Steve's Digicams - Breaking News - Canon 08/19/2004 Press Release

Canon's Next "G"Eneration Powershot G6 Digital Camera Merges Advanced DSLR Functionality With Compact Portability

Read our detailed G6 First Look

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. Aug. 19, 2004 – Canon’s new 7.1-megapixel PowerShot G6 digital camera offers photographers and photo enthusiasts a flexible, full-featured tool for expanded creative control. The simply sophisticated PowerShot G6 digital camera features a new compact design, advanced ergonomics and brilliant Canon optics that deliver beautiful images.

"Expanding on the popularity of our previous G-series digital cameras, we designed the PowerShot G6 model with photo enthusiasts and advanced amateurs in mind," said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ). "The PowerShot G6 digital camera is an extraordinary combination of advanced features, genuine Canon optics, exceptional image quality with the DIGIC Image Processor and a compact and comfortable design."

PowerShot G6 Digital Camera’s Powerful Performance

Equipped with a higher resolution 7.1-megapixel CCD-type sensor, the PowerShot G6 digital camera captures 3072 x 2304 pixel images with exceptional detail and color fidelity. The digital camera offers users a vari-angled 2.0" LCD monitor for better on-camera viewing and Canon's exclusive DIGIC Image Processor, which increases image quality and processing speeds while reducing power consumption. Canon’s powerful 4x all-glass optical zoom lens provides photographers with a 35mm equivalent range of 35-140mm, a fast maximum aperture of f/2.0-3.0 and macro focusing down to 2 inches. The additional 4.1x digital zoom extends the camera’s telephoto capabilities to provide photographers with 16x combined zoom functionality.

The PowerShot G6 digital camera has been reengineered with a host of new features, including a faster start-up time, simultaneous RAW+JPEG recording and an enhanced large size (640x480) movie mode. Compared to its predecessor, the PowerShot G5 model, the PowerShot G6 camera’s high speed zooming from wide to telephoto has been shortened by up to 30% while the speed of the camera’s auto focus has also been increased by up to 55% for better performance compared to the PowerShot G5 camera.

Key PowerShot G6 features:

• High-resolution 7.1-megapixel CCD sensor for improved image quality;

• 4x optical/4.1 digital/16x combined zoom

• 9-point AiAF (new to the G-Series) for fast and precise focusing

• Intelligent Orientation Sensor, which automatically rotates vertical shots during playback;

• 12 EOS-based Shooting Modes plus Photo Effects, Custom Modes, enhanced Super Macro Mode, Wide-area FlexiZone AF/AE and Spot Metering for customizing the camera to each individual user’s shooting style:

• Advanced Movie Mode shoots VGA quality 640 x 480 movies. ID Photo Print and Movie Print options also available;

• Accepts Compact Flash Type I and Type II media;

• Flexible 270° Swivel LCD, Vari-Angle monitor together with an ergonomic hand grip and an EOS-style control layout for easier handling;

• Exclusive Canon DIGIC Image Processor with iSAPS Scene Recognition Technology for faster processing and excellent image quality; and

• The latest versions of Canon’s popular ZoomBrowser EX (Win) and ImageBrowser (Mac) software with powerful new features, plus ArcSoft PhotoStudio and VideoImpression.

New Compact Body Design

Housed in a rugged body, the PowerShot G6 digital camera is significantly smaller (by 10 percent) on the outside than the previous model. Measuring a compact 4.13 x 2.87 x 2.88 inches and weighing in at just 13.4 ounces, the PowerShot G6 digital camera sports an improved ergonomic design that includes an enhanced "SLR-type" grip for easier handling. The camera’s electronic dials and enlarged icons, as well as its redesigned user interface screen, have been repositioned to add to its ease of operation while sleek metal parts contribute to the new camera’s elegant appearance.

The advanced features and reduced body size of the camera not only suit the needs of advanced amateur photographers, but also of photographers in vertical industries such as law enforcement and dentistry. Whether capturing evidence during an investigation or getting in close to snap the intricate details of dental work, the PowerShot G6 digital camera has the versatility to meet the imaging needs of all photographers.

PowerShot G6 Digital Camera Lights Up Flash Photography

For creative flash photography, the PowerShot G6 digital camera includes a 5-mode built-in flash with red-eye reduction and first or second curtain sync. The flash can be operated manually or automatically. Additionally, the camera is fully compatible with Canon’s powerful EX-series Speedlites and E-TTL wireless flash accessories for superior lighting quality – including the new Speedlite 580EX. The PowerShot G6 digital camera is also compatible with high-quality Canon supplementary lenses including Wide and Tele converters as well as a Close-up lens. The combination of the PowerShot G6 digital camera with optional Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX, Conversion Lens Adapter LA-DC58D and the 500D Close-up lens is ideal for high-resolution intra-oral dental photography at relatively low cost. Also available is the Lens Hood LH-DC30, for photography in bright sunlit situations.

The DIGIC Difference

Canon developed the proprietary DIGIC (Digital Imaging Integrated Circuit) Image Processor specifically for use with its line of digital cameras. The technology combines the jobs of image processing and camera function control into one chip. Because it was specifically designed for use in digital cameras, it is also capable of handling JPEG compression/expansion; memory card control; LCD/Video control and processing; gain control (control of CCD signal amplification); Auto Exposure; Auto Focus; Auto White Balance control and most other functions of the camera. The result is a product that offers faster and more powerful auto focus than ever before, faster image processing, better image quality and longer battery life.

Photo Printing Made Easy

As with all of Canon’s digital cameras, the PowerShot G6 digital camera offers Direct Printing, making it simple, quick and convenient to produce high-quality photos without the need for a computer. Other printing enhancements include ID Photo Print allowing the user to make ID photo size prints by cropping the image to the required ID size, while Movie Print enables the consumer to print a series of still images from a recorded movie.

The PowerShot G6 digital camera kit includes a USB cable, AVC-DC300 AV Cable, Battery Charger CG-580, rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery Pack BP-511A, 32 MB Compact Flash card, a Wireless Controller WL-DC100 and Digital Camera Solution CD, ArcSoft Camera Suite CD, neckstrap and lens cap. The PowerShot G6 digital camera will be available in September for an estimated selling price of .99*.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions. The Company is listed as one of Fortune's Most Admired Companies in America, and is ranked #35 on the latest Business Week list of "Top 100 Brands." Its parent company Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) is a top patent-holder of technology, ranking second overall in the U.S. in 2003, with global revenues of .9 billion. For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.