Canon Announces New Toys: Part 4 PowerShot Compacts

I have a feeling some of the recommended cameras on Ken Rockwell’s site may be changing soon, and that is good news for everyone. To go along with all the other announcements, Canon is giving consumers new pocket cameras.

• Canon PowerShot SX230 HS
• Canon ELPH 500 HS
• Canon ELPH 300 HS
• Canon ELPH 100HS

All four cameras get Canon’s new HS system for better pictures in low-light situations. The cameras use a high-sensitivity sensor like in a DSLR to record better images in low-light, and this is the same system employed in the PowerShot G12 and PowerShot S95 except with a smaller sensor for compactness.

The Canon PowerShot SX230 will replace or sit just above the older PoweShot SX210 IS in the compact super-zoom range allowing 28-392mm equivalent range or 14x optical zoom. It can also record full 1080p HD Video with dynamic image stabilization. The camera finally adds a GPS sensor to record the locations of your photos.

The Canon ELPH 500 takes on a new model name and replaces the PowerShot (Digital ELPH) SD3500 IS bringing the ELPH name to the forefront from the 35mm film days. Like the SD 3500 IS the camera shoots 4.4x optical or 24-105mm equivalent with a fast f/2 lens when shooting 24mm for great low-light performance. The ELPH 500 packs a slew of new features controlled by the same touchscreen system as the SD 3500 IS including Super Slow Motion Movies, High-Speed Burst mode, Low Light mode, and Smart Auto for intelligent scene detection. Finally, for those desiring some control over their compact, the ELPH 500 offers Av and Tv modes to control your aperture or shutter speed.

The Canon ELPH 300 replaces the PowerShot SD 1400 IS as the supe-compact, mid-featured camera. The camera features the more traditional control of a Canon PowerShot rather than the touchscreen interface. The lens is more traditional lacking the fast f/2 wide aperture of the ELPH 500, but if you have owned any PowerShots you know what the lens is capable of. This camera should outshine with the new CMOS sensor behind the lens. The lens has 5x optical zoom or 24-135mm as well as Super Slow Motion Movie and High-Speed Burst mode. This is the smallest, lightest recent camera Canon offers (the SD780 IS is the smallest compact).

The Canon ELPH 100 brings the HS system to those on a budget. It gets most all of the features above except with a 28-112mm lens. For the value, this is a great little point-and-shoot camera.

Canon Announces New Toys: Part 3 Lenses

Well, unless you have deep pockets these new lenses probably will not affect you, but feel free to go out and rent. The first two are improvements of super-telephoto lenses the EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM and the EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM. Both get improved elements for better images specifically reducing chromatic abrasion as well as newer and improved IS systems. Each lens is also lighter and more durable than the lens they replace, but at $9,500 and $12,000 respectively the audience is limited.

The EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II updates the kit lens for the Digital Rebel lines, but there are no enhancements in the optics or usability. DPreview.com reports only cost savings for Canon with no changes for the end-user.

Finally the EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x telephoto zoom lens for those looking beyond the reach of the standard 70-200mm zooms offers a much faster and lighter substitution for the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens. The new lens features f/4 throughout the zoom range as well as a built in Extender giving 280-560mm effective focal length.

Canon Announces New Toys: Part 2 Speedlites

To accompany the new Rebels, Canon announced the all-new Speedlite 320EX and the updated Speedlite 270EX II. Neither are particularly impressive speedlite units as the 580EX II and 430EX II will continue to see most sales, but the “more-powerful-flash-in-budget-and-small-size” segment gains a small update.

The Speedlite 320EX might excite some video shooters with the addition of a LED light, but the unit is too underpowered for serious use both for still or video photography. Check out LitePanels for a great video lighting solution for DSLRs.

Canon Announces New Toys: Part 1 DSLRs

Canon announced updates to both of their consumer DSLR lines. The Rebel T3i will replace the Rebel T2i and entry-level Rebel T3 (notice the lack of the “i”) will replace the Rebel XS.

The Rebel T3i is a modest improvement of the T2i, basically a T2i with an articulating screen. The internals are nearly identical to the T2i with the important exception of being able to wirelessly control off-camera Speedlites.

The Rebel XS, being nearly two-and-a-half years old looked extremely old compared to many other offerings making us wonder if it would be a one-off experiment in the entry-level DSLR category, but the Rebel T3 gives the new entry level segment something better than what consumers buying the Rebel T1i two years ago.  The sensor is assumed to be sourced from the Rebel T1i, and the lighting and metering system match that of everything announced since the EOS 7D, namely 9-point autofocus and 63-point light metering.

The key to these new cameras is to make it easier for anyone to pickup and shoot with a DSLR. Creative Auto mode gets better explanations to each function and the new Automatic+ brings Canon’s Scene Intelligent Auto technology from the PowerShot lines to the Digital Rebel. Note, that for anyone familiar with the workings and functions of a DSLR, these changes bear little improvement to you.

The new Digital Rebels will also include “filters” similar to they way Photoshop or iOS apps like Hipstamatic can add creative features to your shots. The Rebels will keep the original JPEG as well as the filtered JPEG for you.

Both cameras will feature a new kit lens, although there does not seem to be any improvement in the optics. Details suggest, the new lens only bears cost savings for Canon with negligible difference to the consumer. The Rebel T3i, however, will also be offered with a EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens which may interest some.