Digital Photography Blog: Digital Camera Reviews, Ratings, News, Tips and Tutorials.
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DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z75 and writes, "While the outside looks good, the inside needs some work. The Casio EX-Z75 runs a little behind the times. Consumers shouldn’t expect to find advanced features like mid-range optical zoom (above 3x) or optical image stabilization at the $200 price point, but the Exilim EX-Z75 is bested by some of its competitors that offer face detection technology, higher sensitivity ranges, or wide panoramic shooting capabilities. In general, the Casio Exilim EX-Z75 gives an average performance and suffices as a basic point-and-shoot, but there are more compelling options available for the same price."
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z75.
Get a price on the Casio Exilim EX-Z75
DigitalCameraReview has a review of the Lumix DMC-FX30 and writes, "The FX30 is an excellent choice for family photographers, snap-shooters, casual photographers, and first time digital camera buyers who want a digicam that is capable of capturing excellent images, small enough to be dropped in a pocket and taken along just about anywhere, and simple enough to be used easily by just about anyone. Consumers who want the convenience and immediacy of a pocketable ultra-compact P&S digicam, but yearn for the performance and image quality of a more complex camera may find the FX30 an acceptable compromise – especially when potential purchasers consider that the FX30 is significantly lower in price than other 28mm (equivalent) zoom digicams. Serious photographers and those who may occasionally need large prints should look elsewhere."
Read more about the Panasonic FX30.
Get a Price on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30
DigitalCameraReview has a review of the Nikon D40x and writes, "Focus speed is a bit slower than the pro and semi-pro Nikons, but not bad at all. Shutter performance isn’t quite as quick, but also not bad. Image quality is first rate with the kit lens and there are a bunch of fully compatible Nikon lenses to expand out from the 18-55mm focal range of the kit lens; the camera can be had as a body only if you don’t care for the 18-55. Colors are rich at default settings and there are a bunch of internal image optimizing settings to tweak the color if default is not your cup of tea. There’s a decent continuous shooting capability, and ISO performance is good. Folks moving into a DSLR from a P&S will feel right at home with the auto and scene program modes. I haven’t shot other entry-level DSLRs, but after living with the D40x for about three weeks I’d be very surprised if it doesn’t hold its own with the competition. At the entry level, this camera does a lot of things very well."
Read more about the Nikon D40x.
Get a Price on the Nikon D40x
The Ricoh Caplio R7 is a 8.15 (CCD) megapixel digital camera with a 7.1x Optical Zoom lens (28-200mm equivalent).
It features image stabilization, upgraded image processing system and a 2.7 inch LCD.
The Ricoh Caplio R7 comes in black, orange and silver. It will have a retail price of £230 when it hits stores in September.
Get a price on the Ricoh Caplio R7 at Amazon.
Ricoh Caplio R7 News Release
7.1x Wide-Angle Digital Camera Features Low Noise in High-Sensitivity Photography
Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Shiro Kondo) has developed and introduced the new Caplio R7 digital camera. With a new image processing engine and a 7.1x optical wide zoom lens (28–200 mm in 35 mm camera format) mounted on a slim body only 20.6 mm at its thinnest point, the Caplio R7 takes digital photography to an even higher level of image quality.
The new Caplio R7 is the successor to the award winning Caplio R6 (launched March 23, 2007), which earned high recognition for its slim body, wide-angle zoom lens, vibration correction, and face recognition mode.
With a new image processing engine and a 7.1x optical wide zoom lens (28–200 mm in 35 mm camera format) mounted on a slim body only 20.6 mm at its thinnest point, the Caplio R7 takes digital photography to an even higher level of image quality.
Retaining the best features of earlier models, the Caplio R7 further enhances the line’s established reputation for high image quality with the introduction of:
1. Smooth Imaging Engine III, a new image processing engine capable of even more sophisticated image processing, and
2. An effective 8.15 megapixel CCD for outstanding results.
In addition, the Caplio R7 achieves a variety of other evolutionary advances in fun and easy photography with enhanced usability for its unique ADJ. (Adjust) button function, which makes it easy to set exposure compensation and white balance. The introduction of brightness and colour-tone functions allows still image brightness and colour-tone to be adjusted in the camera after the picture is taken.
Available colours: Silver, Black and Orange
Available: September 2007 at £229.99 inc vat.
Main features of the new Caplio R7
1. The introduction of the new image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine III makes higher-picture-quality photography possible.
* Smooth Imaging Engine III reduces the noise that can occur in high-sensitivity photography, without loss of resolution. As a result, even with high-sensitivity photography, crisp outlines are preserved and clear, non-grainy images are possible.
* Through sophisticated brightness and colour-tone adjustment, natural colours are reproduced that are closer to those seen by the naked eye.
2. The Caplio R7 comes equipped with a new high-resolution 8.15 megapixel CCD.
* An effective 8.15 megapixel CCD has been included. Working together with the new image processing engine Smooth Imaging Engine III, this new CCD achieves high-quality photography.
3. The Caplio 7 features a 7.1x wide angle zoom lens on a body measuring only 20.6mm at the thinnest point - the slimmest in its class.*
* As a result of the adoption of miniaturized components and the original double retracting lens system, Ricoh was able to equip the Caplio R7 with a 28-200mm 7.1x wide-angle zoom lens in a slim 20.6 mm body.
* A wide range of photographic options are supported, from wide-angle photography – for panoramic landscapes and indoor shooting near the subject – all the way to impressive telephoto photography.
4. Enhanced usability when shooting
* ADJ. (Adjust) button increases usability
o A cross-key function has been added to the ADJ. (Adjust) button, which makes it easy to switch exposure compensation, white balance, ISO sensitivity, and other settings to reflect the preferences of the photographer. As a result, menu operations can be operated quickly and easily with one hand.
* New on screen display
o The elegant and functional style of the new on screen display gives a high-quality feel of the Caplio R7 operation. The adoption of a highly readable font and clearer menu tabs makes the Caplio R7 even easier to use.
* Two zoom speed levels
o Zoom speed can be switched between the two levels of high speed and low speed to enable the photographer to move quickly and accurately to the desired zoom position.
5. Image editing functions allow for a variety of changes to images after shooting in the camera
* Brightness correction for adjusting image brightness and contrast
o With the brightness correction function it is possible to adjust (on a five-level scale) the brightness and contrast of a still image in the camera and then record the resulting image. In this way, the image as it was intended by the photographer can be recreated in the camera without unwanted black or white saturation.
* Colour tone correction for adjusting image colour tone
o With the colour tone correction function it is possible to adjust colour tone by strengthening red or blue tones (on a five-level scale) of a still image in the camera and then record the resulting image. In this way, the original image shot can be adjusted to better reflect the colour tone desired by the photographer.
* Image rotation
o Still images in the camera can be rotated 90 degrees and then recorded. (The rotation is only reflected when the image is viewed in the camera.)
6. Popular vibration correction function and face recognition mode
* The Caplio R7 contains Ricoh’s original CCD-shift vibration correction function which compensates for camera shake when it is detected.
* Face recognition mode automatically identifies faces in a scene and automatically adjusts the focus, exposure, and white balance for best results.
7. Wide viewing angle, high contrast 2.7-inch LCD
* The Caplio R7 has an easy-to-see 2.7-inch LCD with 230,000 pixels. In addition to having a wide viewing angle and high contrast, its colour reproduction is excellent, making it easy to view images during shooting and playback.
8. Powerful macro functions, a Ricoh specialty
* Ricoh’s original macro mode allows close-in shooting of objects as close as 1 cm with wide macro and as close as 25 cm with telemacro. A zoom macro function enables the use of digital zooming from the optical zoom position where subjects can be captured at their largest.
9. Three types of bracketing functions
* The Caplio R7 has three different types of bracketing functions: auto bracketing automatically shoots consecutive shots changing the exposure each time, white balance bracketing automatically shoots consecutive shots changing the white balance each time, and colour bracketing automatically shoots three consecutive shots, a black and white image, a colour image, and a sepia image.
Accessories included:
Rechargeable Battery DB-70 / Battery Charger BJ-7 / USB Cable / AV Cable / Handstrap / Software CD-ROM / Instruction Manuals
Get a price on the Ricoh Caplio R7 at Amazon.
Think Camera reviews the Ricoh Caplio R7 where they give it a rating of 7 out of 10 and write - "Still, minor issues aside, Ricoh's R7 is yet another solid device from a growing stable of top-notch cameras. If you are in the market for a reliable, fast compact, that comes with the bonus of a limited-space defying zoom lens that is capable of getting you right up to the action without weighing you down, then the Ricoh Caplio R7 is well worth checking out."
The Casio Exilim Zoom EX-V8 is an 8.1 megapixel stylish point and shoot camera with a 7x optical zoom lens.
It features a 2.5 inch LCD, 4 shot per second continuous shooting (at 2.0 megapixels), YouTube capture mode (for shooting images optimized for web display), blur reduction, and face detection technology.
It comes in Silver.
The Casio Exilim Zoom EX-V8 will retail for $330 USD when it ships in September.
"Casio Exilim EX-V8 at Amazon.
The EX-V8 is equipped with a 7X Optical Zoom and 8.1 Megapixels; the EX-Z1080 features High ISO 6400 Sensitivity and 10.1 Megapixels
DOVER, NJ, AUGUST 28, 2007 – Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., released two new EXILIM digital cameras today. The EX-V8 features a slim, yet powerful optical zoom like its predecessors in the EXILIM Hi-Zoom series. The EX-Z1080, the latest addition to the core EXILIM Zoom series, packs an outstanding range of functions into a compact size.
The EX-V8 delivers 8.1 effective megapixels in a slim shape that is compact enough to fit in the palm of the hand. The camera features a 7X optical internal zoom lens designed for quiet operation. The EX-V8 also offers four blur reduction technologies, including a CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism.
The 10.1 megapixel EX-Z1080 produces beautiful photographs even when making large prints. It also enables high sensitivity photography up to a maximum of ISO 6400, and is ideal for photographing darker scenes and reducing blur caused by shaky hands and subject movement.
Both new models incorporate the EXILIM Engine 2.0 high-performance image processing module, which allows high quality movies to be recorded at the high compression rate of the next-generation H.264 standard. They also feature a YouTube™ Capture Mode, which enables users to shoot and save movies at the optimum size, quality and other settings for YouTube™, the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. YouTube™ allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, blogs and e-mail. Casio has also included an exclusive software application that makes it fast and simple to upload movies to YouTube™. This makes it easier than ever for people to enjoy “snapshot movies” of everyday fun, trips, and other occasions.
“Each year we strive to make advancements in our popular EXILIM digital cameras,” said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Sales for Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “These models are no exception, as they blend many of the standard features EXILIM cameras are known for, with groundbreaking new technology such as YouTube™ Capture Mode, and the EXILIM Engine 2.0 high performance image processing module. If you ever needed an excuse to shoot photos and videos of friends or family these EXILIM cameras are it!”
The EX-V8 will have an MSRP of $329.99 and the EX-Z1080 an MSRP of $279.99. Both models will be available at retail in September.
Main Features of EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V8 & EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1080
* High-quality movies using the H.264 standard
o YouTube™ Capture Mode allows users to shoot movies at the optimum size, quality and other settings for uploading to YouTube™.
o Comes with unique “YouTube™ Uploader for CASIO” software that enables users to upload movies to YouTube™ in as few as two steps.
* The combination of face detection*1 technology and the auto-tracking AF system using motion analysis technology maintains both sharp focus and correct exposure for a human face
* Blur reduction technologies driven by the EXILIM Engine 2.0 image processing module
o Based on motion analysis technology, sets the most appropriate ISO sensitivity and shutter speed.
o Anti Shake DSP reduces blur due to shaky hands and subject movement, using high shutter speeds and high sensitivity settings.
o Movie mode with electronic image stabilization function.
Other Features of the EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V8
* 8.1 million effective pixels, 7X optical zoom
* CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism
* 2.5-inch Bright LCD display (maximum brightness of 1000 cd/m2 at the center of the screen)
* Maximum 4 shot/second*2 high-speed continuous shutter (only at 2.0 megapixel image size)
* Available in silver
Other Features of the EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1080
* 10.1 million effective pixels, 3X optical zoom
* BEST SHOT function with high-sensitivity shooting mode, up to a maximum of ISO 6400
* 2.6-inch Bright widescreen LCD display (maximum brightness of 1000 cd/m2 at the center of the screen)
* Maximum 7 shot/second*2 high-speed continuous shutter (only at 2.0 megapixel image size)
* Super Life Battery allows up to 370 shots to be taken when fully charged
* Choice of four body colors: gray, black, blue, pink
*1. The face detection feature includes a face detection technology provided by OKI’s face image processing engine, FSE (Face Sensing Engine).
*2. Number of shots can vary depending on the memory card used.
Digital Camera Info reviews the Casio Exilim EX-V8 and writes - 'Most every point-and-shoot is capable of recording movies. What Casio does is uniquely partner with an exciting, successful business – YouTube. The popular video-sharing website appeals to everyone from the Star Wars Kid to presidential candidates. For better or worse, Casio effectively matches its customers with an already recognizable brand name. Even more, the camera model name, itself, is already recognizable – who hasn’t heard of V8 drinks or V8 engines? The V8 is much easier to remember than the four-numbered product numbers that modify Casio’s earlier Z-series cameras (eg. the Casio Exilim EX-Z1080). It is genius on its part, making good on a strong coupling between the digital still camera world and the popularity of the website dedicated to personal video.'
Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Casio Exilim EX-V8 and writes - "The Casio Exilim EX-V8 is a capable ultracompact ultra-zoom camera, but mainly outdoors. The 7x optical zoom lens is nicely stabilized and performs well for being such a compact lens. The YouTube video mode worked well and the stereo sound capture was a nice feature. Image quality was very good outdoors. If you need to use flash indoors, results weren't as good, with the weak flash and red-eye showing up way too often. Battery life was very good and the camera operated very quickly overall. If you're in the market for a compact ultra-zoom, definitely give the EX-V8 a look."
"Casio Exilim EX-V8 at Amazon.
The Casio Exilim Zoom EX Z1080 is a 10.1 megapixel point and shoot digital camera with a 3x optical zoom lens.
It features a 2.6 inch widescreen LCD display, ISO range of up to 6400, 7 shot per second continuous shooting mode (at smaller image sizes) and 'best shot' function.
The Casio Exilim Zoom EX Z1080 comes in black, gray, blue and pink.
It will retail for a price of $280 USD and should appear in stores in September.
Casio Exilim Zoom EX Z1080 News Release
CASIO INTRODUCES TWO STYLISH EXILIM® DIGITAL CAMERAS WITH YOUTUBE™ CAPTURE MODE
The EX-V8 is equipped with a 7X Optical Zoom and 8.1 Megapixels; the EX-Z1080 features High ISO 6400 Sensitivity and 10.1 Megapixels
DOVER, NJ, AUGUST 28, 2007 – Casio America, Inc. and its parent company, Casio Computer Co., Ltd., released two new EXILIM digital cameras today. The EX-V8 features a slim, yet powerful optical zoom like its predecessors in the EXILIM Hi-Zoom series. The EX-Z1080, the latest addition to the core EXILIM Zoom series, packs an outstanding range of functions into a compact size.
The EX-V8 delivers 8.1 effective megapixels in a slim shape that is compact enough to fit in the palm of the hand. The camera features a 7X optical internal zoom lens designed for quiet operation. The EX-V8 also offers four blur reduction technologies, including a CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism.
The 10.1 megapixel EX-Z1080 produces beautiful photographs even when making large prints. It also enables high sensitivity photography up to a maximum of ISO 6400, and is ideal for photographing darker scenes and reducing blur caused by shaky hands and subject movement.
Both new models incorporate the EXILIM Engine 2.0 high-performance image processing module, which allows high quality movies to be recorded at the high compression rate of the next-generation H.264 standard. They also feature a YouTube™ Capture Mode, which enables users to shoot and save movies at the optimum size, quality and other settings for YouTube™, the leading online video community that allows people to discover, watch and share originally created videos. YouTube™ allows people to easily upload and share video clips on www.YouTube.com and across the Internet through websites, blogs and e-mail. Casio has also included an exclusive software application that makes it fast and simple to upload movies to YouTube™. This makes it easier than ever for people to enjoy “snapshot movies” of everyday fun, trips, and other occasions.
“Each year we strive to make advancements in our popular EXILIM digital cameras,” said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Sales for Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “These models are no exception, as they blend many of the standard features EXILIM cameras are known for, with groundbreaking new technology such as YouTube™ Capture Mode, and the EXILIM Engine 2.0 high performance image processing module. If you ever needed an excuse to shoot photos and videos of friends or family these EXILIM cameras are it!”
The EX-V8 will have an MSRP of $329.99 and the EX-Z1080 an MSRP of $279.99. Both models will be available at retail in September.
Main Features of EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V8 & EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1080
* High-quality movies using the H.264 standard
o YouTube™ Capture Mode allows users to shoot movies at the optimum size, quality and other settings for uploading to YouTube™.
o Comes with unique “YouTube™ Uploader for CASIO” software that enables users to upload movies to YouTube™ in as few as two steps.
* The combination of face detection*1 technology and the auto-tracking AF system using motion analysis technology maintains both sharp focus and correct exposure for a human face
* Blur reduction technologies driven by the EXILIM Engine 2.0 image processing module
o Based on motion analysis technology, sets the most appropriate ISO sensitivity and shutter speed.
o Anti Shake DSP reduces blur due to shaky hands and subject movement, using high shutter speeds and high sensitivity settings.
o Movie mode with electronic image stabilization function.
Other Features of the EXILIM Hi-Zoom EX-V8
* 8.1 million effective pixels, 7X optical zoom
* CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism
* 2.5-inch Bright LCD display (maximum brightness of 1000 cd/m2 at the center of the screen)
* Maximum 4 shot/second*2 high-speed continuous shutter (only at 2.0 megapixel image size)
* Available in silver
Other Features of the EXILIM Zoom EX-Z1080
* 10.1 million effective pixels, 3X optical zoom
* BEST SHOT function with high-sensitivity shooting mode, up to a maximum of ISO 6400
* 2.6-inch Bright widescreen LCD display (maximum brightness of 1000 cd/m2 at the center of the screen)
* Maximum 7 shot/second*2 high-speed continuous shutter (only at 2.0 megapixel image size)
* Super Life Battery allows up to 370 shots to be taken when fully charged
* Choice of four body colors: gray, black, blue, pink
*1. The face detection feature includes a face detection technology provided by OKI’s face image processing engine, FSE (Face Sensing Engine).
*2. Number of shots can vary depending on the memory card used.
The Nikon Coolpix L15 point and shoot digital camera has an 8 megapixel image sensor and a 3x optical zoom lens (35-105mm).
The L15 features a 2.8 inch LCD screen, image stabilization and will ship for $180 USD when it ships in September.
Nikon Coolpix L15 News Release
The New Nikon Coolpix L14 And L15 Digital Cameras Add Innovative Imaging Technologies To Nikon's Life Series
User-Friendly Design and Simple Functionality Provide Consumers With An Enhanced Shooting Experience
Nikon introduced today two new additions to the LIFE family of digital cameras: the COOLPIX L14 and L15. As the ideal companions to capture all of life’s moments, these compact, user-friendly cameras combine high performance and easy operation with the latest in imaging technology at affordable prices. Representing the utmost value to the consumer, the L14 will be able to capture an astounding 1,000 shots on a single pair of included Energizer e2 Lithium AA batteries, the most of any camera in its class.
“With the COOLPIX L14 and L15, users of any experience level can capture great images without having to master complicated features or controls,” says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. “These cameras are great for casual snap-shooters who want to take great pictures, easily.”
Building on the success of previous L-Series digital cameras, the L14 and L15 include new technologies designed to enhance the experience of the point-and-shoot consumer. With an enhanced face recognition function, each model will be able to recognize five separate faces, faster and more efficiently than ever before. Additionally, the L14 and L15 incorporate the new EXPEEDTM advanced image processing system for enhanced speed and brilliant color reproduction.
The L14 and L15 also feature In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™, an innovation that automatically corrects red eye. In addition, scenes with poor backlight or underexposed faces can be corrected with the D-Lighting function, which is also done in-camera. After activating these functions or shooting in one of 15 different scene modes, the original settings of these cameras can easily be restored through the Easy Auto Mode. The L15 also offers active full-time Optical Vibration Reduction image stabilization, which compensates for camera shake and minimizes the instances of blurry images.
For composing and displaying images, the L14 and L15 feature incredible, bright LCD screens, measuring 2.4-inches and 2.8-inches, respectively. Adding to the convenient portability of these cameras, both models are compatible with easily accessible AA-size batteries.
The seven megapixel L14 and eight megapixel L15 allow for high-quality prints in a variety of sizes and are easily connected to compatible printers via a PictBridge port for on-the-spot printing without a computer. Each camera features a 3x optical zoom and up to ISO 1000, helping to ensure sharp photos in any setting. In addition to the scene and movie modes found in every COOLPIX camera, the L14 and L15 will have a stop-motion feature, allowing the consumer to create fun, animated movies.
The COOLPIX L14 and L15 will be available in stores September 2007 with MSRP’s of $149.95 and $179.95. For more information about these cameras and the full line of COOLPIX products, please visit www.nikonusa.com
The Nikon Coolpix L14 is a seven megapixel compact point and shoot digital camera.
It features a 3x optical zoom lens, 2.4 inch LCD display and is powered by 2 AA batteries (which Nikon claims can take 1000 or so shots).
The Nikon Coolpix L14 will have a retail price of $150 USD when it ships in September.
Nikon Coolpix L14 News Release
The New Nikon Coolpix L14 And L15 Digital Cameras Add Innovative Imaging Technologies To Nikon's Life Series
User-Friendly Design and Simple Functionality Provide Consumers With An Enhanced Shooting Experience
Nikon introduced today two new additions to the LIFE family of digital cameras: the COOLPIX L14 and L15. As the ideal companions to capture all of life’s moments, these compact, user-friendly cameras combine high performance and easy operation with the latest in imaging technology at affordable prices. Representing the utmost value to the consumer, the L14 will be able to capture an astounding 1,000 shots on a single pair of included Energizer e2 Lithium AA batteries, the most of any camera in its class.
“With the COOLPIX L14 and L15, users of any experience level can capture great images without having to master complicated features or controls,” says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. “These cameras are great for casual snap-shooters who want to take great pictures, easily.”
Building on the success of previous L-Series digital cameras, the L14 and L15 include new technologies designed to enhance the experience of the point-and-shoot consumer. With an enhanced face recognition function, each model will be able to recognize five separate faces, faster and more efficiently than ever before. Additionally, the L14 and L15 incorporate the new EXPEEDTM advanced image processing system for enhanced speed and brilliant color reproduction.
The L14 and L15 also feature In-Camera Red-Eye Fix™, an innovation that automatically corrects red eye. In addition, scenes with poor backlight or underexposed faces can be corrected with the D-Lighting function, which is also done in-camera. After activating these functions or shooting in one of 15 different scene modes, the original settings of these cameras can easily be restored through the Easy Auto Mode. The L15 also offers active full-time Optical Vibration Reduction image stabilization, which compensates for camera shake and minimizes the instances of blurry images.
For composing and displaying images, the L14 and L15 feature incredible, bright LCD screens, measuring 2.4-inches and 2.8-inches, respectively. Adding to the convenient portability of these cameras, both models are compatible with easily accessible AA-size batteries.
The seven megapixel L14 and eight megapixel L15 allow for high-quality prints in a variety of sizes and are easily connected to compatible printers via a PictBridge port for on-the-spot printing without a computer. Each camera features a 3x optical zoom and up to ISO 1000, helping to ensure sharp photos in any setting. In addition to the scene and movie modes found in every COOLPIX camera, the L14 and L15 will have a stop-motion feature, allowing the consumer to create fun, animated movies.
The COOLPIX L14 and L15 will be available in stores September 2007 with MSRP’s of $149.95 and $179.95. For more information about these cameras and the full line of COOLPIX products, please visit www.nikonusa.com
The Nikon Coolpix P5100 is a 12.1 megapixel point and shoot digital camera with a 3.5x optical zoom lens.
The Nikon Coolpix P5100 features optical vibration reduction image stabilization, full manual mode, shutter and aperture priority modes as well as a large range of semi auto shooting modes and 52MB of built-in memory.
It has a magnesium alloy casing, hotshoe for external flash and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.
The Nikon Coolpix P5100 will have a retail price of $400 USD when it hits stores in September.
Get a Price on Nikon Coolpix P5100
The COOLPIX P5100
Designed for the consumers looking for more creative control in a compact camera, the 12.1 megapixel COOLPIX P5100 has the ability to capture every last detail, while also providing creative freedom to crop and edit. It features a 3.5x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens, Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization, as well as an optimized image menu for producing high-quality images that look stunning in any size.
The P5100 offers program, shutter, aperture and manual exposure modes that allow photographers increased creative control over their photos. Adding to the camera’s versatility is its compatibility with add-on system components, such as Nikon’s telephoto and wide angle lens converters.
The COOLPIX P5100 features a quality-crafted body that feels immediately familiar in the hand. Made of solid magnesium alloy, the body features a quality finish, a comfortable grip covered in grid-pattern rubber, as well as an optical viewfinder to aid composition in any light condition. The built-in accessory shoe adds support for Nikon Speedlights and advanced i-TTL flash control.
To ensure sharp and steady images, this camera boasts an anti-shake mode that combines the benefits of Optical VR image stabilization and Nikon’s exclusive Best Shot Selector, (BSS) that snaps multiple frames and automatically selects the best one. The P5100 has an optical viewfinder and an incredibly bright, high resolution 2.5-inch LCD monitor. The P5100 is powered by a Li-ion rechargeable battery.
