Digital Compact Cameras

Digital Camera

IXY DIGITAL 50

PowerShot SD300 DIGITAL ELPH

DIGITAL IXUS 40

  • Japan
  • Americas
  • Europe, Asia, Oceania
  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed October 2004

The 4.0-megapixel Canon IXY DIGITAL 50 takes the IXY signature concepts of style and ultra-compactness to a new level, employing a range of technical and design innovations to realize improved image quality, performance and usability while also achieving further reductions in body size and weight.

The new IXY DIGITAL 50, following the IXY DIGITAL 30a released in March 2004, are the first of Canon’s compact digital cameras to incorporate the proprietary DIGIC II image engine used in the Canon’s top-of-the line EOS-1D Mark II professional digital SLR model. Realizing drastically improved performance compared with the highly appraised DIGIC architecture, Canon’s new DIGIC II image engine performs detailed processing of large-volume data at extremely high speeds. As a result, the technology enables ultra-fine detail and gradation, natural color reproduction and precise white balance control. DIGIC II also enables outstanding responsiveness and shooting performance, making possible fast startup times, 30% faster AF performance than the IXY DIGITAL 30a, and high-speed writing of image files for consistent continuous-shooting performance.

Canon’s IXY DIGITAL 50 offers boosted optical-zoom performance of 3.0x, compared with 2.0x for the IXY DIGITAL 30a, and a large 2.0″ TFT LCD monitor, compared with a 1.5″ unit for the 30a. At the same time the models boast significant reductions in size and weight compared with the IXY DIGITAL 30a: the IXY DIGITAL 50 being around 3.2 mm thinner, 17% smaller and 35 grams lighter.

Contributing to the compact designs, the IXY DIGITAL 50 incorporates the smallest lens in the IXY DIGITAL-series lineup. By utilizing two glass-molded Ultra-high refractive index Aspherical (UA) lens elements, which boast the world’s highest* refractive index, the lens realizes a compact design that measures less than 16.25 mm in length – the diameter of a one-cent euro coin – when fully retracted. The cameras also employ advanced System in Package (SiP) high-density mounting and an ultra-thin battery for further size reductions.

Boosting shooting performance, the IXY DIGITAL 50 offers six Scene Modes, including Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, and a new Digital Macro setting. The models also boast a full range of video features, allowing users to record and replay video clips with sound at resolutions up to VGA (640 x 480 pixels) with a 30 frames-per-second (fps) frame rate. Also, marking a world’s first for a digital still camera, the duo can record one-minute clips (QVGA: 320 x 240 pixels) at a fast 60 fps frame rate, making possible the smooth capture of moving subjects.

Further simplifying photo printing and image file transfers, both cameras include a one-touch Print/Share button. Once the button lights blue, the cameras are ready to print directly from Canon’s range of Direct Print-enabled photo printers or other PictBridge-compatible printers, or to download images directly to a Windows® PC. Other new functions include the ID Photo Print, making it easy to produce prints compatible with the major ID-photo sizes of the world, and Movie Print, which enables users to create frame-by-frame prints of movies taken with digital cameras**.

* Based on an internal survey by Canon. As of September 15, 2004, among aspherical lenses used in products
** ID Photo Print and Movie Print function with Canon Compact Photo Printers SELPHY CP500/CP400 and previous CP-series models only

Camera Effective Pixels Approx. 4.0 million
Image Sensor 1/2.5″ CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx. 4.2 million)
Lens 5.8 (W)-17.4 (T) mm
(35 mm film equivalent: 35 (W)-105 (T) mm)
f/2.8 (W)-f/4.9 (T)
Digital Zoom Approx. 3.6x (Up to approx. 11x in combination with the optical zoom)
Optical Viewfinder Real-image zoom viewfinder
LCD Monitor 2.0″ TFT color LCD, approx. 118,000 dots (Picture coverage 100%)
AF System TTL autofocus Focusing frame: 9-point AiAF/1-point AF (center)
Shooting Distance Normal: 30 cm (1.0 ft.)- infinity
Macro: 3-50 cm (W)/30-50 cm (T) (1.2 in.-1.6 ft. (W)/1.0-1.6 ft. (T))
Digital Macro: 3-10 cm (1.2-3.9 in.)

* From the front of the lens

Shutter Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter
Shutter Speeds 15-1/1500 sec.

*15-1 sec. possible in long shutter mode.
*Slow shutter speeds of 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction.

Light Metering System Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot (Center)
Exposure Control System Program AE
Exposure Compensation ±2.0 stops in 1/3-stop increments
Sensitivity Auto, ISO 50/100/200/400 equivalent
White Balance TTL auto, pre-set (available settings: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent or Fluorescent H) or custom
Built-in Flash Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, flash on with red-eye reduction, flash on, flash off, slow synchro
Flash Range Normal: 50 cm-3.5 m (1.6-11.5 ft.) (W), 50 cm-2.0 m (1.6-6.6 ft.) (T)
Macro: 30-50 cm (1.0-1.6 ft.) (W/T)

*When sensitivity is set to auto.

Shooting Modes Auto, Manual*, Digital macro, Portrait, Night snapshot, Kids & pets, Indoor, Underwater, Stitch assist**, Movie

*Long shutter mode available
** Selectable from the Rec. menu

Continuous Shooting Approx. 2.4 shots/sec.*

*Large/Fine mode with LCD monitor off

Self-timer Activates shutter after an approx. 2-sec./approx. 10-sec. delay
Recording Media SD Memory Card
File Format Design rule for camera file system and DPOF compliant
Image Recording Format Still images: JPEG (Exif 2.2)
Movies: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (monaural))

* This digital camera supports Exif 2.2 (also called “Exif Print”. Exif Print is a standard for enhancing the communication between digital cameras and printers. By connecting to an Exif Print-compliant printer, the camera’s image data at the time of shooting is used and optimized, yielding extremely high quality prints.

Compression Superfine, Fine, Normal
Number of Recording Pixels Still Images: Large: 2272 x 1704 pixels
Medium1: 1600 x 1200 pixels
Medium2: 1024 x 768 pixels
Small: 640 x 480 pixels
Movies : Standard: 640 x 480/320 x 240 pixels
Fast Frame Rate: 320 x 240 pixels
Compact: 160 x 120 pixels
The maximum length of a movie clip
– Standard: Until the SD card becomes full.
– Fast Frame Rate: Maximum of 1 min.
– Compact: Maximum of 3 min.
Playback Modes Single (histogram displayable)
Index (9 thumbnail images)
Magnified*(approx. 10x (max.) in LCD monitor)
Sound memos (up to 60 sec.) or Slide show.

*Advance or reverse through magnified image is available.

Direct Print Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible, and PictBridge compliant
Display Languages 21 languages available for menus and messages (English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Russian, Portuguese, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Traditional Chinese, Korean and Japanese)
My Camera Settings The start-up image, start-up sound, shutter sound, operation sound and self-timer sound can be customized using the following methods
– Using the images and sounds recorded on a camera.
– Using the downloaded data from your computer using the supplied software.
Interface – USB (mini-B, PTP [Picture Transfer Protocol])
– Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio)
Power Source – Rechargeable lithium-ion battery (type: NB-4L)
– AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC10 (Sold Separately)
Operating Temperatures 0 – 40 °C (32 – 104 °F)
Operating Humidity 10 – 90 %
Dimensions
(w x h x d)
86.0 x 53.0 x 20.7 mm (3.39 x 2.09 x 0.82 in.)
(excluding protrusions)
Weight Approx. 130 g (4.59 oz) (camera body only)