Feb 22: Canon PowerShot TX1

The Canon Powershot TX1 is one of the more interesting cameras to be released in the last week. It has the look and feel of a video camera but brings together movie and still photography into the one body.

In movie mode the TX1 features HDTV (1280x720 pixels) at up to 30 frames per second and as a still camera it has a 7.1 megapixel sensor and 10x optical zoom lens.

It features DIGIC III, Face Detection and Red-Eye Correction, noise reduction and ISO of up to 1600.

The Canon Powershot TX1 will retail for $499.99 USD.

Get a price on the Canon PowerShot TX-1

Canon Powershot TX1 Press Release

ELPH-Sized Footprint and Vertical Profile Offer Huge Hints of PowerShot TX1's Double-Duty Photo and HD Video Capabilities

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., February 21, 2007 – At first glance Canon's new 7.1 megapixel PowerShot TX1 digital camera looks familiar...pocket-sized, stainless steel case with textured accents and enough cutting-edge photo technology to make one wonder how they got all that functionality into that deck of playing cards-sized package. Indeed, this compact camera fits in just as well at a football game or a family function; in a small evening bag for a night on the town, or the pocket of a dress shirt, and is as much at home on a business trip as it is on a hard-earned weekend getaway.

At second glance, the mystery of how they got all that functionality into that really small space deepens. Augmented by a simple press of the power button - this digital camera comes alive and the family resemblance to not one, but many of Canon's crowning camera achievements becomes immediately apparent...a stainless-steel barrier on the camera's leading-edge slides away to unleash the PowerShot TX1 digital camera's formidable (and optically image-stabilized) 10x optical zoom lens that glides smoothly from its resting place into the open air. Unfold a simple yet securely hinged housing, and an 115,000-pixel Vari-Angle LCD screen is freed to swivel camcorder-like from the PowerShot TX1 digital camera's side.

This digital dynamo even adds a 30 fps High Definition (HD) 720p widescreen (16:9) capability to its movie mode at the press of a button. What's more, the PowerShot TX1 digital camera has easy connectivity to play its movies or high quality stills back on high-def TVs, thanks to Canon's thoughtful inclusion of a convenient component video output terminal.

"We developed the PowerShot TX1 digital camera for people who appreciate its vast technological advances in both still and movie digital imaging and developed one, very compact, very powerful, very easy to use camera that provides high-resolution still images and HD movie capabilities as well," states Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc. "The PowerShot TX1 digital camera is the fulfillment of Canon's innovative thinking and vision that mixes the best of photography and video features like never before."

Optical Image Stabilization
Given the impressive and extensive range of the PowerShot TX1 digital camera's 10x optical zoom lens (39mm -390mm equivalent), Canon included its advanced optical image stabilization (OIS) system that helps to significantly reduce the blurring effects of camera shake that can occur at long zoom settings or during long exposures. Superior to electronic IS systems that simply use software to mask movement, this OIS system actually shifts the lens to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images and smooth movies, when the camera is hand-held or in low-light conditions.

DIGIC III
The "brain" of this new PowerShot camera is DIGIC III, the newest iteration of Canon's ultra-efficient (and proprietary) image processor. The new gold standard on all new Canon cameras, the DIGIC III image processor accounts for the camera's higher performance levels including faster start up, autofocus and shutter response times, improved image quality and more efficient power consumption; resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting conditions.

Advanced Face Detection and Red-Eye Correction
With Canon's new Face Detection AF/AE/FE function, the camera can detect, lock on, and track multiple human faces in a scene. The face detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces (based on Canon's Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to help ensure the best possible results for even easier picture taking moments. The result is flattering portraits and group shots where all of the subjects are in clearer focus and accurately exposed. Compared to previous Canon cameras with Face Detection technology, the PowerShot TX1 digital camera adds several improvements, including the ability to use the function for movies as well as still images, the ability to detect faces that are further away or not aimed directly at the camera, and better control of flash exposure.

Working with the camera's Face Detection technology, Canon's new Red-eye Correction feature helps detect and corrects, during playback mode, that bothersome by-product of flash photography. Images can be corrected manually while viewing photos on the LCD screen to help vanquish red-eye, once and for all. Because most images will no longer require laborious post-processing with a computer, the new in-camera Red-eye Correction feature is ideal for direct printing.

Aaand...Action!
The versatile PowerShot TX1 digital camera helps users to shoot home movies that can look like the next Hollywood blockbuster while recording CD quality Stereo Sound, in 44 KHz. In fact, consumers can take full advantage of the 10x optical zoom lens and image stabilization while shooting movies, which is a rare feature in most digital cameras. In addition to recording widescreen 720p HD movies at a rate of 30 fps for stunning High Definition clarity, the TX1 digital camera shoots high-quality VGA (640 x 480 pixels) movies at 30 fps (in a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio) and has the option of shooting at 30 fps or 60 fps in the QVGA 320 x 240-pixel setting (also in 4:3 format).

ISO-Metrics
As an added benefit of the DIGIC III image processor's more aggressive noise reduction, the PowerShot TX1 digital camera can shoot at ISO equivalent speed ratings from 80 to as high as 1600. This increased sensitivity at the top-end allows users to select faster shutter speeds, adding additional stability and reducing the danger of camera shake and subject blur during hand held, low-light photography. What's more, the TX1 digital camera offers users the option of Canon's new "Auto ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can accurately increase the ISO up to 800, further offsetting camera shake due to low-light or unsteady shooting conditions.

In the Mode
The PowerShot TX1 digital camera comes equipped with 14 shooting modes, expertly allowing for a myriad of different photo preferences and conditions including Automatic, Camera Manual, Super Macro for close-up work, Color Accent, Color Swap, Stitch-Assist, Movie (including HD), and seven Special Scene Modes: Portrait, Night Snapshot, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach and Aquarium.

Still Images and Video: The Best of Both Worlds With MovieSnap
Newly adapted for the PowerShot TX1 digital camera's 7.1 megapixel CCD image sensor, MovieSnap enables users to capture high-resolution still images while recording movies, helping to ensure that milestone memories are preserved for picture frames, photo albums and e-mail sharing as well as for video viewing.

True to its multi-use design, the PowerShot TX1 digital camera's wide-viewing angle, Vari-Angle LCD screen swings out, permitting the user to compose shots from virtually any position, such as over-the-head or under the knees, while the display screen's 15-level brightness adjustment makes it easier to view images under a variety of real-world lighting conditions. A new multi-layer coating on the surface of the screen is glare and scratch resistant, and provides enhanced resistance to dust and fingerprints.

Which End Is Up?
Clearly, not all images are vertical, even those taken with a vertically-designed camera. Switching back and forth to accommodate preferred composition used to require flipping the images in playback in order to view them. Now, Canon's on-board Intelligent Orientation Sensor automatically detects whether the camera is being held vertically or horizontally, so PowerShot TX1 digital camera users have the freedom to shoot and share their photos quickly and with incomparable ease.

Windows Vista Ready
As one of Microsoft's Premier Launch Partners, Canon is proud to announce that all PowerShot digital cameras announced in 2007 including the PowerShot TX1 digital camera are Certified for Windows Vista according to Microsoft standards, without any extra downloads or upgrades. Additionally, all current models are fully compatible with other operating systems including Windows XP and Mac OS X (Versions 10.2 - 10.4). The PowerShot TX1 digital camera will be supplied with Digital Solutions Disk V.30, which contains the latest versions of Canon's powerful yet easy-to-use imaging software, including ZoomBrowser EX 5.8 and ImageBrowser 5.8 Both of these programs support One-Touch Downloading via the TX1 camera's Print/Share button, which illuminates in bright blue when the camera is connected to a compatible device via USB.

The PowerShot TX1 digital camera accommodates standard SD memory cards and the new, high-capacity SDHC memory cards as well as MultiMedia and MMCplus cards. In stores beginning in March 2007, the camera kit includes a Lithium-ion rechargeable battery and battery charger, a 32MB MMC plus memory card, a USB interface cable, stereo AV cable for audio/video output, and a component video cable for connecting to High Definition TVs. The PowerShot TX1 carries an estimated selling price of $499.99*.

What's New:
Body design

* Entirely new vertical design In a camera body that’s nearly the same size as a Canon Digital ELPH, the new TX1 features both compact size and 10x optical zooming with optical image stabilization by adopting a vertical hand-holding position
* Vari-angle LCD monitor Compact 1.8-inch LCD monitor folds flat against camera for storage, and can be freely adjusted, swiveled and rotated for easy viewing during shooting or playback• No eye-level viewfinder; Equipped with new coating for anti-glare/anti-scratch and anti-fingerprint capabilities.
* Lens totally hidden when power off The new 10x zoom lens is retracted entirely within the body when power is off, preserving the traditional Digital ELPH shape and appearance

Lens

* Wide-range, compact zoom Entirely new 10x zoom lens — equivalent to 39–390mm ƒ3.5~5.6 (35mm film equivalent)• Macro focusing 3.9 inches ~ 1.6 feet; Super-Macro from surface of front element ~ 3.9 in.• 12 element design, including one UD and one Aspheric element• Special new optical and mechanical technologies keep lens design ultra-compact
* Image Stabilization Canon optical Image Stabilization system makes long telephoto zoom practical,even in less than ideal lighting conditions• Up to three stops shake correction with I.S. active

Image Quality

* New 7.1 million pixel CCD sensor New higher-resolution 1 ⁄ 2.5 -inch size CCD sensor (vs. previous SD630); 7.1 million pixels provides good resolution for prints up to 13x19 inches
* Expanded ISO range Up to ISO 1600 now possible; High Auto ISO setting allows camera to set ISO up to 1600
* New: Auto ISO Shift ISO can shift automatically to preserve shutter speeds fast enough to avoid shake, and blurs from limited subject movement (activated by pressing Print/Share button while shutter button is depressed half-way)
* Selectable Aspect Ratio Users can choose between 16:9 or 4:3 aspect ratios for still images as well as movies.
* Auto Red Eye Correction TX1 usesFace Detection technology during playback of captured images to detect red-eye. An on-screen menu allows users to correct red eye automatically or manually

Performance

* Digic III processor Significantly faster processing; superior image quality , better battery life and new camera features including improved Face Detection technology that works even in Movie modes
* Ready for Windows Vista OS Camera and included software will be compatible with new Windows Vista operating system; camera will be compatible with new “MTP” USB connect protocol
* Expanded SD card compatibility Now compatible with new, high-capacity (2GB and up) SD cards which comply with new SDHC industry standard

Movie features

* New wide-screen setting 720P ( 1280 x 720) movie mode now possible; at 30 or 15 fps — highest movie resolution ever in a PowerShot digital camera – with stereo sound
* Flexible movie / still shooting Shoot a full-resolution still image during movie recording, or start movie recording by simply pressing record button (no need to switch into “movie mode” first)
* Continuous recording up to 4GB Movies can be continuously recorded with a fast SD card, up to 4GB per movie clip• Approx. 13 minutes of continuous movie recording at new 1280x720 resolution, 30 fps• Approx. 30 minutes of continuous movie recording at 640x480 resolution, 30 fps
* Continuous audio-only recording PowerShot TX1 can be used as a sound recorder• Sound recordings up to 2 hours in continuous length are possible• At highest quality (44.100 kHz) setting, up to 1.5 hours audio fit onto 1GB SD card• Choice of 11.025 kHz, 22.050 kHz, or 44.100 kHz quality settings
* “Component” output to HDTVs D-type terminal delivers 1080i signal for higher-quality movie and still reproduction on new hi-definition TVs

New features

* Face Detection system Face Detect AF — camera can precisely focus upon up to nine faces in scene• Face Detect AE — exposure concentrated upon detected faces in scene• Face Detect FE (new) — flash exposure concentrated on detected faces in scene
* Shutter speed/aperture read-out Actual shutter speed and aperture settings appear on camera’s LCD monitor before image is taken (when shutter button held down half-way)
* Precise read-out of ISO Actual ISO setting appears on camera’s LCD monitor before image is taken (when shutter button held down half-way) — even when Auto ISO mode is active
* Digital Tele Converter Magnify image approx. 1.5x or 1.9x, while preserving entire optical zoom range(equivalent to 740mm lens at 1.9x setting, when lens zoomed to max. tele position)
* Safety Zoom Momentarily halts digital zooming at level that preserves good image quality; further digital zoom possible after pausing. • Amount of digital zooming possible before pause increases when shooting at lower pixel resolution settings
* New Time Lapse movie feature Movies recorded at slow rates (0.5 fps or 1.0 fps) played back at 15 fps —record slow-occurring events like flower blooming, sun rising, etc.

Accessories

* AC adapter kit ACK-DC10 Allows powering camera via household AC power, instead of rechargeable NB-4L battery(same AC adapter kit as SD630, SD600, SD450, SD430, etc.)
* High-power flash HF-DC1 Optional accessory flash unit for all current PowerShot cameras;significantly extends flash power and distance range

Canon PowerShot TX1

DCResource has a review of the Canon PowerShot TX1 and writes, "So what are my final thoughts on the PowerShot TX1? As a serious gadget geek, I think it's pretty cool -- flawed, but fun to show off to friends. As someone who is supposed to help people wisely spend their money on a camera, I have a hard time recommending it, when other options are available for much less. If you want an ultra zoom that's really small and stylish with a fancy, memory card gobbling movie mode and don't mind parting with five bills, then the TX1 is worth a look. If huge movies aren't as important to you, then you could save a bundle by looking at something like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 -- a camera that offers many of the same features in a more traditional (but still compact) body. I think the PowerShot TX1 is a good first effort for Canon in the hybrid category, and I'm hoping the next iteration will finally be the camera/camcorder combo we've been waiting for."

Digital Trends has a review of the Canon Powershot TX1 and writes, "The TX1 is a fantastic product. The video quality, whether in 4:3 or 16:9 modes, is truly amazing. The 7.1 megapixel still images look exceptional for a point-and-shoot camera. The $499 price point is very acceptable for what you get. ... There are a few minor quirks and one qualified design flaw (described in detail above). Despite these imperfections, the TX1 is worthy of every last ounce of praise it receives in the press and in forums. I highly recommend the TX1 for people looking for a pocket-sized camcorder that records surprisingly good quality video, snaps crisp and clean stills, gets decent battery life and won't cost an arm and a leg."

CNET has a review of the Canon PowerShot TX-1 and writes, "Still images showed more ISO noise and image artifacts than we're used to with Canon's digital still cameras. We also saw other image artifacts, which turned some curved lines and angled lines jaggy. Colors looked accurate overall, and we saw a decent amount of finer detail, but the images weren't as tack sharp as many of the company's cameras from recent years. Noise doesn't become very significant until ISO 400, but we saw some on our monitors with the sensitivity as low as ISO 100, though you most likely won't notice it in prints. At ISO 400, noise becomes obvious on monitors, starts to show up in prints, and begins to chew up some of the finer detail, though dynamic range remains largely intact. At ISO 800, noise becomes a heavy blanket of fine snowy specks, obscuring lots of finer detail and eating up more dynamic range. At ISO 1,600, most fine detail is destroyed by the vast snowy blizzard of tiny speckles, and dynamic range is crunched to the point of obscuring most shadow detail. We suggest staying below ISO 800 when possible."

PCAuthority has a review of the Canon Powershot TX1 and writes, "the TX1 is a highly polished point and shoot stills camera with remarkable video capabilities requirements and a design that will turn heads. It may not offer as much control over the still images as a more advanced Powershot, but it’s not supposed to. We love it for its construction, good image quality and brute force approach to video, which will become less of an issue as SDHC memory capacity inevitably increases. Even though we do love it, it does suffer from first generation syndrome; it’s about $100 too expensive, and comes bundled with a laughably inadequate 32MB SD card. However with so many other points in its favour, the discerning gadgeteer won’t care about these minor shortcomings."

DPReview has a review of the Canon PowerShot TX1 and writes, "Where the TX1 beats all camcorders is the quality of its stills, which we were genuinely surprised to see where for the most part sharp, detailed and every bit as good as most other 7MP ultra-compacts, with the added bonus of a big 10x zoom. It's got a good range of features and - unlike the majority of Ixus/Elph models it has excellent on-screen information (including shutter speed and aperture); it even tells you which ISO setting the Auto ISO is going to use. Like most - no, all - compact cameras you're really going to want to stick to ISO 200 or lower for any important shots you're likely to want to print larger than 5x7 inches, and you only really get the best results at ISO 80, but the effective image stabilization means this is less of an issue unless you're shooting in very low light. In fact the TX1 is not a camera that likes low light at all - noise is an issue at higher ISO settings, the lens isn't very fast (F3.5-5.6), the flash is weak and the focus system starts to struggle."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Canon PowerShot TX1 and writes, "the TX1's image quality results were very pleasing. When shooting outdoors, our sample images were sharp from edge to edge and colors look very natural. The exposure system also does and excellent job, producing beautiful sky detail. Noise levels are average for a 7-megapixel consumer model, becoming more noticeable as the sensitivity is increased. Our portrait results were also good, even though Canon only rate the flash rage at 6.6 feet at wide angle (ISO Auto.) ... Canon's Powershot TX1 is an interesting 7-megapixel model. While it's not as comfortable to hold in your hands as Sanyo's Xacti series models, the TX1 offers better image quality, performance, a more durable exterior and movie quality."

Digital Camera Info has a review of the Canon PowerShot TX1 and writes, "Canon's concept is good - a solid digital camera with awesome high definition video that can record just as well and as long as a camcorder and still snap album-worthy photos – but that’s not what the TX1 is. It’s an average camera coupled with an underdeveloped movie mode, stuck in a body that’s too small. We're glad Canon made the TX1 for its eventual influence and its place in the evolution of hybrid imaging devices, but unfortunately, the TX1 offers far more potential than performance."

Imaging Resource review the Canon PowerShot TX1 where they recommend - "We're a bit torn on how to recommend the TX1 given its difficult interface, but there's no question it shoots great video and pretty impressive pictures. Its very good lens has a long reach, and can zoom as you record. If you must have a high-resolution camcorder that fits in a small space, the Canon TX1 is a very good choice. It's also a great 10x digital camera, also in a small space; it's just the awkward controls that spoil the mix. Cram all the power of the excellent Canon S3 IS into a small space, and you're bound to have a compromise or two. Nevertheless, given its good performance in so many areas, we're compelled to make it a Dave's Pick, but we caution you that you'll have to shoot two-handed and learn to work with the small form factor to take full advantage of all that imaging power."

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Feb 22: Canon SD750 (Canon Digital IXUS 75)

The Canon SD750 (Canon Digital IXUS 75) is a 7.1 megapixel compact camera built in the tradition of the IXUS (digital elph) line.

It features a 3x optical zoom lens (35-105mm), DIGIC III image processor, Face Detection AF/AE/FE, noise reduction technology, in camera red-eye reduction (in playback) and a lovely large 3.0 inch LCD screen.

The Canon SD750 has an ISO range of up to 1600, 17 shooting modes and up to 30 frames per second video shooting.

Get a price on the Canon PowerShot SD750

Canon SD750 Press Release

Classic tones and slim lines: Canon launches the Digital IXUS 75 and Digital IXUS 70 (SD750 and SD1000)

Amstelveen , The Netherlands, 22 February, 2007: Canon today updates its Digital IXUS range with two striking new models – the 7.1 Megapixel Digital IXUS 75 (SD 750 DIGITAL ELPH) and Digital IXUS 70 (SD 1000 DIGITAL ELPH). The ultra compact Digital IXUS 75 sports a metallic finish with a massive 3.0” PureColor LCD, offset by a distinctive circular accent around the lens. A touch sensitive control dial provides easy access to key camera settings. The Digital IXUS 70 is Canon’s slimmest optical zoom camera yet, featuring a clean, minimalist design inspired by the original IXUS. Measuring only 19.4mm deep, it comes in both black and silver finishes. Both cameras incorporate a clever new Red-Eye Correction feature in Playback mode.

The Digital IXUS 75 and Digital IXUS 70 offer superb response times and high-quality image rendering through Canon’s DIGIC III image processor. DIGIC III also powers Face Detection and Noise Reduction Technology, making it easier for users to capture sharp, well-exposed images in clubs, restaurants and other social situations.

Features at a glance:

* 7.1 Megapixels
* 3x optical zoom 35-105mm (35mm equivalent) with UA lens
* DIGIC III with Face Detection AF/AE/FE and Noise Reduction Technology
* Red-Eye Correction in playback
* 3.0” PureColor LCD (Digital IXUS 75); 2.5” PureColor LCD ( Digital IXUS 70)
* ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
* 17 Shooting modes plus My Colors photo effects
* 30fps VGA Movies and Time Lapse Movie function

“With their advanced functionality and bold design concepts, these new models go beyond the conventional,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “It’s this unfaltering pursuit of new technologies and new aesthetics that set the Digital IXUS range apart from the competition.”
DIGIC III: Better Photos, Easily

Canon’s DIGIC III processor introduces several advancements that reduce the risk of blurred or poorly exposed photographs. Face Detection AF/AE/FE automatically detects up to nine faces within a scene and optimises focus and exposure accordingly. Fast and highly accurate, the system has been enhanced on these models to control flash exposure (FE), and is now capable of detecting faces at greater distances. Face Detection Technology also enables Red-Eye Correction in playback. Users can quickly detect and remove red-eye in captured images directly in-camera, ensuring that people shots look natural and accurate. Noise Reduction Technology produces smooth images at up to ISO 1600, allowing for flash-free photography in dimly-lit areas such as parties and nightclubs. A new Auto ISO Shift function prevents blur by giving users the option to boost the ISO setting – and consequently shutter speed – with a single button press, whenever the camera predicts camera shake.
LCD enhancements

A range of enhancements has been made, based on feedback collected from users across the globe. Both cameras include new high resolution (230k pixels) PureColor LCD screens, which offer users a wide range of visual benefits. Colour tones have been enhanced by up to 30% for vibrant, true-to-life colour reproduction. The screen’s wide viewing angle is complemented by an anti-reflective coating, which makes it easy to compose and review images even in brightly-lit conditions. A scratch-resistant layer provides extra protection against knocks and scrapes.

Settings for shutter speed and aperture are now displayed on the LCD during shooting. When using Auto ISO and High ISO Auto, the LCD will also display the ISO speed. These camera settings are now recorded as EXIF data for review in playback. Users of the Digital IXUS 75 can instantly review captured images using a dedicated Playback button, which acts as a toggle between shooting and playback modes. The Print/Share button doubles as a customisable Shortcut button on both cameras, providing one-touch access to frequently used functions, such as movie recording or white balance settings.
Creative options

A total of 17 shooting modes are provided, including a wide selection of Special Scene modes such as Portrait, Indoor and Night Snapshot. Digital IXUS 75 users can access modes via the Touch Control Dial. Both cameras include My Colors photo effects for creative experimentation before and after shooting.

A new Time Lapse Movie function allows users to capture changing scenes – such as drifting clouds, a blooming flower or a bustling city street – for accelerated playback as smooth VGA-quality movie clips. Captured at one-second or two second intervals, a scene of two hours’ duration can be condensed to a fluid eight minute or four minute movie file. Users can also record standard VGA movies with sound at 30fps and QVGA movies with sound at 60fps.

Canon SD750 (Canon IXUS 75)Reviews

CNET has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD750 and writes, "Photo and movie quality rank high for an ultracompact. In fact, despite almost identical innards with the SD1000--they both use the same sensor, f /2.8-4.9 35mm-105mm (35mm equivalent) 3X zoom lens, and Digic III processor--the photos from the SD750 look a bit better, especially vis-a-vis high ISO noise. ... It lacks the image stabilization of the SD800 IS and the tiny appeal of the SD1000, but the Canon PowerShot SD750 has a more elegant, cutting-edge design, large LCD and--to my eyes, at least--better photo quality."

Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Canon IXUS 75 and writes, "A number of the cameras I have reviewed recently have left me very disappointed when it comes to picture quality. Therefore it makes more than a pleasant change to take a look at a set of test photos and struggle to come up with anything bad to say. In fact there are a number of positives. ... Having reviewed a number of cameras recently that I was decidedly unimpressed with it comes as something of a relief to look at the test photos I took with the Canon IXUS 75. In almost all areas this camera is comfortably above average and in many areas it is far in advance of the competition. I know that you can buy similar cameras at a cheaper price, but this one is worth the extra money. Recommended."

ePhotoZine has a review of the Canon IXUS 75 and writes, "The IXUS 75 scores well on all accounts. It is stylishly designed, well-built, and performed well in all of the ePHOTOzine tests. It boasts an array of additional features including various scene modes, automatic face detection, DIGIC III technology and the added benefit of iSAPS. ISO modes range from 80 to 1600, macro modes focus from as close as 3cm and the LCD is exceptionally large making for ease of menu access and playback function. Also the burst mode capabilities were highly impressive - the only thing I wasn't impressed with was the lack of Red-Eye reduction functions."

Imaging Resource has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD750 Digital ELPH and writes, "it was indeed a pleasure. The Canon SD750's fast startup and shutdown times never got in the way, and the responsive shutter made me forget all about shutter lag. ... But the Canon SD750's image quality was the biggest disappointment. Most of my images were soft throughout, skies were strangely blued and shade shots showed a pronounced blue color cast. All of this was barely detectable on the Canon SD750's large, bright LCD, which just made for greater disappointment. Overall, the Canon SD750 is a pretty good choice, but we think the less expensive Canon PowerShot SD1000 is a better choice unless you just have to have the big, beautiful screen on the Canon SD750."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 75 and writes, "Unfortunately, as it was with the IXUS 65, the camera’s main downfall is its image quality. It has some good points, in particular the brilliant colour reproduction, reliably accurate metering, good dynamic range and the distortion-free quality of the lens especially at wide angle, but for some reason the final images simply lack fine detail when compared to similar shots from other 7MP compacts. Image compression artefacts are also visible, despite the average file size of 3MB, and there are also problems with image noise at ISO settings above 200, although to be fair it is no worse than most other similar compacts. However if I was paying £90 over the going rate for a camera I’d expect it to produce better than average results."

PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 75 and writes, "The Canon Digital IXUS 75 produced images of good quality during the review period. As expected from previous use of Canon cameras, colours are naturalistic bordering on warm, especially when it comes to skin tones, which is no bad thing. And of course there's the added ability to adjust these in-camera if so wished. The Canon Digital IXUS 75 dealt quite well with chromatic aberrations, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations."

DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD750 and writes, "The 3-inch LCD is awesome because of its huge previews, readable menu fonts, and beautiful picture playback. ... There is more to the camera than the LCD screen, of course. It takes great pictures, and this can’t be said of all compact digital cameras. The Canon SD750 had nearly perfect color production that held up even in very dim lighting. The image quality only suffered when the ISO was hiked up, which caused a notable amount of noise. The 7.1-megapixel SD750 has a great compact body, a huge LCD, and a feature set that is included on lots of other digital cameras. I wouldn’t pay $349 for it, but it’s a great little digital camera."

Get a price on the Canon PowerShot SD750

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Feb 22: Canon SD1000 (Canon Digital IXUS 70)

The Canon SD1000 (Canon Digital IXUS 70) is a 7.1 megapixel compact camera built in the tradition of the IXUS (digital elph) line.

It features a 3x optical zoom lens (35-105mm), DIGIC III image processor, Face Detection AF/AE/FE, noise reduction technology, in camera red-eye reduction (in playback) and a lovely large 3.0 inch LCD screen.

