August 2011
*
A further evolution of the IXY 31S with a new function called “touch shutter”
* IXY 32S is launched only in Japan.
Photo 1: IXY 32S
This month’s technical report introduces the features of the IXY 32S, which went on sale in August 2011. This new model offers full-touch operation along with a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor with 12.1 effective megapixels and an f/2.0 (max. wide angle) 4.4x zoom lens (with a 35mm-film equivalent focal length range of 24 – 105mm) fitted with a lens-shift image stabilizer.
Development objectives
The IXY 31S, which went on sale in March 2011, won high marks from the market for its HS System, which paired a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor with the DIGIC 4 image processor, its bright f/2.0 lens, and its touch panel for easy, intuitive operation.
The IXY 32S (Photo 1) adds a touch shutter to the already impressive IXY 31S.
Our development objective for the new model was:
To realize an advanced IXY series model that offers full-featured, high-quality still image shooting and robust movie functions, including full HDTV support, alongside a large touch panel for easy operation.
Feature 1 — Superb image quality
*When people are the subject, a white frame brackets the face considered to be the main subject and up to two gray frames bracket other faces.
Figure 1: Star focus
f/2.0 4.4x zoom lens with a lens-shift image stabilizer
The IXY 32S comes with a 4.4x zoom lens with a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 24 – 105mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.0 (max. wide angle) – f/5.8 (max. telephoto). The lens is constructed with seven elements in six groups, including three aspherical elements (two double-sided aspherical elements and one single-sided aspherical element). To make the lens compact while ensuring high performance, one of the aspherical elements uses a glass-molded lens with an ultra-high refractive index and a large thickness eccentricity.
HS System brings together a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and the DIGIC image processor for outstanding image quality and processing
We built the HS System using the combination of the higher ISO speeds of the back-illuminated-architecture CMOS sensor, which has excellent light collection efficiency, and Canon’s proprietary DIGIC image processor that gives powerful image processing. The HS System enables the camera to take beautiful, high-resolution, low-noise photos without noticeable camera shake or subject blurring even at high ISOs.
Smart Auto mode with 32 auto-detection scenes
The IXY 32S’s Smart Auto mode includes a “star” focus feature (Figure 1) that is able to detect and track both human and non-human subjects. The camera can distinguish between a total of 32 different scenes (Table 1).
Optical image stabilizer with a stabilization gain of approximately four f-stops*
*Except when using the touch shutter function.
Smart Flash optimizes flash levels and brightness for the scene
Servo AF/AE
i-Contrast adjusts images for the best exposure and tonal quality according the shooting scene
Table 1: Smart Auto for still images
- *1. Appears when the scene is dark and the camera is attached to a tripod or otherwise fixed.
- *2. Icons selected from the detected scenes are shown as appropriate.
- Note that in some conditions, the displayed icon may differ from the actual scene.
Feature 2 — Rich functionality
Figure 2: Movie button location
HDTV movie shooting functions
The IXY 32S offers movie recording in full HDTV quality with an incredible 1920 x 1080 resolution. Because the camera also supports optical zooming and stereo audio recording while shooting full HDTV movies, it is possible to make highly realistic movies. Users can enjoy the stunning impact of HDTV movies at home by connecting the camera to an HDTV-enabled TV with an HDMI cable, sold separately.
Users can upload their movies directly to YouTube from Camera Window by using the supplied Movie Uploader for YouTube software application. With one simple operation, it is possible to share movies with friends and family living far away.
Dedicated Movie button* starts movie recording instantly even when in a still-image shooting mode
*The Movie button is displayed on the monitor (Figure 2).
Smart Movie optimizes recording settings after automatically detecting the shooting conditions
The Smart Movie mode functions when the camera is in Auto mode and the user begins recording a movie by pressing the Movie button on the monitor. In this mode, the camera automatically detects the shooting scene and whether a person or people are in the frame and adjusts the settings accordingly.
The IXY 32S can distinguish between a total of 21 different scenes including “dark” and “spotlights” (Table 2).
Table 2: Smart Auto for movies (Smart Movie)
- *1. Appears when the scene is dark and the camera is attached to a tripod or otherwise fixed.
- Note: In some conditions, the displayed icon may differ from the actual scene.
- Note: Scene detection takes place within a single category while recording a full HDTV movie.
- Note: Auto Movie only functions when the user starts recording with the Movie button (touch operation) while the camera is in Auto mode.
