Canon rains down four cameras before Photokina 2006

Amstelveen (The Netherlands) - Canon is raining down four new cameras just before the huge Photokina photography conference in Germany. The cameras are aimed at consumers and use the new DIGIC III image processing chip. All the cameras shoot from 7.1 to 10.0 Megapixel pictures and take full-motion VGA video.

See the cameras here ...

First up is Canon’s PowerShot G7 which could blur the line between professional and consumer cameras. The camera take up to two 10.0 Megapixel pictures every second and has a 6X optical zoom lens along optical image stabilization. Users can turn up the light sensitivity to ISO 1600 for no-flash, low light shooting. Canon Speedlite flashes can be connected to the G7’s hotshoe.

Canon is also releasing another 10 Megapixel camera with the PowerShot SD900. The pocket-sized camera packs a 3X optical zoom inside a light 165 gram chassis. High-resolution (1024 by 768 pixel) videos can be taken at 15 FPS and VGA movies can be shot at 30 FPS. The SD800 IS is the SD900’s little brother, shooting 7.1 Megapixel pictures, but has a 3.8X zoom with optical image stabilization.

If the black and silver bodies of the previous three cameras are too boring, you can buy the colorful SD40. Canon is offering several chassis colors with this new 7.1 Megapixel camera. The 2.4X optical zoom camera has a face-recognition feature that locks on to faces (up to 9) and then corrects exposure.

All the cameras will be available in October. The PowerShot G7 will be the most expensive out of the four, selling at around $550. Both the SD900 and the SD800 IS will sell for $450 while the SD40 will retail for $350.