Canon Announces the New G10

September 17th, 2008:

Canon today announces its new flagship PowerShot compact digital camera: the PowerShot G10. Replacing the PowerShot G9, the PowerShot G10 is the first G-series camera to offer wide-angle imaging via a 5x (28mm) zoom with optical Image Stabilizer. The addition of a 14.7 Megapixel sensor and Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor ensures exacting image quality.

High quality, wide angle lens
With a 5x wide-angle (28mm) optical zoom lens, the PowerShot G10 combines outstanding wide-angle capabilities – making it perfect for landscapes, architecture or interiors – with the telephoto reach needed for flexible composition. Sharp, blur-free shots throughout the zoom range are assured by Canon’s optical
Image Stabilizer, which offers enhanced performance via a 4-stop advantage.

14.7 Megapixel resolution with RAW
A 14.7 Megapixel CCD sensor – the highest resolution of any PowerShot model – works in combination with Canon’s new DIGIC 4 processor, for uncompromising images that combine high detail with extremely low noise levels. Such outstanding detail allows printing in sizes of up to A2, or creative cropping in post-processing.

For the ultimate in post-processing control, the PowerShot G10 includes a RAW shooting mode – plus support for Canon Digital Photo Professional software, for integration into professional photographers’ workflows.

DIGIC 4 for exceptional images
Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor uses improved algorithms and calculation accuracy, allowing the PowerShot G10 to deliver two major advantages: ultra-fast operation, and rich, low-noise images with outstanding clarity and colour reproduction.

DIGIC 4 also powers several intelligent onboard features. Canon’s new i-Contrast feature increases the dynamic range in images to bring out previously unnoticed detail in dark areas, like shadows – without blowing out lighter areas.

Canon’s anti-blur solution combats blur caused by camera shake and subject motion using a range of technologies: optical Image Stabilizer, Motion Detection Technology and Auto ISO Shift, plus new Servo AF – which, when engaged, continually adjusts focus on a subject moving towards or away from the camera.

Designed for more
With a range-leading resolution of 461k dots, a large 3.0” PureColor LCD II allows easy framing and ultra-detailed review of every shot; this is complemented by improved colour rendition and an exceptionally wide viewing angle. For immediate, fingertip access to key settings, the PowerShot G10 includes a new dedicated Exposure Compensation dial and dual ISO/shooting mode dial.

Complete accessory system
A comprehensive accessory system now includes support for Canon’s Macro Ring Lite and Macro Twin Lite, which offer powerful new possibilities for close-up shots and other creative photography. New compatibility with the Remote Switch RS60-E3 allows easy shutter release when shooting with a tripod.

“Like no other compact camera, the PowerShot G10 delivers the power to excel,” commented Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “It will appeal not only to photo enthusiasts, but also to professionals seeking a powerful, compact addition to their kitbag.”

Features at a glance:

14.7 Megapixel CCD sensor
5x wide-angle (28mm) optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer
RAW image recording plus support for Canon Digital Photo Professional
DIGIC 4 for clear, sharp images, high-speed AF (including Servo AF) and fast response times
Targets all the main causes of blur with High ISO Auto, optical
Image Stabilizer, Motion Detection Technology and Auto ISO shift
Great people shots with improved Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB plus
Face Select & Track and FaceSelf-Timer
3.0” PureColor LCD II (461k dots resolution) with wide viewing angle and optical viewfinder
i-Contrast boosts brightness and retains detail in dark areas
Dedicated Exposure Compensation and ISO dials
26 shooting modes with manual control and custom settings
Accessories include tele-converter, Speedlite flashes and waterproof case
Smooth, 30fps VGA movies

Printing
The PowerShot G10 features a dedicated Print menu for quick access to direct print options. Full PictBridge support means users can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer without the need for a PC. A Print/Share button allows one-touch printing and easy uploads to Windows or Mac systems.

Language
The PowerShot G10 features a user interface that supports 26 languages: English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian, Ukrainian and – new for Autumn 2008 – Farsi.

Memory Card Support
In addition to SD, SDHC and MMC memory cards, the PowerShot G10 supports MMCplus and HC MMCplus card formats. It is supplied with a 32MB memory card.

