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Pre-Photokina 2002, 0600 GMT: Canon has today announced the PowerShot G3. This new digital camera appears go slightly further than the typical 'product refresh' we've seen recently. The G3 now has a 'proper' hand grip with a rubber finger edge, a new body design, command wheel and an all new 4x F2.0 - F3.0 optical zoom lens with a bayonet fitting optional thread adapter. It maintains all of the G2's functionality but adds the new features also introduced to the S45 (Digic processor, FlexiZone AF/AE, Custom exposure mode, etc.) Expected street price: US: $799, EU: €999. Phil: Looks like Canon US managed to provide their sites with pre-production cameras, no such luck here. Oddly we were told there were no pre-production cameras available for preview and no samples can be published from pre-production cameras... UPDATE 9/18: All sites other than Canon's own BeBit have taken down their sample images. Click here for Imaging-Resource's Canon G3 Preview Click here for DCResource's Canon G3 Preview Click here for Canon BeBit's G3 sample images Jump to: Press Release, Specifications, Additional pictures Press Release (Canon Europe): PowerShot G3 -Winning technology for even
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Amstelveen, 16 September 2002 - Canon introduces the PowerShot G3 - the third generation model in the "G" series line-up of digital cameras. Aimed at the advanced amateur and semi-professional users, this new model boasts a 4x zoom lens with fast f2.0 - 3.0 aperture, a new DIGIC processor and 4 Megapixel CCD sensor.
The PowerShot G3 improves further on the EISA award winning PowerShot G2, which was voted European Digital Camera of the Year Award 2002. The PowerShot G3 features a newly designed, high quality, 35-140mm (35mm film equivalent) zoom lens with f2.0 - 3.0 aperture the first 4x zoom lens on a PowerShot digital camera. The fast f2.0 - 3.0 aperture ensures superb picture quality even in low light situations and the 4x zoom gives wider range of viewpoints for every scene.
The PowerShot G3 sees the introduction of the new ultra-fast DIGIC (DIGital Imaging Core) processor. " DIGIC is not just a cosmetic change", says Mr. Komatsuzaki, executive Vice President, Canon Consumer Imaging. "This development will advance image quality and camera performance even more than what has already been voted European Digital Camera of the Year."
Quality and Technology
The new PowerShot G3 offers photographers the best ever image quality. Delivering high definition and fast processing with a new imaging processor 'DIGIC' for enhanced picture quality, improved AF accuracy as well as speed of operation.
The 4Megapixel CCD sensor ensures the best image quality at the highest resolution and the DIGIC processor gives improved shadow and highlight details for even better quality images. Now the highest quality RAW mode is accessible even when shooting in JPEG. Immediately after taking a shot the image is displayed on the LCD, simply press the camera's function button and you can change to store the file as RAW, offering more options for highest quality processing on the computer.
Canon has designed the DIGIC processor specifically for great image processing. Combining the 6 key elements of CCD Control, AE/AF/AWB, signal processing, JPEG compression, memory card control and LCD monitor display, the PowerShot G3 delivers better quality images than it's predecessor, and with the speed advantage of DIGIC, battery life is improved too. The DIGIC processor is a major component essential to ensure the image quality that is a Canon camera hallmark.
Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space (iSAPS) is another
technology that allows the PowerShot G3 to deliver superb images. With
the new iSAPS technology Canon utilises 60 years of camera experience
even before a picture is taken. The scene focussed on and shooting information
are analysed and cross-referenced against Photographic Space data.
Photographic Space data is a vast library of statistical information built
into every new Canon digital camera. By taking advantage of Photographic
Space the camera's performance parameters are optimised to better to render
the scene as the photographer intended.
Flexibility and Creativity
Designed for true creativity and flexibility the PowerShot G3 combines a host of advanced Canon technologies to deliver outstanding image quality and flexibility in every shooting situation.
With 12 shooting modes including full two custom modes, manual control, selectable focusing points and metering modes the PowerShot G3 ensures that technology need not hamper creativity. The PowerShot G3 also features FlexiZone AF/AE which means there's complete control of the position of the focus and exposure point in the viewfinder frame, ideal for off-centre and even on-the-edge compositions.
The PowerShot G3 has the most comprehensive auxiliary flash system of any digital compact camera in the world, offering the advanced amateur and semi- pro more creativity. This camera is compatible with the complete range of Speedlite EX flashes including the Macro-Ring Lite MR-14EX and the Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX. The PowerShot G3 provides many add-ons for maximum flexibility. With both a 0.7x wide converter, and 1.75 x tele-converter the zoom can be extended to cover from 24mm to over 240mm (35mm-film equivalent) - 10x zoom.
Directly connectable to all Canons' Direct Printers, The PowerShot G3 delivers superb quality photo images totally bypassing the PC. Simply connect the camera to a Canon direct printer; select the desired shot and a full colour 10x15cm or A4 size photo is easily printed in minutes.
Design and Ergonomics
A new Main dial has been added to the handgrip of the PowerShot G3 for ease of movement. This main dial is similar to that on the EOS system cameras and has the effect of increasing/decreasing the value of selected features. By pressing the dial a different feature and or option will be selected and can thus be easily adjusted.
A vari-angled 1.8-inch LCD monitor, similar to that used in the popular PowerShot G2, gives the photographer 100% coverage. The LCD monitor can be independently positioned to view the scene regardless of the position of the camera; great for macro photography close to the ground.. When the LCD monitor is rotated towards the front for self-portraits, a mirror image is displayed for correct viewing.