Get a Price on Nikon Coolpix P5100
PhotographyBLOG reviews the Nikon Coolpix P5100 and writes - 'If you are aware of its shortcomings at least the camera can however be brought under your control, and there's enough here than can be tweaked manually to allow you to get great shots at least 80% of the time. And, while the Nikon P5100 isn't perfect, that quibble is to an extent at least negated by the fact that it doesn't demand a premium price either. For that price you get a better-constructed, more fully featured camera than most 8 MP rivals. Meaning that, although the Nikon Coolpix P5100 doesn't quite hit the full five stars, it's still well worthy of your consideration.'
Photoxels review the Nikon Coolpix P5100 where they write - 'The Nikon Coolpix P5100 gives the photographer a quiet feeling of confidence that it can handle any photographic challenge. It 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.... The Nikon Coolpix P5100 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.'
DP Review has posted their review of the Nikon Coolpix P5100 where they give it a rating of 'recommended' and write - 'And so, once again Nikon has produced a compact capable of excellent results in the right conditions, but one that cannot ever be described as an 'all rounder' (just try using it indoors in low light and you'll discover why). It's a superb walk around camera for the landscape photographer (and has unusually 'purist-friendly' output) and it manages to fit an awful lot into a very small body, but it is disappointingly far from the camera it could have been.'
Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5100 and writes, "The Coolpix P5100 ticks most of the boxes when it comes to picture quality. There are very few areas I have a problem with. ... The Nikon Coolpix P5100 is one of the more advanced compact digital cameras. It has many features you would expect to find on an SLR, but retains a certain ease of use. Picture quality is very good and the camera feels good in the hand."
Megapixel has a review of the Nikon Coolpix P5100 and writes, "The Coolpix P5100 is designed to be both a point and shoot and a camera that can satisfy the needs of a more assiduous photographer thanks to the inclusion of more advanced modes and a fully manual mode. And once printed, or reduced in size so as to be seen whole on a monitor, or on high definition television or through a projection system, the images from the Coolpix 5100 should please most people."
DPexpert reviews the Nikon Coolpix P5100 and writes - "This camera, like all the compacts that boast absurdly high pixel counts, is prone to image noise above ISO200. Below that point the images are clean enough, particularly if the end display medium is a 10 by 15 cm print. With Noise Reduction turned on in the menu there is some loss of fine detail at ISO400 and above. However, if your expectations are not too high, the output at a stratospheric ISO3200 is acceptable, with a bit of post-camera clean-up in noise removal software. The sad fact is that if this camera had a 7 megapixel sensor it would be a world-beater. We really enjoyed using it, and as the only competition, the Canon G9, is also over-pixelled these are as good as it gets in compact cameras."
CNET reviews the Nikon Coolpix P5100 and writes - "Unfortunately, the P5100 shows very little--if any--performance improvement over the P5000, so you may want to stick to static subjects such as landscapes and inanimate objects. It wakes up and shoots in 2.4 seconds--slow, but acceptable. Even under the best shooting conditions, however, time to focus and shoot is 0.9 second, and when the light gets dim that rises to a bottom-of-the-class 2.4 seconds on CNET Labs' tests. That 2.4 seconds carries over to the shot-to-shot time (still not great), but thankfully only increases to 2.6 seconds with flash enabled. Burst shooting is a middle-of-the-road one frame per second. "
The Nikon COOLPIX P50 is an 8.1 megapixel point and shoot digital camera with a wide angle 3.6x optical zoom lens.
The P50 features a 2.4 inch LCD screen, optical view finder, Vibration reduction (electronic) and 52 megabytes of internal memory.
The Nikon Coolpix P50 will have a retail price of $230 USD when it hits stores in October.
Nikon COOLPIX P50 News Release Extract
The COOLPIX P50 combines classic design with contemporary performance. Engineered for the photo enthusiast, the P50 delivers easy handling and comfortable ergonomics. The P50 features an 8.1 effective megapixel resolution, a 3.6x wide-angle Zoom-Nikkor lens, and a large 2.4-inch LCD monitor. The P50 boasts an optical viewfinder and Electronic Vibration Reduction to compensate for camera shake at slow shutter speeds. Program and manual exposure modes come standard with the P50, so users have creative freedom when capturing images. The P50 is powered by two AA-batteries adding to the convenience and portability of this camera.
The Nikon Coolpix S510 is an 8 megapixel point and shoot camera with a wider than normal angle 3x optical zoom lens (35 - 105mm equivalent).
The S510 has optical image stabilization, 2.5 inch LCD screen, 52 megabytes of internal memory and ISO range of 64 to 2000.
It will have a retail price of $299.95 USD when it hits stores in September.
Nikon Coolpix S510 News Release
Nikon's New Coolpix S700 And S510 Digital Cameras Blend Elegant Camera Design With Enhanced Speed And Imaging Technologies
Slim Models Blend Sophisticated Styling and Construction with Advanced Performance
Buy the Nikon COOLPIX S510
Nikon is pleased to introduce two Style series cameras that offer fast response and outstanding photographic performance. Developed for the savvy consumer who appreciates style and demands speed, the 12.1 megapixel S700 and 8.1 megapixel S510 digital cameras deliver increased resolution for high quality photos from the 3x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens, and Optical Vibration Reduction image stabilization technology. Nikon’s newest Style series offer picture-taking performance modeled in a sophisticated package: the S700 in sleek brushed aluminum and the S510 in elegant stainless steel.
“With the S700 and S510, Nikon is further distinguishing itself as a leader in compact camera design and innovation," says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. "These cameras combine elegant yet sophisticated compact designs with quick response to capture any memorable moment."
The COOLPIX S700 and S510 feature several imaging innovations designed to encourage carefree shooting for the consumer. Both cameras incorporate Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization, a feature that helps to overcome camera shake to ensure sharp photos at shutter speeds up to three times slower than would normally be possible. They also offer High ISO capabilities: the S700 up to 3200, and the S510 up to ISO 2000, ideal for capturing images in low-light situations.
For sharing and composing, the S700 and S510 have incredibly bright, high resolution 2.7-inch and 2.5-inch LCD monitors, respectively, with an anti-reflective coating, easing the composition of photos, even in direct sunlight. These cameras also have the ability to capture images at a 16:9 aspect ratio, making them ideal for sharing images on wide screen televisions. The S700 also offers Distortion Control that automatically corrects for barrel distortion, making this the ideal camera for cityscapes and interior photography.
Nikon has incorporated user-friendly imaging innovations into the new line of COOLPIX cameras, designed to make the photo-taking process fun and easy. These technologies, referred to as “Nikon In-Camera Innovations” include In-Camera Red-Eye FixTM, D-Lighting, and Face Priority AF. In-Camera Red-Eye FixTM automatically detects and corrects red eye, a common condition that occurs in flash photography. In playback mode, D-Lighting compensates for excessive back-light or insufficient flash in images.
Nikon’s new enhanced Face-Priority AF automatically finds and focuses on up to 12 people’s faces within one frame. This feature also provides faster speed and sharper focus to produce clear, crisp portraits wherever the subjects are positioned in the frame.
Advanced performance is particularly pronounced in these two cameras. In comparison to other compact digital cameras, the COOLPIX S700 and S510 deliver remarkably fast response including the class leading start-up time of less than one second, and a shutter lag of 5 milliseconds. Nikon’s new EXPEEDTM processing engine gives the S700 and S510 enhanced image processing and brilliant color reproduction.
Both cameras are compatible with the new high capacity SDHC cards and utilize the new ultra-compact EN-EL10 rechargeable Li-ion battery.
The COOLPIX S700 and the COOLPIX S510 will be available at photo-specialty stores nationwide beginning September 2007 at a MSRP of $379.95 and $299.95, respectively. For more information about these and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
Pocket Lint reviews the Nikon Coolpix S510 and writes - "Overall, the S510 marks a small step up in terms of performance, image quality, resolution and processing but it is also a step down in terms of user control but there’s an ace in the hole that I’ve not mentioned yet. And is its price. At £199.99, it is £50 cheaper than the introductory price of the S500 and makes it a very competitive camera indeed. Brilliant build and pricing, big fat dollops of image quality and great features but with a few demerits in terms of user control, the Nikon Coolpix S510 is nevertheless well worth the money for anyone in the game for a well made high resolution compact digital camera."
Buy the Nikon COOLPIX S510
The Nikon Coolpix S700 is a 12 megapixel (CCD) point and shoot camera with a 3x optical zoom lens (37 - 111mm equivalent) and optical image stabilization.
It features a 2.7 inch LCD screen (230,000 pixels - without an optical view finder), ISO of 64 to 3200 and 52 megabytes of internal memory.
The Nikon Coolpix S700 measures 89.0 x 54.0 x 23.0mm and weighs 130.0 grams.
The Nikon Coolpix S700 will have a retail price of $380 USD.
Get a Price on the Nikon Coolpix S700
Slim Models Blend Sophisticated Styling and Construction with Advanced Performance
Nikon is pleased to introduce two Style series cameras that offer fast response and outstanding photographic performance. Developed for the savvy consumer who appreciates style and demands speed, the 12.1 megapixel S700 and 8.1 megapixel S510 digital cameras deliver increased resolution for high quality photos from the 3x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens, and Optical Vibration Reduction image stabilization technology. Nikon’s newest Style series offer picture-taking performance modeled in a sophisticated package: the S700 in sleek brushed aluminum and the S510 in elegant stainless steel.
“With the S700 and S510, Nikon is further distinguishing itself as a leader in compact camera design and innovation," says Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. "These cameras combine elegant yet sophisticated compact designs with quick response to capture any memorable moment."
The COOLPIX S700 and S510 feature several imaging innovations designed to encourage carefree shooting for the consumer. Both cameras incorporate Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization, a feature that helps to overcome camera shake to ensure sharp photos at shutter speeds up to three times slower than would normally be possible. They also offer High ISO capabilities: the S700 up to 3200, and the S510 up to ISO 2000, ideal for capturing images in low-light situations.
For sharing and composing, the S700 and S510 have incredibly bright, high resolution 2.7-inch and 2.5-inch LCD monitors, respectively, with an anti-reflective coating, easing the composition of photos, even in direct sunlight. These cameras also have the ability to capture images at a 16:9 aspect ratio, making them ideal for sharing images on wide screen televisions. The S700 also offers Distortion Control that automatically corrects for barrel distortion, making this the ideal camera for cityscapes and interior photography.
Nikon has incorporated user-friendly imaging innovations into the new line of COOLPIX cameras, designed to make the photo-taking process fun and easy. These technologies, referred to as “Nikon In-Camera Innovations” include In-Camera Red-Eye FixTM, D-Lighting, and Face Priority AF. In-Camera Red-Eye FixTM automatically detects and corrects red eye, a common condition that occurs in flash photography. In playback mode, D-Lighting compensates for excessive back-light or insufficient flash in images.
Nikon’s new enhanced Face-Priority AF automatically finds and focuses on up to 12 people’s faces within one frame. This feature also provides faster speed and sharper focus to produce clear, crisp portraits wherever the subjects are positioned in the frame.
Advanced performance is particularly pronounced in these two cameras. In comparison to other compact digital cameras, the COOLPIX S700 and S510 deliver remarkably fast response including the class leading start-up time of less than one second, and a shutter lag of 5 milliseconds. Nikon’s new EXPEEDTM processing engine gives the S700 and S510 enhanced image processing and brilliant color reproduction.
Both cameras are compatible with the new high capacity SDHC cards and utilize the new ultra-compact EN-EL10 rechargeable Li-ion battery.
The COOLPIX S700 and the COOLPIX S510 will be available at photo-specialty stores nationwide beginning September 2007 at a MSRP of $379.95 and $299.95, respectively. For more information about these and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
Imaging Resource reviews the Nikon Coolpix S700 and writes - "Small, compact, and very capable, the Nikon Coolpix S700 will please many consumers with its good color, exposure, and resolution. The Nikon S700 captures great images under a variety of conditions, thanks to its range of preset Scene modes and useful tools such as D-Lighting and Distortion Control. Face-Priority AF technology helps get the best focus on portraits, even of large groups. The 12.1-megapixel CCD captures excellent resolution and detail in good light an at low ISO, and the 3x optical zoom lens is sharp and clear. High ISOs extend the camera's low-light shooting capabilities, though strong image noise becomes a factor. Printed results show that ISO 800 is capable of getting a good 5x7. "
Get a Price on the Nikon Coolpix S700
The Nikon Coolpix S51C is a new Wireless compact point and shoot camera. It and it's sibling - the S41 both features an 8 megapixel image sensor, (VR stabilized) 3x optical zoom nikkor lens(38-114mm) and a 3.0 inch LCD.
The Nikon Coolpix S51C will have a retail price of £229.99 and the Nikon Coolpix S51 will have a price of £199.99.
Both should hit stores in September.
Buy the "Nikon Coolpix S51c 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Silver)" (Nikon)
Nikon Coolpix S51 and S51C News Release
NIKON ANNOUNCES NEW WIRELESS COOLPIX S51C DIGITAL CAMERA AND MY PICTURETOWN, AN INNOVATIVE PHOTO SHARING AND STORAGE INTERNET SERVICE
New Wi-Fi Camera and Photo Sharing Service Will Allow Consumers to Access and Share Their Photos Anytime, Anywhere
Furthering the development of wireless sharing technology in digital cameras, Nikon today introduced the new COOLPIX S51c digital camera. This camera not only sends images via email through Wi-Fi, but it also supports my Picturetown, Nikon’s new photo sharing and storage service. In addition to an innovative Wi-Fi feature, the S51c boasts 8.1 megapixel resolution for generating high quality prints, a 3x Zoom-Nikkor glass lens ensuring great pictures with true-to-life color, and a huge, bright 3.0-inch LCD screen for users to easily compose and share images. The S51c is also the first in Nikon’s Style line of COOLPIX cameras to utilize the new EXPEED™ image-processing system. To help ensure the consumer will be able to capture stunningly sharp images, the S51c features an Optical Vibration Reduction (VR) image stabilization system and ISO up to 1600, enhancing the camera’s low-light performance.
“Not only does the S51c boast superior imaging abilities, but it also enhances the photo sharing experience for the consumer,” said Bill Giordano, General Manager Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon, Inc. “With the S51c and my Picturetown, consumers will be able to easily share and securely store their images, faster and more efficiently than ever before.”
Across town or across the ocean, by using the S51c’s One Touch Email with the Picture Mail button and Nikon’s new photo sharing and storage service, my Picturetown, consumers can take advantage of several avenues for sharing their images and videos. Through my Picturetown, users can email pictures directly to friends and family, publish pictures to the photo community sharing website Flickr, and link their photos to blogs and social networking sites. Pictures can also be sent to the email addresses of a Blackberry® device for viewing. Each S51c ships with a six-month complimentary T-Mobile™ HotSpot™ Wi-Fi service for digital cameras, allowing the user to send images and videos to my Picturetown from over 8,200 T-Mobile™ HotSpots™ nationwide.
In addition, S51c owners can utilize my Picturetown to store up to 2 gigabytes of images and movies, providing a valuable back up to memory card storage. S51c users are also able to access my Picturetown from their computers and Blackberry® devices, providing instant access to their images anytime, anywhere.
Adding to the advanced sharing capabilities of these cameras, the S51c features a huge, bright, high resolution 3.0-inch LCD monitor with a 160-degree viewing angle and an anti-reflection coating facilitating easier composition and high-quality playback anywhere, even in direct sunlight.
Furthermore, the LCD monitor serves as an excellent platform for Pictmotion™, which allows users to select up to 200 images along with music that’s pre-loaded, or from the user’s library. The music and photos are then automatically compiled in-camera to produce audiovisual shows in VGA quality for a truly personalized photo-sharing experience.
For capturing great portraits with ease, Nikon has enhanced their hallmark Face-Priority AF feature. When using the camera’s convenient One-Touch Portrait button, the S51c will be able to detect up to five faces in a frame, ensuring in- focus smiles and properly exposed faces. In addition to face detection, S51c users will be able to take advantage of In-Camera Red Eye Fix™, for fixing most instances of red eye, D-lighting, a feature that automatically lightens dark images as well as Optical Vibration Reduction, ensuring sharp pictures. This camera will also utilize EXPEED™, Nikon’s new imaging processing system for enhanced speed and brilliant color reproduction.
In addition to the COOLPIX S51c, Nikon has also today introduced the COOLPIX S51. Similar in features and form, the S51 offers the same stylish body and advanced yet easy to use imaging technologies as the S51c without the wireless transfer capabilities.
Both the COOLPIX S51 and the COOLPIX S51c come bundled with Nikon's COOLPIX software suite for transferring, organizing, editing, and sharing images. The cameras utilize a rechargeable EN-El8 Li-ion battery and are compatible with a wide array of SD and SDHC memory cards.
The COOLPIX S51 and the COOLPIX S51c digital cameras will be available nationwide beginning September 2007. The S51c has an MSRP of $329.95, and the S51 has an MSRP of $279.95. For more information about these and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
ABCNews has a review of the Nikon Coolpix S51C and writes, "Nikon's newest point-and-shoot digital camera might be the latest marriage of high-tech capabilities — Wi-Fi and point-and-shoot — but it falls short in its core purpose: quickness. ... Although the camera is well-designed, it would be better suited to fast photography if it had a better response to shooting and focusing. It seems as though the camera was designed around the Wi-Fi feature instead of its ability to shoot."
Imaging Resource reviews the Nikon Coolpix S51c and writes - "It's beautiful. It's faithful. But it's crippled. The lovely design, among the most striking of all digicams, with WiFi that only talks to Nikon's my Picturetown server, only marginally updates the S50c that preceded it. Take the WiFi issue away (as on the S51) and what do you have? A camera that can't hold a highlight in sunshine and has a less-than-responsive Shutter button. On the plus side, the Nikon S51c has a VR lens, D-Lighting, and In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, all automatically activated by Face Priority autofocus in Portrait mode. The scroll wheel is a pleasure to use, as is Nikon's menu system. The large LCD flatters your images (particularly macro shots) and ISO 1,600 performance is among the best I've seen."
Buy the "Nikon Coolpix S51c 8.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Vibration Reduction Zoom (Silver)" (Nikon)
CNET has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-S880 and writes, "The Casio Exilim EX-S880 tries to slide by as an upgraded S770 with a higher resolution and a different image processor. Unfortunately, it doesn't meet the standards set by its predecessor. While a new image processor usually means faster performance, the S800 performs slower and photos are terribly soft compared to the older camera. The addition of face detection and YouTube uploading software present mildly handy features, but they really don't justify purchasing the S880 if you can still find an EX-S770. Alternately, you might want to look to another manufacturer. For example, Sony's DSC-W80 is in the same price range and only a little larger in size, and it scored well in our review."
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-S880.
Steve's Digicams has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z77 and writes, "Image quality with the Z77's 7m image size mode was good indoors and out. Outdoors the camera showed overall very good exposure and color balance. Indoors as well, the color balance and exposure were very good and the flash works very well from the 5 to 10 foot range. The 3x optical zoom has the 35mm equivalent of a 38mm - 114mm camera. There is a little edge softness which is typical among many ultra- compact consumer digicams. You can also see slight amounts of barrel distortion and pin cushioning, which are things that you will find even on more expensive cameras. Unless you are very critically examining your photos, these are things that might not even be noticed. There was also some noticeable noise when increasing the ISO to ISO200 and above. A big improvement over the Z70 however, was the fact that I did not see hardly any Chromatic Aberrations (purple fringing) in our outdoor photographs."
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z77.
Megapixel has a review of the Samsung NV11 and writes, "This second New Vision Samsung camera is much like the first in some respects, but adds a very good 5X optical zoom, making it more versatile than the NV10. The image quality it offers, when set to the highest (Super Fine) setting, is generally very good. Photographs captured under natural light turn out very well, and it is only under mixed lighting and when the flash is used that the auto white balance can have difficulty. The NV11 is, overall, a good camera that excels in certain areas, and offers an imaginative interface. It would, however, benefit from a less reflective monitor surface."
Read more about the Samsung NV11.
Get a Price on the Samsung Digimax NV11
The Kodak EasyShare V1233 is the last of 3 mistakenly announced digital cameras from Kodak today. Here are some of the V1233's listed features.
Kodak EasyShare V1233 features
Buy the Kodak Easyshare V1233
TrustedReviews has posted their review of the Kodak EasyShare V1233 where they write - 'While the V1233 is a well-made, elegantly designed and easy-to-use camera with an attractive price tag for its specification, the woefully slow performance and inferior image quality make it a poor choice. If you really have to have a 12 megapixel compact (why?), then there are better ones on the market for not much more money.'
The Kodak EasyShare V1253 is another compact point and shoot camera that seems to have been leaked from Kodak's website today. Here are some of the V1253 listed features:
Pocket Lint reviews the Kodak EasyShare V1253 and writes - "The Kodak EasyShare V1253 comes across as an average 12 megapixel camera from Kodak. While we are impressed with some of the images, we can't but help that if you are a party goer, you will be disappointed with the performance and the images the next morning. We also don't like the fact that to benefit from this camera the most, ie use the full 3-inch screen, you have to shoot in 9 megapixels not the full capable resolution of 12."
CNET reviews the Kodak EasyShare V1253 and writes - "If you've got your heart set on a 12-megapixel camera--and unless you're printing larger than 8x10 or cropping in very tightly, you might want to scale your sights back to a lower-resolution model with optical image stabilization, such as the comparably priced Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T20--the Fujifilm FinePix F50fd still looks like the best of the group with a broader feature set, faster performance, and better photo quality than the Kodak EasyShare V1253. Still, if the real attraction for you is the V1253's large LCD and easy-to-use design, you should find the V1253 a satisfying option."
Get a price on the Kodak Easyshare V1253
The Kodak Easyshare Z812 IS was accidentally revealed on the Kodak website in the last day or two. Before being taken down we grabbed a little information on it including these features:
DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS and writes, "In terms of image quality, the Z812 IS doesn’t perform as well as top ultra-zooms from other manufacturers, such as the Panasonic Lumix FZ18, Canon Powershot S5 IS, or Sony Cyber-shot H7. The Kodak Z812 IS has one of the slowest processing times we have seen. At high ISO settings, images suffer from extreme noise smoothing, which destroys fine image detail. The camera also has disappointing color and white balance accuracy. On the up side, our tests show the camera has very good resolution, good dynamic range, great versatility in low light, and decent video capture. ... Overall the EasyShare Z812 IS is an affordable ultra-zoom that takes decent images for the price. However, there are models by competing manufacturers that cost about $100 more that offer more zoom and better overall image quality."
Vnunet has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 950 IS and writes, "The photos from the camera are sharp and very colourful, though detail in highlights – for example, embroidery on a white shirt – is lost in bright sunshine. Such conditions also gave rise to occasional fringing – lines of different coloured pixels between areas of high contrast – though this was only noticeable under close inspection. And if you want to avoid image noise when taking snaps without flash, stick to ISO400 or below. For the most part the 950 IS proves itself a reliable and stylish snapper, managing the feat of appearing outwardly sophisticated while actually being very easy to use."
Read more about the Canon IXUS 950 IS (PowerShot SD850 IS).
Get a price on the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
DigitalTrends has a review of the Olympus Evolt E-510 and writes, "how was the quality of the photographs? Simply stated they were very good. Colors were very accurate particularly the subtle shades of my orange tabby’s fur and his copper eyes. Detail was also very good with nice detail even in shadows. Noise didn’t become an issue until hitting ISO 800. The sensor-shift stabilization did a good job holding steady focus even in dim settings. There have been some reports on various sites about the relative softness of the images in the default settings but I didn’t find this annoying at all. That said there are enough tweaks on the camera to dial it in to your liking. ... I have no problems recommending the Olympus Evolt E-510 two lens kit for D-SLR newbies or those who don’t have an extensive collection of older lenses. However if you have a collection of glass, go with similar 10MP Canons or Nikons. And, as noted, any fans of Olympus’ Live View let me know what I’m missing."
Read more about the Olympus Evolt E-510.
Get a Price on the Olympus Evolt E510
Infosync has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z77 and writes, "The EX-Z77 is slim, solid and practical, a camera you might find yourself taking everywhere. The lack of a dock is disappointing, but both novice and expert point-and-shoot camera users will find themselves satisfied with the size and speed of the device. Images left us wanting better quality, especially under low-light conditions, but the anti-shake features did help a bit, and the Best Mode scenes filled in the gaps in our camera expertise. The menus are a little confusing and could use a little feng shui, but for the most part this is a nice device."
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z77.
Digital Trends has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z77 and writes, "The Casio Exilim EX-Z77 is a simple, fun, and hassle-free camera that seems best suited for non-critical uses like eBay, YouTube, non-photo blogs, documenting life at junior high, or maybe even some funny takes at frat parties. I had high expectations for the Exilim EX-Z77, but was let down in too many ways to justify a strong or even tentative recommendation. As a semi-pro photographer myself, I cannot use the Exilim EX-Z77 for anything but QuickTime H.264 movie captures (as long as the lighting is sufficient). Despite its weaknesses, the Exilim EX-Z77 would still suffice as a super-slim, attractive budget camera for beginners or as a backup camera in case your primary camera crashes, goes missing, etc."
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z77.
DigitalCameraReview has a review of the GE A730 and writes, "While the A730 offers several features of today’s top P&S cameras, I was not impressed with my overall experience. Indeed, its features are overshadowed by the fact that they often do not perform the functions they are meant to. I felt like I was constantly combating the camera’s poor battery life, the LCD screen’s graininess, and the camera’s overall sluggishness. And when I finally found subject matter I wanted to capture, I would have to take several pictures before the camera performed like I thought it should. I was pleased with some of the pictures I shot with the A730, but conditions had to be almost completely ideal for it to produce a good image. Furthermore, I spent a lot of money buying AA batteries to keep it powered up ..."
Read more about the General Electric A730.
ByThom has a review of the Fujifilm S5 Pro and writes, "the S5 Pro is a hands down winner in (un-neutral but) pleasing color and dynamic range. Boy could I have used that shooting white arctic foxes on snow earlier this year. But the lack of speed, some handling issues, and slightly less usable resolution make the S5 Pro more of a specialist than the all-around D200. If you need a specialist that does what the S5 Pro does, you'll love the S5 Pro. That's why, it, too, has found a place in my bag. I don't use it as often, but when I need what it does, nothing else can match it. If I were an event shooter or portrait specialist, I'd probably use it more than I do--there's something quite pleasing about the color rendering of most skin tones (once you get it dialed in with the white balance)."
