Digital Cameras and Camcorders::News, Reviews, Opinions, Rumors about the Photography Industry

Saturday

GigaPan Epic 100 hands-on and review, panorama style

You're already well aware of what GigaPan's wild camera robot is capable of when its in masterly hands, but have you ever wondered if such a device is practical for folks who don't have excellent seats for events such as Presidential inaugurations or the Arirang Mass Games? We've been toying around with an Epic 100 for the past week and change, and now that we've had a moment to upload a few of our own panoramas, we figured we'd toss our two pennies into the ring. Eager to know if this gigapixel image creator is really worth its avoirdupois in cold, hard cash? Head on past the break to find out.

Gallery: GigaPen Epic 100 hands-on

Continue reading GigaPan Epic 100 hands-on and review, panorama style

(Via Engadget.)

Samsung SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 Released in Korea

Samsung SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 Released in Korea: "

Samsung SMX-C14 and SMX-C10 Released in Korea

Korean giant Samsung has rolled out two new ergonomically designed compact digital camcorders in South Korea. Known as the SMX-C14 and SMX-C10, both camcorders feature Samsung’s Crystal Design that makes a hint of color is naturally blended into the deep black body for an attractive crystalline appearance. FYI, this technology was first introduced in the company’s line of flat panel HDTVs. [AVING]

Olympus E-450 compact DSLR gets reviewed: entry-level through and through

Momma always said you couldn't have your cake and eat it to, and we suppose it's just about time we stop resisting and just believed. Olympus' decidedly compact E-450 was recently reviewed over at PhotographyBLOG, and while image quality was satisfactory for a camera of its stature, it was indubitably missing a few key ingredients. Most notably, the inexplicable lack of image stabilization and the inability to handle video were lamented, and the rudimentary 3-point AutoFocus was called 'frankly obsolete for a 2009 model.' Indeed, critics pointed out that the E-620 would likely be a far superior choice for those who didn't mind the additional weight and cost, but even if the E-450 was at the top of your budget, we didn't really get the impression that it was a surefire winner. Check the read link for the full spill.

(Via Engadget.)

Friday

Blue and Red Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 in Japan

The blue and red Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 is now available in the Japanese market. In case you didn’t know, this camera is the world’s first digital camera that records motion image in AVCHD Lite. The AVCHD Lite realizes long time recording of high-definition motion image. The 12.7MP camera also features a high-quality Leica DC Vario Elmar 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens with a 12x optical zoom, ISO 6400, and the Venus Engine IV image processor.
[ViaAkihabara]

Canon's PowerShot D10 adventure cam shot with a bazooka in this in-depth review

The gang at Photography Blog have got their hands all over the PowerShot D10, and it looks like Canon didn't fare too badly with its first 'adventure camera.' Even if the reviewer didn't really drop it from a helicopter or shoot it with a bazooka (as we had originally hoped) the unit was found to be as intuitive, sensible, and dependable as the company's other point-and-shooters. Of course, a device with this robust of a design is going to suffer in a few areas, and the 3x, 35-135mm zoom lens and 2.5-inch display can easily be considered 'rather hum-drum' for a camera in this day and age. That said, the lens is 'quite fast,' great for underwater use, and the display is bright enough for all of your spelunking needs. The verdict? If you're going to be dropping from airplanes or scavenging sunken treasure (actually, make that 'reading on the beach' and 'taking the kids snorkeling') this summer, you could do worse than shell out $329.99 for this bad boy. Hit the read link for the usual exhaustive review.

(Via Engadget.)

Casio EX-FS10 reviewed, slides 1000 fps capture into the back pocket of your mom jeans

Casio's really blown out the feature list on the EX-FS10, and now PhotographyBLOG has taken the compact fashioncam through its paces. Sadly, like many modern compacts, straight up image quality is a bit scarce here, with obvious noise at ISO 200 and up, no optical image stabilization, and not even the silly 12 megapixel extravagance of its counterparts to blame it on -- the EX-FS10 shoots 9 megapixel stills. The HD and slow-motion video recording is also severely hampered by a lack of zoom during shooting, bad sound, and the oversized AVI format. Still, the camera is incredibly well built, very slim, and it can pull off some really wild feats -- 720p might be growing increasingly common, but 1000 fps slow motion, burst mode for stills and pre-record shutter lag adjustment make the FS10 quite unique in its category. It's obviously a tradeoff, but at least there's some good news: while the camera was supposedly slated to retail at around $450, it's hovering pretty close to $300 at the moment.