Miniature Effect movie mode creates miniature-model effects and sped-up effects
Supports iFrame movies, a standard developed by Apple
iFrame is a video file format that consists of only i-frames with H.264 compression and no inter-frame compression. The frame rate is fixed at 30 fps and the resolution at 1280 x 720 pixels. By not having inter-frame compression, iFrame movies can be edited more quickly and seamlessly than other formats in Canon editing programs such as ZoomBrowser EX or ImageBrowser.
Super Slow Motion captures in slow motion actions too fast for the naked eye
Figure 3: Movie Digest
Wide variety of shooting modes
The IXY 32S comes with a wide array of shooting modes so users can enjoy shooting in different conditions and in different scenes. For example, the High-speed Burst mode captures consecutive photos at up to 8.2 frames/second; the Low Light mode automatically adjusts the ISO speed between ISO 100 and ISO 6400; and the Movie Digest mode (Figure 3) captures short movie clips up to four seconds long immediately before each still image is taken and combines the clips into one movie file over the course of a day. (See Table 3 for a list of all IXY 32S shooting modes.)
Multiple aspect ratios
Users can select the aspect ratio they want from 4:3, 16:9, 3:2, and 1:1.
Histogram display
Feature 3 — Comfortable operations
3.2”, 461,000-dot LCD monitor
The 3.2”, 461,000-dot PureColor T LCD monitor with enhanced color reproduction includes touch panel functionality. Designed to cut reflections and glare from external light, the monitor offers easy viewing in all conditions.
Touch panel for easy, intuitive operation
The IXY 31S’s touch panel gave users intuitive control over shooting and playback just by touching the monitor screen. These controls included touch AF, which lets the user touch and select the subject for focus and exposure tracking; scroll playback, which lets the user drag and flip through photos quickly at playback; and button customization, which lets the user choose the buttons displayed on the panel and their location (Figure 4).
The IXY 32S advances on the IXY 31S’s touch operations and adds the touch shutter function that takes a picture just by touching the panel, a first for a Canon digital camera.
When the touch shutter is turned on, touching anywhere on the panel will cause the camera to autofocus immediately on the subject at the position touched and set the shutter button in the half-pressed position. In this state, the shutter will release the moment the finger is lifted from the panel. And if the camera is in the Auto shooting mode or the Servo AF function is turned on, the camera will start to servo autofocus on the subject at the touched position and will track the subject until the finger is lifted from the panel.
When the touch shutter is turned off, touching anywhere on the panel will cause the camera to continually focus on the subject at that position (Touch AF).
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Select the shooting mode in seconds on the easy-to-read menu display.
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Touch the bar for intuitive, detailed aperture and shutter speed settings.
-
Touch to play back one photo and drag to flip to the next photo.
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Quickly drag a photo in playback mode to start the scroll playback.
-
Select the touch panel buttons from 12 options.*1
-
Place each button by dragging it to the desired location.
- *1 Button options: Exposure compensation, White balance, ISO Speed, Drive, AF Area, Aspect Ratio, Self-timer, Recording Pixels, Compression Rate, Movie Image Quality, Power Saving, Touch Shutter toggle
Figure 4: Touch panel functions
Menu and mode guidance display
Smart Shuffle automatically displays four images based on the image being viewed
Image Group Playback displays one image from a group of images taken in High-speed Burst mode
Movie Digest Playback is specialized for playing movies recorded with the Movie Digest function
Scroll playback for quick image searching
Special effect transitions and slideshows that apply effects when switching between playback images
Filtered Playback that displays only images in the selected category or with the selected date stamp
Feature 4 — Stylish design with prominent dynamic edges
The IXY 32S’s design is formed from dynamic edges, precise lines, and clean contours. The sharp lines and complex contours produce alluring reflections of light.
The camera is available in four body colors — pink, gold, silver, and black (Photo 2).
Photo 2: Body colors
Feature 5 — Enhanced printing options and digital communications
Select images for printing with DPOF
PictBridge support
HDMI mini connector
Feature 6 — Array of system accessories
Photo 3: IXY 32S and its kit components
Eye-Fi card support*
*The IXY 32S does not guarantee Eye-Fi card functionality (i.e., wireless communications). Many countries require special permission or authorization to use Eye-Fi cards. Unauthorized use of Eye-Fi cards cannot be condoned.