Read more reviews of the Fujfilm FinePix S5 Pro DSLR.
Get a Price on the Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro Digital SLR
ThinkCamera has a review of the Nikon D40x and writes, "Nikon's D40x takes great pictures, there are plenty of controls and it comes in at a terrific price. However, it's essentially a D40 with more megapixels (one could say almost the same of the Canon 400D, too). More isn't necessarily better; unless you print large or crop heavily, you may as well save yourself the £100 difference and go for the D40. That aside, if you pick up a D40x then you'll be happy with the results."
Read more about the Nikon D40x.
Get a Price on the Nikon D40x
ePhotozine has a review of the Olympus mju 780 and writes, "While some might lament omitting an aperture or shutter mode, this camera really is aimed at the person who hasn't got to that stage yet. The Guide mode is a nice idea, and if you are starting out in photography, quite educational. The other noteworthy point is of course that its weather proof so there's no need to worry about a few splashes of water short-circuiting the electronics. I would let little Johnny jump in the paddling pool with it mind you. At the end of the day, the camera is judged on the image quality and here the mju performs well enough providing the ISO is kept to 200 or under. Over that the results are poor."
Read more about the Olympus Stylus 780.
Get a Price on the Olympus Stylus 780
The Pentax Optio Z10 is an 8 megapixel point and shoot digital camera with a 7x optical zoom lens (38-266mm).
It features face recognition (auto focus and auto exposure), digital shake reduction, 2.5 inch LCD and 15 shooting modes.
The Pentax Optio Z10 will have a retail price of $249.95 USD when it hits stores in September 2007.
Get a price on the Pentax Optio Z10
The PENTAX Optio Z10 is equipped with a 7X optical zoom lens, the highest magnification among current PENTAX compact digital camera models. Designed with a refraction lens system so the lens never protrudes from the camera while zooming, the 7X optical zoom covers a broad range, from wide-angle to telephoto zoom, and offers an ultra high-magnification of up to approximately 35.7X when combined with digital zoom. With 8.0 megapixels, the Optio Z10 also features high speed detection time Face Recognition for improved portraits and digital Shake Reduction that allows ISO to 3200 to capture sharper images even in low light settings. The sleek, stylish PENTAX Optio Z10 body design also features a sliding lens cover for extra protection that also operates the on/off camera setting.
PENTAX also announced the stylish PENTAX Optio S10 compact digital camera with 10.0 effective megapixels. This latest model in the popular PENTAX Optio S series offers digital Shake Reduction and a high-speed Face Recognition AF&AE function for fast, high-quality portraits. The Optio S10 is the seventh DivX Certified® digital camera from PENTAX. Now enhanced with digital Shake Reduction, the DivX format enables users to create high-quality video files that may be played back on a wide variety of DivX DVD players and other devices. The PENTAX Optio S10 digital camera is one of the smallest, lightest 10 megapixel digital cameras in the world.
Priced at US $249.95 each, both cameras will ship in September. The PENTAX Optio S10 will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart Stores in the United States. Images of the cameras are available at http://www.pentaxtech.com/Press/pressfiles.html.
Trusted Reviews has posted a review of the Pentax Optio Z10 and writes - 'The Pentax Optio Z10 is a bit of a departure for a company that has specialised in 3x zoom compacts for several years. Build quality and design are good, and general performance is adequate, but image quality issues and the lack of any image stabilisation limit its usefulness, and it looks rather weak compared to several competing models.'
Pocket Lint reviews the Pentax Optio Z10 and gives it a rating of 7 out of 10. They write - 'This is nicely made point and shoot digital camera comes with a few extra bells and whistles ringing the changes for Pentax, but it is also one with a few bells and whistles missing, ones that really should have been there to ring out loud and clear. Image quality is okay but hampered by noise, unless this camera is discounted quickly, it is hard to see how it can compete.'
PhotographyBLOG reviews the Pentax Optio Z10 and writes, "The Pentax Optio Z10's image quality is below 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. The Pentax Optio Z10 handled chromatic aberrations quite well with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations."
CNET reviews the Pentax Optio Z10 and gives it a rating of 7 out of 10. They write - "It's not easy for a camera company to make a small, good-looking camera that takes nice pictures. There always has to be a tradeoff when you try to cut costs. In this case, Pentax seems to have traded some time between shots in favor of a long zoom lens and nice, if not stellar, image quality. As long as you don't mind the wait, you might be surprised with the images you get from the Optio Z10."
Get a price on the Pentax Optio Z10
The Pentax Optio S10 is a 10 megapixel poitn and shoot camera with a 3x optical zoom lens (38-114mm).
It will be sold exclusively through Wal-Mart in the US and will have a retail price of $249.95 USD when it hits stores in September.
Main Features
1. Ultra Compact body with a stylish design
The Optio S10's compact design makes carrying more comfortable and convenient not only in travel and leisure but also in the daily snapshots and business scenes. The aluminum alloy adopted as outer cover gives a sophisticated texture to the camera, and the front face with glossy spindle finish creates an elegant appearance. Despite a 3X optical zoom lens and a large 2.5 inch LCD monitor, the Optio S10 realizes one of the smallest and the lightest ultra compact camera body with 10.0 megapixels, by miniaturizing circuit board and applying high-density compact mounting technology.
2. 10.0 effective megapixcels with high resolution
With an upgraded 10.0 effective megapixels, the Optio S10 ensures much higher resolution and delivers clear and crisp photo even when images are enlarged to A3 ( 11.7 x 16.5 inch ) size. A large 1/1.8 inch CCD with large sensing area is newly used for the image sensor, so it provides excellent performance for tone reproduction, texture delineation and noise reduction.
3. Digital SR ( Shake Reduction )
Digital SR ( Shake Reduction ) *1 mode 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 subjects. This enables photography with fast shutter speeds, and images with less blurs can be obtained.
*1 Recording image is fixed at 5M ( 2592 x 1944 pixels ) when “Digital SR” mode is selected
4. “Face Recognition AF & AE” function that photographs portrait more beautifully with simple operation
The Optio S10 is equipped with a “Face Recognition AF&AE” function *2 that automatically detects and focuses on faces. In addition, the Optio S10 also comes with new functions that apply face recognition technology, such as “Natural Skin Tone” mode, which smoothly presents skin texture based on the detected information, and “Half-length Portrait” mode *3 , which automatically takes close-up photograph of the upper body by trimming the people recognized in photo frame.
*2 Available when the picture mode is “Portrait”, “Natural Skin Tone”, “Kids”, or “Half-length Portrait” and the camera is directed at people from the front
*3 Recording size is fixed at 3M ( 2048 x 1536 pixels ) when “Half-length Portrait” mode is selected
This Camera's Face Recognition AF & AE function use the Face Tracker face-recognition technology from FotoNation.
5. Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best settings for the shooting conditions
The Auto Picture mode lets the camera automatically determines the shooting conditions for Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, and Normal mode and choose the optimum settings for each subject. This function makes photography a lot easier for users since it eliminate the necessity of making a number of individual settings.
6. Bright and easy-to view LCD monitor
This LCD monitor is a high intensity type equipped with an LCD booster that adjusts the brightness of screen, which users can easily check the screen even at the outdoors. With 2.5-inch and 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.
7. Video recording function enabling high-quality recording for long period of time
The Optio S10 smoothly captures movies at 30 fps ( frames per second ) at sizes up to 640x480 pixels with image quality rivaling camcorders. Since it employs the DivX® ( MPEG-4 ) movie format *4 , the Optio S10 can record long, high-quality movies. In addition, Movie SR ( Shake reduction ) effectively corrects blurring in images through software, so it enables users to easily enjoy movie recording.
*4 The Optio S10 is DivX® certified. Movie playback is not supported on Macintosh operating systems
8. Other features
* A “Green button” that enables you to assign functions that are frequently used, and recall them in just one touch
* An “Intelligent zoom” function which enables images to be magnified even larger and stored, while maintaining the image quality of optical zoom
* Mode palette provide quick access to 18 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
* Data imprint function for easier image categorizing
* Approximately 22.0 MB of built-in-memory
* Compatible with SD memory cards and SDHC memory cards
* FotoNation's red-eye compensation function for flash shots
* Includes the ACDsee for PENTAX image viewer/image management software
* Support PictBridge, DPOF functions, Eixf Print, and PRINT Image Matching III
Trusted Reviews has posted a review of the Pentax Optio S10 and writes - 'The latest in a successful series of ultra-compact cameras, the Pentax Optio S10 combines excellent build quality, simplicity of design and good all-round performance with a user-friendly ease of use. It compares well with other quality compacts from rival manufacturers, and its very good low-light performance makes it especially useful for social snapshot photography. If you're looking for a camera to record the office Christmas party it should definitely be on your shortlist.'
Trusted Reviews has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 and writes, "Finally we come to image quality, and here I'm afraid there is some bad news. Given all the fantastic features and performance, why on Earth has Panasonic chosen to cripple the FZ18 with a 1/2.5-in sensor, the size more commonly found in cheap 3x zoom compacts? The pity is that the lens is far and away the best that I've seen on a super-zoom camera, producing razor-sharp corner-to-corner detail and a total absence of distortion even at the 28mm end. It's the first wide-angle compact lens I've seen that produces perfectly straight parallels in my test shots. The Venus Engine III is a big improvement over earlier versions, producing fantastic colour and tone, but it is labouring against the odds with that cheap little sensor. Overall detail is no better than most 8MP compacts, and the limited dynamic range clips highlights, rendering the sky as featureless white in most shots. The image noise that has plagued every Panasonic camera is also there except at the very lowest ISO setting, causing major problems at higher settings. Don't get me wrong; the image quality isn't bad, and the camera's other qualities more than make up for any shortcomings, it's just that with that brilliant lens it could have been so much better."
Read more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18.
The Nikon D300 is another new DSLR announced by Nikon today.
This DX format DSLR (1.5x crop factor) has a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, ISO range of up to 6400, 51 point AF sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion, six frames per second shooting speed (upgradable with the addition of a battery grip), self-cleaning sensor and a 3.0 inch LCD (922,000 pixels) with Live View.
The list of features goes on - see the following announcement from Nikon of the new Nikon D300.
The Nikon D300 will retail for $1800 USD when it hits stores in November.
The Nikon D300 is now available for order at Amazon in three configerations:
Nikon (www.nikonusa.com) today introduced its most advanced DX-format digital SLR camera, the D300. Engineered with pro-level features and performance, the 12.3 effective megapixel D300 combines brand new technologies with advanced features inherited from Nikon’s newly announced D3 professional digital SLR camera to offer serious photographers remarkable performance, combined with agility.
Similar to the D3, the D300 features Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to driving the speed and processing power needed for many of the camera’s new features. The D300 features a new 51-point auto focus system with Nikon’s 3D Focus Tracking feature and two new LiveView shooting modes that allow users to frame a photograph using the camera’s high-resolution LCD monitor. The D300 shares a similar Scene Recognition System as found in the D3 that promises to greatly enhance the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance by recognizing the subject or scene being photographed and applying this information to the calculations for the three functions.
The D300 reacts with lightning speed, powering-up in a mere 0.13 seconds and shooting with an imperceptible 45 millisecond shutter release lag time. The D300 is capable of shooting at a rapid six frames per second and can go as fast as eight frames per second when using the optional MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Pack. In continuous bursts, the D300 can shoot up to 100 shots* at full 12.3 megapixel resolution.
“ Nikon’s D200 digital SLR camera has been a runaway success for us because it embodies everything that performance-conscious photographers demand. With the D300, we’ve raised the bar with remarkable new features, greater resolution and speed, and even higher image quality,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products, at Nikon Inc. “The D300 delivers an unmatched combination of quality, performance and value that’s hard for discerning photographers to resist.”
The D300 incorporates a range of innovative technologies and features that will significantly improve the accuracy, control and performance photographers can get from their equipment. Its new Scene Recognition System advances the use of Nikon’s acclaimed 1,005-segment sensor to recognize colors and light patterns that help the camera determine the subject and the type of scene being photographed, before a picture is taken. This information is used to improve the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance functions in the D300. For example, the camera can track moving subjects better and by identifying them, it can also automatically select focus points faster and with greater accuracy. It can also analyze highlights and more accurately determine exposure, as well as infer light sources to deliver more accurate white balance detection.
The D300 incorporates Nikon’s new Multi-CAM 3500DX auto focus module that features an intelligent array of 15 cross-type sensors and 36 horizontal sensors. These sensors can either be used individually or in groups, with the option for Single area AF mode and Dynamic AF modes using groups of either nine, 21 or all 51 focus points. The system also features 3D tracking with automatic focus point switching that takes advantage of all 51 AF points as it uses color and light information to accurately track the subject. Nikon's new Scene Recognition System and improved focus algorithms also contribute to the impressive performance of the new 51-point AF system.
Nikon's new Picture Control System makes it easy for users of all experience levels to select and apply adjustments to how their pictures are rendered and create optimized settings to suit their individual preferences. The same settings produce consistent picture tone, even when using different camera bodies. The Picture Control System offers four basic setting options – Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome. These can be directly modified for easy adjustment and customization of image parameters, such as sharpening, tone compensation, brightness, and saturation. Photographers can customize and store up to nine customized options in the D300 and export up to 99 to a CF memory card, enabling photographers to share settings among multiple cameras that feature Picture Control System.
Taking a cue from the popularity of Nikon’s D-Lighting technology, the D300 features a new Active D-Lighting mode that, when enabled, provides remarkable real-time highlight and shadow correction with optimized image contrast. Active D-Lighting produces broader tone reproduction in both shadows and highlights by controlling highlights and exposure compensation while applying localized tone control technology to achieve a more pleasing level of contrast across the entire image. And because the advantages of Active D-Lighting are applied as images are captured, image editing time can be shortened.
The D300’s LiveView feature offers two modes for confirming subjects and composition on the new 920,000-dot, high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor while shooting. The Tripod mode is designed for precise focus and accuracy when the camera is on a stable platform and the subject is not moving. In this mode, the camera focuses on the subject using focal-plane contrast and any point on the LCD screen can be selected as the focus point for the picture. The second mode, called Handheld mode, allows photographers to use the camera’s conventional TTL focusing system, with all 51-points and 15 cross-type points available. When using this mode, the camera activates focusing immediately when the shutter button is pressed, to ensure accurate focus.
The D300 also employs a new self-cleaning sensor unit. Four different resonance frequencies vibrate the optical low pass filter in front of the image sensor to shake particles free and reduce the appearance of dust.
Refined Ergonomics and Usability
The D300 inherits one of Nikon’s most streamlined, functional and aesthetically pleasing layouts in a digital SLR camera, designed to enable photographers to take pictures with less fatigue, greater accuracy and comfort.
The camera’s viewfinder provides virtually 100 percent coverage so pictures can be framed accurately, while an ultra-high definition, 920,000 dot VGA LCD screen on the rear of the camera displays images with vivid color and clarity. Its 170-degree wide viewing angle makes it easy to compose shots using the LCD screen in LiveView mode.
The D300 features rugged magnesium alloy construction and the camera’s shutter mechanism is tested up to 150,000-cycle. The 3.0-inch LCD is strengthened with tempered glass and the D300’s rubber gaskets and seals protect vulnerable entry points from dust and moisture.
Price and Availability
The D300 will be available from Nikon Authorized Dealers beginning in November 2007 for an estimated selling price of $1,799.95**. With the introduction of the D300, Nikon’s current lineup of digital SLR cameras now includes the new D3, D2XS, D300, D200, D80, D40x and D40.
The Nikon D300 is now available for order at Amazon in three configerations:
Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR DX Nikkor Zoom Lens
Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-135mm AF-S DX f/3.5-5.6G ED-IF Nikkor Zoom Lens
DP Review has posted a hands on preview/review of the Nikon D300 where it writes - 'The D300 design is very similar to the D200, that's no bad thing, it's virtually the same size (very slightly taller), at the front there are new covers over the remote and PC sync terminals, at the rear a larger AF-ON button and a subtle re-arrange of the buttons down the left of the now larger LCD monitor. Build quality is just as good as the D200 (if not slightly better) and certainly in line with its 'bigger brother' the D3. The body is constructed from magnesium alloy, soft rubber is used on the grips both front and back as well as environmental seals on compartment doors. Just like the rest of the family he D300 features oversized buttons on the rear of the camera which are easier to use when wearing gloves.'
Pop Photo reviews the Nikon D300 and writes - 'A major factor in the D300's stellar image quality is the new Sony-made 12.3MP (effective) CMOS sensor that captures RAW data with up to 14 bits of color per red, green, and blue channels. Most other DSLRs in this class only provide 12 bits per channel. This gives the D300 an advantage in reproducing fine color gradations, shadow details, and wider dynamic range. But it also increases the file size of images recorded in the 14-bit mode (selectable over normal 12-bit RAW).'
The Nikon D3 DSLR is a long awaited addition to the Nikon DSLR range - Nikon's first full frame image sensor.
The Nikon D3 features the new full frame 'FX' image sensor with an area of 36 x 23.9mm. It has a resolution of 12 megapixels.
Existing Nikon lenses will work on the Nikon D3 in DX Crop mode (at reduced resolution of 5.1 megapixels). Maximum shooting speed is 9 frames per second (at full resolution) - although it can be boosted to 10 fps in DX Crop mode or even 11 fps with some adjustments and limitations to auto focus.
The ISO range is a staggering 100 to 25,600 thanks to a new processor called Expeed. It has an ISO range of up to 6400.
The D3 has a 3.0 inch LCD with Live View (920,000 pixels).
The Nikon D3 will have a retail price of $4999.95 when released officially in November.
The feature list goes on and if you're interested in learning more see Nikon's announcement below.
Eight years after Nikon’s D1 camera changed professional digital photography forever, Nikon today introduced the D3 – a new digital SLR camera that is poised to once again revolutionize photography for professionals. The 12.1 effective megapixel D3 features Nikon’s new FX-format CMOS sensor, measuring 23.9 x 36mm, which is nearly identical to the size of 35mm film. With the fastest startup time, shortest viewfinder blackout time, and shortest shutter lag of any digital SLR camera as well as the capability to shoot up to nine frames per second at full FX-format resolution, the D3 is the world’s fastest digital SLR camera in its class.*
Designed with sports photographers and photojournalists in mind, the Nikon D3 introduces an astounding list of brand new features and technologies that make it the most sophisticated and advanced Nikon digital SLR to date. In addition to the new FX-format CMOS sensor, the D3 incorporates Nikon’s new EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to the blazing speed and processing power needed for many of the D3’s new features.
Images taken with the D3 reflect exceptional overall quality, broad tonal range and depth, along with extremely low-noise throughout its normal ISO range of 200 to 6400. By setting the camera to its built-in options of Lo-1 or Hi-2, the ISO range of the camera can be expanded to the equivalent of ISO 100 or ISO 25,600 respectively, offering unmatched versatility in practically any shooting situation.
The D3 also features an entirely new 51-point auto focus system with Nikon’s 3D Focus Tracking feature and two new LiveView shooting modes that allow photographers to frame a photograph using the camera’s high-resolution LCD monitor. The D3 uses the world’s first Scene Recognition System to greatly enhance the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance detection in the camera by recognizing the subject or scene being photographed and applying this information to the calculations for the three functions.
“ Nikon is proud and excited to once again respond to the needs of professional photographers by introducing the D3. Nikon engineers have successfully combined ultra high-speed shooting capabilities and handling with outstanding low-noise image quality, offering professional photographers an ideal tool for a broad range of shooting disciplines,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products, at Nikon Inc. “Sports, commercial and press photographers are increasingly demanding higher ISO sensitivity, better resolution, wider dynamic range and a familiar depth-of-field in relation to picture angles. With the D3, Nikon is excited to deliver a solution that represents an ideal unification of unsurpassed image quality, high-speed operation and professional durability, without compromise. Nikon fully expects the D3 to positively affect the photographic community in a way that hasn’t been seen since the introduction of the Nikon D1.”
Nikon’s Sensor Formats: FX and DX
Nikon’s digital SLR cameras based on its DX-format sensor have been hugely successful and represent an excellent combination of high image quality, size, and value. And while the DX-format has been widely accepted by professional photographers and photo enthusiasts around the world, there is an increasing demand among professionals for a digital SLR camera that features higher ISO sensitivity, wider dynamic range and offers the same relationship between picture angle and depth-of-field that were the hallmarks of the 35mm film format.
Responding to this demand, Nikon has developed the D3 as its first digital SLR camera that features the Nikon FX-format CMOS sensor to meet the real-world requirements of its professional customers. The D3 delivers full resolution 12.1 megapixel images at up to nine frames per second when used with conventional AF-NIKKOR lenses. When used with DX NIKKOR lenses, the D3 automatically switches to the DX-format mode that uses a cropped portion of the sensor to generate 5.1 megapixel resolution images. While in this mode, the D3 automatically masks the portion of the viewfinder that will not be photographed and enables the capability to shoot up to 11 frames per second.
Both Nikon FX and DX-formats provide their own advantages, and Nikon recognizes that both formats are necessary in order to satisfy its diverse customer demands. Based on this recognition, Nikon will strengthen its D-SLR lineup with the addition of the D3 FX-format SLR camera and a broadened assortment of NIKKOR interchangeable lenses, while continuing to develop and market high-performance DX-format cameras and lenses.
The Most Intelligent Nikon Ever
The D3 introduces a range of innovative technologies and features that significantly improve the accuracy, control and performance professional photographers can get from their equipment. Nikon’s exclusive Scene Recognition System advances the use of Nikon’s acclaimed 1,005-segment sensor to recognize colors and light patterns that help the camera determine the subject and the type of scene being photographed, before an image is captured. This information is also used to improve the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance detection functions in the D3. For example, the camera can track moving subjects better in all directions and by identifying them it can also automatically select focus points faster and with greater accuracy. It can also analyze scene highlights and more accurately determine exposure, as well as infer light sources to deliver more accurate white balance.
The D3 incorporates Nikon’s new Multi-CAM 3500FX auto focus module that features an intelligent array of 15 cross-type sensors and 36 horizontal sensors. These sensors can either be used individually or in groups, with the option for Single Area AF mode and Dynamic AF modes using groups of either 9, 21 or all 51 focus points. The system also features 3D Focus Tracking with automatic focus point switching that takes advantage of all 51 AF points as it uses color and light information to accurately track the subject. Nikon's new Scene Recognition System and improved focus algorithms also contribute to the impressive performance of the new 51-point AF system.
Nikon's new Picture Control System makes it easy for users of all experience levels to select and apply adjustments to how their pictures are rendered and create optimized settings to suit their individual preferences. The same settings produce consistent picture tone, even when using different camera bodies. The Picture Control System offers four basic setting options – Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome. These can be directly modified for easy adjustment and customization of image parameters, such as sharpening, tone compensation, brightness, and saturation. Photographers can customize and store up to nine customized options in the D3 and export up to 99 to a CF memory card, enabling photographers to share settings among multiple D3 cameras.
Taking a cue from the popularity of Nikon’s D-Lighting technology, the D3 features a new Active D-Lighting mode that, when enabled, provides remarkable real-time highlight and shadow correction with optimized image contrast. Active D-Lighting produces broader tone reproduction in both shadows and highlights by controlling highlights and exposure compensation while applying localized tone control technology to achieve a more pleasing level of contrast across the entire image. And because the advantages of Active D-Lighting are applied as images are captured, image editing time can be shortened.
The D3’s LiveView feature offers two modes for confirming subjects and composition on the new 920,000-dot, high-resolution 3-inch LCD monitor while shooting. The Tripod mode is designed for precise focus and accuracy when the camera is on a stable platform and the subject is not moving. In this mode, the camera focuses on the subject using focal-plane contrast and any point on the LCD screen can be selected as the focus point for the picture. The second mode, called Handheld mode, allows photographers to use the camera’s conventional TTL focusing system, with all 51-points and 15 cross-type points available. When using this mode, the camera activates focusing immediately when the shutter button is pressed, to ensure accurate focus.
The Fastest Camera in its Class
The D3 has the fastest reaction times of any camera in its class. Its shutter release time lag is only 37 milliseconds, and its start-up time is approximately 0.12 seconds. It is capable of continuously shooting approximately nine frames per second in full resolution with FX-format, up to 64 consecutive frames in JPEG, Normal compression. For NEF (RAW) files, the D3 can shoot up to 20 or up to 17 consecutive frames depending on whether it is set to 12-bit or 14-bit images. When using a DX-format lens, the camera automatically switches to DX-format mode, adjusting the resolution of the camera to 5.1 megapixels. In the DX-format mode, photographers also have the opportunity to increase the speed at which the camera can take pictures by limiting the auto exposure and going up to 10 frames per second or limiting both auto exposure and auto focus and going up to 11 frames per second.
Refined Ergonomics and Usability
The D3 reflects Nikon’s most streamlined, functional and aesthetically pleasing layout in a digital SLR camera, all designed so photographers can take pictures with less fatigue, greater accuracy and comfort.
The camera’s viewfinder provides virtually 100 percent coverage for accurate framing, while an ultra-high definition, 920,000-dot VGA LCD screen on the rear of the camera displays images with vivid color and clarity. The 170-degree wide viewing angle makes composing shots using the LCD screen in LiveView mode easy. The D3 also features a unique Virtual Horizon digital level sensor that indicates the camera’s alignment relative to the true horizon on the rear LCD screen or in the viewfinder.
The D3 also features two CompactFlash™ card slots that can be used for consecutive recording (overflow), simultaneous recording (backup), separating recording of RAW and JPEG files or even copying pictures between the two cards. Images can be displayed directly from the camera to a high-definition monitor using the camera’s HDMI port and an optional cable.
