Canon's new flagship PowerShot S80 has 8.0 megapixels of resolution and a 28mm wide angle lens in a sleek and durable package that and features a large 2.5-inch LCD screen for easy viewing, a high-quality XGA movie mode, high-speed USB 2.0 support for quick transfer and a new easy-to-use interface.

Picking up many popular features of its predecessor, the PowerShot S70, the PowerShot S80 retains Canon's powerful, high quality, wide angle UA (Ultra High Refractive Index Glass Aspherical) lens with a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom (35mm film equivalent: 28-100mm). The camera allows users to capture a wider image area than most other compact digital cameras on the market, and with Canon's DIGIC II image processor plus 8.0 megapixels of resolution, the camera keeps image quality at its utmost.

The S80's improved autofocus reduces the time required for focusing by up to approximately 20% compared to its predecessor. In addition, the refined exposure control under low-light conditions results not only in better exposure accuracy but also in better focusing performance. Canon improved the exposure control by a full stop, which allows for easier focusing and produces better photos in dark conditions.

Thanks to its DIGIC II image processor, the S80 supports movie recording in XGA size (1024 x 768 pixels) at 15 frames per second for the first time in any digital camera . Compared to the previous maximum - VGA (640 x 480 pixels) - XGA recording has about 2.5 times more pixels, and the data amount is about twice as high. Continuous recording of XGA up to a file size of 1GB is available on the S80 model.

Following the PowerShot S2 IS, the PowerShot S80 provides a choice between single frame and sequence frame for Movie Prints. When Single is selected, any frame from a movie can be selected and printed on a single sheet. Print quality depends on the mode used during movie recording, with XGA producing the best quality. In Sequence mode, the camera can, when connected to a compatible Canon Compact Photo Printer, print a series of miniature thumbnail images that provides an overview of the movie's content.

Although it has a large feature set, the PowerShot S80 digital camera is amazingly compact. Simple yet impressive, the shape of the new camera fits snugly into the palm of the hand. Canon built the elegant design with a combination of aluminum magnesium alloy and high-gloss aluminum to create a sturdy and shiny body, which includes a soft-touch finger rest to improve holding stability. Silver banding on the camera highlights the predominantly black front piece. The S80 model also includes a creative rear panel design that offers convenient operation on the camera is possible through a new multi-control dial and omni selector.

The Canon PowerShot S80 offers users 21 different shooting modes, allowing the camera to effectively handle a variety of situations. As with the S70 model, there are five modes in the Creative Zone, plus 12 new Special Scene modes as well as the My Colors mode, Stitch Assist Mode and Movie Mode. The 12 new Special Scene modes include Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot and Digital Macro.

True to the PowerShot tradition, the PowerShot S80 model has many of the latest advances in Canon technology including the proprietary DIGIC II imaging processor. The processor enhances picture definition, vibrancy and quality, while helping increase the speed of the camera's startup, autofocus, shutter response, playback and image processing speed while reducing power consumption by 35% compared to the original DIGIC chip. Image transfer speed is accelerated thanks to the inclusion of a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port.

Like all PowerShot digital cameras, the PowerShot S80 works seamlessly with Canon's petite SELPHY Compact Photo Printers - an essential PowerShot accessory. Customers simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a SELPHY printer - such as the new SELPHY CP510, CP710 and CP600 models - press the lighted Print/Share button, and within 58 seconds , images emerge. Presto! It's that simple. Canon's SELPHY Compact Photo Printers are PictBridge compatible.

Powershot S80 Features:

• 8-megapixel CCD with RGB primary color filters
• Exif 2.2 JPEG compressed
• Canon 3.6x f/2.8-5.3 wide angle zoom (28-100mm in 35mm format)
• Large 2.5-inch color LCD plus optical viewfinder
• ISO settings of Auto, 50, 100, 200 or 400
• Shutter speeds: 15 secs to 1/2000, Noise Reduction for 1.3 sec or longer
• Continuous image capture at 2 frames per second
• A total of 21 different shooting modes
• Movie capture with sound; XGA (1024x768) at 15fps up to 1GB
• Exposure Metering: Center-Weighted Average, Spot, and Evaluative
• Manual focus with distance readout and the portion of the image covered by the active focusing point is enlarged while focusing.
• 9-point AF with focus-assist illuminator
• User-selectable exposure compensation, flash exposure compensation, auto exposure bracketing and white balance
• Playback histogram function with over-exposure warning
• Secure Digital card slot, 32MB included
• High capacity NB-2LH lithium rechargeable battery and charger
• USB 2.0 connectivity and PictBridge direct-print
• Optional Waterproof Housing WP-DC1 and High Power Flash HF-DC1
• Optional wide-angle or telephoto supplementary lenses

The PowerShot S80 Kit will include a full set of Canon's powerful yet easy-to-use digital camera software, including the latest versions of ZoomBrowser EX, ImageBrowser, PhotoStitch and PhotoRecord, as well as ArcSoft PhotoStudio. The standard kit also includes: Interface Cable IFC-400PCU and AV cable AVC-DC300, a lithium-ion Battery Pack NB-2LH and Battery Charger CB-2LW, a 32MB SD memory card, instruction manuals and a Wrist Strap WS-300.

The PowerShot S80 will be available in October for an estimated street price of $549.99 USD.

5.8 (W) - 20.7 (T) mm (35mm film equivalent: 28 - 100 mm)
f/2.8 (W) - f/5.3 (T)