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Canon PowerShot A3300 IS Digital Camera

Just ordered this little chap :

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS Digital Camera – Blue (16.0 MP, 5x Optical Zoom) 3.0 inch TFT LCD.

*16.0 Megapixel camera with metal body
*28mm wide-angle, 5x optical zoom Canon lens with optical Image Stabilizer
*Large 7.5 cm (3.0″) LCD with Hints & Tips for easy shooting
*HD Movies (720p) with Dynamic IS for steady video when walking
*People shots made easy with Face Detection, FaceSelf-Timer and Auto Red-Eye Correction

Easy point and shoot with 3″ LCD screen, 5x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens and HD movie capability

The PowerShot A3300 IS combines ease of use with an IXUS inspired, new slim design. Compact enough to fit in your pocket, it also features a smart stylish metal exterior – perfect for you to take wherever you go. It’s also packed with a wide range of features making it the perfect choice for those that want the ideal combination of style and convenience. Features include:

*5x optical zoom
*Dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer for steady recordings
*28mm wide-angle lens
*HD movie recording
*3″ LCD screen
*16 Megapixels
*Smart Auto with new Advanced Scene Detection for great results in 32 different default situations
*Easy Mode which allows children to take great shots with the push of a single button
*Face Detection Technologies which can simultaneously detect the faces of up to 35 individuals in a single frame with high speed auto focusing
*Range of control and creative options which can take your photography skills to the next level
*Discreet Mode for use where flash photography is prohibited
*Live View Control Mode for optional manual setting controls
*Face Detection Self-Timer for those tricky to shoot self-portraits
*Automatic Red Eye Correction and Low Light mode and Canon’s i-Contrast correction offering improved contrast and even greater detail

Record fast-paced, full High Definition movies with stereo sound

For moments that are better caught on video, the PowerShot A3300 IS offers advanced video performance with the capability to record HD movies at 720p. Optical zoom is available during shooting, allowing speeds of up to 30 frames per second – and stereo sound guarantees clear, CD quality audio every time.

The lens’ quiet motor allows you to zoom during recording with minimum audio interference, while the intelligent Dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer is designed to reduce the effects of camera shake if you need to move with your scene. Using the various shooting modes in movie can add an interesting dynamic to your footage. Miniature Mode, for example, adds a completely new dimension to video – resulting in dramatic and compelling miniature-style, time-lapse videos.

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS Digital Camera

Canon PowerShot A3300 IS Digital Camera

Effortless shooting – superb results

When you’re taking pictures, the only thing you want to think about is your subject so, the effortless PowerShot A3300 IS offers two simple shooting modes – Smart Auto and Easy mode.

Smart Auto mode allows the camera to intelligently select the appropriate settings so you can concentrate on your subject. Advanced Scene Detection Technology automatically analyses shooting conditions – detecting people, distance, brightness, colour and movement information – then selects the one that offers the perfect setting from 32 specially defined scenes. So whether you’re photographing flowers, a captivating sunset or friends in the park you can be confident you’re getting the perfect image. Smart Auto is also more than just scene detection. With moving subjects Servo Auto Focus/Auto Exposure (AF/AE) is in continuous operation so your subjects are always in focus and correctly exposed. For close-ups the camera automatically switches to Macro mode for sharp shots while Smart Flash Exposure optimises exposure and flash controls to ensure your subject is perfectly lit whilst dark and light areas are accurately reproduced.

In Easy mode the camera automatically selects all the camera settings deactivating all buttons except those used for shooting – ideal for beginners or children.

Choice of manual shooting modes

With the PowerShot A3300 IS, you have the option of selecting from a range of manual shooting modes that you can count on for exact focus no matter where your subject is in the frame. Simply select the mode you want and let the camera take care of everything else, ensuring breathtaking, exhilarating pictures even when shooting conditions are tough. There are also two photo effect modes: Super Vivid, which adds vibrant colours to photos for a dramatic result; and Poster Effect, which gives a retro feel to photos by creating a poster-like effect.


In addition, it offers a new mode, Live View Control Mode. As well as the automatic technology this camera offers, it also allows some basic manual control over visual effects with easy operations displayed onscreen.

The 5x optical zoom allows for a wide range of framing options and lets you get up close and personal with far away objects. Camera shake can be an issue with zoom lenses but Canon’s market-leading Dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer makes sure that you can capture steady shots throughout the zoom range.

The PowerShot A3300 IS features a new Discreet Mode function which is designed for you to quickly and easily shoot in locations where flash photography is prohibited like art galleries and museums.

Alternatively, it also features a Low-Light mode for use in places such as parties and candlelit restaurants where you don’t want to use a flash – automatically allowing you to capture atmospheric shots.

Meanwhile Canon’s i-Contrast feature offers improved contrast and greater detail in tricky lighting conditions. Available in either shooting or playback mode, i-Contrast analyses the exposure, dynamic range and other image characteristics of a shot then adaptively increases the contrast in dark areas to produce heightened detail in those regions. It does this without blowing out correctly exposed parts of the image, while the camera’s noise reduction technology ensures minimal noise in the adjusted areas.

