Expanded audio features, built-in servers and powerful zoom lenses are the highlights of Canon's newly expanded line of Network camera products, making them great solutions for webcasting, distance learning and teleconferencing needs and security monitoring.

Both the new Canon VB-C50FSi Fixed Network Camera and the new Canon VB-C50i/VB-C50iR Pan/Tilt/Zoom Network Camera feature an advanced 26X Optical Zoom Lens and a 12X Digital Zoom to enable users to capture fine detail from far distances and crisp 640-by-480-pixel resolution video with up to 30 frames-per-second quality.

The two cameras also feature a quarter-inch, 340,000-effective-pixel CCD for high-quality image capture combined with powerful low-light (1 Lux at 1/30 shutter speed) capabilities. In addition, a Motorized Infrared Cut Filter can be turned off to significantly brighten the viewing area.

The new VB-C50FSi Fixed Network Camera is designed for advanced monitoring applications best satisfied by a stationary camera, such as building entrances and ATMs. The VB-C50FSi's Power Over Ethernet (PoE) feature, which takes advantage of its IEEE 802.3af compliancy, allows the VB-C50FSi to receive both data and power through a single Ethernet cable.

For applications where a moving camera is essential, such as warehouses or large office areas, Canon's new VB-C50i/VB-C50iR Pan/Tilt/Zoom Network Camera provides a wide-ranging pan of +/-100 degrees and tilt of +90/-30 degrees to quickly survey any site (the VB-C50iR is the Camera's reverse-mount version, which features a pan of +/- 170 degrees and tilt of +10/-90 degrees).

Both the new VB-C50FSi Fixed Network Camera and the new VB-C50i/VB-C50iR Pan/Tilt/Zoom Network Camera can capture, play back, and transmit two-way audio over an IP network.

The VB-EX50 Multi-Terminal Module enables users to connect a microphone to either the VB-C50FSi Fixed Network Camera or the VB-C50i/ VB-C50iR Pan/Tilt/Zoom Network Camera to not only see the video at the camera's location but hear the audio as well (using a speaker-equipped PC and either Admin Viewer or Viewer for PC software). This feature is useful for such applications as customer-service monitoring, event Webcasting, and video conferencing.

The Canon VB-C50FSi Fixed Network Camera has a suggested list price of $1349. The Canon VB-C50i/VB-C50iR Pan/Tilt/Zoom Network Camera has a suggested list price of $1799.* The VB-EX50 has a suggested list price of $149.

The VB-C50i, VB-C50FSi, and optional VB-EX50 will be available in mid September. The reverse mounted VB-C50iR will be available in early October.