See, shoot, share: Slim new ELPH cameras offer WiFi connectivity
posted Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:43 AM EST
With smartphones rapidly devouring a significant chunk of the compact camera market, we've seen a flurry of new compact camera launches from the industry's big names over the last few weeks. The three As--attractive, approachable, and affordable--are no longer enough to make the grade any more. Almost without exception, manufacturers are looking for the hook that will make you put your smartphone back in your pocket.
Two new ELPH-series cameras from Canon hope to do so by letting you share photos immediately through your WiFi-capable phone, without ever touching it. You get the best of both worlds: the higher-quality lens, larger imager, and better handling of a real camera, coupled with the immediacy of your smartphone.
The Canon 320 HS and Canon 530 HS each offer built-in WiFi in a very slim, attractive PowerShot ELPH-series body, along with their own unique features aimed at setting themselves apart from your smartphone. For the ELPH 530 HS, the attention-grabber is a 12x optical zoom lens that lets you get up close and personal with your subject. For the ELPH 320 HS, it's a really high-res 16 megapixel image sensor. Both cameras also cater to the smartphone-savvy with 3.2-inch touchscreen LCDs, letting you interact with the camera in much the same way that you're used to from your phone.
The Canon PowerShot ELPH 320 HS will be first to ship, from March 2012. Priced at around US$280, it's covered in our Canon 320 HS preview.
For the more powerful zoom lens and a lower-res 10 megapixel imager, you'll want to wait an extra month and pay a $70 premium for the Canon PowerShot ELPH 530 HS. With list pricing around US$350, this model ships from April, and is covered in our Canon 530 HS preview.
More details on the other cameras in the release below can be found in separate news items for the Canon D20 and Canon SX260 HS.
Press Release
New PowerShot Lineup Enables Photographers To Stay Connected While Capturing Legendary Canon Image Quality
Highlighted Features include Wi-Fi, Powerful Optical Zoom and Ruggedness
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 7, 2012 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the addition of four PowerShot digital cameras: the ELPH 530 HS, ELPH 320 HS, SX260 HS, and D20. Photographers no longer have to sacrifice image quality for the ability to instantly share images and videos with the use of the PowerShot ELPH 530 HS and ELPH 320 HS Wi-Fi enabled cameras. The PowerShot SX260 HS camera puts Canon’s amazing optical reach into a pocket sized camera, with a 20x optical zoom (25mm to 500mm) letting you pull subjects in close. Designed for the adventurous photographer looking to take spectacular photos, the rugged PowerShot D20 camera is ideally suited for the backpacker, snowboarder or tropical-traveler.
“Canon wants to help people capture the best images possible with the ability to quickly and easily share them with the world. With new PowerShot features such as Wi-Fi connectivity, people can quickly upload and share images on social networks,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “Whether it’s a powerful zoom, Wi-Fi or waterproof features, our new PowerShot lineup empowers people to be creative with their photography. There are good enough images and there are great images, we always aim to help people capture the best images.”
Mobile Sharing with Excellent Image Quality
The Wi-Fi functionality built into the two ELPH models allow for a variety of connection options to help photographers share, upload, or back-up images. Users can connect directly to a wireless network from their camera to upload photos and videos to the Canon iMAGE GATEWAY , an online service that lets registered users store images to an online album, and then post their content to social networks such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
In March, the Canon CameraWindow application is expected to be available on the Apple App Store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to further enhance the connectivity options. With this App, users can transfer and save images and videos from the camera to compatible iOS devices, which can then be directly uploaded to Facebook and YouTube or emailed. Photos and videos can also be shared on-the-spot with friends and family by transmitting to another current Wi-Fi-enabled Canon camera as well. A similar app is expected to be available in May for Android devices.
