[ Japan : IXY 230, Americas : ELPH LT270, Europe/Asia/Oceania : IXUS Z65 ]
This month's Technical Report provides the latest information on the IXY 230, a 2.7x zoom Advanced Photo System (IX 240) compact camera, introduced in late February.
| • | Major Advanced Photo System functions, such as Mid-Roll Change (MRC), Print Quality Improvement (PQI), and print quantity specification |
| • | Three Custom Functions |
| • | Large operating buttons and LCD panel, optimally located for improved viewing and handling |
| • | Automatic cartridge chamber cover locking release mechanism |
An outline of major functions follows: |
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| Fig. 2 Internal layout of IXY 230 |
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Feature 1: Small, lightweight zoom compact camera
Even with its 2.7x zoom lens, the latest design miniaturization technology made it possible to limit the volumetric increase of the IXY 230 over the IXY 220 to only 20% and the weight increase to 10g. The compact, lightweight IXY 230 measures 95mm (width) x 64mm (height) x 34.5mm (depth), and it weighs only 180g, putting it at the top of its class.
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| Photo 1 IXY 230 (at WIDE and ready to shoot) |
Photo 2 IXY 230 (rear view) |
Feature 2: Refined design
The IXY 230 retains the elegant, highly acclaimed "Box and Circle" concept, of the "IXY" series. The exterior has a dignified finish employing soft edges gentle to the touch and the classy stainless steel front lens ring that appeals to the new generation. The placement of the large operating controls (see Photo 2), and the larger LCD panel (1.7 times larger than the IXY 220) (see Fig. 3), on the back of the camera give further improvement in handling.
| Fig. 3 Contents of display panel (Total display/ Top: IXY 230/ Bottom: IXY 220) | |
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| Feature 3: High-image-quality 2.7x zoom lens The 2.7x zoom lens has a focal length range of 24 - 65mm (135 format equivalent: 30 - 81mm), maximum aperture of f/4.5 - 8.6, and 7 elements in 6 groups (see Fig. 4). The size of lens elements in two zoom groups are made smaller by optimizing the refraction of each lens group, while coma at wide-angle, and spherical aberration at telephoto are well compensated by the plastic aspherical G6 element (the sixth element from the front). This lens layout made it possible to achieve sharp, clear images with superb contrast throughout the zoom range. |
Fig. 4 IXY 230 objective optical system | |
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Feature 4: New viewfinder for sharp, clear view
In order to realize a sharp, clear viewfinder, the IXY 230 is equipped with a real-image zoom viewfinder (see Fig. 5) that employs an air gap roof (focusing) prism developed for the IXY 220, and five aspherical lens surfaces. The air gap roof prism is a two-prism optical system with an air layer between the prism and the roof prism so that all the incident light to the first surface of the roof prism is transmitted while all the light reflected back to the first surface is reflected. The unique feature of this optical system is that the total reflection of the incident light is achieved without a vapor deposition surface.
| Fig. 5 IXY 230 Viewfinder Optical System | |
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With this prism configuration, the number of reflections, one factor for image degradation, is decreased to four from six in conventional systems. By making the exit surface of the prism cylindrical, the aberration caused by the air gap can be well compensated. The apparent visual field of the viewfinder is, as it was in the case of the IXY 220, approximately 20% greater than that of the IXY 320, which makes it easier to use.
Feature 5: Comprehensive basic functions
The center point active autofocus system utilizes a position sensing device (PSD) and a near-infrared emitting diode (IRED) for distance measurement. Automatic exposure control is programmed and uses a SPC light sensor. The guide number for the retractable built-in flash is 9.9 (ISO100•m). The following five shooting modes are available:
[1] Auto Flash without red-eye reduction
[2] Auto Flash with red-eye reduction
[3] Flash ON (forced flash)
[4] Flash OFF (suppressed flash)
[5] Slow-sync (nighttime portrait)
The shooting mode is controlled as follows. With either [1] or [2] selected, when the main switch is turned off the selected mode is automatically reset when the main switch is turned on. To select any of the modes [1] through [5] automatically when the main switch is turned on, use the Custom Function (detailed later).