(Via Engadget.)

Nikon S630 unboxing and hands-on: pretty in pink edition

What's that, another compact digital camera unboxing? Yes, dear readers, we've got a mega-megapixel story cooking for you, and another ingredient has arrived. This time it's Nikon's Coolpix S630, a 12 megapixel, 7x optical zoom compact that features optical stabilization and a particularly vibrant hue. So far we're impressed by the camera's shape, lightness, and build quality, but this one has plenty more testing ahead of it before we make any solid conclusions. Until then, enjoy a few shots of its unveiling.

Gallery: Nikon Coolpix S630 unboxing

(Via Engadget.)

Panasonic breaking more arbitrary records with two new 1080p24 camcorders

Another day, another couple of Panasonic HD camcorders. This pair may not be the make the same 'world's lightest' (with an asterisk) claims as the entrants we saw yesterday, but each sports a dubious record of their own. First is the HDC-TM30 (pictured after the break), another 'world's lightest' cam, this one with the caveat that, at 227 grams, it's the lightest with 32GB of internal storage. It sports a 16x (44 - 706mm equivalent) optically stabilized zoom ahead of a single CMOS sensor that can record 1080p24 video. The other player, the HDC-TM350 (above), offers a bit more on the quality front and pledges the 'world's largest capacity' full HD camcorder, offering 64GB of storage. That equates to a nigh-ridiculous 16 hours of 1080p24 video shot through a stabilized 12x (45 - 540mm equivalent) lens. It even records 5.1 audio, but with the mics all placed within what looks to be a one square inch patch don't expect great channel separation here. Both are set for release in late-June for undisclosed (but hopefully non-record-breaking) prices.

[Via Akihabara News]

Panasonic's HDC-SD10 and HDC-TM10: nearly the world's lightest Full HD camcorders

'World's Lightest*,' says so right in the Panasonic press release. What's that? It's a qualified statement? Oh we see it now, it's the world's lightest Full-HD AVCHD camcorder. Well, that'll make Sanyo's lawyers happy. Anyway, the new Pannys bring SD/SDHC card support, touch-screen control, intelligent auto scene selection and AF tracking along with Panasonic's optical image stabilization to keep the shake under control while zooming in at a 16x optical max. The TM10 differs from the SD10 in that it records to 40GB of internal storage before automatically switching to SDHC/SD cards of up to 32GB. The cameras also feature a 3 second Pre-Rec function that continuously pre-records content into an internal buffer which is then added to the beginning of the clip as soon as you hit record -- never miss a goal again. Pricing in the UK is set at £529.99 for the HDC-TM10 and £499.99 for the HDC-SD10 with June availability.

[Via Pocket-lint]

Pentax K7 Digital SLR Announced

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New Pentax K7 Digital SLR It’s been over a year since Pentax introduced the K20D, their current top-of-the-line digital SLR body. Even though they did make a lot of announcements in 2008, my impression has been that things have been a little on the quiet side for Pentax in the past year. They need something big to bring the buzz back. The new 14.6-megapixel Pentax K7 DSLR should do that. Pentax system owners should be very happy and other digital SLR owners might be a little jealous. It may have taken a while for Pentax to produce a new camera. But in July, $1299 will buy you a whole lot of Pentax-badged digital SLR. And yeah - it’s got video.

