Canon Announces New Mini DV Camcorders
July 29, 2003
Mississauga, ON - Canon will introduce two new dual-function camcorders this fall - the Optura 300 and the Optura Xi - for video capture and still picture usage.
Both models use two varieties of media, Mini DV tape for recording video and SD memory cards for storing still images and short MPEG-4 movie clips.
The camcorders' feature a 1/3.4 inch 2.0 megapixel CCD, 10x or 11x optical zoom and genuine Canon optic elements.
According to the manufacturer, these Canon DV camcorders are the first in the marketplace to incorporate PictBridge, the new industry standard in direct photo printing that enables consumers to connect their digital camera or camcorder directly to a PictBridge-enabled printer, making it easy to print pictures at home, the office or while traveling. Simply connect any PictBridge enabled digital camera or camcorder via USB cable to any PictBridge enabled printer.
Both the Optura 300 and Optura Xi camcorders offer an array of video features including high-resolution, Mini-DV format and a choice of either 4:3 aspect ratio or an advanced 16:9 widescreen mode for those who wish to emulate movie theatre screen proportions in their own epic adventures. The camcorders also incorporate an RGB Primary Color Filter similar to those found on professional models. The RGB filter actually separates the light passing through the lens into its individual red, green and blue colour components in order to provide more accurate colour reproduction. For filming in low light situations, Canon's Color Night Mode and Super Color Night Mode save the day and the scene.
Both units feature 16 and 12 bit PCM digital sound, manual audio level control, a virtual tool box of digital effects, USB terminal for high speed transfer of images to a computer and IEEE 1394 port that enables connections to a computer or another Canon DV camcorder.
The Optura 300 and the Optura Xi camcorders also come bundled with DV Messenger 2 software for internet video chat and videoconferencing sessions; simultaneous VGA quality photo recording (640 x480 pixels) while recording video.
Optura Xi Camcorder
Among the features unique to the Canon Optura Xi camcorder are a 3.5" LCD viewscreen and an optical image stabilizer. The unit features Aperture Priority (AP); shutter priority (TV); Zebra Pattern for creative exposure control; a manual focus ring; and an advanced accessory shoe for attaching an optional video light or directional microphone. The optical image stabilizer offers advanced shake-reduction in low light or zooming situations.
Optura 300 Camcorder
The Optura 300 features a 2.5 " LCD viewscreen and an electronic image stabilization system that helps to correct camera shake and steady the frames even when shooting hand-held or in telephoto mode.
Among the still photography features of the Optura 300 and Optura Xi camcorders are built-in and pop-up flash (respectively); auto exposure bracketing and selectable focusing points, which allow users to choose from one of three focusing points to automatically place the desired subject in focus; continuous shooting mode which enables users to capture up to 30 images at three frames per second in VGA mode; and simultaneous shooting mode, which allows users to capture e-mail ready photos while shooting video.
The Canon Optura Xi camcorder will be available in September and the Optura 300 camcorder will be available in late September for a suggested list price of $2,300 and $2,000 (CDN), respectively.
For more information, visit
www.canon.ca
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