[ Japan : IXY DIGITAL 200a, Americas : PowerShot S200 DIGITAL ELPH, Europe/Asia/Oceania : DIGITAL IXUS V 2 ]
[ Japan : IXY DIGITAL 300a, Americas : PowerShot S330 DIGITAL ELPH, Europe/Asia/Oceania : DIGITAL IXUS 330 ]
This month's Technical Report showcases two high-quality compact digital cameras with 2 megapixel CCDs, the IXY DIGITAL 200a with a 2x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 35 - 70 mm in 35mm film format), and the IXY DIGITAL 300a with a 3x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 35 - 105 mm in 35mm film format). Both models will be released in April 2002 in Japan.
 |
 |
| Photo 1 IXY DIGITAL 200a | Photo 2 IXY DIGITAL 300a |
Concept of development
The IXY DIGITAL, introduced in May 2000, first evolved into the up-scale IXY DIGITAL 300 introduced in April 2001 and the IXY DIGITAL 200 introduced in May 2001.
Cameras of the IXY DIGITAL series have won great popularity among a wide spectrum of the camera users irrespective of age or sex, and have been the best-selling models for two years.
The IXY DIGITAL 200a (see Photo 1) and IXY DIGITAL 300a (Photo 2) were developed as successors to the IXY DIGITAL 200 and IXY DIGITAL 300, respectively. They have the following development objective:
Evolution of the IXY DIGITAL series
Feature 1: High grade design and ultra-compact body
New design concept
The IXY DIGITAL 200a embodies "product maturity" as developed by Canon, the leading manufacturer in this product category, in the dual pursuit of further refined impression and solid feel, while continuing the well-received "Box & Circle" design motif.
The IXY DIGITAL 300a combines quality material and simple design to convey a sense of substance with spin-cut surface and diamond-cut outer edge on the aluminum lens ring so that the camera expresses the beauty of materials.
Ultra-high density parts mounting for thinner body (IXY DIGITAL 200a)
The IXY DIGITAL 200a use new packaging technology called Chip Scale Package (CSP) with components mounted on both sides of the circuit boards to achieve higher density circuitry, resulting in a thinner camera body by eliminating one printed wiring board (see Fig. 1).
IXY DIGITAL 200 (right) side view Unit: mm
Ultra-compact, highly-efficient and reliable built-in light guide flash
Feature 2: High image quality
High-resolution 2x zoom lens (IXY DIGITAL 200a) / 3x zoom lens (IXY DIGITAL 300a)
The IXY DIGITAL 200a is equipped with a 35 - 70 mm (in 35mm film format) 2x zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8 - f/4.0, while the IXY DIGITAL 300a has a 35 - 105 mm (in 35mm film format) 3x zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.7 - f/4.7. The lenses of both models consist of seven elements in five groups. A high-refraction molded glass aspherical lens and a cemented doublet lens are optimally arranged to achieve good aberration compensation, giving a high-resolution image throughout the entire range. Moreover, the CCD characteristics of the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a are improved by partial modification of the image capturing devices, resulting in better resolution than the IXY DIGITAL 200/300.
The closest shooting distance of the IXY DIGITAL 200a, from the front of the barrel in macro mode, is 10cm at wide-angle (102 x 76 mm image field). For the IXY DIGITAL 300a, it is 26 cm at telephoto in macro mode (90 x 67 mm image field).
CCD sensors with about 2 million effective pixels
The IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a uses a CCD with about 2 million effective pixels, offering a high-quality image of up to 1,600 x 1,200 pixels.
Precise white balance with five preset positions and manual
Very faithful color reproduction is realized by dividing the screen into more than a hundred thousand areas; evaluating color based on the white balance data collected from each area; and computing the RGB values precisely with Canon’s proprietary technique.
There are five preset white balance modes: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and the new Fluorescent H mode for daylight fluorescent lighting. It is also possible to customize the white balance by having the camera evaluate a white card.
Wide range of sensitivity (ISO equivalent speed) settings
Sensitivity is selectable from a range of settings [Auto/50/100/200/400 (ISO equivalent)], just like choosing a film for a 35mm camera.
In Auto mode, the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a automatically adjusts sensitivity to the optimum value for the ambient brightness, within the range of ISO 50 - 150.
