New Technology Reviews!.: Canon

Review: Canon imageFORMULA P-150M

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/MacFormat/MAC%20229/MAC229.rev_canon.canon1_1-200-200.jpg"> Sheet-feed scanners come in very useful when scanning multi-page documents, and portable models are useful when working away from home. Canon's ImageFORMULA P-150M is small and light enough to fit in your bag; it's powered by USB and is plug and play, with no driver installation required. You just run the CaptureOnTouch Lite application from the virtual disk that mounts when you connect the scanner to your Mac. The P-150M can scan anything from A4-sized documents to business cards. It can be powered from a single USB port, but if you connect the supplied USB power cable to either a second USB port or the mains via an adapter (sold separately), it runs faster. It can scan in black and white, greyscale or colour, to JPEG, TIFF or PDF, and if you need to scan double-sided documents, its Duplex feature allows you to do so in a single pass. When powered by two USB ports, at the default 200dpi setting the P-150M scanned a single A4 text page in black and white in just 10.7 seconds. Although the characters were a little pixellated, the results were readable. Ramping up the resolution to 600dpi, we got a smoother, clearer document, but it took 28.6 seconds. With only one USB port used, it was only a little slower. But for all its speed, ease of use and scan quality, the P-150M lacks reliability. We tested two separate units, and when scanning documents printed on ordinary, 80gsm photocopier paper, both proved prone to misfeeds, paper jams and pages in the sheet feeder not being recognised. Canon claims it has a 20-page ADF, but it seldom got through this quantity without pulling a page in sideways and jamming at least once. It performed better with photographs and thinner paper, and also with pages that had been flat for a while and therefore lacked the slight curl found when fresh out of the printer or photocopier. Yet it's difficult to recommend a document scanner that struggles with freshly printed documents.

Review: Canon imageFORMULA P-150M

Sheet-feed scanners come in very useful when scanning multi-page documents, and portable models are useful when working away from home. Cano...

How to Troubleshoot the Connection of the Canon FS100 & ImageMixer

Connect the Canon FS100 to your computer. Windows should automatically detect when a device is connected by USB. A dialog window, or a balloon notification (in the bottom right of the computer screen) should appear prompting you to perform a task. If this happens, then your problem is not with the computer-to-camera connection.Try connecting the camera to a different USB slot if nothing happens. If it works this time, then you have a faulty USB slot. If it still doesn't work, then try a different USB cable. If this now works, then you have a faulty USB cable. If neither work, then you may have a problem with the <a class="StrongLink" href="http://www.ehow.com/computers/">computer software</A> or your digital camcorder.Perform all Windows updates available on your computer to download the latest patches. This could fix your USB connection error. If it doesn't, you will need to seek computer technical support.Make sure the FS100 is switched to "Transfer" mode. Connect the FS100 to your computer with a USB cable (once you have established that the USB cable and slot work fine). Switch the "Dial" mode to the "Playback" icon. Press the "Direct Transfer" button (open the viewer screen, and it is the circular button closest to the screen.) This should begin your transfer to your computer. If nothing happens, you may have a problem with the digital camcorder connecting to your computer.Turn off the camera and eject the memory card. Connect the memory card directly to your computer using a USB card reader. If the memory card is detected by Windows, then the issue lies with your digital camcorder.

How to Troubleshoot the Connection of the Canon FS100 & ImageMixer

Connect the Canon FS100 to your computer. Windows should automatically detect when a device is connected by USB. A dialog window, or a ball...

