Live samba music, parading dancers, a deluge of colors and a spectacular feast: all the glitz and glamour of a modern mardi gras came to life as Canon Marketing Philippines staged recently a grand launch of 32 new products at The Fort’s NBC Tent.
Tagged “Image Nation Celebrations,” Canon’s fourth quarter campaign built on the happy and festive nature of the Filipino as it unveiled a bevy of new imaging products in time for the Yuletide shopping season.
The new offerings spanned the entire consumer brand portfolio. It included three EOS digital SLR cameras, two high-end IXUS and seven PowerShot digital cameras, one high-end high-definition Vixia digital camcorder, two Selphy compact photo printers, eight Pixma printers (three single-function printers and five multi-function printers), three CanoScan flatbed scanners, four LaserShot laser printers, and two XEED projectors.
EOS DSLRs
The EOS digital SLR cameras took center stage with the entry-level 10.1MP EOS 1000D (P32,995), the HD-ready mid-range 50D (P64,950, body only), and the highly anticipated pro-level 5D Mark II (P128,000, body only).
The predecessor of the three-year-old 12.8-megapixel EOS 5D, the EOS 5D Mark II primarily boasts of a 21.1MP full-frame 35-mm CMOS sensor and Canon’s newest image processor, DIGIC IV.
The processor allows 1.3 times faster speed imaging processing, improved noise reduction at high ISO speed with little/no effect on shooting speed, natural color reproduction, live face detection, enhanced functions, full-HD movie recording at 30 fps, HDMI output, and lens peripheral illumination correction.
Canon bundles the 5D Mark II with the superb EF24-105-mm lens at P182,550, available starting December.
PowerShots
For its mid-range PowerShot line, Canon launched the P16,950 A000IS, P17,500 A2000 IS, P21,950 SX110IS, and P13,500 E1. These feature-rich cameras are now 20 percent smaller and more compact and are powered by Canon’s trademark DIGIC III imaging processor for ultra-responsive performance and superior image quality.
All four cameras have Optical Image Stabilizer to counteract camera shake and combat image blur.
The four cameras are also armed with Advanced Face Detection Technology, which includes Face Select and Track, Auto red-eye correction, Face Detection AE/AF/FE/WB and a host of other features.
This is backed up by Canon’s intelligent blur control technology, Hi-ISO Auto with Motion Detection Technology, which detects the motion of the subject and optimizes ISO settings.
At the higher end of the PowerShot range are the Telephoto Series, the PowerShot SX1 IS, the SX10 IS, and the revolutionary PowerShot G10 (no prices were announced at the time of the launch).
Equipped with the new DIGIC IV image processor, these models include powerful features like Servo AF, Intelligent Contrast Correction, Face Detection Self Timer and a change in movie recording format from .MOV to .AVI.
Digital IXUS
For the fashion and lifestyle set, the Digital IXUS line now includes the new matte black-and-silver Digital IXUS 980 IS. It boasts a 14.7MP resolution, optical image stabilizer and a DIGIC IV processor. It’s also the first Digital IXUS model to be equipped with full shooting functions.
The other IXUS model is the P24,950 870 IS, a wide-angle 10MP camera with 4x optical zoom and optical image stabilizer.
Vixia camcorders
Right on the heels of the recently released dual flash memory camcorders HF10 and HF100 is Canon’s Vixia HF11 AVCHD dual flash camcorder. It boasts the same features as the earlier HF models — a powerful 1/3.2” full HD CMOS sensor, 12x optical zoom, intelligent battery, optical image stabilizer and more — and adds 24Mbps HD recording.
Selphy photo printers
Also launched were two new Selphy compact photo printers — the P15,000 ES3 and P12,000 ES30. These printers feature an integrated gold and silver ink and paper cartridge, which adds sparkle to your photos — literally. The ES3 also sports a 1GB internal memory.
CanoScan scanners
For its scanner line, Canon unveiled its new CanoScan 5600F, which can scan up to six frames of 35mm film strips or four frames of 35mm slides. Yielding scans with a 48 bit depth, the P8,995 CanoScan 5600F also utilizes the Dual Color Gamut Processing Technology to faithfully reproduce copies as well as automatic dust and scratch reduction and fading/grain/backlight correction for cleaner copies of old photos.
The CanoScan Lide 100 (P3,150) and 200 (P4,450), meanwhile, boast of a 24-second scan speed (A4 size at 300 dpi) and an advanced Z-Lid to scan even thick and bulky items. The CanoScan Lide 200 adds a feature for upright scanning, easy multi-page document filing with enhanced PDF function, and USB 2.0 hi-speed connectivity.
Pixma printers
Making appearances as well during the event were eight Pixma printers, led by the P2,195 Pixma iP1980 and the P4,195 MP198. Both printers are RoHS-compliant and make use of FINE cartridges with ChromaLife 100 technology where photos can last up to 100 years.
The new Wi-Fi multi-function printers, Pixma MP628 and Pixma MP988 also stood out during the event, with the MP628 boasting of a five-color individual ink tank system (the MP988 uses a six-color individual ink tank), ChromaLife 100 technology, 2400 x 4800 dpi CIS scanning feature, an easy-scroll wheel and a self-opening paper output tray, among others.
Other new Canon printers were the Pictbridge-compliant Pixma iP3680 (P5,495), the duplex-printing Pixma iP4680 (P6,995), as well as the multi-function Pixma MP545 and MP638 (P12,995).
LaserShot printers
For laser color printers, Canon debuted the P24,100 LBP5050/LBP5050N, which prints as fast as 8ppm for color A4-sized printouts and 12ppm for monochrome versions. Compact and streamlined, the LBP5050/5050N has a built-in 16MB RAM memory and USB 2.0 high-speed network connectivity.
Other laser printers making their debut were the P6,800 LaserShot LBP3050 and the P10,400 LaserShot 3250. The latter has a blazing printing speed of 23ppm for monochrome prints and can churn out a first printout in six seconds.
XEED projectors
Canon also projected its leadership with two new XEED projectors. The XEED WUX10 bundles LCOS projector technology with the industry-leading Widescreen Ultra eXtended Graphics Array or WUXGA, which is sure to blow viewers away with its display resolution of 1920x1200 (or 2,304,000) pixels and a 16:10 screen aspect ratio.
It also means that the XEED WUX10 can reproduce bright, high-contrast computer images and full 1080p high definition (HD) videos, thanks to its 3200 lumens brightness courtesy of the Canon AISYS Optical System.
This projector also has a 1000:1 contrast ratio, 1.5x zoom lens, DVI port, and an HDMI connector (allowing HDCP encryption support). It operates at 31dBA in quiet mode, and with a lamp lifetime to a maximum of 3,000 hours.
The P174,900 XEED SX80, on the other hand, is the first Pictbridge-compatible XEED projector, which Canon spices up with an HDMI interface and USB connectivity. It also packs LCOS reflective panels and promises superior image quality with its AISYS optical system and 3000 lumens brightness.
The XEED SX80 comes with an intelligent one-touch instant convenience for Auto Focus, Auto Input Selection, Auto Keystone Correction, and Auto Color Screen Correction.
Canon unveiled all the new products inside thematic booths and backgrounds that attracted the eye. Product managers were on hand to introduce each of the new products and elaborate on the new features and technologies for the numerous visitors at the event.