Canon Powershot SX30 IS – Announcement from Canon

Exceed your
ambitions – Canon introduces the pioneering PowerShot SX30 IS with 35x optical
zoom and advanced photographic control

United Kingdom, Republic
of Ireland, 14th September 2010 – Canon today redefines the boundaries of
its compact superzoom range with the introduction of the new PowerShot SX30
IS – a high performance camera that boasts a 24mm ultra-wide, 35x optical
zoom lens. Succeeding the PowerShot SX20 IS, the new model combines outstanding
Canon optics with a host of advanced imaging technologies, providing the ideal
tool for photo enthusiasts who want a powerful all-in-one camera for all their
creative pursuits.

Perfect for use in
any situation, the PowerShot SX30 IS provides full manual control, HD movie
recording and a number of creative and automatic shooting modes – delivering  as
much or as little creative assistance as desired. Other design features,
including a 6.8cm (2.7″) vari-angle LCD screen and hot shoe, also allow users to
extend their creativity by shooting from different angles and with a range of
compatible Canon accessories.

Class-leading zoom with outstanding image quality

The camera’s 14.1 Megapixel sensor allows
photographers to generate A2+ size prints, offering detailed images that users
can crop creatively with no compromise on quality. The enormous focal range of
the 35x optical zoom lens offers users a unique realm of creative possibilities,
extending from 24mm to 840mm (35mm equiv.), capturing everything from ultra
wide-angle images to extreme telephoto shots.

Developed with the same materials and processes used to manufacture
Canon’s range of EF lenses, the PowerShot SX30 IS showcases Canon’s unrivalled
optical expertise. The lens construction comprises of multiple special lens
elements including an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) element as well as a Hi-UD
element, compensating for light aberrations while maintaining high image quality
across the entire zoom range. Hi-UD elements are commonly used in Canon’s
globally-trusted range of professional broadcast camera lenses – ensuring
maximum image quality while reducing the total lens weight.

A lens of such zooming power would typically pose a
significant challenge for photographers shooting in low light or using the
telephoto range without a tripod. For this reason, Canon has equipped this model
with the most effective optical Image Stabilizer (IS) ever to be used in one of
its compact cameras, offering up to 4.5 stops of compensation. This lens-shift
system can effectively minimise blur when shooting with long zoom and when the
use of a fast shutter speed is not possible. The PowerShot SX30 IS also features
Ultrasonic (USM) and Voice Coil (VCM) motors for fast, accurate and silent
zooming and focusing which, along with the optical IS, work in both stills and
movies.

The new Zoom Framing Assist
function helps users to keep track of distant or moving subjects when shooting
with long zoom. Pressing the dedicated shortcut button, the Zoom Framing Assist
quickly retracts the lens to one of three preset zoomed-out positions – allowing
the user to view more of the scene on the screen and seek the subject – while a
rectangle marks the area of the originally zoomed-in frame. Once the user
reacquires the subject and positions it back in the rectangular frame, the
button can be released and the lens quickly extends back to its zoomed position,
allowing the shooting to be resumed in its original framing.

Moving beyond stills
The PowerShot SX30 IS offers 720p HD movie capture with
stereo sound and full optical zoom, allowing photographers to switch from stills
to movies at the touch of a button. Focus and exposure can be locked or adjusted
during movie recording, while a special Dynamic IS mode reduces the camera shake
created when filming and moving at the same time, producing a more realistic,
steadier picture. Smart Auto in Movie mode can detect 21 different scene types,
automatically evaluating and adjusting the settings to achieve optimum exposure,
give priority to faces and boost bright colours.  Results can be enjoyed to
their fullest by connecting the camera’s HDMI-mini port to an HDTV
screen.

Designed without compromise
for quality, flexibility and creativity
In addition to the incredible zoom capability, the PowerShot SX30
IS offers a number of design features which enable photographers to take control
of their images. A 6.8cm (2.7″) vari-angle PureColor II VA LCD screen with a
230k dot resolution provides maximum flexibility in all types of scenes ranging
from floral close-ups to crowded concerts.  These can be shot more comfortably
even from awkward angles and then reviewed in brilliant colour and sharp detail.
The Quick-bright function enables images to be viewed and subjects to be framed
easily, even in bright sunlight.

For
those who want to add more variety to their creative photography, the PowerShot
SX30 IS features a hot shoe, allowing accessories such as Canon’s EX Speedlite
flash units to be used. Additionally, an optional lens filter adapter allows the
attachment of 67mm filters such as the Canon PL-C B 67mm polarizer filter,
providing photographers with nearly endless possibilities for adding a creative
flair to their images.

For those who
want to take great shots instantly, without worrying about manually changing
settings, the PowerShot SX30 IS features Smart Auto, which uses Scene Detection
Technology to identify shooting conditions and select the optimum settings from
28 variables. A series of new scenes have been added, including subjects with
strong facial shadows under harsh lighting and subjects in spotlight. Smart
Flash Exposure also controls the power of the camera’s flash to ensure
perfectly-exposed subjects both in macro shots and when backlit.

For more creative shooting options,
photographers can also use Fish-eye, Miniature, Poster and Super Vivid effects
to add a fresh perspective on images. Miniature Effect mode is also available in
movies, shooting the scene at a reduced frame rate of 6, 3 or 1.5 fps, to create
the effect of a high-speed, time-lapse film of a miniature-scale model.

Store, view and share stories

Sharing special moments with family and friends
has never been easier. The PowerShot SX30 IS supports SDHC and SDXC memory
cards, providing abundant capacity so photographers can keep shooting without
worrying about filling their memory card too quickly. To find favourite shots
among hundreds of others, users can tag each image in-camera, allowing it to be
grouped with other favourites and easily located at a later date. Smart Shuffle
playback also suggests similar images to be viewed based on the current image
displayed, locating images in the memory card which may have been forgotten or
overlooked in the larger library.

This
model also supports Eye-Fi connected functions, allowing remote uploads to image
sharing websites such as CANON iMAGE GATEWAY. The camera features a dedicated
Eye-Fi section within the User Interface, and disables the auto power-down
function when the Eye-Fi card transmits data – allowing the easy transfer of
content without interruption (please see footnote 1).

Share stories with CANON iMAGE
GATEWAY
Owners of the PowerShot SX30 IS
can join the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, an online facility for sharing photos and
video. Photographers can take advantage of up to 2GB of personal storage
capacity, creating enough room for hundreds of high-quality images. Mobile
browsing is also supported, making it easy for friends and family to view photos
on the move.

PowerShot SX30 IS – key
features:
•  35x ultra wide-angle
zoom
•  Optical Image Stabilizer
(4.5-stop), USM, VCM
•  14.1 MP
CCD
•  6.8 cm (2.7″) vari-angle LCD,
EVF
•  HD movies, HDMI

• Smart Auto

•  Manual modes, Low Light and Miniature Effect movie

• Zoom Framing Assist
• Servo AF/AE

•
 Extensive accessory system

Pricing and Availability
The PowerShot SX30 IS is available from early October 2010, priced
at £449.00/€549.00 RRP inc. VAT.

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