The D3 is designed for professional use in demanding conditions. The exterior of the D3 is crafted of magnesium alloy and the camera’s shutter mechanism is tested to 300,000-cycle releases. The 3.0-inch LCD is strengthened with tempered glass and the D3’s comprehensive array of rubber gaskets and seals protect vulnerable entry points from dust and moisture.
Nikon D3 Price and Availability
The D3 will be available from authorized Nikon Professional Dealers beginning in November 2007 for an estimated selling price of $4,999.95**. With the introduction of the D3, Nikon’s current lineup of digital SLR cameras now includes the new D3, D2XS, D300, D200, D80, D40X and D40.
DP Review has posted a preview of the Nikon D3 where they write - 'The professional Nikon D 'single digit' series of digital SLR's started life back in June 1999 with the groundbreaking D1. Groundbreaking because it was the digital SLR which broke Kodak's stranglehold on the digital SLR market and fundamentally brought prices down to a level which most professionals could afford (around the US$5,500 mark). Since then we have seen a steady progression of this line of cameras, while the core values of a high quality full size body with integrated grip have remained the line split into two halves, one targeted at high resolution photography the other high speed sports type photography (lower resolution but faster continuous shooting); the X and H suffixes. It's been almost three years since Nikon introduced a completely new digital SLR with a new sensor (the D2X) and there has been much anticipation that Nikon's next move would be a full-frame chip.'
Luminous Landscape writes a first impression review of the Nikon D3 DSLR and writes - "Now the bottom line is – would I buy this camera? Actually, I pulled out my Amex card three times and asked Nikon to sell it to me, and three times they declined. To me it really was that good – but as I stated earlier, I am predisposed to like Nikons. If there is only one thing I would like Nikon to offer is more Megapixels, at least 17 preferably over 20. For my work it just gives more options in cropping to full page verticals."
Nikon today announced three new super telephoto lenses.
Full details on these Nikon lenses in the following Nikon Announcement
PRESS RELEASE: Nikon Adds Three New Super-Telephoto Lenses To Its Line Of Professional Nikkor Optics
New Lenses Feature Remarkable Optics, Vibration Reduction (VR II) and Rugged Construction
Nikon (www.nikonusa.com) today introduced three new super-telephoto NIKKOR lenses that offer professional photographers the latest innovations in lens technology and optical design. The new AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR, and AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR all offer unprecedented image quality, responsiveness and versatility along with new features such as Nikon’s VR II Vibration Reduction technology and Nikon's exclusive Nano Crystal Coat. These new lenses are designed for use with Nikon’s FX and DX format digital SLR cameras and together with Nikon’s current AF-S NIKKOR 200mm f/2G ED VR AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/2.8G ED VR lens, they complete Nikon’s range of super-telephoto lenses.
“ An incredible number of the most famous moments in sports history have been captured faithfully and forever with NIKKOR super telephoto lenses,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, SLR Systems Products, at Nikon Inc. “And a long list of the world’s finest nature and wildlife photographers rely on NIKKOR super telephoto lenses to capture images that inspire and educate people the world over. With the introduction of the AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR, and the AF-S NIKKOR 500mm and 600mm f/4G ED VR lenses, we are thrilled to offer professional photographers the most sophisticated super-telephoto optics available today.”
These new super-telephoto lenses are equipped with Nikon’s VR II Vibration Reduction system that minimizes image blur caused by camera shake and offers up to four stops of compensation for clean, crisp images. When using Nikon’s VR function, photographers can view a stabilized image through the viewfinder and therefore are able to compose their pictures naturally and with greater accuracy. A Tripod mode in the camera reduces vibration that may occur at shutter release when shooting with a super-telephoto lens attached to a tripod.
The new optical design for all three lenses features three ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements that minimize chromatic aberration, producing consistently high-quality images. Nikon’s exclusive Nano Crystal Coat – an extra-low refractive index coating – virtually eliminates internal lens element reflections across a wide range of wavelengths, and is particularly effective in reducing ghosting and flare. A meniscus protective glass element also minimizes the ghosting that occurs when light reflected from a digital camera’s image sensor is in turn reflected off an ordinary flat protective glass element.
All three new lenses feature ergonomically arranged controls that enable easy access and comfortable operation. The Focus Preset function instantly recalls a focal point preset with a simple push of a button while the Focus Limiter switch restricts AF-servo movement to a controlled shooting distance range. The lenses also feature an AF-L switch that makes it possible to lock focus from the lens; and AF-ON engages auto focus from the lens.
By employing magnesium die-cast to construction the lens barrel, Nikon has achieved considerable weight reduction advantages without sacrificing rugged field-proven construction that's resistant to both dust and moisture.
Price and Availability
The three new Super-Telephoto lenses will be available beginning November 2007. Estimated selling prices* for the AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm and 600mm f/4G ED VR lenses are $8,799.95, $7,899.95 and $9,499.95 respectively. These lenses will be compatible with all current F-mount Nikon cameras, as well as the NIKKOR 1.4x, 1.7x and 2.0x AF-Tele-converters.
* Estimated selling prices listed are only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.'
The Olympus SP-560 is an 8 megapixel (CCD) super zoom digital camera with a super long 18x Optical Zoom lens.
This camera has an equivalent focal length of 35 to 486mm.
The Olympus SP-560 has a 2.5 inch LCD (230,000 pixels), an ISO range of 50 to 6400, dual image stabilization (hardware and software based), a shutter speed range of 1/2000 to 15 seconds and lots of manual control , presets and custom modes.
The Olympus SP-560 will hit stores in October with a retail price of $449.99 USD.
Get a Price on the Olympus SP-560UZ
OLYMPUS' GROUNDBREAKING 18X OPTICAL ZOOM DIGITAL COMPACT CAMERA JUST GOT SMARTER
New Camera Offers 27mm Wide-Angle Lens, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology, TruePic III and Other Innovative Features
Olympus introduces the new SP-560 Ultra Zoom digital camera, the all-in-one solution for consumers looking for power and versatility for any shooting situation. The compact SP-560 UZ blends ease-of-use with an industry-leading focal range (27mm wide-angle to 18x optical zoom), an 8-megapixel image sensor and the latest technologies to deliver superior image quality and performance.
These new innovative technologies include:
“The SP-560 UZ can capture more with one lens than most other cameras capture with two or three lenses,” said Mark Hoffman, director, Product Marketing, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “This versatile compact camera will literally expand your photographic horizons, allowing you to capture everything from sweeping landscapes to the intricate details of a wildflower. Robust features such as Dual Image Stabilization and a variety of new technologies will appeal to everyone from photo enthusiasts looking for more creative control to first-time users looking for an easy-to-use point and shoot camera.”
Amazing Focal Length Far and Wide
The key component to quality imaging is precision optics, and the SP-560 UZ delivers. This camera’s versatile yet compact 18x super telephoto zoom gets users close to the action. At the same time, the wide-angle (27mm) lens captures more in each frame. Its super-macro capabilities capture the subtlest details from as close as one centimeter. The compact lens construction combines high-refractive, aspherical and extra-dispersion (ED) lens elements to deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity. The bright, F2.8-4.5 lens provides the equivalent of 27-486mm focal length with 100x total seamless zoom (5.6x digital zoom).
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.
Shadow Adjustment Technology
Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlit areas – while the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The SP-560 UZ addresses this challenge head-on with Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With this technology, users can preview and capture images with the same contrast as their naked eye.
TruePic III Image Processor
Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures sharp images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
Perfect Shot Preview
The SP-560 UZ features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It’s a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
Dual Image Stabilization
Dual Image Stabilization technology enables users to take crisp, clear pictures in virtually any shooting situation – adjusting for camera shake and a moving subject. Olympus’ mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD to compensate for camera shake, which often occurs when zooming in on your subject and in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blur caused by a moving subject.
High-Speed Sequential Shooting and Pre-Capture
Capable of capturing images at an incredible 15 frames per second (image size reduced), the SP-560 UZ offers the highest burst rate of any compact digital camera. The inclusion of Pre-Capture technology, which works in conjunction with High-Speed Sequential Shooting, enables users to capture the action before and after fully pressing the shutter button. Pre-Capture begins working as soon as the focus is locked, automatically archiving five frames in the camera’s buffer memory prior to the shutter release – virtually guaranteeing that none of the action will be missed even if the user’s reaction time is slow. Perfect for situations where timing is essential, such as photographing a tennis player serving, children playing or a whale breaching.
High-Resolution 2.5-Inch LCD and Electronic Viewfinder
Compose and display incredible images on the camera’s bright 230,000-pixel LCD. The high-resolution screen enables you to review pictures, scroll through menu options and treat friends and family to a digital slide show with ease. The SP-560 UZ also features an electronic viewfinder with dioptric correction.
33 Shooting Modes Including TV-Quality Video with Sound
The SP-560 UZ makes it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations with 33 shooting modes, including TV-quality video with sound (640x480/30fps). Simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action, macro and more.
Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
Low-light photography has never been easier thanks to Olympus’ revolutionary Bright Capture Technology. A brightened preview on the LCD enables simple composition; and with specific scene modes for high sensitivity settings (up to ISO 3200) and rapid auto-focus, even fast-action photos can be captured under low levels of available light.
Full Manual and Automatic Control
The Manual, Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority modes give users versatility and control for optimal performance in any situation. Users can express their creative vision – adjusting the f-stop for detailed portraits with softened backgrounds, or slowing the exposure speed to create the blurred effect of motion, or just sit back and let the camera do the thinking through the use of the automatic settings.
Underwater Housing and Accessory Lenses for Expanded Capabilities
An underwater housing (PT-037) works with the SP-560 UZ, enabling great images to be captured while scuba diving to depths of approximately 130 feet (40 meters) beneath the surface. The SP-560 UZ also features a threaded lens barrel, which enables easy attachment of the TCON-17 teleconversion lens for more than 30x optical zoom (requires CLA-10 Lens Adapter). Olympus also offers a nylon ultra-zoom carrying case.
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master 2 software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. Also, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee™ Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.
Availability
The SP-560 UZ will be available in October 2007. It will also include: Neck Strap, WIN/Mac USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, four AA Batteries, Manual, Warranty Card and OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM.
U.S. Pricing
SP-560 UZ Estimated Street Price: $449.99 (U.S.)
Imaging Resource reviews the Olympus SP-560 UltraZoom Digital Camera where they write - 'Long zooms used to be 10x or maybe 12x, but 2007 was the year that Olympus introduced the 18x zoom; and before the year goes out, Olympus has rolled out an improved version with more resolution, and speed enhancements galore. In addition to its 8.0 megapixel sensor, the Olympus SP-560 also sports new features like the Effects Preview and Shadow Adjustment Technology. More importantly, shutter lag is greatly reduced, making the Olympus SP-560 nearly irresistible. Though the zoom is a little wonky in movie mode, the long zoom, 27mm wide angle lens, optical image stabilization, and respectable image quality make the Olympus SP-560 an easy Dave's Picks in the Long Zoom category.'
DP Review has posted a review of the Olympus SP-560UZ where they write - 'It's not particularly fast but has a good metering system and well thought-out processing that helps it to produce good images at low ISO settings. And, of course, it has the incredibly flexible lens which will continue to offer: "I wonder whether I can... Wow!" moments. At base ISO, the image quality of the Olympus is at least the equal of its two most obvious rivals but that base setting is so low it can leave you struggling with low shutter speeds even outdoors during daylight. And, given that it's hard to recommend its performance above ISO 200 as being particularly special, it's a camera you'll get the most out of outdoors.'
Digital Camera Review has posted their review of the Olympus SP-560 UZ and writes - "First impressions of the Olympus SP-560 UZ were generally favorable. It is comfortable to hold, has an impressive zoom, and is loaded with features. For those reasons alone, this camera will probably sell well. Living with it is a little harder, especially when one realizes that many of these features are buried in the most appalling menu system yet devised. The last time I was this confused with a piece of electronics, some kind soul had set my cellphone language to Norwegian. With the recent advances in shutter lag reduction – the previous bane of the compact digital camera world – it is a shame that Olympus has sought to replace it with "menu lag," as users scramble to get the camera set up for the picture unfolding in front of them. Above all else, this is what lets the SP-560 down. While the lens has a few drawbacks, the sheer versatility of this zoom range, coupled to a camera with manageable size/weight and powered by readily available AA batteries make this a good choice for travelling, especially so if the destination is going to be sunny and can limit your photography to lower ISO shots. For most shooters, however, it would be worth sacrificing some of that upper zoom range for simpler functionality and greater dynamic range."
The Olympus Stylus 790 is a shockproof and waterproof compact digital camera just announced by Olympus.
The Olympus Stylus 790 features a 7.1 megapixel sensor and 3x optical zoom lens (38 - 114mm equivalent).
It features a 2.5 inch LCD, ISO range of 80 to 1600, shutter speed range of 1/1000 to 4 seconds and 23 scene modes.
The Olympus Stylus 760 SW will have a retail price of $299.99 USD.
OLYMPUS STYLUS 790 SW: A NEW SLEEK, STYLISH CAMERA BUILT TOUGH FOR TAKING AMAZING PHOTOS ANYWHERE, ANYTIME
Worry-Free Digital Compact Camera Withstands Life’s Everyday Adventures
Olympus today introduces the Stylus 790 SW, the newest addition to its stylish and durable Stylus SW line of digital compact cameras. Available in five stunning colors (orange, blue, lime, black and silver), the shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof and dustproof camera captures amazing images in any situation – whether it is a day of fun at the beach, an action-packed snorkel adventure, a family ski trip or a night out with friends.
The camera’s good looks, smooth design and rugged exterior contain an array of innovative features and technologies that ensure sharp, vibrant images in any environment. These signature features include:
• Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button;
• Shadow Adjustment Technology enables users to preview and capture their images as they see them with their naked eye. Shadow Adjustment compensates for difficult lighting situations, increasing the detail in highlights and shadows, to produce more balanced photos;
• 2.5-inch HyperCrystal™ LCD screen features anti-glare technology that improves visibility in bright sunlight and a wider viewing angle (176 degrees in every direction) for easier composing and sharing of images with others; and TruePic III™ Image Processor reduces graininess in images to deliver sharper, more vivid photos even at high ISO settings.
“The Stylus 790 SW offers the performance and durability that consumers have come to trust from the Stylus SW family with a sleek new look and innovative feature set,” said Mark Hoffman, director, Product Marketing, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology ensure effortlessly sharp, bright images anytime, anywhere. The rugged, waterproof body design makes it the ideal camera for active lifestyles and a must-have for vacations and outdoor (or underwater) adventures.”
Worry-Free Shockproof Design
Built with durable materials and shock-absorption technology that minimizes the impact delivered to the lens and circuitry when dropped, the Stylus 790 SW offers superior durability in a point-and-shoot digital camera.
Takes Pictures Underwater
By combining a light-weight, aluminum exterior with rubber gaskets and O-rings to seal the interior from the elements, Olympus delivers a slim body design that performs as well under water (down to 10 feet / 3 meters below the surface) as it does on land. The inclusion of four preset underwater scene modes makes the Stylus 790 SW the perfect camera for the pool, waterpark or snorkeling in the ocean. The Stylus 790 SW also features a water-repellant lens coating to prevent water droplets from forming on the lens so you get crystal-clear shots no matter how wet the shooting environment.
Freezeproof for Winter Fun
You can take the cold, so why shouldn’t your camera? Unlike other point-and-shoot cameras, the Stylus 790 SW still performs when the temperature dips below freezing (14 degrees Fahrenheit;
-10 degrees Celsius) so this camera is ready to hit the slopes.
Dustproof for Everyday Durability
The Stylus 790 SW is the perfect camera for a trip to the beach or the great outdoors. Its airtight construction makes the camera impervious to dust, dirt and other particles. Shoot without worry even in harsh conditions; and when the camera gets dirty, just rinse it off in the sink!
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.
Shadow Adjustment Technology
Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlit areas – while the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The Stylus 790 SW addresses this challenge head-on with Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With this technology, users can preview and capture images with the same contrast as their naked eye.
Large 2.5-Inch HyperCrystalTM LCD
The Stylus 790 SW boasts a large, high-resolution HyperCrystal LCD, which displays clear, high-contrast images. It increases the brightness of the LCD for better visibility in low-light and bright-light situations – perfect for composing pictures underwater or in direct sunlight. Images are also viewable on the 2.5-inch LCD from 176-degrees, enabling photos to be composed from a wider range of angles and viewed by several people at once.
Digital Image Stabilization
The Stylus 790 SW features Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) for capturing crisp, clear pictures. By boosting the camera’s ISO sensitivity and shutter speed, DIS freezes the action and provides blur-free images, even when you or your subject is moving.
Perfect Shot Preview
The Stylus 790 SW features a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
TruePic III Image Processor
Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures sharp images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
Low-light photography has never been easier thanks to Olympus’ revolutionary Bright Capture Technology. A brightened preview on the LCD enables simple composition, and with specific scene modes for high sensitivity settings (up to ISO 1600) and rapid auto-focus, even fast-action photos can be captured under low levels of available light.
LED Illuminator
An LED Illuminator works like a mini-flashlight on the front of the camera to enhance focus and exposure for macro shooting – great for underwater close-ups where light is scarce. The LED also works in conjunction with Bright Capture to help illuminate your subject when taking low-light portraits.
Stylish, Compact, Rugged Design
The Stylus 790 SW combines light, durable body construction with shock-absorbing materials throughout the interior and the sealant technology used in Olympus underwater housings. In addition to the shockproof and waterproof construction, the Stylus 790 SW features a light-weight, all-metal body and clean, smooth lines that make it the ultimate pocket camera. At a slim 0.8 inches, the camera easily slips into a pocket, handbag or backpack.
27 Selectable Shooting Modes
With 27 pre-programmed shooting modes, such as Beach & Snow, Available Light Portrait, Sunset and Under Water Snapshot, the Stylus 790 SW makes it easy to capture beautiful images in a variety of lighting and shooting situations. The Stylus 790 SW features a Movie Mode that can record TV-quality video (640x480/30fps) with sound – above and below the water’s surface.
In-Camera Editing
With in-camera editing features such as red-eye fix, resizing, adding frames or text, and color or saturation adjustments, users can edit photos anywhere with ease – touch up or embellish photos without a computer.
Olympus Underwater Housing, Floating Strap, Silicone Skin and Premium Cases
Olympus offers a number of optional accessories, specifically designed for the Stylus 790 SW. For users looking to capture their underwater adventures deeper than 10 feet, Olympus offers the PT-041 underwater housing, which enables users to take pictures as deep as 130 feet (40 meters). A highly visible floating wrist strap frees consumers’ hands when swimming or chasing the next big wave, and a silicone skin protects the camera from scratches. Additionally, Olympus offers premium cases in a variety of colors, including camel and red leather, and a durable, sporty neoprene case is perfect for active or outdoor expeditions.
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to a computer quick and simple. Images are easily organized by folders or albums and are searchable by date in the Calendar View. With one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee? Theater Pack to create professional-quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.
Availability
The Stylus 790 SW will be available in September 2007. It includes: a wrist strap, camera WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, LI-42B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, manual, warranty card and OLYMPUS Master 2 software (CD-ROM).
U.S. Pricing
Stylus 790 SW Estimated Street Price: $299.99 (U.S.)
CNET reviews the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes - "Image quality isn't the 790 SW's strong point, but it isn't particularly bad either at lower ISOs. Colors aren't quite as saturated as they can be on some other cameras, but they do look fairly accurate. The images also aren't as sharp as I'd like to see, but not terribly so, and given that this is a waterproof camera, that's not totally unexpected. The 790 SW's automatic white balance leaves photos shot under incandescent lights slightly warm, but does a good job with fluorescent lighting and, of course, natural sunlight..... While the Stylus 790 SW is far from perfect, it's one of the few cameras on the market, especially in this price range, that can take a beating and actually operate under water or at the top of a ski resort without worry. If you need a camera that can face up to those challenges, then the 790 SW makes sense."
Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Olympus Stylus 790 SW and writes - "Consumers who place a premium on ultra-compact size must be prepared to accept certain realities – mini-digicams obviously can't be expected to compete on an equal footing with full sized models. Like the first Stylus, the 790 SW is eminently pocketable and capable of capturing exceptional snapshots and memory photos with little effort on the part of the photographer. If that’s not enough, the diminutive 790SW is built like a tank and can be taken along on adventures (like back country hiking, rock climbing, off-road biking, snorkeling, skiing, kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, hang gliding, and white water rafting) that would require leaving most other digicams at home."
The Olympus Stylus 1200 is a 12 megabyte digital camera with a 3x Optical Zoom lens (35 - 105mm equivalent).
It features 47 megabytes of internal memory, ISO range of up to 6400, and a Shutter Speed range of 4 - 1/1000 second.
It measures 98.1 x 56.2 x 23.0mm and weighs 125 grams.
The Olympus Stylus 1200 has a retail price of $349.99 USD.
Olympus Stylus 1200 News Release
THREE NEW ADDITIONS TO OLYMPUS STYLUS FAMILY BLEND STYLE AND PERFORMANCE
New Digital Compact Cameras Build on More Than a Decade of All-Weather Durability, Beautiful Styling and Industry-Leading Innovation
Olympus today proudly announces the newest additions to its Stylus family of sleek All-Weather digital compact cameras – the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 – which combine elegant design with power, performance and reliability.
Consumers are able to be a part of the action while capturing beautiful images thanks to the superior features offered in the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200. These features include Face Detection Technology, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Image Stabilization, large HyperCrystalTM LCD screens and Preset Shooting Modes. The three new Stylus cameras also enable consumers to capture TV-quality video with sound, and the cameras easily connect directly to a television or LCD screen for convenient playback.
Additionally, the Stylus 830 features Dual Image Stabilization, which combines mechanical Sensor-Shift Stabilization with Digital Image Stabilization to compensate for both camera shake and moving subjects – ensuring blur-free images in virtually any shooting situation. The camera also offers 5x optical zoom to bring the action closer and a large 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD in a sleek, compact design. The Stylus 830 also provides illuminated buttons for easy viewing in low-light situations.
The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature a 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, which is great for easily composing, editing and sharing images with friends and family. Additionally, capturing breathtaking landscapes is a snap with the in-camera panorama mode offered in the Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200. The Stylus 1200 also provides an incredible 12-megapixels for maximum image quality when producing large-format prints or cropping/enlarging a portion of an image.
“Olympus continues to deliver superior optics and industry-leading innovations for an amazing digital photography experience,” said Tomoko Matsunaga, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The new Stylus cameras offer style and sophisticated technologies for the discerning consumer.”
Image Stabilization for Blur-Free Photos
Dual Image Stabilization technology combines two technologies – mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization – to provide one powerful anti-blur solution for capturing great images whether the photographer or the subject is moving. Olympus' mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD image sensor to compensate for camera movement, which often occurs in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject. By combining the two technologies, the Stylus 830 users are
able to take crystal clear images in virtually any shooting situation. The Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200 feature digital image stabilization (DIS) and DIS Edit, which enables the user to retouch blurry photos right in the camera.
Stylish, Ergonomic Body Design and All-Weather Durability
Stylus digital cameras are renowned for their high performance, style and ability to withstand the elements. The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature light-weight metal bodies with rubber gaskets throughout the interior to ensure that rain, sleet and snow will not get in the way of great photos. Additionally, the three new cameras feature ultra-compact bodies less than 1-inch thick. The Stylus 820 is offered in red, blue, black and silver. The Stylus 830 is offered in orange, green, blue, black and silver. The Stylus 1200 is offered in black and silver.
Large HyperCrystal LCD
The Stylus 830 boasts a large, high-resolution 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD with high contrast and anti-glare technology for clear visibility, even when composing pictures in bright sunlight. The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature an even larger 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD. Images are viewable on the LCD screen from 176-degrees, so photos can be composed from a range of angles and viewed by several people at once.
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button.
Shadow Adjustment Technology
Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlight areas – while the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The Stylus cameras address this challenge head-on with a new Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With the new technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye.
Millions of Pixels for Superior Image Quality
The 8-megapixel CCD image sensor inside the Stylus 820 and Stylus 830 delivers high-quality images that are consistently sharp and vivid even when printed in large formats. The Stylus 1200 offers a 12-megapixel image sensor – perfect for creating huge, poster-size enlargements.
Optical Zoom in Ultra-Slim Body Design
The Stylus 820 and Stylus 830 feature new lens technology that enables the 5x optical zoom lens (36mm – 180mm, F3.3 – F5.0 equivalent in 35mm photography) to bring the action five times closer, and then tucks away into a compact body less than 1-inch thick. The Stylus 1200 features a bright, 3x optical zoom lens (35mm – 105mm, F2.8 equivalent in 35mm photography).
Perfect Shot Preview
The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-window screen before snapping the shot. The new feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
TruePic™ III Image Processor
The Stylus cameras feature Olympus’ exclusive new TruePic™ III image processor developed for the demanding performance of Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
In-Camera Panorama
The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature the new in-camera panoramic photo shooting capability, which captures three images and stitches them together to create one amazing panoramic picture. Users can easily do this by pressing the shutter button and slowly panning across a panoramic scene. The second and third images will be automatically captured and stitched together with the first image – resulting in one panoramic-size picture. To create the ultimate panoramic picture, consumers can use the Olympus Master Software 2 to stitch up to 10 images together to produce an even larger panoramic image.
Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
There are times when a photographic opportunity is best captured with ambient light (e.g., when trying to capture the softness and warmth of a candlelit dinner or natural skin tones in subdued lighting). Olympus' Bright Capture Technology makes it possible to clearly compose and capture subjects on the LCD in low light. Specific scene modes for high sensitivity settings and rapid auto-focus enable even fast-action photos to be captured with low levels of available light. Plus, Bright Capture Movie lets consumers record the moments in the dark even after the candles are blown out!
Preset Shooting Modes Make It Easy to Capture Great Images
The Stylus cameras make it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations. Simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action, macro and more. The Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200 offer 24 shooting modes, and the Stylus 830 offer 26 shooting modes.