Software and CANON iMAGE GATEWAY
The PowerShot G10 comes bundled with the following Canon Software:

ZoomBrowser EX 6.2 (Windows), ImageBrowser 6.2 (Macintosh): For organising and editing images, movies and slideshows, or creating and printing digital photo albums. Digital Photo Professional 3.5 (Windows and Macintosh): for editing and converting RAW images.
PhotoStitch 3.1 (Windows), PhotoStitch 3.2 (Mac): For creating panoramic photos from multiple images.
The bundled software supports Windows Vista (including SP1) / and XP SP2 and Macintosh OS X v10.4-10.5. The PowerShot G10 supports PTP for driverless transfer to Windows XP and Macintosh OS X, along with MTP for image and movie transfers to Windows Vista.

Purchasers of the PowerShot G10 are eligible for free membership of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, 100MB of online ‘personal gallery’ space for sharing stills and video with family and friends.

Optional Accessories
The PowerShot G10 can be combined with the following accessories:

Soft Case (DCC-650, SC-DC60A)
Waterproof case (WP-DC28) plus Waterproof Case Weight WW-DC1
Tele-converter 1.4x TC-DC850 (requires Lens adaptor LA-DC58K)
Canon Speedlite flash units (220EX, 430EX II, 580EX, 580EX II)
Speedlite Macro Twin Lite (MT-14EX), Speedlite Macro Ring Lite (MR-24EX). These are recommended for use with Off Camera Shoe Cord (OC-E3) and the new Speedlite Bracket (BKT-DC1).
Speedlite Transmitter (ST-E2)
High Power Flash (HF-DC1)
Remote Switch (RS-60E3)
AC Adaptor Kit (ACK-DC50)
Battery Charger Kit (CB-2LZE)
Ring Accessory Kit RAK-DC2
Technologies Explained:

DIGIC 4
Canon’s DIGIC 4 (Digital Imaging Core) image processor manages all of the camera’s primary functions to optimize operating efficiency. Advanced image processing algorithms deliver superb image detail and colour reproduction with accurate white balance. High-speed processing results in outstanding responsiveness, rapid auto focus and extended continuous shooting ability.
DIGIC 4 also powers advanced Noise Reduction Technology, i-Contrast and Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB.

Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB, Face Select & Track and FaceSelf-Timer
Canon’s Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB system automatically detects up to 35 faces within a frame before adjusting focus, exposure, flash and white balance to ensure optimal results. It is able to determine which faces are intended to be the subject, instantly reverting to the partnering 9-point AiAF system if no face is the primary subject. Face Select & Track allows the user to select a particular face to be the main subject of a photograph and track it, for the best possible results.

FaceSelf-Timer allows easy group shots by automatically triggering the shutter shortly after a new face has entered the frame.

i-Contrast
Available in either shooting or playback mode, Canon’s i-Contrast function analyses the exposure, dynamic range and other image characteristics of a shot, then adaptively increases the gain in dark areas – to produce heightened detail in darker regions, without blowing out correctly-exposed parts of the image. The noise reduction function of DIGIC 4 ensures minimal noise in adjusted areas.

iSAPS
iSAPS (intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) automatically optimises key camera settings before every shot. Each scene is analysed and cross-referenced against Photographic Space – a vast in-camera library of photographic data. This enables the camera to make optimal adjustments to auto exposure, auto focus and auto white balance before image capture occurs.

Optical Image Stabilizer
The PowerShot G10 uses a lens shift-type Image Stabilizer (IS) system to detect and correct slight camera shakes that can cause image blur. The IS delivers a 4 stop advantage for improved performance in low-light conditions, when shooting at the telephoto end of the lens and when vibrations are more severe. It also features increased sensitivity to low frequency vibration, such as the rocking of a boat. Minute vibration gyros detect camera movement caused by hand shake.

These signals – at 8,000 per second, twice the speed of signals in conventional IS – are processed by a single-chip IS controller, which discriminates between hand shake and intentional camera movements. Shake signals are sent to the IS unit, which moves one of the lens elements accordingly to re-align the light rays and cancel out the effects of shake.