By Patrick Avenell

SYDNEY, NSW: Canon yesterday announced the release of four new digital compact cameras across its IXUS and PowerShot brand ranges.

The new cameras will all available in stores before the end of this month, though pricing is not yet confirmed.

The new PowerShot Super Zoom compact camera (SX210 IS) is a 14.1-megapixel camera with a 14x optical zoom, 28-millimetre wide angle lens, HD movie recording and a 3-inch wide LCD screen. Advanced features of this model include Smile Smart Shutter, which enables the camera to automatically capture images when it recognises someone smiling; Wink Self Timer, an amusing inclusion, in which the camera will recognise winking as the signal to take a photo; and Face Self Timer, in which the camera takes a group photo when it recognises the photographer joining the group.

Also new to Canon’s broader digital compact range are three new IXUS cameras. This range is designed to be more fashionable and fun than the more powerful PowerShot range, and these cameras are described as “slim” and “stylish”.

New to this range is the IXUS 130 IS, a 14.1-megapixel camera with 4x optical zoom. This model also features Smile Smart Shutter, Wink Self Timer and Face Self Timer. It has a 28-millimetre wide angle lens and a 2.7-inch LCD screen. This model is available in silver, black and pink.

The IXUS 210 IS also shoots at 14.1 megapixels but with 5x optical zoom. The touchscreen LCD is 3.5 inches wide, and features include Intelligent Auto, Intelligent Flash Exposure and Smart Shutter.

The entry level model in this range is the IXUS 105 IS. This model is 12.1 megapixels and has a 28-millimetre wide angle lens with 4x optical zoom.