The PowerShot A3300 IS runs off an intelligent rechargeable Li-ion battery that will give you hours of shooting pleasure and is quick and easy to recharge.

As well as taking fantastic still pictures the PowerShot A3300 IS allows you to capture smooth 30fps VGA video clips. For fast and easy uploading of your clips to sharing websites like YouTube™, Easy Web Upload software (PIXELA) is included free in the box. This displays your SD clips and can store your YouTube™ login details, so you can just select your clip and upload with one click.

With Face Detection, up to 35 faces can be detected in each shot whilst focus, exposure, flash setting and white balance are all automatically adjusted for optimal results with natural-looking skin tones. Face Select & Track allows a single face in a crowd to be selected and tracked as the main subject while a Face Detection Self-Timer also makes group photos and self-portraits easy. Once the shot is set up, the shutter pressed and the self-timer starts the camera records the number of faces detected in the frame. It then waits for an extra face to join the frame and adjusts focus and exposure before it takes the picture.

Motion Detection Technology uses changes in scene information and scene brightness to accurately identify subject motion. The optimal ISO level is then set automatically to minimise blur and maximise image quality.

Automatic Red-Eye Correction is available in both shooting and playback mode and accurately removes the red-eye effect caused by the flash.

The lens is the most important part of any imaging device and all Canon cameras incorporate lenses designed and manufactured by Canon to the most exacting standards – lenses based on over 70 years of experience.

The outstanding quality of Canon lenses is underscored by their use in most broadcast applications. For example programmes like Coronation Street, Casualty and X Factor, nature documentaries like The Blue Planet and Life, as well as the majority of outside broadcasts in the UK, are all recorded using Canon’s state-of-the-art broadcast lenses.

Nintendo 3DS set for March release in Europe

Nintendo has announced that its 3DS handheld console will arrive in Japan on February 26 – with European and US launch dates following in March. The device, which provides a stereoscopic 3D effect without the need for glasses, will get a Japanese price point of ¥25000 (£188).

There’s no word on a UK price yet, but industry new source MCV predicts it’ll be £199. The veteran hardware manufacturer expects to shift four million units by the end of March 2011, with game sales of up to 15 million.

The design of the console will be virtually unchanged since its appearance at the E3 event in June (read our hands-on responses here and here). Nintendo has, however, shown off a telescopic metal stylus that will accompany the hardware.

Nintendo 3ds

Nintendo 3ds

During this week’s Nintendo Conference the company has also revealed details of software and services available with the device, including a selection of augmented reality mini-games and ‘Mii Studio’, which allows gamers to create personalised Mii avatars based around self-portraits snapped with the 3DS camera. There will also be a retro gaming service, like the Wii’s Virtual Console, allowing owners to download classic Game Boy, Game Boy Colour and Game Boy Advance titles.

However, the delay to the expected 3DS launch, originally slotted for this Winter, has seen Nintendo slashing its profit forecast for the financial year. Net revenues are expected to be Y90 billion, down from Y200bn last year.


Despite the downbeat profit forecast, the company was still bullish over sales expectations for the 3D device, predicting sales of four million devices in its first month.

The group is backing the 3DS to boost sales, as the initial DS – which was launched six years ago – and its Wii console have lost momentum. It also faces increased competition from gaming on smartphones.

The 3DS was unveiled at the gaming industry showpiece event E3 in Los Angeles, this June.

At the analysts presentation yesterday, Mr Iwata also revealed Nintendo has a partnership with Fuji TV to stream 3D video content to the handheld.

Nintendo 3ds

Nintendo 3ds

The console market is increasingly competitive, as Sony and Microsoft are set to launch motion-sensing gaming to rival Nintendo’s Wii in time for Christmas.

* Top half is made up of 2 LCD screens
* They are layered on top of one another
* One image is sent to user’s left eye
* One image is sent to user’s right eye
* This creates 3D image without glasses

Company bosses are hoping its unique selling point of being able to play games and watch films in 3D without special glasses will be enough to win over gamers.

It will face stiff competition in the video game market from both of its main rivals.

Sony has already released its new Playstation Move controller.

While Xbox is confident its Kinect add-on will provide gamers with an entirely different way of playing video games.

It uses a motion capture system which translates people’s body movements into game play.

Bosses at Nintendo will be hoping for early signs of strong sales from the 3DS.

Nintendo 3ds

Nintendo 3ds

Over recent months the number of DS models and Wii being sold has started to drop off.

Despite getting good reviews during its unveiling at E3 the company’s President Satoru Iwata says he’s not complacent.

“The 3DS was very well received at E3 but… one problem is that you can’t understand it without trying it out”.

Spokesman Rob Saunders added: “The company has never worked so hard on a new product launch”.

“We’ve got over 70 games currently in development for it. Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil, Mario, they’re all coming.

“What you’re seeing, I think, is games developers really getting to grips with 3D for the first time.

“Giving gamers something they really haven’t seen before which, without the glasses, truly is a revolution.”