News

Canon launches complete XEED range of projectors (16/2/2006)

Canon today creates a complete XEED product range by launching three new projectors: the flagship XEED SX6, the XEED SX60 and the XEED X600. Building on the success of the award winning XEED SX501, the new models continue the tradition of offering seamless LCOS2 projection in a compact body at a remarkable price point, achieved through Canon's Advanced AISYS Optical System2. The new projectors incorporate greater automatic functionality, increased brightness (XEED SX6 and XEED X600) and quieter operation.

The three projectors feature:

* LCOS panels and Advanced AISYS Optical System

* Powerful output: the XEED SX6 and XEED X600 boast 3500 lumens, while the XEED SX60 features 2500 lumens

* SXGA+ resolution (XEED SX6 and XEED SX60); the XEED X600 is the world's first XGA resolution LCOS projector

* Canon powered wide-angle 1.7x zoom projection lens

* Highly automatic setup and control: Auto Vertical Keystone Correction, Auto Focus, Auto Screen Colour Correction, Auto Frame Lock, Auto Input Selection

* Price tags remarkably small for the quality offered

The XEED SX6 tops the XEED range, with specifications making it suitable for large-scale, professional projection. The XEED SX60 is next, and is suitable for business applications as well as home cinema use. The XEED X600 sits below the XEED SX50 as entry level model in the range, offering LCOS quality at an XGA price point.

"The XEED SX50 was a truly ground-breaking device, providing SXGA+ projection at a breakthrough size and price," said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. "Canon has now further advanced its projector technologies to create a complete XEED range, designed to meet the needs of different, demanding users."

Seamless, sharp and powerful

All XEED projectors use LCOS panels to deliver seamless, lattice-free images. The XEED SX6 and XEED SX60 models offer native SXGA+ (1400 x 1050) resolution to produce pin-sharp, highly detailed images. For users needing bright, seamless images without requiring SXGA+ resolution, the XEED X600 is the world's first LCOS XGA projector, offering a new level of quality at an XGA price.

The Advanced AISYS technology in all three projectors offers a high contrast ratio of 1000:1 - providing rich, deep tones and true blacks in dark areas.

With a powerful 3500 lumens, the XEED SX6 and XEED X600 are capable of projecting very bright images even in large venues, such as exhibition halls, or in environments with high ambient light levels. While the XEED SX60 features 2500 lumens, it is capable of boosting its contrast ratio when in Home Cinema Mode to 1500:1 for even richer colours when viewing in dark environments.

Increased automation

Set-up and control of the new XEED models has been made easier with a host of automated functions. The Auto Focus system measures the throw distance, projection angle and ambient temperature and sets the focus to the optimum position. Automatic Keystone Correction is available on the vertical axis, correcting trapezium distortion up to +/-20 degrees. (Manual correction is also possible on both the vertical and horizontal axes.) With Auto Input selection the projector automatically detects the active input terminal and configures itself accordingly. Auto Screen Colour correction automatically compensates for the colour of the projection surface to deliver a natural colour scheme.

Frame Lock ensures correct synchronisation between computer and projector when presenting animated slide shows, eliminating interference and horizontal banding.

Lens excellence

The powered 1.7x zoom lens can be adjusted via remote control, and allows for flexible placement of the projectors - achieving strong magnification with little distortion throughout the zoom range. The wide angle projection capability permits large image projection, even from short throw distances. The lens coating prevents ghosting and flare, maintaining optimum image quality.

Even quieter

A dramatic reduction in fan noise has been achieved in the XEED SX60, with a near-silent 27dBA in Quiet Mode. Normal Mode is just 30dBA. The XEED SX6 and XEED X600 are also quieter than earlier models: they both achieve 31dBA in Quiet Mode.

HD ready, HDCP support

With native SXGA+ resolution, both the XEED SX6 and XEED SX60 are fully capable of projecting High Definition (720p/1080i) images.

All three models are equipped with a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) port with HDCP (High Bandwidth Digital Content Protection) compatibility, ensuring that even encrypted digital content is displayed with exceptionally high quality.

Save time and money

The new XEED models all feature an 'Off and Go' function, to reduce waiting time once the projector has been turned off. When the power is switched off, the AC mains cable can be removed straight away, as the projector uses a built-in energy reserve to run the fans for its shut down cycle.

In addition to all three projectors providing outstanding value for the quality offered, the XEED SX60 is also economical to run - in Quiet Mode the lamp has an ultra-long life of up to 4000 hours.

Accurate colours

All three projectors feature an sRGB mode, ensuring colour consistency with other sRGB compliant systems. The XEED SX6 also supports Adobe RGB, to give designers and photographic professionals confidence that their colours will be projected accurately across a wider colour space.

Range summary

* XEED SX6 - top of the range, SXGA+ resolution, 3500 lumens

* XEED SX60 - SXGA+ resolution, 2500 lumens, contrast ratio boost to 1500:1 in Home Cinema mode

* XEED SX50 - the original XEED projector, SXGA+ resolution, 2500 lumens, compact size

* XEED X600 - world's first LCOS XGA projector, 3500 lumens

www.canon-europe.com