In-Camera Editing
With the new Perfect Fix, multiple editing features can be applied at once. The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature Red-Eye Fix and Lighting Fix. The Stylus 820 and 1200 also include Digital Image Stabilization Edit and other in-camera editing features such as (red-eye fix) resizing, frames, text options, color brightness and saturation adjustments enable users to edit photos right in the camera.
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. Additionally, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee™ Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.
Olympus Premium Cases
Olympus also offers premium cases in a variety of colors, including camel and red leather, and a sporty neoprene case perfect for active or outdoor situations.
Availability
The Stylus 820 will be available in September 2007, and the Stylus 830 and 1200 will be available in October 2007. The cameras ship with: a wrist strap, WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, LI-42B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, manual, warranty card and a CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Master 2 Software.
U.S. Pricing
Stylus 820 Estimated Street Price: $249.99. (U.S.)
Stylus 830 Estimated Street Price: $329.99. (U.S.)
Stylus 1200 Estimated Street Price: $349.99. (U.S.)
The Olympus Stylus 820 is another 8 megapixel point and shoot camera with a 5x optical zoom lens.
It features a 2.7 inch LCD screeen (230,000 pixels - no optical view finder), all weather metal body, 20 scene modes and 47 megabytes of internal memory.
Expect to see the Olympus Stylus 820 in stores in September for $250 USD.
Learn more about the Olympus Stylus 820 in the following announcement from Olympus.
New Digital Compact Cameras Build on More Than a Decade of All-Weather Durability, Beautiful Styling and Industry-Leading Innovation
Olympus today proudly announces the newest additions to its Stylus family of sleek All-Weather digital compact cameras – the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 – which combine elegant design with power, performance and reliability.
Consumers are able to be a part of the action while capturing beautiful images thanks to the superior features offered in the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200. These features include Face Detection Technology, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Image Stabilization, large HyperCrystalTM LCD screens and Preset Shooting Modes. The three new Stylus cameras also enable consumers to capture TV-quality video with sound, and the cameras easily connect directly to a television or LCD screen for convenient playback.
Additionally, the Stylus 830 features Dual Image Stabilization, which combines mechanical Sensor-Shift Stabilization with Digital Image Stabilization to compensate for both camera shake and moving subjects – ensuring blur-free images in virtually any shooting situation. The camera also offers 5x optical zoom to bring the action closer and a large 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD in a sleek, compact design. The Stylus 830 also provides illuminated buttons for easy viewing in low-light situations.
The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature a 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, which is great for easily composing, editing and sharing images with friends and family. Additionally, capturing breathtaking landscapes is a snap with the in-camera panorama mode offered in the Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200. The Stylus 1200 also provides an incredible 12-megapixels for maximum image quality when producing large-format prints or cropping/enlarging a portion of an image.
“Olympus continues to deliver superior optics and industry-leading innovations for an amazing digital photography experience,” said Tomoko Matsunaga, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The new Stylus cameras offer style and sophisticated technologies for the discerning consumer.”
Image Stabilization for Blur-Free Photos
Dual Image Stabilization technology combines two technologies – mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization – to provide one powerful anti-blur solution for capturing great images whether the photographer or the subject is moving. Olympus' mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD image sensor to compensate for camera movement, which often occurs in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject. By combining the two technologies, the Stylus 830 users are
able to take crystal clear images in virtually any shooting situation. The Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200 feature digital image stabilization (DIS) and DIS Edit, which enables the user to retouch blurry photos right in the camera.
Stylish, Ergonomic Body Design and All-Weather Durability
Stylus digital cameras are renowned for their high performance, style and ability to withstand the elements. The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature light-weight metal bodies with rubber gaskets throughout the interior to ensure that rain, sleet and snow will not get in the way of great photos. Additionally, the three new cameras feature ultra-compact bodies less than 1-inch thick. The Stylus 820 is offered in red, blue, black and silver. The Stylus 830 is offered in orange, green, blue, black and silver. The Stylus 1200 is offered in black and silver.
Large HyperCrystal LCD
The Stylus 830 boasts a large, high-resolution 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD with high contrast and anti-glare technology for clear visibility, even when composing pictures in bright sunlight. The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature an even larger 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD. Images are viewable on the LCD screen from 176-degrees, so photos can be composed from a range of angles and viewed by several people at once.
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button.
Shadow Adjustment Technology
Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlight areas – while the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The Stylus cameras address this challenge head-on with a new Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With the new technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye.
Millions of Pixels for Superior Image Quality
The 8-megapixel CCD image sensor inside the Stylus 820 and Stylus 830 delivers high-quality images that are consistently sharp and vivid even when printed in large formats. The Stylus 1200 offers a 12-megapixel image sensor – perfect for creating huge, poster-size enlargements.
Optical Zoom in Ultra-Slim Body Design
The Stylus 820 and Stylus 830 feature new lens technology that enables the 5x optical zoom lens (36mm – 180mm, F3.3 – F5.0 equivalent in 35mm photography) to bring the action five times closer, and then tucks away into a compact body less than 1-inch thick. The Stylus 1200 features a bright, 3x optical zoom lens (35mm – 105mm, F2.8 equivalent in 35mm photography).
Perfect Shot Preview
The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-window screen before snapping the shot. The new feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
TruePic™ III Image Processor
The Stylus cameras feature Olympus’ exclusive new TruePic™ III image processor developed for the demanding performance of Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
In-Camera Panorama
The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature the new in-camera panoramic photo shooting capability, which captures three images and stitches them together to create one amazing panoramic picture. Users can easily do this by pressing the shutter button and slowly panning across a panoramic scene. The second and third images will be automatically captured and stitched together with the first image – resulting in one panoramic-size picture. To create the ultimate panoramic picture, consumers can use the Olympus Master Software 2 to stitch up to 10 images together to produce an even larger panoramic image.
Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
There are times when a photographic opportunity is best captured with ambient light (e.g., when trying to capture the softness and warmth of a candlelit dinner or natural skin tones in subdued lighting). Olympus' Bright Capture Technology makes it possible to clearly compose and capture subjects on the LCD in low light. Specific scene modes for high sensitivity settings and rapid auto-focus enable even fast-action photos to be captured with low levels of available light. Plus, Bright Capture Movie lets consumers record the moments in the dark even after the candles are blown out!
Preset Shooting Modes Make It Easy to Capture Great Images
The Stylus cameras make it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations. Simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action, macro and more. The Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200 offer 24 shooting modes, and the Stylus 830 offer 26 shooting modes.
In-Camera Editing
With the new Perfect Fix, multiple editing features can be applied at once. The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature Red-Eye Fix and Lighting Fix. The Stylus 820 and 1200 also include Digital Image Stabilization Edit and other in-camera editing features such as (red-eye fix) resizing, frames, text options, color brightness and saturation adjustments enable users to edit photos right in the camera.
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. Additionally, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee™ Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.
Olympus Premium Cases
Olympus also offers premium cases in a variety of colors, including camel and red leather, and a sporty neoprene case perfect for active or outdoor situations.
Availability
The Stylus 820 will be available in September 2007, and the Stylus 830 and 1200 will be available in October 2007. The cameras ship with: a wrist strap, WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, LI-42B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, manual, warranty card and a CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Master 2 Software.
U.S. Pricing
Stylus 820 Estimated Street Price: $249.99. (U.S.)
Stylus 830 Estimated Street Price: $329.99. (U.S.)
Stylus 1200 Estimated Street Price: $349.99. (U.S.)
CNET reviews the Olympus Stylus 820 and gives it a rating of 6.4. They write - "Olympus continues the Stylus line of digital cameras with the Stylus 820, an attractive 8-megapixel digital camera. This new model sports a 5x lens, a large, bright LCD screen, and a surprisingly useful new feature Olympus is debuting with its current generation of cameras.... The Olympus Stylus 820 packs some pretty useful features in its stylish metal case. Unfortunately, its painfully slow shooting and overly soft pictures render this otherwise nifty camera a flop."
The Olympus Stylus 830 is an 8 megapixel point and shoot digital camera with a 5x optical zoom lens and 2.5 inch LCD display (no optical view finder).
It features image stabilization, ISO range of up to 1600, 15 megabytes of internal memory and two underwater scene modes.
The Olympus Stylus 830 measures 99.6 x 55.1 x 24.0mm and weighs 125.0 g.
It will retail at $329.99 USD.
Olympus Stylus 830 News Release
THREE NEW ADDITIONS TO OLYMPUS STYLUS FAMILY BLEND STYLE AND PERFORMANCE
New Digital Compact Cameras Build on More Than a Decade of All-Weather Durability, Beautiful Styling and Industry-Leading Innovation
Olympus today proudly announces the newest additions to its Stylus family of sleek All-Weather digital compact cameras – the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 – which combine elegant design with power, performance and reliability.
Consumers are able to be a part of the action while capturing beautiful images thanks to the superior features offered in the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200. These features include Face Detection Technology, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Image Stabilization, large HyperCrystalTM LCD screens and Preset Shooting Modes. The three new Stylus cameras also enable consumers to capture TV-quality video with sound, and the cameras easily connect directly to a television or LCD screen for convenient playback.
Additionally, the Stylus 830 features Dual Image Stabilization, which combines mechanical Sensor-Shift Stabilization with Digital Image Stabilization to compensate for both camera shake and moving subjects – ensuring blur-free images in virtually any shooting situation. The camera also offers 5x optical zoom to bring the action closer and a large 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD in a sleek, compact design. The Stylus 830 also provides illuminated buttons for easy viewing in low-light situations.
The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature a 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, which is great for easily composing, editing and sharing images with friends and family. Additionally, capturing breathtaking landscapes is a snap with the in-camera panorama mode offered in the Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200. The Stylus 1200 also provides an incredible 12-megapixels for maximum image quality when producing large-format prints or cropping/enlarging a portion of an image.
“Olympus continues to deliver superior optics and industry-leading innovations for an amazing digital photography experience,” said Tomoko Matsunaga, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The new Stylus cameras offer style and sophisticated technologies for the discerning consumer.”
Image Stabilization for Blur-Free Photos
Dual Image Stabilization technology combines two technologies – mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization and Digital Image Stabilization – to provide one powerful anti-blur solution for capturing great images whether the photographer or the subject is moving. Olympus' mechanical Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization keeps images sharp by adjusting the CCD image sensor to compensate for camera movement, which often occurs in low-light conditions when shutter speeds are slower. Digital Image Stabilization freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject. By combining the two technologies, the Stylus 830 users are
able to take crystal clear images in virtually any shooting situation. The Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200 feature digital image stabilization (DIS) and DIS Edit, which enables the user to retouch blurry photos right in the camera.
Stylish, Ergonomic Body Design and All-Weather Durability
Stylus digital cameras are renowned for their high performance, style and ability to withstand the elements. The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature light-weight metal bodies with rubber gaskets throughout the interior to ensure that rain, sleet and snow will not get in the way of great photos. Additionally, the three new cameras feature ultra-compact bodies less than 1-inch thick. The Stylus 820 is offered in red, blue, black and silver. The Stylus 830 is offered in orange, green, blue, black and silver. The Stylus 1200 is offered in black and silver.
Large HyperCrystal LCD
The Stylus 830 boasts a large, high-resolution 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD with high contrast and anti-glare technology for clear visibility, even when composing pictures in bright sunlight. The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature an even larger 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD. Images are viewable on the LCD screen from 176-degrees, so photos can be composed from a range of angles and viewed by several people at once.
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button.
Shadow Adjustment Technology
Shooting outdoors in bright daylight can be tricky because of the extreme contrast between dark shadowed areas and bright sunlight areas – while the human eye is capable of detecting the nuances between dark and light and all the details in between, image sensors traditionally have not been quite as sensitive. The Stylus cameras address this challenge head-on with a new Shadow Adjustment Technology, which compensates for extreme contrast where the shadow areas are underexposed and lack visible detail. With the new technology, users can preview and capture images that have the same contrast as seen with the naked eye.
Millions of Pixels for Superior Image Quality
The 8-megapixel CCD image sensor inside the Stylus 820 and Stylus 830 delivers high-quality images that are consistently sharp and vivid even when printed in large formats. The Stylus 1200 offers a 12-megapixel image sensor – perfect for creating huge, poster-size enlargements.
Optical Zoom in Ultra-Slim Body Design
The Stylus 820 and Stylus 830 feature new lens technology that enables the 5x optical zoom lens (36mm – 180mm, F3.3 – F5.0 equivalent in 35mm photography) to bring the action five times closer, and then tucks away into a compact body less than 1-inch thick. The Stylus 1200 features a bright, 3x optical zoom lens (35mm – 105mm, F2.8 equivalent in 35mm photography).
Perfect Shot Preview
The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature a Perfect Shot Preview mode that enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-window screen before snapping the shot. The new feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as zoom, exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
TruePic™ III Image Processor
The Stylus cameras feature Olympus’ exclusive new TruePic™ III image processor developed for the demanding performance of Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
In-Camera Panorama
The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature the new in-camera panoramic photo shooting capability, which captures three images and stitches them together to create one amazing panoramic picture. Users can easily do this by pressing the shutter button and slowly panning across a panoramic scene. The second and third images will be automatically captured and stitched together with the first image – resulting in one panoramic-size picture. To create the ultimate panoramic picture, consumers can use the Olympus Master Software 2 to stitch up to 10 images together to produce an even larger panoramic image.
Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
There are times when a photographic opportunity is best captured with ambient light (e.g., when trying to capture the softness and warmth of a candlelit dinner or natural skin tones in subdued lighting). Olympus' Bright Capture Technology makes it possible to clearly compose and capture subjects on the LCD in low light. Specific scene modes for high sensitivity settings and rapid auto-focus enable even fast-action photos to be captured with low levels of available light. Plus, Bright Capture Movie lets consumers record the moments in the dark even after the candles are blown out!
Preset Shooting Modes Make It Easy to Capture Great Images
The Stylus cameras make it easy to take great photos in a variety of scenarios and lighting situations. Simply select the desired mode for portraits, landscapes, night scenes, fast-action, macro and more. The Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200 offer 24 shooting modes, and the Stylus 830 offer 26 shooting modes.
In-Camera Editing
With the new Perfect Fix, multiple editing features can be applied at once. The Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 feature Red-Eye Fix and Lighting Fix. The Stylus 820 and 1200 also include Digital Image Stabilization Edit and other in-camera editing features such as (red-eye fix) resizing, frames, text options, color brightness and saturation adjustments enable users to edit photos right in the camera.
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. Additionally, with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or e-mailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee™ Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.
Olympus Premium Cases
Olympus also offers premium cases in a variety of colors, including camel and red leather, and a sporty neoprene case perfect for active or outdoor situations.
Availability
The Stylus 820 will be available in September 2007, and the Stylus 830 and 1200 will be available in October 2007. The cameras ship with: a wrist strap, WIN/Mac USB cable, audio/video cable, LI-42B Li-Ion rechargeable battery and charger, manual, warranty card and a CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Master 2 Software.
U.S. Pricing
Stylus 820 Estimated Street Price: $249.99. (U.S.)
Stylus 830 Estimated Street Price: $329.99. (U.S.)
Stylus 1200 Estimated Street Price: $349.99. (U.S.)
The Olympus FE-300 is the third FE series point and shoot announced by Olympus today.
It features a 12 megapixel CCD sensor, 3x optical zoom lens and a 2.5 inch LCD display.
The Olympus FE-300 has an ISO range of up to 6400, 48 megabytes of internal memory and a shutter speed range of 4 - 1/1000 second.
The Olympus FE-300 will hit stores in August with a retail price of $300 USD.
Olympus FE-300 News Release
NEW OLYMPUS FE-SERIES CAMERAS COMBINE EASY OPERATION WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
Three New Digital Compact Cameras Offer Choice of 12.0-Megapixel Image Sensor, 4x Wide-Angle Lens and Face Detection Technology for Crisp, Clear Images
Olympus has taken the FE-Series to a new level of performance and ease of use. From the most powerful image sensor to the largest LCD screen and the newest technological innovations, the FE-300, FE-290 and FE-280 offer something for everyone. Common to all three cameras is their ultra-slim design, affordable price and intuitive features, which enable anyone to capture all of life’s moments in brilliant detail.
Each easy and fun camera also offers its own unique features including:
FE-300: The slimmest compact camera to provide a 12-megapixel image sensor for producing large-format prints with incredible detail and Face Detection Technology for capturing sharp, brilliant portrait pictures;
FE-290: A 4x zoom for getting closer to a subject, a 28mm wide-angle lens for taking beautiful panoramic shots and an impressive 3-inch LCD for composing and displaying captured images; and
FE-280: A super-slim body available in four trendy colors (red, blue, black and silver) with Face Detection Technology, which tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.
“We’ve added even more features and performance to the ultra-slim FE-Series without adding complexity,” said Jennifer Schmell, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Whatever your need, from large-format printing to increased zoom, there’s an FE camera for you.”
Powerful Image Sensor
The FE-300 features a powerful 12.0-megapixel image sensor, which allows photographers to make large-format prints and crop photographs dramatically while maintaining image quality. Producing impressive 16-inch by 20-inch prints of dramatic landscapes, portraits or flowers will be a snap with this high-resolution (1/1.72”) image sensor.
High-Resolution LCD Screens
The FE-290 features an extra large 3-inch LCD screen, and the FE-280 and FE-300 feature large 2.5-inch LCD screens. Composing shots and sharing images with friends and family is easier than ever thanks to the FE-Series large, high-resolution LCD screens. Additionally, the backlight boost button increases the LCD from bright to a super-bright setting, making it easier to capture and view images in challenging environments such as direct sunlight or low-light situations.
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button.
Expanded Control and Easy Operation
In some situations, consumers may want more creative control when composing images. The three new FE cameras offer Program Auto Mode. Located on the cameras’ mode dial, this option enables consumers to easily adjust ISO and white balance. Additionally, the new FE-Series cameras feature in-camera Help Guides, making digital photography simple and fun for users of all ages and skill levels. A tutorial “shooting guide” educates users on tips for achieving specific effects, such as “shooting into backlight” and brightening subjects. The shooting guide not only provides detailed descriptions for various situations and environments, but also sets the camera with the touch of a button, making the transition from learning to taking great pictures instantaneous.
Perfect Shot Preview
The FE-300 and FE-280 feature a Perfect Shot Preview mode, which enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It’s a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
Digital Image Stabilization Mode and Edit
The new FE cameras offer Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) for capturing crisp, clear pictures. DIS freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject. The FE-280 and FE-300 also feature Digital Image Stabilization Edit, which uses a built-in gyro sensor to track camera movement and enables users to fix blurry images right in the camera. The FE-280 and FE-300 also feature high ISO sensitivity, which extends the flash working range, enabling users to capture clear, bright subjects and backgrounds in low-light situations.
Perfect Fix
Life does not always go as planned, so the FE-280 and FE-300 feature Perfect Fix, which allows users to modify pictures after they take them. Perfect Fix sharpens unanticipated blur, improves lighting and eliminates red-eye.
TruePicTM III Image Processor
The FE-280 and FE-300 feature Olympus’ exclusive new TruePic III image processor, which was developed for the demanding performance of professional Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
The FE-280 and FE-300 include Bright Capture Technology, enabling consumers to preview and shoot images and movies in low light using specific scene modes. It is perfect for situations when a flash is not appropriate to capture the softness and warmth of a candlelit dinner or natural skin tones in subdued lighting.
PreSet Shooting Modes Make It Easy to Capture Great Images
The inclusion of preset shooting modes, accessed via a rotating dial and menu button on the back of the cameras, makes it easy to capture great images in a variety of lighting situations, such as Sports, Fireworks and Night Scene with Portrait. All three cameras offer VGA-quality video and sound, which enable users to create short movies that can be emailed to family and friends. The FE-290 offers 17 shooting modes, while the FE-300 offers 18, and the FE-280 offers 21, including three underwater scene modes.
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. And with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or emailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee™ Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.
Olympus Premium Cases and Silicone Skin
Olympus also offers premium cases in various colors, including camel and red leather, and a sporty neoprene case perfect for active or outdoor situations. Silicone skins that protect the camera from scratches are also available in colors for the FE-280. Additionally, the PT-038 underwater housing can be used with the FE-280, enabling even the most novice photographer to take beautiful underwater images.
Availability
The FE-280, FE-290 and FE-300 will be available in August 2007. Each will include a LI-42B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery and Charger, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Manual, CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software and Warranty Card.
U.S. Pricing
FE-280 Estimated Street Price: $199.99 (U.S.)
FE-290 Estimated Street Price: $249.99 (U.S.)
FE-300 Estimated Street Price: $299.99 (U.S.)
The Olympus FE-290 is a 10 megapixel point and shoot camera that comes featuring a 4x optical zoom lens.
It features a 3.0 inch LCD display, ISO range of up to 640 and 7 megabytes of internal memory.
The Olympus FE-290 measures 97.7 x 55.7 x 26.5mm and weights 142 grams.
It will have a retail price of $249.99 USD.
Buy the Olympus Stylus FE-290 at Amazon.
Olympus FE-290 News Release
NEW OLYMPUS FE-SERIES CAMERAS COMBINE EASY OPERATION WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
Three New Digital Compact Cameras Offer Choice of 12.0-Megapixel Image Sensor, 4x Wide-Angle Lens and Face Detection Technology for Crisp, Clear Images
Olympus has taken the FE-Series to a new level of performance and ease of use. From the most powerful image sensor to the largest LCD screen and the newest technological innovations, the FE-300, FE-290 and FE-280 offer something for everyone. Common to all three cameras is their ultra-slim design, affordable price and intuitive features, which enable anyone to capture all of life’s moments in brilliant detail.
Each easy and fun camera also offers its own unique features including:
FE-300: The slimmest compact camera to provide a 12-megapixel image sensor for producing large-format prints with incredible detail and Face Detection Technology for capturing sharp, brilliant portrait pictures;
FE-290: A 4x zoom for getting closer to a subject, a 28mm wide-angle lens for taking beautiful panoramic shots and an impressive 3-inch LCD for composing and displaying captured images; and
FE-280: A super-slim body available in four trendy colors (red, blue, black and silver) with Face Detection Technology, which tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.
“We’ve added even more features and performance to the ultra-slim FE-Series without adding complexity,” said Jennifer Schmell, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Whatever your need, from large-format printing to increased zoom, there’s an FE camera for you.”
Powerful Image Sensor
The FE-300 features a powerful 12.0-megapixel image sensor, which allows photographers to make large-format prints and crop photographs dramatically while maintaining image quality. Producing impressive 16-inch by 20-inch prints of dramatic landscapes, portraits or flowers will be a snap with this high-resolution (1/1.72”) image sensor.
High-Resolution LCD Screens
The FE-290 features an extra large 3-inch LCD screen, and the FE-280 and FE-300 feature large 2.5-inch LCD screens. Composing shots and sharing images with friends and family is easier than ever thanks to the FE-Series large, high-resolution LCD screens. Additionally, the backlight boost button increases the LCD from bright to a super-bright setting, making it easier to capture and view images in challenging environments such as direct sunlight or low-light situations.
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button.
Expanded Control and Easy Operation
In some situations, consumers may want more creative control when composing images. The three new FE cameras offer Program Auto Mode. Located on the cameras’ mode dial, this option enables consumers to easily adjust ISO and white balance. Additionally, the new FE-Series cameras feature in-camera Help Guides, making digital photography simple and fun for users of all ages and skill levels. A tutorial “shooting guide” educates users on tips for achieving specific effects, such as “shooting into backlight” and brightening subjects. The shooting guide not only provides detailed descriptions for various situations and environments, but also sets the camera with the touch of a button, making the transition from learning to taking great pictures instantaneous.
Perfect Shot Preview
The FE-300 and FE-280 feature a Perfect Shot Preview mode, which enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It’s a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
Digital Image Stabilization Mode and Edit
The new FE cameras offer Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) for capturing crisp, clear pictures. DIS freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject. The FE-280 and FE-300 also feature Digital Image Stabilization Edit, which uses a built-in gyro sensor to track camera movement and enables users to fix blurry images right in the camera. The FE-280 and FE-300 also feature high ISO sensitivity, which extends the flash working range, enabling users to capture clear, bright subjects and backgrounds in low-light situations.
Perfect Fix
Life does not always go as planned, so the FE-280 and FE-300 feature Perfect Fix, which allows users to modify pictures after they take them. Perfect Fix sharpens unanticipated blur, improves lighting and eliminates red-eye.
TruePicTM III Image Processor
The FE-280 and FE-300 feature Olympus’ exclusive new TruePic III image processor, which was developed for the demanding performance of professional Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
The FE-280 and FE-300 include Bright Capture Technology, enabling consumers to preview and shoot images and movies in low light using specific scene modes. It is perfect for situations when a flash is not appropriate to capture the softness and warmth of a candlelit dinner or natural skin tones in subdued lighting.
PreSet Shooting Modes Make It Easy to Capture Great Images
The inclusion of preset shooting modes, accessed via a rotating dial and menu button on the back of the cameras, makes it easy to capture great images in a variety of lighting situations, such as Sports, Fireworks and Night Scene with Portrait. All three cameras offer VGA-quality video and sound, which enable users to create short movies that can be emailed to family and friends. The FE-290 offers 17 shooting modes, while the FE-300 offers 18, and the FE-280 offers 21, including three underwater scene modes.
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. And with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or emailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee™ Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.
Olympus Premium Cases and Silicone Skin
Olympus also offers premium cases in various colors, including camel and red leather, and a sporty neoprene case perfect for active or outdoor situations. Silicone skins that protect the camera from scratches are also available in colors for the FE-280. Additionally, the PT-038 underwater housing can be used with the FE-280, enabling even the most novice photographer to take beautiful underwater images.
Availability
The FE-280, FE-290 and FE-300 will be available in August 2007. Each will include a LI-42B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery and Charger, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Manual, CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software and Warranty Card.
U.S. Pricing
FE-280 Estimated Street Price: $199.99 (U.S.)
