Perfect all-purpose camera for outdoor activities
IXY D5 - the world's smallest and lightest underwater IX 240 camera
[ Japan : IXY D5, Americas : ELPH SPORT, Europe/Asia/Oceania : IXUS X-1 ] It is our great pleasure to provide up-to-date information full of interesting topics in timely manner. We are happy if our report may help all of you enjoy our products. This report covers our new IXY D5, an all-purpose IX 240 underwater camera (guaranteed to depths of up to 5m), which was released in November 1999.
IXY D5 Development Concept The main concept when developing the IXY D5 was to make "an ideal all-purpose model for outdoor activities in the IXY series." Specifically, the following features are the highlights:	Fig.1 IXY D5 (front, full-scale)
Tough, Compact body • The world's smallest and lightest underwater IX 240 camera (to a depth of 5m) • Improved impact resistance   Refined design suitable for outdoor activities   High image quality • Equipped with superior resolution lens for shooting for every occasion on land or at sea, • Focusing range of underwater macro: 45cm   Excellent ease of operation • High eye point/large viewfinder • Oversized controls designed specifically for use with goggles and gloves   Fully equipped with IX 240 functions • IX 240 Information Exchange (IX) technology provides recorded data for various uses Each of these features will be described in detail hereafter:
Key Feature 1: World's smallest and lightest in IX 240 camera The IXY D5 was produced, making the best of Canon's cutting-edge miniaturized technology gained through development of the IXY series. Among IX 240 cameras waterproof down to 5m (excluding one-time use cameras), the IXY D5 is the smallest and lightest. It measures 105(W) x 74.6(H) x 46.7(D)-mm (see Fig.1) and weighs 220g (excluding its battery). Key Feature 2: Ultra stylish leading edge design Encased in metallic and translucent material, the body is finished in a fresh green color. The refined design creates a high-grade, sporty look that fits every occasion in daily life or outdoor activities. The rounded shell-shape and rugged construction enhances shock-absorbing ability. This robust impact-resistant design allows the IXY D5 to withstand the typical punishment associated with many outdoor activities.
Key Feature 3: Superior waterproof construction By adopting solid waterproof construction with shell-shaped outer packaging, O-rings and gaskets, operation underwater down to 5m is guaranteed (See Table 1). To ensure a perfect waterproof seal, all camera features that are not used for actual shooting, such as the battery compartment, film cartridge compartment and date/captions buttons are located inside the bottom cover of the camera. This structure makes maintenance for waterproofing integrity easier. The camera, when ready for shooting, is buoyant. Even if you let go of your camera, don't worry about it sinking.	Table 1 IXY D5 - Waterproof system Water-resistant parts Sealing element 1 Bottom cover O-ring 2 G1: meniscus lens 3 Mode dial 4 C/H/P switching dial 5 Shutter button 6 Self-timer button 7 Air vent screw 8 Viewfinder window (front) Gasket 9 Viewfinder window (eyepiece) 10 Built-in flash window 11 Display panel window * Only the bottom cover O-ring requires maintenance/replacement by user.
Key Feature 4: 23mm f/4.8 high-quality lens High image quality The IXY D5 has a high-performance, wide-angle single-focal length lens, 23mm f/4.8, 5 elements in 5 groups (about 29mm f/4.8, in terms of 135mm format -- See Fig. 2). The lens consists of the objective lens of the IXY 210 with a meniscus lens and anti-condensation glass located in front of the IXY 210 lens. In air, the meniscus lens has zero power, but in water it has positive power due to the refraction index of water, causing the lens to focus closer than in air. The optical system realizes both in air and underwater the outstanding resolution of the IXY 210.	Fig. 2 Shooting optical system
Anti-condensation function In cold environments, condensation may form on the lens of your camera when moving from cold outside into a warmer room. It results from the sudden changes in temperature. In order to prevent condensation from forming on the lens, the IXY D5 is designed so that the lens is not directly exposed to the outer air, by locating an anti-condensation glass right behind the meniscus lens and creating hermetic air layer between them. Autofocus on land Above water, focus is automated by its Active Auto Focus system with center point ranging. Its focusing range is 1m to infinity in normal mode (Flash OFF). When flash is on, close-up shooting is possible for up to 0.6m (Aperture stopped down and Flash ON). Adjustable focus underwater [1] Normal focusing mode (1.2 to 3m) Because infrared light from active AF is absorbed underwater, the AF system cannot achieve proper focus. For this reason, the focus of IXY D5 is automatically fixed to 1.2m by its meniscus lens, with a shooting range of 0.9 to 3m.