Pentax K7 Digital SLR

In 2006, Pentax set themselves apart from other digital SLR makers with the introduction of the K10D, a compact, rugged, weatherproof camera featuring their in-camera Shake Reduction system. It got great reviews and offered a real alternative for photographers who wanted a high-performance digital SLR that could take some abuse and didn’t cost a fortune. The K20D followed about a year later. The new Pentax K7 inherits the design philosophy of the K10D and K20D and packs a whole lot of new features and improved performance into the smallest body in its class. It’s built around a brand new 14.6-megapixel, APS-sized CMOS sensor with Live View and 720p video capture at 30 frames-per-second. Pentax’s new PRIME II image processing engine allows a 5.2 frames-per-second capture rate and as well as improved color and smoother tonal gradations.

The new 14.6-megapixel Pentax K7 CMOS sensor

Other new features include a 77-segment exposure metering system, an electronic level, auto focus assist lamp, in-camera lens distortion and chromatic aberration correction, mirror lock-up, an in-camera HDR mode that brackets and combines three images, image composition adjustment using the Shake Reduction feature, HDMI output, and the ability to record copyright information in the camera. A new 3-inch 920k-dot LCD will be better for Live View and video shooting. The K7 has an 11-point auto focus system with improved algorithms for faster focusing and a bright, 100% viewfinder will help photographers track their subjects and compose more accurately. The built-in Shake Reduction system now detects rotational as well as X and Y-axis movement to compensate for a claimed 2.5-4 stops slower shutter speed. The camera also has a Dynamic Range setting that adjusts shadows and highlights and 16 in-camera digital filters. A new, improved battery addresses the need for more power when using Live View and shooting video.

The Pentax K7 is aimed at the Canon EOS 50D, Nikon D90, Olympus E30, and Sony Alpha A700. Competitive resolution, HD video, a 3-inch LCD, Shake Reduction and weatherproofing in the smallest body of the bunch should get people’s attention. Add the electronic level, HDR mode, 100% viewfinder and the rest of the new features and it starts to look really serious. The K10D and K20D were especially appealing to outdoor photographers who needed a compact, rugged camera they could use in any environment. The new K7 is a more than worthy follow-up and I’m pleased to see Pentax continuing what they started with the K10D. The Pentax K7 will be available in July for $1299.95 (body only). Pentax is also introducing two new weather-resistant DA lenses and a battery grip to go with the new camera. The Pentax smc DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL WR and the smc DA 50-200mm F4-5.6 ED WR will also be available in July for $199.95 and $249.95, respectively. The D-BG4 battery grip will be available at the same time for $229.95.

(Via Photography Review Blog.)

Pentax Optio E75 compact is perfect for capturing giraffes in the air or water

In the cutthroat world of compact cameras it takes a certain something special to stand out -- and we're not entirely sure that Pentax's new Optio E75 has it. The 10.2 megapixel shooter offers a CCD sensor with an ISO range of 80 - 1600 tucked behind a perfectly average 3X, 32 - 96mm equivalent, non-stabilized zoom. It has room for a 2.7-inch screen, shoots video in good 'ol VGA, has all the de rigueur face and smile detection modes, and will cost €120 (about $160) when it drops in Europe this July. No word on a domestic release, but perhaps we'll find out more next week.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

Sharp AQUOS SHOT 933SH offers 10 megapixels on a silver cellular platter

Is it a phone? Is it a camera? Does it really matter anymore? If neither the mirumo 934SH nor the Solar Hybrid 936SH are quite to your liking, feast your eyes on this other wonder from Sharp that's hitting SoftBank Mobile in Japan this summer, the AQUOS SHOT 933SH. The headlining feature on this sucker would be the massive optics combined with a 10 megapixel low-noise CCD sensor, which is made infinitely easier to use as an actual camera thanks to a rotating touchscreen display -- just flip it around, snap it facing outwards, and voilà, your old point-and-shoot is on notice. Otherwise, you've got a 3.3-inch WVGA display (perfect for viewing one-seg television) and global roaming capability, so don't be surprised if we try to smuggle one of these stateside when it launches in late May, alright?

(Via Engadget.)