FE-290 Estimated Street Price: $249.99 (U.S.)
FE-300 Estimated Street Price: $299.99 (U.S.)
Buy the Olympus Stylus FE-290 at Amazon.
The Olympus FE-280 is a super slim point and shoot digital camera with an 8 megapixel sensor (CCD) and 3x optical zoom lens.
It features a 2.5 inch LCD, 1 scene modes, 48 megabytes of internal memory, has a shutter sped range of 4 - 1/2000 seconds, xD card, ISO of up to 1600 and USB 2.0.
It measures 91.8 x 55.7 x 16.5mm and weighs 108 grams.
The Olympus FE-280 will have a retail price of $199.99.
Buy the Olympus FE-280
Olympus Stylus FE-280 - Silver
Olympus Stylus FE-280 - Black
Olympus Stylus FE-280 - Blue
Olympus FE-280 News Release
NEW OLYMPUS FE-SERIES CAMERAS COMBINE EASY OPERATION WITH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES
Three New Digital Compact Cameras Offer Choice of 12.0-Megapixel Image Sensor, 4x Wide-Angle Lens and Face Detection Technology for Crisp, Clear Images
Olympus has taken the FE-Series to a new level of performance and ease of use. From the most powerful image sensor to the largest LCD screen and the newest technological innovations, the FE-300, FE-290 and FE-280 offer something for everyone. Common to all three cameras is their ultra-slim design, affordable price and intuitive features, which enable anyone to capture all of life’s moments in brilliant detail.
Each easy and fun camera also offers its own unique features including:
FE-300: The slimmest compact camera to provide a 12-megapixel image sensor for producing large-format prints with incredible detail and Face Detection Technology for capturing sharp, brilliant portrait pictures;
FE-290: A 4x zoom for getting closer to a subject, a 28mm wide-angle lens for taking beautiful panoramic shots and an impressive 3-inch LCD for composing and displaying captured images; and
FE-280: A super-slim body available in four trendy colors (red, blue, black and silver) with Face Detection Technology, which tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures.
“We’ve added even more features and performance to the ultra-slim FE-Series without adding complexity,” said Jennifer Schmell, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “Whatever your need, from large-format printing to increased zoom, there’s an FE camera for you.”
Powerful Image Sensor
The FE-300 features a powerful 12.0-megapixel image sensor, which allows photographers to make large-format prints and crop photographs dramatically while maintaining image quality. Producing impressive 16-inch by 20-inch prints of dramatic landscapes, portraits or flowers will be a snap with this high-resolution (1/1.72”) image sensor.
High-Resolution LCD Screens
The FE-290 features an extra large 3-inch LCD screen, and the FE-280 and FE-300 feature large 2.5-inch LCD screens. Composing shots and sharing images with friends and family is easier than ever thanks to the FE-Series large, high-resolution LCD screens. Additionally, the backlight boost button increases the LCD from bright to a super-bright setting, making it easier to capture and view images in challenging environments such as direct sunlight or low-light situations.
Face Detection Technology
Face Detection Technology tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses (Face Detection AF) and optimizes exposure (Face Detection AE) for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures. Even if your subjects are moving, the camera continuously tracks your subjects' faces without having to press the shutter button.
Expanded Control and Easy Operation
In some situations, consumers may want more creative control when composing images. The three new FE cameras offer Program Auto Mode. Located on the cameras’ mode dial, this option enables consumers to easily adjust ISO and white balance. Additionally, the new FE-Series cameras feature in-camera Help Guides, making digital photography simple and fun for users of all ages and skill levels. A tutorial “shooting guide” educates users on tips for achieving specific effects, such as “shooting into backlight” and brightening subjects. The shooting guide not only provides detailed descriptions for various situations and environments, but also sets the camera with the touch of a button, making the transition from learning to taking great pictures instantaneous.
Perfect Shot Preview
The FE-300 and FE-280 feature a Perfect Shot Preview mode, which enables users to preview and select various photographic effects on a live, multi-frame window on the LCD before snapping the shot. This feature allows users to see precisely what the image will look like when adjustments are made, ensuring users are capturing the exact image they want. It’s a great way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, such as exposure compensation, white balance and metering.
Digital Image Stabilization Mode and Edit
The new FE cameras offer Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) for capturing crisp, clear pictures. DIS freezes the action with high ISO sensitivity and fast shutter speeds that prevent blurry images often caused by a moving subject. The FE-280 and FE-300 also feature Digital Image Stabilization Edit, which uses a built-in gyro sensor to track camera movement and enables users to fix blurry images right in the camera. The FE-280 and FE-300 also feature high ISO sensitivity, which extends the flash working range, enabling users to capture clear, bright subjects and backgrounds in low-light situations.
Perfect Fix
Life does not always go as planned, so the FE-280 and FE-300 feature Perfect Fix, which allows users to modify pictures after they take them. Perfect Fix sharpens unanticipated blur, improves lighting and eliminates red-eye.
TruePicTM III Image Processor
The FE-280 and FE-300 feature Olympus’ exclusive new TruePic III image processor, which was developed for the demanding performance of professional Digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras. Olympus’ enhanced TruePic III Image Processor produces crystal-clear photos using all the pixel information for each image to deliver superior picture quality with more accurate colors, true-to-life flesh tones and faster processing speeds. TruePic III also captures crisp, clear images at high ISO settings, which are traditionally associated with increasing image noise or producing grainy photos.
Bright Capture Technology for Easy Low-Light Photography
The FE-280 and FE-300 include Bright Capture Technology, enabling consumers to preview and shoot images and movies in low light using specific scene modes. It is perfect for situations when a flash is not appropriate to capture the softness and warmth of a candlelit dinner or natural skin tones in subdued lighting.
PreSet Shooting Modes Make It Easy to Capture Great Images
The inclusion of preset shooting modes, accessed via a rotating dial and menu button on the back of the cameras, makes it easy to capture great images in a variety of lighting situations, such as Sports, Fireworks and Night Scene with Portrait. All three cameras offer VGA-quality video and sound, which enable users to create short movies that can be emailed to family and friends. The FE-290 offers 17 shooting modes, while the FE-300 offers 18, and the FE-280 offers 21, including three underwater scene modes.
OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software
OLYMPUS Master 2 Software provides the ultimate in digital imaging management. An intuitive user interface makes downloading to your computer quick and simple, and images are easily organized by folders or albums and searchable by date in Calendar view. And with one-click editing tools, such as red-eye removal, images can be touched up before printing or emailing. Online support, templates, firmware upgrades and other user services are just a mouse-click away. Use the optional muvee™ Theater Pack to create professional quality slide shows and DVDs from your pictures using any of several built-in templates.
Olympus Premium Cases and Silicone Skin
Olympus also offers premium cases in various colors, including camel and red leather, and a sporty neoprene case perfect for active or outdoor situations. Silicone skins that protect the camera from scratches are also available in colors for the FE-280. Additionally, the PT-038 underwater housing can be used with the FE-280, enabling even the most novice photographer to take beautiful underwater images.
Availability
The FE-280, FE-290 and FE-300 will be available in August 2007. Each will include a LI-42B Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery and Charger, USB Cable, Audio/Video Cable, Wrist Strap, Manual, CD-ROM with OLYMPUS Master™ 2 Software and Warranty Card.
U.S. Pricing
FE-280 Estimated Street Price: $199.99 (U.S.)
FE-290 Estimated Street Price: $249.99 (U.S.)
FE-300 Estimated Street Price: $299.99 (U.S.)
The Sony Cybershot DSC-H3 brings together an 8 megapixel sensor, 10x optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens (38-380mm) and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.
It features super steady shot optical image stabilization, face detection (auto exposure, focussing, white balance and flash), ISO of up to 3200, 31 megabytes of internal memory and an advanced sports mode with predictive auto focussing and high shutter speeds. It comes in silver and black.
The Sony Cybershot DSC-H3 will have a retail price of $299.99 USD and will hit stores in September.
Buy the Sony Cybershot DSC-H3 at Amazon
CNET reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 and gives it a rating of 7.0 out of 10. They write - "Image quality from the H3 can be quite nice if you stick with ISOs 100 and 200, though that niceness is marred a bit by the lens' noticeable distortion, as well as some purple fringing on high-contrast edges toward the edges of images. I saw more noise than I would've liked at ISO 400. While images are still very usable and much of the noise is minimized during printing, there is a noticeable falloff in shadow detail and fine detail at ISO 400. Stepping up to ISO 800, noise increases only slightly, but there's more of a falloff in shadow and fine detail. At ISO 1,600 noise becomes heavy and most shadow and fine detail is lost. The top sensitivity setting of ISO 3,200 yields extremely noisy images with completely blocked up shadows and fine details. For example, text which was crisp and clear at ISO 200 and below, becomes completely illegible at ISO 3,200. I suggest staying below ISO 1,600 when shooting with the H3 and sticking with ISO 100 or ISO 200 whenever possible."
Imaging Resource reviews the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 and writes - "As a quality digital camera for the everyday shooter, however, the Sony H3 offers a lot. A 10x zoom in a small package is always welcome; and it comes with the image stabilization it needs to get the long shots. Face detection and lots of ISO headroom mean you'll be able to take better photos of friends and family with and without flash in more places. Though there are a few foibles that might not make the Sony H3 for you in particular (see the Pro/Con list above), we still see the Sony H3 as a great camera."
ePhotozine has a review of the Samsung L74W and writes, "Overall the camera scored well, performing impressively in the burst mode test and producing images sharp, clear images that retain good amount of detail. The build of the camera is stylish, and the touch screen features of the L74W combined with the supersize LCD screen made menus easy to use. There were certain areas where it let itself down though, for example, the reds and blues were noticeably brighter when compared in the colour chart test, the Face Detection technology often focused on the wrong part of the picture, and the fact that the battery didn't seem to retain much power."
Read more about the Samsung Digimax L74 Wide.
Get a Price on the Samsung Digimax L74 Wide
PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Canon Digital IXUS 950 IS and writes, "when it comes to low light shooting without flash it's another matter. Noise starts to creep in visibly above ISO 200, becoming more pronounced at ISO 800 and really quite intrusive at ISO 1600. That said, the IXUS 950 IS is pretty good at avoiding the effects of camera shake under such circumstances, and even at its highest ISO setting the effects are not quite as obviously Impressionistic, even 'pointilist', as some of its competitors. Generally speaking this is a camera you'll be able to leave on auto and 90% of the time be rewarded with results that you'll want to keep."
Read more about the Canon IXUS 950 IS (PowerShot SD850 IS).
Get a price on the Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Imaging Resource has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8 and writes, "There's a lot to like about the Panasonic DMC-FZ8, and with few exceptions it won't disappoint. Its advanced feature set, ease of use, good performance and 12x image-stabilized optical zoom make for a nice photographic package. Designed to be usable by novices, yet equipped with sophisticated manual features for experienced photographers, the FZ8 offers enough to please a range of consumers. The biggest drawback is its propensity for image noise and an overly aggressive noise reduction system than can turn high ISO shots from a sharply focused picture to a soft and fuzzy painterly image. That's an issue onscreen, but even our large prints looked pretty good, and really good at 11x14."
Read more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ8.
The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III is a Pro DSLR that is going to make many photographers stop and consider an upgrade.
This full frame DSLR with 21.1 megapixels shoots at five frames per second, features a 36 x 24mm sensor, larger viewfinder and is capable of processing data at 185 megabytes per second with it's Dual Digic III processors.
The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III features integrated cleaning, ISO range of 50 to 3200 (expanded) and a 3.0 inch LCD with Live View mode.
The Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III isn't cheap - and is available for a retail price of $7999 USD. You can preorder it at Amazon at:
Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III 21.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
As well as producing outstanding colour rendition, Dual DIGIC III processors drive 5 fps continuous shooting for up to 56 Large JPEGs (12 RAW) – unrivalled by any other camera at this resolution. This capacity to shoot such large images uninterrupted is regarded as a big driver in switching studio photographers to the EOS platform.
The EOS-1Ds Mark III inherits the new technology platform introduced earlier this year in the EOS-1D Mark III, including 63-zone exposure metering, 19 cross-type auto focus system, a 3.0” LCD with Live View mode and EOS Integrated Cleaning System. The Highlight Tone Priority function expands dynamic range for more depth and detail in bright areas. The launch is supported with the announcement of Canon’s new ultra wide-angle lens, the Lens 2.
“Taking image quality and versatility to unprecedented levels, the EOS-1Ds Mark III redefines commercial photography conventions”, said Karz Suzuki, Head of Canon Professional Services. “The camera will strengthen Canon’s popularity amongst professional studio photographers. Culminating 20 years of EOS development, the EOS-1Ds Mark III represents a definitive moment in our company’s photographic history.”
Key features of the Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
* 21 Megapixel full frame (35mm) CMOS sensor
* 5 fps continuous shooting for up to 56 frames
* Dual “DIGIC III” processors
* Highlight Tone Priority
* Auto focus system with 19 cross type sensors and 26 focus assist points
* EOS Integrated Cleaning System
* ISO 100-1600 (expandable to L:50 H:3200)
* 3.0” 230K pixel LCD with Live View mode
* Redesigned viewfinder now wider and brighter
Image quality
The EOS-1Ds Mark III produces files that exceed the standard resolution requirements of leading agencies and stock libraries. The third generation CMOS sensor incorporates a new pixel design with on-chip noise reduction circuitry to ensure high image quality all the way to ISO 1600. 14 bit A/D converters provide a total colour depth of 16,384 tones per pixel - delivering smoother gradations and more accurate colour reproduction.
The option to expand to H:3200 will be welcomed by professionals working in churches and sensitive situations where the use of flash is not permitted or desired. Where discretion is paramount, a silent drive mode delays shutter re-cocking for as long as the shutter release remains depressed.
Highlight Tone Priority mode gives wedding and landscape photographers the option to boost dynamic range for highlights when shooting above ISO 200 – reproducing more tonal detail from wedding dresses, clouds and other bright objects.
Precision and control
The auto focus system includes 19 cross-type sensors with sensitivity up to f/2.8, spread across the AF area to better accommodate off-centre subjects. An additional 26 AF assist points help with AF tracking accuracy.
The control layout includes a dedicated AF-ON button on the back of the camera, allowing users to instantly switch auto focus on when composing. The viewfinder is now brighter with a wider angle of view, while the 63-zone metering system gives photographers a greater degree of control over exposure.
New LCD with Live View
The bright 3.0” LCD monitor provides 230K pixels resolution for precise framing and reviewing. Live View mode displays a real-time image on the LCD, including a selectable grid overlay and a live histogram that simulates image exposure. For the studio environment, remote Live View lets the photographer compose, adjust settings and capture the shot from a PC using the supplied EOS utility software.
New controls and menu
The EOS-1Ds Mark III’s menu incorporates a tab structure that eliminates scrolling for vastly improved readability and ease of use. Improving on previous models, personal settings and custom functions are consolidated into 57 custom functions grouped into four logical categories. Photographers can also now see at a glance any default setting changes. The My Menu option allows photographers to store frequently used settings on a separate menu for immediate access. Settings for recently released accessories such as the Speedlite 580EX II and the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2 can be controlled directly from the LCD. Along with a new dedicated ISO button, ISO is permanently displayed on the top LCD panel.
Reliability
Shutter durability is increased by 50% to 300,000 cycles. A magnesium alloy casing with dust and moisture resistant seals protects the body. The EOS Integrated Cleaning System reduces, repels and removes dust from the sensor to significantly limit the need for manual cleaning. To avoid image loss, a warning alarm sounds if the memory card door is opened while images are still being written.
Connectivity
Interfaces include video out (for display in both NTSC and PAL formats – with the Live View mode ideal for live display to clients during the shoot) and USB 2.0. To prevent the USB cable becoming accidentally dislodged during shooting, a special connection secures it to the camera body.
Compatibility and accessories
As well as full compatibility with all EF lenses and EX Speedlite flashes and accessories, the EOS-1Ds Mark III is supported by the recently released Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2. The WFT-E2 enables secure wireless uploads to FTP servers as well as remote access via HTTP and PTP protocols. The unit also connects wirelessly to external storage media and supports GPS tagging when used with a portable GPS device. For assignments where image protection and authenticity are crucial, the EOS-1Ds Mark III is compatible with the Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3.
New lens
Today’s launch coincides with the release of the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM: Canon’s new professional L-series ultra wide-angle lens for the photographer requiring a slightly different perspective. As with many L-series lenses and the Speedlite 580EX II, the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM incorporates environmental sealing to match that of the EOS-1Ds Mark III, creating a fully weatherproof camera system. Aspherical and UD lens elements produce exceptional image quality with improved corner-to-corner sharpness. The ring-type USM delivers fast, silent auto focus with full-time manual focus override. A circular aperture produces pleasing bokeh at wide apertures and Super Spectra coatings suppress ghosting and flare by suppressing internal reflections from lens element and sensor surfaces.
Software
The EOS-1Ds Mark III is packaged with a comprehensive software suite to streamline the photographer’s workflow. This includes Digital Photo Professional (DPP) RAW conversion/processing software for complete RAW image processing control. DPP also integrates with camera features such as the Dust Delete Data and Picture Style. The camera also comes with EOS Utility, ImageBrowser/Zoom Browser and Photostitch.
DigicamReview has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 and writes, "The Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 has very good image quality. Colours are very good and in a very wide range of situations the camera will take sharp, detailed pictures with good exposure. Almost every situation is catered for with a scene mode, and there are numerous options such as sharpness, saturation, contrast, dynamic range, flash intensity, flash assist etc. The camera was generally competent and fast at focusing with the focus assist lamp activating when light was low. There is a good range of image sizes, compression options, and aspect ratios. There aren't any manual controls such as aperture or shutter priority, however there is almost every other option you can think of including manual focus and custom white balance. Purple fringing is average, the macro mode is slightly poor, and the only other problem with images is noise at the higher ISO settings."
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050.
Get a price on the "Casio Exilim EX-Z1050
DCResource has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 and writes, "While not perfect, photo quality was still very good for a compact, 10 Megapixel camera. The Z1050 generally took well-exposed photos, with very saturated colors. Purple fringing levels were fairly low, and the camera didn't have much of the corner blurriness than plagues so many of these compact cameras. Noise wasn't really a problem until ISO 800, and even then, it wasn't so bad. The reason for the lack of noise is (of course) noise reduction, which makes the Z1050's photos lean toward the soft side. Redeye is a big problem on this camera, and there's no way to remove it without your computer."
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050.
Get a price on the "Casio Exilim EX-Z1050
DPExpert has a review of the Kodak Easyshare Z712 IS and writes, "Once we had cranked down saturation and sharpness we enjoyed using this camera. With 7.4mp on a small sensor we expected noise to be a problem, but at ISO400 the pictures look as though they have been taken with film of the same speed. Noise is tight and more like grain. Resolution of fine detail is excellent and exposures are generally spot on. The macro mode is very good. Point-and-shooters should love this camera but it will also keep a more ambitious photographer happy."
Read more about the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS.
Get a Price on the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS
The Sony Cybershot DSC-T70 is another camera that Sony seem to have released today without a lot of fanfare.
The Sony Cybershot DSC-T70 is an 8 megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom lens.
It features a 3.0 inch LCD (touch screen), face detection (with 'smile shutter'), HD Output for watching your shots or movies on a HDTV and a focal range that is equivalent to 38-114mm.
The Sony Cybershot DSC-T70 comes in silver, black, white and pink and has 31 megabytes of internal memory.
There are no details at this point on price or availability. When we hear something from Sony on this we'll update you on these.
Sony Cybershot DSC-T70 (Pink)
Sony Cybershot DSC-T70 8.1MP (White)
Sony Cybershot DSC-T70 8.1MP (Black)
Sony Cybershot DSC-T70 (Silver)
The Sony Cybershot DSC-T200 is a new stylish point and shoot camera that's just been announced by Sony that features a sleek slim design.
The SONY Cyber-shot DSC-T200 features a wide 3.5 inch LCD touch screen, 5x optical zoom (35-175mm), face detection with 'smile shutter' for detecting smiles and has HD output for viewing images on HDTVs.
The SONY Cyber-shot DSC-T200 has an 8.1 megapixel sensor, shutter speed range of 1"-1/1000, ISO range of 80 to 3200, optical image stabilization and comes in Red, Black and Silver.
No details to this point on price or availability but it certainly looks like a lovely looking camera.
More details as they come to hand on the Sony Cybershot DSC-T200
The Canon PowerShot SX100 IS is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a 10x optical zoom lens - equivalent of 36 - 360mm (with optical image stabilization).
The Canon PowerShot SX100 IS features a 2.5 inch LCD screen (no view finder), maximum aperture range of f/28 to f/4.3, ISO from 80 to 1600 and a shutter speed range of between 1/2500 to 15 seconds.
It has a large range of automatic and scene modes as well as modes that give more control to a photographer wanting to stretch the camera a little further with aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes but also manual white balance and metering control..
The Canon PowerShot SX100 IS will have a retail price of $299.99 USD when released in October.
PowerShot SX100 IS Offers All the Zooming Power Consumers Could Ever Want
Canon U.S.A., Inc. today introduced a brand new PowerShot line – the SX series – and the first camera in that line-up, the ultra-zoom PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera. The PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera features a 10x optical zoom, an Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) and an extended grip, making this light and small shooter capable of capturing magnificent images clearly, even at long range.
In addition to its powerful zoom lens, the PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera is loaded with a full complement of performance and convenient features that camera aficionados have come to expect from Canon – 8.0 megapixel resolution for crisp, vibrant images, a DIGIC III image processor for speed, power and performance, Canon’s Genuine Face Detection Technology (with Face Selector capability), a large 2.5-inch LCD screen for easy image previews and reviews, and much more.
This technology, coupled with a 10x optical zoom and OIS, enables soccer moms who are perched in the bleachers to have the ability to shoot photos of their superstars playing on the field that will look like photos taken from the sidelines. Alternatively, a parent sitting in the balcony with their sights set on capturing their little ballerina’s face as she pirouettes through the air for the first time can easily keep the focus framed on their daughter’s moving image throughout the performance. And, since the PowerShot SX100 IS Digital Camera is part of Canon’s “A-Team” (powered by AA batteries), it’s quick and simple to power up.
Though simple to operate, the PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera offers photo enthusiasts many creative possibilities, including the ability to shoot VGA movies of the very highest quality. In fact, the PowerShot SX100 IS provides two VGA 30 fps recording modes: Standard mode for maximum image quality, and the new 640 LP mode for maximum recording time and reduced file sizes. In either mode, the PowerShot SX100 IS can capture individual movies up to one hour or 4GB per clip, whichever comes first. Budding filmmakers simply switch to movie mode to capture video more easily than ever before, and then clearly view it on the bright 2.5-inch wide-angle LCD display or through a connected TV set or video monitor. Movie clips can also be uploaded to compatible personal computers for sharing on the World Wide Web.
Additionally, the PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera comes equipped with 19 shooting modes, ranging from fully automatic to fully manual, and easily accessible through an SLR-style mode dial on top of the camera. Shooting modes include Full Auto, Program, Shutter-Priority, Aperture-Priority and Manual, as well as special scene modes including Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Sports, and Kids & Pets.
“We developed the PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera with all the zooming power and creative control a traditional photo-taker could ever want in a compact and value-priced package,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “At a price point of just under $300 with a simple and intuitive user interface, this camera is just as appropriate for beginners as it is for more seasoned enthusiasts with a need to capture quality images from a distance.”
Setting it apart from competitors, the PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera gives consumers interested in the ease of a point-and-shoot camera many of the technological advancements that are the result of Canon’s 70-year heritage as an imaging innovator.
New Canon PowerShot Digital Camera Lines’ Shared Technological Advancements
DIGIC III
The "brain" of this new PowerShot camera is DIGIC III, the gold standard on all new Canon digital cameras. The DIGIC III image processor accounts for the camera's higher performance levels, including faster start-up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long-lag competitors in the dust. The DIGIC III chip design improves image quality and offers more efficient power consumption, resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting conditions.
ADVANCED FACE DETECTION
With Canon’s new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect, lock-on and track multiple human faces in a scene. The Face Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply the closest object (based on Canon’s Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the best possible results. Using Canon’s Face Detection, photographers can keep up to nine forward-looking faces in focus at any one time no matter where they are within the image. The PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera also introduces an exclusive new function called Face Select and Track using the convenient Face Selector button. With this feature, when multiple faces are detected, photographers can select any individual face they want the camera to track. This feature is ideal for many shooting situations such as birthday parties or graduation ceremonies, where many people are present, but the photographer is primarily interested in just one of them. Working in concert with Face Detection, the SX100 IS’s “Red-Eye Correction” feature helps to detect and correct red-eye during playback mode. Images can be corrected automatically or manually while viewing photos on the LCD screen. All in all, Canon’s new Face Detection Technology makes for even easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles and accurately exposed faces.
OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION (OIS)
The extended zoom range of the camera makes optical image stabilization (OIS) essential. Canon's lens shift OIS provides an effective antidote to camera shake, particularly at longer zoom focal lengths or during long exposures when even the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to picture-blurring proportions. Superior to electronic image stabilization systems that simply use software to mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens proportionately to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images. The OIS found in Canon PowerShot digital cameras is based on technology originally developed for Canon’s renowned high-end professional EOS SLR cameras.
The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new "Auto ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting in low light conditions without a flash.
PRINTING MADE EASY
All Canon PowerShot digital cameras work seamlessly with Canon’s compact photo printers to deliver stunning high-quality borderless prints. Consumers simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a Canon compact photo printer, press the Print/Share button, and moments later a brilliant, borderless 4” x 6” print begins to emerge; it’s that simple. Canon’s compact photo printers are PictBridge compatible, so they work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras to provide users with excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when paired with a Canon digital camera.
HIGH-CAPACITY MEMORY CARD CAPABILITY
As an added convenience, Canon PowerShot digital cameras also accommodate MultiMedia MMC memory cards, as well as standard SD memory cards and the new, high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This way, consumers do not have to carry around multiple memory cards in order to be able to continue to save those special moments during extended vacations or high-photo-taking adventures. Canon PowerShot camera owners can shoot uninterrupted.
