Canon Unveils T3, T3i, and New PowerShot Cameras

Canon took advantage of the CP+ photo trade show in Yokohama, Japan to announce six new digital cameras. The Rebel T3i is joined by the T3, SX230 HS, 500 HS, 300 HS, and 100 HS. These updates to the popular T2i, XS, and PowerShot lineup have plenty of juicy upgrades for Canon fans and will hit store shelves in March.

We spent some quality time with the T3i during a recent trip to New York and were eager to try out some of the camera's new features. As an upgrade to our 2010 Budget DSLR of the Year, the T3i takes many of the highlights from the 60D and packs them into the more compact Rebel form factor. The T3i has a built-in integrated Speedlite, rotatable LCD, improved auto modes, and enhanced video features. Read our hands-on first impressions review of the T3i to see sample photos and get the nitty gritty details.

The Rebel T3 replaces Canon's low-end 2009 model, the Rebel XS. The T3 ships with an updated 18-55mm lens and shoots 720/30p HD video. The T3 features a 12-megapixel sensor and DIGIC 4 processor, as well as an expanded exposure compensation range and improved auto modes. These are all significant steps up for the entry-level Rebel.

The additions to Canon's point-and-shoot lineup include the GPS-enabled SX230 HS, as well as other models in the newly minted HS series. All four cameras have a 12-megapixel sensor, but come with a variety of features to fit a variety of price points. The SX230 HS has a 3-inch, 460k LCD and shoots 1080p HD video. The built-in GPS records latitude and longitude in the photo's EXIF data.

The 500 HS features a F2.0 24mm wide angle lens with 4.4x optical zoom and optical image stabilization. The star of the hardware, however, is the 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD that opens up a range of new options, including touch shutter. The 300 HS, which replaces the SD1400 IS, has a 24mm wide angle lens with 5x optical zoom and optical image stabilization. It has a more modest 2.7-inch LCD, but it's also the world's thinnest 5x optical zoom camera: the 300 HS is just 24mm thick. At the bottom of the lineup is the small and affordable 100 HS, which packs a lot of features into a modest price point. There's a 28mm lens with 4x optical zoom and optical image stabilization, the ability to shoot full HD video, and a 3-inch LCD.

All six new models will be available in March, with the 100 HS most likely to arrive first. This entry-level point-and-shoot will retail for an MSRP of $199.99 in five different colors: orange, pink, gray, silver, and blue. The T3 and T3i will follow, each shipping with an 18-55mm kit lens for an MSRP of $599.99 and $899.99, respectively. At the end of March, we'll see the SX230 HS, 500 HS, and 300 HS for $349.99, $299.99, and $249.99. The 500 HS will ship in silver, brown, and pink, while the 300 HS will be available in silver, black, and red.

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