Primary color filter and New digital signal processing IC for high-quality image processing
Intelligent AE for optimum exposures
Feature 3: Advanced functions and comfortable operation
Super Intelligent (SI) sensor for automatic detection of vertical/horizontal photography
The IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a incorporates a SI sensor capable of detecting camera orientation. Using this information during playback, photos taken with the camera vertical are displayed vertically on the LCD monitor, and those taken with the camera horizontal are displayed horizontally (see Fig. 2).
| Vertical camera position | Horizontal camera position |
 |
 |
From the aspect of image quality, AF distance measurement errors such as inadvertently focusing on the ground when shooting vertically are avoided by using only the upper two AF frames. In situation where the sky takes up a large area at the top of the image, the entire image is liable to be unfavorably darkened due to the brightness of the sky, or be tinted yellow in reaction to the blueness of the sky. The SI sensor introduces precise control to minimize such sky effects and measurement errors by determining which part of the image is the top.
Color effect modes
The IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a is equipped with the color effect mode like the PowerShot G2 and the PowerShot S40/S30. Color effects can be selected from vivid color, neutral color, low sharpening, sepia, and black & white.
Convenient operation with cross-configured buttons
Operations of the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a are made very simple by employing the cross-configured buttons (see Photo 3). Exposure compensation, white balance adjustments, and single-image erasing, previously set on the menu screen, are now one-touch operations with the buttons.
Recording/Playback of movie clips with sound
The IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a can record movies with sound in VGA (640 x 480 pixels) format at 20 frames/second, the fastest speed in 2.0 megapixel-class cameras. In Q2VGA (160 x 120 pixels) format at 20 frames/second, the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a can record movie clips up to 30 seconds long.
In playback, single-frame forward, fast forward, and fast reverse operations are provided, as well as instantaneous jump to start or end of a movie clip.
Selectable AF system: 3-point AiAF and 1-point center AF
The AF system of the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a incorporates both the 3-point AiAF in which the camera adjusts focus precisely depending on shooting conditions and single-point center AF, allowing the user to select the most suitable method.
Two light metering modes
With the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a, spot metering is available in addition to evaluative metering function.
Shutter speed of 15 to 1/1,500 seconds (with noise reduction)
The shutter speed of the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a can be set within a range from 1/1,500 to 15 seconds. In addition, noise reduction starts automatically for long exposures to ensure clear photography even in dim light.
Histogram display of playback image
The IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a displays the histogram of the image when the shutter button is kept pressed after shooting or during playback. This function allows the user to check the distribution of brightness in the images and the overall exposure of each photo.
Comfortable, stress-free operation
High-speed processing by the New digital signal processing IC together with the large capacity buffer memory enables a short shooting interval of 1.6 seconds minimum, shortened startup time, reduced release time lag by 0.05 seconds (from when the shutter button is fully pressed until the exposure starts), and smooth scrolling of playback images.
Magnified playback for easy image confirmation
During playback, the displayed image can be magnified with continuous zoom from two to ten times. The zooming and scrolling functions permit the user to view any part of the image at any size.
Digital zoom with continuous variation of view angle
Nine image quality modes
AE, AF, and FE lock feature enabling focus and exposure lock when taking photos
Real-image optical zoom viewfinder
Color LCD viewfinder with 100% picture coverage
Mode switch selection of still photography, movie photography, or playback
AF-assist beam with ON/OFF control
Self timer (2 or 10 seconds)
Switching between worldwide video systems (NTSC/PAL)
International user interface (UI) supporting twelve languages
Feature 4: Digital communication
Direct prints with dedicated printers
The IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a's direct print mode enables the user to print out high-quality images by simply connecting the camera to the newly developed Photo Printer "CP-100" (see Photo 4), the Card Photo Printer "CP-10," or the Bubble Jet printer "PIXUS F890PD" with an interface cable. Operation is easily controlled from the camera.
Access to "Canon Image Gateway (CIG)" on the Web
Canon has opened its new Japanese language Web site entitled "Canon Image Gateway (CIG)," which provides registered users with versatile services, including online album service, online printing service, and download service of My Camera contents.
"My Camera" settings (IXY DIGITAL 300a only)
The IXY DIGITAL 300a features the "My Camera" function which was introduced in the PowerShot S40/S30. This function allows the user to customize various settings such as start-up screen, and start-up, shutter, and self-timer operation sounds.
