Traduction de Manuel M

First press article presentation of this camera, by Phot' Argus, in November 1988, following Photokina.


Canon becomes established itself very firmly in photovidéo with four film cameras and a whole range of peripherals. As for the other brands, the vocation general public of certain materials is muzzled by the standard NTSC which restrict the access to the pros and institutional.

This extra flat camera of the type “jumelle” is the great innovation of the brand. So new that the big-boss cautiously brought to it his for the press conference, and hastened to take back it as soon as the aforementioned conference completed. Rare are those, like Gerard Bouhot, which were “Portraitisés” in private demonstration, by that of Hiro Hashimura Manager of Amsterdam… In spite of its miniaturization, this RC-250 is at the same time recorder and reader, which makes it possible to connect it to a television set (NTSC!) without another form of process to view the images. The useless exposures can be erased to make place on the photodisquette. 50 images can be recorded, according to the Hi-Band standard. Sensor CCC 1/2” 412,000 pixels. Fix-focus lens 11 mm f/2,8 ensuring a minimal neatness from 1 meter. Macro position allowing to photograph to 30 cm of the surface of the CCD. Direct adjustable eyepiece viewfinder from -4 to +2 dioptres. Programmed central shutter offering automatic speeds of 1/30 to 1/500 S. Synchro X to the 1/125 S (the built-in flash is brought automatically into service when the luminosity goes down below IL 8). Automatic exposure adjusted by a cell silicon not TTL, coupled IL 8 to 18 (equivalent sensitivity 100 ISO). Back-light corrector + 1.5 IL. Balance of automatic white by an external cell. Catch of sight, sight by sight, or at 3 images maximum /seconde. Self-timer 10 seconds. Displaying of the datas on ACL (number of track, mode of catch of sight, statement of the photodisquette and the accumulator). Recall of burn up and under-exposure in the viewfinder by LED. An accumulator entirely charged can ensure an autonomy of 500 exposures without flash, or 10 minutes of reading.

Other interesting functions offered by the RC-250: the rotation of the drive is stopped automatically if the same track (image) has been read uninterrupted for more than 2 minutes (with accumulator BP-4P) or 15 minutes (with the charger sector BA-24P), in a concern natural to preserve energy. It is enough to press the shutter release to reactivate the reading.
The erasure produced with each pressure of the shutter release when the corresponding key is activated (the system photovidéo not authorizing the recording of an occupied track, it is necessary as a preliminary erasing the tracks that one wants to re-use, by security). And all that weighs only 525 grams with battery (available in black or white).
During the reading of long time, one uses a cable of adaptation sector (false battery at one end, in the middle, receptacle receiving the battery to be recharged, and of this receptacle cables to connect with the antenna of a television set… NTSC).

The lens 2,8/11 mm corresponds to a 60 mm of 24 X 36.

This camera appears sometimes with the name of Zap Shot (USA) or Q-PIC (Japan). The name ION means “Interactive Online Network”.

During its launching, this camera cost 5900 francs.