The Canon SD1000 has an ISO range of up to 1600, 17 shooting modes and up to 30 frames per second video shooting. It's just 19.4 mm thin.

Get a price on the Canon PowerShot SD1000

Canon SD1000 Press Release

Classic tones and slim lines: Canon launches the Digital IXUS 75 and Digital IXUS 70 (SD750 and SD1000)

Amstelveen , The Netherlands, 22 February, 2007: Canon today updates its Digital IXUS range with two striking new models – the 7.1 Megapixel Digital IXUS 75 (SD 750 DIGITAL ELPH) and Digital IXUS 70 (SD 1000 DIGITAL ELPH). The ultra compact Digital IXUS 75 sports a metallic finish with a massive 3.0” PureColor LCD, offset by a distinctive circular accent around the lens. A touch sensitive control dial provides easy access to key camera settings. The Digital IXUS 70 is Canon’s slimmest optical zoom camera yet, featuring a clean, minimalist design inspired by the original IXUS. Measuring only 19.4mm deep, it comes in both black and silver finishes. Both cameras incorporate a clever new Red-Eye Correction feature in Playback mode.

The Digital IXUS 75 and Digital IXUS 70 offer superb response times and high-quality image rendering through Canon’s DIGIC III image processor. DIGIC III also powers Face Detection and Noise Reduction Technology, making it easier for users to capture sharp, well-exposed images in clubs, restaurants and other social situations.

Features at a glance:

* 7.1 Megapixels
* 3x optical zoom 35-105mm (35mm equivalent) with UA lens
* DIGIC III with Face Detection AF/AE/FE and Noise Reduction Technology
* Red-Eye Correction in playback
* 3.0” PureColor LCD (Digital IXUS 75); 2.5” PureColor LCD ( Digital IXUS 70)
* ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
* 17 Shooting modes plus My Colors photo effects
* 30fps VGA Movies and Time Lapse Movie function

“With their advanced functionality and bold design concepts, these new models go beyond the conventional,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “It’s this unfaltering pursuit of new technologies and new aesthetics that set the Digital IXUS range apart from the competition.”
DIGIC III: Better Photos, Easily

Canon’s DIGIC III processor introduces several advancements that reduce the risk of blurred or poorly exposed photographs. Face Detection AF/AE/FE automatically detects up to nine faces within a scene and optimises focus and exposure accordingly. Fast and highly accurate, the system has been enhanced on these models to control flash exposure (FE), and is now capable of detecting faces at greater distances. Face Detection Technology also enables Red-Eye Correction in playback. Users can quickly detect and remove red-eye in captured images directly in-camera, ensuring that people shots look natural and accurate. Noise Reduction Technology produces smooth images at up to ISO 1600, allowing for flash-free photography in dimly-lit areas such as parties and nightclubs. A new Auto ISO Shift function prevents blur by giving users the option to boost the ISO setting – and consequently shutter speed – with a single button press, whenever the camera predicts camera shake.
LCD enhancements

A range of enhancements has been made, based on feedback collected from users across the globe. Both cameras include new high resolution (230k pixels) PureColor LCD screens, which offer users a wide range of visual benefits. Colour tones have been enhanced by up to 30% for vibrant, true-to-life colour reproduction. The screen’s wide viewing angle is complemented by an anti-reflective coating, which makes it easy to compose and review images even in brightly-lit conditions. A scratch-resistant layer provides extra protection against knocks and scrapes.

Settings for shutter speed and aperture are now displayed on the LCD during shooting. When using Auto ISO and High ISO Auto, the LCD will also display the ISO speed. These camera settings are now recorded as EXIF data for review in playback. Users of the Digital IXUS 75 can instantly review captured images using a dedicated Playback button, which acts as a toggle between shooting and playback modes. The Print/Share button doubles as a customisable Shortcut button on both cameras, providing one-touch access to frequently used functions, such as movie recording or white balance settings.
Creative options

A total of 17 shooting modes are provided, including a wide selection of Special Scene modes such as Portrait, Indoor and Night Snapshot. Digital IXUS 75 users can access modes via the Touch Control Dial. Both cameras include My Colors photo effects for creative experimentation before and after shooting.

A new Time Lapse Movie function allows users to capture changing scenes – such as drifting clouds, a blooming flower or a bustling city street – for accelerated playback as smooth VGA-quality movie clips. Captured at one-second or two second intervals, a scene of two hours’ duration can be condensed to a fluid eight minute or four minute movie file. Users can also record standard VGA movies with sound at 30fps and QVGA movies with sound at 60fps.

Canon SD1000 (Canon Digital IXUS 70) Reviews

CNET has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD1000 and writes, "Despite our minor gripes, the PowerShot SD1000 is a top-notch compact camera for its price range. Most users will be pleased with its excellent image quality and the useful, if not extensive, feature set. The most significant feature you won't find here is optical image stabilization, though at this price, you'd be hard pressed to find it elsewhere while maintaining a decent level of image quality at the same time. ... Small size, excellent image quality, and a solid, though not extensive, feature set make the SD1000 a great choice for a compact camera."

DPExpert has a review of the Canon IXUS 70 and gives it a highly recommended rating, writing, "This is a sensible camera and praise doesn’t come any higher. It has a sensible number of pixels, optical viewfinder and degree of manual control. It will never be mistaken for a flash fashion accessory -- it is a camera. It is certainly a sensible price for a camera which produces such high quality images. It is simple enough to be used by a child (we tried) and yet sophisticated enough for serious photography. Highly recommended."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Canon SD1000 and writes, "Canon has created yet another appealing Digital ELPH model. I was also glad to see the return of the "classic" ELPH look, with its squared off edges. With a retail price of US$299 or less, I feel the Canon Powershot SD1000 offers a good value for a durable, 7- megapixel "ultra-compact" model. The only issues I saw with this camera was that ISO levels were higher than past models. If you liked the features of this model, but want a "beefier" camera, then check out our review of the Powershot A560 ."

PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 70 and writes, "Unfortunately image quality isn't quite up to the high standards set by the rest of the camera, with image noise being the main issue. The 7 megapixel images are noisy and slightly blurred at ISO 400, with ISO 800 and particularly 1600 being best avoided. With no optical image stabilisation system available, this limits the camera to good light photography only. ISO Auto Shift is a useful feature that's sadly let down by the quality available at ISO 800, whilst beginners will love the Face Detection feature which provides well focused and exposed family pictures. So the Canon Digital IXUS 70 is obviously not going to satisfy everyone, as it doesn't offer full manual control over aperture and shutter speeds and the image quality is not best in class, but if you want a stylish ultra-compact camera, the IXUS 70 is still well worth considering."

Digital Trends has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD1000 and writes, "Overall, the quality of the images was quite good, in classic Canon style. ... One area where the SD1000 disappointed a bit was handling digital noise. Once you hit 400, it was pretty noticeable, and above that there was no avoiding it. Although there’s a 1600 setting, it’s pretty useless. In other words, use the flash when shooting indoors. ... Anyone looking for a good point-and-forget digicam should put the Canon Powershot SD1000 Digital ELPH high on the list. It’s not the fastest camera in the world, but it works quickly enough, even with the flash blazing away. Photo quality is of the classic Canon style, which I like very much. I’m sure zillions of shutterbugs will like it too."

DigicamReview has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 70 and writes, "The Canon Digital IXUS 70 / SD1000 is an excellent ultra compact digital camera - image quality is very good with great colour and detail although images are slightly soft. This camera is one of the slimmest Canon digital cameras available and is a camera that you can take anywhere and use in almost every situation. This camera has a lot of options and features which makes it a very capable and useful digital camera, one that could easily be used as a main or backup digital camera. The Canon Digital IXUS 70 is ultra-compact with a metal body, and scores highly in all of the key areas: image quality, features and price, and is therefore recommended."

PCMag has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD1000 and writes, "My lab test pictures also displayed excellent results. There was very little noise in flash or daylight shots. I noticed just the right amount of saturation as well as very accurate color matching, with no color casts. There was very little fringing, either, and the SD1000 rendered my simulated outdoor picture of trees set against a bright blue sky well. Dynamic range was quite good, resulting in deep, dark blacks and almost pure whites. In addition, my flash shot exhibited high quality with no blown-out highlights at all. If that's not enough good news, the SD1000 turned in an average resolution of 1,750 lines, which is exceptionally sharp for a 7.1MP camera. ... Although there's an incredible amount of competition in the ultracompact category, the Canon PowerShots are still the cameras to beat. And at the top of the mountain sits the PowerShot SD1000."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 70 and writes, "Canon’s noise control system is usually very good, and the IXUS 70 is no exception. There is no visible noise from 80-200 ISO, only a slight amount at 400, and even at 800 and 1600 the noise reduction system greatly reduces visible colour distortion, although there is considerable loss of detail especially at the highest setting. My main concern with regards to image quality is the surprisingly high level of purple fringing visible on many of my test shots. I know this is a common problem with many small compacts, but I would have expected better from such a sophisticated little camera as the IXUS 70. ... The Canon Digital IXUS 70 is a wonderfully stylish ultra-compact which offers lightning-quick performance, outstanding low-light ability and a useful range of features. Value for money is also surprisingly good for what is usually an expensive brand. Its picture quality isn’t perfect, but it can produce good results under difficult circumstances. For social photography and holiday snaps it will not often disappoint."

DCResource has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD1000 Digital ELPH and writes, "The ISO 100 shot doesn't look a whole lot different from the one at ISO 80. At ISO 200 we start to see noticeable detail loss, and it only gets worse at ISO 400. Thus, I'd try to keep the ISO at 200 or below for low light shooting. ... Overall, the PowerShot SD1000's photo quality is very good. The photos taken with the camera have accurate, saturated colors, pleasing sharpness, and minimal purple fringing. It did seem like my photos were overexposed by a 1/3 stop, and if you agree you may want to fool around with the exposure compensation on your own camera. There's also the corner blurring that I mentioned earlier, though this won't show up unless you're making very large prints, or viewing the image at 100% on your computer screen."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Canon Powershot SD1000 and writes, "The tiny high pixel density sensors found in micro-cams generate more image noise than larger less crowded sensors (like those found in dSLRs). Built-in noise reduction (NR) blurs away the worst image noise, but (depending on how aggressively NR is applied) it can also blur away important image detail. The SD1000 has one of the most effective noise reduction programs I've seen in any Canon digicam to date. ... The SD1000 is an excellent choice for snap-shooters, casual photographers, and first time digital camera buyers who want a camera that is small enough to be dropped in a pocket and taken along just about anywhere and used easily by just about anyone."

TechDigest has a review of the Canon Digital Ixus 70, and gives it 3 stars out of 5: "The Ixus 70 has a rather high asking price of £249 for a 7.1 mepapixel model, although shop around online and you should be able to get it for significantly less than this. If you're after a small camera to carry with you most of the time, then it fits the bill, especially given its fast start up time. However, greasy finger marks will ruin its shine and you'll have to contend with the slightly over complicated menu systems."

Imaging Resource has a reviewo f the Canon PowerShot SD1000 and writes, "The Canon PowerShot SD1000 is a fine little camera with a number of attributes that will please the snapshooter, and may even attract the more sophisticated photographer who wants a small take-anywhere digital camera. Video fans will appreciate the multiple movie modes, including time lapse and fast frame rate options. Regardless of experience level, most everyone will find image quality more than satisfying, although it's important to maintain control over ISO settings to keep image noise to a minimum. That some features are buried deep within the menu system probably won't bother snapshooters very much, since it's unlikely they'll use them on a regular basis. It will be frustrating to photographers who want to wring every last bit of control out of the camera."

DPInterface has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD1000 and writes, "Image quality was above average with fairly controlled noise, good color reproduction and corner softness not being much of an issue. The camera also has a built-in redeye removal tool which can be used in playback (I wish it was applied automatically though). Color fringing levels are low too. In the end, despite some minor quirks on the Canon PowerShot SD1000 Digital ELPH, it still deserves my recommendation for being a very capable, very fast and really stylish ultra-compact camera. The SD1000 being loaded with features put other similarly priced competitors to shame."

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Feb 22: Canon PowerShot A560

The Canon PowerShot A560 is another 7.1 megapixel compact camera similar to the A570IS also released today.

It features a 7.1 megapixel CCD sensor, Digic III processor, 4x optical zoom (35-140mm) with an aperture of f/2.6 to F/5.5.

The Canon PowerShot A560 IS features a 2.5 inch LCD display, ISO of up to 1600, print/share buttons (on camera), face detection AF/FE and FE as well as the normal array of scene modes and connectivity (including PictBridge). It's powered by two AA batteries.

The Canon PowerShot A560 IS measures 91.2 x 64.0 x 43.1 mm and weighs 165 grams.

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Canon PowerShot A560 Press Release

Face Detection Technology and ISO 1600 come to PowerShot A-Series

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 22 February, 2007: Canon today announces the launch of the PowerShot A570 IS and PowerShot A560, two 7.1 Megapixel additions to Canon’s PowerShot A-Series range of affordable, family friendly cameras. The cameras are powered by DIGIC III, which introduces Face Detection Technology, automatic Red-Eye Correction in Playback and ISO 1600 to the PowerShot A-Series for the first time.

The PowerShot A560, a direct replacement for the popular PowerShot A540, features a full set of automatic functions for intuitive ease of use. The PowerShot A570 IS adds an optical Image Stabilizer to the lens, full manual control and a comprehensive range of accessories, giving users the choice to simply ‘point and shoot’ or explore the creative side of photography.

“The PowerShot A570 IS and PowerShot A560 bring the leading Canon technologies powered by DIGIC III within the reach of all consumers,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “These two advanced cameras have features with the potential to vastly improve the quality of everyday photography.”

The PowerShot A570 IS and PowerShot A560 feature:

* 7.1 MP CCD image sensor
* 4x optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 35–140mm f/2.6 W–f/5.5 T)
* Optical Image Stabilizer (PowerShot A570 IS only)
* DIGIC III image processor and iSAPS
* Face Detection AF/AE/FE
* ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto
* Popular Special Scene modes on Mode dial
* 2.5” LCD screen with optical viewfinder
* Lens accessories (PowerShot A570 IS only)
* PictBridge and Print/Share button

DIGIC III

Both cameras feature Canon’s own DIGIC III image processor. This smart, efficient processor enables features such as Face Detection AF/AE/FE and advanced Noise Reduction Technology. The improved Face Detection system uses new algorithms to detect faces further from the camera than ever before. Detecting up to nine faces, Face Detection AF/AE determines if a face is the main subject of the scene and sets the appropriate focus and exposure, if the flash is activated Face Detection FE sets the flash level so that the face is correctly exposed. The system also enables easy Red-Eye Correction in Playback, automatically detecting and removing unsightly red eye to leave a natural looking portrait without the need for a PC or editing software.

DIGIC III with advanced Noise Reduction Technology makes possible the use of High sensitivity ISO 1600 – another first for the PowerShot A-Series. High ISO speeds are useful for capturing scenes in low light conditions without risking the loss of the scene’s ambiance by using a flash. High ISO Auto prioritises higher ISO settings to enable the use of faster shutter speeds – reducing the risk of blurred images in dark or fast-moving scenes.
Ease of use

DIGIC III is complemented by a range of technologies that ensure high quality photography with minimal effort. 4x optical zoom lenses incorporate Canon precision optics to get the best results from the 7.1 Megapixel sensors. The PowerShot A570 IS features optical Image Stabilizer technology, ensuring shake-free images in low light conditions and at full zoom. Both cameras feature a 2.5” LCD screen, making it easier to frame tricky shots or share image playback with friends.

To aid quick and easy access three popular scene modes – Kids and Pets, Indoor and Night Snapshot – have been moved to the Mode dial. The PowerShot A560 has 14 shooting modes to cover many shooting situations, including Beach, Snow and Fireworks scene modes. The PowerShot A570 IS adds Underwater mode – for use with the optional waterproof case accessory – and creative options that enable manual control of aperture and shutter speed settings. In total, the camera offers users 19 shooting modes. The creative potential of the PowerShot A570 IS can be extended with a comprehensive range of accessories that includes telephoto, wide and close-up lens converters, and slave flash

Canon PowerShot A560 Reviews

CNET has a review of the Canon PowerShot A560 and writes, "With quick performance and decent photos, the Canon PowerShot A560 makes a solid budget camera. It doesn't boast a bevy of special features and isn't particularly small or light, but it's a strong choice if you don't want to spend a lot for your snapshots. If your caffeine-ridden, shaky hands often make your pictures blurry, you should note that the next model up in Canon's line, the A570IS, is very similar to this one, but also includes optical image stabilization. ... This camera's solid performance can help you forget that it doesn't have many bells or whistles."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Canon PowerShot A560 and writes, "I was very pleased with Canon's PowerShot A560. If offers great image quality, class leading performance, and has an exposure mode for everyone, all with a very appealing price tag of only US$229 or less! The only downfall to this model, or any "A" series model for that matter, is the slow flash recharge time. That said, I feel this will make a great camera for kids going off to collage, proud parents (or grandparents), or the eBay junkie of the family, etc. Be sure to check out the our reviews of other 2007 Canon models, like the Powershot SD1000, Powershot A550 or the 5-megapixel PowerShot A460."

Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Canon Powershot A560 and writes, "Taking the price of the camera into account I think the Powershot A560 performed well in my tests. It was able to handle sunny conditions, photos taken in the shade and also photos taken indoors where the light was lower. Looking at the outdoor scenic shots I can see that this camera produces sharper shots than the majority of simple, point and shoot cameras do. ... I guess I would describe the Canon Powershot A560 as a starter camera with extra quality. You do have to pay more than with a true entry level model and while you may not get that much more in terms of features the picture quality is clearly a step up."

Imaging Resource has a review of the Canon PowerShot A560 and writes, "The Canon PowerShot A560 is an excellent basic digital camera for all-around usage. While not as small as many subcompacts, it fits in most pants pockets or larger purses, and avoids some of the optical, image quality, and performance trade-offs that are often found in subcompact models. It offers a lot of capability (and great looking images) for the money, and a range of features that should suit beginning through intermediate photographers very well. All in all, it's a great entry-level camera, but one with at least some features to grow into as your photographic skills mature."

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Feb 22: Canon PowerShot A570 IS

The Canon PowerShot A570 IS is a 7.1 megapixel compact camera that extends the popular A-series line of cameras to a new level. It features a 7.1 megapixel CCD sensor, Digic III processor, 4x optical zoom (35-140mm) with an aperture of f/2.6 to F/5.5.

The Canon PowerShot A570 IS also comes with a 2.5 inch LCD display, ISO of up to 1600, add on lens adaptability, print/share buttons (on camera) optical image stabilization, face detection AF/FE and FE as well as the normal array of scene modes and connectivity (including PictBridge).

The Canon PowerShot A570 IS measures 89.5 x 64.3 x 42.8 mm and weighs 175 grams.

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Canon PowerShot A570 IS Press Release

Face Detection Technology and ISO 1600 come to PowerShot A-Series

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 22 February, 2007: Canon today announces the launch of the PowerShot A570 IS and PowerShot A560, two 7.1 Megapixel additions to Canon’s PowerShot A-Series range of affordable, family friendly cameras. The cameras are powered by DIGIC III, which introduces Face Detection Technology, automatic Red-Eye Correction in Playback and ISO 1600 to the PowerShot A-Series for the first time.

The PowerShot A560, a direct replacement for the popular PowerShot A540, features a full set of automatic functions for intuitive ease of use. The PowerShot A570 IS adds an optical Image Stabilizer to the lens, full manual control and a comprehensive range of accessories, giving users the choice to simply ‘point and shoot’ or explore the creative side of photography.

“The PowerShot A570 IS and PowerShot A560 bring the leading Canon technologies powered by DIGIC III within the reach of all consumers,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “These two advanced cameras have features with the potential to vastly improve the quality of everyday photography.”

The PowerShot A570 IS and PowerShot A560 feature:

* 7.1 MP CCD image sensor
* 4x optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 35–140mm f/2.6 W–f/5.5 T)
* Optical Image Stabilizer (PowerShot A570 IS only)
* DIGIC III image processor and iSAPS
* Face Detection AF/AE/FE
* ISO 1600 and High ISO Auto
* Popular Special Scene modes on Mode dial
* 2.5” LCD screen with optical viewfinder
* Lens accessories (PowerShot A570 IS only)
* PictBridge and Print/Share button

DIGIC III

Both cameras feature Canon’s own DIGIC III image processor. This smart, efficient processor enables features such as Face Detection AF/AE/FE and advanced Noise Reduction Technology. The improved Face Detection system uses new algorithms to detect faces further from the camera than ever before. Detecting up to nine faces, Face Detection AF/AE determines if a face is the main subject of the scene and sets the appropriate focus and exposure, if the flash is activated Face Detection FE sets the flash level so that the face is correctly exposed. The system also enables easy Red-Eye Correction in Playback, automatically detecting and removing unsightly red eye to leave a natural looking portrait without the need for a PC or editing software.

DIGIC III with advanced Noise Reduction Technology makes possible the use of High sensitivity ISO 1600 – another first for the PowerShot A-Series. High ISO speeds are useful for capturing scenes in low light conditions without risking the loss of the scene’s ambiance by using a flash. High ISO Auto prioritises higher ISO settings to enable the use of faster shutter speeds – reducing the risk of blurred images in dark or fast-moving scenes.
Ease of use

DIGIC III is complemented by a range of technologies that ensure high quality photography with minimal effort. 4x optical zoom lenses incorporate Canon precision optics to get the best results from the 7.1 Megapixel sensors. The PowerShot A570 IS features optical Image Stabilizer technology, ensuring shake-free images in low light conditions and at full zoom. Both cameras feature a 2.5” LCD screen, making it easier to frame tricky shots or share image playback with friends.

To aid quick and easy access three popular scene modes – Kids and Pets, Indoor and Night Snapshot – have been moved to the Mode dial. The PowerShot A560 has 14 shooting modes to cover many shooting situations, including Beach, Snow and Fireworks scene modes. The PowerShot A570 IS adds Underwater mode – for use with the optional waterproof case accessory – and creative options that enable manual control of aperture and shutter speed settings. In total, the camera offers users 19 shooting modes. The creative potential of the PowerShot A570 IS can be extended with a comprehensive range of accessories that includes telephoto, wide and close-up lens converters, and slave flash

Canon PowerShot A570 IS Reviews

CNET has a review of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS and writes, "Image quality was impressive, especially at lower ISOs, though we noticed some slight artifacts even at the camera's lowest sensitivity of ISO 80, which seemed to become exacerbated by the noise caused by higher ISOs. Still, colors looked accurate, there was plenty of shadow detail, and our images turned out very sharp. ... Overall, the PowerShot A570 IS is a solid compact camera that offers a lot of value for your money. We were a bit disappointed with its high ISO noise, but you'll be hard pressed to find a compact camera at a price like this that has manual exposure controls, optical image stabilization, flash output control, and speedy performance. Plus, similar to all the A-series cameras, this one runs on AA batteries, so if you run out of power, you don't need to wait for charging."

GoodGearGuide has a review of the Canon PowerShot A570IS and writes, "Traditionally, Canon cameras have been renowned for their image quality and in this regard the A570IS certainly impressed. When we opened up our preliminary test shots we were greeted by clean, smooth edges and great detail. The pictures were consistently sharp and crisp, showing that not only is the sensor excellent, but the image stabilisation technology works very well. Normally our outdoors tests return several blurry shots in amongst the clearer pictures, but we encountered none when using the A570IS. For those who find hand shake a problem, the image stabilisation (IS) on this model is an ideal solution."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS and writes, "Image quality was excellent for a 7-megapixel consumer model. The default quality setting is Large Fine, and we did capture many of our regular sample photos in this mode. The rest were taken using Larger SuperFine, which is what we normally use. That said, the majority of our outdoor samples looked great, showing nice exposures, with beautiful sky detail, and pleasing color balance. Just as we saw with the A560, image noise was average when using ISO 80 - 200. ... like it's brother (A560), I was very happy with the Canon PowerShot A570 IS. With 7-megapixels of resolution, a 4x image stabilized optical zoom lens, 2.5-inch LCD, great movie mode, awesome image quality, and loads of useful exposure modes, the A570 is sure to be a very popular model for 2007. At US$279 or less (4/2007), it's only about $50 more than the A560, which we feel is well worth the added versatility of this new model. That said, the A570 will make an excellent choice for anyone who wants a capable, yet compact and affordable 7-meagpixel digicam."

Let's Go Digital has a review of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS and writes, "The image quality of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS camera is great. The colours are saturated and appear natural. The saturation is a bit strong for my taste, but that is a personal preference. ... Let it be clear: the Canon PowerShot A570 IS satisfied me all around. The compact format invites you to carry it with you at all times. The light weight combined with the optical image stabilizer ensures great user-friendliness, and add image quality to the mix and the Canon PowerShot A570 IS is a great camera."

DCResource has a review of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS and writes, "While it won't break any records, the A570 is a good performer overall. It starts up in 1.4 seconds, focuses quickly (even in low light), and shutter lag isn't an issue. Shot-to-shot delays are minimal. Like all recent Canon cameras, the A570's continuous shooting mode lets you keep shooting -- at 1.6 frames/second in this case -- until your high speed memory card fills up. Battery life was above average. Photo quality was very good. The A570 took well-exposed photos with pleasing color and sharpness, low noise through ISO 400 (in good light), and minimal purple fringing. While redeye continues to be a big problem, there's now a tool in playback mode that quickly removes this annoyance. Too bad you have to run it each time you want to remove redeye!"

Imaging Resource has a review of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS and writes, "The Canon A570 IS is a capable all-around camera with some high-end features that are more useful than exotic. High ISO is usable and image stabilization so useful you almost always want it enabled. Digital zoom was a bit of a disappointment on this 7.1-megapixel camera, but otherwise the DIGIC III image processor provided above average performance yielding some wonderfully natural shots in a variety of settings."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Canon PowerShot A570 IS and writes, "In terms of image quality, the A570 has many good points and one or two not so good. Exposure and colour rendition are first class as one might expect, and dynamic range is surprisingly good for a 1/2.5-in sensor. The overall level of detail is good, but the lens does produce noticeable spherical distortion at the wide end of the zoom range, and corner sharpness is surprisingly poor. Refreshingly there is no sign of purple fringing even on the brightest highlights. Image noise is very low at up to 200 ISO, reasonable at 400, but becomes a real problem at 800. The 1600 ISO maximum sensitivity, which is touted as a feature of this model, is pretty much useless. However as long as you bear this limitation in mind the PowerShot A570 IS is capable of turning in good results under varied lighting conditions, and will seldom disappoint."

Digital Camera Info has a review of the Canon PowerShot A570IS and writes, "Sadly, more than a few PowerShot A570ISs will likely end up damaged or broken. However, for just over $200, the PowerShot A570IS is a bargain for casual users, who will benefit from its hefty feature set. The face detection and image stabilization combination will save, conservatively, gazillions of snapshots taken by the careless, clueless or chemically-compromised user. It's less likely that the A570IS's other advances – a 7.1-megapixel sensor and a high-end ISO of 1600 – will help users as much, though their inclusion, coupled with the camera's manual controls and exceptional color performance, make the A570IS an unusual bargain at its price."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Canon Powershot A570 IS and writes, "With great image and color quality, image stabilization, excellent shutter lag and continuous shooting capability, manual controls and versatile “auto” performance, this camera can ably serve a novice who never leaves the “auto” setting or provide a learning tool for someone looking to get some manual experience before possibly jumping into the DSLR world. The optional teleconverter gives the camera a 245mm focal length to bring those distant subjects a bit closer. Overall, anyone who wants good performance at a very reasonable price should give serious consideration to the A570 IS."