[2] Underwater Macro mode (0.45 to 0.9m) Underwater macro shooting is enabled by setting the FISH mark on the Mode dial (See Fig. 3). The underwater macro mode allows close-up shooting from 0.45 to 0.9m, while the focus is fixed to 0.9m and the flash fires automatically.	Fig. 3 Mode dial
Note: When the FISH mark is selected and the shutter button is pressed halfway, the green indicator light adjacent to the viewfinder eyepiece blinks 16 times per second to indicate that the underwater macro mode is active. We do not recommend picture-taking on land in the underwater macro mode, because autofocus is disabled, focus is fixed at 1.5m and the flash fires automatically.
Too-close warning Above water, as a near-distance warning, the green indicator light adjacent to the viewfinder eyepiece blinks 4 times per second under the conditions shown in Table 2. Please note that the green indicator light does not blink as a too-close warning during underwater operation.	Table 2 Conditions of too-close warning indicator [unit:m] Print type C/H P Flash OFF 0.3-1 0.3-2 ON 0.3-0.6
Key Feature 5: Large Viewfinder for greater visibility The extra-large, high eye point Albada-type viewfinder has an angle of view of 24.5 degrees and 0.37x magnification (H print size), 15mm-dia. eyepiece exit pupil, and 31mm eye point. The entire image can be seen even with wearing skiing or underwater goggles. In order to ensure clear visibility, the viewfinder optical system uses two aspherical glass lenses, which work effectively to suppress image distortion and correct astigmatic aberration (curvature of field) that often occur with wide-angle lenses. The result is a remarkably high-resolution, distortion-free image over the entire viewfinder image.
Selected shooting formats --Classic, HDTV or Panorama (C/H/P) -- is shown in the form of frame inside the viewfinder by means of the rotary mask plate that is incorporated in the viewfinder optical system (Fig.4).	Fig. 4 Viewfinder Field
Key Feature 6. Easy operation The oversized controls makes shooting sure and easy even when wearing gloves. For better visibility and improved handling ease, control elements and the display panel are all located on the rear of the camera (See Photo 1 and Fig.5). Though the rotating controls are made waterproof by o-rings, the IXY D5 succeeds in comfortable operability with smooth rotation.
Photo 1 IXY D5 (back face) Fig. 5 Display panel
Key Feature 7. Built-in flash with versatile exposure modes Automatic exposure control is executed by the programmed AE system using an SPC photoreceptor that senses brightness of the subject. The built-in flash offers five modes: [1] Auto without red-eye reduction [2] Auto with red-eye reduction [3] Flash ON (forced flash in normal mode) [4] Flash OFF (forced flash off in normal mode) [5] Slow synchro (forced flash in normal mode) The built-in flash coupling range is as shown in Table 3. The maximum shutter speed is 1/650th second, while that of slow synchro is 1/2 sec. Film speed is automatically set in 1/3 increments by reading data in the cartridge data disc and is compatible with ISO 25 - 10,000. Red-eye reduction uses a mini-lamp.