Bundled with a comprehensive package of software application programs
Compatible with the USB Interface
Feature 5: System accessories
Waterproof case effective down to 30 m underwater (optional)
As an option, waterproof cases are available. The WP-DC600 (for the IXY DIGITAL 200a/see Photo 5) and the WP-DC500 (for the IXY DIGITAL 300a) are both waterproof down to 30m depths.
Car battery charger convenient for outdoor use (optional)
The optional car battery charger "CBC-NB1" connects to a car’s cigarette lighter and charges the camera battery so that the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a can be used outdoors without worrying about the battery running down.
This issue of the Technical Report introduces the IXY DIGITAL 200a/300a. Table 1 compares major specifications between the IXY DIGITAL 200a and the IXY DIGITAL 200, while Fig. 3 shows the names of exterior parts of the IXY DIGITAL 200a.
The recommended retail price in Japan for the kit displayed in Photo 6 is 63,000 yen for the IXY DIGITAL 200a, and 69,000 yen for the IXY DIGITAL 300a (both before tax).
(From top left) IXY DIGITAL 200a / Application software and driver / Wrist strap / Battery charger / CF card (8MB) / Battery pack/ AV cable/ Interface cable
Fig. 3 IXY DIGITAL 200a Nomenclature
   |
Table 1 Comparison of major specifications between IXY DIGITAL 200a and IXY DIGITAL 200
| IXY DIGITAL 200a | IXY DIGITAL 200 | ||
| Image sensor | 2.1 megapixel (total), 1/2.7" CCD (effective pixels: approx. 2 megapixel) |
 |
|
| Filter array | Primary color filter | |
|
| Lens (35mm film equivalent) |
35(W) - 70(T)mm f/2.8(W) - 4.0(T) |
|
|
| Optical zoom | 2x | |
|
| Digital zoom | 2.5x | |
|
| Optical viewfinder | Real-image | |
|
| LCD monitor | 1.5", low-temperature polysilicon TFT color (improved type) |
1.5", low-temperature polysilicon TFT color |
|
| Autofocus method | Selectable TTL 3-point AiAF/TTL 1-point center AF (Focus lock possible) | TTL 3-point AiAF | |
| Focusing range (normal) | 57cm - infinity | |
|
| Focusing range (macro) (from lens barrel tip) | W | 10 - 57cm | |
| T | 27 - 57cm | |
|
| Shutter type | Mechanical + Electronic | |
|
| Shutter speeds | 15 - 1/1,500 sec. | 1 - 1/1,500 sec. | |
| Light metering method | Evaluative / Spot metering | Evaluative metering | |
| Exposure compensation | ±2.0
EV (in 1/3-stop increments) |
|
|
| Sensitivity | Auto, ISO 50/100/200/400 equivalent | Auto, ISO 100 equivalent | |
| Flash range | W | 57cm - 3.0m | |
| T | 57cm - 2.0m | |
|
| macro | 27cm - 57cm | |
|
| White balance | TTL auto / Pre-set (5 positions) / Custom | TTL auto / Pre-set (4 positions) with B/W | |
| Shooting modes | Auto / Manual / Stitch assist / Movie | |
|
| Focus | Landscape / Macro | |
|
| Photo effect | Vivid / Neutral / Low sharpening / Sepia / B/W | N/A | |
| Continuous shooting mode | 2.5 images/sec. (Large/Fine, LCD monitor off) |
|
|
| Recording pixels (Movies) | 640 x 480 / 320 x 240 pixels / 160 x 120 pixels (20 frames/sec.) with audio |
|
|
| Storage media | CompactFlash (CF) card (Type I) |
|
|
| File format | DCF (Exif2.2-compliant), DPOF | DCF (Exif2.1-compliant), DPOF | |
| Image recording format | (SF / F / N) x (L / M / S) (9 combinations) |
|
|
| Number of recording pixels (Still images) | L | 1,600 x 1,200 | |
| M | 1,024 x 768 | |
|
| S | 640 x 480 | |
|
| Enlarged playback | Approx. 10x (zoom) | Approx. 2.5x | |
| Direct print | Supported (CP-10, CP-100, PIXUS BJ F890PD) | Supported (CP-10) | |
| Interfaces | USB / Video/Audio output | |
|
| Power sources | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NB-1LH) / compact power adapter | |
|
| Dimensions (W x H x D) |
87.0 x 57.0 x 26.7 mm | 87.0 x 57.0 x 26.9 mm | |
| Weight (camera body only) |
Approx. 180 g | Approx. 190 g | |