Canon has launched four new Powershot digital cameras ranging in price from just over u00a3100 to u00a3500.

Canon has launched four new Powershot digital cameras ranging in price from just over £100 to £500. At the entry-level end comes the A410, a 3.2MP, 3.2x zoom model which replaces the A400. Sporting a smaller body with a snazzy new design belying its £139 price point, the A410 comes with the DIGIC II processor, which gives it faster start-up, focusing and write times, reduced shutter lag and continuous shooting at 2.5 fps. Additional features include 5 point AiAF, Super Macro mode down to 1.5cm, a maximum aperture of f/2.8, 14 shooting modes (including 8 scene modes) and VGA movies at up to 20fps.

The £279 A610 offers a similar range of features but with a higher resolution 5MP sensor, a 4x optical zoom (35-140mm) and a 2.0?vari-angle tilt/swivel LCD screen. The 20 exposure modes include full manual, shutter priority and a custom mode, while the 9 point AiAF offers fast focusing with off centre subjects and FlexiZone AF/AE which allows the user to scroll the focus point to anywhere within the frame. The £319 A620 offers a similar spec but with a 7.1MP chip. Both models replace the best-selling A95.

The new Powershot S80 replaces the S70 and features a radically redesigned body which is 8% smaller than its predecessor and features an eye-catching two-tone black and silver finish. With a price tag of £499 the S80 is aimed at the demanding enthusiast user and boasts an 8MP CMOS sensor, a large 2.5? LCD monitor and, for the first time on a digital compact, an EOS style rotary multi-control dial for quick setting of functions and rapid scrolling through images during playback. The wideangle 28-100mm lens features Canon?s UA (Ultra High Refractive Index Aspherical) lens technology (which keeps the lens compact). The LCD is adjustable to 15 brightness levels and includes a Quick-bright function for shooting in sunny conditions.

Additional features include a real-time histogram, high resolution (1024 x 768, 15 fps) XGA movies up to 1GB in size and a full complement of exposure, focusing and metering modes.
The S80 will be available from October, while the other new models hit the shops in September.