Canon’s advanced new Autoboy N150, featuring a high-quality 38-50mm 4x zoom lens, joins the popular Autoboy camera lineup one rank above the Autoboy N130 core model, released in August 2002. The N150’s powerful zoom lens incorporates two aspherical lens elements, which effectively correct for spherical aberration to ensure exceptional imaging performance throughout the zoom range. Moreover, while offering a high zoom ratio, the new camera utilizes space-saving technology, including a compact three-stage retractable lens and an ultra-compact light-guide flash, to realize the smallest body in its class, measuring just 107 (w) x 58.7 (h) x 51.5 mm (d). The new Autoboy N150’s design, featuring a two-tone silver color scheme, incorporates soft curved lines and surfaces to enhance the unit’s compact appearance. Moreover, a translucent-plastic accent on the handgrip, and metallic fittings on the lens barrel add a refined elegance befitting a high-end Autoboy-series model.

Canon’s new compact camera incorporates a combined AF/AE (Auto-Focus/Auto-Exposure) CMOS sensor in its passive 3-point AiAF (Artificial intelligence Automatic Focusing) system. By linking focusing and exposure control to the zoom and focusing points, the AF/AE CMOS sensor makes possible finer exposure control and precise focus performance, while passive 3-point AiAF focusing enables the camera to accurately identify the main subject, even when it does not appear in the center of the frame.

Other advanced features include a selection of six “Best Shot Modes,” including Auto, Action and Night Portrait, to cater to a wide range of shooting conditions; and five settable Custom Functions to suit almost any shooting objective. Custom Functions include a continuous-shooting setting that enables a shooting speed of 0.7 frames per second, and Real-Time Release, which enables virtually real-time exposures to ensure that no shooting opportunity is missed. Other features such as manual exposure compensation of +/-1.5EV, dioptric adjustment from +0.5 to -2.5 diopter, and easy-to-use control button placement contribute to user convenience and enjoyment. The Canon Autoboy N150 (including case and wrist strap) will go on sale in Japan in late May at an open price. Canon has set initial production at 30,000 units per month.