TOKYO, February 12, 2014—Canon Inc. and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. announced today the introduction to the Japanese market of the EOS Kiss X70, a new entry-level digital SLR camera that lets users easily capture impressive photos and movies.

The EOS Kiss X70 was developed to meet the needs of entry-level users who want to take better pictures with greater ease. Compared with the previously released EOS Kiss X50 (released in March 2011), the new X70 realizes significantly enhanced basic performance.

Equipped with an approximately 18-megapixel APS-C-size CMOS sensor and Canon’s high-performance DIGIC 4 image processor, the EOS Kiss X70 delivers exceptional imaging performance and a fast maximum continuous shooting speed of approximately three frames per second. Additionally, offering a maximum standard ISO of 6400 (expandable to ISO equivalent to 12800), the camera enables the capture of images with reduced noise and image blur, even in low-light conditions and when shooting a moving subject.

Because the new EOS Kiss X70 enables the shooting of Full HD video, users can create film-like high-quality movies that benefit from the impressive blur-characteristics unique to SLR cameras. And since the X70 supports a maximum ISO speed of 6400 when recording movies, users can enjoy low-noise performance even when filming dimly lit scenes.

The camera features a Scene Intelligent Auto mode that analyzes the image, accounting for faces, colors, brightness, moving objects, contrast, and even whether the camera is being handheld or on a tripod, and then chooses the exposure and enhancements that bring out the best in any scene or situation. Because the Scene Intelligent Auto mode simplifies DSLR image capture, photographers are free to concentrate on composing their shots. The X70 also offers five different creative filters for still images—Grainy B/W, Fisheye Effect, Soft Focus, Toy Camera Effect and Miniature Effect—letting users easily apply appealing effects to their photos.

Despite its enhanced feature set, the new EOS Kiss X70 maintains the same body dimensions as its predecessor while realizing a lighter body weight. Additionally, like high-end SLR cameras, the grip includes rubber sections on the front and back for optimal holding performance.

The Canon EOS Kiss X70 will go on sale in Japan in late March 2014 at an open price. Canon has set initial production at 160,000 units per month. The EOS Kiss X70 will also be made available in a lens kit package bundled with the EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II.