>DP Review has reviewed the Canon A570 IS where they give it a rating of 'highly recommended' and write - 'So in conclusion, with the Canon A570 IS you get a nicely designed, responsive camera with more than enough features to keep most users - especially those wanting a little more manual control than is normal at this price point - happy. If you don't mind it not being the fastest 'social' snapshot camera in the world (the flash recycling puts paid to that), this is a perfect camera for anyone wanting real photographic control without paying through the nose. Its well balanced combination of image quality, functionality and handling (and not to forget value for money) means the A570 IS just about deserves our highest award.'

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Feb 22: Nikon Coolpix S7c Review at PCMag

PCMag has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S7c and writes, "My test shots were impressive, sharp with very little noise. I also liked the color vibrancy and accuracy. There was nice, strong contrast and very little fringing. But the flash images weren't that great. That may be due to the small flash. I also found that the images had a blue-greenish cast. The camera displayed 1,600 lines of resolution, which is decent for a 7.1MP camera. I recorded a 3.1-second bootup time, which is adequate but not outstanding. The 4.2-second recycle time is a bit sluggish, too, and I noticed a decent amount of shutter lag. There was just a touch of barrel and no pincushion distortion in my test shots."

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Feb 22: Nikon D2Xs Review at Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource has a review of the Nikon D2Xs and writes, "While it represents only a relatively minor upgrade relative to the original D2X, the Nikon D2Xs remains an exceptionally strong competitor in the professional SLR market. It offers exceptional versatility through its dual-resolution, dual-speed design, satisfying the needs of sports shooters and studio photographers alike, in one superbly-constructed body. (If, like us, you're initially skeptical about the value of the dual-resolution feature of the D2Xs, we highly encourage you to beg, borrow or rent a unit to work with for a day or two: We think you'll come to love this feature as much as we did, once we got out and shooting with it.) Combine this with Nikon's unrivalled Advanced Wireless Lighting system for TTL metering with multiple remote strobe units, and you have a system literally without peer, at least in the current state of the market. Our feeling about the camera is pretty well summed up in the list of pros and cons above: There's just a load of things to like about this camera, and precious little to complain about! Kudos to Nikon on a beautifully designed pro SLR, a design that's already stood the test of time in the form of the original D2X, and that likely has years of life left in it yet."

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Feb 22: Canon PowerShot A460 Review at Steve's Digicams

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Canon PowerShot A460 and writes, "as we have said with past "A" series models, the PowerShot A460 seems to "set the standard for the entry-level consumer point-n-shoot market". The only negative I found with this camera was the incredibly slow flash recharge time, which is caused by the use of AA batteries. That said, I feel it will make a great choice for someone who is in the market for their first digital model, or one who just wants an inexpensive point-n-shoot. With a street price of US$149 or less, the Canon PoerShot A460 will be a hard one to beat in the affordable consumer category. If you need more resolution and features, be sure to check out the 7-megapixel Powershot A550, which can he had for only about $50 more."

Read more about the Canon PowerShot A460.

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Feb 22: Canon PowerShot A550 Review at Steve's Digicams

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Canon PowerShot A550 and writes, "Canon's PowerShot A550 has a lot to offer. With robust performance, great image quality, easy to use exposure modes, 7-megapixels of resolution, a 4x optical zoom lens, and great ergonomics, the A550 is sure to be a very popular model for 2007. The A550 won't hurt the pocket book either, with a "sweet" price tag of US$199 or less! If you don't need 7-megapixels, but like many of the features of this model, be sure to check out our review of its "little brother" the 5-megapixel PowerShot A460."

Read more about the Canon PowerShot A550.

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Feb 22: Nikon Coolpix S10 Review at the Sydney Morning Herald

The Sydney Morning Herald has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S10 and writes, " Image quality is very good. We attribute this in part to Nikon's decision to stick with 6 megapixels rather than getting involved in the ever-increasing pixel war. ... This model hides some important controls under layers of menu. Not to have instant access to exposure adjustment - the most frequently used correction in a digital camera - is inexcusable. The most humble point-and-shoot cameras put exposure-compensation buttons on the camera body, so why can't this model do that too? ... A good camera with some compromises that look as if they have been forced on the designers by the marketing department wanting to promise customers a camera that does all the thinking. Excellent value."

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Feb 22: Nikon D40 Review at DCViews

DCViews has a review of the Nikon D40 and writes, "We are pleased to see that the Nikon D40, although a scaled down model from other Nikons in size, does not lack any vital functions. This is a very responsive camera that comes with dynamic, three area TTL phase detection auto focus; three metering options with Nikon's exclusive 3D colour matrix metering II; an ISO range of 200 to 3200 and extras like flashlight compensation and exposure compensation (without bracketing incidentally). Images can be captured in JPEG or RAW format and there is an extensive in-camera retouch menu with many editing functions for those wanting to get creative. The fact that it is "only" 6-megapixel in today's market is not a disadvantage as large prints (A3 plus) can still be made with excellent results. There is enough control for the discerning user and enough manual settings to experiment with, whereas any less experienced member of the family can pick it up, put it on Auto and use it straightaway. This would make the Nikon D40 a perfect choice for those that are looking for a capable, compact and light-weight DSLR for a price that is very competitive in today's market."

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Feb 22: Pentax DA*50-135mm F2.8ED [IF ]SDM Lens

Major features of the smc PENTAX-DA*50-135mm F2.8ED [IF ]SDM Lens

Mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this 2.7X zoom lens covers angles of view from 76.5mm to 207mm (in the 35mm format). Coupled with a large maximum aperture of F2.8, it is a perfect telephoto zoom lens for applications such as portraiture featuring beautifully obscured, out-of-focus backgrounds and sports photography freezing split-second action at high shutter speeds. Incorporating three ED (extra-low dispersion) elements, this telephoto zoom lens effectively minimizes the chromatic aberrations which would be particularly detrimental to image-forming performance.

This telephoto zoom lens is treated with PENTAX-original ghostless coating to effectively minimize internal reflections in the optical elements and greatly improve the image description of backlit subjects.

Pentax Pentax DA*50-135mm F2.8ED [IF ]SDM Lens News Release
PENTAX Imaging Company has announced a new series of high performance lenses – the smc PENTAX-DA* Series (pronounced PENTAX D.A. STAR SERIES). The first two lenses in the series are the smc PENTAX-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL[IF]SDM wide angle zoom and the smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF]SDM telephoto zoom. Previously announced in September 2006, the two interchangeable lenses are designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. The PENTAX-DA* Series delivers the highest level of optical quality and reflects the PENTAX commitment to delivering ultimate image quality in digital photography. Bringing together advanced optical technologies, including aspherical elements, special optical-glass elements and original lens coatings, these new interchangeable lenses are superior to any existing lens series in terms of contrast, clarity and edge-to-edge sharpness.

These PENTAX-DA* series lenses feature a tightly sealed, weather-resistant and dust-resistant construction to enhance durability for use in rain or dusty conditions making each a perfect companion for the weather-sealed PENTAX K10D digital SLR. The lenses also feature the PENTAX original Quick-Shift Focus System for instant switching to manual-focus operation and PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect) coating to repel dust, water and grease. A new SDM system has been incorporated for smoother, quieter autofocusing operation using a built-in supersonic motor. These lenses feature the PENTAX KAF2 mount, which incorporates additional electrical contacts to drive a built-in supersonic motor used in autofocusing operation.

Both models will be featured along with the entire line of PENTAX digital compact and SLR cameras and lenses in Booth G151 at PMA 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada from March 8 – 11, 2007. The smc PENTAX-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL[IF]SDM will ship in Spring 2007 priced at US $899.95. The smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF]SDM will ship at the same time for US $999.95.

PENTAX-DA* Series FACT SHEET

Innovative SDM System for smoother, quieter autofocusing operation
The two smc PENTAX-DA* zoom lenses come equipped with a new SDM System for smoother, quieter autofocusing operation using a built-in supersonic motor. When mounted on the PENTAX K10D digital SLR camera body, the focus mode is automatically switched to SDM assisted autofocusing.* When mounted on other PENTAX digital SLR camera bodies, the conventional autofocus mode using a camera-mounted motor is selected.
* The PENTAX K10D firmware must be updated to take advantage of this automatic switching function.

Reliable weather- resistant and dust-resistant construction
These PENTAX-DA* series lenses feature a tightly sealed, weather-resistant and dust-resistant construction to enhance durability for use in rain or dusty conditions making each a perfect companion for the weatherproof PENTAX K10D digital SLR.

Original Quick-Shift Focus System for instant switching to manual-focus operation
The PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus System allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation without any mode changes, after the subject is captured in focus by the AF system. This user-friendly system can be used in both the SDM-assisted autofocus mode using a lens-mounted supersonic motor and the conventional autofocus mode using a camera-mounted motor.

SP coating to protect the lens against water and grease
The PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect) coating is applied to the front surface of this lens. Through a vapor deposition process, the lens surface is coated with a special fluorine compound to repel dust, water and grease, making it easy to wipe off fingerprints and cosmetics.

Digital SLR-exclusive optical design
These lenses are designed exclusively for use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. Featuring an image circle perfectly proportioned to the CCD size (23.5mm x 15.7mm), optics optimized for digital imaging characteristics, and offering high-quality image reproduction, the lens series is a perfect partner to PENTAX digital SLR cameras.

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Feb 22: Pentax DA*16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM Lens

Specific features of the smc PENTAX-DA*16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM Lens

When mounted on a PENTAX digital SLR camera body, this 3.1-times zoom lens covers angles of view from 24.5mm to 76.5mm (in the 35mm format).

This versatile ultra-wide to medium-telephoto coverage lens may be used as a standard zoom lens in a wide variety of applications, including landscape and portrait. Incorporating two ED (extra-low dispersion) elements and three aspherical elements, this standard zoom lens effectively compensates for chromatic and spherical aberrations.

Pentax DA*16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM Lens News Release

PENTAX Imaging Company has announced a new series of high performance lenses – the smc PENTAX-DA* Series (pronounced PENTAX D.A. STAR SERIES). The first two lenses in the series are the smc PENTAX-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL[IF]SDM wide angle zoom and the smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF]SDM telephoto zoom. Previously announced in September 2006, the two interchangeable lenses are designed for exclusive use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. The PENTAX-DA* Series delivers the highest level of optical quality and reflects the PENTAX commitment to delivering ultimate image quality in digital photography. Bringing together advanced optical technologies, including aspherical elements, special optical-glass elements and original lens coatings, these new interchangeable lenses are superior to any existing lens series in terms of contrast, clarity and edge-to-edge sharpness.

These PENTAX-DA* series lenses feature a tightly sealed, weather-resistant and dust-resistant construction to enhance durability for use in rain or dusty conditions making each a perfect companion for the weather-sealed PENTAX K10D digital SLR. The lenses also feature the PENTAX original Quick-Shift Focus System for instant switching to manual-focus operation and PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect) coating to repel dust, water and grease. A new SDM system has been incorporated for smoother, quieter autofocusing operation using a built-in supersonic motor. These lenses feature the PENTAX KAF2 mount, which incorporates additional electrical contacts to drive a built-in supersonic motor used in autofocusing operation.

Both models will be featured along with the entire line of PENTAX digital compact and SLR cameras and lenses in Booth G151 at PMA 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada from March 8 – 11, 2007. The smc PENTAX-DA* 16-50mm F2.8 ED AL[IF]SDM will ship in Spring 2007 priced at US $899.95. The smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF]SDM will ship at the same time for US $999.95.

PENTAX-DA* Series FACT SHEET

Innovative SDM System for smoother, quieter autofocusing operation
The two smc PENTAX-DA* zoom lenses come equipped with a new SDM System for smoother, quieter autofocusing operation using a built-in supersonic motor. When mounted on the PENTAX K10D digital SLR camera body, the focus mode is automatically switched to SDM assisted autofocusing.* When mounted on other PENTAX digital SLR camera bodies, the conventional autofocus mode using a camera-mounted motor is selected.
* The PENTAX K10D firmware must be updated to take advantage of this automatic switching function.

Reliable weather- resistant and dust-resistant construction
These PENTAX-DA* series lenses feature a tightly sealed, weather-resistant and dust-resistant construction to enhance durability for use in rain or dusty conditions making each a perfect companion for the weatherproof PENTAX K10D digital SLR.

Original Quick-Shift Focus System for instant switching to manual-focus operation
The PENTAX-developed Quick-Shift Focus System allows the user to instantly switch to manual-focus operation without any mode changes, after the subject is captured in focus by the AF system. This user-friendly system can be used in both the SDM-assisted autofocus mode using a lens-mounted supersonic motor and the conventional autofocus mode using a camera-mounted motor.

SP coating to protect the lens against water and grease
The PENTAX-original SP (Super Protect) coating is applied to the front surface of this lens. Through a vapor deposition process, the lens surface is coated with a special fluorine compound to repel dust, water and grease, making it easy to wipe off fingerprints and cosmetics.

Digital SLR-exclusive optical design
These lenses are designed exclusively for use with PENTAX digital SLR cameras. Featuring an image circle perfectly proportioned to the CCD size (23.5mm x 15.7mm), optics optimized for digital imaging characteristics, and offering high-quality image reproduction, the lens series is a perfect partner to PENTAX digital SLR cameras.

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Feb 22: Pentax Optio A30

The Pentax Optio A30 is a 10.0 megapixel (1/1.8-inch CCD) compact camera which features a 3x optical zoom, ISO of up to 1600, 2.5 inch LCD display and digital shake reduction technology.

The Optio A30 replaces the A20. It also features face recognition (both auto focus and auto exposure), 0.02 second shutter lag, 'intelligent zoom', video shooting at up to 30 fps, 22 megabytes of internal memory and a 'green button' for programing custom functions that you frequently use.

The Pentax Optio A30 measures 89.5 x 57.5 x 23.5 mm and weighs 130 g.

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Pentax Optio A30 News Release

A compact digital camera in PENTAX’s top class, with 10.0 effective megapixels and enhanced anti-shake functions, making high-quality images possible

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new PENTAX Optio A30, a compact digital camera featuring 10.0 effective megepixels, enabling for photography of fine, high-quality images. The Optio A30, which is a camera in PENTAX’s top class, also has enhanced anti-shake functions.

Major Features

1. High-quality images The Optio A30 achieves one of the highest image qualities as a compact digital camera, thanks to features such as 10.0 effective megapixels that enable for high-resolution images, a 1/1.8-inch CCD with a wide light-sensitive area for superior tone reproduction, an smc PENTAX zoom lens, renowned for its high resolving power, an image processing engine that makes a rich color reproduction possible, and three different types of anti-shake functions.

2. Enhancement of anti-shake functions

* SR (Shake Reduction) The shake detection accuracy of the Optio A30 has been further enhanced, by incorporating a new, high-accuracy gyro sensor and a control algorithm used for shake correction technology in our digital SLR cameras into the shake reduction mechanism, which consists of a shifting CCD system developed exclusively by PENTAX. When photographing still images, highly corrective effects, equivalent to shutter speeds of approximately 2.5 to 3.5 steps can be achieved.
* Digital SR (Shake Reduction)*1 The Digital SR mode automatically changes sensitivity according to the brightness of the subject, and effectively reduces camera shakes and subject blurring. For the Optio A30, the maximum sensitivity has been improved to ISO 3200. With faster shutter speeds, photography with reduced blurring is now possible.
*1: The image recording size is fixed to 5 M (2592 x 1944 pixels) when the Digital SR mode is selected.
* Movie SR (Shake Reduction)*2 An electronic shake reduction function exclusively for capturing movies, which effectively corrects distortions in images due to camera shakes through software.
*2 When using “Movie SR,” the field of view is narrower than that during normal video recording.

3. New LCD monitor that is bright and easily viewable The Optio A30 is newly equipped with a high-intensity LCD monitor with an LCD booster function that makes it possible to improve the brightness of the screen as necessary. The monitor is now even easier to view outdoors, where there is strong sunlight. With a 2.5-inch screen size and a high resolution of 232,000 pixels, it is easy to confirm picture compositions and the focus. Due to its wide viewing angle, the screen can also be easily viewed, since there is little change in brightness and colors even when looking at the monitor diagonally.

4. “Face Recognition AF & AE” function that is convenient when photographing people The Optio A30 is equipped with a “Face Recognition AF & AE” function*3 that automatically detects and focuses on faces, regardless of where the people appear in the photo frame. In addition, optimal exposure settings are automatically conducted so that the areas with faces are not darkened even if there is backlighting. *3 Available when the photography mode is “Portrait” or “Kid” and the camera is directed at people from the front.
*3 This camera’s Face Recognition AF & AE function uses the Face Tracker face-recognition technology from FotoNation.

5. Swift operation speeds Various operation speeds for photography and playback have been increased, making it possible to use the camera more swiftly. In addition to a 0.02-second release time lag, the time it takes for the camera to focus and to start up has been speeded up.

6. “Intelligent zoom” function The Optio A30 is newly equipped with an “intelligent zoom” function, which is an evolved form of digital zoom, enabling for images to be magnified even larger and stored, all while maintaining the image quality of optical zoom.

7. Video recording function enabling high-quality recording for long periods of time The Optio A30 smoothly captures movies at 30 fps (frames per second) at sizes up to 640 x 480 pixels with image quality rivaling camcorders. Since it employs the DivX® (MPEG-4 compliant) movie format,*4 the Optio A30 can record longer, high-quality movies.
*4 The Optio A30 is DivX® certified. Movie playback is not supported on Macintosh operating systems.

8. A wide range of exposure setting modes In Programmed Exposure mode, the camera automatically determines the shutter speed and aperture. The camera also includes “Shutter-Priority AE” mode and “Manual Exposure” mode, which the user can set freely depending on the effect they are aiming to achieve.

9. Compact and lightweight body Despite incorporating a large CCD, the SR system and a 3X optical zoom lens with a focal range covering angles of view equivalent to those of a 38-114mm lens in 35mm format, we managed to create a slimmer and lighter body by using our unique Sliding Lens System*5 together with high-density mounting technology.
*5 PENTAX’s proprietary lens system: The central lens group slides upward from the optical axis and the front and back lens groups slip under them. Housing the lens in two steps in the lens cylinder reduces overall lens thickness, thereby minimizing body depth.

10. Other Features

* Auto-tracking AF continuously focusing on a moving subject
* Compatible with new SDHC memory cards, in addition to conventional SD memory cards
* Mode Palette provides quick access to 15 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
* A “Green button” that enables you to assign functions that are frequently used, and recall them in just one touch
* Approximately 22MB of built-in memory
* Calendar Display function allows image retrieval based on the capture date
* Easy searching and organizing of images on a PC using the Date Folder function
* FotoNation’s red-eye correction function for correcting red eye after shooting, which occurs easily when photographing with flash
* Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX image viewer/image management software
* Supports PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

Pentax Optio A30 Reviews

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, "The A30 produces excellent color images, perhaps a bit too saturated for some shooter’s taste. Personally, I liked the images. My first shots with the A30 were at sunup on the beach, and even with the sunlight making review of the images in the monitor difficult, the color of the water jumped out immediately. I did notice a tendency of the A30 to overexpose some white water portions of wave shots where high contrast between the breaking part of the wave and the darker unbroken section create a challenge for any camera meter. On more evenly lit scenes the auto mode worked well. Probably my favorite shot with the A30 is “Auto 4”, the dawn shot of the power plant and lagoon – the A30 did a nice job of metering the early light and foggy background. ... The Pentax A30 offers vibrant color reproduction, great image quality, some manual controls, image stabilization, good shutter response and a 10 megapixel sensor in an easily portable compact digital camera."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Optio A30 and writes, "While it did produce images with good exposure, and color saturation, I noticed some edge softness on the left hand side of several of our samples as well as vignetting (darkening at the corners of the frame.) Image noise is almost nonexistent at ISO 100 and below, becoming more noticeable as you increase the sensitivity. While it is much more noticeable, at ISO 800 and below the images are still usable. However 1600 looks pretty bad, and the 3200 (5MP only) setting when using the Digital SD scene mode is even worse. ... Pentax has made a great improvement over the A10 from last year. With 10-megapixels, 3x optical zoom, Shake Reduction technology, a durable all-metal body and plenty of exposure modes, the Optio A30 is an appealing "ultra-compact" model."

PhotographyPress has a review of the Pentax A30 and writes, "...as soon as you start to delve deeper you see that Pentax is merely number chasing in an attempt to make sure it has a 10 megapixel offering. While image quality from afar is fantastic, on closer inspection its noise filled. Furthermore, the introduction of a 3200 ISO setting is so crazy, that like newspapers keen to have a bigger page supplement in order to beat the competition, we get the feeling that Pentax is doing the same here, just making sure its one up on the competition."

Megapixel has a review of the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, "With its classical looks, the Pentax Optio A30, is an elegant and attractive camera. Used outdoors and with bright light, it easily yields images of excellent quality and colour that can be printed out to a large size. Simple to use and equipped with a resolution that is often considerably more than is needed, the Pentax Optio A30 has the advantage of offering a good image stabilization system and a short reaction time to its controls, both crucial features when capturing subjects such as children, or even pets."

IT Reviews has a review of the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, "The speed of operation has also been quickened and the overall detail and colour tones, brightness and contrast of the final images are well above average. Having an extra Super Macro setting means you can now get as close as 2.3 inches from your target and the rechargeable D-LI8 lithium ion battery allows for approximately 150 photos and 110 minutes of playback time. ... Pentax has wasted no time in bringing the Optio range bang up to date with a vastly improved and highly effective Shake Reduction system, plus Face Recognition and an extra Macro setting."

Vnunet has a review of the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, "with higher ISO settings image noise is often an issue and certainly here there’s plenty of that in all but the brightest of light. The reason for much of this disappointing performance is the 10-megapixel sensor. While that many dots may sound alluring, the sensor is not physically large enough to have to draw in enough light to prevent the resulting image noise. ... Pentax’s reputation for making solid, feature-heavy, attractive cameras while keeping the cost down remains in place with this device – it's a snip at the price, but it's not as accomplished as some seemingly less well-equipped models."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Pentax Optio A30 and writes, "Image quality is one of the A30’s many strong points. At low ISO settings (64-200) the level of fine detail, the edge sharpness and the richness of the colour rendition were among the best I’ve seen from a compact camera. At higher ISO settings noise did become more of a problem, but the A30 uses an unusual noise reduction algorithm which is very good at retaining edge sharpness and contrast detail even when noise levels are quite high, avoiding many of the problems associated with previous 10MP compacts. Even at 800 ISO noise was only prevalent in darker areas, with colour rendition and sharpness still retained, both of which are important for print quality. The lens too performed well, producing some barrel distortion at wide angle but with good corner and edge sharpness at all focal lengths."

Digital Camera Info reviews the Pentax Optio A30 where they recommend - 'The Pentax Optio A30 is a moderately priced point-and-shoot, with an initial MSRP of $349.95. Its clean and concise design, aluminum alloy body, and wealth of features and manual controls make it a worthwhile consideration for a range of users. The Pentax Optio A30 has a 10-megapixel CCD with Sensor Shift Shake Reduction, and carries two additional digital stabilization shooting modes, one for still images and one for videos. The camera has a 2.5-inch LCD with 232,000-pixel resolution, 3x optical zoom lens, and a face recognition system for both autofocus and auto exposure. A full host of manual controls allow for control over metering, exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, aperture, and shutter speed, although with mixed, and sometimes sluggish, results. The camera’s LCD tends to solarize and the substandard software program only allows users to make the most basic of edits. The A30's true shortcomings however, are in its performance. With inaccurate colors, high noise levels, limited dynamic range, and terrible video quality, this camera isn't worth the $350 price tag.'

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Feb 22: Pentax Optio W30

The Pentax Optio W30 is a 7 megapixel (CCD) compact camera with a 3x optical zoom and the ability to shoot underwater (to a depth of 3 meters) for up to 2 hours. It has an LCD screen that is 2.5 inches.

The Pentax Optio W30 is a replacement to the popular Pentax Optio W20 and it features ISO of up to 3200, Macro mode with the ability to take shots from as near as 1cm, face recognition priority (for both auto focus and auto exposure), movie mode at up to 30 frames per second and digital shake reduction.

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Pentax Optio W30 News Release

PENTAX Optio W30
A compact digital camera with an enhanced waterproof function, making it possible to photograph underwater at depths of 3 meters continuously for 2 hours

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new PENTAX Optio W30, a compact digital camera designed to be dustproof/waterproof. The waterproof function has been further enhanced so that it is possible to photograph underwater at depths of 3 meters continuously for 2 hours.

Major Features

1. Enhanced waterproof function The waterproofing capabilities of the internal construction of the camera and of the front and back covers, made from the metal used for the exterior, were further improved to make the Optio W30 capable of being used to photograph underwater at depths of 3 meters continuously for 2 hours（in the conventional model, underwater photography was possible at depths of only 1.5 meters for a period of 30 minutes). The protective glass is treated with SP (Super Protect) coating, developed exclusively by PENTAX, and is superior in water-repellency, making it hard for water droplets to attach to the surface. In addition to high waterproofing capabilities that are compliant with the JIS Class 8 waterproof standard, the Optio W30 is also equipped with dustproofing capabilities against sand and dust (JIS Class 5 dustproof standard), making it able for you to use the camera outdoors, such as for skiing, marine sports, and fishing, as well as for gardening and cooking, without having to worry about water and dirt.

2. New LCD monitor that is bright and easily viewable The Optio W30 is equipped with a high-intensity 2.5-inch LCD monitor with an LCD Bright Mode that can adjust the brightness of the screen as necessary, making it easy to view the screen even outdoors, where there is strong sunlight. AR (Anti-Reflection) coating, which controls and reduces reflections caused by light, is also used for the monitor, making the screen be even more visible outdoors.

3. Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode that reduces camera shakes and blurring of the subject when photographing still images. The sensitivity is adjusted automatically, to as high as the ultrahigh sensitivity of ISO 3200, to match the brightness of the subject. This enables for photography with fast shutter speeds, and images with less blurs can be obtained.

4. High-quality movies with Shake reduction function The Optio W30 captures smooth, high-quality movies at 30 fps (frames per second) at a resolution of 640 x 480 pixles, which is comparable to movies taken with a camcorder. It is also equipped with the “Movie SR (Shake Reduction)” function*1, which automatically corrects camera shakes, and the “Interval shooting” mode that records images recorded during each specified time interval as a movie, allowing for movies to be taken more easily and without hassles.
*1 Using the “Movie SR" function results in a narrower field of view than that during normal video recording.

5. “Face Recognition Priority AF & AE” function that is convenient when photographing people The Optio W30 is equipped with a “Face Recognition Priority AF & AE” function*2 that automatically detects and focuses on faces, regardless of where the people appear in the photo frame. In addition, optimal exposure settings are automatically conducted so that the areas with faces are not darkened even if there is backlighting.
*2 Available when the shooting mode is “Portrait” and the camera is directed at people from the front.

