Technical Hall - Technical report 2005.04

Compact digital camera with 7.1-megapixel CCD and DIGIC II, offering high performance equivalent to that of higher-ranking models.

IXY DIGITAL 600

[ Japan : IXY DIGITAL 600, Americas : PowerShot SD500 DIGITAL ELPH, Europe/Asia/Oceania : DIGITAL IXUS 700 ]

This month's Technical Report introduces the IXY DIGITAL 600 (see Photo 1), a stylish, high-quality digital camera with a 7.1-megapixel CCD and high-resolution 3x zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 37 - 111mm) released in March 2005.

Photo 1 IXY DIGITAL 600

Concept of development
Five years have passed since the first ''IXY DIGITAL'' was released, and Canon has released a total of 15 models in the very well received IXY DIGITAL series. The new IXY DIGITAL 600 is the new flagship of the series. The concept of development is as follows:

The ''First Class IXY'' is a high-quality, stylish digital camera offering superb image quality

Feature 1: High-grade design and compact body
Perpetual Curve Design employed
The IXY DIGITAL 600 uses a new metalworking technique called Perpetual Curve Design (see Fig. 1) to achieve a sleek, curvaceous appearance. Since any curvature is possible with this method, the most compact exterior package considering the parts configuration inside the body can be designed.

Fig. 1 Perpetual Curve Design

A smooth shape is formed by generating a continuously curved surface from cylindrical stock.

Furthermore, this gives enhanced handling as well as compactness. In particular, protrusions at the Wrist Strap Mount, lens circumference, corners, and buttons on the top or back of the body are minimized, as shown in Photo 2. Silver gray is selected for the color to enhance the beautiful form, and the body is finished with radiant surface coating to give the curved body a beautiful shade.

Photo 2 Exterior Design of IXY DIGITAL 600

Compact design
The IXY DIGITAL 600 employs a host of Canon's miniaturization technologies realizing smaller and thinner components and ultrahigh-density mounting using SiP (System in Package). Thanks to this, the IXY DIGITAL 600 is only about 85% the body size (volume) of the IXY DIGITAL 500.

Smaller battery pack
The IXY DIGITAL 600 uses the smaller lithium-ion battery pack NB-3L to achieve a thinner body, but by its power-saving design, the recording capacity and playback time are better than the IXY DIGITAL 500.

SD Memory Card supported

Feature 2: High image quality
7.1-million effective pixel CCD sensor
The IXY DIGITAL 600 features a CCD with about 7.1-million effective pixels, which, together with the Primary Color Filter produces high resolution with up to 3072 x 2304 pixels.

Ultra-compact 3x zoom lens, 37 - 111mm (35mm equivalent)
The IXY DIGITAL incorporates a new 3x zoom lens with focal length (35mm equivalent
f = 37 - 111mm) and f/2.8 - f/4.9 maximum aperture, developed for the 7.1-million pixel CCD. The retracted lens unit is 3.4mm shorter than the IXY DIGITAL 500's. The IXY DIGITAL 600 also has a macro function that allows the user to focus as close as 5cm from the subject at the wide-angle end. The field of view is 56 x 42mm.

High-quality image processing with DIGIC II digital imaging engine
The IXY DIGITAL 600 uses Canon's proprietary ''DIGIC II'' digital imaging engine for signal processing.
Compared to the original DIGIC, the DIGIC II has increased its processing capacity severalfold for more precise processing. As a result, the camera gives better color gradation, resolution, and reproduction than previous models.

High-speed AF and precise AE/AWB based on iSAPS technology and incorporating
SI sensor

Feature 3: Advanced functions
My Colors
The IXY DIGITAL 600 employs a new function, called ''My Colors''.
The My Colors function allows the user to customize the colors of the subject before shooting. It makes it possible for the user to change colors on the LCD monitor in real-time while shooting rather than retouching later.

Table 1 shows the nine My Colors modes and Photo 3 shows the effects.
My Colors modes are effective when shooting movies as well. For still images, both of the original and the modified image are recorded.

Table 1 My Colors Modes

Transforms all but a specified color into monochrome.
•	Since no flash is fired while reading the color, the desired color may not be achieved if flash is used when shooting.

Replaces a specified color with another.
•	Two or more colors cannot be specified for the source color.
•	Since no flash is fired while reading the color, the desired color may not be achieved if flash is used when shooting.

^*	Colors of non-human objects similar to human skin colors may also be altered, and the expected results may not be obtained for some skin colors.

Photo 3 My Colors Production Examples

Smooth continuous shooting
Thanks to DIGIC II, the improved data transfer speed into the SD memory card enables continuous shooting at a constant speed* until the SD memory card is full.