Canon PowerShot ELPH 530 HS Digital Camera
The flagship of the ELPH line, the .78 inches thick ELPH 530 HS camera has the classic style of the original ELPH design while also being Wi-Fi enabled and packing an amazing 12x optical zoom lens to capture great shots from a distance. Canon’s HS SYSTEM has been included where the 10-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor will work in tandem with the camera’s DIGIC 5 image processor to help produce high-quality images in low-light conditions. The ELPH 530 HS will also shoot 1080p Full HD video helping capture footage in crystal clear clarity. This new model sports a 3.2-inch LCD touch screen for simple and intuitive operation and menu navigation, Smart AUTO scene selection with 58 scenes, Face ID for optimal images of up to 12 registered subjects and the Intelligent Image Stabilization (IS) function. The camera will be available in black or white for an estimated retail price of $349.99 and is expected to ship in April.
Canon PowerShot ELPH 320 HS Digital Camera
The Canon PowerShot ELPH 320 HS camera makes the perfect on-the-go camera for the young and active photographer, with Wi-Fi connectivity for easy uploading of memorable moments. The HS SYSTEM has also been included on this model with the 16.1 megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS and DIGIC 5 image processor working together to produce high-quality, low-light images. For those users who value high-quality video, the camera has 1080p Full HD capabilities as well. A 5x-Optical Zoom 24mm wide-angle lens will help expand the shooting capabilities of the camera and a 3.2-inch LCD touch screen for simple and intuitive operation and menu navigation. This camera will also feature Smart AUTO scene selection with 58 scenes and Face ID in addition to Intelligent IS. The camera will be available in four eye-catching colors (black, silver, blue and red) for an estimated retail price of $279.99 and is expected to ship in March.
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Digital Camera
Canon’s PowerShot SX260 HS camera delivers a powerful 20x Optical Zoom and 25mm Wide-Angle lens with Optical Image Stabilization delivers stunning images from up close or at a distance and measuring just 1.29-inches thick. The camera’s impressive zoom is accompanied by Canon’s HS SYSTEM for improved low-light shooting with a 12.1-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5 image processor. Combining this incredible zoom and high-image quality will allow photographers of all levels to capture great photos or 1080p Full HD video up close and at a distance, all in one portable, powerful digital camera. The Smart AUTO scene selection with 58 scenes and Face ID has also been included in this incredibly diverse yet compact device. The camera also includes Intelligent IS and GPS photo tagging with location and elevation information to help plot exactly where your travels have taken you. Adding to the feature-set is High-Speed Burst HQ allowing for approximately 10 high-resolution shots to be captured at a continuous rate at 10.3 frames per second. The camera will be available in three colors – black, green and red – and is expected to be available in March for an estimated retail price of $349.99.
Canon PowerShot D20 Digital Camera:
Waterproof , shock-proof, and freeze-proof the PowerShot D20 is built with the active photographer in mind. Outfitted with an easy-to-access button, the camera enables users to switch from normal photo mode to snow or underwater mode, even with gloves on. To help make the underwater photos as great as those captured on dry land, the camera has a built-in underwater macro mode producing amazing pictures up close while diving or snorkeling. When recording video, the camera includes wind reduction technology to help capture clear audio even in breezy conditions. It touts an impressive array of features including the HS SYSTEM incorporating a 12.1-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 image processor, 1080p Full HD video and a 5x optical zoom lens. Also included is a 3.0-inch LCD screen, GPS-capabilities allowing users to track their locations and tag each photo with latitude, longitude, and elevation information and Intelligent IS. The PowerShot D20 camera is expected to ship in May 2012 for an estimated retail price of $349.99.
For more information about the new Canon PowerShot cameras go to: www.usa.canon.com/powershot
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With more than $45 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks fourth overall in patent holdings in the U.S. in 2010†, and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2011. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss.
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† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
All referenced product names, and other marks, are trademarks of their respective owners.
Availability, prices, and specifications of all products are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary
i. Canon iMAGE GATEWAY Online Photo Album available starting February 14, 2012. One–time registration will be required.
ii. Compatible with iOS 4.3 or later versions.
iii. Down to 33 feet
iv. Up to 5 feet
v. As low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit
vi. GPS functions will not operate while the camera is under water.