6. Macro photography as near as 1 cm The Optio W30 can be used as close as one centimeter away from a subject for stunning close-up photography. Macro photography provides many fun photo options because you can fill the photo frame with subjects like flowers, insects, or jewelry.

7. Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best settings for the shooting conditions The Auto Picture mode lets the camera automatically determine the shooting conditions for Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, and Program modes and choose the optimum settings for each subject. This PENTAX original function makes photography a lot easier for users since it eliminates the necessity of making a number of individual settings.

8. 3X optical zoom lens and 7.1 effective megapixels deliver outstanding pictures The Optio W30 includes a 3X optical zoom lens that covers focal lengths from 6.3 to 18.9 mm (equivalent to 38 to 114 mm for 35mm film) and features a refraction lens system so the lens never protrudes from the camera while zooming. And by harnessing the full power of the 7.1 effective megapixels, the Optio W30 produces extremely high-quality prints with crisp detail even when the photo is greatly enlarged.

9. Other Features

* New auto-lock mechanism that automatically locks covers, such as the battery cover, after they are closed.
* Auto-tracking AF continuously focusing on a moving subject
* Compatible with new SDHC memory cards, in addition to conventional SD memory cards
* Mode Palette provides quick access to 25 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
* Image Recovery function lets you retrieve accidentally erased pictures
* Soft flash function avoids overexposure during close-up flash photography
* Digital zooming provides up to 4X magnification
* Digital Filter function that lets you enjoy editing photographed images
* FotoNation’s red-eye correction function for correcting red eye after shooting, which occurs easily when photographing with flash
* Approximately 21.9 MB of built-in memory
* Includes the ACDSee for PENTAX image viewer/image management software
* Supports PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

Pentax Optio W30 Reviews

Digital Camera Info has a first impressions review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, The Pentax Optio W30 offers some great features for a slim, pocket camera, like multiple scene modes, customizable menus, programmable control button, good macro focus range, and of course, the waterproof qualities. However, unless you’re only interested in shooting underwater shots, it remains difficult to recommend this camera due to the lens’ poor focal length and aperture range, and the inadequate LCD screen."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, "The Pentax Optio W30 offers water enthusiasts a limited underwater digital camera capability and terrestrial users a camera they won’t need to worry about if the environment suddenly turns wet. While the camera does a good job of image capturing when conditions are optimal, its foul-weather capability makes the W30 a viable choice for anyone who needs a compact digital that can shoot in places and conditions that would pose a risk to more typical cameras of this class."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, "The overall image quality of our samples was good for a 7-megapxiel consumer model. ... the Pentax Optio W30 is yet another "Cool" underwater model. It can produce nice photos along with good shooting performance, loads of exposure modes, and lets not forget the added versatility of being able to take pictures underwater! At about $US250 or less, I feel the Optio W30 offers a great value for a camera in this category, and is sure to be a very popular digicam this year."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, "Picture quality is about average for a 7MP compact. Exposure is generally good, although in standard multi-zone metering mode it does tend to under-expose in strong backlighting. Colour rendition is very good, and the lens performs well despite its unusual configuration. It has noticeable barrel distortion at the wide-angle end of the zoom range, but overall detail and corner sharpness are a match for any other 7MP pocket compact. As I’ve already mentioned, the W30 does suffer from quite bad image noise at high ISO settings, but as long as you keep it under 800 it isn’t a major problem."

Megapixel has a review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, "Although we find the image compression at the highest image quality to be a bit too strong for our liking, the images the W30 produces are on par with many of today's compact cameras, and make very good prints. So, since this camera has the advantage over others of being waterproof, it should ensure that it gets to accompany a lot of people on their summer and winter vacations."

PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, "The Pentax Optio W30's image quality is only average. The camera's main drawback is noisy images, with the relatively slow speed of ISO 200 showing some noise and blurring of detail. The noise gets progressively worse as you go from ISO 400 to ISO 800 and finally to the completely unusable 1600 and 3200 settings. On a brighter note, the Pentax Optio W30 handled chromatic aberrations extremely well with very limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations."

PhotographyPress has a review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, "In terms of image quality, the Pentax performs well enough up to sensitivities of ISO400, above this setting things get noisier (as you’d expect) but with a top ISO of 3200, by the time you ramp up the sensitivity to cater for, say, low light shooting with moving subjects you want to freeze, noise is a real problem. And it is this high sensitivity setting the camera uses for its anti shake system, so it is not an anti shake system per se, but like other makers who use this type of blur reduction, it as really a software anti shake solution. This actually just bumps up the ISO and along with the noise issues associated with higher sensitivities making images very noisy indeed."

PopPhoto has a review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, "Underwater images came out sharp and satisfying in Auto or Program picture mode, with good color balance, but the dedicated underwater mode simply adds a blue appearance to the image and otherwise acts as Program mode. I found the color to be too blue in this mode, and much preferred the normal color balance underwater ... Images out of the water were simple to shoot and gave pleasing results. There's a shooting mode for just about any situation, though the sheer number available can be confusing at times. ... Overall, there's little not to like about this camera. It's similar to many other shirt-pocket compacts on the market, with the added bonus of going with you into the pool or ocean instead of sitting behind on the beach. So go ahead, jump right in - the Optio W30 will happily go along with you."

DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Pentax Optio W30 and writes, "The W30's biggest quality issues were its inaccurate color reproduction, limited dynamic range, and slow operation. The minimal 115k pixels on the camera's LCD screen also made it difficult to gauge focus and share photos on-screen. The W30 did handle noise better than its competition and produced clean images through ISO 800 and usable images up to ISO 1600. The Pentax W30 gets props for improvements made to the previous model, including increased waterproof times and submergence depths, and a new locking system. Overall, the Optio W30 makes solid strides in its targeted areas and offers an effective all-around waterproof camera at an affordable price."

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Feb 21: Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 Review at PCMag

PCMag has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 and writes, "In the daylight and flash test shots, the LX2 really stood out. There was very little noise in both images. Colors were vibrant and accurate. The images had very good contrast, with no loss in detail. Overall, my pictures were very balanced and evenly lit, although the flash was a bit too powerful. In my tests, the camera had an average of 1,925 lines of resolution, which is very good for a 10MP camera. ... Yet what keeps the LX2 out of Editors' Choice contention is its weak performance—the recycle time, at 7 seconds, is way too slow for an enthusiast camera. There was noticeable shutter lag, and the 3.8-second bootup time is also disappointing."

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Feb 21: Nikon D40 DSLR at Macworld

Macworld has a review of the Nikon D40 DSLR and writes, "The D40’s image quality shines because the camera includes the same image-processing circuitry as Nikon’s more expensive D80 (4 mice) and D200 (4 mice) models. Like its small-bodied competition, the D40 achieves its diminutive size by eliminating the top-mounted status display in favor of using the camera’s rear LCD for status readouts. The top of the camera has a mode dial for selecting shooting mode, as well as buttons for exposure compensation and information display. You set all other options via the camera’s menu system. ... At $599, the Nikon D40 is a great value, and a great tool for photographers who want to grow. The included help system and aperture displays are fantastic learning tools, and the fact that the camera provides full priority and manual modes, as well as Raw, ensures that you won’t have to compromise as your shooting prowess grows."

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Feb 21: Pentax Optio W20 Review at DigiCamReview

DigiCamReview has a review of the Pentax Optio W20 and writes, "The Pentax Optio W20 is one of the cheapest completely waterproof digital cameras available - available from only £139 you'd be tempted to think that Pentax have made compromises in order to get the price so low - thankfully this isn't the case. Pentax have done an excellent job making a compact and easy to use digital camera full of features. Some you wouldn't expect to see on a compact point and shoot, such as manual focus, custom white balance, video recording with optical zoom and digital anti-shake. The camera doesn't compromise on image quality either, with good results available, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors or taking macro photos. The only weakness was the camera's higher than average noise when taking photos indoors. If you're looking for a compact, waterproof, 7 megapixel digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens, and a 2.5" screen, then the Pentax Optio W20 is an excellent choice."

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Feb 21: Fujifilm F31fd Review at ThinkCamera

ThinkCamera has a review of the Fujifilm F31fd and writes, "Colour rendition of skin tones is good in the F31fd and the clever face detection software helps you get the best focus and optimized exposure for the shot you are taking. ... When you zoom in on it you can see some noise but not as bad as you might expect at ISO 800. I printed it at 6in x 4in and was pleasantly surprised. There was a very slight softening effect but nothing that would worry you. You'll also notice that the background is nicely balanced too. ... It's a smashing little camera. If you take lots of photos of people it will help you get the best focus for each person. The Fujifilm F31fd is perfect for getting that shot at the party with all your mates. It has a high ISO (can capture detail when it's dark, keeping it sharp), it will balance the background and it won't blow out their faces."

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Feb 21: Kodak EasyShare V803 Review at Pocket-lint

Pocket-lint has a review of the Kodak EasyShare V803 and is not impressed, giving the camera a 5/10 rating: "Focusing (in macro mode – or any other for that matter) is fantastically slow. ... Once the focusing has finally got it right, continuing to press the shutter to take the shot results in … a further delay while the camera gets going once again. What it is waiting for at this stage I’m not sure, suffice to say, any chance of a spontaneously snapped shot is almost impossible. ... if you need to use the flash as well, the delays only grow even longer as the flash recharge cycle takes half a second and the double pre-flash (used for exposure setting and white balance calculations) means that the subject (if a person) usually tends to think the shots taken and moves off before the actual third “exposure” flash fires. ... while it looks nice, is well made, has some nice features, and is simple to operate, its problems with all those frustrating delays means, in the end, I cannot recommend this camera."

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Feb 20: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom - Ready for Purchase

Adobe's Photoshop Lightroom has now been officially released and is available for purchase in a number of online stores, including at Amazon where they have it for the introductory price of $197.99.

It's already been quite popular and has gone straight to #7 on Amazon's best selling software list. They're also giving purchasers the opportunity to bundle it with a number of Lightroom books.

Adobe are promoting Lightroom as 'the professional photographer's essential toolbox, providing one easy application for managing, adjusting, and presenting large volumes of digital photographs so you can spend less time in front of the computer and more time behind the lens.'

It's a piece of software that I've seen some great reviews of already and am keen to get my hands on. I've ordered a copy from Amazon which I'll pick up when in the US next month (unfortunately they're only shipping within the US at the moment).

If you've got it already or buy it - we'd love to hear your review over in the DPS Forums.

Get the latest price on the Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 1.0 Win/Mac [Special Introductory Price]

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix S50c

The Nikon Coolpix S50c is nearly identical to it's sibling - the S50 except that it features wire less connectivity for transferring of images via WiFi.

It is a 7.2 megapixel compact camera with a 3x optical lens (prism folded to keep things sleek) and a large 3.0 inch LCD screen.

The Nikon Coolpix S50c features true optical image stabilization for low light photography and Nikon's D-Lighting (for dark and shadowy scenes).

The S50 comes with in camera red eye reduction, face priority auto focussing and 'best shot selector mode (for taking a sequence of shots and letting the camera choose which one is best).

The Nikon Coolpix S50c will have a retail price of $350 USD when it's released in April.

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Nikon Coolpix S50c News Release

NIKON'S NEW S SERIES CAMERAS FEATURE STUNNING STYLE AND ADVANCED SHARING TECHNOLOGIES

The COOLPIX S50 and S50c are as Stunning as the Pictures They Take

MELVILLE, NY (February 19, 2007) – Nikon has added two new stylish and feature-packed digital cameras to the Nikon COOLPIX Style Series line-up, the S50 and S50c. These cameras combine enhanced imaging quality and performance with an eye-catching wave surface design. The COOLPIX S50 and the COOLPIX S50c boast 7.2 effective megapixels, a 3x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens and a huge, bright 3.0 inch LCD screen. These cameras also utilize an Optical VR Image Stabilization system, ensuring the consumer will be able to capture stunningly sharp images. What's more, the COOLPIX S50c also offers the additional advantage of a built in Wireless capability for e-mail and image storage with the enhanced COOLPIX CONNECT 2 service.

“ The COOLPIX S50 and S50c combine technologies that are Nikon hallmarks: exquisite design coupled with superior optics and high resolution with advanced picture taking functions that allow anyone to take great pictures, ” says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc.

Bye-bye blur
Not only do the COOLPIX S50 and the COOLPIX S50c feature 7.2 effective megapixels, allowing the consumer to make superior quality prints in a variety of sizes, they also incorporate advanced technologies which help create new opportunities to take sharper, and more natural looking photos. These technologies include the new Optical VR Image Stabilization, high sensitivity up to ISO 1600, and Best Shot Selector (BSS) which can all be activated by pressing the Anti-Shake Button, conveniently located on the top of the camera. These features allow the S50 and S50c to produce shots that are steady, sharp and stunning.

Beauty with brains
Nikon is making it easier than ever to get great-looking pictures with a handy One-Touch Portrait Button that acts as a shortcut to three Nikon In-Camera Image Innovations to correct common photo problems. This system includes Face-priority AF, which was the first system to automatically find and focus on a subject’s face, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, which automatically detects and corrects red-eye, and D-Lighting, an innovation that automatically creates a copy of the image with detail added where necessary, but with well-exposed areas left completely untouched. These cameras also feature huge, bright, high resolution 3.0-inch LCD monitors with a 170-degree viewing angle and an anti-reflection coating, so they are able to facilitate easier composition and high-quality playback anywhere, even in direct sunlight.

Furthermore, the LCD monitors serve as excellent platforms for Pictmotion™, which allows users to select their favorite images or movies, as well as music (up to 10 songs) and combine them automatically in-camera to produce audiovisual shows in VGA quality for the ultimate photo-sharing experience.

Going Wireless
COOLPIX S50c users can take advantage of the second generation of Nikon's exciting COOLPIX CONNECT services. COOLPIX CONNECT 2 makes it easy to share pictures with friends and family from just about anywhere by allowing the user to email images directly from the camera through open access wireless hotspots. Through the new version of COOLPIX CONNECT, S50c users can also store up to 2 gigabytes of images and movies on a secure Nikon server, providing a valuable back-up of priceless images.

Both the COOLPIX S50 and the COOLPIX S50c come bundled with Nikon's PictureProject software. The PictureProject software is powerful and user-friendly and makes transferring, organizing, editing, and sharing photos a snap.

The COOLPIX S50 and the COOLPIX S50c will be available nationwide in April 2007. The S50c has an MSRP of $349.95, and the S50 has a MSRP of $299.95. For more information about these and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikondigital.com.

CNET has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S50c and writes, "Image quality was good, but not outstanding, for an ultra-compact. Colors were generally accurate and the camera's automatic white balance system did a decent job of neutralizing colors under incandescent lighting, though our test shots retained a very slight yellowish cast. ... Overall, the S50c is a very nice ultra-compact camera, though its wireless capabilities could be more useful. Since Nikon offers the S50, which is basically the exact same camera without the wireless, you're probably better off saving some money and opting for that, unless you think you'll get a really big kick out of uploading images through your home wireless router, or you plan on forking over an extra $4.99 a month for the privilege of using one of T-Mobile's hot spots."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Nikon Coopix S50c and writes, "The slow speed of the Coolpix S50c is probably the biggest downfall of this camera. If you're ok with the camera's speed, you'll be pleased with this camera. While there are no advanced manual exposure modes, the target user of this camera won't use them anyway. Instead, they can use the handy wireless features to send pictures to an online service or send them to a friend's email Inbox. The camera produces sharp images with nice strong colors under a variety of conditions. After all that, it's still slim enough for a shirt pocket. If you think you'll get a lot of use out of a wireless-enabled digital camera (and don't mind a slightly slower than average camera), then the Coolpix S50c is worth a look."

PCMag has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S50c and writes, "I wasn't impressed with the video, which had some purple fringing and was fraught with jerky motion. In my lab tests, I found the still images had excellent color, although they had just a bit of fringing too. Overall, I thought both my daylight and flash shots displayed good exposure. There was a bit of noise in the flash shots, but nothing that would overwhelm the photo. I do think the flash could be stronger. ... for those who don't mind spending lots of time messing around with tech gadgets and plowing through plenty of instructions, the Nikon Coolpix s50c's wireless features make it an alluring option. Though its image quality is decent, it's certainly not the most awesome camera in terms of performance. Still, at least for now, it's the best wireless point-and-shoot out there."

TrustedReviews has posted a review of the Nikon CoolPix S50c where they write - 'The CoolPix S50c is an attractive and well-made camera, and the WiFi capability is both useful and easy to use, but its sluggish performance, unimpressive picture quality and very slow AF system are major problems. Considering the price, unless you really want that wireless connectivity it's a hard camera to recommend.'

Imaging Resource has posted their review of the Nikon Coolpix S50c where they recommend - "While the Nikon S50c has an attractive design with some intriguing bells and whistles that are more than gimmicks, I was disappointed with both how the camera performed and the quality of the images it captured. On the bright side, the Nikon S50c has a VR lens, D-Lighting, and In-Camera Red-Eye Fix: all automatically activated with Face Priority autofocus in Portrait mode. But a WiFi-enabled digicam should be able transmit wirelessly to a computer just like it does via USB connection. The Nikon S50c's failure to transmit images to your own computer is a big step backwards. Focus speed and image detail were also disappointing, as were battery life and lens performance. Unfortunately, the Nikon S50c is a very disappointing revision of one of the most attractive digicam designs ever. The Nikon Coolpix S50c will serve as a decent digital camera, given its relatively good printed results, but it's not the best on the market."

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix S50

The Nikon Coolpix S50 is a 7.2 megapixel slimline digital camera with a 3x optical lens (prism folded to keep things nice and sleek) and a large 3.0 inch LCD screen.

The Nikon Coolpix S50 features true optical image stabilization for low light photography and Nikon's D-Lighting (for dark and shadowy scenes).

The S50 comes with in camera red eye reduction, face priority auto focussing and 'best shot selector mode (for taking a sequence of shots and letting the camera choose which one is best).

The Nikon Coolpix S50 will have a retail price of $300 USD when it's released in April.

Get a Price on the Nikon Coolpix S50

Nikon Coolpix S50 News Release

NIKON'S NEW S SERIES CAMERAS FEATURE STUNNING STYLE AND ADVANCED SHARING TECHNOLOGIES

The COOLPIX S50 and S50c are as Stunning as the Pictures They Take

Nikon has added two new stylish and feature-packed digital cameras to the Nikon COOLPIX Style Series line-up, the S50 and S50c. These cameras combine enhanced imaging quality and performance with an eye-catching wave surface design. The COOLPIX S50 and the COOLPIX S50c boast 7.2 effective megapixels, a 3x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens and a huge, bright 3.0 inch LCD screen. These cameras also utilize an Optical VR Image Stabilization system, ensuring the consumer will be able to capture stunningly sharp images. What's more, the COOLPIX S50c also offers the additional advantage of a built in Wireless capability for e-mail and image storage with the enhanced COOLPIX CONNECT 2 service.

“ The COOLPIX S50 and S50c combine technologies that are Nikon hallmarks: exquisite design coupled with superior optics and high resolution with advanced picture taking functions that allow anyone to take great pictures, ” says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc.

Bye-bye blur
Not only do the COOLPIX S50 and the COOLPIX S50c feature 7.2 effective megapixels, allowing the consumer to make superior quality prints in a variety of sizes, they also incorporate advanced technologies which help create new opportunities to take sharper, and more natural looking photos. These technologies include the new Optical VR Image Stabilization, high sensitivity up to ISO 1600, and Best Shot Selector (BSS) which can all be activated by pressing the Anti-Shake Button, conveniently located on the top of the camera. These features allow the S50 and S50c to produce shots that are steady, sharp and stunning.

Beauty with brains
Nikon is making it easier than ever to get great-looking pictures with a handy One-Touch Portrait Button that acts as a shortcut to three Nikon In-Camera Image Innovations to correct common photo problems. This system includes Face-priority AF, which was the first system to automatically find and focus on a subject’s face, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, which automatically detects and corrects red-eye, and D-Lighting, an innovation that automatically creates a copy of the image with detail added where necessary, but with well-exposed areas left completely untouched. These cameras also feature huge, bright, high resolution 3.0-inch LCD monitors with a 170-degree viewing angle and an anti-reflection coating, so they are able to facilitate easier composition and high-quality playback anywhere, even in direct sunlight.

Furthermore, the LCD monitors serve as excellent platforms for Pictmotion™, which allows users to select their favorite images or movies, as well as music (up to 10 songs) and combine them automatically in-camera to produce audiovisual shows in VGA quality for the ultimate photo-sharing experience.

Going Wireless
COOLPIX S50c users can take advantage of the second generation of Nikon's exciting COOLPIX CONNECT services. COOLPIX CONNECT 2 makes it easy to share pictures with friends and family from just about anywhere by allowing the user to email images directly from the camera through open access wireless hotspots. Through the new version of COOLPIX CONNECT, S50c users can also store up to 2 gigabytes of images and movies on a secure Nikon server, providing a valuable back-up of priceless images.

Both the COOLPIX S50 and the COOLPIX S50c come bundled with Nikon's PictureProject software. The PictureProject software is powerful and user-friendly and makes transferring, organizing, editing, and sharing photos a snap.

The COOLPIX S50 and the COOLPIX S50c will be available nationwide in April 2007. The S50c has an MSRP of $349.95, and the S50 has a MSRP of $299.95. For more information about these and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikondigital.com

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S50 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix S50 produces very good image and color fidelity in a stylish compact digital camera, and the big 3 inch monitor makes smaller monitors seem obsolete by comparison. While lacking manual controls, the S50 offers new photographers a user-friendly device whose overall performance can only enhance the confidence of novice shooters. At the same time, more experienced shooters who need a reliable, no-frills camera with some quality creative features won’t be barking up the wrong tree if they choose the S50."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S50 and writes, "While the Nikon Coolpix S50 offers some very appealing features, I was a bit disappointed with its shooting performance results. It does have the ability to capture some very nice photos, however trying to shoot a fast moving child while running through the house can be challenging. That said, with an MSRP of US$299 or less, I feel there are better 7-megapixel "ultra-compact" models out there in this price range. If you love Nikon and the features of this model, but want better performance, be sure to check out our review of the Coolpix S500."

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix S200

The Nikon Coolpix S200 is another 7.1 megapixel (CCD) compact camera with a 3x optical zoom and 2.5 inch LCD screen.

It come s with VR image stabilization (not true optical), ISO of up to 1000, 20 megabtyes of internal memory and Nikon's 'D-Lighting' technology (for helping with darker/shadowy images).

The S200 measures 91.5 x 56.5 x 18.5mm and weighs 125g and it will have a retail price of $249.95 USD when it is released in stores in April.

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Nikon Coolpix S200 News Release

Nikon is pleased to announce the COOLPIX S200

In order to uphold its legacy of industry-leading technology that consistently delivers excellent results, Nikon is always seeking new ways to enhance the camera user’s experience. The new COOLPIX S200 model brings world-class photographic results to professionals and amateurs alike, packed into a sleek compact casing.

Measuring just 18.5mm, the stylish aluminum body of the COOLPIX S200 blends an attractive design with modern features, demonstrating Nikon’s commitment to quality state-of-the-art craftsmanship.

Combining 7.1 effective megapixels of image resolution with an impressive 38-114mm 3 x Zoom-Nikkor lens, this camera is able to faithfully capture the detail of the closest portrait to the broadest panorama, even after enlargement of the shots.

Image quality is further enhanced by the Vibration Reduction function (activated in Anti-Shake mode), which compensates for camera shake and delivers clear pictures even in unsteady conditions. In combination with the High-Sensitivity mode which extends to ISO 1000, the VR function also enables the user to take quality photographs in lower light conditions.

Fast-moving and shaded shots present no challenge to the COOLPIX S200, and the results can be enjoyed with friends on the ample 2.5-inch LCD screen. This also allows easy navigation of the new menu interface which offers quick access to a variety of exciting modes and functions.

Packaged within the COOLPIX S200, three unique Nikon innovations make it possible to manipulate the images in-camera, enabling amateurs to achieve results that a professional would be proud of. Face-priority AF detects people’s faces to achieve sharp focus on the face, no matter where they happen to be located in the frame; In-Camera Red-Eye Fix tackles this effect by providing automatic compensation for more flattering, natural-looking portraits in low light. Finally, Nikon’s unique D-Lighting function improves underexposed images or shots taken with too much back-light, leaving well-exposed areas untouched.

Nikon’s exclusive PictureProject software allows the user to further manipulate images once they have been uploaded onto a computer. This is an easy-to-use programme which makes it simple to edit, organise, transfer and share the photographs taken with the COOLPIX S200.
Nikon COOLPIX S200 Feature Highlights

VR image stabilization
The COOLPIX S200 features electronic Vibration Reduction (VR) that allows users to overcome the effects of camera shake to produce satisfyingly sharp images. Taking data from a built-in angular velocity sensor, the system applies in-camera image processing to turn blurred images into beautifully sharp results. Anti-Shake mode also employs e-VR to deliver clearer, more stable images in diverse shooting situations.

ISO 1000 capability
Light sensitivity can be manually set as high as ISO 1000. This allows the use of faster shutter speeds to avoid blurred results when shooting moving subjects or in locations with insufficient lighting. A new image-processing engine with enhanced noise reduction and an improved signal-to-noise ratio preserves high image quality and demonstrates superior light sensitivity. In High Sensitivity mode, the ISO setting is automatically adjusted from ISO 50 to as high as ISO 1000 to ensure optimal exposure and carefree shooting in lower light.

Innovative Nikon in-camera correction features
The COOLPIX S200 features a selection of three innovative functions that provide the ability to actually improve the quality of images within the camera. Face-priority AFautomatically finds, then focuses on people’s faces for crisp, clear results time after time. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically compensates to help eradicate traces of the annoying red-eye effect that can sometimes be encountered during flash photography. Completing the set is D-Lighting, which can be applied to improve underexposed images or shots taken with too much backlight. D-Lighting automatically creates a copy of the image with detail added where necessary, but with well-exposed areas left completely untouched.
Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.

Nikon COOLPIX S200 Other Features

• Lightweight with slim, compact dimensions
• Choice of 15 scene modes
• Macro shooting enables shooting from as close as 10cm (3.9 in.)
• Help button to display simple explanations for functions on the main menu
• Large control buttons, including the Zoom button, are carefully positioned to simplify operation
• Menu available in a choice of 20 languages
• List by date
• Date counter
• Calendar function make it easy to locate a recorded image
• Selection of movie recording modes
• New Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery EN-EL10 delivers high performance in a compact package
• Time zone function allows setting of home town and new city time zone for easy image sorting after traveling
• SDHC card compatibility
• Approx. 20MB of internal memory
• USB connectivity enables swift data transfer to computers and other peripherals
• PictBridge support

RRP: £199.99/ €299
Sales start date: End of March\

Nikon Coolpix S200

Megapixel has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S200 and writes, "when printed out to a 10.2 x 7.7 inch size (26 x 19.5 cm) and at 300 dpi, images are sharp and should satisfy most users as long as they do not contain too much noise, as it can impact the effectiveness of the compression. ... The Coolpix S200 is a high quality entry-level camera. It offers a metallic body and excellent finishing, a good monitor and produces good quality images with reasonably bright lighting conditions. Moreover, the e-VR is an added bonus, even it isn't quite as effective as an optical image stabilization system. But, more than likely, what will attract most of its purchasers will be its compact size and its simplicity of use."

