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Latest Digital Camera News and Reviews
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{ Friday, January 27, 2012 } |
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It's taken longer than I would've liked, but I'm finally able to bring you my review of the Sony Alpha NEX-5N interchangeable lens camera. Is it the compact ILC that everyone's been waiting for? Find out in our review! |
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{ Wednesday, January 25, 2012 } |
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Pentax has announced a new compact super zoom camera, the Optio VS20. This camera packs a 20X zoom lens into a pretty small package, and it also has additional controls for portrait shooting -- something you won't find on other compacts. Here's more:
Optio VS20 [specs to come]
- 16 Megapixel CCD
- F3.1-4.8, 20X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28 - 560 mm
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3-inch LCD display with 460,000 pixels and a 170 degree viewing angle
- Has additional zoom controller and shutter release button for portrait shooting; there's also a second tripod mount for shooting vertically
- Point-and-shoot operation; Auto Picture mode selects a scene mode for you
- Plenty of scene modes and special effects (fisheye, sketch, etc)
- Electronic level
- New Auto Face Recognition feature
- Records 720p video at 30 frames/sec
- Optional wireless remote
- 16MB onboard memory + SD/SDHC/SDXC card
- Uses D-LI122 lithium-ion battery, 200 shots per charge
- Available in "noble black" and "brilliant white"
- Arrives in stores next month for $250
continue reading » |
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{ Thursday, January 19, 2012 } |
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Kodak has officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which we reported on two weeks ago. The company has obtained $950 million in financing from Citigroup, and believes that they will be able to operate normally until their reorganization is complete in 2013. More information can be found at kodaktransforms.com. |
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{ Tuesday, January 10, 2012 } |
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Here are a couple of Samsung cameras that I didn't get a chance to mention yesterday. All three of these models are equipped with big zoom lenses -- and Wi-Fi. The top-end model also features a GPS and "Live Landmark" feature (which lets you download maps and info on the go), making it quite the travel camera.
As is usually the case with Samsung cameras, I have virtually no information about these cameras. Here's what I can tell you:
Samsung ST200F
- 16.0 Megapixel CCD
- F3.1-5.6, 10X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 27 - 270 mm
- Optical image stabilization
- Built-in Wi-Fi, for sharing photos on Facebook/YouTube/etc, or uploading to free cloud storage from Samsung and Microsoft; users can also automatically back up photos to their PC wirelessly
- 3-inch LCD display
- Point-and-shoot operation
- Live (sweep) Panorama feature
- Motion Photo lets "one element of a normal photograph come to life and keep moving while the rest of the frame stays still"
- Records video at 720p with sound
- Ships in February for $199
Samsung WB150F - changes:
- 14.2 Megapixel CCD
- F3.2-5.8, 18X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 24 - 432 mm
- 3-inch AMOLED display
- Full manual controls
- Available this month for $229
Samsung WB850F - changes:
- 16.2 Megapixel, back-illuminated CMOS sensor
- F2.8-5.9, 21X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 23 - 483 mm
- Built-in GPS with compass; users can download maps and the camera can point you toward landmarks
- Records Full HD video at 1080/30p or 1080/60i with stereo sound
- Coming in April for $379
continue reading » |
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The other two Samsung cameras from yesterday are entry-level models that will apparently "deliver flawless images", according to the press release. Unfortunately, the press release doesn't give you any useful specs, nor does it differentiate between the two models! Here's what I was able to dig up:
Samsung ST66
- 16 Megapixel CCD
- F2.5-6.3, 5X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 25 - 125 mm
- 2.7" LCD display
- Point-and-shoot operation, with Smart Auto mode
- Plenty of special effects, plus Live Panorama mode
- 720p video recording
- Available in a variety of colors
- Ships in March for $119
Samsung ST76
- Optical image stabilization (I think)
- Priced at $129
continue reading » |
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{ Monday, January 9, 2012 } |
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Olympus is announcing five new cameras at CES, and I'm going to split them into three news items. First, let's start with ultra zooms. Surprisingly, it's the smaller of the two cameras which has the most powerful lens!