The shutter speed range is from 1/500 second to 2 seconds, the red-eye reduction is the mini-lamp type, and the film speed is set automatically (ISO25 - 10000 in 1/3-step increments) by reading the film cartridge data disk.
Feature 6: MRC (Mid-Roll Change) function
This is a convenient function, exclusive to the Advanced Photo System. When a cartridge that has been rewound midway during shooting is loaded back into the camera, the previously exposed frames are automatically fed through until the first unexposed frame is reached. The camera is now ready. Using this function, films having different characteristics can be used (e.g. ISO100 film during the daytime, and ISO400 film during the evening) without having to shoot the entire roll.
The MRC function of the IXY 230 is compatible with other Canon Advanced Photo System cameras equipped with the same function.
Feature 7: Comprehensive magnetic IX (Information Exchange) function
The following IX data is magnetically recorded onto the film during shooting.
C/H/P print format information
Based on this information, the format for printing at the photo lab is set automatically.
Print quantity information
This function permits specifying the number of prints (0 to 9) to be made from each frame. The number can be set immediately before or after the exposure. With this function, reprinting certain frames is no longer necessary and unwanted frames need not be printed.
* Please note that this function will not operate unless the date function is set.
* Some photo labs do not offer this service. Confirm the availability of this service at the photo lab counter.
Title information
The IXY 230 has 5 titles in 6 languages, as do the IXY 220 and IXY 320.
Shooting date and time information
The automatic calendar is programmed to 2049. Information can be imprinted in the following formats:
[1] Year-Month-Day, Month-Day-Year, or Day-Month-Year
[2] Day + Hour and Minute (24 hour system)
Information to specify type and position of characters to be printed
It is possible to specify that the date information be imprinted on both sides of the print or only on the back of the print.
[Note] Availability of printing on the front of the print (front print), and the position, font, size, and color of the characters printed depend on the photo lab's equipment. Please verify the details at the photo lab counter.
Six types of print quality information (PQI) are recorded with each frame. The information is used by the photo lab to improve the quality of automatic printing:
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Cartridge loading direction |
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Flash use |
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Subject brightness |
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Artificial lighting |
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Magnification |
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Flash exposure |
Feature 8: Three Custom Functions
The IXY 230 has three Custom Functions that allow the user to customize certain features. These functions are identical to those of the IXY 320 and IXY 220.
[1] Real-time release
Normally, the distance and the brightness are measured by pressing the shutter button halfway. Then, lens focusing (the actual lens movement to complete the AF action) and the exposure follow after the shutter button is fully pressed. Strictly speaking, there is a slight delay (time lag) between pressing the shutter button all the way and the actual exposure of the film. When Real-time Release is selected by Custom Functions (CF 1), lens focusing is also completed when the shutter button is pressed halfway down, so the actual exposure starts almost instantaneously after the button is fully pressed (0.03 second delay).
[2] Flash mode memory
When this Custom Function is set, the flash mode that is active when the main switch is turned off is memorized, so when the main switch is turned on, that flash mode is set automatically. This option is convenient when the user selects a flash mode and wants to continue using it, such as to suppress flash in the dark or use fill-flash in bright situations.
[3] Automatic film rewind
When this Custom Function is set, rewind at the end of a film is not automatic, starting only when the MRC button is pressed. This function is effective when the sudden whining noise of film rewinding is undesirable.
The Custom Function settings are retained even when the film or the battery is replaced.
This issue of the Technical Report introduces the IXY 230. Comparison of the major specifications of the IXY 230 with the IXY 330, IXY 220, and IXY 320 is given in Table 1, while the exterior views, and component names are depicted in Fig. 6.
| Fig. 6 Nomenclature of IXY 230 | |
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