Ultra-Compact Digital Cameras For Beginner Photographers: Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS, ELPH 300 HS & A1200

H and B Digital will receive some of the more affordable and beginner-friendly Canon ultra-compact digital camera new releases this week, including the PowerShot ELPH 300 HS, the PowerShot ELPH 100 HS & the PowerShot A1200. 

If you considering buying a compact digital camera and you are seriously interested in learning more about photography, these aren't necessarily the right cameras for you. For many, the main attraction of these ultra-compacts is their automatic and easy to use features that can allow users to take some pretty nice shots with doing as little fidgeting and adjusting the camera and its settings as possible. However, even for those who wouldn't mind having a bit more control over their shots may also enjoy the cameras for their slim and stylish designs in combination with their ability to shoot in many different conditions and environments, including low-light situations.

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS looks like your standard compact digital camera but with a sleek, stainless steel body that is so thin, it is considered to be the slimmest camera of its kind, according to Canon research. It has a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 24mm, 5x optical zoom lens, 2.7 inch LCD screen, full HD movie capability and comes in 3 vibrant colors - red, black and silver.

Exquisite Design & HS System-Powered Performance
With a good looking design along with powerful performance capability, the ELPH 300 HS features the HS System – an optimized combination of a high-sensitivity image sensor and powerful DIGIC 4 processing technology. Incorporating a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, the HS System lowers noise levels up to 60% at all ISO speeds when compared to compact digital cameras without the HS System. This allows users to capture beautiful, high quality images with less noise and blur – even in low light. DIGIC 4 processing provides speed, superb image rendition, low image noise and accurate color tones and high levels of responsiveness in overall operation. 

Ultra-Wide & Ultra-Flexible
The ELPH 300 HS offers users exceptional shooting flexibility, thanks to a genuine Canon ultra-wide angle 24mm lens with 5x optical zoom and a highly-effective Optical Image Stabilizer. Providing greater framing versatility, the lens allows users to fit even more into a frame at the wide end of the lens and to reach more distant subjects with the 5x optical zoom. Canon’s leading Optical Image Stabilizer also compensates for camera shake to prevent image blur at the telephoto-end of the zoom or when shooting handheld in low light – capturing sharp, detailed images in any condition. 

A large, high quality 6.7 cm (2.7”) PureColor II G LCD is perfect for image framing, playback and menu navigation. The 230k-dot resolution ensures fine levels of on-screen detail, and a tempered glass outer layer provides a wider viewing angle with excellent color reproduction and higher contrast. The tempered glass design also offers outstanding durability, and Hints & Tips throughout the interface give a short explanation of the camera features, helping users to learn how to use their camera as they are using it.

Small, Stylish & Packed with Features
Don’t let the ELPH 300 HS slim design fool you, it still comes packed with a vast range of features. It is the smallest Canon compact digital camera ever to feature full HD video capture. This new model shoots stunning 1920x1080p at 24 frames per second with stereo sound quality to capture special moments in rich clarity. Users can take advantage of the optical zoom to reach distant subjects during video capture and Canon’s dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer counteracts picture shake commonly recorded when the user is moving and recording at the same time.  A dedicated Movie Record button makes switching from still images to video recording instantly and easily -you won't miss a thing!

Incredible Performance & Easy To Use
Ideal for beginner photographers who just want to point and shoot, the ELPH 300 HS features Canon’s latest Smart Auto mode. The Smart Auto mode is designed to make it easy for anyone to capture great-quality images. Smart Auto evaluates each shooting situation against multiple factors and then selects the optimum settings from 32 variables to capture the perfect picture. All the photographer needs to do is focus on framing the shot – Smart Auto takes care of the rest.

Also, Smart Auto features Face Detection technology and the latest Advanced Subject Detection technology. These features allow the camera to detect and identify human faces or moving objects such as pets and vehicles within a scene. Once identified the main subject is kept in focus and well-exposed until the shutter release is fully pressed and the image is captured. I-Contrast and Smart Flash Exposure functions within Smart Auto as well to ensure subjects are captured in the best possible detail, reducing the occurrence of harsh shadows and over-exposed highlights. 

High-Speed & Creative Shooting
The ELPH 300 HS features high-speed shooting modes for capturing fast-moving action. High-speed Burst mode shoots still images at up to 8 shots per second in 3.0 megapixel resolution, while Continuous Shooting mode can capture up to 3.4 shots per second in full 12.1 megapixel resolution until the memory card reaches full capacity. Super Slow Motion Movie mode offers a great way to slow down fast-moving action such as a sports game, shooting at 240 frames per second at 320x240 and playback at 1/8 of the real speed. This provides a dramatic account of action sequences. Additionally, VGA-quality videos (640x480) are now supported in Super Slow Motion Movie mode, shooting at 120 frames per second with a playback at 1/4 of the real speed. 

