The IXY DIGITAL series started with the IXY DIGITAL (Photo 2-a) released in May 2000 and has since seen 20 models over 6 years (Table 1), including the IXY DIGITAL L (Photo 2-b) with its unique design and 4 color variations, the IXY DIGITAL 600 (Photo 2-c) utilizing a Perpetual Curve Design and the IXY DIGITAL WIRELESS with wireless communication.
The IXY DIGITAL 80 released in April 2006 is the first camera in the IXY DIGITAL series to have an ultra-large 3.0" LCD monitor. The concept of development is as follows.
Realization of a stylish digital camera with high image quality and high functionality based on the themes of ''slim'' and ''fine view''
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Feature 1: Sharp & slim design
Design concept
The design concept of the IXY DIGITAL 80 was inspired by the traditional craft of katana, Japanese sword. The cut faces giving an impression of a solid piece of metal with the corners being boldly sliced make the camera as a whole slim and sharp (Photo 3).
The surface finish of the front is made to be similar to tamahagane, the raw steel used to make katanas, and the area around the lens is decorated with a whirl pattern called tomoe, which provides a feel unique to Canon.
The back is deep glossy black like Japanese urushi lacquer(Photo 4).
Compact design
The IXY DIGITAL 80 employs a host of Canon's miniaturization technologies realizing smaller and thinner components and units and ultrahigh-density mounting using SiP (System in Package) for a thickness of approximately 20mm.
Feature 2: High image quality
6-million effective pixel CCD sensor
The IXY DIGITAL 80 features a CCD with about six million effective pixels, which together with the Primary Color Filter, makes high resolution up to 2816 x 2112 pixels possible.
3x zoom lens, 35 - 105mm (35mm equivalent)
The IXY DIGITAL 80 incorporates a new 3x zoom lens (35mm equivalent: f = 35 - 105mm) and f/2.8 - f/4.9 maximum aperture, developed for the 6-million pixel CCD. An extremely short optical system has been achieved by using 2 UA lens elements (ultra-high refraction index molded aspherical lens).
The IXY DIGITAL 80 also has a macro function that allows the user to focus as close as 3cm from the subject at wide-angle. The field of view is 37 x 27mm.
Feature 3: Advanced functions
ISO800 and High ISO Auto mode
In order to prevent camera shake and blurring of subjects, fast shutter speeds are necessary, and the ISO setting must be high to do this. However, higher ISOs are generally a factor in reduced image quality due to an increase in noise.
The IXY DIGITAL 80 achieves high quality images with low noise despite the ISO800 sensitivity equivalent by utilizing the low-noise signal processing of DIGIC II and Canon's own image processing technology.
The IXY DIGITAL 80 is also equipped with a new ''High ISO Auto'' mode. As sensitivity can be automatically increased up to ISO800 depending on the ambient light, camera shake and blurring of subjects can be reduced.
A variety of shooting modes
The IXY DIGITAL 80 has many shooting modes (Table 2) in which shooting parameters are optimized for various situations to ensure optimal shots can always be taken.
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Advanced My Colors
The ''My Colors'' function introduced in the IXY DIGITAL 600 and IXY DIGITAL 55 released in April 2005 is combined with the existing ''color effects'' and is revived as the new ''My Colors''.
The function can be used in combination with the shooting mode by making selections with the FUNC. button (Figure 1). Color Accent and Color Swap are separated from My Colors and are now independent shooting modes (Figure 2).
The modes that can be set in the new My Colors function are shown in Table 3.
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| Fig. 1 New My Colors | Fig. 2 Color Accent |
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Color Retouching with My Colors
The IXY DIGITAL 80 is also equipped with Color Retouching with My Colors that enables using the My Colors function during playback. This makes it possible to retouch images without the need to use any special applications after shooting.
Focused position display
This function allows the LCD monitor to display simultaneously a focused spot together with the recorded image to check that images are well focused when reviewing recorded images (Figure 3). Furthermore, as the area displayed can be moved arbitrarily, the focus can be checked throughout the image.
Digital Macro mode
Widescreen added to the recording pixels
Smooth continuous shooting
Jump function
Gridline display
Low Level Format
9-point AiAF or 1-point AF can be selected
Three light metering modes
Custom self-timer to select start time and number of shots
Histogram display of playback image
Index Playback with 9 images
Hold option for Rec. Review
Audio annotation of up to 60 seconds
Feature 4: Comfortable operation
Large 3.0'' LCD monitor
The LCD monitor employs a super-large 3.0'' LCD panel with 100% picture coverage for the first time in a Canon digital camera.
The 3.0'' monitor is approximately 1.4 times the size of the 2.5'' monitor used in the IXY DIGITAL 800 IS (Figure 4). This lets the user view the subject more clearly for easy framing. Each individual image on the monitor in the index playback mode is larger to make image searches easier.
The Quick-bright LCD switches to maximum brightness in bright surroundings, such as outdoors, where the LCD monitor is usually difficult to see. When the subject is not bright enough, for example in shooting at night, the Night Display function brightens the subject on the LCD monitor.
To maintain the compact body, there is no optical finder.
Touch Control Dial
The touch control dial (Photo 5) makes the most of a large 3.0'' LCD monitor.
When a finger is placed on the touch control dial during shooting or playback, the touch control dial icon is displayed on the LCD display (Figure 5). The user can then select one of the functions assigned to the top, bottom, left, and right directions, and can simply press the selector to complete the desired setting. This enables the user to operate the camera quickly while looking at the display, and allows the user to see current selections on the LCD monitor.
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| Fig. 5 Touch control dial icon | Photo 5 Touch control dial |
The touch control dial icon can be difficult to see in dark places, making operation difficult, but operation has been significantly improved because the icon can be seen on the LCD screen in such cases.
If the touch control dial surface is touched during playback, the thumbnail screen is changed with an operation sound, making it possible to quickly forward through and select images. The geographical region of the world clock can be selected from the settings menu.
Print menu
A Print menu containing functions related to printing has been added.
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 supported
Playback/Forwarding of magnified images
Clock Display mode
Power-saving function (Auto power down and display off)
Mute mode
Feature 5: Full range of printing features and digital communication
Movie Print (single frame)
The existing Movie Print function in the IXY DIGITAL series is available only with a series of ''sequential frames'', but the IXY DIGITAL 80 also has a ''single frame'' mode.
PictBridge supported
Print/Share button
Postcard Date Imprint mode
ID Photo Print
Exif 2.2 support
The CANON iMAGE GATEWAY website can be used
Feature 6: Accessories
Waterproof Case submersible to 40 meters
The WP-DC4 waterproof case (Photo 6) suited for serious diving is available as an option.
Compact high-capacity NB-4L battery pack
Ultra-fast, large-capacity SD memory card
High Power Flash HF-DC1
This issue of the Technical Report introduces the IXY DIGITAL 80. Table 4 shows the major specifications. The IXY DIGITAL 80 Kit comes as shown in Photo 7. There is no recommended retailed price.
The IXY DIGITAL 80 was recently awarded the Best Ultra Compact Digital Camera by TIPA (Technical Image Press Association). It was recognized for its design utilizing traditional beauty and easy-to-use functions such as the touch control dial and focused position display (Figure 6).
The Technical Image Press Association award is often called the ''Oscar of the photo imaging industry''. The Technical Image Press Association is made up of editors from 31 major camera and video journals in 12 European countries. This authoritative yearly award is given to products in each sector that are representative of the year, chosen from products released in Europe over the preceding year.