC adapter). The battery compartment is accessed via the bottom of the camera, and takes up a large portion of the hand grip. The Pro90 reports the current battery consumption on the status display panel as well as the LCD monitor, via a small battery icon. Canon estimates that a fully charged battery pack should accommodate about 200 images in Record mode, or provide about 120 minutes of playback time in Playback mode. This seems more or less consistent with our own test results, although the "200 shot" capacity would depend a great deal on how quickly you could squeeze off those shots, and how long the camera was left running between captures.
An automatic shutdown option is available through the Set Up Menu. When activated, the auto shutdown will turn off the camera after about three minutes of inactivity in Record mode, and about five minutes in Playback mode.
The table below documents our power consumption measurements on the Pro90 IS. It's important to note that these measurements were performed at the camera's external power terminal, with an operating voltage of 9.5 volts. Since the battery itself provides 7.4 volts, the figures shown must be increased by a factor of 25 to 30 percent to reflect the actual current drain on the battery itself.
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| Capture Mode, w/LCD |
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| Capture Mode, no LCD (EVF active) |
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| Half-pressed shutter w/LCD |
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| Half-pressed w/o LCD (EVF active) |
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| Memory Write (transient) |
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| Flash Recharge (transient) |
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| Image Playback |
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Given the 1100mAh capacity of its 7.4 volt Li-Ion NP-511 battery pack, and the 870 mA current drain when operating at the battery's voltage level in Capture mode with the LCD active (680 measured at 9.5 volts x 1.28 factor to adjust for the 7.4 volt actual battery voltage), we'd expect about 75 minutes of continuous operation in Record mode. We didn't test the total discharge time for the camera, but this number seemed to square well with our experience in the studio. Canon's NP-511 batteries are real powerhouses, but the Pro90 IS is also a fairly power-hungry device. The combination of powerful camera and powerful battery pack nets out to slightly better than average battery life.
One feature that we very much liked about the Pro90 was how quickly the battery recharged. In-camera battery charging is often a rather leisurely process, but the Pro90 brings its NP-511 battery packs up to 90% charge within 100 minutes. (Typically about an hour and a half in our experience with the camera.) Our standard advice to purchase an extra battery pack still holds, but the speed of in-camera charging was a pleasant surprise. (A car power adapter is available as a separate accessory.)
Included Software
Both a USB cable and two software CDs accompany the PowerShot Pro90 (a serial cable is available as a separate accessory). The first software CD contains Canon Utilities, ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) or ImageBrowser (Macintosh) for image handling, PhotoRecord (Windows only) for print output, and PhotoStitch, RemoteCapture, Apple QuickTime, and USB drivers, for both Macintosh (OS 8.1 or higher) and Windows (95/98/NT 4.0/2000) operating systems. The Canon Utilities software enables the camera to download images from the memory card. ZoomBrowser and Image Browser provide a variety of camera connection functions, such as the ability to convert and save RAW data files, as well as image organization and printing tools. PhotoRecord is the printing utility, which allows you to lay out prints, add frames or backgrounds, supply captions or titles, and create photo albums. PhotoStitch "stitches" together the panoramic images shot in Stitch Assist mode. RemoteCapture is a very interesting utility, which allows you to control the camera through your computer. The camera's shutter button can be released through the software, and images are saved directly to your computer. RemoteCapture also provides interval (or time-lapse) shooting at user-set intervals. (See our review of Canon's D30 SLR camera for a brief discussion of RemoteCapture, including a screen shot.) Finally, QuickTime enables you to view recorded movies and Stitch Assist files.
The second software CD contains Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE (Limited Edition), which provides a full range of image editing, correction, and enhancement tools. Special effects filters such as Watercolor and Charcoal enable creative enhancements, and correction tools adjust image characteristics such as contrast, saturation, and lightness. Photoshop LE is also launchable directly from the browser softwares.
Included Hardware
The following hardware and accessories are included in the Pro90 box:
- Canon PowerShot Pro90 IS
- Neck Strap
- Lens cap with cord
- Wireless Controller
- Compact Power Adapter
- BP-511 battery pack
- A/V cable
- USB interface cable
- 16MB CompactFlash card
- Canon Utilities software CD
- Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE software CD
- Software and camera manuals
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