Accepts SDXC memory cards
Exif 2.3 support
This completes our look at the IXY 32S this month. Table 3 lists the camera’s main specifications, and Photo 3 illustrates the kit components that come with the camera. There is no fixed suggested retail price for the IXY 32S.
| IXY 32S | |
|---|---|
| Imaging sensor (CMOS) | 1/2.3” with ~12.10 effective megapixels (~12.80 total megapixels), high-sensitivity sensor type |
| Color filter type | RGB |
| Photographic lens (35mm-film equivalent) |
24 - 105mm, f/2.0 (wide) – f/5.8 (tele), 4.4x zoom |
| Digital zoom | ~4.0x (~18x max. zoom when combined with the optical zoom) |
| LCD monitor | 3.2” (TFT color LCD, ~461,000 dots, excellent color reproduction and wide viewing angle), touch panel, brightness adjustment |
| Autofocus (control method) |
Single (Continuous in Auto shooting mode), Servo AF / AE, Face Detect AiAF / center point |
| Focusing range | Auto mode: 3cm to infinity (wide) / 40cm to infinity (tele), Macro mode: 3 to 50 cm (wide) |
| Shutter | Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter |
| Shutter speeds | 1/1600 – 1 sec., 1/1600 to 15 sec. (total shutter speed range from all shooting modes) |
| Light metering methods | Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot (fixed to center; linked to AF frame when using touch AF) |
| Exposure compensation | ±2 stops in 1/3-stop increments |
| ISO speeds (Standard Output Sensitivity / Recommended Exposure Index) | Auto, ISO 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 (when in P shooting mode) |
| Flash ranges | 50 cm – 5.0 m (wide), 50 cm – 2.0 m (tele) (when ISO speed is set to Auto) |
| White balance | Auto, Day Light, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom |
| Shooting modes | Auto*1 / P / Av / Tv / Movie Digest / Portrait / Kids & Pets / Smart Shutter*2 / High-speed Burst / Best Image Selection / Handheld Night Scene / Low Light / Fisheye Effect / Miniature Effect / Toy Camera Effect / Creative Light Effect / Monochrome / Super Vivid / Poster Effect / Color Accent / Color Swap / Beach / Foliage / Snow / Fireworks / iFrame Movie / Super Slow Motion Movie *1. Smart Auto available *2. Smile, Wink Self-timer, Face Self-timer; able to record movies with the Movie button while in a still-image shooting mode*3 *3. Movie modes that apply still-image imaging effects (in all other modes, movies are taken in P mode): Auto*4 / P / Portrait / Miniature Effect / Monochrome / Super Vivid / Poster Effect / Color Accent / Color Swap / Beach / Foliage / Snow / Fireworks *4. Smart Movie |
| Continuous shooting | Normal: ~3.4 fps (when in P shooting mode); ~8.2 fps (when in High-speed Burst mode)* *When in a bright location that the flash does not automatically fire |
| Recording pixels (still images) |
When set to a 4:3 aspect ratio: Large: 4000 × 3000, Medium 1: 2816 × 2112, Medium 2: 1600 × 1200, Small: 640 × 480 (Fixed at 1984 × 1488 in High-speed Burst, Best Image Selection, and Low Light modes) |
| Compression (still images) | Fine, Normal |
| Movies | Recorded with Movie button:*1 1920 × 1080 (24 fps*2), 1280 × 720 (30 fps*3), 640 × 480 (30 fps*3), 320 × 240 (30 fps*3) iFrame movies: 1280 × 720 (30 fps*3) Super Slow Motion movies: 640 × 480*4, 320 × 240*5 Movie Digest movies: 640 × 480 (30 fps*3) *1. Miniature Effect movies: 1280 x 720, 640 x 480 (recorded at 1.5, 3, or 6 fps and played back at 30 fps*3); *2. Actual speed is 23.976 fps *3. Actual speed is 29.97 fps *4. Recorded at 120 fps and played back at 30 fps*3 *5. Recorded at 240 fps and played back at 30 fps*3 |
| Recording media | SD memory card, SDHC memory card, SDXC memory card |
| Color space | Standard (sRGB) |
| File format | Compliant with Design rule for Camera File system and DPOF |
| Data types | Still images: Exif 2.3 (JPEG) Movies: MOV (video: H.264, audio: Linear PCM (stereo)) |
| Power supply | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery: NB-6L; AC adapter kit: ACK-DC40 (sold separately) |
| Dimensions (CIPA standard measurement) |
100.6 × 55.4 × 25.0mm |
| Weight (CIPA standard measurement) |
~185 grams (including battery and memory card) / ~165 grams (body only) |
Table 3: Main specifications of the IXY 32S
