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Canon PowerShot S 80: a snappy deal Punita Jasrotia Phukan Punita Jasrotia Phukan has spent more than five years in print media. Starting her career with Express Computer, part of the Indian Express Group, she has written on varied topics. While HR and IT have been her favorite topics, she loves writing on people-related issues and things that touches everyone’s life. She believes that we all have ‘ability’; the difference lies in how we use it. Fond of creative and feature writing, Punita has been freelancing for past two years. She loves traveling and meeting people.

Canon has recently come up with a stylish winner in its hands, PowerShot S80. It scores over its predecessors with extra million pixels, new features, great battery life, faster shoot time, performance and photo quality. It has a glossy-black aluminum body with a matte-silver trim and is over 8 per cent smaller than its predecessor, the S70.

A high-grade camera with 8.0 mega pixels of resolution and a 28mm wide lens, the S 80 offers superior image quality and a feature set on par with advanced camera models. With its large 2.5-inch LCD screen and optical viewfinder, high-quality XGA movie mode, high-speed USB 2.0 support for quick transfer and a new easy-to-use interface, S80 is a real treat for both entry-level and advanced shooters.

Features:

In S80, Canon has retained its powerful, high quality, wide-angle UA (Ultra High Refractive Index Glass Aspherical) lens with a 3.6x wide-angle optical zoom (35mm film equivalent: 28-100mm). In case of the user interface, it offers faster and more intuitive operations. For easier movement, adjustment of settings and navigating the menu, it has a ‘multi control dial’, which not only moves in four directions, but also rotates. In addition, Canon has used DIGIC II image processor in S80, to increase the speed of start up, auto focus, playback, image quality and shutter response.

The camera also offers users a total of 21 shooting modes, allowing the camera to effectively handle a variety of situations. It has a special white-balance setting for the underwater photographers. There is also a Custom mode that allows users to allocate preferred shooting settings and use special effects.

Another distinctive feature of S80 is the new XGA movie mode (a first for the market) that rivals the video output of some high-end digital camcorders. The high-resolution (1024 x 768 size) XGA movie mode can shoot 15 frames per second, compared to standard VGA 640 x 480 resolution and 30 frames a second. It also has about 2.5 times more pixels, and the data amount is about twice as high.

In case of movie prints, there is a choice between single frame and sequence frame in PhotoShot S80. When Single is selected, any frame from a movie can be selected and printed on a single sheet. In Sequence mode, the camera can, when connected to a compatible Canon Compact Photo Printer, print a series of miniature thumbnail images that provides an overview of the movie’s content.

Compared to its predecessor, S80 also has a better ‘Auto focus performance’ (20 per cent faster) and improved exposure control in low light, thanks to the built-in AF illuminator. This helps not only in better exposure accuracy but also in better focusing performance. In case of Image transfer, the speed can be accelerated through Hi-Speed USB 2.0 port. In addition, it comes bundled with a comprehensive software suite and has a complete range of optional accessories available to extend the functionality of the S80. It is available in the market for US $549.

Though a bit expensive, S80 scores in its design, features, performance and image quality. It has enough creative options to satisfy any keen photographer and makes it worth spending your money on.

Specifications:

• 8.0 mega pixels and 2.5" wide viewing LCD display
• CCD and UA Lens Technology for Superior Image Quality
• Redesigned body and user interface
• Live histogram shown
• AF-assist lamp
• JPEG file format
• ISO 50-400
• USB 2.0 High Speed support
• Canon DIGIC II Image Processor with iSAPS Technology for faster processing speed, crisp vibrant colors and excellent image quality
• 21 Shooting Modes to capture every situation, (including Special Scene Modes and My Colors Mode for customization while shooting)
• Improved Movie Mode with an option of 30 fps VGA or XGA mode for high-quality still frame printing

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