Thursday, March 14, 2013

Canon PowerShot G15 User Manual

Canon PowerShot G15 User Manual - Canon's PowerShot G-series is one of the most iconic lines of digital compact cameras, with the original G1 having debuted right back in September 2000. The original models sported fast lenses, articulated LCDs, optical viewfinders, Raw data recording and lots of external control, and were aimed at tempting enthusiasts who usually shot with 35mm SLRs to dip a toe into the brave new waters of digital photography.

The line took a hiatus for a couple of years between 2004-6 when affordable APS-C SLRs started to appear, before being reinvented with the smaller, slimmer G7 - redesigned as a compact camera for SLR-owning enthusiasts. To the dismay of many G-series fans, the G7had a slower lens, fixed screen and didn't record Raw. Since then the G7's design has provided the basis for a number of subsequent models, adding back Raw and the swivel screen along the way, right up to the G12 that's been on the market for two years. In the meantime Canon created the G1 X - a variant on the same basic design with a much-larger sensor, and at a correspondingly higher price-point.

Now, with the launch of the G15, Canon has added back one of the original selling points of the G-series; a genuinely fast zoom lens. This covers the same 28-140mm equivalent focal length range as the G12's, but is a stop and a third faster, at F1.8-2.8 rather than F2.8-4.5. This gives the G15 a distinct advantage over its predecessor not only in low light, but also in the ability to blur backgrounds a bit more when shooting at the long end of the zoom.

But while Canon gives with one hand, it takes away with the other. The G15's rear screen is fixed, rather than articulated, a move that Canon says was necessary to make the camera smaller and more pocketable. The G15 is indeed significantly slimmer than its predecessor - by about 15% with the lens retracted - but we can't help but feel that as many potential buyers will be dismayed by the loss of this useful feature as there will be enthusiasts who are delighted by the camera's portability. The G15's screen itself is a large, high-resolution 3" 920k dot unit with a tempered glass cover and a wide viewing angle.

Download Canon PowerShot G15 User Manual

Canon EOS 6D User Manual

Canon EOS 6D User Manual - Less than a week after arch-rival Nikon grabbed headlines with the D600, Canon responded with an announcement of its own price-conscious full frame DSLR, the EOS 6D. And just like that, a new market segment was born: the mid-range full frame DSLR. It was only a decade ago that full frame DSLR performance was limited to those with pockets deep enough to spend $7999 on the 11MP Canon EOS 1Ds. And while the barrier to entry has dropped considerably since then, for many potential buyers, the most-talked about feature of the EOS 6D may well be its price. It debuts at $1400 less than the company's standout EOS 5D Mark III.

As the full frame DSLR market grows ever-more crowded though - Canon, Nikon and Sony each offer at least two full frame models - the appeal of the 6D may well rest on things like handling and feature set. While Canon obviously needs to maintain clear distinctions between the 6D and the pricier 5D Mark III, the challenge is to offer enough incentive for current EOS owners who lack a substantial lens investment to resist the similarly priced and slightly higher-resolution Nikon D600.

And as is Canon's wont, they have opted for the allure of familiarity and consistency. The EOS 6D is perhaps best understood as a full frame version of the popular EOS 60D - indeed it's very similar in both control layout and dimensions. While slimmer front-to-back, and lighter than the Nikon D600, the 6D primarily seeks to distinguish itself on the spec sheet with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, a 'silent' shutter mechanism and, according to Canon, unprecedented low-light focusing sensitivity. Whether this combination will be enough to satisfy enthusiasts who'd appreciate the D600's distinctly higher spec'ed autofocus system, dual card slots and built-in flash remains to be seen.

Download Canon EOS 6D User Manual

Canon PowerShot A2500 Manual

Canon PowerShot A2500 Manual -  You might have figured Canon's 2013 PowerShot lineup was diverse enough to satisfy just about any point-and-shoot craving. Well, no matter -- we're about to see a trio of compacts added to the mix. The ELPH 330 HS is the company's premium model for CP+, Japan's up-and-coming digital imaging trade show, which kicks off later this week in Yokohama. The 330 is similar to the 130 IS, which we first saw at CES, boosting the focal range from 8x to 10x, with a 24mm wide-angle lens. There's also an upgraded 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor with a Digic 5 processor, a 461k-dot 3-inch LCD and built-in WiFi. The next higher-end offering is the ELPH 115 IS, which packs specs more in line with the 130 IS, including the same 16-megapixel CCD sensor and 8x 28mm lens. There's no WiFi to speak of, however, and the display drops to a 2.7-inch 230k-dot panel. It can shoot 720p video and offers the same Eco Mode bundled with all of Canon's 2013 compacts.

Finally, for photogs on an even tighter budget, there's the PowerShot A2500. The specs are similar to the 115 IS, including a 16-megapixel CCD chip, a 2.7-inch 230k-dot display and 720p video shooting. Despite the reduced 5x 28-140mm lens, this flavor is a bit heftier, though it's a step up from most other A-series Canons. If you have the cash to spare, the $230 ELPH 330 HS is clearly the most compelling option launching this week -- it ships in March with black, pink or silver finishes. The slightly less capable 115 IS will be available in March for $170, in black, blue, pink and silver, while the A2500 will hit stores in April for $130, in black, silver and red. Catch a few more details in the PR just past the break.

Download Canon PowerShot A2500 Manual