The Canon PowerShot S5 IS features include: 8.0 megapixels of resolution, DIGIC III Image Processor, 12x optical zoom lens with an optical Image Stabilizer (IS) system and 2.5-inch vari-angle LCD monitor with wide viewing angle. It uses four AA batteries to shoot up to approx. 170 images.

The new Canon DIGIC III processor incorporated in the Canon Powershot S5 IS enables low-noise ISO 1600 shooting and new Face Detection AF/AE – a Canon technology that detects up to nine faces in a frame and automatically optimises the focus and exposure for great people shots.

The Canon Powershot S5IS features a large 2.5-inch high resolution LCD monitor screen on the back of the camera offering a bright, wide, easy to read viewing area. Camera menus and settings are well laid out and user friendly to navigate. The S5IS is expected to be available by June for a manufacturer's recommended retail price of $399 US.

• 8.0 megapixel effective resolution, 1/2.5 inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD)
  
  
• DIGIC III Image Processor with Face Detection Technology for better image quality, fast operation and low power consumption

  The new DIGIC III Image Processor found in the Canon Powershot S5 IS is the latest advancement to Canon's proprietary DIGIC technology, delivering great image quality, responsive performance and extended battery life. DIGIC III provides a speedier interface for the S5 IS's secure digital (SD) memory card as well as higher definition for its rear LCD monitor.

  The Canon DIGIC III processor also empowers new Face Detection AF/AE, which finds all the faces in the frame and sets the most suitable focus point, when the shutter button is depressed half-way. Exposure and flash are controlled to ensure proper illumination of both the faces and the overall scene, eliminating the common problem of darkened or overexposed faces.

  The Canon Powershot S5 IS further features iSAPS Technology an entirely original scene-recognition technology developed for digital cameras by Canon. Using an internal database of thousands of different photos, iSAPS works with the fast DIGIC III Image Processor to improve focus speed and accuracy, as well as exposure and white balance.

• The S5IS features a 12x optical zoom lens (36-432mm in 35mm equiv.) with optical image stabilizer technology for steady shooting.
  

The Canon Powershot S5 IS is compatible with a number of optional add-on accessories, including a Canon dedicated telephoto lens converter TC-DC58B, and a Canon wide angle accessory lens converter WC-DC58A. The Canon TC-DC58B offers 1.5x magnification (648mm telephoto equiv. on the PowerShot S5 IS) The Canon WC-DC58A offers 0.75x magnification (27mm wide angle equiv.) To use either of these accessories with the Canon Powershot S5 IS, a conversion lens adapter LA-DC58E is also required .

The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is well suited to shooting in situations prone to camera shake and image blurring - thanks to Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology built into the lens. The camera offers three different Image Stabilization mode settings: Continuous: IS always on and you can see the effect in the viewfinder and monitor. Shoot Only: IS mode only activated when shutter button is pressed. Saves battery power. Panning: recommended for horizontally moving subjects. Stabilizes the effect of up and down camera motions. The effect of camera shake correction is approx. 3 steps in shutter speed equivalent.

• The Canon PowerShot S5 IS features new ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto settings that reduce the effects of camera shake and sharpen subjects in low-light situations, giving you greater flexibility for shooting.



• New “Auto ISO Shift” feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting in low light conditions without a flash.

• Large 2.5-inch swivel type LCD monitor with 207K pixel resolution and with a wide viewing angle for easier on-camera viewing.

With the Canon Powershot S5 IS's improved Movie Mode, you can shoot high quality full-motion movies at 60 fps QVGA (320 x240). When you want to save space, you've also got Standard Recording that lets you shoot at 30 fps VGA (640 x 480). There's even a 15 fps Compact Movie Mode that's ideal for creating movies you can attach to emails.

• New accessory Hot-Shoe that accommodates a variety of Canon EX-series Speedlite flashes, the PowerShot S5 IS digital camera is a technological bridge between Canon’s point and shoot compact digital cameras and its entry-level digital SLR cameras.

• Print/Share Button for easy direct printing and downloading, plus ID Photo Print and Movie Print with Canon CP and Selphy Compact Photo Printers

• 23 language menu options including; English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Chinese (traditional), Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Ukrainian, Romanian
  

Canon Powershot S5 IS Press Release

Canon today announces the launch of the 12x optical zoom, 8.0 Megapixel PowerShot S5 IS. The new compact inherits optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology, professional-grade optics and extensive movie functions while introducing a host of new features designed to increase the photographer's success rate.

