Canon PowerShot Pro70 (1998)

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After having marketed different cameras for beginners and regular consumers, Canon announced the PowerShot Pro70 at CeBIT 1998 and displayed it at Photokina 1998 for professional consumers (or prosumers). These cameras bridged the gap between point-and-shoot cameras and expensive DSLRs. The package contained everything one could wish for. The camera, a neckstrap, dedicated rechargeable battery packs, memory card, power cords, video and interface cables. Everything that was technically possible was cramped into this sturdy aluminum shell. The design of the camera was not a surprise and pretty much resembled the Olympus C-1000L that was issued a year earlier.

The Pro70 made it in time for X-mas 1998. It featured the same 2:3 ratio as in 35mm cameras thanks to it's 1/2" 1.6MP CCD. The list of features was sheer endless. Real-image zoom viewfinder that showed 84% of the actual scene, RAW CCD readout, sound annotations, two compact flash card slots, mechanical and eletronic shutter, TTL autofocus, TTL programmable AE and aperture-priority AE, external flash hot shoe, TTL auto white balance, 2" rotating monitor and what not.

Yes, the Pro70 was expensive but certainly worth it and not only because it was the first digital camera to sport the then upcoming Compact Flash Card Type II slot.