The PowerShot SX100 IS digital camera will be available in ever-classic, never goes out of style black or silver colors. In stores beginning in October 2007, the PowerShot SX100 IS camera kit includes two AA Alkaline batteries, a 16MB MMC plus memory card, a USB interface cable, an AV cable, a neck strap, and Canon’s software suite at an estimated selling price of $299.99*.
CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS and gives it a rating of 7.3 out of 10. They write - "What the camera sacrifices in speed, however, it makes up for in photo quality. Perhaps it's just the result of an extra few months of tweaking since the S5 shipped, but the SX100's photo quality, especially at higher ISO sensitivity settings, clearly improves upon its siblings. At ISO 800, for example, there's far less of a mottled look in the SX100's shots, but with no increased loss of detail. The new lens has better distortion characteristics--less distortion and more symmetry--and photos look sharp without looking oversharpened. While there's a bit of magenta, yellow, and purple fringing, it's not nearly as severe in the SX100's photos as those of the S5 (or S3). Plus, the good aspects of those models' images--predominantly excellent exposure and color--highlight the SX100's photos, as well."
Digital Camera Info reviews the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS and writes - 'The Canon PowerShot SX100 IS makes a solid impression. As the first in Canon’s new line, the SX100 IS performs well with its optical image stabilization and updated face detection. Even more, Canon earns major innovation points for the Face Select Tool, which utilizes a unique rotary dial that puts a spin (literally) on an old function. While most manufacturers have by now included face detection on their newer cameras, Canon took the face-finding technology a step further by allowing users to select which face to focus and expose. If the sensitive rotary control dial were improved in the next SX camera, it could easily one of the leaders in the niche 10x point-and-shoot category.'
DigitalCameraReview has a review of the Canon Powershot SX100 IS and writes, "The Canon Powershot SX100 IS offers a blend of automatic and manual shooting options that should appeal to a broad range of users. The novice can shoot in auto with confidence that the camera won’t let her down, and the more experienced user can make use of the manual controls to exert creative license on their shots. This relatively compact camera mounts a 10x optical zoom lens and offers good shutter performance, image color and quality along with optical stabilization. ... If you shoot a lot of flash or like to shoot in bursts, the SX100 IS may not be for you. But if you need a small camera with a big lens, give this camera some serious consideration."
Imaging Resource has posted their review of the Canon PowerShot SX100 IS where they write - "The Canon PowerShot SX100IS offers a great value in an affordable, feature-rich long zoom digital camera that's user friendly and still reasonably compact. With an 8.0-megapixel CCD image sensor, the Canon SX100 IS has great image quality so long as there's plenty of light. Things get a little rougher in poor lighting as you need to ratchet up the ISO sensitivity, but is no worse than most of the competition in this respect. The combination of full auto for beginners and and full manual for the more experienced photographer, plus a really powerful zoom lens that has minimal distortion and great sharpness, combine to let you get in touch with your creative side. "
DP Review has reviewed the Canon SX100 IS where they write - 'In conclusion, the SX100 IS offers reliable image quality, a big zoom range and a good variety of photographic controls in a relatively compact body at a very competitive price. If you don't mind the slow flash recycling times (which somewhat limit the camera's use as a social snapshot tool) the SX100 IS is a perfect piece of equipment for anyone wanting to cover a large variety of photographic situations without breaking the bank or carrying a backpack full of lenses. It offers a well balanced package, value for money and is simply fun to use which earns it our Recommended badge.'
The Canon PowerShot A720 IS an 8 megapixel point and shoot camera with a 6x optical zoom lens (equivalent of 35 to 210mm).
It features an ISO range of 80 - 1600 and a 2.5 inch LCD screen and optical view finder.
The Canon PowerShot A720 IS has aperture and shutter priority modes, manual mode as well as 12 scene modes.
Buy it at Amazon at Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced two new PowerShot A-Series digital cameras, including one with the highest resolution in the series to-date – the show-stopping 12.1-megapixel PowerShot A650 IS digital camera – and the powerful 8.0-megapixel PowerShot A720 IS digital camera. These new cameras continue the promise of the PowerShot A-Series by delivering superior image quality at a great price.
Both cameras maintain many of the features of this ultra-successful line, with improvements to better meet the needs of users who want a solid and smart point-and-shoot with user-friendly manual capabilities. So, whether it’s an experienced enthusiast looking for a full feature-set and lots of imaging benefits, or a casual, or even first-time user looking for an easy-to-master point-and-shoot, the Canon PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS digital cameras will more than satisfy. These cameras, with a comfortable shape and design that features a grip for a natural fit and stable handling, are great for outdoor enthusiasts needing to capture that special moment when they reach the top of the mountain or trek through the rainforest.
“By enhancing the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS digital cameras with advanced, yet user-friendly feature-sets, at a reduced price point, the A-series will continue to stand-out from the competition,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.
The PowerShot A650 IS digital camera is designed for photo enthusiasts who demand superior image quality, and are looking for a versatile camera with exceptional creative control. The PowerShot A650 IS Digital Camera has breathtaking 12.1-megapixel resolution and a generous 6x optical zoom with optical image stabilization (OIS) that ensures steady shooting every time. A variety of enhanced controls, such as 21 shooting modes including Kids & Pets, Manual, Aperture-Priority and Shutter-Priority, among others, will also give users a lot of freedom to make the camera adapt to their specific needs. All of this power is easily navigated via the intuitive mode dial, easily viewed via the 2.5-inch Vari-Angle LCD and just as easily handled, via the ergonomic grip. With these targeted features, users can spend more time actually taking photos, rather than trying to figure out how to take them.
The PowerShot A720 IS digital camera is designed to make capturing and preserving memories fast, fun and easy for Moms and Dads on-the-go with their busy, growing families. The upgraded 8.0-megapixel resolution and Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization technology ensure that images are sharp and clear in almost every situation – even those prone to image blur caused by camera shake. The PowerShot A720 IS camera is also capable of recording high-quality VGA movies, making it perfect for capturing memories in motion. The new camera has a wide array of creative shooting modes, a simple control layout for super-easy operability and an ergonomically correct grip to ensure a comfortable fit.
Both of the new A-series cameras are also built for fun in the sun and sea. Snap the PowerShot A650 IS into Waterproof Case WP-DC18 or the PowerShot A720 IS into Waterproof Case WP-DC 16 and they become both weatherproof and waterproof at depths up to 130 feet, making them great accessories for the beach, water-park or a scuba trip. Both cameras are part of Canon’s “A-Team” (powered by AA batteries), so powering up will be quick and easy.
Setting them apart from competitive models, the PowerShot A650 IS digital camera and the PowerShot A720 IS digital camera give consumers interested in the ease of a point-and-shoot camera many of the technological advancements that are the result of Canon’s 70-year heritage as an imaging innovator.
New Canon PowerShot Digital Camera Lines’ Shared Technological Advancements
DIGIC III
The "brain" of these new PowerShot cameras is DIGIC III, the gold standard on all new Canon digital cameras. The DIGIC III image processor accounts for the camera's higher performance levels, including faster start-up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long-lag competitors in the dust. The DIGIC III chip design improves image quality and offers more efficient power consumption, resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting conditions.
ADVANCED FACE DETECTION
With Canon’s new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect up to nine forward-looking human faces in a scene. The Face Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply the closet object (based on Canon’s Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the best possible results. Using Canon’s Face Detection, photographers can keep up to nine faces in focus at any one time no matter where they are within the image. Working in concert with Face Detection, the “Red-Eye Correction” feature helps to detect and correct red-eye during playback mode. Images can be corrected automatically or manually while viewing photos on the LCD screen. Canon’s new Face Detection Technology makes for even easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles, and assist in the elimination of over-exposed faces.
OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION
The extended zoom range of these cameras makes optical image stabilization (OIS) essential. Canon's lens shift OIS provides an effective antidote to camera shake, particularly at longer zoom lengths or during long exposures when even the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to picture-blurring proportions. Superior to electronic image stabilization systems that simply use software to mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens proportionately to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images. The OIS found in Canon PowerShot digital cameras is based on technology developed for Canon’s renowned high-end professional EOS SLR cameras.
The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new "Auto ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting in low-light conditions without a flash.
PRINTING MADE EASY
All Canon PowerShot digital cameras work seamlessly with Canon’s compact photo printers to deliver stunning high-quality borderless prints. Consumers simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a Canon compact photo printer, press the Print/Share button, and moments later a brilliant, borderless 4” x 6” print begins to emerge; it’s that simple. Canon’s compact photo printers are PictBridge compatible, so they work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras to provide users with excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when paired with a Canon digital camera.
HIGH-CAPACITY MEMORY CARD CAPABILITY
As an added convenience, Canon PowerShot digital cameras also accommodate MultiMedia MMC memory cards, as well as standard SD memory cards and the new, high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This way, consumers do not have to carry around multiple memory cards in order to be able to continue to save those special moments during extended vacations or high-photo-taking adventures. Canon PowerShot owners can travel in sleek style.
The estimated selling prices of the PowerShot A650 IS digital camera and the PowerShot A720 IS digital camera models are $399.99* and $249.99*, respectively. Both models are scheduled to be available in stores in September. The Canon PowerShot A650 IS camera kit includes four AA batteries, 32MB SD memory card, USB interface cable, AV cable, wrist strap and Canon’s software suite. The Canon PowerShot A720 IS camera kit includes two AA batteries, 16MB SD memory card, USB interface cable, AV cable, wrist strap and Canon’s software suite.
CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot A720 IS and writes - "Surprisingly broad depth-of-field and solid white balance contribute to the camera's excellent picture quality. Both small text and fine textures appear crisp and full of detail, even when stretching across multiple planes. Slight fringing appeared on off-white and yellow edges, though not to the point that the photos suffered. In general, if you stick to ISO 400 or lower, the A720 IS will produce great pictures."
Steves Digicams reviews the Canon Powershot A720 IS where they write - 'Combining beginner-friendly AUTO and Scene settings, along with the full Manual mode and everything in between, makes this a terrific consumer digicam. The 6x optical zoom and Image Stabilization add to its versatility, let alone the overall fun factor. It is perfect for the home or office as it is easy enough for anyone to pick up and start shooting. With a MSRP of US$230, this is an outstanding value for a digicam that offers power, functionality, and quality all wrapped up into one compact package.'
Trusted Reviews reviews the Canon PowerShot A720 IS and writes, "The A720 IS is clearly aimed at photographers who expect a bit more from their camera than a simple point-and-shoot snapshot can provide, and this naturally includes superior image quality. 8MP is about the optimum resolution for compact camera image quality at the moment, and the A720 performs better than most. The 6x zoom lens is particularly good, providing a huge amount of fine detail with good edge sharpness and very little barrel distortion at wide angle, although there is a little pincushion distortion at the telephoto end. Dynamic range is very good considering the small 1/2.5-inch sensor, with excellent shadow and highlight detail even in very high contrast shots, and colour reproduction is typically superb. Noise control is also well above average, with very good image quality at 800 ISO, and usable results even at the maximum setting of 1600 ISO. All in all, an excellent performance from a very accomplished camera."
Digital Trends has a review of the Canon PowerShot A720 IS and writes, "For around $225 USD, this is a solid-yet-not-great camera. Christmas didn’t come early so you can’t expect a camera for this price to have the response and low-noise capability of a $1,000 D-SLR! If you can spare the extra money, I’d still go the SD870 IS but a hundred bucks is still 30 gallons of gas. The PowerShot A720 IS is a fine performer outdoors but has its faults in low light and it is a little pokey when you use the flash. It’s not a slam dunk winner but neither is it a dog—it’s a compromise. And compromises rarely make everyone jump for joy."
Imaging Resource reviews the Canon PowerShot A720 IS and writes - "From the optical viewfinder to the manual modes to the variable power flash, whenever I looked for a feature a photographer would appreciate, I found it on the Canon A720 IS. There isn't a gaudy LCD (with no room for a viewfinder) or extravagant zoom range (with big compromises in optical quality) or any of the frills (frames, in-camera presentations) of many less capable digicams. But if you want a mid-size digicam with a fairly long zoom that can take pictures like a real camera, this is it"
NeoCamera reviews the Canon A720 where they write - 'The Canon Powershot A720 IS is an excellent digital camera. Without compromising on image quality, the A720 packs a rich feature set at an affordable price. Its 6X stabilized zoom gives users more reach that most compact cameras. Although there is no area where this camera is considered the best, it performs well in all areas with remarkable consistency. Image noise is well controlled with a good balance between details and noise-reduction. This makes ISO 400 more usable than on most compact cameras. Expsoure and white-balance are among the best we have seen from a consumer-oriented camera. The A720 is a relatively fast performer too. It has a short shutter-lag, focus reasonably fast and has a good shot-to-shot speed. Battery-life is excellent at 400 shots-per-charge using 2 AA batteries.'
Buy it at Amazon at Canon PowerShot A720IS 8MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
The Canon PowerShot A650 IS is a 12 megapixel image sense with a 6x optical zoom lens (35 - 210mm), image stabilization and a 2.5 inch vari-angle LCD.
It features an ISO range of 80 - 1600 (with up to 3200 expandable).
The Canon PowerShot A650 IS will have a retail price of $250 USD when it ships in September.
Buy it at Amazon at Canon PowerShot A650IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced two new PowerShot A-Series digital cameras, including one with the highest resolution in the series to-date – the show-stopping 12.1-megapixel PowerShot A650 IS digital camera – and the powerful 8.0-megapixel PowerShot A720 IS digital camera. These new cameras continue the promise of the PowerShot A-Series by delivering superior image quality at a great price.
Both cameras maintain many of the features of this ultra-successful line, with improvements to better meet the needs of users who want a solid and smart point-and-shoot with user-friendly manual capabilities. So, whether it’s an experienced enthusiast looking for a full feature-set and lots of imaging benefits, or a casual, or even first-time user looking for an easy-to-master point-and-shoot, the Canon PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS digital cameras will more than satisfy. These cameras, with a comfortable shape and design that features a grip for a natural fit and stable handling, are great for outdoor enthusiasts needing to capture that special moment when they reach the top of the mountain or trek through the rainforest.
“By enhancing the PowerShot A650 IS and A720 IS digital cameras with advanced, yet user-friendly feature-sets, at a reduced price point, the A-series will continue to stand-out from the competition,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A.
The PowerShot A650 IS digital camera is designed for photo enthusiasts who demand superior image quality, and are looking for a versatile camera with exceptional creative control. The PowerShot A650 IS Digital Camera has breathtaking 12.1-megapixel resolution and a generous 6x optical zoom with optical image stabilization (OIS) that ensures steady shooting every time. A variety of enhanced controls, such as 21 shooting modes including Kids & Pets, Manual, Aperture-Priority and Shutter-Priority, among others, will also give users a lot of freedom to make the camera adapt to their specific needs. All of this power is easily navigated via the intuitive mode dial, easily viewed via the 2.5-inch Vari-Angle LCD and just as easily handled, via the ergonomic grip. With these targeted features, users can spend more time actually taking photos, rather than trying to figure out how to take them.
The PowerShot A720 IS digital camera is designed to make capturing and preserving memories fast, fun and easy for Moms and Dads on-the-go with their busy, growing families. The upgraded 8.0-megapixel resolution and Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization technology ensure that images are sharp and clear in almost every situation – even those prone to image blur caused by camera shake. The PowerShot A720 IS camera is also capable of recording high-quality VGA movies, making it perfect for capturing memories in motion. The new camera has a wide array of creative shooting modes, a simple control layout for super-easy operability and an ergonomically correct grip to ensure a comfortable fit.
Both of the new A-series cameras are also built for fun in the sun and sea. Snap the PowerShot A650 IS into Waterproof Case WP-DC18 or the PowerShot A720 IS into Waterproof Case WP-DC 16 and they become both weatherproof and waterproof at depths up to 130 feet, making them great accessories for the beach, water-park or a scuba trip. Both cameras are part of Canon’s “A-Team” (powered by AA batteries), so powering up will be quick and easy.
Setting them apart from competitive models, the PowerShot A650 IS digital camera and the PowerShot A720 IS digital camera give consumers interested in the ease of a point-and-shoot camera many of the technological advancements that are the result of Canon’s 70-year heritage as an imaging innovator.
New Canon PowerShot Digital Camera Lines’ Shared Technological Advancements
DIGIC III
The "brain" of these new PowerShot cameras is DIGIC III, the gold standard on all new Canon digital cameras. The DIGIC III image processor accounts for the camera's higher performance levels, including faster start-up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long-lag competitors in the dust. The DIGIC III chip design improves image quality and offers more efficient power consumption, resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting conditions.
ADVANCED FACE DETECTION
With Canon’s new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect up to nine forward-looking human faces in a scene. The Face Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply the closet object (based on Canon’s Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the best possible results. Using Canon’s Face Detection, photographers can keep up to nine faces in focus at any one time no matter where they are within the image. Working in concert with Face Detection, the “Red-Eye Correction” feature helps to detect and correct red-eye during playback mode. Images can be corrected automatically or manually while viewing photos on the LCD screen. Canon’s new Face Detection Technology makes for even easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles, and assist in the elimination of over-exposed faces.
OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION
The extended zoom range of these cameras makes optical image stabilization (OIS) essential. Canon's lens shift OIS provides an effective antidote to camera shake, particularly at longer zoom lengths or during long exposures when even the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to picture-blurring proportions. Superior to electronic image stabilization systems that simply use software to mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens proportionately to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images. The OIS found in Canon PowerShot digital cameras is based on technology developed for Canon’s renowned high-end professional EOS SLR cameras.
The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new "Auto ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting in low-light conditions without a flash.
PRINTING MADE EASY
All Canon PowerShot digital cameras work seamlessly with Canon’s compact photo printers to deliver stunning high-quality borderless prints. Consumers simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a Canon compact photo printer, press the Print/Share button, and moments later a brilliant, borderless 4” x 6” print begins to emerge; it’s that simple. Canon’s compact photo printers are PictBridge compatible, so they work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras to provide users with excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when paired with a Canon digital camera.
HIGH-CAPACITY MEMORY CARD CAPABILITY
As an added convenience, Canon PowerShot digital cameras also accommodate MultiMedia MMC memory cards, as well as standard SD memory cards and the new, high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This way, consumers do not have to carry around multiple memory cards in order to be able to continue to save those special moments during extended vacations or high-photo-taking adventures. Canon PowerShot owners can travel in sleek style.
The estimated selling prices of the PowerShot A650 IS digital camera and the PowerShot A720 IS digital camera models are $399.99* and $249.99*, respectively. Both models are scheduled to be available in stores in September. The Canon PowerShot A650 IS camera kit includes four AA batteries, 32MB SD memory card, USB interface cable, AV cable, wrist strap and Canon’s software suite. The Canon PowerShot A720 IS camera kit includes two AA batteries, 16MB SD memory card, USB interface cable, AV cable, wrist strap and Canon’s software suite.
CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot A650 IS where they give it a rating of 7.6 out of 10. They write - "With its great picture quality and wealth of features, the Canon PowerShot A650 IS makes a great camera for amateur photographers who either don't want to step up to a digital SLR yet, or who simply want a secondary camera alongside their SLR. Despite its performance and noise issues, the A650 IS presents a fine choice for a flexible, high-resolution, photographer-friendly camera."
Steves Digicams reviews the Canon Powershot A650 IS and writes - 'Canon continues its streak with yet another outstanding addition to the PowerShot "A" series line. The A650 IS offers style, versatility, excellent image quality, not to mention some of the best specs for any camera in this class. With the new bigger zoom, increased resolution, and addition of Canon's OIS system, the Canon PowerShot A650 IS is definitely worth a look. With a MSRP of US$399, we feel that the A650 IS offers a great value for such a capable digicam.'
Digital Camera Review has posted their review of Canon Powershot A650 IS and writes - "The Canon A650 IS packs a lot of features into a reasonably priced, relatively compact digital point and shoot that Canon hails as the leader of its value-intensive A-series line. But that reasonable price has to be matched by performance, and the A650 IS delivers the goods. Good image quality and color; good shutter and flash performance; optical image stabilization; a lens focal range that goes from modestly wide to modest telephoto and the ability to add options to the camera that broaden the focal range are only a few of the nice details in Canon’s latest offering. The camera features auto functions that can have a novice taking great shots right out of the box, but also provides a full complement of manual controls for folks who wish to get more involved. It’s the lowest-priced 12MP camera in Canon’s current fleet."
Buy it at Amazon at Canon PowerShot A650IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
The Canon PowerShot SD870 IS IXUS / Digital ELPH is an 8 megapixel compact point and shoot camera with a wide angle 3.8x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization.
The Canon PowerShot SD870 IS IXUS / Digital ELPH features a large 3.0 inch LCD screen and an ISO range of 100 to 1600.
It will have a retail price of $400 when released in September/October.
Get a Price on the Canon PowerShot SD870IS
Canon U.S.A., Inc. today introduced two new compact PowerShot Digital ELPH Cameras – the top-of-the line 12.1-megapixel PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH and the status-setting 8.0-megapixel resolution PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH. Both cameras still have the alluring charm and color that keep them ahead of the aesthetic curve, but now they are also loaded with advanced features and functions, making them perfect for the trend-setting techie. For the consumer attending a sunny backyard soiree, a relaxing respite getaway or an electrifying night on the town, these two Digital ELPH cameras continue to hold court as the perfect combination of beauty and brains. Canon’s PowerShot Digital ELPH cameras verify the adage that you can never be too (feature) rich or too stylishly thin.
The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH and SD870 IS Digital ELPH cameras build on Canon’s original, iconic box and circle design while maintaining their own identity. The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH camera is sophisticated, sensual and strikingly elegant, while the PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH camera is sleek, sassy and serves as a fashion statement. Both Digital ELPHs are lightweight and compact, allowing them to fit unobtrusively into a small purse or shirt-pocket, and be whipped out easily to capture a memorable moment.
“Don’t be fooled by their stunning good looks,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH and SD870 IS Digital ELPH cameras are filled with top-performing features that deliver extraordinary results.”
The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH Camera is designed for the sophisticated point-and-shoot user looking for top-level functionality in a compact, elegant package. This camera continues the ELPH tradition with its full-body titanium good looks, featuring sinuous curves and advanced design, while standing on its own with optimal performance. The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH camera is equipped with upgraded features such as 12.1-megapixel resolution, 3.7x optical zoom with optical image stabilizer (OIS) for steady shooting and a next-generation version of Canon’s Genuine Face Detection technology. This pure titanium powerhouse has a DIGIC III image processor, red-eye correction, an optical viewfinder and a 2.5-inch PureColor LCD screen with scratch-resistant and anti-reflection coating for easy viewing at any angle. All of this packs a powerful punch, but takes it easy on the pocketbook at an estimated selling price of $449.99*.
The PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH Camera is ideal for style-conscious photo enthusiasts with impeccable taste who want their substance to keep pace with their style. The PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH camera is built on a foundation consisting of one-part Canon technology – 8.0-megapixel resolution, 3.8x wide-angle optical zoom with optical image stabilization and a DIGIC III processor with Advanced Face Detection Technology– and one-part fashion accessory – with its smooth curves, sleek mode dial and the option of a black or silver lens ring that’s sure to complement any taste or style. This sassy shooter’s wide-angle zoom lens makes it a snap to capture large group shots at a favorite hang-out, the wide expanse of a sandy beach on a vacation or the throngs of people at a red-carpet event. The extra-large three-inch PureColor LCD screen with scratch-resistant and anti-reflection coating also makes it easy to view and review these great shots. All this great photo-creating fun is available for an estimated selling price of $399.99*.
New Canon PowerShot Digital Camera Lines’ Shared Technological Advancements
DIGIC III
The "brain" of these new PowerShot cameras is DIGIC III, the gold standard on all new Canon digital cameras. The DIGIC III image processor accounts for the camera's higher performance levels, including faster start-up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long-lag competitors in the dust. The DIGIC III chip design improves image quality and offers more efficient power consumption, resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting conditions.
ADVANCED FACE DETECTION
With Canon’s new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect up to nine forward-looking human faces in a scene. The Face Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply the closest object (based on Canon’s Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the best possible results. Using Canon’s Face Detection, photographers can keep up to nine faces in focus at any one time no matter where they are within the image. Working in concert with Face Detection, the “Red-Eye Correction” feature helps to detect and correct red-eye during playback mode. Images can be corrected manually while viewing photos on the LCD screen. Canon’s new Face Detection Technology makes for even easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles, and assist in the elimination of over-exposed faces.
OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION
The extended zoom range of the camera makes optical image stabilization (OIS) essential. Canon's lens shift OIS provides an effective antidote to camera shake, particularly at longer zoom lengths or during long exposures when even the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to picture blurring proportions. Superior to electronic image stabilization systems that simply use software to mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens proportionately to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images. The OIS found in Canon PowerShot digital cameras is based on technology developed for Canon’s renowned high-end professional EOS SLR cameras.
The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new "Auto ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting in low-light conditions without a flash.
PRINTING MADE EASY
All Canon PowerShot digital cameras work seamlessly with Canon’s compact photo printers to deliver stunning high-quality borderless prints. Consumers simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a Canon compact photo printer, press the Print/Share button, and moments later a brilliant, borderless 4” x 6” print begins to emerge; it’s that simple. Canon’s compact photo printers are PictBridge compatible, so they work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras to provide users with excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when paired with a Canon digital camera.
HIGH-CAPACITY MEMORY CARD CAPABILITY
As an added convenience, Canon PowerShot digital cameras also accommodate MultiMedia MMC and MMC+ memory cards, as well as standard SD memory cards and the new, high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This way, consumers do not have to carry around multiple memory cards in order to be able to continue to save those special moments during extended vacations or high-photo-taking adventures. Canon PowerShot owners can travel in sleek style.
