Canon digital cameras
were born out of the Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory set up jointly by a young man named Goro Yoshida, a passionate camera-lover, and his brother-in-law, Saburo Uchidain 1933. Their aim was to make cameras that could compete with the German models that were considered the most advanced of the day. The Laboratory was founded in 1933 in a third-floor apartment of the Takekawaya Building in Roppongi, Azabu Ward, Tokyo. Its objective was to produce high-grade cameras.
From there the first prototype Japanese made 35mm focal-plane shutter camera was created in 1934. At the time in Japan the precision processing of parts did not match the quality of the German camera makers. However the parts replication could be outsourced to local companies.
In 1934, Yoshida succeeded in producing a prototype of the first domestically made 35mm focal-plane shutter camera. A believer of the Buddhist faith, he named it "Kwanon" after the Goddess of Mercy, and placed an advertisement for "Kwanon Cameras" in the June 1934 issue of Asahi Camera magazine. Hence came the corporate name of "Canon" which developed out of this first prototype camera and co-founder Saburo Uchida's desire to have a more modern sounding name that reflected their desire to create high quality cameras.
From these early devlopment steps Canon has gone on to become a world wide multimedia company that makes hundreds of products in many market segments. Our interest here is their line of digital cameras. The Canon digital product line ranges from the stylish Powershot series of cameras to the high end Powershot Pro1 which has an 8 megapixel CCD and 7x optical zoom capability.
Let's take a look at a couple of options in the Canon line of digital cameras.
Canon Digital Camera Previews
Canon Powershot SD400
Canon's 5.0-megapixel PowerShot SD400 features a 3.0x optical zoom, a large 2.0-inch LCD, high quality VGA video clips at 30fps limited in length only by the capacity of the memory card , high speed USB 2.0, 'My Color' in-camera color editing and a Print/Share button for easy PictBridge direct printing and fast file uploads. Its 5.0-megapixel sensor allows detailed enlargements up to 13 x 17 inches. For fast start-up times, responsive performance and superb, accurate colors and image rendering, the camera features the same high speed DIGIC II processor found in Canon's latest professional series digital SLR cameras.
Canon Rebel XT 8MP SLR
The Canon EOS Digital Rebel camera now has a new, faster, and even smaller big brother. Sibling rivalries aside, the 8.0-megapixel Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT SLR adds resolution, speed, extra creative control, and enhanced comfort in the hand to one of the smallest and lightest digital cameras in its class. Despite its advancements in ergonomic design and technology, this easy-to-use EOS digital camera is compatible with all of Canon's EF lenses, including the EF-S lenses.
Canon Powershot S2 IS 5MP
Have it all in one ultra-compact camera. 5.0 megapixels of imaging power deliver stunning detail and clarity, even to oversized prints and the closest crop-ins. The impressively long 12x optical zoom is a feat of engineering, with Image Stabilizer (IS) technology that eliminates camera shake and a UD lens that provides brilliant color accuracy across the entire zoom range. The 4x digital zoom brings combined zooming power all the way to 48x for superb detail at sporting events, school concerts and more.
Canon EOS 20D 8.2MP SLR
The perfect EOS for advanced amateurs and professionals alike, the EOS 20D sets new standards in its class. Featuring an all-new 8.2 MP CMOS sensor, a second-generation DIGIC II image processor, 5 fps performance for up to 23 consecutive frames, and a 0.2 second start-up time, the EOS 20D is designed to capture richly detailed, perfectly exposed images with speed formerly found only in cameras several times the price. Other features include a top shutter speed of 1/8,000 seconds, flash sync at 1/250, a new high-precision nine-point AF system, a built-in multicontroller for fast focusing point selection, and a refined magnesium alloy body for rugged, go-anywhere photography. Compatible with not only Canon's new EF-S lenses but the entire EOS system of lenses and flashes, the EOS 20D is a professionally featured camera with a consumer price tag.
Canon Powershot SD500 7MP
With a host of new features and a unique "perpetual curve" contoured design, the brushed stainless steel titanium grey 7.1-megapixel PowerShot SD500 continues the PowerShot tradition of pushing compact camera design into new territories.
Driven by the same DIGIC II image processing architecture that propels Canon's EOS-1 pro-series digital SLR cameras, the camera features a 3.0x optical zoom, large 2.0-inch LCD, high-quality VGA video clips at 30 frames per second up to the capacity of the memory card, high-speed USB 2.0 connection, 'My Color' in-camera color editing, and a Print/Share button for easy PictBridge direct printing and fast file uploads. Its 7.1-megapixel sensor allows detailed enlargements up to 15 x 20 inches.
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