^*	The speed may vary depending on the number of pixels being recorded and the type of SD memory card.

Full range of movie features
Like the IXY DIGITAL 50/40, the IXY DIGITAL 600 has remarkably enhanced movie shooting functions, and AF lock and digital zoom are possible when shooting movies.

Night Display function
Night Display function automatically brightens the object by reducing the frame rate on the LCD monitor to enable easy shooting in low light.

Digital Macro mode
In addition to the normal macro mode, the IXY DIGITAL 600 has a Digital Macro mode to provide further magnification. When using Digital Macro, only the center of the image is used as with the digital zoom function.
The field of view is 14 x 11mm at maximum magnification.

Ultra-compact, highly reliable built-in light guide flash
The flash shooting range is much better than the IXY DIGITAL 500. The high-capacity flash capacitor increases the light output considerably.

Jump function
During playback, pressing the button jumps over 10 or 100 images at a time or displays images by date or movie scene to find a particular image.

Low Level Format
A new formatting (initialization) method, Low Level Format is added to allow the user to select from either it or the existing format function as required. Low Level Format improves writing speed to the SD memory card, which is especially effective for continuous shooting as well as for data protection.

Special Scene mode

9-point AiAF or 1-point AF can be selected

Three light metering modes

Histogram display of playback image

ON/OFF selection of AF-assist Beam

Index Playback of 9 images

Hold option for reviewing recorded images

Audio annotation of up to 60 seconds

Feature 4: Comfortable operation
Large 2.0'' LCD monitor
The LCD monitor employs a large 2.0'' LCD panel with 100% picture coverage to allow the user to view the subject more clearly for easy framing. In addition, each multiple image on the monitor in the index playback mode is larger to make image searches considerably easier. The Quick-bright LCD function switches to the highest brightness in bright surroundings, such as outside, where the LCD monitor is usually difficult to see.

Greatly enhanced AF
The AF speed for the IXY DIGITAL 600 has been increased about 55%* compared to the IXY DIGITAL 500. This is the result of great improvements in how the image data required for AF control is read from the CCD, and lens drive speeds. In addition, low-light response has been improved by about two stops, allowing better focusing in low-light conditions.
* Using Canon's test conditions.

Quick start-up
Thanks to DIGIC II, startup time has been drastically reduced to about 0.9 seconds for shooting and about 0.5 seconds for playback.

Hi-Speed USB 2.0 supported
The Hi-Speed USB 2.0 external interface is used in the IXY DIGITAL 600 to enable much faster data transfer to PCs compared to the previous models.

UI supporting 21 languages

Playback/Forwarding of magnified images

Clock Display mode

Power-saving function (Auto power down and display off)

Mute mode

Custom Timer to select start time and number of shots

Feature 5: Full range of printing features and digital communication
PictBridge supported
The IXY DIGITAL 600 supports the PictBridge standard. This enables direct printing from any PictBridge-compatible printer regardless of the manufacturer.
Most of the printing functions of the PictBridge standard are also supported.

Print/Share button

Postcard Date Imprint mode

ID Photo Print

Movie Print

Exif 2.2 support

My Camera function

Feature 6: Accessories
Waterproof Case submersible to 40 meters
The optional Waterproof Case WP-DC70 can be used down to 40 meters, deep enough for most diving.

Ultra-fast, large-capacity SD memory card
The 512 MB SD memory card with fast data-writing speed SDC-512MSH is an option provided for long movie shooting.

This issue of the Technical Report introduces the IXY DIGITAL 600. Table 2 depicts the major specifications of the IXY DIGITAL 600, and Fig. 2 shows the internal structure of the IXY DIGITAL 600.
The IXY DIGITAL 600 Kit comes as shown in Photo 4. There is no recommended retail price.

Table 2 Major Specifications Comparison between IXY DIGITAL 600 and IXY DIGITAL 500

Fig. 2 IXY DIGITAL 600 Internal Structure

Photo 4 Accessory Kit (IXY DIGITAL 600)

Along with the IXY DIGITAL 600, Canon has also released the IXY DIGITAL 55 (see Photo 5) with a 5.0-megapixel CCD, which is the upper-class model to the IXY DIGITAL 50, and the PowerShot A520 (see Photo 6) with a 4.0-megapixel CCD and 4x zoom lens, and the PowerShot A510 with a 3.2-megapixel CCD and 4x zoom lens, both of which are the successor to the PowerShot A85, and the High Power Flash HF-DC1 (see Photo 7), which provides high power flash for cameras without accessory shoes.


Photo 5 IXY DIGITAL 55	Photo 6 PowerShot A520

Photo 7 High-Power Flash HF-DC1