GoodGearGuide has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S200 and writes, "Sporting a slim design and a 7.1 megapixel sensor, we were expecting good things from the Coolpix S200, a member of Nikon's new line of compact cameras. Unfortunately it let us down in several areas, with soft pictures, high levels of haloing and below average colour reproduction ... A disappointing compact camera from Nikon, the Coolpix S200 has numerous imaging issues which mean that it's smooth, stylish design isn't enough to make it an attractive option."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S200 and writes, "The S200’s images are a classic example of what some veteran photographers call consumer image interpolation - hue accurate with somewhat punched-up color saturation and slightly hard default contrast. Outdoors (daylight), the S200's images are dependably and consistently excellent. Images are generally well exposed, but the camera does blow out highlights in some shots, which is not too surprising since Nikon's matrix meters are calibrated to preserve shadow detail by clipping highlights. Corners are a bit soft, but chromatic aberration (purple fringing) is very well controlled. Indoors, at night, and in dim/low light the S200’s images are decent, but not quite as good as the daylight shots. Auto ISO images are generally excellent (in good lighting) with sharp resolution, bold colors, and lots of snap (although some very minor pattern noise/color grain is occasionally visible in shadow areas)."

PhotographyPress has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S200 and writes, "Image quality is excellent overall, particularly at the lower ISO 50 and 100 settings. Over ISO 200, it’s good as noise starts to creep into images up to ISO 400 after which noise is obvious at ISO 800 and ISO 1000. Barring a little barrel distortion (at the wide end of the zoom) and some slight purple fringing, the S200 takes detailed, crisp pictures. The reliable (if slow) focus system and the very excellent metering also make significant contributions. White balance is also very good in all but mixed lighting where it starts to take on a slight orange cast."

CNET has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S200 and writes, " Thanks to the S200's disappointing lens, most photos appear at least slightly distorted. Both wide-angle and telephoto shots develop a small amount of barrel and pincushion distortion, respectively. ... To its credit, the S200 does some things right. For example, its automatic white balance does a very nice job of neutralizing colors in incandescent and fluorescent lighting, and its tungsten preset was able to cope with our tough tungsten studio lights. Plus, the camera did a decent job of balancing flash with ambient light sources. The Nikon Coolpix S200 suffers from a bad case of style over substance."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Nikon CoolPix S200 and writes, "Despite the prestigious Nikon badge, the S200 is a pretty run-of-the-mill ultra-compact, with little to distinguish it from several competing models. It is very slim and light, build quality is well up to the usual Nikon standard, and the camera handles well. The electronic vibration reduction also works well, and does give the camera a slight edge over models with only ISO-boost, but this is let down by terrible low-light focusing, average performance and indifferent image quality. Not too bad for the price, but there are better ultra-compact cameras, and better Nikons."

Imaging Resource review the Nikon Coolpix S200 Digital Camera and writes - "A streamlined feature set and an equally sleek design will appeal to snapshooters who appreciate simplicity as well as style. However, its feature set may be a little too meager for more advanced users. The Nikon S200's image noise issues and the use of electronic rather than optical Vibration Reduction won't be of much use for those who like to shoot in low light without a flash. But the camera is easy to use, it's stylish, highly portable and at low ISOs, the Nikon Coolpix S200 can produce some decent images, and good quality prints up to 8x10."

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix S500

The Nikon Coolpix S500 is a 7.1 megapixel compact camera (CCD) with a 3x Optical zoom.

It features ISO of up to 2000, optical image stabilization, black and silver color options and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

The Nikon Coolpix S500 has 15 scene modes, macro shooting (but only as close as 15cm), 26 megabytes of internal memory and all the usual connectivity (USB, PictBridge etc).

The Nikon Coolpix S500 will have a retail price of £249.99 €369 in the UK and Europe when it's released in April.

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Nikon Coolpix S500 News Release

Nikon is pleased to announce the COOLPIX S500

Always at the forefront of innovation within the photographic industry, Nikon has announced the COOLPIX S500, a camera that combines extensive features and the latest technology.

This solid yet lightweight camera is encased in a stylish stainless-steel body. Sleek design and classic contours make this model as striking to look at as the quality pictures it produces, and is testament to Nikon’s commitment to quality.

The technology and the features inside the COOLPIX S500 are worthy of their impressive casing. The combination of 7.1 megapixels of resolution and the powerful 3 x Zoom-Nikkor lens with a range of 35-105mm enables the COOLPIX S500 to deliver excellent picture detail whether the subject is a close-in portrait or a broad panorama, even after the photograph has been enlarged.

The Vibration Reduction function is able to compensate for camera shake to produce clearer, steadier pictures, and also prevents blurring in lower-light conditions. Light-sensitivity of up to ISO 2000 further guarantees picture clarity in unsteady or poorly-lit conditions.

Nikon is constantly seeking ways to make the experience of taking a photograph as simple and as exciting as possible. All functions are optimised to respond immediately, ensuring that the user never misses a fleeting opportunity for a great shot. The COOLPIX S500 powers up in an impressive 0.8 seconds and has a practically imperceptible shutter release time lag of less than 0.005 seconds.

The results achieved with the COOLPIX S500 can be fully appreciated using Nikon’s exclusive PictureProject software, which makes it simple and straightforward to edit, organise, transfer and share images. Compatibility with a range of feature-extending plug-ins also makes it easy to add new capabilities on demand.
Nikon COOLPIX S500 Feature Highlights

VR image stabilization
The COOLPIX S500 features proven lens shift VR (Vibration Reduction) technology originally developed for interchangeable lenses used with Nikon SLR camera systems. Nikon's exclusive VR system provides the ability to shoot at shutter speeds as much as three steps slower without blurring the image, helping to overcome camera shake and stabilize shots of unsteady subjects. Active the whole time the COOLPIX S500 is turned on, VR also stabilizes images displayed on the 2.5-inch high-resolution LCD, making it easier to frame shots and capture the moment as intended.

ISO 2000 capability
Light sensitivity can be manually set as high as ISO 2000, allowing the camera to select faster shutter speeds and prevent blurred results when shooting in lower lighting conditions or when capturing fast-moving subjects. A new image-processing engine with enhanced noise reduction and an improved signal-to-noise ratio preserves high image quality, even when shooting at the high ISO settings it makes possible. In High Sensitivity mode, the ISO setting is automatically adjusted from ISO 50 to as high as ISO 1600 to ensure optimal exposure and carefree shooting in lower light.

Anti-Shake button
One press of the button activates Anti-Shake mode for clearer results in low light or at telephoto focal length settings. High-ISO automatically sets the optimal ISO and works with VR (Vibration Reduction) to deliver steady results, while BSS (Best Shot Selector) selects and saves the sharpest image from up to ten sequential shots.

One-touch portrait button
The One-touch portrait button makes it easier than ever to take great-looking photographs by offering direct access to a selection of three innovative functions that provide the ability to actually improve the quality of images within the camera. Face-priority AF* automatically finds, then focuses on people’s faces for crisp, clear results time after time. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically compensates to help eradicate traces of the annoying red-eye effect that can sometimes be encountered during flash photography. Completing the set is D-Lighting, which can be applied to improve underexposed images or shots taken with too much backlight. D-Lighting automatically creates a copy of the image with detail added where necessary, but with well-exposed areas left completely untouched.

* Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.

Nikon COOLPIX S500 Other Features

* Light weight with highly compact dimensions
* Choice of 15 Scene modes
* Macro shooting enables shooting from as close as 15cm (5.9 in.)
* Help button to display simple explanations for functions on the main menu
* Carefully positioned large control buttons and the user-friendly rotary multi selector
* Menu display available in a choice of 20 languages
* Improved Graphical User Interface (GUI)
* List by date
* Date counter
* Calendar function
* Selection of movie recording modes
* New rechargeable Lithium-ion battery EN-EL10 delivers high performance in a compact package
* Time zone function allows setting of home town and the time zone for easy image sorting after traveling
* SDHC card compatibility
* Approx. 26 MB of internal memory
* USB connectivity enables swift data transfer to computers and other peripherals
* PictBridge support

RRP: £249.99/ €369
Sales start date: End of March

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Nikon Coolpix S500 Reviews

Vnunet has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and writes, "Reviewing the S500’s pictures on a computer, daylight images reveal a nice even handling of exposure, slightly cool yet naturalistic colours, and the level of sharpness you’d expect from a budget compact – meaning that it can be improved in the image- editing software of your choice, but otherwise won’t disappoint. Though pixel fringing is again in evidence – a line of differently coloured pixels between areas of high contrast – this is not uncommon and the S500 handles it better than most. However, some of our shots of blue skies took on a distinctly purplish hue. Very possibly Nikon’s most attractive compact snapshot so far, there’s little to criticise here save for the fact that focusing could be even swifter and it’s around £50 dearer than those with similar key features."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and writes, "The S500 provides very good image and color reproduction in a modern-looking digital compact. The camera’s high level of automation and useful features offers easy-to-achieve performance in a user-friendly point and shoot for those folks making their first foray into digital imaging, while its sparkling shutter lag time should appeal to more experienced shooters who prize a precise and responsive instrument."

Photography Press has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and gives it a 9 out of 10: "Response or rather responsiveness is not the problem for start up times (around 0.8 of a second) or shutter lag, with a very impressive 0.005 of a second being the Nikon quoted speed, so the camera can really be ready to fire as quickly as you when set up properly. Image quality is excellent up to ISO 200, good at ISO 400 and about the average for this resolution from then on. But one thing that is not average is the Coolpix S500 is a beautifully crafted camera, the stainless steel body looks – and is – very strong, its posh, brushed metal look provides extra poise and poseur panache."

CNET has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and writes, " If you can stay at a low ISO setting and keep your subjects well lit, the S500's photos can actually look quite good. Fine details come out crisp and sharp, remaining generally unmolested by processing artifacts. Colors appear neutral and saturated. Of course to get these results, you need to keep your ISO sensitivity low or you'll just find yourself with a noise-filled mess. The stainless steel body and handy click wheel are two great touches I'd love to see on any camera, but they can't make up for the S500's flaws. It shoots too slowly and generates unreasonable levels of noise at ISO 400 and higher. It's a nice, if sluggish, snapshot camera in bright light, but don't expect to get any decent fast or low-light shooting done with it."

Megapixel has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and writes, "Set to 7M*, the Coolpix S500 yields very good images, especially when photos are captured outdoors and with good light, the images showing good sharpness and excellent colour rendition. And, for a modestly higher price than the S200, the S500 offers a true image stabilization system, and an excellent monitor, both of which represent valuable assets when taking photos. This, in combination with a compact body and a solid construction should make the S500 a perfect companion on outings and vacations."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Nikon CoolPix S500 and writes, "All things considered, I’d have to say that if the CoolPix S500 is Nikon’s attempt to beat Canon at the ultra-compact game then it isn’t entirely successful. While the inclusion of optical image stabilisation in such a small camera is an achievement, and the build quality and appearance of the camera are excellent, the image noise problems, slow focusing and poor low-light performance are major handicaps. If I was looking to buy a 7MP ultra-compact, I don’t think it would be this one."

Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Canon IXUS 70 and writes, "Two areas where the IXUS 70 outperforms most other pocket sized digital camera is when it comes to sharpness and colours. ... Aside from the slight purple tinge colours are generally strong. They are not overpowering, but the IXUS 70 is capable of producing very vivid photos. ... Although you pay a bit more for the Canon IXUS 70 then you do with many other pocket sized digital cameras you do get good value for money. This is a good all round camera that outperforms the majority of its rivals in most areas. It also has the added bonus of a viewfinder. Recommended."

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and writes, "Like the S200, I was pleased with the Coolpix S500. This is a durable ultra-compact model that will make a great choice for anyone who wants a point-n-shoot model that offers good image quality, performance, and easy to use exposure modes. With 7-megapixels of resolution, you'll be able to create beautiful 13x19-inch or larger prints. At about US$299 or less, I feel the Nikon Coolpix S500 has an Ok value for a camera in this category. Be sure to also check out our review of its sibling, the Coolpix S200, which includes many of the same features and can be had for about $50 less."

Photoxels has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix S500 delivers very good image quality at low ISOs. However, taking pictures indoors can be quite challenging. Fortunately VR helps to reduce blur. Using a high ISO 2000 means you might be able to take low-light pictures but the noise issue will limit pictures taken at high ISOs to small prints and for Web display only. Though it is a Point-and-shoot camera, it has a number of practical features that both beginners and advanced photographers can enjoy."

Digital Camera Info has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and writes, "The 7.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S500 instead goes back to basics by offering a flat metal camera body with an extending 3x optical zoom lens. Its features cover the basics too: automated exposure modes and simple slide shows that don’t have music and funky transitions like many of its S-series siblings. It also has a more basic $299 price point. There are a few flourishes like optical image stabilization and a 60 fps live preview on a high-resolution LCD screen. Shutter lag is probably the camera’s biggest drawback with the weak 180-shot battery coming in a close second, although the latter can be remedied by simply carrying around an extra battery. In terms of image quality, the S500 struggles with color and white balance accuracy, but shows average noise characteristics at its lower ISO settings (ISO 400 and below). Dynamic range and video performance are also below our expectations. However, the Coolpix S500's intuitive interface and automated feature options are its saving grace, providing one of the stronger point-and-shoot designs Nikon has put out in recent years. While there is still plenty of room for improvement, the S500 offers casual snapshooters a basic, stylish alternative at a competitive price."

Let's Go Digital has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S500 and writes, "The image quality of the Nikon Coolpix S500 compact camera is fine and the color saturation is average. I prefer a little more spice, but this is personal; a matter of image editing afterwards. In excessive artificial light, the Nikon S500 may deviate from its excellent white balance metering, but this can be adjusted by selecting the right white balance setting in the camera's menu. ... Whoever is looking for an excellent performing compact camera and who has no ambitions to use the camera for extensive digital photographing, will find an ultimately decent camera in the Nikon S500. The Nikon Coolpix S500 offers a lot of value for its money and supplies that, which you might expect from a compact camera, a lot of comfort and a fine result! "

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Feb 20: Nikon CoolPix L5 Review at Trusted Reviews

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Nikon CoolPix L5 and writes, "Finally we come to image quality, and here the L5 falls down badly. As I mentioned previously, even at the maximum quality setting it produces very small and highly compressed image files, and this seriously limits the picture quality. Furthermore the lens is not one of Nikon’s best, producing very noticeable barrel distortion at wide angle, with very poor edge and corner sharpness. While colour rendition and exposure were generally accurate, the level of fine detail was much lower than on most 6MP compacts that I’ve tested. One has to wonder what exactly is the point of putting a powerful 7.2 megapixel sensor in a camera it is crippled by poor noise control, high compression and a sub-standard lens? The Nikon CoolPix L5 is something of a mixed bag. It offers a useful zoom range and resolution, easy handling and simple operation, but the slow performance, bulky appearance and poor image quality are significant disadvantages. There are better cameras available for not much more money."

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Feb 20: Olympus EVOLT E-330 Review at Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource has a review of the Olympus EVOLT E-330 and writes, "The Olympus E-330 is a pretty good SLR. Ask me about the viewfinders, and I'll tell you about the compromises. Ask me about the rest, and I'll tell you that it takes pretty good pictures, and I'd bet it has many happy owners. I've enjoyed shooting with it, especially through the viewfinder. I've not been tempted to buy one, like I was with the Olympus E-500. That sweet, light, nimble SLR charmed me to the core. I still look at it wistfully now and then. Since I shoot only with the E-330's optical viewfinder when it's important, I've come to think of the other modes as unnecessary gadgetry that I'd rather not have to pay for. I've used these modes for the sake of the review. The complicated viewfinder arrangement has gotten in the way of my review of the E-330, really; and I think they'll get in the way for users as well."

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Feb 20: Canon Powershot SD900 at Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Canon Powershot SD900 and writes, "The 3x Canon optical zoom on the SD900 offers an aperture range of f/2.8 to f/4.9. Performance seemed good at the telephoto end of the range, but there was barrel distortion (straight lines bow out from the center) present at the wide angle end. There was also fringing (purple ghost images) present in the high-contrast boundary areas on images. The barrel distortion could be noticed in normal photos, but the fringing was most apparent under great magnification (400%). My feeling is the fringing will not be apparent unless an image is enlarged greatly or cropped severely and enlarged. Unfortunately, those are two somewhat likely scenarios with the SD900. Images seemed pretty uniformly sharp from center to edge at both the wide and telephoto ends. ... The Canon SD900 is a compact, stylish shirt-pocket-sized camera that can produce high quality images in file sizes that lend themselves to big enlargements and/or cropping to achieve the desired result."

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix S10 Review at DPReview

DPReview has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S10 and writes, "I was disappointed with the S10 because I really wanted it to be better. The twisting body design, excellent screen and long zoom make it, on paper at least, the ultimate carry-always 'street' shooter, and the lack of creative controls is something I can live with in a pocket camera (though I can't bear not knowing my shutter speed...). But the faltering telephoto focus, awkward ergonomics and the cumulative effect of all the minor image quality issues and other annoyances make it a difficult camera to recommend over a compact 'super zoom' like the Canon S3 IS or Panasonic DMC-FZ7 (the new Panasonic TZ2 looks promising too). It's by no means a terrible camera; in many respects it's actually a pretty good camera, it could just be better, and there are more appealing all-round options out there for the same (or less) money. For all these reasons the S10 just misses a Recommended rating."

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix L12

In addition to the L10 and L11 announced today by Nikon comes their big brother - the Nikon Coolpix L12.

This 7.1 megapixel compact camera also features a 3x optical zoom lens but has a narrower aperture range (f/2.8-4.7).

The L12 has ISO of up to 1600. a 2.5 inch LCD screen, image stabilization, face recognition technology and takes SDHC cards.

The Nikon Coolpix L12 will have a retail price of $199.95 when it becomes available in stores in March.

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Nikon is pleased to introduce the new COOLPIX L12

Nikon has a reputation for being the pioneer of photography technology, and is constantly striving to develop new, better cameras for professionals and amateurs alike. The new COOLPIX L12 is the latest addition to the COOLPIX range, which has earned a reputation within the photography community of delivering excellent results through simple camera operation.

In this model Nikon has taken every possible measure to ensure that the user is able to achieve perfect pictures, whatever the conditions. The Vibration Reduction feature compensates for camera shake to produce clearer, steadier images. This function operates whenever the camera is switched on, making it possible for the user to select the best moment to take the shot by viewing the image on the cameras 2.5-inch screen.

The combination of a 7.1 megapixels of resolution and the powerful 3 x Zoom-Nikkor lens with a range of 35-105mm enables the COOLPIX L12 to deliver excellent picture detail whether the subject is a close-in portrait or a broad panorama. Light sensitivity up to ISO 1600 guarantees high image quality in low-light conditions, and also enables the faster shutter speeds that are essential when photographing fast-moving objects.

Three unique Nikon innovations make it possible to manipulate the images in-camera, enabling amateurs to achieve results that a professional would be proud of. Face-priority AF detects people’s faces to achieve sharp focus, no matter where they happen to be located in the frame; In-Camera Red-Eye Fix tackles this effect by providing automatic compensation for more flattering, natural-looking portraits in low light. Finally, Nikon’s unique D-Lighting function, available in playback mode, improves underexposed images or shots taken with too much back light by creating a copy of an image with added light and detail wherever necessary, leaving well-exposed areas untouched.

Nikon’s exclusive PictureProject software allows the user to further manipulate images once they have been uploaded onto a computer. This is an easy-to-use programme which makes it a joy to edit, organise, transfer and share the photographs taken with the COOLPIX L12.

VR image stabilization corrects camera shake
The COOLPIX L12 offers the advantage of optical lens shift VR (Vibration Reduction), which cleverly detects any camera shake and accurately compensates for it to produce sharper, steadier images. And because the VR system remains active whenever the camera is on, images also appear more stable on the LCD monitor, making it much easier to judge the right moment to take the shot. The same effect is also available when shooting movies, while a handy Anti-Shake button located on the top panel can be pressed to activate three functions for sharper shooting – VR, High-Sensitivity mode and BSS.

Compatible with AA-size batteries
The COOLPIX L12 is compatible with AA-size batteries, which are widely available around the world. As a result, users can shoot as they like without having to worry about recharging or running out of power on an important day.

One-touch portrait button
A handy standalone button offers direct access to three Nikon innovations that produce more satisfying images – Face-priority AFthat automatically detects and achieves sharp focus on people’s faces wherever they are in the frame, In-Camera Red-Eye Fix that can automatically overcome the red-eye effect sometimes caused by flash, and Nikon’s D-Lighting that can rescue underexposed images or shots taken with too much backlight.

Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.

Nikon COOLPIX L12 Other Features

• Light weight with compact dimensions
• Choice of 15 Scene modes
• Selection of movie recording modes
• BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest image automatically from ten sequential shots
• SDHC memory card compatibility
• Voice recording capability
• Colour Options add to creative freedom
• 21MB of internal memory (approx.)
• PictBridge and ImageLink compatibility
• Menu available in a choice of 20 languages
• Time zone function allows setting of home town and new city time zone for easy image sorting after traveling
• USB connectivity enables swift data transfer to computers and other peripherals
• Macro shooting enables shooting from as close as 15cm (5.9 in.)
• 4x digital zoom extends compositional freedom
• Choice of White Balance: Auto with TTL control, 7-mode manual (Direct sunlight, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Shade, Flash and White Bal. Preset)

Nikon Coolpix L12 Reviews

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L12 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix L12 presents something of a quandary - on the plus side of the ledger it’s currently the cheapest 7 megapixel digicam available featuring optical image stabilization. It is also very easy to use, fairly compact, tough enough to stand up to the demands of modern life, powered by cheap universally available AA batteries, and capable of delivering consistently decent images. On the negative side of the ledger, the L12 is a bit slow across the board, the optics aren’t top quality, there’s no optical viewfinder, and it doesn't allow much user input."

CNET has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L12 and writes, " In good lighting, the L12 takes very nice, colorful photos. In low lighting, the camera's ISO-boosted grain, and the noise reduction algorithms that try to keep it in check, destroys much of the detail in the captured images. Since the flash takes so long to recycle, and its high ISO noise is so obtrusive, the L12 is rendered almost useless in low light. Even though it includes features I was surprised to see on a budget camera, the Nikon Coolpix L12 simply has too many problems for me to recommend it. While face detection and optical image stabilization are both very nice, they can't make up for the camera's slow shooting, painfully long flash recycle time, and inconsistent low-light shots."

BlogCritics has a review of the Nikon CoolPix L12 and writes, "The camera takes really good pictures inside and even better ones outside. It comes with a flash, but often doesn’t need the it because of the CoolPix's low-light capabilities. It seems to work really well in low-light situations. One drawback, though, is the long time it takes for a flash to process. That has been a little disconcerting, but I don’t generally take action pictures so its less important in what I’m using it for. ... A professional photographer might want more out of a camera than this one provides, but the Nikon CoolPix L12 really fits the bill for someone who’s on the go and just wants to take occasional shots to remember an event or post on a blog."

Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L12 and writes, "Aside from the macro shot which I will describe in more detail in a while the test photos I took with the Coolpix L12 are well above average for this type of digital camera. One of the most noticeable differences is just how sharp the photos are. ... If you are looking for a camera to handle close up shots then this is not the camera for you. For a start the Coolpix L12 can only focus from 15cm away from the subject. At that distance the camera struggles to really bring out the detail. The image is of low quality and after you have cropped the image to produce a close up you will struggle to make a print. ... It handles most photographic situations well. Unless you are planning to use your digital camera for a lot of close up photography then the Coolpix L12 is well worth considering."

PhotographyPress has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L12 and gives it a 6 out of 10: "Okay, so this is not an expensive digital camera and while it is bland in terms of styling, it still boasts a couple of standout features particularly at this £150 (all but a penny) price point. Image quality is good and there are plenty of scene modes (15 in all) to play with to help on more challenging situations. Shame though, there's no proper manual control. Overall however, L12 is plagued by its sluggish performance and the lack of control over the ISO settings, which almost completely wipes out the benefit of VR."

DCResource has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L12 and writes, "Photo quality really depending on the situation. In good light, it was fairly good, with accurate exposure and color. Images were on the soft side -- especially fine details -- and corner blurriness was a problem. Purple fringing was not a major problem. If lighting levels drop just a bit and "ISO" appears on the LCD, look out: the camera is boosting the ISO sensitivity automatically, which can greatly increase the amount of noise in your images. Since there's no way to turn this feature off, even photos taken on a tripod will be noisy, as our test shots illustrated. This is not a camera for low light, night, or tripod shooting! The one thing the Coolpix L12 really handled well was redeye, due to a software-based tool that runs if the camera detects this annoyance in your flash photos."

Imaging Resource has posted their review of the Nikon Coolpix L12 digital camera where they write - "At this modest price level, you can't expect high-end performance but you do get good performance along with a suite of in-camera image enhancement tools that really matter. And you get Nikon's excellent Macro performance, too (including a flash that works very well in Macro mode). I do miss manual control of aperture, shutter, and even ISO, but no child will. And certainly not an adult whose main interest is just in catching the moment. They'll find the camera easy to carry and use, especially with the large type in the LCD menus. The Vibration Reduction, and Macro mode are going to be a real treats, too. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, Vibration Reduction is a really useful camera feature, and to find it in a $160 camera is an unexpected bonus."

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix L11

The Nikon Coolpix L11 is the next model up from the L10 also released today.

It features a 6 megapixel CCD image sensor and a 2.4 inch LCD display in addition to a 3x optical zoom lens (with the same f/2.8-5.2 aperture range).

The L11 also features face recognition technology, SDHC cards and in camera red eye reduction.

The Nikon Coolpix L11 will have a retail price of $149.95 and will be available for purchase in March.

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Nikon L11 News Release

Nikon UK is pleased to introduce the COOLPIX L10 and COOLPIX L11

Nikon’s COOLPIX range has proved extremely popular with both amateurs and professionals with the ability to capture images easily with a stylish and compact camera. The new COOLPIX L10 and COOLPIX L11 are the latest additions to this range, combining a range of features that justify Nikon’s reputation as the pioneer of state-of-the-art camera technology.

Within the stylish and compact bodies of these new models, Nikon has packed in a range of exciting features to achieve optimum results in a variety of challenging conditions. The COOLPIX L10 and the COOLPIX L11 guarantee image quality with resolutions of 6.0 and 5.0 megapixels relatively, as well as light sensitivity of up to ISO 800 which makes it possible to produce quality shots in low light conditions without using lower exposure. These features also ensure that the user is able to capture fast-moving objects without blurring or loss of detail.

Three unique Nikon innovations make it possible to manipulate the images in-camera, enabling hobbyist photographers to achieve excellent results. Face-priority AF detects people’s faces to achieve sharp focus no matter where they happen to be located in the frame; In-Camera Red-Eye Fix tackles this effect by providing automatic compensation for more flattering, natural-looking portraits in low light. Finally, Nikon’s unique D-Lighting function, available in playback mode, improves underexposed images or shots taken with too much back light by creating a copy of an image with added light and detail wherever necessary, leaving well-exposed areas untouched.