Review: Canon PIXMA iP4850

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/TechRadar/Computing/PIXMA%20iP4850/Canon_iP4850-200-200.jpg"> How much do you really need to pay for a top-of-the-range printer? If you don't need options such as Wi-Fi connectivity, faxing and self-contained photocopying – offered in varying mixes by <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/peripherals/printers-and-scanners/printers/lexmark-impact-s305-692267/review">Lexmark's Impact S305</A>, and <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/peripherals/printers-and-scanners/multi-function-mfd-/epson-stylus-photo-px720wd-905654/review">Epson's PX720WD</A> and WorkForce range – it might be less than you think. The new Canon iP4850 delivers spectacular performance for just £70. Taking over where the outgoing <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/peripherals/printers-and-scanners/printers/canon-pixma-ip4700-638101/review">iP4700</A> left off, the latest model features a new set of pigment-based black ink, plus dye-based cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks that are tailored for top-quality document and photo printing. In fact, the actual inks remain the same, it's just the cartridges they come in are slightly different, with PGI-525 for pigment black and four CLI-526 cartridges for the dye-based inks. In most ways, the new iP4850 is near identical to the older iP4700, but that's no bad thing. It keeps the same dimensions at a remarkably compact 431 x 297 x 153mm (W x D x H). As with most other printers, the overall depth increases once you've extended the input and output trays to their full extension, but in this case to a still space-friendly 550mm. The input and output trays are also worthy of note here, since you get a 150-sheet cassette feeder that slots in underneath the printer, plus a full-size upright feeder at the rearm which can take a further 150 sheets of full A4-sized paper. The upright feeder is especially useful for loading with photo paper, meaning you don't have to keep swapping paper types every time you want to switch between document and photo printing. Some printers, such as the <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/peripherals/printers-and-scanners/multi-function-mfd-/hp-photosmart-plus-e-all-in-one-901838/review">HP Photosmart Plus</A> and <a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/peripherals/printers-and-scanners/multi-function-mfd-/epson-stylus-photo-px720wd-905654/review">Epson PX720WD</A>, also feature a separate photo tray, but in both of those cases you only get a postcard-sized photo tray, which is no good for A4 photo printing. Many of Canon's older models included a paper feed switch on the front of the printer, but this has been scrapped on the iP4850. It actually helps avoid a bit of confusion, since the printer driver could overrule the paper feed switch anyway. Now, an automatic option selects the lower cassette for document printing and the rear tray for photo printing, but this can still be overridden in Printer Properties. Other finery includes auto duplex for double-sided printing, which is no mean feat on a printer this small. Better still, printing is as amazingly fast as the iP4700, outputting mono text pages in six seconds, colour DTP pages in 16 seconds, 6 x 4-inch normal quality photos in 19 seconds and full A4 borderless photo prints at the highest quality setting in two minutes flat. Document quality is impeccable and colour photo quality is absolutely stunning. The only thing that's second-best here is black-and-white photo printing, which can have a slight colour cast. To avoid this, you'd need to upgrade to Canon's PIXMA MG6150 all-in-one printer. Considering its very compact footprint, the iP4850 offers a full range of features, including auto duplex printing, direct printing onto CDs and DVDs and dual paper input feeds, along with super-fast, ultra-high-quality output. We liked Photo quality is dazzling, with beautiful colour rendition, excellent brightness and contrast, and highly flattering skin tones. Reserving the full-size rear paper feed for photo paper up to A4 in size is another bonus, so you can keep the lower input cassette for plain paper. The iP4850 does a brisk and excellent job of document printing thanks to its mix of pigment-based and dye-based inks. The printer also features Canon's latest Full HD Movie Print gizmo, so you can print individual frames of video clips captured on Canon cameras via the software that comes as part of the package. If you're using genuine Canon inks (which we'd always recommend), you also get access to Canon Creative Park Premium, enabling you to download top-quality photos and illustrations for projects such as greetings cards and calendars. We disliked Being 'just a printer', rather than an all-in-one, you don't get a scanner for scanning or stand-alone photocopying, and there are no built-in memory card readers or LCD preview screens here. That said, you can still print photos directly from PrintBridge-compatible cameras. Verdict If all you want is a printer, as opposed to a multi-function device that can do everything apart from making coffee, the iP4850 is an absolute stunner. Print quality is exceptional for both photo and document printing; running costs are reasonable; it's got a neat range of features, including auto duplex and CD printing; and it's immensely fast. At the price, it's an absolute steal.Related Links <UL> <LI><a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/techradars-reviews-guarantee-622749">TechRadar's Reviews Guarantee</A></LI> <LI><a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/computing-components/upgrades/10-best-photo-printers-which-is-right-for-you-904396">Top 10 photo printers</A></LI></UL>

Review: Canon PIXMA iP4850

How much do you really need to pay for a top-of-the-range printer? If you don't need options such as Wi-Fi connectivity, faxing and self...