The *NEW* Movie Digest mode also provides users with a new and interesting way to capture the day’s events by shooting small clips of video before each shot and then composing them into a single movie with no editing required later. By offering an alternative method for users to record their experiences, Movie Digest mode is a fun and easy way to capture the story behind still images in movie format. 

For users who want to try out different effects, six creative shooting modes are also available to add a different perspective to images. In addition to Miniature Effect, Fish-eye Effect, Super Vivid and Poster Effect, a new Toy Camera Effect gives images the retro feel of pinhole camera photos, while Monochrome creates atmospheric shots with sepia, black & white and other monochromatic tones. Miniature Effect can be applied to movies as well as still images, recording 1.5, 3 or 6 frames per second in Movie mode to create the impression of a time-lapse video of a small-scale model. 

Share Stories with Canon Image Gateway
When you purchase the PowerShot ELPH 300 HS you can join the Canon Image Gateway, an online facility for sharing photos and videos. Users can take advantage of up to 2GB of personal storage capacity which creates enough room for hundreds of high-quality images. Mobile browsing is also supported, making it easy for friends and family to view photos on the go. 

PowerShot ELPH 300 HS Key Features
•      HS System (12.1 MP)
•      24mm, 5x zoom. Optical IS
•      Stainless steel body
•      6.7 cm (2.7”) PureColor II G LCD
•      Full HD with optical zoom. Dynamic IS
•      Smart Auto (32 scenes)
•      High-speed Burst & Super Slow Motion Movie
•      Movie Digest
•      Creative shooting modes
•      Optional Waterproof Cases 

Click Here For The PowerShot ELPH 300 HS >>> 

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS is the most affordable of Canons new and improved ELPH line and looks strikingly different than the PowerShot ELPH 300 HS discussed above. Sporting a curved design, the ELPH 100 HS comes in blue, gray, pink, silver or orange and is equipped with a 12.1 megapixel  sensor, 28mm wide-angle, 4x optical zoom, full HD movie capability, and a 3.0 inch LCD screen.

Stunning Performance in Every Condition
Say goodbye to bad shots taken thanks to Canon’s unique and high-performance HS System. Whether you want to capture the atmosphere of a party or the vibrant colors of a sunny summer day, Canon’s HS System gives you exceptional image quality in all conditions. Even in dimly-lit environments where shots can be unclear, grainy and lacking in detail, the HS System produces clear, natural-looking images without using the flash – delivering full performance from a stylish portable body.

 

Shoot Exceptional Images with Confidence
Great for beginner photographers, Canon’s Smart Auto mode automatically detects up to 32 different scenes and takes care of the settings so all you have to do is point, shoot and enjoy capturing the moment. Even if you’re photographing tricky, fast-moving action you will get the perfect result with its High-speed Burst mode, which takes a rapid and continuous burst of shots and then freezes the action to either capture the perfect moment or the whole sequence of shots. You can also capture beautiful night-time shots using the Handheld Night Scene mode, which shoots a number of pictures of the same scene in succession and then combines them to create one blur-free, and perfectly exposed image. 

Shoot More Moments with Movie Mode
In addition to impressive stills, you can instantly capture moments in stunning clarity with the full HD 1080p Movie Mode by simply pressing the dedicated Movie Record button as the action unfolds. For an even more artistic flair, Super Slow Motion Movie move can capture life up to 8x slower than real-time. Or capture the moment before each photo taken with the *NEW* Movie Digest mode. The Movie Digest mode records up to four seconds of video before every still image taken and then joins the clips together to create a bonus movie of the events/moments captured to complement your photos. 

Creative Expression
Unleash your creative side by experimenting with the wide range of creative shooting modes on the ELPH 100 HS. Some of these modes include the Toy Camera effect, which re-creates the look and feel of images produced by an older, classical camera or create bright, retro style images with the Poster Effect. Place yourself in the photo with the clever Smart Shutter, which uses a wink, a smile or the appearance of an additional face in the scene to trigger a perfect portrait and/or group shot. 

