Photography and Digital Camera News

CANON'S NEW FIVE MEGAPIXEL DC50 DVD CAMCORDER

Double-Duty DVD Camcorder Combines Canon's Advanced Video Technology and Top-Tier Photo Features in a Slim, Easy-to-Use Design

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., January 5, 2007 (CES Booth #12606) – Canon's new DC50 DVD Camcorder is a dream come true for discerning video enthusiasts and photo buffs seeking an easy way to take, view and share vibrant video and spectacular photos. Canon's flagship DVD Camcorder starts with the convenience that direct-to-DVD recording offers and then packs advanced video features and photo power, exclusive engineering excellence and intuitive imaging expertise into a compact camcorder that is the soul of simplicity to operate and the master collector of memories for years to come.

The DC50 DVD Camcorder incorporates a robust 5.39 Megapixel CCD Image Sensor with an RGB Primary Color Filter that provides vibrantly colored video and brilliant five megapixel photos. Combined with the range of optical advantages and technological advances beginning with its high quality, genuine Canon 10x optical / 200x digital zoom lens, the DC50 DVD Camcorder delivers the stellar image quality resulting from Canon's experience and heritage as an optics company. The zoom lens on the DC50 DVD Camcorder goes beyond simply drawing the far off subject close in and bringing the distant vista near. With Canon's smooth zoom control, the user can select one of three steady zoom speeds that maintain their constancy regardless of how hard the user presses on the zoom button.

"Canon continues our commitment to translate the best technology for imaging professionals whether their specialty is broadcast video or still photos into a user-friendly form that consumers can easily enjoy," says Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. "The DC50 DVD Camcorder delivers on that promise many times over, with its potent mix of the latest technology and optical excellence."

Canon's Super Range Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) helps correct camera shake almost instantly even when the camera is hand-held and in motion, or the zoom is held at a long focal length. The "lens shift" type OIS employs both gyro and vector detection methods, compensating for a greater degree of camera shake while avoiding the loss of image quality typical in electronic image stabilization systems. What's more, the OIS system can be engaged to steady the camcorder shake when shooting five megapixel photos, further enhancing the functionality of this dual-purpose camcorder.

The Canon DC50 DVD Camcorders accept three-inch DVD-R/-RW discs, which can store up to 60 minutes of video on a single layer disc, or up to 108 minutes of video on dual layer discs. Canon chose the DVD-R format to ensure high compatibility with a range of DVD players, both old and new. DVD allows consumers to easily locate scenes without having to rewind or fast forward, to create playlists of favorite scenes and can even do some quick editing right in the camcorder.

DIGIC DV II
Canon's brilliant (and proprietary) video and still image processor, the DIGIC DV II, is the brains behind the dual purpose Canon DC50 DVD Camcorder. The DIGIC DV II image processor is the next generation of Canon's exclusive signal processing technology. In addition to recognizing the different color requirements of video and photos, and processing both to their optimal level of quality, DIGIC DV II processes video with improved color reproduction and dramatically reduces noise in low-light situations.

Advanced Photography
Photos benefit from Canon's DC50 DVD Camcorder's razor-sharp 5.39 megapixel CCD image sensor and array of complementary features, including the camcorder's Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Lens, 9-point AiAF autofocus that helps ensure that subjects are in focus however far off center they appear in the frame. Indeed, the DC50 DVD Camcorder features an array of digital camera features such as a built-in flash with red-eye reduction; PictBridge compatibility and a Print & Share button for quick and easy one-touch printing or downloading of images. Users will enjoy sophisticated features such as auto exposure bracketing; and a super high-speed shutter capable of shooting at up to 1/720 of a second (perfect for shooting in bright sun light). The DC50 DVD Camcorder has enhanced user controls, including Aperture Priority (AV) Shutter Priority (TV), Special Scene Modes such as Portrait, Sports, Night, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Spotlight and Fireworks; Image Effects that enable users to creatively customize their photos in a variety of ways, and even a histogram that displays a graphical representation of the light values of the image.

Lights, Camera and Action...
Missing magic moments like baby's first steps or memorable events on a family vacation because the camcorder is powering up is a thing of the past, thanks to the Canon DC50 Camcorder's responsive, Quick Start Mode. The Quick Start Mode readies the DC50 DVD Camcorder from standby for shooting in less than a second.

The Canon DC50 DVD Camcorder fits firmly and comfortably into the user's hand, its simple joystick operation and strategically positioned controls making one-handed videography virtually effortless. Extra buttons have been eliminated, allowing the user to control playback, focus, exposure, and menu options from one convenient place. With its powerfully bright, built-in Ultra Video Light, The Canon DC50 DVD Camcorder is ready to shoot in virtually any lighting conditions.

Moving Images...
Whether doubling as a digital camera with a motor drive for those iconic action shots, catching special photos on a miniSD memory card while simultaneously shooting direct to DVD video or simply letting this cutting-edge camcorder capture high-resolution, true 16:9 widescreen HR (High Resolution) video, the Canon DC50 DVD Camcorder is all about the image.

Indeed, it is that true 16:9 format that brings real cinema style to "home movies" enabling them to play full-frame on wide-screen TVs without the need to crop, zoom, stretch or otherwise distort the picture. The DC50 DVD Camcorder automatically letterboxes the 16:9 footage, allowing users to display their recordings on a standard (non-widescreen) television.

Level and Grid Markers
Canon has incorporated a level marker and a new grid marker to the feature mix. When engaged, the markers appear - in either white or gray - superimposed over the image on the camcorder's 16:9 color LCD display. The level marker easily lets the user know if the camera is being kept level while the grid marker makes it easier for the user to compose a more appealing and effective shot.

The Canon DC50 DVD Camcorder offers the added convenience of a wireless remote control and features a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed terminal for fast video and photo transfer, as well as easy one-touch DVD dubbing with the included Roxio MyDVD for Canon. The menu system can be set to display in 17 selectable languages.

Canon's DC50 DVD Camcorder arrives in stores in late February and carries an estimated selling price of $799