Review: Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/PowerShot%20SX30%20IS%20FSL%202-200-200.jpg"/>We are used to digital bridge cameras having wide focal length ranges, but the 14.1-million-pixel Canon PowerShot SX30 IS is a little bit special because its 35x optical zoom gives the SX30 IS a focal length range equivalent to 24-840mm.Just to be clear, that's the Canon SX30's optical range at full resolution and it doesn't include the digital zoom which can extend the reach to 140x.Having such a phenomenal range should make this new Canon PowerShot camera ideal for a whole raft of photographic situations, from shooting in fairly confined spaces indoors and taking shots of wide, sweeping vistas to photographing distant wildlife.The PowerShot SX30 IS's lens features Canon's most advanced optical Image Stabilizer, which assesses camera shake around 8,000 times per second and is claimed to extend the safe hand-holdable shutter speed by up to 4.5 stops. Obviously this can't deal with subject movement when shooting wildlife, but it is a big help with cancelling out the involuntary camera movements that are an issue with very long telephoto optics.Interestingly, Canon has used three Hi-UD (high-refractive index, ultra-low dispersion) elements, which are normally reserved for broadcast-quality video optics, to reduce the overall weight of the SX30's lens and keep the overall mass to a manageable 601g (including battery/batteries and memory card).While the SX30 has a host of novice-friendly automatic scene modes, more experienced photographers will appreciate the option to shoot in program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes. At the widest point aperture can be adjusted in 1/3 EV steps from f/2.7-f/8, but at the longest point on the lens this drops to f/5.6-f/8. Meanwhile shutter speed varies by shooting mode, but the maximum range (which is selectable in shutter priority and manual mode) is 15-1/3200 sec.Sensitivity may be set to auto, ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1600, which is probably about as far as you would want to push a camera with a 1/2.3in CCD and 14.1 million effective pixels.As usual, exposure may be measured using evaluative, centreweighted or spot metering. While the evaluative metering may be linked to the Face Detection AF frame, the spotmeter can measure from the centre of the frame, the Face Detection AF frame or the FlexiZone AF frame.<img alt="Canon powershot sx30 is" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/PowerShot%20SX30%20IS%20FRT%20LCD%20FACING-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>In keeping with the bridge camera genre, the PowerShot SX30 IS looks like a mini DSLR. There's even pseudo button-bump where you'd expect the lens release to be.In some lights the SX30 looks two-tone, but I think it's actually the result of the two different finishes used on the camera's surface. The fine texture of the deep fingergrip provides just enough purchase when shooting or carrying the camera, but lacks the adhesion of Canon's DSLR grips.I am a fan of articulating LCD screens and the hinged 2.7in unit on the SX30 is good, making it much easier to shoot from a range of angles. Although the screen has a relatively low pixel count by modern standards (230,000 dots), it provides a clear view even when shooting outside in bright sunlight – though bear in mind I used it in the UK's October sun rather than tropical July sunshine.I am slightly less impressed by the SX30's electronic viewfinder (EVF), which seems rather small and allows little latitude in your eye position. On the plus-side, the EVF has only a few fewer dots than the LCD screen (around 202,000 dots) and provides a reasonably detailed view of the scene being composed. It's frustrating that there's no eye sensor to detect when the camera is held to the eye and automatically switch between activating the LCD and the EVF; instead, the Display button must be pressed to toggle between the options.The PowerShot SX30 IS is one of those cameras that almost anyone can pick up and use straightaway. The controls are sensibly arranged and easy to locate, although there is no direct access to the white balance options by default. I set this to be accessed via the Shortcut button to the top left of the LCD screen.Those wishing to mix stills and video shooting will love the fact that the SX30 has a dedicated button that can be used to start recording 720p (1280x720 pixel) movies whatever the shooting mode selected.Even stationary subjects can sometimes be hard to locate in the LCD or EVF when a long focal length lens is being used, but Canon's Zoom Framing Assist button to the right of the thumbrest on the back of the camera makes life much easier. While this button is depressed the lens zooms out allowing the photographer to see more of the scene and locate the main subject. It's a real bonus when the lens is zoomed into 840mm.In good light the SX30's autofocus system performs pretty well. It doesn't exactly snap the subject into sharp focus, but it comes into register fairly promptly. Things slow down a little in lower light, with low-contrast subjects and at the longest point of the telephoto lens, but in most instances the SX30 manages to find the target. In continuous AF mode the SX30 managed to keep up with a jogger making his way up a steep hill towards me, but I don't think it is the camera I would use for faster moving sports and action.