Table 3 Flash coupling range [unit:m] Film speed ISO100 ISO200 ISO400 On land 0.6-2.3 0.6-3.2 0.6-4.6 Underwater Normal mode 0.9-1.7 0.9-2.4 0.9-3 Macro mode 0.45-0.9
Key Feature 8. Versatile Magnetic IX Functions Information Exchange (IX) technology enables the IXY D5 to magnetically store the following IX data on the film's tracks, coupling with picture-taking operation: Choices of print types (C/H/P) Selection of captions There are 5 pre-programmed captions in 6 languages. Choose a suitable one for the shooting scene, and the caption is automatically imprinted on the back of your picture. Date/time information of each shot With the built-in automatic calendar system starting from the year 1999 until 2040, the IXY D5 offers the recording patterns of date and time as follows: [1] Y/M/D or M/D/Y or D/M/Y [2] Date plus Time (hour/minute in the 24-hour format) The following information is also included: • Type and placement of imprinting • Direction of cartridge film loading • Flash on or off • Subject brightness • Source of artificial light • Magnification • Duration of flash exposure * Information on source of artificial light, magnification and duration of flash exposure is automatically recorded when the caption mode is OFF, but it is not recorded when the mode is ON. * Mid-Roll Change Capability (MRC) is not applicable. Inspection and maintenance of bottom cover O-ring When using IXY D5 under water, in damp or wet locations, always check the bottom cover O-ring and the joint surface. Even a piece of grit or hair adhering to them will impair waterproofing. Infiltration of water inside the camera will cause damage beyond repair. Extreme caution is required. It is recommendable to change the O-ring once a year. Tips of underwater photography Unlike on land, due to water's refractive index and attenuation of light, underwater photography requires special techniques to achieve razor sharp images. Several are listed below. [1] As refractive index of water is approximately 1.33 times greater that of the air, the distance to the subject looks about 25% closer and the subject looks larger than its actual size. We recommend you to measure the camera-to-subject distance visually to determine the focus. Best ranges: Underwater Normal 0.7 to 2.3m; Underwater Macro 0.3 to 0.7m. [2] The longer the shooting distance, the lower the resolution and contrast become, though the degree depends on water transparency. Shorter shooting distance will produce better results. [3] Particular attention should be paid for the use of flash, as the flash does not carry as far underwater as it does on land (See Table 3). [4] Because the long wavelengths of light (red color) tend to be absorbed by water, the overall image printed on color film becomes bluish. In clear water flash should be used for best results. In turbid or murky water flash should not be used. [5] High-speed film is recommended, considering the adverse effect caused by camera shake and the shorter flash coupling range. Table 4 Specifications - IXY D5 Items Description Type IX 240 fully-automatic waterproof camera Underwater Depth 5m Lens Focal distance/F No. 23mm f/4.8 Lens construction 5 elements in 5 groups *1 Focusing Range On land 0.6 (1.0) to infinity *2 Underwater Normal 0.9 to 3.0m Underwater Macro 0.45 to 0.9m Viewfinder Type Albada finder Field of view for printing Approx. 85% Magnification 0.37X Eye-point 31mm C/H/P indication Switching selected shooting frame AF mode On land Central single-point active AF Underwater Fixed focus AE control Shutter speed range 1/650th to 1/2 sec. Exposure compensation N/A Film speed setting ISO25-10000 (in 1/3 stop increment) Film transport Type Fully automatic Mid-roll rewind Available MRC (Mid-roll change) N/A Built-in flash Flash coupling range (on land ISO 200) 0.6 to 3.2m Auto flash in low-light Available Auto flash in backlight N/A Forced flash ON/OFF Available/Available Flash recharging time Approx. 3 sec. Red-eye reduction function Available Slow sync Available Self-timer Available Remote controller N/A IX system Recording method Magnetic recording Print type switching C/H/P Date/time Available Captions Available Print Quality Improvement (PQI) Available Power source Battery CR2x1 Battery life (25-exposure roll with 50% flash usage) 18 rolls Dimensions 105(W) X 74.6(H) X 46.7(D) mm Body weight 220g (without battery), 231g (with battery) Release (in Japan) From November 1999 Price in Japan (including soft case and strap, excluding tax) ¥35,000 *1: Including a meniscus lens and an anti-condensation glass *2: 0.6 to 1m: Forced flash ON
Fig.6 Nomenclature of IXY D5