Pre-PMA 2003, 14:00 GMT: Canon has today announced the new PowerShot A60 and A70. These two models are the sucessors to the A30 and A40. Far from being simply 'entry level' digital cameras the A60 and A70 are now fitted out with a wide range of features including manual, aperture and shutter priority exposure modes. Just like the new A300 the a60 and A70 get a DiGiC processor, expanded sensitivity range (ISO 50 - 400), an orientation sensor and three minute movie clips (with audio). These two new cameras comer closer to the prosumer 'G' series.

Press Release (Canon Europe):

Canon PowerShot A60 & PowerShot A70 - blending compact design, high image quality and full photographic control

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 2003 - Canon, announces the introduction of two new PowerShot digital cameras that offer users an advanced level of control over the image making process. The 2.0 Megapixel Canon PowerShot A60 and the 3.2 Megapixel PowerShot A70 will offer broad appeal to consumers intending to upgrade to a more versatile digital camera. These new cameras will replace the Canon PowerShot A30 and A40 models in the PowerShot line-up.

"With these two new compact and contemporary models Canon is offering a wealth of creative control that is easy to understand and operate." says Hiroshi Komatsuzaki, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. "Both the PowerShot A60 and the PowerShot A70 combine excellent resolution, fine optics and the high picture quality that comes as standard with Canon's DIGIC image processor."

High Powered Performance

Sharing a high tech design with aluminum front cover and coloured metallic handgrips common design these cameras have striking looks that combine a sense of both the modern and the traditional. A mode dial mirroring that of the EOS SLR range gives users access to the cameras' 12 shooting modes, including a range of subject based auto modes and a movie mode.

Offering a wider scope for photographic experimentation, Canon has also included manual, aperture priority and shutter priority exposure modes. These modes are supported by a metering system that boasts evaluative, centre weighted average and spot options.

Both models are equipped with a 35-105mm f/2.8-4.8 3x optical zoom lens to cover a wide selection of photographic opportunities. The PowerShot A60 backs this up with a 2.5x digital zoom, while the PowerShot A70 offers a 3.2x digital zoom.

Canon's DIGIC (DIGital Imaging Core) processor ensures excellent colour rendition and white balance for every shot. This high powered processor delivers super fast autofocusing, noise-free imaging and advanced flash exposure performance

The advanced specification continues with Canon's 5 point AiAF (Artificial intelligence Auto Focus) system for focusing accuracy, shutter speeds of 15-1/2000sec and fast sequence shooting at a rate of 2.2 frames per second for the A70 and 2.6fps for the A60.

High resolution video

The introduction of the Canon DIGIC processor to these two new PowerShot models has also made it possible to include a 3 minute standard resolution movie clip feature and for PowerShot A70 only, high resolution VGA clips of up to 30 seconds. All movie clips have sound recording and may be viewed with sound, and even edited, immediately on the camera's rear LCD screen.

Canon's Direct Printing and a host of accessories

Computer-less printing and printing away from home is made easy with Canon's Direct Print system that allows these cameras to be linked directly to certain Bubble Jet Direct Printers and to Canon's CP-10 and CP-100 portable Card Photo Printers. Users may also make use of the CANON iMAGE GATEWAY online service for digital camera customisation, information and downloads, image sharing and storage.

The PowerShot A60 and PowerShot A70 digital cameras are compatible with a host of optional accessories that include telephoto and wide angle lens attachments, a close-up lens (250D 52mm) and a waterproof housing (WP-DC700) that can operate at depths of 40m.

The software included is Canon's ZoomBrowser EX (Windows), Image Browser (Mac), PhotoRecord, PhotoStitch and RemoteCapture software. As the camera is PTP compatible no additional drivers are needed in Windows XP or MAC OS X environments.

Canon PowerShot A60 and A70 specifications

	Canon PowerShot A60	Canon PowerShot A70
List price	• US: $349 • EU: €329 • UK: (unknown)	• US: $449 • EU: €429 • UK: £299
Sensor	• 1/2.7" CCD • RGB Color Filter Array • 2.1 million pixels total	• 1/2.7" CCD • RGB Color Filter Array • 3.34 million pixels total
Effective pixel count	2.0 million	3.2 million
Image sizes	• 1600 x 1200 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480	• 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480
Movie clips *	• 320 x 240, 15 fps, up to 3 mins • 160 x 120, 15 fps, up to 3 mins	• 640 x 480, 15 fps, up to 30 secs • 320 x 240, 15 fps, up to 3 mins • 160 x 120, 15 fps, up to 3 mins
File formats	• Still: JPEG EXIF 2.2 (Super-Fine, Fine, Normal) • Movie: AVI (Motion JPEG + Wave audio)
Lens	• 3x optical zoom • 35 - 105 mm equiv. • F2.8 - F4.8
Digital zoom	Up to 2.5x	Up to 3.2x
Focus	• 5-point AiAF • 1-point AF • Manual focus • AF assist beam (on/off)
Focus range	• Normal: 46 cm - Infinity (1.5 ft - Infinity) • Macro (W): 5 - 46 cm (2.0 - 18.1 in) • Macro (T): 26 - 46 cm (10.2 - 18.1 in)
Metering	• Evaluative • Center weighted average • Spot
AE Lock	No
AE Bracketing	No
Exposure compen.	+/-2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps
Sensitivity	• Auto • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400
Shutter	• 15 - 1/2000 sec • 1.3 sec or slower only Manual and Shutter priority modes • Auto noise reduction slower than 1.3 sec
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Custom
Viewfinder	Optical
LCD monitor	1.5" TFT LCD
Flash	• Built-In • Modes: Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Manual • Red-Eye Reduction: On, Off • Manual power selection: 3 levels • Range (Auto ISO, Wide): 0.46 - 4.2 m (1.5 - 13.8 ft) • Range (Auto ISO, Tele): 0.46 - 2.5 m (1.5 - 8.2 ft)
Shooting modes	• Auto • Program AE • Shutter priority AE • Aperture priority AE • Manual • Portrait • Landscape • Night Scene • Fast Shutter • Slow Shutter • Stitch Asssist • Movie (with sound)
Photo effects	• Vivid • Neutral • Low Sharpening • Sepia • Black & White
Drive modes	• Single • Continuous (2.6 fps, up to 6 frames)	• Single • Continuous (2.2 fps, up to 12 frames)
Direct printing	• Canon Card Photo Printers • Canon Bubble Jet Printers with direct print function
Other features	• My Camera • iSAPS technology • Movie editting • Sound memo (up to 60 secs) • Magnify Zoom (2 - 10x) • Auto play • DPOF / Transfer Order
Self Timer	Yes, 2 or 10 sec
Connectivity	• USB 1.1 (inc PTP) • A/V out
Storage	• Compact Flash Type I • FAT 12/16 and FAT 32 support • 16 MB CF card supplied
Power	• 4 x AA batteries (NiMH rechargable recommended) • Optional AC adapter
Dimensions	101 x 64 x 32 mm (4.0 x 2.5 x 1.3 in)
Weight (no batt)	215 g (7.6 oz)
External links	• Canon A60 information • Canon A60 sample images	• Canon A70 information • Canon A70 sample images

* Three minute video clips require a high speed Compact Flash card

More pictures

WP-DC700 waterproof casing (40 m) Note removable flash diffuser	PowerShot A60 / A70 included accessories