<img alt="Canon powershot sx30 is" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/PowerShot%20SX30%20IS%20FRT%20LCD%20FACING-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>Canon knows a thing or two about exposure systems and the PowerShot SX30 IS's evaluative metering system doesn't disappoint. The main subject is correctly exposed in the majority of my images, although in some instances this is at the expense of the highlights. Fortunately, exposure compensation is available to +/-2EV in 1/3EV steps and is easily accessed using the 'up' navigation control and the control on the back of the camera.It's worth keeping an eye on the histogram view (accessed via the Display button), as I found that the on-screen image sometimes differs a little from the captured version.Overexposed areas of blue sky tend to look rather cyan, but this can often be rectified post-capture to make the results look more natural. Colours direct from the SX30 are generally quite vibrant and I would steer clear of the vibrant mode. Canon has one of the best, if not the best, white balance systems around and on the whole my images captured in auto white balance mode retain the atmosphere of the scene.Chromatic aberration is an issue along some high-contrast edges, especially towards the corners of the frame. In several instances I was able to reduce this coloured fringing by adjusting the image using Adobe Camera Raw. Distortion is controlled well.Still images may only be saved as JPEGs on the SX30, which is a little disappointing, but not entirely surprising. At high sensitivity settings there's little sign of chroma noise, but when examined at 100% on screen, even toned areas of images captured at ISO 200 have a slight granular texture caused by luminance noise.Out-of-focus areas with very fine detail also look slightly smudged under high magnification, especially in high-sensitivity images. When the images are sized to make A3 prints they look good and the smudging is not apparent, but images captured at the highest sensitivity setting (ISO 1600 at full resolution) look a little softer than those taken at the lowest settings.While not spectacular, 1280x720-pixel video quality from the SX30 is good, though some edges look at little oversharpened. Recording at 30fps ensures that movement is fairly smooth.We used this set of clothes pins on a wooden tabletop to study the effects of noise at each of the SX30's ISO settings from ISO 80 to ISO 1600. Each image was cropped at 100% to better illustrate the changes. Click on each cropped image for the full version.<img alt="ISO 80 main" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/80-small-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>ISO 80<img alt="ISO 80 crop" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/80-crop-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>ISO 100<img alt="ISO 100 crop" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/100-crop-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>ISO 200<img alt="ISO 200 crop" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/200-crop-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>ISO 400<img alt="ISO 400 crop" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/400-crop-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>ISO 800<img alt="ISO 800 crop" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/800-crop-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>ISO 1600<img alt="ISO 1600 crop" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/1600-crop-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img><img alt="man in boat" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/840mm3%20-%20small-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img><a href="http://www.photoradar.com/files/articles/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/840mm3%20-%20small.jpg">See full-res image</a>Man in a canal boat, shot at 840mm: 1/400sec at f/5.8, ISO 200<img alt="lake" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/24mm3%20-%20small-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img><a href="http://www.photoradar.com/files/articles/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/24mm3.jpg">See full-res image</a>Shooting at the 24mm end of the Canon SX30's lens captures a stunning perspective, but note the canal boat on the opposite side of the river. That dot in the window on the right is the man in the image above, which demonstrates just how impressive the SX30's zoom range really is: 1/200sec at f/5.6, ISO 200<img alt="Veg stall" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/Vegstall%20-%20small-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img><a href="http://www.photoradar.com/files/articles/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/Vegstall.jpg">See