More information has been added to the top LCD of the PowerShot G3 to increase usability of the camera, especially when the main colour LCD screen is turned off.
Software
The PowerShot G3 is compatible with both PC and Mac and has a full suite of advanced software.
- New ZoomBrowzer EX 4.0 - Central to image management, ZoomBrowser EX files, prints and even transfers images to a computer and camera
- New File Viewer Utility - for the faster transfer, preview and conversion of RAW image files.
- Picture Transfer Protocol - PowerShot S45 can be used in PTP mode for driverless connection to Windows XP and Mac OS X (v10.1).
- Adobe Photoshop 5.0 LE - industry standard photo editing and manipulation software.
Also included is Canon's PhotoStitch, RemoteCapture and PhotoRecord software.
Accessories
- Wide converter, tele-converter and close-up lenses (optional conversion lens adapter is required).
- Speedlite EX flash units, including ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter.
- Car battery charger
Canon PowerShot G3 specifications
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| PowerShot G3 | PowerShot G3 connected to Canon Printer |
| Sensor | 1/1.8" 4.1 megapixel (primary CFA) |
| Effective pixels | 4.0 megapixels (JCIA standard) |
| Image processor | DIGIC (12 bit) |
| Image sizes |
• 2272 x 1704 |
| Image quality | • RAW • Super-Fine JPEG • Fine JPEG • Normal JPEG |
| JPEG format | EXIF 2.2 |
| Lens | • 4x optical zoom • 35 - 140 mm (F2.0 - F3.0) • 8 elements in 7 groups (2 aspherical elements) |
| Digital zoom | Yes, 3.6x |
| Focus method |
• TTL auto-focus (Continuous or Single) |
| Focus range | • Normal: 50 cm - Infinity
(19.7 in - Infinity) • Macro wide: 5 - 50 cm (2.0 - 19.7 in) • Macro tele: 15 - 50 cm (5.9 - 19.7 in) • Manual focus: 5/15 cm - Infinity (2.0/5.9 in - Infinity) |
| Exposure control | • Program AE • Shutter Priority AE • Aperture Priority AE • Manual |
| AE Lock | Yes |
| AE Bracketing | Yes |
| Exposure compensation | +/-2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps |
| ND Filter | Internal, menu option |
| Metering method | • Evaluative (linked
to AF point) • Center weighted average • Spot |
| Camera Shooting modes | • Auto • Program • Tv (Shutter Priority) • Av (Aperture Priority) • Manual • Custom 1 • Custom 2 • Scene • Movie |
| Scene exposure modes | • Portrait • Landscape • Night Portrait • Sports • Stitch Assist |
| White Balance | • Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent High • Manual Preset 1 • Manual Preset 2 |
| Shutter speed | • 15 - 1/2000 sec • Wide angle: 1/2000 sec from F4.0 - F8.0 (otherwise 1/1250 sec max) • Telephoto: 1/2000 sec from F5.6 - F8.0 (otherwise 1/1250 sec max) |
| Noise reduction | For shutter speeds longer than 1.3 sec |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto (ISO 50 - 150) • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 |
| Viewfinder | Optical |
| LCD Monitor | • 1.8" TFT, 118,000
pixels • 100% coverage • Tilt, twist and swivel |
| Self Timer | • 2 sec • 10 sec |
| Continuous shooting | • High: 2.5 fps, max
14 frames (Large/Fine, LCD off) • Low: 1.5 fps, max 14 frames (Large/Fine, LCD off) |
| Flash mode | • Auto • Red-eye reduction Auto • Manual Flash On/Off • Slow Sync Speed (first or second curtain) |
| Flash range (ISO 100) | • Normal wide: 0.7 -
5.0 m (2.3 - 16.4 ft) • Normal tele: 0.7 - 4.0 m (2.3 - 13.1 ft) |
| Flash compensation | • +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3 EV
steps • FE lock available • Manual flash power output can be set |
| External flash | • Hot shoe • Canon Speedlite 220EX, (380EX), 420EX, 550EX, Macro-Ring-Lite MR 14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 |
| Movie files | • 320 x 240, 15 fps,
inc audio (91 sec, 3 min max*) • 160 x 120, 15 fps, inc audio (242 sec, 3 min max*) * When used with a high speed CF card |
| Timelapse mode | • Interval: 1 - 60 mins • Shots: up to 100 |
| Photo Effect | • Vivid • Neutral • Low Sharpening • Sepia • B&W • Custom |
| Playback Operation | • Single • Multi • Movie • Slide Show • Magnify (up to 10x) |
| Orientation Sensor | Senses horizontal / vertical orientation of camera |
| Compliance | • DPOF print order format • ExifPrint (EXIF 2.2) |
| Direct Printing |
• Canon CP-10 |
| Storage | Compact Flash Type I or II (Microdrive compatible) |
| Connectivity | • USB 1.1 (Normal / PTP) • A/V output |
| Power | Lithium-Ion BP-511/ BP 5-12 1100 mAh (included & charger) |
| Dimensions | 121 x 74 x 70 mm (4.8 x 2.9 x 2.8 in) |
| Weight (exc. batt) | 410 g (14.5 oz) |
Canon PowerShot G3 additional pictures
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