Sony Cybershot W180 and W190 Digital Cameras

Sony has introduced two new Cyber-shot cameras for the European market. Dubbed as the Cyber-shot W180 and W190, both compact digital cameras boast Sony’s smile shutter technology, 3x zoom stabilized with SteadyShot, 2.7-inch LCD, ISO 3200 sensitivity, and 7 automatic scene selection modes. The W180 comes with a 10.1MP sensor, meanwhile the W190 has a 12.1MP sensor. No word on pricing so far.

(Via The Digital Camera Blog.)

Sony Korea Releases Its Ultra-Light Premium Full HD Handycam

Sony Korea is out with their new ultra-light premium full HD handycam in the form of the HDR-TG5V for the Korean market. Weighing only 220g, this ultra-light camcorder is capable of capturing 1920 x 1080 high-definition video as well as 4-megapixel digital still images and features a 2.7-inch wide LCD touch panel, a professional-quality Carl Zeiss Vaio-Tessar lens, a 10X optical zoom, a BIONZ Image Processor, a 16GB of flash memory, a Memory Stick PRO Duo card slot, a built-in GPS and NAVTEQ digital maps and a built-in flash. The HDR-TG5V is priced between 1,598,000 KRW ($1,265) and 1,668,000 KRW ($1,324).
[AVING]

Sony's Alpha 230, 330 and 380 DSLRs get flood of official pics

Sony's latest mainstream DSLRs cameras got the seal of officialness this past Saturday, and now the company's added some icing to the cake by releasing of plethora of pictures for its α230, α330, and α380. Direct your eyes lovingly at the articulating screens and SD/SDHC card slots in the gallery below. Pre-orders for the trio are supposed to start today at Sony's official retail site, but as of this writing, they're not yet there.

Gallery: Sony's Alpha 230, 330 and 380 DSLRs get flood of official pics

(Via Engadget.)

ViewSonic intros 7-, 8- and 10.4-inch VFD20 series digiframes

Nine new ones not enough for you? Not if you're ViewSonic, who just came clean with three more in its rapidly expanding digital photo frame lineup. The 10.4-inch VFD1020, 8-inch VFD820 and 7-inch VFD720 make up the new TrueView line, which offers up a 4:3 aspect ratio and 2GB of internal memory. As for resolutions, the smaller two do their thing at 800 x 600, while the June-bound VFD1020 will kick things up to 1,024 x 768. Naturally, there's a multicard reader for loading multimedia, and the USB 2.0 port is bound to make friends with your impenetrable Iron Drive. The trio also ships with a remote control from mixing things up from afar, with prices set for $129.99, $89.99 and $79.99 in order of mention.

Gallery: ViewSonic intros 7-, 8- and 10.4-inch VFD20 series digiframes

(Via Engadget.)

Monday

Vacations......

Dear Readers,

I'm going out for vacations.....I will return on May 22nd.
Please, stay tuned for more news, reviews and photos....

See you soon....

Mavilonus

Sunday

ZOOM Q3 Mini Camcorder

ZOOM has showed off its Q3 mini camcorder during Musikmesse 2009 in Frankfurt, Germany. The video camera adopts a 2.4-inch LCD display and can record up to 60 minutes of video onto a built-in 2GB SD card. No info on pricing or availability at this time, Stay tuned for more updates. [AVING]

Friday

Canon EOS Rebel T1i impressions, head-to-head with Nikon D5000

Make no mistake about it, the low / mid-range DSLR battle of early 2009 is on. Just over a month ago, Canon shook up the entry-level DSLR game with a shooter that packed a 1080p video mode, a 15.1 megapixel sensor and a price tag well below the magical $1,000 mark. Right around a fortnight later, Nikon not-at-all-coincidentally issued a new shooter in its own range, one that was no doubt built to rival the previously mentioned EOS Rebel T1i. Just this week, both of these bad boys showed up on our doorstep, and we've spent every waking minute since mashing buttons and capturing memories in order to give you our take on the pair. Care to hear more? Jump on past the break... and be sure to leave your fanboy suit at the door.

Gallery: Canon EOS Rebel T1i hands-on