Ample LCD screens of 2.0-inch on the COOLPIX 10 and 2.4-inch screen on the COOLPIX L11 allow the user to view their results immediately with friends gathered around. Nikon’s exclusive PictureProject software also makes it easy to edit, organise, transfer and share the images taken with these new cameras.
Nikon COOLPIX L11/L10 Feature Highlights

Compatible with AA batteries
Unlike many compact digital cameras on the market the COOLPIX L11 and the COOLPIX L10 are compatible with AA-size batteries. Thanks to this advantage, users never have to worry about recharging their batteries or running out of power at an unfortunate moment. They can simply pick up a new set of batteries no matter where they are in the world and keep on shooting without worry.

A high quality design
With the COOLPIX L11 and L10, the high quality of the images is complemented by superior body design. Slim and compact, they fit comfortably in the hand to promote natural, yet steady shooting, while the lens retracts when not in use to make both cameras even more compact for carrying. What’s more, they are also available in a range of attractive colours.
Note: Available colours may differ by country or area.

LaptopMag has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L11 and writes, "On our tests, the Coolpix L11 performed admirably in both indoor and outdoor shots. Colors looked accurate, and the focus was sharp. There was a bit too much magenta in our tulip test photo, which actually made the flowers appear orange. Although the Coolpix L11 starts up in less than two seconds, it takes a tedious five to six seconds between shots."

Imaging Resource has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L11 and writes, "They're as simple as it gets -- with a little in-camera magic to help you handle the hard stuff. I'd make this a Dave's Pick along with the L10 and L12, but I think that either of those models offers a slightly better value proposition (taking nothing away from the L11's abilities). Looking at the bottom line, the L11 seems a bit too much in-between the other two models. While it does give you ImageLink printing over the L10, I'm not sure that's worth the ~30% higher street price relative to the L10. On the other side of the coin, the L12 offers the (big) benefit of an image-stabilized lens for only $20 more. To my mind, that leaves the Nikon Coolpix L11 in an awkward position, I think most consumers will either spring the extra $20 for the L12 or decide to save $30 and go with the L10. All three are nice little cameras though, proof that you don't have to spend a lot of money to get decent digital photos."

CNET has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L11 and writes, "With relatively quick performance and surprisingly nice photos, the Nikon Coolpix L11 makes a fine choice for anyone looking for a simple, inexpensive camera. Its few manual settings will disappoint more advanced photographers, but users who want a basic, affordable point-and-shoot will probably enjoy the L11. If manual controls are extremely important to you, consider the Samsung S850. It's more expensive than the budget-priced L11, but it's still one of the most affordable cameras available with manual exposure controls."

Trusted Reviews has posted their review of the Nikon Coolpix L11 and writes - 'In light of its superior picture quality and higher resolution, and the fact that it is available for about the same price, the Nikon Coolpix L11 is significantly better value for money than the L10. In fact I have seldom seen such excellent value. If you're looking for a nice simple compact, maybe as a holiday camera or as a gift for a child, it is got to be at the top of your shortlist.'

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix L10

The Nikon Coolpix L10 is a 5 megapixel entry level point and shoot digital camera.

It features a 2 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens.

The Nikon Coolpix L10 features f/2.8-5.2 aperture range, face recognition technology (focusing), redeye reduction and is compatible with SDHC cards.

The Nikon Coolpix L10 will have a retail price of $119.95 when it hits stores in March 2007. It is a cheap compact camera and will be a great one to throw to the kids next holiday to learn how to use a digital camera.

Get a Price on the Nikon Coolpix L10

Nikon L10 News Release

Nikon UK is pleased to introduce the COOLPIX L10 and COOLPIX L11

Nikon’s COOLPIX range has proved extremely popular with both amateurs and professionals with the ability to capture images easily with a stylish and compact camera. The new COOLPIX L10 and COOLPIX L11 are the latest additions to this range, combining a range of features that justify Nikon’s reputation as the pioneer of state-of-the-art camera technology.

Within the stylish and compact bodies of these new models, Nikon has packed in a range of exciting features to achieve optimum results in a variety of challenging conditions. The COOLPIX L10 and the COOLPIX L11 guarantee image quality with resolutions of 6.0 and 5.0 megapixels relatively, as well as light sensitivity of up to ISO 800 which makes it possible to produce quality shots in low light conditions without using lower exposure. These features also ensure that the user is able to capture fast-moving objects without blurring or loss of detail.

Three unique Nikon innovations make it possible to manipulate the images in-camera, enabling hobbyist photographers to achieve excellent results. Face-priority AF detects people’s faces to achieve sharp focus no matter where they happen to be located in the frame; In-Camera Red-Eye Fix tackles this effect by providing automatic compensation for more flattering, natural-looking portraits in low light. Finally, Nikon’s unique D-Lighting function, available in playback mode, improves underexposed images or shots taken with too much back light by creating a copy of an image with added light and detail wherever necessary, leaving well-exposed areas untouched.

Ample LCD screens of 2.0-inch on the COOLPIX 10 and 2.4-inch screen on the COOLPIX L11 allow the user to view their results immediately with friends gathered around. Nikon’s exclusive PictureProject software also makes it easy to edit, organise, transfer and share the images taken with these new cameras.
Nikon COOLPIX L11/L10 Feature Highlights

Compatible with AA batteries
Unlike many compact digital cameras on the market the COOLPIX L11 and the COOLPIX L10 are compatible with AA-size batteries. Thanks to this advantage, users never have to worry about recharging their batteries or running out of power at an unfortunate moment. They can simply pick up a new set of batteries no matter where they are in the world and keep on shooting without worry.

A high quality design
With the COOLPIX L11 and L10, the high quality of the images is complemented by superior body design. Slim and compact, they fit comfortably in the hand to promote natural, yet steady shooting, while the lens retracts when not in use to make both cameras even more compact for carrying. What’s more, they are also available in a range of attractive colours.
Note: Available colours may differ by country or area.

Get a Price on the Nikon Coolpix L10

Nikon Coolpix L10 Reviews

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Nikon CoolPix L10 and writes, "The L10’s one real weakness is unfortunately image quality. I found that it had a serious tendency to over-expose nearly everything, resulting in burned-out skies on landscape shots and blown out highlights on flash shots. The automatic ISO setting seems to set 200 ISO for all low-light and flash shots with no way to override it, and at this setting there is quite a lot of image noise visible. The lens produces quite a lot of barrel distortion at wide angle, as well as noticeable chromatic aberration, and there are also problems with purple fringing on the many burned-out highlights. ... For a budget camera the L10 has much to recommend it, with superb build quality, sensible and attractive design, good performance and excellent battery life. It even has some features that you’d not expect to find this far down the price scale. It’s only weaknesses are poor low-light focusing and less-than-sparkling picture quality, but if you’re on a very tight budget you have to make certain sacrifices."

Imaging Resource has a review of the Nikon Coolpix L10 and writes, "They're as simple as it gets -- with a little in-camera magic to help you handle the hard stuff. If that appeals to you, these are Dave's Picks. The L10 in particular strikes me as an exceptional bargain. It used to be that any digital camera selling for anything close to $100 was just trash, not worth even that modest expense. With the Nikon Coolpix L10 though, "bargain" doesn't have to mean "junk" any longer. It's a very serviceable little camera with a nice range of features and very decent image quality. A Dave's Pick for sure, in the "budget" category."

Pocket Lint reviews the Nikon Coolpix L10 where they give it a rating of 7 out of 10 and write - 'The L10’s focusing issues and the problems with the auto white balance are reminiscent of the L12 I recently tested, but you have to bear in mind this is a budget model and compromises must be made when you’re on a budget. It is still a budget model that nevertheless packs in some neat extras that elevate it above being just a simple snapper.'

CNET reviews the Nikon Coolpix L10 where they write - "For such an unassuming little camera, the Nikon Coolpix L10 actually works pretty well. It's responsive enough for casual shooting, and its (admittedly small) 5-megapixel photos look great. If you're looking for a simple, functional camera for less than $150, this makes a great choice. If you're willing to spend a bit more for slightly higher resolution photos, the L10's bigger brothers, the Coolpix L11 and L12, offer 6- and 7-megapixel stills for less than $200."

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Feb 20: Nikon Coolpix P5000

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a point and shoot camera aiming at the upper end of the market at thos who don't want to lug around a larger DSLR.

The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a 10 megapixel camera with a 3.5x optical zoom lens, optical image stabilization an aperture range of f/2.-5.3 and a 2.5 inch LCD screen. It share the same processing system as the popular D80 DSLR (although has a smaller image sensor).

Lastly it is able to be used with Nikon Speedlight external flash units making it an attractive digital camera for serious photographers looking for a point and shoot camera.

It will retail at $399.95 USD.

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Nikon Coolpix P5000 News Release

The new COOLPIX P5000 demonstrates the style, performance and ease of use that has earned Nikon its reputation for producing cameras with cutting-edge technology and consistently excellent results.

The COOLPIX P5000 combines stylish looks and a solid yet lightweight feel with a range of features that enable the user to explore creativity behind photography. Textured finish gives the appearance of real leather and a new grip with grid-pattern rubber allows the user a comfortable secure hold.

It is the range of fun and exciting features that makes this camera stand out from the crowd. An impressive 10 megapixels of sharp resolution enable the photographer to capture images with incredible detail, even after enlargement. Picture quality is further guaranteed by Vibration Reduction, which compensates for the blurring that can be caused by camera shake or lower light. A light sensitivity range up to ISO 3200 also enables the COOLPIX P5000 to capture quality images of fast-moving subjects or poorly-lit scenes.

This new model is designed to ensure an experience of smooth, easy use for the photographer. The COOLPIX P5000 is highly responsive, offering swift start-up and fast continuous shooting. The new Mode dial provides quick access to a selection of 16 different scene-optimised modes, seven movie modes, Anti-Shake mode and High-Sensitivity mode. Images can be composed carefully, and the excellent results appreciated immediately, on the high-quality 2.5 inch LCD screen.

The COOLPIX P5000 has compatibility with a number of add-on system components that extend the creative possibilities of this new model. A variety of lens options enable the experimental user to explore different ways to use the camera. The COOLPIX P5000 comes equipped with the 36-126mm Zoom-Nikkor lens which delivers excellent results when shooting anything from portrait to panorama, but this can be swapped for the Telephoto Converter lens which extends the reach of the zoom to 378mm for long-distance shots, or the Wide-angle Converter lens which realises a focal length of 24mm.

With the COOLPIX P5000, the user can achieve results that should be shared with family and friends. This camera comes bundled with Nikon’s complimentary PictureProject software which makes editing pictures, organising shots and sharing images remarkably simple.

Nikon COOLPIX P5000 Feature Highlights

Superb image quality
Excellent imaging quality is a priority for the COOLPIX P5000, from the 10.0 effective megapixels of outstanding resolution produced by its 1/1.8-inch RGB CCD and improved high-performance image -processing engine, to its powerful 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens and lens shift VR.

VR image stabilization
The COOLPIX P5000 features proven optical lens shift VR (Vibration Reduction) technology originally developed for interchangeable lenses used in Nikon SLR camera systems. Angular velocity sensors measure camera movement, calculate the amount of compensation required, and the VR lens unit instantly adjusts position to offset camera shake. Nikon’s exclusive VR system provides the ability to shoot at shutter speeds as much as three steps slower without blurring the image, while also providing a smoother image on the LCD monitor that aids composition. The result is sharper when shooting in low light, when taking advantage of the reach of the 3.5x Zoom-Nikkor lens, or when reaching farther with an optional Telephoto Converter lens.

ISO 3200 capability
Light sensitivity can be manually set as high as ISO 3200*. In Anti-Shake and High-Sensitivity modes, ISO control automatically selects the optimal sensitivity setting for the shot across a range up to ISO 1600.

Anti-Shake mode
A turn of the Mode dial activates High ISO and BSS (Best Shot Selector) in addition to VR (Vibration Reduction), automatically sets the optimal ISO for steady results, and selects the sharpest image from up to ten sequential shots.

Diverse selection of practical shooting modes
The new Mode dial gives access to four exposure modes that appeal to photographers at all levels for greater control over camera operation. Programmed Auto [P] mode automatically selects shutter and aperture settings for optimal exposure.

Shutter-priority Auto [S] lets the photographer select a desired shutter speed, and the camera sets the optimal aperture setting accordingly. Aperture-priority Auto [A] offers 10-step manual control over the aperture setting in 1/3EV increments to let the photographer decide depth of field, while the camera automatically adjust the shutter speed to achieve optimal exposure. Manual [M] exposure mode gives the photographer full control over both the aperture and shutter speed settings. In addition, a selection of 16 scene-optimized Scene modes and seven different movie modes can be easily accessed via the Mode dial and high-resolution 2.5-inch LCD.

Compatibility with system-expanding accessories
The COOLPIX P5000 is compatible with optional lens accessories, including the 0.67x Wide-angle Converter (WC-E67) and 3.0x Telephoto Converter (TC-E3ED) lenses. A built-in accessory shoe supports the use of Nikon’s advanced i-TTL flash control for external flashes, including the Speedlight SB-400, SB-600 and SB-800.

Optical viewfinder
The COOLPIX P5000 includes an optical viewfinder, to help achieve accurate composition in direct sunlight and other brightly lit conditions that can sometimes make an LCD monitor awkward to use.

User-friendly menu interface
A new menu interface makes navigating and selecting images straightforward and advanced functions for enhancing or correcting images are easily accessible. This includes the new image optimization settings, which offer a choice of four colour filters for shooting with monochrome filter effects, to barrel distortion control, which can correct images when using a Wide-angle Converter and even display the corrected image on the LCD in real time. The 2.5-inch 230,000-dot LCD monitor with anti-reflection coating makes the menus a greater pleasure to work with, even in bright sunlight.

Innovative Nikon in-camera correction features
The COOLPIX P5000 features a selection of three innovative functions that provide the ability to actually improve the quality of images within the camera. Face-priority AF*automatically finds, then focuses on people’s faces for crisp, clear results time after time. In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically compensates to help eradicate traces of the annoying red-eye effect that can sometimes be encountered during flash photography. Completing the set is D-Lighting, which can be applied to improve underexposed images or shots taken with too much backlight. D-Lighting automatically creates a copy of the image with detail added where necessary, but with well-exposed areas left completely untouched.

*ISO 3200 is available only for image sizes of 5M (2592 x 1944) or smaller.
*Face recognition capability may be limited in some shooting conditions.

Nikon COOLPIX P5000 Other Features

• Image optimization
• Light weight with highly compact dimensions
• BSS (Best Shot Selector) identifies and saves the sharpest image automatically from ten
• sequential shots
• Macro shooting enables shooting from as close as 4cm (1.6 in.)
• 4x digital zoom extends compositional freedom
• Histogram display
• Menu available in a choice of 20 languages
• Help function displays simple explanations for functions on the main menu
• Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery EN-EL5 is capable of shooting approximately 250 shots on a single charge
• Time zone function allows setting of home town and the new city time zone for easy image
• sorting after traveling
• SDHC card compatibility
• Approx. 21 MB of internal memory
• USB connectivity enables swift data transfer to computers and other peripherals
• PictBridge support
• Nikon PictureProject software included

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Nikon Coolpix P5000 Review

DigitalCameraInfo has a first impressions review of the Nikon CoolPix P5000 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is meant to bridge the gap between point-and-shoots and DSLRs. The “performance series” digital camera has some features that will attract Nikon DSLR owners. The P5000 has a hot shoe so users can attach their Speedlight accessory flashes. There is a variety of recording modes from manual to automatic and even a control dial and function button that will be familiar to the DSLR crowd. The camera is compact but still has great handling features. With this in mind, the Nikon Coolpix P5000 is perfect for DSLR owners who don’t want to lug their D200s to dinner or a party and would rather have something compact but still full of features. It does have its caveats like relatively short battery life, and its possible that more caveats will appear on the final model. The preproduction P5000 that I viewed on the PMA show floor had a lot of strange quirks that hopefully won’t appear on the real deal. In the end, the $399 Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a good camera for current Nikon owners, but there are better options for consumers who don’t own Speedlight flashes and don’t care for Nikon’s subpar face priority system."

Photoxels has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The Nikon P5000 gives very good image quality at ISO 64. Noise is controlled up to ISO 200, but higher ISOs are visibly noisy. It features an optical viewfinder and a real six-blade hexagonal iris diaphragm (10 steps in 1/3EV increments). ... With very good image quality and its many practical features, the Nikon Coolpix P5000 will appeal to the serious amateur photographer desiring a compact and light digital camera with an effective image stabilization and full control over camera operations. ... Not only does the Nikon Coolpix P5000 look great and handle well, it also strikes a good balance between ease of use and richness of features: it is point-and-shoot easy to use and also packed-full of practical features advanced photographers like to have in their digital cameras."

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix P5000 provides a 10 megapixel sensor, excellent image and color quality, and an ergonomically excellent camera in a compact, easily portable package. Not only does the camera come with the full auto and specialty modes found in virtually every P&S, but a complete set of manual controls as well. This combined with the optional wide and telephoto converters gives the P5000 a versatility that could attract a varied group of shooters: those new to digital imagery can use the auto functions and be assured of quality images, while photographers who want or need the ability to go semi-automatic or manual get their wish as well."

CNET has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "When it comes to image noise, the P5000 fares well in some respects and abysmally in others. ... But across the various ISO settings, color consistency flies out the window. ... That's too bad, because otherwise the P5000 produces very good photos, with excellent exposure, neutral white balance (though the preset renders a little pinkish under tungsten lights), appropriate saturation, and properly selected flash output levels. Though I've seen better, its 640x480, 30fps movie capture will also serve to preserve those embarrassing moments on YouTube forever. It supports only digital zoom in movie capture mode, however."

DPReview has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "the P5000 is a product that - like so many we look at - has an achilles heel that we feel is important enough to reduce its rating, because it has a serious effect on the overall usability of an otherwise excellent camera. Put simply it feels sluggish in use and has focus speeds that would have been considered 'average' 5 years ago. For many users it won't be a serious issue, but if you've got used to the focus speeds of the best cameras in this class (some of which focus 2 or even 3 times faster) it's irritating, to say the least, to miss shots because the focus takes too long. I found myself pre-focusing for virtually every shot to avoid the delay. Weighed up against the many positives the sluggish focus has to be put into context; only you will know if the kind of pictures you take are going to be affected by an extra half second or so delay ..."

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Nikon CoolPix P5000 and writes, "the P5000 does have one major saving grace, and that is its excellent image quality. It has a 1/1.8-in type sensor, giving it superior noise characteristics and greater dynamic range than most small compacts, as well as practically eliminating the recurring problems of purple fringes around highlights. The lens is also pretty good, and although it does suffer from significant spherical distortion at wide angle, edge sharpness is very good and there is virtually no chromatic aberration. Despite the relatively strong file compression (average JPEG size is around 2.7MB, very small for a 10MP camera) there don’t appear to be any major problems with compression artefacts. Exposure and colour rendition are outstandingly good, producing rich well-saturated images with good tonal range and plenty of sharp detail. It may take a while to focus on a scene, but the results are usually worth the wait."

Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The big question with the Coolpix P5000 is does the picture quality live up to the features the camera has. I'm pleased to say the answer is yes. From my outdoor test shots I can see that the level of sharpness the lens is capable of is some way above average. On top of this the sharpness stays as you work your way towards the edge of each photo. ... The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a very handy camera. It has plenty of features, good picture quality and a pleasing design. I like this camera and am happy to recommend it."

ePhotoZine has a review of the Nikon CoolPix P5000 and writes, "The colour rendition is good, and largely what you'd expect, with those bright blues designed for pleasing results straight out of the box. What is an issue is noise with that 10Mp resolution, and here the results are not that impressive. While the levels that are visible at ISO64 and 100 don't really cause concern, it is alarming to see colour shifts at ISO400 and the ISO3200 mode is more like an artists impression than a photo. If the ISO is kept down, you don't mind average performance, then the high resolution, good image quality, the plethora of metering and focussing options and the powerful flash features are all worth having."

PopPhoto has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "At ISO 64 and 100, we rank Image Quality as Excellent, thanks to resolution averaging more than 2000 lines, Excellent color accuracy, and noise levels of Low and Moderately Low. Rising noise levels drop overall IQ to Extremely High at ISO 200. And as the noise at ISO 400 crosses into Unacceptable, we still found its pictures quite acceptable. ... keep the ISOs down, and you can pack nearly the picture-taking power of a D40x in a shirt pocket."

Let's Go Digital has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The power of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 is found in the camera itself. The camera will feel comfortable for most photographers, and that makes it worth it. You have to settle for a few shortcomings, but if you can live with that, you truly have a great camera. The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is in my opinion one of the nicest compact cameras available right now, it is really well built. Of course there is always something left to hope for, and the camera is not perfect. A wide-angle lens and RAW format are on my wish list. If Nikon were to fulfill half of my wish list I would be completely satisfied. I recommend it! "

DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "DSLR owners don’t care for picture effects and face recognition as much as they do for a good burst mode and a solid auto focus system – the P5000 has neither of these. The burst mode stutters and the auto focus adds lag time to an already slow camera. The P5000’s constant humming noise coupled with slow processing when viewing pictures makes it seem that the camera is working really hard. The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is meant to bridge the gap between compact digital cameras and DSLRs, but it is definitely weighted towards compact models."

Photography Press has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "use this camera at ISO 400 or below with the very excellent optical image stabilisation (VR) switched on and you’ll be happy. Anything else and you’re bumping up against the limitations of a camera with far to many pixels for the size of sensor. ... A cracking package in terms of handling, controls and features that is capable of nice images at lower ISOs, but sluggish AF presented real problems with noise issues also leaving a nasty taste in the mouth."

DPExpert has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "If you are happy to keep the ISO setting at 200 or below then the Nikon P5000 will do the job. The excellent auto white balance and exposure work to minimise the effects of noise in indoor shots, but mottled skies are not attractive. This is the only Nikon compact that has an optical viewfinder so it is an important model in the product line."

DCResource has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "Photo quality is good, though you'll get the best results if you bump up the sharpness a notch or two. The P5000 took well-exposed photos, with pleasing color, and minimal purple fringing. You won't see noise until you get to the middle of the ISO range, and that's due to a decent amount of noise reduction being applied. This noise reduction produces soft photos, with fine details smeared. While there's not much you can do about the latter, increasing the sharpening setting (which is buried in the record menu) can sharpen things up considerably ... while there's much to like about the Coolpix P5000, it's overall sluggishness left me feeling a bit cold. A firmware upgrade that fixes some bugs and perhaps improves AF performance would be nice, but I'm not holding my breath."

DigitalTrends has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "The Nikon Coolpix P5000 is a good camera and would’ve gotten a higher grade if there weren’t issues with responsiveness—saving files as well as focusing. It has a nice feel and is light enough to take anywhere. Overall photo quality was good, not dazzling. Is it a replacement for a D-SLR? Of course not. Still, at under $350 USD, it’s definitely worth considering."

Imaging Resource has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "Size is one of the Nikon Coolpix P5000's strongest arguments. Packing this much photographic control and quality into such a light and compact form is an unusual achievement, and its images were beautiful. Time will tell if the Nikon P5000 is a classic Coolpix, but meanwhile, let's call it a "Dave's Pick" by a nose. (If its autofocus were just a bit faster, it'd be a hands-down winner.)"

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5000 and writes, "I was vary pleased with the overall quality of its 10M/Fine images, with the majority of our samples showing accurate exposure with nice color balance. Noise levels were average, becoming more noticeable as the sensitivity is increased. ... Nikon has created an appealing consumer digital camera with loads of useful features (VR, D-lighting, Face Priority AF, 17 scene modes, etc.) and great image quality. However, shooting performance is not quite up to par with many similarly priced cameras. That said, with an MSRP of US$399 or less, the Nikon Coolpix P5000 is competitively priced for a 10-megapixel consumer model, and is sure to be a popular digicam this year."

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Feb 20: Sony Cybershot DSC-W55

News is breaking that Sony are announcing new cameras today including the Sony Cybershot DSC-W55. We're still yet to get full details from Sony but here's the initial feature list.

• 7 Megapixel Image Sensor
• 3x Optical Zoom lens
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar optics
• 2.5 inch LCD Screen,
• 28 megabytes of internal memory
• MPEG VX Fine
• Battery Lithium (360 shot CIPA)
• A ISO 1000 maximum

As more information, prices, release date and pictures comes to hand on the Sony Cybershot DSC-W55 we'll post them here.

Get a Price on the Sony Cybershot DSCW55

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Feb 20: Sony Cybershot DSC-W85

News is breaking that Sony are announcing new cameras today including the Sony Cybershot DSC-W85. We're still yet to get full details from Sony but here's the initial feature list.

In short it is the same as the Sony Cybershot DSC-W80 but comes in black with a leather pouch.

Sony Cybershot DSC-W85 Features

• 7 Megapixel Image Sensor
• 3x Optical Zoom lens
• Super Steady Shot
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens
• LCD - 2.5 inch
• Internal storage of 28 megabytes
• MPEG VX Fine
• Face Detection technology
• HD Ready output
• D-arrange Optimizer
• Battery Lithium (300 shot CIPA)
• ISO 3200 maximum

As more information, prices, release date and pictures comes to hand on the Sony Cybershot DSC-W85 we'll post them here.

Get a Price on the Sony Cybershot DSCW55 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)

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Feb 20: Sony Cybershot DSC-W90

News is breaking that Sony are announcing new cameras today including the Sony Cybershot DSC-W90. We're still yet to get full details from Sony but here's the initial feature list.

Sony Cybershot DSC-W90 Features

• 8 Megapixel image sensor
• 3x Optical Zoom lens
• Super Steady Shot Stabilization
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens
• 2.5 inch LCD
• Internal Storage of 28 MB
• MPEG VX Fine
• Face Detection Technology
• HD Ready output
• D-arrange Optimizer
• Battery Lithium (300 shot CIPA)
• Up to ISO 3200

As more information, prices, release date and pictures comes to hand on the Sony Cybershot DSC-W90 we'll post them here.

Get a Price on the Sony Cybershot DSCW90 8MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot (Silver)

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Feb 20: Sony Cybershot DSC-W200

News is breaking that Sony are announcing new cameras today including the Sony Cybershot DSC-W200. We're still yet to get full details from Sony but here's the initial feature list.

Sony Cybershot DSC-W200 Features

• 12 Megapixel Image Sensor
• 3x Optocal zoom
• Super Steady Shot
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens
• 2.5 inch LCD
• 28 megabyes of internal memory
• MPEG VX Fine
• Face Detection Technology
• HD Ready output
• D-arrange Optimizer
• Battery Lithium (270 shot CIPA)
• Up to ISO 3200

As more information, prices, release date and pictures comes to hand on the Sony Cybershot DSC-W200 we'll post them here.

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Feb 20: Sony Cybershot DSC-W35

News is breaking that Sony are announcing new cameras today including the Sony Cybershot DSC-W35. We're still yet to get full details from Sony but here's the initial feature list.

Sony Cybershot DSC-W35 Features

• Sensor - 7 Megapixels
• 3x Optical zoom
• Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar Lens
• Screen - LCD 2 inches
• 28 megabytes of internal memory
• MPEG VX Fine
• Battery Lithium (360 shot CIPA)
• Up to ISO 1000

As more information, prices, release date and pictures comes to hand on the Sony Cybershot DSC-W35 we'll post them here.