full-res image</a>Colours direct from the SX30 IS are generally quite vibrant as seen in this image using the Canon SX30's tilt and shift effect option: 1/500sec at f/4, ISO 80<img alt="colours" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/Woman%20-%20small-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img><a href="http://www.photoradar.com/files/articles/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/Woman.jpg">See full-res image</a>Again using the Canon PowerShot SX30's tilt and shift effect you can manipulate the size and orientation of the zone that's sharp: 1/125sec at f/4, ISO 320<img alt="low angle" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/Low%20-%20small-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img><a href="http://www.photoradar.com/files/articles/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/Low.jpg">See full-res image</a>The hinged 2.7in articulated LCD screen on the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS makes it easier to shoot from a range of angles: 1/50sec at f/4, ISO 400<img alt="Canon powershot sx30 is" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PhotoRadar/Canon%20PowerShot%20SX30%20IS/PowerShot%20SX30%20IS%20FRT%20LCD%20FACING-420-90.jpg" width="420"></img>Canon's PowerShot SX30 IS is capable of producing some excellent images, but it's best to keep to the lower sensitivity settings if you want to make A3-size prints.It's a shame that images cannot be recorded as raw files to allow experienced photographers more control over the noise reduction that is applied to their high-sensitivity images. Canon has added raw capability to its bridge cameras with a firmware update in the past, and I wonder if it will do so this time?The SX30 is very easy to use and although the focusing can be a bit slower than usual when the lens is at its longer point, the incredible focal length span makes it a great choice for family day trips to the zoo etc.Features: 4/5The PowerShot SX30 IS's key features are its incredibly wide spanning lens, articulated LCD screen and its advanced exposure modes that are backed up with entry-level modes.Build quality: 3/5There are no real surprises here: the body of the SX30 is well put together, but it has a plastic look and feel to it – for obvious reasons.Value: 4/5This is a difficult one, as an EOS 1000D (body only) can be purchased for less than £300 these days. However, buying a range of lenses (or lenses and teleconverters) to cover the full focal range span of 24-840mm will set you back considerably more, making the £449.99 RRP of the PowerShot SX30 IS seem very reasonable.Performance: 3/5With a 1/2.3in sensor, the image quality from the SX30 IS is never going to compete with that from an APS-C-format DSLR, but it is nevertheless impressive. A superzoom lens usually demands a few compromises in the image quality, and although chromatic aberration is visible in some images, it is not as big an issue as I might have feared.Overall: 4/5Canon's PowerShot SX 30 IS is an excellent choice of camera for someone who wants something a bit more than the average compact model, yet doesn't want to go down the route of having interchangeable lenses. The feature set is extensive, the camera is easy to use and the results are generally good, allowing you to make prints at sizes up to A3.Related Links<ul><li><a href="http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/techradar-s-reviews-guarantee-622749">TechRadar Reviews Guarantee</a></li><li><a href="http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras">Read more digital camera reviews</a></li></ul><img border="0" height="1" src="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/9809/s/f3b91a6/mf.gif" width="1"/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/sendemail2.html?title=Review%3A+Canon+PowerShot+SX30+IS&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techradar.com%2Freviews%2Fcameras-and-camcorders%2Fcameras%2Fcompact-cameras%2Fcanon-powershot-sx30-is-904328%2Freview%3Fsrc%3Drss%26attr%3Dall" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" /></a></td><td valign='middle'><a href="http://res.feedsportal.com/viral/bookmark.cfm?title=Review%3A+Canon+PowerShot+SX30+IS&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.techradar.com%2Freviews%2Fcameras-and-camcorders%2Fcameras%2Fcompact-cameras%2Fcanon-powershot-sx30-is-904328%2Freview%3Fsrc%3Drss%26attr%3Dall" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/bookmark.gif" /></a></td></tr></table></div> <a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/83965287156/u/49/f/9809/c/669/s/f3b91a6/kg/38-42-43-45-68-168-170/a2.htm"><img border="0" src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/83965287156/u/49/f/9809/c/669/s/f3b91a6/kg/38-42-43-45-68-168-170/a2.img"/></a><img height="1" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~4/mkf4Zd3T4us" width="1"/>

Review: Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

We are used to digital bridge cameras having wide focal length ranges, but the 14.1-million-pixel Canon PowerShot SX30 IS is a little bit s...