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Canon exec likes Microsoft photo format

Microsoft has won over ally at camera maker Canon for HD Photo, an image format the software company is promoting as a replacement for the ubiquitous JPEG.

"I've been following the development of this new recording format for a long time, and my opinion of it is quite favorable. In my opinion, it's superior to conventional JPEG in every significant way," said Chuck Westfall, director of media and customer relationships, in an interview.

Westfall was quick to note that's his own opinion, not a company endorsement. "Canon has no official comment on HD Photo,&… Read more

When in doubt, Canon gets horizontal

Though it's probably heretical to say this in consumer electronics' circles, sometimes it's nice when nothing new happens. Take for instance Canon's HV20 HDV camcorder. On the inside, it's pretty much identical to the HV10--the same 3-megapixel 1/2.7-inch, 1,920x1,080 CMOS sensor, the same 10X zoom Canon HD lens, the same Super-Range Optical Image Stabilizer and Instant AF focus support, and the same Digic DV II HD processor. All that similarity means we're probably going to be as impressed with the video from the HV20 as with the HV10's.

So you'… Read more

The fax machine gets a makeover

Can you remember the last time you saw a new fax machine that didn't look like every other model on the shelf? For that matter, what about a new fax machine at all? Same here. That's why it was easy to notice the Canon FAX-JX200. (OK, so they still need to apply some of those creative juices to their nomenclature.) We agree with SlashGear that faxing still has a place in the world, and we hope that Canon's redesign indicates that it thinks so too. And we're even happier to see that it's only $80.… Read more

Two new Canon cameras

Canon has just announced two new models in its PowerShot A-series line of cameras. The PowerShot A460 and A550 are two new, inexpensive point-and-shoot cameras scheduled to hit stores in February.

The PowerShot A460 features a 5-megapixel sensor, lagging a bit behind most 6- and 7-megapixel budget cameras on the market. It includes a 38-to-152mm-equivalent 4x lens, which gives it a bit more power than most compact cameras' 3x lenses. Finally, it uses a small 2-inch LCD screen, which thankfully leaves enough room for an optical viewfinder.

The PowerShot A550 is slightly more impressive than its little brother, but not … Read more

Canon's new DVD camcorders

Canon has some new DVD camcorders on the way this year. The company just announced the DC50, DC210, DC220, and DC230: four models slated to replace Canon's current line.

It takes three models--the DC210, 220, and 230--to replace the DC100 alone. These inexpensive, compact camcorders include the same 35x lenses and 2.7-inch widescreen LCDs as Canon's ZR800, 830, and 850 MiniDV camcorders. Like the ZR series, the lower-end DC210 and DC220 use 680,000-pixel sensors. The DC230, however, uses a 1-megapixel CCD. The DC220 and DC230 also include Canon's QuickStart, a low-power standby feature.

The Canon … Read more

New entry-level miniDV camcorders from Canon

Canon announced some upgrades to its ZR-line of miniDV camcorders. The Canon ZR800, 830, and 850 will replace the ZR500, 600, and 700 as the company's budget video cameras. While these new models offer only minor improvements over their predecessors, they're welcome offerings in the dwindling field of MiniDV camcorders.

With a price difference of just $80 between models, the three offer similar features. All are relatively low resolution, with 680,000-pixel sensors on the ZR800 and ZR830 and a 1-megapixel sensor on the ZR850. All three use the same 35X zoom lens, and feature electronic image stabilization … Read more

Reuters, Adobe, Canon to help track photo changes

News organization Reuters is working with photo editing powerhouse Adobe and camera maker Canon so changes to digital photos can be detected, Reuters CEO Tom Glocer said on his blog last week.

Reuters, the news agency whose image was tarnished earlier this year when a freelance photographer provided doctored photos of bombing in Beirut, wants to ensure such changes can be found.

"I am pleased to announce today that we are working with Adobe and Canon to create a solution that enables photo editors to view an audit trail of changes to a digital image, which is permanently embedded … Read more

Why Canon's PowerShot G7 lacks 'raw' support

Canon caused a ruckus among digital-camera enthusiasts when it announced this fall that its new PowerShot G7 lacked support for "raw" images. But the company now has offered an explanation for the move: increasing the number of megapixels led to more noise per pixel and meant raw was no better than JPEG.

The G lineage aims to please a more discerning crowd than the average point-and-shooter, and earlier members of the family could produce the raw files that many photographers like for their greater flexibility and subtle tones. When Canon dropped raw support in the G7, reviewers complained … Read more