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Feb 19: Casio Exilim Z1000 Review at DPExpert

DPExpert has a review of the Casio Exilim Z1000 and writes, "This camera is in the fashion accessory category. It is an indoors camera, although the flash is not very powerful. The terms “image stabilisation”, “vibration reduction” or “anti shake” should be reserved for true IR, either in the lens, by rapidly shifting an element to counter camera shake, or in the body by moving the sensor itself to cancel out wobble. Some camera makers are claiming image stabilisation when all they are doing is increasing the shutter speed automatically when the ersatz stabilisation button is pressed. The Casio EX-Z850 (rrp $600) has 8 megapixels and an optical viewfinder. It is an attractive alternative to consider."

Read more about the Casio EX-Z1000

Compare prices on the Casio EX-Z1000 and see the latest price on it at Amazon

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Feb 19: Pentax K100D User Review at PopPhoto

PopPhoto has a user review of the Pentax K100D by Phil Leese up: About image quality, Leese notes, "What pleases me the most about the images from this camera is it's very low noise. It seems as though the camera doesn't have to apply much noise reduction or sharpening. This leaves pictures which are detailed and natural. Compared to say a 10mp Olympus I'd take the Pentax every time. ... In my view if you have shot jpeg's you shouldn't have to do much processing on the PC. They should be right first time and that's pretty much how they are from the K100D. Beyond all the measurements you still have to make a subjective judgement and I like pictures taken on this camera, they look as good as you can get at this price."

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Feb 18: Canon PowerShot A640 Review at DigitalCameraInfo

DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Canon PowerShot A640 and writes, "What makes the A640 a solid camera is that it allows beginners to develop their photography skills by graduating from the scene modes to the manual mode without needing to buy different cameras. A few of the A640’s highlights include a rotating 2.5-inch LCD screen that has a wide view, a built-in flash with adjustable power, easy to use control and mode dial interface, and in-camera editing for simple direct printing. The Canon A640 is a bit pricey with its $399 retail. Bargain hunters can go for its PowerShot companion, the A630, though. It has 8 megapixels with the same modes and many of the same features – for about fifty to a hundred dollars less. Considering that most point-and-shooters won’t create huge prints, the A630 may be a better buy. The Canon PowerShot A640 is still a good digital camera though – if you’ve got the cash."

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Feb 17: Nikon D80 DSLR Review at DPReview

DPReview has a review of the Nikon D80 and writes, "High ISO performance is particularly good. Finicky purists will no doubt find noise in high ISO shots but realistic photographers will be amazed at the image quality at ISO1600. We turned the in-camera noise reduction off to test the D80’s true performance and were convinced that this is the way to use it. We prefer to do the noise reduction, if it is necessary, post-camera. ... This camera is a worthy successor to the D70 and no doubt Nikon have another winner. It’s a pity that once again we have been disappointed by a kit lens. This is the one area where most makers are cutting costs. It is false economy."

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Feb 16: Nikon D2Xs Review at CNET

CNET has a review of the Nikon D2Xs and writes, "Overall, the Nikon D2Xs is an amazing camera. It is an extremely responsive, powerful imaging tool meant to tackle even the most challenging photographic situations, and it lives up to the task. Though there are other cameras that can top it in certain areas, you'd be hard-pressed to find a camera that is as versatile as this one. True, Canon's 8-megapixel EOS-1D Mark II N can shoot at up to 8.5fps, but it doesn't have the option of bumping up to 12 megapixels. Canon's EOS-1Ds Mark II will always retain an edge for some photographers because of its higher pixel count and, more importantly, its full-frame sensor. But for Nikon shooters, you can't get any better than the D2Xs."

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Feb 16: Canon PowerShot A460 Review at CNET

CNET has a review of the Canon PowerShot A460 and writes, " For a camera with a maximum sensitivity of ISO 400, the A460's images were awfully noisy. We saw at least some grain on almost every test shot. Our ISO 100 test image looked like it was taken at ISO 200 on almost any other camera, our ISO 200 test image could have been taken at ISO 400, and our ISO 400 test image resembled one taken at ISO 800. Image quality was otherwise decent. ... The Canon PowerShot A460 would have been a good camera a few years ago, but these days it just doesn't cut it. With only 5-megapixel resolution and horrible image noise, we can't easily recommend this camera."

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Feb 16: Nikon D80 Review at ThinkCamera

ThinkCamera has a review of the Nikon D80 and writes, "The D80 is a dream of a camera, packed with features and bursting with technology. It's a bit like a pup - responsive, fun to be with and eager to please. But like most pets you'll get more out of it, the more you put in. There's a lot of technology wrapped up inside and you'll have to put in the homework to maximise its (and your) potential but if you do, it will be worth it. I've only had it a few days but I've already grown very attached to the D80 and I don't think I'm going to like handing it back, or perhaps that's me just being petty."

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Feb 15: Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Zoom Review at IT Reviews

IT Reviews has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Zoom and writes, "Fujifilm is particularly proud that this model includes its new Face Detection technology which will recognize up to 10 faces in a frame and auto-expose and autofocus on them to the best setting in just 0.04 seconds. We tried it out on humans and dogs and, yes, it could tell the difference! ... A reasonably priced 'bridge' pro-sumer camera for those wanting to upgrade their digital photography experience and make use of the impressive Face Detection technology to grab those portrait photos quicker and more accurately than before."

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Feb 15: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens Review at Camera Labs

Camera Labs has a review of the Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM and writes, "n practice the Canon EF-S 10-22mm performs very well, especially considering its extreme coverage. In terms of resolution it matched or out-performed the EF-S 17-85mm and EF-S 18-55mm lenses, and was only just beaten by the premium EF-S 17-55mm model. Corner sharpness was also good with softness only visible when zoomed-out with larger apertures. Perhaps most impressive of all though were its geometry results. Due to their extreme coverage, ultra-wide angle zooms often suffer from significant barrel distortion. This was not the case with the EF-S 10-22mm though, which zoomed-out to 10mm, actually exhibited significantly lower barrel distortion than the EF-S 17-85mm did at 17mm."

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Feb 15: GE enters digital photography market

Making quite a stir today is the announcement that GE is getting into the digital camera manufacturing market.

They'll be branding their cameras under the 'General Imaging'.

They've made the announcement without any news on their first cameras - but with PMA fast approaching there is bound to be some news soon.

Press Release
GE enters digital photography market; General Imaging named exclusive worldwide licensee

Already one of the most trusted consumer brands in the world, GE will soon become one of the hottest names in high-quality digital still cameras.

GE and corporate newcomer General Imaging Co. announced today that the two companies have reached an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement by which General Imaging will design, manufacture and distribute an all-new line of GE-branded digital cameras.

“We were seeking to enter the digital camera arena and found a perfect partner,” said Brad Irvine, GE President of Trading and Licensing. “The cameras from General Imaging are truly worthy of the GE name, representative of GE’s leadership in technology and innovation.”

General Imaging Co. Chairman and CEO Hiroshi “Hugh” Komiya said the GE brand comes with instant credibility.

“GE is a brand that consumers around the world know and trust,” he said. “This is a brand known for innovation and technical leadership. We fully intend to deliver on the GE brand promise and even further enhance the GE brand value.”

Headquartered in Torrance, California, General Imaging brings together an all-star cast of photo industry veterans. Komiya is a former president of Olympus Imaging Corporation.

Leading sales efforts in North America will be Rene Buhay, a former Vice-President of Global Sales for ArcSoft who had also headed North American sales for both Samsung and Ricoh. Noted industrial designer Takeyoshi Kawano will be the company’s chief designer. Kawano’s design credits include the Sony Walkman, the Sony VAIO computer and the Olympus Stylus camera series.

“Style will play an important part in our product development,” Kawano noted. “Consumers are demanding not just advanced features but stylish designs. We’re responding to that demand with cameras that are a statement of style and at the same time have all the latest technology.”

According to Kawano, advanced features such as image stabilization, high ISO sensitivity, and panoramic stitching will be standard on ALL models.

“With advanced features like this on all our cameras, it will be diffi cult to take a bad photo,” he said. “GE cameras will literally change the quality of pictures for today’s consumers.”

Entry-level GE digital cameras will start with 7 megapixels of resolution and 2.5-inch LCD screens. Higher-end GE cameras will offer up to 12 megapixels of resolution and 3-inch LCD screens. A photo printer will also be included in the line.

The GE digital cameras will make their debut at the annual Photo Marketing Association trade show, March 8-11, in Las Vegas. Cameras will be available in North America from mid-April. Shipments to Europe and Asia are scheduled for later this year.

Buhay believes that response to the new camera line from retailers and consumers alike will be overwhelming.

“I’ve been in the electronics fi eld for many years, and the GE cameras are like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” he said. “Our aim is to be Number 1 in all aspects – quality, technology, performance and value – and these cameras will do that.”

For more information go to www.ge.com/digitalcameras

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Feb 14: Olympus SP-550 Review at Scared of the Dark

Scared of the Dark has a review of the Olympus SP-550 and writes, "Feature wise, I believe it is currently at the top of the ultrazoom pile and it is competitively priced, with optics and image quality that deliver on the spec sheet’s promise. I’ve owned a whole load of compacts and used many more, and I am almost certain that I’m going to be using this camera far more than any other [compact] in the past. It is just about portable enough to be carried on a regular / daily basis and more importantly (for me), combines great images with an advanced set of features and unrivalled reach. I have high expectations of being able to deliver great images with this ... this really is a camera where Olympus managed to get several innovations right in the same body."

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Feb 14: Olympus EVOLT E-500 DSLR Review at BlogCritics

BlogCritics has a review of the Olympus EVOLT E-500 DSLR and writes, "Overall, the E-500 is a solid DSLR. It's sturdy, has a good grip, it's got good battery life, and the image quality is great. I like the 4:3 aspect of the photos, and I like the fact that the lenses and body are interchangeable with other brands, although currently only Olympus, Panasonic and Leica make DSLRs and lenses based on the standard. That's about five camera backs altogether, at widely varying prices, so there's not a whole lot of choice, although that could change in the future. The sensor's performance in low light is not up to my expectations, and that could or could not be related to the four-thirds standard. Time will tell. I think that it's a bargain for its class. ... Bottom line: if I weren't so bent on being able to use it in low light situations, I'd get one myself."

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Feb 14: Canon PowerShot A550 Review at CNET

CNET has a review of the Canon PowerShot A550> and writes, "Photos looked pretty good, though they're marred by overprocessing and fringing in spots. Colors reproduce well, though indoor photos shot with automatic white balance come out very yellow, a common problem for most snapshot cameras. Noise is low up to ISO 400 sensitivity, where a fine grain starts to appear. Images are predictably noisy at ISO 800 sensitivity, with speckling damaging fine details and softening colors. ... With quick performance and decent photos, the Canon PowerShot A550 is a solid budget camera. It doesn't have many special features and it's not particularly small or light, but it's a strong choice if you don't want to spend a lot for your snapshots."

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Feb 14: Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti Review at PhotographyBLOG

PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti and writes, "There's so little to criticise on Canon compact cameras these days it's almost getting boring, and the Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti is no different. It looks good, responds well, is for the most part easy and intuitive to use, and, thanks to that standardised (across the IXUS range) 9-point AiAF, delivers sharply detailed images that will more than satisfy its target market. Battery life is fair to good, although sharing a compartment with the SD memory card at its base means that you won't be able to switch cards easily if using a tripod. Still, most of the Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti's users will be shooting handheld, so it's hardly a decision breaker. The Canon Digital IXUS 900 Ti narrowly misses out on that fifth star through the fact that there's no on board image stabilisation, but other than that (and the high-ish premium you're paying for that oh-so-sexy titanium finish) it's pretty much the perfect general use point and shoot style camera; for now at least."

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Feb 14: Canon EOS 400D Review at Trusted Reviews

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Canon EOS 400D and writes, "I’m a bit puzzled by the image quality. I’ve read some reviews that have absolutely raved about it, saying it’s easily the best of the 10MP DSLRs, but personally I wasn’t that impressed. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not that good. In terms of absolute sharpness and detail, it produced virtually identical results to the Olympus E-400, Sony A100 and Nikon D80.... I also found significant levels of purple fringing around some burned-out highlights, and while it might have marginally superior dynamic range, it’s not enough to give it a significant advantage. Colour rendition was very good, but then again it’s not a problem for any recent DSLR that I’ve tried. ... Surprisingly for a canon DSLR, I was also not massively impressed by the image noise control. Shots at 100-400 ISO were fine, but there was noticeable colour speckling in darker areas at 800, which spread to the mid-tones at 1600 ISO."

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Feb 13: Olympus Mju 750 Review at Pocket-lint

Pocket-lint has a review of the Olympus Mju 750 and gives it a 9 out of 10, writing, "Nice to look at, very pocketable, weatherproof and able to create images able to be printed at A3 or larger (with the caveat on shadow noise), the Olympus Mju 750 would make a great snapper for anyone: novice photographer, outdoor types or those who’d rather spend their time partying down the pub and dodging spillages of wine and beer while snapping away."

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Feb 13: Nikon Coolpix S9 Review at Computer Active

Computer Active has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S9 and writes, "With the lens on the far right (if viewed from the front) stray finger tips do sometimes mess up a shot, and, as we’ve found with previous Nikon Coolpix’s, it takes a Herculean effort to avoid blurred images in less than perfect light when avoiding flash. Colours are cool, though lent needed warmth by a vivid option. However, there's not much here to excite – nor out of the ordinary now many manufacturers have hopped on the face-recognition technology bandwagon – yet its lack of frills is disguised by attractive bodywork and entry-level price. Budget extra for a decent capacity SD card to supplement the 24MB internal memory, though."

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Feb 13: Pentax Optio T20 Review at Pocket-lint

Pocket-lint has a review of the Pentax Optio T20 and writes, "We love the design, we love the concept, we love the picture quality, and we especially love the large touch screen on the back, however we don't love the fact that it takes so long to take pictures that you miss the action. Even when we were just trying to snap a group of friends in the bar it was embarrassingly slow. If you can bear the wait then this is worth a look, however if you can't then the Pentax Optio t20 is just too slow for us."

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Feb 13: Pentax K10D Review at Digital Trends

Digital Trends has a review of the Pentax K10D and writes, "Any first-time D-SLR buyer should put the Pentax K10D high on the list—it’s a very good 10MP camera offering lots of room to grow as you spread your photographic wings. And its combination of good image quality, built-in Shake Reduction and sturdy build makes it a worthy contender for the competition and your credit card limit. As mentioned earlier, it’s a serious camera targeted to people serious about their photos. The price is serious too, currently selling for MSRP due to the demand. If you have a collection of lenses from Canon or Nikon, taking the Pentax path is more difficult choice since you’ll have to make a hefty investment in new glass. But it’s hard to argue with the value this camera brings to the table for first-timers."

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Feb 13: Canon PowerShot A640 Review at LetsGoDigital

LetsGoDigital has a review of the Canon PowerShot A640 and writes, "The Canon A640 is a typical camera from the PowerShot A series and is currently the top model in this camera segment. The ten Megapixel resolution is not really an improvement on its predecessor. It just gives you slightly bigger enlargements, but this is hardly worth the trouble.... The quality of the pixel and way in which the internal image processing achieves its final result is much more important. The Canon A640 manages to do this just fine. The quality of the optical zoom lens is excellent and can match the high resolution."

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Feb 12: Canon D1 and D1S News

Rumors about on the web over the last 24 hours about two Canon DSLR's the Canon D1 and D1S (there is some confusion over the model numbers as in the article that this story comes from they are referred to both as the D1 and the 1D).

The story emanated from a post by Erwin Puts who posted about the new models on his website (see below for details of what he wrote). His article then mysteriously disappeared from the site - which for some was a confirmation that the Canon D1 and D1S were real and he was pressured by Canon to remove it. For others it was a confirmation that he was so far off mark with his prediction that he took it down because it was all rubbish.

Time will tell whether the Canon D1 and D1S are real and if so what their real model names will be (most in the know seem to think there will be announcements from Canon in the coming week or two).

So what did Eriwin write? Here are a few excerpts from his article:

"The new D1 packs the sensor of the 5D in a really robust body, the film-loading 1V (end to that era?). The capture speed is very high and there is that mysterious comment that the 1D has no memory buffer, presumably wring directly to the flash card. The new 1Ds shares the same body and brings the pixel count to 22 million on a 24×36mm area. The most intriguing remark is Canons statement that from now on there will be no more 1.3 crop sensors. The strategy then is clear: the amateur market will be served by APS-C with 1.5/1.6 crop factor and a new range of lenses. The professional high-end market will be exclusively served by full-format sensors allowing all Canon lenses to operate at the true computed focal length and viewing angle. Canon seems to be quite confident that the problems with the 35mm format can be addressed and overcome. There is now also an ISO 6400 value available. The new cameras will be formidable instruments, the 1D attacking the professional market for mobile photography and the 1Ds (with 22 M pixels) attacking the medium format stationary (studio) photography. There is a risk here: many professional reportage photographers do not want nor need that huge amount of pixels. Is Nikon smarter in this respect and listening more closely to the market?

The 1D will retail for 4500 dollars and will be cheaper than the Leica M8. This is not a clash of civilisations, but a minor clash of belief. The M8 couples a mechanical film-loading body to a solid state sensor and retains as much of the classical values as can be done within the technological constraints.

The 1D couples a fully electronic film-loading body to a full 35mm format solid state sensor and skips as much of the classical values as can be accomplished within operational constraints. There is no doubt in what direction the mainstream buyer will move. Canon is shaping the market and the others are more or less responding to market trends as they are perceived by the gurus."

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Feb 12: Canon PowerShot A640 Review at Good Gear Guide

Good Gear Guide has a review of the Canon PowerShot A640 and writes, "Poor performance at ISO 800 combined with the lack of image stabilisation found on many of Canon's other cameras, means the A640 isn't the best choice for those who regularly shoot in high speed scenarios. The rest of the features are fairly standard. ... We found the A640 to be a reasonably quick camera, posting speeds slightly faster than normal in our tests. Exhibiting a shutter speed of .06 of a second, a 1.8 second shot-to-shot time, and a relatively speedy 1.9 second power up time, this model certainly won't leave you floundering at crucial moments."

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Feb 11: Fujifilm FinePix A700 Review at Trusted Reviews

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix A700 and writes, "Fortunately the lack of features or performance is compensated by decent picture quality. The Fujinon lens provides good edge-to-edge sharpness, although it does suffer from some uneven barrel distortion at wide angle. The 7.3 megapixel HR sensor produces a good level of detail, roughly the same as some other similarly-powered cameras I’ve tested recently. Contrast is a little lacking in my test shots, but as I’ve already indicated they were shot an a very rainy and overcast day, go results in good light will certainly be better. Colour rendition was also a little muted, although probably for the same reason. ... As budget-priced snappers go though, it isn’t too bad. It’s well made, incredibly easy to use, and is capable of producing reasonably good results under normal circumstances. Non-existent low-light focusing, terrible movie mode and low maximum sensitivity are handicaps however."

Read more about the Fujifilm FinePix A700.

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Feb 10: Samsung S1030

The Samsung S1030 is a 10.1 megapixel compact camera with a 3x optical zoom lens.

It features a 2.7 inch LCD display, ISO range of 50 to 1600 and shutter speeds of up to 1/1000 and 45 megabytes of internal memory.

The Samsung S1030 features manual control with aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual modes in addition to 10 of the normal shooting modes (Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Close-up, Sunset, Backlight, Fireworks, Dawn and Beach & Snow). It also has Auto Macro so that there's not need to switch into a Macro mode to focus clos up. It measures 99.6 x 61.8 x 26.95 mm.

The Samsung S1030 will hit stores in the Spring (northern hemisphere) of this year. There's no word yet on price.

Samsung S1030 News Release
Samsung Expands its Digital Range with the 10 Mega-Pixel S1030

8th February 2007 - Samsung Cameras today launches the S1030, a high performance camera that scores ten out of ten with its features which include a 10 Mega-pixel sensor and a 3x optical zoom lens for pin sharp pictures with every click of the shutter.

The powerful S1030 with its 45MB internal memory capability was designed for digital photographers who demand outstanding photographic image quality and sophisticated levels of creative functionality.

For maximum versatility a mode dial is included to allow quick setting of 10 shooting modes including special scene modes such as Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Close-up, Sunset, Backlight, Fireworks, Dawn and Beach & Snow which help to produce stunning results in difficult lighting conditions by optimising the camera’s white balance, exposure and other settings for specific shooting situations.

As well as offering a full auto mode the camera offers a manual option allowing the more experienced or adventurous user to take control of the settings for complete creativity. The S1030 also features six flash modes and auto-exposure bracketing to ensure that the final photograph is exactly what the photographer wants.

The camera features a 2.7” LCD screen and allows the user to record quality movie clips in MPEG-4 format and in one of three resolutions 160 x 128, 320 x 240 and 640 x 480. Complete with sound and the option to cut and edit in-camera movies and hundreds of still images can be taken and stored up to 2GB.

Photographers requiring an instant print capability will appreciate the S1030’s compatibility when a successful connection is made between the camera’s USB port and any PictBridge enabled printer.

For maximum versatility, the S1030 can be powered by an optional Samsung rechargeable Ni-MH battery system, as well as available-everywhere AA alkaline batteries, making it the perfect choice for travellers and power users alike.

Other Samsung S1030 features include:

* Shutter speeds of up to 1/1500 sec
* An ISO equivalent of 1600
* A bright 2.7” LCD display
* Aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual control is available
* 45 megabytes of internal memory, and can accept Secure Digital (SD and MMC) flash memory cards up to 2 gigabytes
* Colour effects include B/W, sepia, blue, green and red
* An Auto Macro function that automatically adjusts shooting distance and focus
* Movie mode lets users capture video in one of three resolutions, from 160x128 to 320x240 and 640x480, at up to 30 frames per second in AVI (MPEG-4) format. Movie stabilization can be engaged to compensate for unwanted camera movement and subject blur
* A built-in microphone allows a 10-second voice memo to be attached to any still image

The Samsung S1030 will be available in the spring of 2007 and includes a two-year warranty.

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Feb 10: Samsung S830

The Samsung S830 is an 8 megapixel compact camera with a 3x optical zoom.

It features a 2.7 inch LCD display, ISO range of 50 - 1600 and shutter speeds of up to 1/1000.

The Samsung S830 features some manual control with aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual modes in addition to a variety of the normal shooting modes. It also has Auto Macro so that there's not need to switch into a Macro mode to focus clos up.

The Samsung S830 will hit stores in the Spring (northern hemisphere) of this year.

Samsung S830 News Release
Samsung Continues S-series with the Feature-Packed S830

8th February 2007 - Samsung Cameras today launches the S830, a fully featured digital camera with an advanced feature set including an 8.0 Mega-pixel image sensor and a 3x optical zoom lens (35 - 105mm, 35mm equivalent) to ensure superb digital images time and time again.

Compact and powerful the Samsung S830 offers high resolution and provides enough detail to produce high quality images large enough to be creatively used up to poster size and by taking advantage of the speed of the camera and its high resolution it is the ideal camera for taking images of any fast moving action such as sports and animals.

For maximum versatility and ease of use a convenient mode dial with a range of 10 camera settings is easily accessible. These settings include special scene modes such as Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Dawn, Close-up, Sunset, Backlight, Fireworks and Beach & Snow which help to produce stunning results in difficult lighting conditions by optimising the camera’s exposure.

As well as offering a full auto mode the camera offers a manual option allowing the more experienced or adventurous user to take control of the settings for complete creativity.

The camera also offers the user the opportunity to record quality movie clips, complete with sound and the option to cut and edit in-camera giving the user flexibility and creative control.

Printing from the S830 is simple and easy at the push of a button when a successful connection is made between the camera’s USB port and any PictBridge compatible printer.

For maximum versatility, the S830 can be powered by an optional Samsung rechargeable Ni-MH battery system, as well as available-everywhere AA alkaline batteries, making it the perfect choice for travellers and power users alike.

Other features include:

* Shutter speeds of up to 1/1000 sec
* An ISO equivalent of 1600
* A bright 2.7” LCD display
* “One-touch Playback” for instant playback of an image, even when the power is off
* Aperture priority, shutter priority and full manual control is available
* 20 megabytes of internal memory, and can accept Secure Digital (SD and MMC) flash memory cards up to 1 gigabytes
* Colour effects include B/W, sepia, blue, green and red
* An Auto Macro function that automatically adjusts shooting distance and focus
* Movie mode lets users capture video in one of three resolutions, from 160x128 to 320x240 and 640x480, at up to 30 frames per second in AVI (MPEG-4) format. Movie stabilization can be engaged to compensate for unwanted camera movement and subject blur
* A built-in microphone allows a 10-second voice memo to be attached to any still image

The Samsung S830 will be available in the spring of 2007.

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Feb 10: Samsung L77

The Samsung L77 is an elegantly slim 21mm thin compact camera.

It features a 7 megapixel image sensor, 7x Optical zoom (non extending) and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.

The Samsung L77 has an ISO range of 50 to 1600, shake reduction technology and measures 94 x 57 x 21 mm.

There's no word on price yet but the L77 will hit stores in April.

Get a Price on the Samsung Digimax L77 7.2MP Digital Camera with 7x Advance Shake Reduction Optical Zoom

Samsung L77 News Release

Samsung Cameras unveils the L77 - the World’s thinnest 7-mega pixel/7x optical zoom lens camera

Thursday 8th February – Samsung today announced the launch of the outstandingly designed, super slim 7 mega pixel L77, equipped with a compelling 7x internal optical zoom lens, it’s perfect for those looking for the latest in sleek design and premium digital compact camera performance. At just 21.mm wide, the L77 can easily fit in the pocket so that you’re always ready to capture the moment – whether that’s through photographs, sound recordings or short film clips.

The L77 has an elegant metal body and features a 2.5” TFT LCD for bright and clear viewing of images taken, and comes equipped with Samsung’s ASR (Advanced Shake Reduction) image stabilisation system to ensure the best shots are achieved even in dimly lit conditions.

At 30fps, the sleek L77 can easily capture moving action and is able to record in MPEG-4 VGA for TV-quality film clips. For added convenience, editing film clips and photographs is possible through the L77’s in-built editing capabilities. Whilst reviewing photographs or film it’s simple to trim, resize, or add effects without having to wait until you’re back at a home computer.

“The Samsung L77 combines leading edge design with the very latest in digital camera technology. Its 7x optical internal zoom lens and its ultra-thin design are the perfect embodiment of quality and style." says Robert King, Commercial Director, Samsung Cameras.

The Samsung L77 - the World’s slimmest 7 Mega pixel/7x optical zoom lens camera - will be available from leading high street and online retailers from April 2007. Customers requiring further information should call 00 800 122 637 27 or visit www.samsungcamera.co.uk

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Samsung L77 Reviews

Digital Camera Review has a review of the Samsung L77 and writes, "While having a 7x optical zoom in such a slim and compact camera is definitely an awesome feature to have, the L77's image capturing capabilities are not good enough for me to recommend. Now, that's not to say that there isn't a buyer for this camera out there. The camera does have decent performance (it operates quickly) and it looks really nice. The 7x optical zoom does work well, and it does work during movie capture, which is a nice to have. The bottom line, however, is that image quality is not that great. I do strongly recommend that you take a look at the sample images and decide for yourself. The most direct competitor to the Samsung L77 is the Casio Exilim EX-V7. A slightly larger, but still in the compact category, camera is the 10x optical zoom Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3."