SP-620UZ [specs]
- 16 Megapixel CCD
- F3.1-5.8, 21X optical zoom, equivalent to 25 - 525 mm
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3-inch LCD display with 230,000 pixels
- Point-and-shoot operation, with scene-selecting iAuto mode
- Numerous "Magic Filters" (special effects)
- In-camera panorama stitching and 3D still capability
- Scary-sounding Beauty Make-up Mode lets you "apply everything from eyeliner to eye shadow and rouge" and "even lift cheekbones"
- Records 720p video with sound using the H.264 codec
- Unknown amount of onboard memory + SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
- Uses four AA batteries; battery life not available
- Available in silver and black
- Shipping this month for $199
SZ-12 [specs] - changes:
- 14 Megapixel CCD
- F3.0-6.9 (!), 24X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 25 - 600 mm
- 3-inch LCD has 460,000 pixels
- Continuous shooting at 7 frames/sec (at what resolution, I don't know)
- Ultra-compact aluminum body, comes in silver, black and red
- Uses NB-50B lithium-ion battery, 220 shots per charge
- Ships in March for $199
continue reading » |
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Next up is Olympus' newest rugged camera, the low-priced TG-320:
TG-320 [specs]
- 14 Megapixel CCD
- F3.5-5.1, 3.6X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28 - 102 mm
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- Rugged body is waterproof to 10 feet, shockproof from 5 feet, freezeproof to +14F, and dustproof
- 2.7" LCD display with 230,000 pixels
- Point-and-shoot operation, with iAuto mode
- Plenty of Magic Filters, plus 3D still capability
- Records 720p video with sound using the H.264 codec
- 19.5MB onboard memory + SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot
- Uses LI-42B li-ion battery, 150 shots per charge (I think)
- Available in red and blue
- Coming in February for $179
continue reading » |
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The last Olympus cameras for today are two entry-level models: the VG-160 and VR-340. After these bullet points, my fingers have the rest of the day off!
VG-160 [specs]
- 14 Megapixel CCD
- F2.8-6.5, 5X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 26 - 130 mm
- Ultra-compact body, comes in silver, black, red, and orange
- 3-inch LCD with 230,000 pixels
- Point-and-shoot operation with iAuto mode
- Plenty of Magic Filters, including a new "punk" mode!
- Records 720p video with sound using Motion JPEG codec
- 49MB onboard memory + SD/SDHC card slot
- Uses the LI-70B li-ion battery, 160 shots per charge
- Shipping next month for $99
VR-340 [specs]
- 16 Megapixel CCD
- F3.0-5.7, 10X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 24 - 240 mm
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3-inch LCD has 460,000 pixels
- Beauty Make-up Mode!
- Support for SDXC cards (I'm not sure how much internal memory this one has)
- Uses LI-50B li-ion battery; battery life not available
- Available in white, silver, black, purple, and red
- Ships in March for $149
continue reading » |
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Sony is announcing a trio of entry-level cameras at CES, as well. They include:
Cyber-shot DSC-W610 [specs]
- 14.1 Megapixel CCD
- F2.8-5.9, 4X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 26 - 105 mm
- 2.7" LCD display with 230,000 pixels
- Point-and-shoot operation, with scene-selecting Intelligent Auto mode
- New 360 degree Sweep Panorama feature
- VGA movie mode
- 21MB onboard memory + Memory Stick Pro Duo / SD card slot
- Uses NP-BN1 lithium-ion battery, 250 shots per charge
- Comes in silver, black, pink, green, and blue
- Available this month for $110
Cyber-shot DSC-W620 [specs] - changes:
- F3.2-6.5, 5X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28 - 140 mm
- Four Picture Effects: toy camera, partial color, pop color, and soft high key
- 720p movie mode using M-JPEG codec
- 28MB onboard memory
- 220 shots per charge
- Available in silver, black, and red
- Ships next month for $120
Cyber-shot DSC-W650 [specs] - changes:
- 16.1 Megapixel CCD
- F2.6-6.3, 5X optical zoom lens, equivalent 25 - 125 mm; unlike the previous models, this lens carries the Carl Zeiss label
- Optical image stabilization
- Uses MPEG-4 codec for movies
- 27MB onboard memory
- Also available in silver, black, and red
- Ships next month for $140 (price corrected from original news item)
continue reading » |
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