PowerShot ELPH 100 HS Key Features
•      Premium image quality including low light using the HS System with 12.1 MP CMOS Sensor
•      28mm wide-angle, 4x optical zoom Canon lens with optical Image Stabilizer
•      Slim metal body with large 7.6 cm (3.0”), strong and clear PureColor II G LCD
•      Full HD movies (1080p) with Dynamic IS and HDMI
•      Smart Auto detects 32 scenes for the ultimate in point and shoot
•      High-speed Burst and Super Slow Motion Movie capture fast action
•      Movie Digest records the fun before each shot to create a bonus movie
•      Miniature and Toy Camera effects, Smart Shutter with Smile and Wink Self-Timer
•      Handheld Night Scene and Best Image Selection: great results anytime
•      Optional waterproof cases 

 Click Here For The PowerShot ELPH 100 HS >>> 

The Canon PowerShot A1200

Another A-series camera finally arrives! Available in either silver or black, the AA battery-powered 12.1 megapixel PowerShot A1200 has a chunkier style body with a comfortable, wide grip and is equipped with an optical viewfinder for easy framing.

Affordable Canon Performance
Canon draws on its extensive imaging expertise to ensure the PowerShot A1200 offers the strong mix of design, excellent image quality and ease of use that consumers expect from a Canon PowerShot camera. The PowerShot A1200 offers a 12.1 Megapixel sensor, allowing users to print poster size images or to creatively crop images to produce the perfect composition. 

The A1200 includes the Canon 28mm wide-angle lens, providing a 4x optical zoom range from an equivalent 35mm focal range of 28–112mm, to capture a range of subjects from wide group shots to medium portraits to close-up shots of flowers or insects.

The A1200 also features a large, 2.7 inch, 230k dot LCD screen for easy framing when shooting and for convenient browsing of already captured images. The intuitive mode dial makes accessing a range of different shooting modes quick and easy. The Hints & Tips user interface also guides users through the cameras settings to help them better understand how to use the A1200 while they use it.

Great Shots Made Easy
Equipped with Canon’s powerful DIGIC 4 image processing, the A1200 produces high-quality images with its ultra-fast response timing and a supportive array of creative and practical shooting modes. 

The A1200 also features the latest version of Canon’s Smart Auto mode– a fully-automatic shooting mode capable of detecting up to 32 different shooting scenes - making it easy for users to capture accurate, high-quality shots of any subject in all lighting conditions. Smart Auto detects subjects in a range of lighting conditions, from high contrast spot-lit portraits to colorful sunsets to landscapes with bright blue skies. Once the scene is detected, Smart Auto adjusts the camera’s settings to capture the best possible image and can automatically adapt if the image is recomposed prior to capture.

Even if your subject is moving, Smart Auto uses Face Detection technology in combination with its newly-introduced Advanced Subject Detection technology to automatically detect the main subject, whether a person or an object, and track it until the shutter is released. This allows the user to achieve a focused and well-exposed shot every time.

When shooting in locations where flash photography is restricted such as in museums, a *NEW* Discreet mode disables the flash and all the camera sounds. This allows users to capture the scene without disturbing those around them. A dedicated Blur Reduction mode is also ideal for shooting in particularly challenging low-light conditions where camera shake and subject movement can result in blurry images. This reduced resolution mode will automatically detect the subject’s movement and the brightness of the scene in order to eliminate blur and to obtain a sharp and clear result. 

In addition to the impressive stills capable of the A1200, it also features 720p HD video capture – allowing users to record scenes with high definition quality. Miniature Effect in Movie mode is also included, allowing users to capture distinctive time-lapsed footage with the scene transformed into a miniature scale model. 

Freedom to Create - Features Make Photography Fun
For those who would like to give their shots a personal touch, Live View Control mode provides the ability to manually change settings for brightness, color or tone and then to instantly see the result before the image is recorded on the LCD screen. In addition to Miniature Effect, other exciting Creative Filters include Fish-eye, Super Vivid and Poster Effect. A *NEW* Toy Camera Effect also gives images the retro appearance of pinhole camera photos, while the Monochrome Effect applies sepia, black and white and other monochromatic tones to your images.

The addition of Smart Shutter with Face Detection Technology also allows users to be placed in their own photos giving them the ability to trigger the shutter with a smile, a wink or simply after a new face enters the frame – perfect for self-portraits or group shots. 

Shoot, Organize & Share Easily
Sharing special moments with friends and family has never been easier. Owners of the PowerShot A1200 will be able to become members of the Canon Image Gateway – a 2GB free online space for you to upload and share your images and videos.

PowerShot A1200 Key Features:
• 12.1 Megapixels
• 28mm wide, 4x zoom lens
• 6.8 cm (2.7”) LCD plus optical viewfinder
• Smart Auto, Easy mode and Hints & Tips
• HD Movies (720p)
• Blur Reduction Mode
• Live View Control and Creative Filters
• Face Detection, Auto Red-Eye Correction
• DIGIC 4
• AA Batteries

Click Here For The PowerShot A1200 >>>