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Feb 10: Nikon Coolpix S9 Review at Pocket-lint

Pocket-lint has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S9 and writes, "In terms of image quality, the S9 does rather well. Your shots are saved on SD/MMC storage housed in a flap on the base alongside the camera’s lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack. Despite that 6-megapixel sensor, there is a slight problem of noise in shadows even at the lowest ISO 64 setting and, even though the limited maximum sensitivity of ISO 400 should help, noise is still noticeable in all other ISO settings. ... Perhaps not one for the more advanced user, problems with image detail and JPEG artefacts frustrate an otherwise nice camera. Nikon’s Coolpix S9 is undoubtedly a stylish and easy to use (once you’ve mastered a couple of the small control issues) little camera that makes for a neat little snapper at a good price."

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Feb 10: Nikon D40 Review at PopPhoto

PopPhoto has a review of the Nikon D40 and writes, "the D40's image quality showed remarkable improvement in our tests in the Pop Photo Lab -- especially in shadow and highlight detail and in noise control at higher ISOs. Much of the credit for these advances in performance can be attributed to refinements in the design of the D40's CCD, improved image-processing hard-ware and algorithms, and the use of new camera components that produce less noise than the earlier versions did. ... The Nikon D40 isn't for everyone, but it will certainly appeal to first-time DSLR buyers who want an excellent camera with controls and features that they can grow into and eventually master. It outperforms any compact camera in its price range, and while it has competition from other entry-level DSLRs (especially the Pentax K100D with Shake Reduction) it's a proud member of the Nikon family."

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Feb 9: Nikon Coolpix S6 Review at Good Gear Guide

Good Gear Guide has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S6 and writes, "Nikon's Coolpix S6 is a disappointing entry into the compact camera market. While it does offer most of the features you'd expect, its pictures are below par, and struggled in our image quality tests. The biggest problem was with clarity; the CoolPix S6's pictures just weren't sharp enough. ... Our final test is for image noise, and while the CoolPix S6 did slightly better here it was still left languishing. With a score of .87% in Imatest's noise test, it exhibited some slightly visible, but not particularly problematic noise. ... Image quality aside, the CoolPix S6 is a fairly solid camera. ... Overall, the CoolPix S6 is lightweight, attractive and definitely one of the better designed compacts we've recently reviewed."

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Feb 9: Fuji FinePix F20 Review at Steve's Digicams

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Fuji FinePix F20 and writes, " I was a bit surprised that Fuji only changed a few of the features from last year's F30 model but was reminded of the old saying that "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That seems to be their thinking with their "F" series of 6- megapixel Super CCD HR models. That said, I feel the FujiFilm FinePix F20 is a nice, compact digicam that offers good performance, a durable all-metal body, great image quality, and numerous user-friendly exposure modes. This model also features a more appealing price tag of US$299 or less, yielding a better "bang for your buck" value than the previous model."

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Feb 9: Casio Exilim EX-S770 Review at Megapixel

Megapixel has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-S770 and writes, "The Casio Exilim EX-S770 is a good camera that offers good image quality. It's body design, however, is so thin that it can be a touch impractical. Too often, while holding the camera, the left-hand index finger touches the DATA button, turning off the capture mode, loosing the opportunity for the shot. So while it may be appealing because of the ease with which it can be carried, users should make time to get used to handling it before trying to capture important photos."

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Feb 9: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2 Review at Steve's Digicams

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2 and writes, "Like its predecessor, the N2 is a very nice compact digital camera. Offering great performance, pleasing image quality, various exposure modes, and let us not forget the massively "Cool" 3.0-inch touchscreen LCD, I do believe that the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-N2 is sure to be a very popular model this year. With an MSRP of US$399, there won't be too hard of a tug on your pocket book, especially for a feature packed 10-megapixel digicam. And with that much resolution, printing ideas are almost endless!"

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Feb 9: Fujifilm FinePix S9100 Review at XYZ Computing

XYC Computing has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S9100 and writes, "In and of itself, I think the S9100 is a good camera. It is extremely easy to use and after a few minutes with the instructions almost anyone will be able to do things once reserved for camera geeks, like take multiple exposures, shoot with manual zoom/focus, or adjust exposure time in an instant with a thumb wheel. It also gives the versatility of a point-and-click with its ability to shoot movies and never need a new lens. The S9100 does have its problems though. The design features almost no changes from the last generation and it would have been nice if some things could be addressed. ... The camera needs to keep changing if Fujifilm wants to keep it competitive and while it is a good deal at the current price, it would be nice to see a slight decrease just so we can avoid the tempation of going with a true DSLR."

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Feb 9: Canon PowerShot G7 Review at Camera Labs

Camera Labs has a review of the Canon PowerShot G7 and writes, "Knowing what could have been, along with the noise at higher sensitivities, means we can only award the PowerShot G7 our Recommended rating. Sure it’s an excellent compact, with a great lens that’s capable of impressive results, but deep down we know it could have been much more special – and as we mentioned earlier, the PowerShot A640, EOS 400D and Panasonic FZ50 make very compelling alternatives. Canon may now be trying to sell a DSLR to every enthusiast, but there’s still room in the market for a highly capable top-of-the-range compact."

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Feb 8: Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 Preview at CNET Australia

CNET Australia has a preview of the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 and writes, "When we tested it, we were disappointed by the EX-Z1000's overprocessed images and subpar low-light performance, but otherwise we enjoyed it. If Casio improves the image processing and sensitivity over that of its predecessor, the EX-Z1050 could be a very good, affordable 10-megapixel shooter."

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Feb 8: Nikon D40 Review at Vnunet

Vnunet has a review of the Nikon D40 and writes, "Rather than packing as many megapixels as possible into the D40, Nikon has opted to stick with a high-quality six-megapixel sensor. With many cameras, especially compacts, attempting to take a shot in a high ISO mode feels a bit like falling for some sort of rubbish practical joke; the resulting noisy mess being good for nothing but immediate erasure. The D40, however, takes usable shots right up to ISO 1600 and beyond. Its six megapixels of noise-free data, especially when used in 12-bit Raw mode, will give you excellent-quality photos. It may be an entry-level camera, but it’s very quick and responsive. It’s ready to shoot almost as quickly as you can switch it on, and in continuous mode it’ll snap away at around two-and-a-half shorts per second until you memory card is full."

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Feb 8: Olympus E-400 Review at ComputerActive

ComputerActive has a review of the Olympus E-400 and writes, "the E-400’s images are commendably sharp even if they do reveal increasing levels of noise from ISO200 upwards. Colours are a tad cool when the camera is left on its ‘natural’ setting, meaning that the alternative ‘vivid’ option provides, for us, the closest to reality. The E-400 is a well-constructed digital SLR offers alternative to the market-dominating Nikon D40/D50 and Canon EOS 400D. Viewed in isolation it’s worthy of praise, but considered against its nearest rivals a 10-megapixel resolution is not enough to make the E-400 stand out – though recent price reductions will aid its chances."

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Feb 8: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 Review at DPReview

DPReview has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 and writes, "the FZ8 is a welcome upgrade to one of the best 'super zoom' cameras on the market, even if it doesn't address some of the fundamental issues we had with its predecessor (namely the inability of the sensor/processor to deliver results to match the lens). But it's a very well-priced, very well-designed, wonderfully versatile, fast and responsive photographic tool that offers SLR features - and an effective image stabilization system - in a very compact package. If you accept that the size and convenience of this type of product means a certain level of compromise you won't be disappointed. Viewed on-screen at 100% the output often leaves a little to be desired, but for 'normal' use (standard sized prints, full screen viewing) the excellent lens and reliable focus/exposure systems cannot fail to impress."

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Feb 8: Nikon D40 Review by Thom Hogan

Thom Hogan has a review of the Nikon D40 and writes, "the impressive thing about the D40 is that it is arguably the best-designed small camera to date. Handwise, it's perfect. The viewfinder is good, if not up to the D200 level. The controls are sensible and what we Nikon users expect. And the moving of the top LCD to the color LCD, while still with some slightly rough edges, turns out to be a lot more useful than you'd expect. As I note in the handling section, you can do 99% of the settings you're likely to make while shooting without dropping into the actual menus. Nikon almost hit a home run with that, and frankly, why their top end Coolpix cameras don't borrow the best aspects of this design I don't know. Color, noise, and resolution are quite good, and you have enough control over the first two items to get excellent image quality."

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Feb 7: Olympus SP-550 UZ First Look at Pop Photo

Pop Photo takes a first look at the Olympus SP-550 UZ and writes, "upon our initial inspection, this camera appears to merit its price. The lens barrel is well-damped and glides smoothly while it extends more than you'd think possible. The buttons and overall build feel solid. It's not quite as rock-solid feeling as the mostly metal Canon PowerShot G7, but feels exceptionally solid for a composite body. The only exception to the overall feeling of build quality is the battery cover, which felt stiff and didn't open and shut as smoothly as we'd like -- but this being a pre-prod, its possible that this battery cover issue will be resolved before the unit ships."

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Feb 7: Sony DSLR-Alpha 100K Review at PC World

PCWorld has a review of the Sony DSLR-Alpha 100K and writes, "The Alpha 100 delivered high image quality overall. In shots taken at ISO 100 to 400, image quality was very good--comparable to that of other entry-level SLRs. At ISO 800 to 1600, however, the Alpha 100 got noisy. The Sony DSLR-Alpha 100K is a very good but somewhat pricey camera. Despite feeling clunkier than its competitors, it delivers good image quality and a full feature set, plus some nice extras such as image stabilization."

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Feb 7: Kodak EasyShare V705 Review at Digital Camera Info

Digital Camera Info has a review of the Kodak EasyShare V705 and writes, "It’s very easy to use and in theory makes the perfect camera for a point-and-shooter. The V705 has 22 scene modes and limited manual control. Better yet, it has an interesting dual lens system. Kodak claims that it adds up to a 5x optical zoom, but that’s a stretch. The camera really has two separate lenses – one a very wide 23mm lens and the other a 3x, 39-117mm lens. There is a big jump between 23mm and 39mm, and it is noticeable and abrupt in the live view (or recorded in movies). When all is said and done, the farthest the lens system can reach is 117mm, which isn’t as far as some other manufacturers’ 3x lenses. The Kodak EasyShare V705 would be a good camera for someone who only shoots outdoors in sunny conditions; the limited aperture range requires lots of light and its auto focus struggles in darker conditions. For anything else, though, the Kodak V705 will be a disappointment. Many pictures taken indoors and in imperfect light looked blurry, had horribly unrealistic colors, and were subjected to the awful built-in flash. So while the Kodak V705 has plenty of good looks on the outside, its pictures weren’t nearly as beautiful."

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Feb 6: Kodak EasyShare C875 Review at Trusted Reviews

Trusted Reviews has a review of the Kodak EasyShare C875 and writes, "Image quality is very good, thanks to the 1/1.8in, 8.0MP sensor and an excellent Schneider-Kreuznach lens. Photographs have very good fine detail resolution and edge-to-edge sharpness, although barrel distortion at the wide-angle end is quite noticeable. Corner sharpness is good and there is minimal purple fringing or chromatic aberration. Exposure was usually accurate under normal conditions, although the limited range of aperture and shutter speeds did mean that some shots in low light were under-exposed. Kodak cameras have always had outstanding colour reproduction, and the C875 is no exception, with an extremely good natural look. ... Noise control is also very good. ... Although the EasyShare C875 is a bit slow and clunky at times, and rather large and heavy for a pocket compact, you’d have a hard job finding a more versatile camera for the same price. Poor low light focusing and flash performance limit its usefulness in social situations, but overall image quality and especially high-ISO performance are very good."

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Feb 6: Pentax K100D Review at PCWorld

PCWorld has a review of the Pentax K100D and writes, "By default, the camera's JPEG output is a bit soft, so you might want to adjust the sharpening parameter within the camera. Though the K100D offers ISO levels up to 3200, images show substantial noise at ISO 800 and above. The K100D is a great entry-level SLR camera, with an unmatched price. Pentax offers an extensive array of lenses to buy separately, and the camera's interface and design make for a comfortable shoot. If you want a full-featured SLR with fairly advanced features, it's hard to beat the price and performance of the K100D."

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Feb 6: Pentax K10D Review at NeoCamera

NeoCamera has a review of the Pentax K10D and writes, "The bottom line is that the K10D cannot be beaten feature-wise. It brings some unique features and exposure modes into a very thoughtful and ergonomic design. In terms of image quality, the Canon Digital Rebel XTi and the 8 megapixels Canon EOS 30D still have the advantage, specially at high-ISO. Neither of these cameras have built-in stabilization or weatherproofing though. The XTi has an useful eye-start sensor but its ergonomics and capabilities are limited compared to the K10D. The 30D has the advantage of having a consistent 5 FPS continuous drive which is better suited for action photography."

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Feb 6: Olympus Mju Stylus 725 SW Review

Think Camera has a review of the Olympus mju725 and writes, "The mju725SW is a lovely sleek and shiny beast, it's possibly over-developed in the feature department but that can't really be a bad thing. It's like a digital hybrid - containing all the best bits and not falling down in the design or operation department. It's small enough to fit in the pocket of a jacket or kagoul but quality wise it must surely be on a par with lower end DSLRs - but then I can't imagine throwing around one of those in the wet. If you're into active pursuits or just like being out in the wind and the rain there can be no better travelling companion - it's built for active service and can take what you throw at it. It could have been created and developed by Q. It just leaves me with one burning question - do I really have to give it back?"

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Feb 6: Casio Exilim EX-Z75 First Take at CNET Australia

CNET Australia has a first take look at the Casio Exilim EX-Z75 and writes, "If you want a current, 7-megapixel camera, the upcoming 7-megapixel Olympus FE-240, the Pentax Optio M30, and the Canon PowerShot A550 offer similar features at similar prices. Of course, the EX-Z70 itself might also prove a viable alternative; when the EX-Z75 hits stores, its predecessor will probably see a price cut. When we tested it, we were disappointed by the EX-Z70's soft, artifact-filled images and slightly awkward power button. If Casio corrects these problems for the EX-Z75, it might shape up to be a very good compact shooter."

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Feb 6: Pentax K10D DSLR Review at Pocket-lint

Pocket-lint has a review of the Pentax K10D and writes, "In terms of image quality, the camera provides plenty of detail with natural colours, though of course, these are all tweakable via internal functions on the camera. I found however, shooting using the camera’s MTF program line helps keep things a tad sharper or simply stay shooting RAW. In JPEG snapping, you get three compression levels and the top (three star) setting provides very clean images indeed. Noise (as mentioned earlier) becomes obvious after ISO 400 and intrusive at ISO 800 and over. Overall, the images look colourful and clean even if the highlight detail does drop off more quickly than I’d have liked, particularly noticeable in overcast (grey) skies for example."

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Feb 6: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35 Review at CNET

CNET has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35 and writes, "Sony does an impressive job of taming noise through the W35's sensitivity range. At ISO100 images were very clean, with no noticeable noise, even when viewed on a monitor. ISO 200 and ISO 400 had extremely minor speckles of noise that were visible on a computer monitor, but weren't noticeable in prints. At ISO 800, noise became visible in prints and was very noticeable on monitors. Surprisingly though, even at ISO 1000, the W35 produces usable, if grainy, prints with vivid and accurate colors. However, we'd suggest staying below ISO 1000 or ISO 800 when possible, for better results. This is a great improvement over the W30, whose high-ISO images were extremely noisy and dull. For a budget camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W35 is a very good choice. With satisfying performance and good picture quality, this sub-$200 shooter would fit well in the pocket of anyone looking for a reliable, inexpensive camera."

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Feb 5: Nikon Coolpix S10 Review at Pocket-lint

Pocket-lint has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S10 and writes, "The fact the image quality and lens perform well is good to see (as is the new price, down from a launch price of £349 to a much better RRP of £299), but noise is too quick to appear in shadows. And I can’t help wondering that despite the novel, use-at-any-angle-swivel-lens design and the practicalities it affords the user, it has perhaps now finally seen its day. In my First Look on this model, I wrote: “The Nikon Coolpix S10 follows in the footsteps of some very good and award-winning predecessors (the Coolpix 900 and 950 come immediately to mind) that give a tough act to follow”. And on the showing here, the S10 has not done as well as I’d have expected, which is a shame."

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Feb 4: Casio Exilim EX-S770 Review at IT Reviews

IT Reviews has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-S770 and writes, "This is more of a point-and-shoot solution then, like many modern compacts. There are plenty of settings to fine tune if you know your photography and in doing so you can achieve better results. ... The Exilim EX-S770 should appeal to the market it's probably intended for, the semi-casual photographer who wants a slim, compact camera to carry around that'll get decent results with a minimum of fuss, and in this respect it performs admirably."

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Feb 4: Olympus Mju 770SW Preview at CNET Asia

Imaging Resource has a preview of the CNET Asia has a preview of the Olympus Mju 770SW and writes, "Although replacing rounded buttons with four-sided blocks isn't the most ground-breaking improvement, the overall layout does complement the boxy look of the camera. This design decision also brings with it the same complaints we had--the keys are a tad too tinny and we'd have preferred it to be raised a little higher above the chassis. Like its predecessor, rubber seals underneath the battery/memory card compartment and door to the connector ports keep the Mju properly sealed against liquid invasion. ... Built for the rugged outdoors, the Mju 770SW has all (at least for now) the essentials that an adventurer, or even those with destructive kids."

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Feb 4: Olympus SP-550 UZ Preview at CNET Asia

CNET Asia has a preview of the Olympus SP-550 UZ and writes, "The 18x optical zoom begins at a wide 28mm angle, F2.8, stopping down to F4.5 at the telephoto end. The SP-550UZ uses the CCD shift-type stabilization system to compensate for camera shake at longer focal lengths, though it wasn't clear on our preproduction model how many stops advantage it provides since we couldn't test it out. Like the Panasonics, there are two stabilization modes to choose from; we assumed that one would turn the system on continuously and the other only when you click on the shutter."

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Feb 4: Nikon Coolpix S10 Review at Megapixel

Megapixel has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S10 and writes, "the S10 reproduces colours faithfully and avoids any excessive over-saturation. ... From 50 to 100 ISO, any noise recorded in the image is very limited and can only be found in shadows. At 200 ISO, noise starts to become visible in areas of solid colour, even when the image is captured under good light. At 400 and 800 ISO, noise is readily visible, limiting the usefulness of the higher sensitivities. ... With its split body design allowing more flexibility and creativity than normal when framing shots, and a compact shape that offers a fully internal stabilized 10X zoom, the most surprising aspect of Coolpix S10 is that it has a very reasonable street price, making it excellent value for the money."

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Feb 4: Pentax K10D DSLR Review at DPExpert

DPExpert has a review of the Pentax K10D DSLR and writes, "The Pentax K10D is a brilliant camera. At the price it is a world-beater. It will be interesting to see how it goes in the market place where, paradoxically, its low price may count against it. Can a $1900 camera/lens combination compete with a similarly specified camera selling for $3000? Yes, it can. It is as though Pentax has returned to its origins when the company produced affordable, reliable, pioneering SLRs with outstanding lenses. Most serious amateurs have a Pentax in their past and the K10D will bring a nostalgic smile of recognition."

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Feb 4: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2 Review at CNET Asia

CNET Asia has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-N2 and writes, "We got rather nice-looking pictures with good color, saturation and exposure with this Cyber-shot, although some of our shots turned out slightly warm. Noise at ISO 800 and ISO 1,600 marred image quality, but our shots were still fairly usable at ISO 800. The automatic white balance was accurate on most occasions, failing only under incandescent light and producing a yellow tinge to photos."

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Feb 4: Panasonic Lumix L1 Review at DPExpert

DPExpert has a review of the Panasonic Lumix L1 and writes, "The Panasonic is a difficult camera to rate because of the price. The Olympus E330, with which it shares components, sells for about $1800 but doesn’t have a comparable lens. The Nikon D200, with a better viewfinder, more pixels but lesser optic sells for $2900. The Lumix L1 is highly recommended because it is a fine camera but whether it is value for money will be for the customer to decide. In the US the price is already dropping."

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Feb 3: Fujifilm FinePix S9600 / S9100 Review at DigicamReview

Digicam Review has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S9600 / S9100 and writes, "The Fujifim S9600 / S9100 is an impressive 9 megapixel digital camera with a wide angle 10.7x optical zoom lens and a large 2" display. The camera is one of very few to include ISO 1600. It has excellent responsiveness and is designed to be able to take great photos in situation the majority of cameras would fail. Although some people may be overwhelmed with the number of controls, with use and familiarity, they become almost intuitive. Particularly welcome is the pivoting screen (which could have been even better had it pivoted on both axes). The FujiFilm S9600 / S9100 is well worth considering - there are few digital cameras that offer so many options and so much quality for such a low price."

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Feb 3: Nikon D40 Digital SLR Review at HardwareZone

HardwareZone has a review of the Nikon D40 and writes, "The Nikon D40 is an interesting DSLR camera. Despite being small and lightweight, it boasts a good balance of imaging quality and affordability like no other in the market, offering aspiring photographers a decent DSLR camera to start off their photography journey and seasoned photographers using Nikon cameras a capable backup unit. In truth, at USD$599.95 (with kit lens), the D40 is as good as it gets to turning your dream of owning a Nikon camera into reality."

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Feb 2: Nikon Coolpix S7c Review at DCRP

DCRP has a reivew of the Nikon Coolpix S7c and writes, "Most people buy a camera for the quality of the photos it takes, and the S7c is a letdown in this area. On the positive side, it takes well-exposed photos with pleasing colors, low noise levels, and minimal purple fringing. The bad news the camera suffers from above average barrel distortion, significant blurring around the edges of the frame, and noticeable vignetting. These are the same issues that plagued the Coolpix S6 as well. It's disappointing to see a company like Nikon make a less-than-stellar lens like this. As with nearly all ultra-compacts, the S7c has a redeye problem, and its built-in removal tool did not help. ... While it has much to offer, the S7c falls short of the competition -- mostly due to sub-par photo quality -- but for plenty of other reasons as well. If you must have Wi-Fi then I suppose the camera is worth a look ..."

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Feb 2: Olympus SP-550 UltraZoom Preview at Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource has a preview of the Olympus SP-550 UltraZoom and writes, "achieving 28mm with a 504mm at the other end is impressive indeed. We'll have to wait for our test results before we rave further, but if they've held chromatic aberration and distortion in check, the SP-550 could be quite the little darling of the enthusiast crowd. ... A few other features of the SP-550 that are prominently mentioned might seem to exceed the capabilities of modern digital SLRs, like the ability to capture 15 frames per second. While that's probably true, they don't mention that the resolution is reduced to 1.2 megapixels to achieve that. It's actually a capture mode that is included on many other digicams, and is not invalid, but it's a little misleading, again. ... Just from holding and using the SP-550, it seems like Olympus is listening to the market and designing accordingly. The SP-550 looks and feels great, and its optical specs do indeed impress."

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Feb 2: Fujifilm F30 Review at ThinkCamera

ThinkCamera has a review of the Fujifilm F30 and writes, "ISO goes from 100 to a decent 3200. It's a bit noisy from 800 upwards but you would expect that. Photos taken on 800 ISO print fine at 6 x 4 with the noise not very noticeable although if you blew them up bigger than that it might be an issue. ... you don't get an XD card with the camera. It has some built in memory but only enough for a couple of photos. So build a card in when you budget for it. The second bugbear for me was the USB connection. It's so fiddly. It has a smaller end that fits into the camera than I'm used to and the little flap over the connection on the camera wanted to shut all the time. Really these are minor annoyances and wouldn't put me off buying it."

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Feb 2: Canon PowerShot A630 Review at Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource has a review of the Canon PowerShot A630 and writes, "It's easy to see why Canon PowerShots continue to be popular. Their design is user friendly and well-built, the pictures are great, and they're easy to shoot. The Canon PowerShot A630 continues in that tradition of dependability, sporting an 8.0-megapixel CCD, a very good quality 4x optical zoom lens, and a big 2.5 inch swiveling LCD screen. It offers everything from full automatic to full manual exposure control, with a healthy set of Scene modes thrown in to make it easy to bring back great-looking photos from what might otherwise be challenging situations. It has a great movie mode, and its superb lens delivers great sharpness across the frame. Thanks to its high-speed DIGIC-II processing chip, it's also very responsive, and its movie capability is impressive as well. Bottom line, like its brother the A640, the Canon A630 is a classic; just an excellent all-around digital camera, and an easy choice as a Dave's Pick."

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Feb 2: Canon Digital Rebel XTi Review at Shutterbug

Shutterbug has a review of the Canon Digital Rebel XTi and writes, "Advanced Canon shooters will miss the back Command Dial, and have to put up with toggles and the front knurled dial for menu changes and image playback. But what is most evident is that Canon has slimmed down some of the options to those most important, and has not economized on creative options and features in the bargain. ... In all, the Canon Rebel XTi is a generational update that brings much of Canon’s experience and technology into play. At $899 for the kit with the lens and $799 for the body only, it’s a good bet for first-timers and as a backup for those already with a Canon DSLR."

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Feb 2: Olympus Stylus 770 SW Preview at Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource has a preview of the Olympus Stylus 770 SW and writes, "the true brilliance in the Stylus 770 SW is in the new crush resistance standard. The 770 can handle up to 220 pounds of pressure. What does that mean in the real world? When are you going to apply that much pressure? When you do like so many people do with thin cameras and stick it in your back pocket. I weigh 210 pounds. Since I'll only put a fraction of that weight on the camera when I sit down, I could put on another 100 pounds (Lord, please no) and still not crush the Stylus 770 SW. That's real-world durability. ... I'm disappointed to see the continued use of the term Digital Image Stabilization for their High ISO mode, but we can't change them overnight. I would prefer a mode switch to this button arrangement, because it's too easy to switch modes with an accidental thumb press; but at least the new buttons make it less likely, as they jut out a little less than the round ones on the Stylus 720 SW."

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Feb 2: Canon PowerShot SD900 Review at LaptopMag

LaptopMag has a review of the Canon PowerShot SD900 and writes, "On our tests, the SD900 produced decent images with accurate color saturation. Noise wasn't an issue until we tried to shoot in low light and cranked the ISO up to 1600. At this high setting, details began to blur and images became grainy. On the other hand, almost every digicam we've tested develops a fair amount of pixelation above ISO 800. ... The Canon PowerShot SD900 packs a lot of megapixels into a good-looking design. And while it produced good results, we prefer the 10-MP HP Photosmart R967 and the Casio Exilim EX-Z1000, both of which offer the same or better performance for less money."

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Feb 1: Pentax Optio W20 Review at Steve's Digicams

Steve's Digicams has a review of the Pentax Optio W20 and writes, "Underwater photography is one of this camera's most important qualities. I was happy to find that the W20 performs very well underwater. Sample pictures were taken in a large aquarium, and the W20 captured very sharp images of the aquarium's bottom along with the fish inside. The flash also worked well to provide good exposure from .5 - 2 feet away. ... With a street price of $250 or less, the Pentax Optio W20 is a very sporty digital package. With JIS Class 8 waterproof and Class 5 dustproof ratings, this model can be taken almost anywhere, without the need for extra protection against the elements. Image quality is great for a 7- megapixel model, and the anti-shake/anti-blur technology performs well in less than perfect lighting conditions. The W20 adds another great model to Pentax's waterproof digital line."

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