Powered by Canon's DIGIC III image processor, Face Detection Technology improves focus, exposure and flash output for people shots while the new Red-Eye Correction feature effectively solves red-eye problems in captured photos. An increased sensitivity range of ISO 80-1600 complements the optical IS system for extended low light performance.

Other key advancements include a larger, higher resolution 2.5" vari-angle LCD, additional shooting modes and extended video recording. The compact design incorporates a new hot shoe that provides compatibility with selected Canon EX Speedlite external flashes , adding to an accessory list that includes Wide, Tele and Close-up converter lenses.

Precision Optics

Benefiting from Canon's 70 year heritage in optics, the 12x optical zoom lens
(f/2.7 - f/3.5, 36-432mm) incorporates the same leading technologies used in professional EF lenses:

Optional Wide and Tele converter lenses extend the focal length from wide 27mm to super-tele 648mm (35mm film equivalent). A Super Macro mode with 0cm shooting distance and optional Close-Up lens 500D (58mm) allow for detailed macro photography.

Safety Zoom allows users to extend the camera's zoom range without interpolation affecting image quality - images can be captured at up to 24x zoom with enough resolution for lab-quality postcard (10 x 15cm) prints. Photographers can also enable the Digital Tele-Converter feature for added telephoto reach (1.6x or 2.0x) on every shot, without the reduction in aperture typically caused by optical tele-converters.

New technologies for better photos

Canon's DIGIC III processor introduces several new features engineered to return better photos, more easily. Face Detection AF/AE/FE automatically detects up to nine faces within a scene and optimises focus, exposure and flash output accordingly. The system performs accurately with large groups and when subjects are distant or move within the frame.

Unique to the PowerShot S5 IS, Face Detection AF/AE can also be activated when recording movies, with focus and exposure continuously adjusted for moving subjects. Because the technology is hardware-based, it operates at the same rapid speed as Canon's standard AiAF.

As well as flash-based Red-Eye Reduction during shooting, the PowerShot S5 IS includes Red-Eye Correction for captured images, reducing the need for post-shoot processing on a computer. When enabled in playback mode, Red-Eye Correction uses Face Detection Technology to analyse the selected image and remove any red-eye it detects. Users can also remove red-eye manually.

Photographic versatility

Responding to user feedback, the vari-angle LCD has been increased from 2.0" to 2.5" while screen resolution is sharper at 207k pixels. The LCD can be twisted in any direction to allow shooting from awkward positions - such as waist height or with the camera held above the head.

Improved low light shooting at high ISO settings (up to ISO 1600) is assured through the combination of optical Image Stabilizer and DIGIC III's advanced Noise Reduction Technology. A new Auto ISO Shift function prevents blur by giving users the option to boost the ISO setting - and consequently shutter speed - with a single button press whenever the camera predicts camera shake.

When flash photography is desired, the new hot shoe gives users the option of using an external EX Speedlite flash or slave flash setup to achieve naturalistic or dramatic lighting effects.

Extensive movie functions

In addition to Face Detection in movies, the PowerShot S5 IS retains a dedicated movie button so that users can instantly record without having to switch from stills shooting mode - ideal for catching those once-off moments. A new Long Play mode significantly extends recording time for VGA quality movies while maintaining a smooth 30fps frame rate. Stereo sound recording for audio files and movies is now adjustable to 64 levels, and includes a wind noise filter for clear, crisp sound quality. The convenient Photo In Movie feature enables the capture of full resolution stills during movie recording.

Creative shooting

An expanded selection of 22 shooting modes ranges from automatic to full Manual mode and includes Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority and a user-defined Custom mode. The My Category function simplifies image management by automatically tagging images with categories - such as People, Scenery and Events - based on face detection and the shooting mode selected.

The PowerShot S5 IS benefits from a number of features that will be of particular use to advanced photographers. New Continuous Shooting AF keeps a moving subject in focus whilst shooting at 1.5fps. Safety FE automatically reduces the aperture to avoid blown highlights when using the flash close to subjects, while Safety MF helps during manual focusing by performing fine adjustments to focus. The camera also retains AEB (auto exposure bracketing) focus bracketing, and a real-time live histogram display to allow for accurate judging of exposure.

Combining ease of use with advanced functionality, the PowerShot S5 IS offers new and experienced photographers alike a powerful, versatile photographic experience.

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