Canon has today announced two new 'S' series digital cameras. The PowerShot S30 and S40 are based on a new body design with a sliding front lens cover, thin narrow body, new battery pack and shooting priority play mode. The S30 has a 3 megapixel sensor, the S40 has a 4 megapixel sensor. Both cameras have a full range of manual controls (they appear to be based on and almost identical to the G2). PowerShot S30 has an expected street price of $599, S40 has an expected street price of $799. (04:00 GMT)

Canon PowerShot S30 and S40

Press release:

Canon connects high-quality digital cameras directly to superb photo printer

Canon has capitalised on its lead in advanced technology and miniaturisation with new digital camera's which can now print photos directly, entirely bypassing a PC. Making full use of core technologies in both digital cameras and Bubble Jet printers, Canon has succeeded in linking two new high-quality digital cameras (the PowerShot S30 and PowerShot S40) via a dedicated cable to the best photo printer on the market the Bubble Jet S820D or CP-10

As with the Canon Card Photo Printer CP-10 the new Canon S820D is the only accessory that users of Canon's new S series cameras need to produce photolab quality prints. There is no complicated software, no card reader, just a simple and intuitive print menu on the camera.

"The PowerShot S30 and S40 when combined with the new Bubble Jet S820D offer the amateur photographer the total photo lab solution for the home," says Mr Komatsuzaki, Vice President Consumer Imaging.

Capable of creating outstanding 3 and 4-Mega pixel images, respectively, the PowerShot S30 and S40 offers top of the range photo quality, with a rich set of features, full manual and automatic SLR-type controls. Both have functionality to match 35mm cameras, with 13 shooting modes, 3 AF modes, continuous, single and 3 selectable AF points (including AiAF). The PowerShot S40 features a 3.6X step-less digital zoom (for 11x combined zoom) with the PowerShot S30 featuring a 3.2X step-less digital zoom (for 10x combined zoom). In addition both products have a movie mode with sound and sound annotations. Both camera's are compatible with Type-I and Type-II CompactFlash™ memory cards, and has a full range of powerful software including the Canon ZoomBrowser, PhotoStitch and PhotoRecord plus ArcSoft PhotoImpression and videoImpression editing packages.

As an example of Canon's research and technology, the S820D is the fastest photo printer in its class, capable of delivering a full-size 1200 x 1200 dpi A4 photo in approximately two minutes. High resolution 2400x1200 dpi dot placement, combined with Canon's unique Advanced MicroFine Droplet Technology™, and 6-colour, 1/6 density ink system, produces better photos than any other inkjet printer in its class. Combined with Canon's Photo Paper Pro, photo printing delivers a quality level, which rivals that of traditional silver halide photos. Independent tests also confirm long photo lifespans - upwards of 25 years' light fastness with Photo Paper Pro (subject to display conditions).

The S820D also offers true borderless printing, making it possible to effectively print 'full-bleed' images that are indistinguishable from traditional prints. With the standard LCD control panel, it's easy to operate. There's also an optional TFT colour LCD viewing panel to view images on memory cards.

The PowerShot S30, S40 and Bubble Jet S820D support Win98, ME, 2000, XP and Mac OS.

Canon PowerShot S30 and S40 specifications

	Canon PowerShot S30	Canon PowerShot S40
Street price	US: $599 UK: £549	US: $799 UK: £649
Body material	Aluminium
Body colour	'Lavender Silver'	'Graphite Grey' (has a blue tinge)
CCD	1/1.8" 3.3 megapixel	1/1.8" 4.1 megapixel
Colour filter array	G - R - G - B	G - R - G - B
Image sizes	• 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480	• 2272 x 1704 • 1600 x 1200 • 1024 x 768 • 640 x 480
Image Formats	• JPEG • RAW
JPEG modes	• Super-Fine • Fine • Normal
Lens	35 - 105 mm equiv. F2.8 - F4.9
Lens construction	7 elements in 5 groups
Digital zoom	Up to 3.2x (smooth)	Up to 3.6x (smooth)
Focus	• TTL AF • 3 selectable AF points or 3 point AiAF focusing • AF lock and manual focus available
Focus range	• Normal: 80 cm - Infinity • Macro AF: 10 cm (W) / 30 cm (T) - 80 cm • Manual Focus: 10 cm (W) / 30 cm (T) - Infinity
Metering	• Evaluative • Center-weighted average • Spot metering
Exposure modes	• Program AE • Shutter priority AE • Aperture priority AE • Manual
Exposure compensation	• +/-2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps • AE bracketing available
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent High • Flash • Manual Preset (Custom)
Shutter speed	15 - 1/1500 sec
Noise reduction	For exposures of 1.3 seconds or longer
ISO speed	• Auto (ISO 50 - 100) • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800	• Auto (ISO 50 - 100) • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400
Viewfinder	Optical
LCD monitor	1.8" TFT LCD
Flash	• Built-in • Range: 0.35 - 4.8 m, (W), 0.35 - 3.0 m (T)
Flash modes	• Auto • Red-eye reduction auto • Red-eye reduction on • On • Off
Flash compensation	• +/-2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps • FE lock available
Shooting modes	• Auto • Creative (Program AE, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual) • Image Control Zone (Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Fast Shutter, Slow Shutter, Colour Effects, Stitch Assist) • Movie
Burst speed	• High speed - 2.5 fps (max 5 images) • Normal - 1.5 fps (max 9 images)
Voice annotation	Yes
Self timer	• 2 sec • 10 sec
Sounds	Programmable: • Start up sound • Shutter sound • Operation sound • Self-timer sound
Remote capture	From PC via USB (software provided)
Connectivity	• USB 1.1 • A/V out
Storage	Compact Flash Type I / II
Power	NB-2L Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery and charger (supplied)
Weight	323 g (11.4 oz) - including battery and CF card
Dimensions	112 x 58 x 42 mm (4.4 x 2.3 x 1.7 in)