The PowerShot SD950 IS Digital ELPH and SD870 IS Digital ELPH Cameras are scheduled to be available in stores in September. Both new cameras kits provide everything a photographer needs to start enjoying these wonderful products as soon as they are purchased, including a rechargeable battery pack, battery charger, 32MB MMC memory card, and software as well as USB interface cable, AV interface cables and wrist strap.
CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot SD870 IS and give it a rating of 8 out of 10. They write - "Canon's PowerShot SD870 IS is a worthy addition to the company's Digital Elph line. Experienced photographers looking for a pocket camera will lament the fact that the camera doesn't have any manual exposure controls, but if you don't feel the need to tinker with your camera's settings and aren't caught up in the pointless megapixel race, you'll likely be very pleased with this point-and-shoot."
Digital Camera Info reviews the Canon Powershot SD870 IS and writes - 'If you are looking for a cutting edge P&S with the latest features—this camera has a lot to offer. While I don’t find it as stylish as other models, the Canon SD870 IS is extremely user friendly, has numerous auto settings for almost any condition, has convenient buttons for easy camera navigation and performs well for its class. I would feel confident taking this camera on out with friends or to my Dad’s 50th birthday party—because of what it can do for its size and because the SD870 will do most of the thinking for me in situations when I can’t, don’t want to, or don’t have time to. The IS adds to its versatility and convenience—you can take close ups of small insects, use it indoors at a nightclub and capture shots that would otherwise be completely blurry without a tripod. '
DP Review has posted their review of the Canon SD870 IS and writes - 'Like other cameras in this range what makes the SD870 IS so appealing - aside from the high quality design and construction - is the 'point and shoot' reliability, which produces good, sharp, well exposed results in a wide range of shooting conditions, something you simply can't say about a lot of competitors. We were also very impressed with the lens; a wide lens usually results in a compromise between the really useful ability to 'zoom out' and a degree of chromatic aberration and corner softness that can dent image quality. Our tests and experiences of real-world shooting show very little evidence of these expected shortcomings, helping the 870 IS stand out from competing wideangle ultra compact cameras.'
Popular Photography reviews the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS where they write - 'I really had a blast shooting with this camera. Even with good lighting conditions at the beach town of Cape May, the camera's image stabilization came in handy when shooting at longer focal lengths, as the maximum aperture at the camera's longest focal length of 133mm (35mm equivalent) is f/5.8, just over two stops higher than the overall maximum aperture of f/2.8. Images were crisp and generally well exposed, and while the housing feels nearly as durable as a solid piece of metal, the lightweight pocket cam didn't weigh me down. The LCD was visible even in bright sunlight and focus was fast in all situations with a negligible shutter delay after focus was established. When using the flash, shot-to-shot time was a bit sluggish, but not painfully slow. The battery never showed any signs of wearing down despite hours of shooting and review with the built-in LCD. The camera has a CIPA rating of 240 shots with the LCD on and 580 shots when you keep it off. Overall, Canon hit the mark with their SD950 IS, providing optical image stabilization, 12.1-megapixels, and overall good performance in a slim, rugged, pocket-sized package.'
Imaging Resource reviews the Canon PowerShot SD870 IS Digital ELPH and writes - "The Canon SD870 continues with the features that made the PowerShot SD800 a great camera: an excellent 28mm wide-angle lens, Face-detection autofocus, optical image stabilization, plenty of scene modes, and a few important tweaks to the overall operation of the camera. Even movie mode benefits from the wide-angle view, making personal up-close family videos quite easy and fun. The SD870's 8-megapixel sensor delivers resolution capable of delivering good quality 11x14-inch prints up to ISO 400, an impressive feat indeed. Canon has increased the size of the LCD but removed the optical viewfinder; optical viewfinders being something of a joke on most digital cameras with extraordinary optics, most users won't miss it. The 3-inch LCD more than makes up for the lack of a viewfinder, and works well in bright sunlight. At 195 grams (6.9 oz), the Canon SD870 IS can fit in almost any pocket, and uses a battery that can take a pretty decent number of photos. It's a lot of camera fit into a small package, and I think it's a great fit for the experienced digital camera user who needs a reliable, take-anywhere shooter that shows off its photos well. And I can't emphasize enough how great it is to have a 28mm wide angle lens in such a small package."
Get a Price on the Canon PowerShot SD870IS
The Canon PowerShot G9 is a 12.1 megapixel camera with a 6x optical zoom and 3.0 inch high resolution LCD Screen.
This update of the award winning G7 adds a variety of features, most notably RAW shooting mode.
The Canon PowerShot G9 features face detection (auto focussing and auto exposure), a new thumb grip, compatability with Canon's wireless flash transmitter, image stabilization, DIGIC III, ISO of up to 1600, 25 shooting modes, hot shoe flash plus lots more.
The Canon PowerShot G9 will have a retail price of $500 USD when it hits stores in October.
“A combination of advanced features, precision Canon optics and user-centric design made the PowerShot G7 our most successful G-series camera yet,” explained Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “By incorporating user requests and adding further enhancements, our engineers have made a great camera even better.”
The PowerShot G9 features:
* 12.1 Megapixels (1/1.7” sensor) with RAW mode for maximum image control
* 6x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer and SR coating*
* DIGIC III and iSAPS for lightning fast response, superb image quality and advanced Noise Reduction*
* Face Detection AF/AE/FE and Red-Eye Correction in playback
* 3.0” high-resolution, PureColor LCD II with extra wide viewing angle
* ISO 1600 and Auto ISO Shift
* Compact body with dedicated ISO and Multi Control dials
* 25 shooting modes including full manual control and 2 custom settings
* Extra telephoto reach with Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom*
* Hot shoe support for Canon Speedlite flashes and optional lens accessories
*See Technologies Explained
Total image control
With an enlarged 12.1 Megapixel (1/1.7”) sensor, the PowerShot G9 gives photographers the flexibility to crop images and produce high quality prints up to A2 size. The addition of RAW image recording and simultaneous RAW+JPEG recording offers advanced users complete control over image processing. The supplied ZoomBrowser software includes RAW Image Task for fine adjustment of settings such as exposure compensation, white balance, tonal curve and colour temperature. RAW images can then be converted into either JPEG or TIFF format.
Canon precision optics for ultimate clarity
Exceptional optical performance is assured by the fast f/2.8 (W) – f/4.8 (T) Canon 6x optical zoom lens (35-210mm focal length, 35mm equivalent), which includes a double-sided aspherical lens element to counteract lens distortions. The addition of SR coating significantly reduces ghosting and chromatic aberration, while Canon’s optical Image Stabilizer technology counteracts the effects of camera shake. The risk of image blur is further reduced by ISO Shift, which allows an instant ISO boost whenever camera shake threatens to affect image quality. Benefiting from the large pixel count, Safety Zoom allows extra digital zoom with no interpolation – images can be captured at up to 15x zoom with enough resolution for lab-quality postcard (10 x 15cm) prints. Digital Tele-Converter adds extra telephoto reach to every shot (1.5x or 2.0x), without any reduction in aperture.
Improved Face Detection and Red-Eye Correction
The PowerShot G9 offers high speed operation and accurate image rendering through Canon’s DIGIC III processor, which also powers Face Detection Technology. In addition to focus and exposure control, Face Detection Technology has been improved on the PowerShot G9 to adjust for flash exposure – particularly helpful when using the flash close to a subject. A new Face Select and Track function enables the user to manually select and track an individual face from up to 35 faces detected in frame. Photographers will also benefit from Red-Eye Correction in playback, allowing in-camera removal of red-eye from captured images.
Designed for photographers
Built for photo-enthusiasts, the PowerShot G9 provides external controls that include a dedicated ISO dial, multi-control dial and customisable shortcut button. The analogue-inspired design of the PowerShot G9 has been updated on this model with a textured coating and a black alumite lens ring. A larger grip and pronounced thumb rest ensure secure and comfortable handling. On the back of the camera, a 3.0” PureColor LCD II offers several benefits. With 230,000 pixels resolution, the high contrast screen provides vastly improved colour reproduction and better visibility at wider angles of view. An anti-reflective coating helps in sunny conditions, while a protective layer guards against knocks and scrapes. The PowerShot G9 retains its optical viewfinder for extra framing flexibility.
Creativity unlimited
Advanced photographers will benefit from a selection of 25 shooting modes that includes full Manual, Av and Tv, along with two custom modes for user-defined settings. Shooting modes are complemented by a variety of features that assist creative shooting. Safety MF performs fine adjustments to aid manual focusing, while Safety FE reduces the risk of blown highlights when using the flash. Photographers can now choose a smaller AF frame size for finer focusing control – particularly helpful when using the camera’s 1cm Macro mode. Other useful features include an in-built ND (Neutral Density) filter, AEB (auto exposure bracketing), focus bracketing and a live histogram display. A new Image Resize function lets users downsize full-resolution images to 1600x1200, 640x480 and 320x240 sizes. This is equally useful for conserving storage space or preparing images for email or the Web.
Powerful movie functions
The photographic features of the PowerShot G9 are matched by a powerful array of movie capabilities. In addition to VGA (30fps) and high resolution XGA (15fps) movie recording, the PowerShot G9 introduces LP (Long Play) mode. This mode offers movies of half the file size without compromising on resolution or frame rate. The new Time Lapse Movie function allows the extended capture of changing scenes – such as a blooming flower, or bustling city streets - for accelerated playback as smooth VGA-quality movie clips.
No boundaries: Speedlite flash units and system accessories
With hot shoe support for Canon Speedlite EX series flash units, the PowerShot G9 is ideal for existing EOS digital SLR users or those seeking to experiment with creative flash photography. The camera supports the Speedlite ST-E2 wireless file transmitter for multi-flash setups. Additionally, the camera’s menu can be used to control flash settings for the recently launched Speedlite 580EX II.
The PowerShot G9 is compatible with a range of optional lens accessories, including wide (0.75x) and tele (2.0x) converter lenses. A waterproof case allows for shooting at depths of up to 40 metres. Offering a level of flexibility typically only found on digital SLRs, the PowerShot G9 provides photo enthusiasts with a camera that’s fully equipped to lift the limits of their creative potential.
Additional Information
Printing
Full PictBridge support means users can print directly to any PictBridge compatible printer without the need for a PC. A Print/Share button allows one-touch printing and easy uploads to Windows or Mac systems.
Language
The PowerShot G9 user interface supports 25 languages: English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian and Ukrainian.
Memory Card Support
In addition to SD, SDHC and MMC cards, the PowerShot G9 supports the new MMCplus and HC MMCplus formats for storage capacities of up to 32GB. The camera comes supplied with a 32MB memory card.
Software
The PowerShot G9 comes bundled with the following Canon Software:
* ZoomBrowser EX 6.0 (Windows), ImageBrowser 6.0 (Mac): For organizing and editing images, movies and slideshows, or creating and printing digital photo albums.
* PhotoStitch 3.1 (Windows) /3.2 (Mac): For creating panoramic photos from multiple images.
The bundled software supports Windows 2000 (SP4), XP (SP2) and Vista, or Macintosh OS X v10.3-v10.5. The PowerShot G9 supports PTP for driverless transfer to Windows XP and Mac OS X, along with MTP for image and movie transfers to Windows Vista. Purchasers of the camera are eligible for membership of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY*, 100MB of online ‘personal gallery’ space for sharing stills and video with family and friends.
Buy it at Amazon at Canon PowerShot G9
CNET reviews the Canon PowerShot G9 and gives it a rating of 8 out of 10. They write - "Like its predecessor, the G9 offers all of the exposure, focus, and shooting controls any enthusiast would want. They include a spot meter, user-selectable focus zones, two custom settings modes, continuous- or shot-only IS settings, manual ISO settings up to 1,600 plus a High mode that reaches up to 3,200, voice annotation, and a hot shoe.... The Canon PowerShot G9 gets a leg up over its predecessor by improving photo quality and restoring raw-format support while maintaining the same excellent performance and body design. You probably can't miss with this model as a compact backup for your dSLR."
Popular Photography review the Canon PowerShot G9 and writes - 'After the disappointing lab results of its predecessor, the Canon PowerShot G7, we were a bit skeptical of the Canon PowerShot G9. Not anymore! In general we like what we see. We like Adaptive Noise RAW conversion. We like a compact camera that syncs with external strobes. We like full manual controls. And we like Scene Assist modes to help beginners get better with their compositions before venturing into the uncharted waters of full manual control. We love the Focus Confirm and face recognition instant playback. We like the high-quality half-camera, half-computer Panoramic capture mode. Overall, we like this camera a lot. However, we're not so impressed with ISO 1600 image quality, nor the mostly useless low-resolution ISO 3200 mode.'
Digital Camera Review has reviewed the Canon Powershot G9 and writes - "As recently as two years ago many digital camera industry insiders were predicting the imminent demise of top of the line (read expensive) prosumer/enthusiast digital cameras due to the introduction of affordable entry-level digital SLRs – those dire prophecies clearly haven’t come to pass. The G9 has a few warts, but at this point in time and when compared to the other cameras in its class - the G9 is as good as it gets. If that’s not enough, RAW is back, the G9 is more powerful, it has more features, and it’s cheaper (MSRP) than its predecessor."The Online Photographer reviews the Canon G9 and writes - "I could probably write much more about the G9. It has many more features and highlights than I've noted. But I think you get the idea. It's an exceptional little camera whose specs and performance would have been hard to imagine just a few years ago, particularly for $500. If you're looking for a go-anywhere pocketable camera in this price range you owe it to yourself to look at Canon's G9. I believe that it truly represents today's gold standard for point & shoot camera performance and specifications."
Digital Camera Info reviews the Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera and writes - 'Canon made a lot of improvements on the PowerShot G9 – most notably the image quality, LCD screen, and RAW file capability. The Canon G9 offers more megapixels than its predecessor, the G7, which on paper suggests it will have better resolution but more noise and worse dynamic range. Our tests prove the G9 has significantly better resolution, better than most cameras released this year. Noise levels are high, but not any higher than the G7, which is commendable. Color accuracy is fantastic, as is the Movie mode, both of which have become consistent successes for high-end Canon PowerShots.'
DCRP reviews the Canon PowerShot G9 where they write -
"The PowerShot G9 is a solid high-end camera, though it won't be replacing your digital SLR anytime soon. It offers a full set of features, both automatic and manual, and throws them into a well-built, expandable body. If you keep the ISO as low as possible you'll get some nice photos out of the camera, though a D-SLR will wipe the floor with the G9 at higher sensitivities. Though I still miss the fast lens and rotating LCD of the older G-series models, I can still recommend the PowerShot G9 to anyone who wants a high-end camera without stepping up to a digital SLR."
DP Review has posted their review of the Canon PowerShot G9 where they write - 'Overall performance is roughly the same as the G7, which is generally speaking a good thing - in most respects the G7 was a very speedy camera. That said, I'd hoped Canon would use the G9 upgrade as an opportunity to improve on the slightly under-par shutter lag when using the LCD and to speed up the focus (particularly in low light and at the long end of the zoom). Whilst side by side tests showed that the G9 is marginally faster at finding focus it's still far from class-leading.'
Cameras.co.uk has a review of the Canon Powershot G9 and writes, "the Powershot G9 is about the most advanced compact camera on the market. In terms of features it has a roll call similar to what you would expect from an SLR camera. It is ideal for a photography enthusiast or someone who owns an SLR, but is looking for a more portable second camera. ... The Powershot G9 scores well in just about every area. It outperforms just about every other consumer camera on the market. ... If quality is what counts for you the Canon Powershot G9 should be towards the top of your shortlist. It is packed with features, offers excellent picture quality and has a good build quality too."
Imaging Resource reviews the Canon PowerShot G9 where they write - 'Sure, I wish the Canon G9 were just a bit smaller to fit in a shirt pocket without strangling me. But at least the Canon G9's large body contains a lot of good stuff. With above-average performance, a 6x optical zoom, image stabilization, and that gorgeous 3.0-inch LCD, the Canon G9 is the G-series reborn. Though it's still lacking the swivel screen, I found the Canon G9's big LCD useful enough that I didn't miss it much. Though I'm one reviewer who will take the noise at ISO 1,600 and work with it later, I do wish ISO weren't stranded out on that dial, retro-cool as it is.'
Canon also announced the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS lens today.
Compact and lightweight, the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS offers the longest zoom range in the EF-S series to date. The 88-400mm equivalent focal length opens up new framing possibilities for owners of EF-S mount cameras shooting wildlife, sports and travel photography. Optical quality is assured through a UD element, which minimises chromatic aberrations that could otherwise cause reduced contrast and colour fringing.
We're yet to receive information on a release date or price on the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS Lens.
Today Canon announced the new Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens.
Here's how they describe it:
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS is a lightweight general-purpose zoom lens that is ideal for handheld photography in a wide range of lighting conditions. Offering high optical quality, the lens has an 11 element, 9 group construction, including one aspherical element for crisp corner-to-corner detail. The lens maintains a closest focusing distance of just 25cm throughout the zoom range, giving photographs the flexibility to frame up close when needed.
The Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens will be priced at $199 USD when it hits stores in October.
The Canon EF 14 mm F2.8 L II USM Lens is an updated version of their earlier 14mm f2.8 lens.
This new L series 14mm lens features aspherical and UD elements to get a higher image fidelity and gives a massive 114° field of view on a full frame camera.
The Canon EF 14 mm F2.8 L II USM Lens doesn't come cheap and will have a retail price of $2199 USD when released in October.
Feature lists includes:
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8 II USM Lens News Release
Canon today releases its ultra-wide EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM lens. With the shortest focal length in Canon’s renowned professional L-series range, the lens boasts a 114° angle of view; exceeded only by Canon’s EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye.
The newly designed lens incorporates aspherical and UD elements to achieve the very highest standards of image fidelity. With the latest Ultrasonic Motor for fast and accurate auto focus and the addition of dust and moisture sealing, it replaces the enormously popular EF14mm f/2.8L USM.
L-series construction
The L-series is Canon’s flagship professional lens range, designed and built to meet the needs of the most demanding professional photographers. The optics of the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM and other L-series lenses represent the pinnacle of optical performance, enabling focal length/speed/quality combinations not readily attainable using traditional optical technologies.
New perspectives
The lens’ ultra-wide 114° angle of view can be used by photographers to dramatic effect. Effective for photographing buildings and other large subjects where the photographer cannot get enough distance to include everything in the frame, the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM is also ideal for small interiors. The lens’ closest focusing distance of just 20cm allows photographers to get remarkably close to subjects for creative wide-angle shots.
Aspherical and UD elements
The EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM incorporates two aspherical lens elements to ensure high corner-to-corner sharpness throughout the focus range and at wide apertures. Pristine image quality is further assured through the incorporation of an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) element, used to suppress chromatic aberration and associated colour fringing.
Super Spectra coatings
In addition to optimised lens shaping to reduce reflections and the use of anti-reflective material inside the lens barrel, the EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM employs Canon’s patented Super Spectra lens element coatings. These suppress flare and ghosting – more prone to occur with digital cameras due to reflection off the image sensor. By increasing light absorption, coatings reduce reflections off lens element surfaces to deliver crisp, undistorted images with natural colour balance.
The EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM includes an integrated petal hood and redesigned lens cap.
In keeping with Canon’s Kyosei philosophy of living in harmony with the environment, the lens features only lead-free glass.
Get the latest digital camera news, reviews (including the Canon EOS 40D) and photography tips by subscribing to our newsletter at the top of the right hand sidebar.
The Canon EOS 40D DSLR is now official with an announcement just released from Canon after months of speculation.
The Canon EOS 40D is a 10.1 megapixel DSLR (CMOS) with 6.5 frames per second shooting, a new Autofocus system (9 cross type sensors), 3.0 inch LCD (with Live View), DIGIC III, integrated cleaning, custom user modes on the top dial (3), a larger and brighter view finder than it's predecessor and a quieter mechanism.
The Canon EOS 40D will have a retail price of $1299 USD and is already available for order at Amazon at:
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
Canon EOS 40D 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Standard Zoom Lens
Get More Prices on the Canon EOS 40D from around the web
The camera benefits from the new EOS technology platform introduced earlier this year with the professional EOS‑1D Mark III. Canon’s DIGIC III processor delivers responsive operation, improved colour rendering and near-instant start-up time. The EOS Integrated Cleaning System combats sensor dust, while a strong magnesium alloy body with weather resistance ensures lasting durability.
“The EOS 40D represents an important step in the development of EOS for the advanced amateur market. It incorporates many of the technologies pioneered in our latest EOS-1 series cameras,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “For digital photographers, the benefits of upgrading to the EOS 40D are real and significant. For analogue SLR users, there’s never been a more compelling reason to make the switch.”
Key features
* 10.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
* 6.5 fps continuous shooting, max. burst 75 JPEGs
* New AF system with 9 cross-type sensors
* DIGIC III processor
* 3.0” LCD with Live View mode
* EOS Integrated Cleaning System
* Clear and bright viewfinder
* Customisable Picture Style processing parameters
Speed and image quality
Canon’s third generation CMOS sensor improves on its predecessor with redesigned pixels that keep noise to a minimum. The EOS 40D maintains high image quality up to ISO 1600, expandable to H:3200 for situations where flash use is not permitted or desired. Highlight Tone Priority mode gives wedding and landscape photographers the option to boost dynamic range for highlights when shooting above ISO 200 – reproducing more tonal detail from wedding dresses, clouds and other light coloured objects.
The DIGIC III processor powers a burst rate of 6.5 fps, working with the image buffer to handle up to 75 Large JPEGs (17 in RAW) without pause. Images are processed at 14-bits for a greatly expanded colour depth, providing smoother gradations and exceptionally accurate colour reproduction.
New cross-type AF system
A key advancement of the EOS 40D is its new 9-point cross-type AF system. All nine AF points can achieve focus on both horizontal and vertical planes. A central AF point is capable of accurate focusing up to aperture f/2.8, with eight outer points working up to f/5.6. In response to requests, the dedicated AF Start (AF-ON) button allows photographers to execute auto focus with their thumb.
LCD with Live View mode
The Live View mode simplifies shooting from awkward angles such as ground-level macro or mounted tripod shots. The 3.0” LCD displays a real-time image in Live View mode, including a selectable grid overlay and a live histogram that simulates image exposure. The AF-ON button can be configured to flip the camera mirror momentarily and engage auto focusing. For the studio environment, remote Live View lets the photographer compose, adjust settings and capture the shot from a PC using the supplied EOS utility software.
Total control
The EOS 40D is fully customisable to the photographer’s shooting preferences. The mode dial contains space for three sets of user-defined settings, allowing the photographer to switch instantly between several shooting setups. A new My Menu tab provides quick access to frequently used settings, while 24 custom functions allow photographers to fine-tune camera operation and controls. The ability to change the focusing screen – with two additional screens available – adds further versatility.
For easier operation of system accessories, settings for the Speedlite 580EX II and new Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3 can be controlled directly from the LCD.
Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3
Also launched today is the Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E3. Built to work with the EOS 40D, the WFT-E3 enables rapid wireless image transfer to remote FTP servers, along with two-way communication through PTP and HTTP. In HTTP mode, remote users can trigger the shutter button or download images from the camera via an internet browser window. PTP mode is used for wireless remote shooting with the EOS 40D and supplied EOS Utility software.
For longer shoots, the WFT-E3 can connect directly to external hard disk drives (HDDs). And if connected to a portable GPS device, the location and time of capture is automatically added to each image as EXIF data. A convenient grip design features a main dial and shutter controls for vertical shooting, while weather resistant seals protect the unit.
Two new EF-S lenses are launched today in conjunction with the EOS 40D
* EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS – a high quality, affordable standard zoom lens incorporating a 4-stop Image Stabilizer
* EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS – a versatile telephoto zoom offering the longest focal range in the EF-S range to date as well as a 4-stop Image Stabilizer
Software
* The EOS 40D is supplied with a comprehensive software suite to streamline the photographer’s workflow. This includes Digital Photo Professional (DPP), a powerful RAW converter that provides complete RAW image processing control.
* DPP integrates with cameras features such as Dust Delete Data and Picture Styles. Users can now also create their own custom Picture Styles with the supplied Picture Style Editor software. The camera also comes with EOS Utility, ImageBrowser/ZoomBrowser and PhotoStitch.
Luminous Landscape reviews the Canon 40D and writes - "My time with the 40D was short, but I found that shooting about a thousand frames over a long weekend was all I needed to be able to draw some preliminary conclusions. These are, in brief, that the image quality of the 40D is excellent, continuing the industry-leading results that Canon has offered for the past 5-6 years. I didn't see any breakthrough in low noise at the highest ISOs, but as with the EOS 5D ISO 400 is essentially noiseless and can be used as an everyday speed. Noise doesn't really become an issue until ISO 1600 and even then isn't that objectionable.... The bottom line is that the Canon 40D is the most DSLR for the money that Canon has ever offered. Certainly in its price range there doesn't seem to be anything that can touch it. Move up a notch in price though and the forthcoming Nikon D300 may well put the squeeze on Canon's hegemony in the DSLR marketplace. Time will tell, and no matter what happens we'll all benefit from the renewed competition."
Bob Atkins has posted a review of the Canon EOS 40D and writes - 'In just about every respect the EOS 40D technically outperforms the EOS 30D and so I think it is a worthwhile upgrade for those who can afford to switch and who can use the new features. I didn't feel that way about the 30D, which was a good camera but for me didn't offer enough new features to persuade me to trade in my 20D and upgrade. Based on handling the camera for a day, I'm very pleased with it. The larger LCD and revised (easier to navigate) menu structure is nice. The 3" LCD is very nice. I really like the fact that the shutter is quiet in normal operation and even quieter still in Live View. The larger viewfinder and ISO display are also useful features. Though I'd initially thought of Live View as a bit of a "gimmick", I'm actually thinking or more and more potential uses for it! '
CameraLabs reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes - 'Canon’s EOS 40D features many improvements over its predecessor and finally shows the pesky Nikon D80 who’s boss – albeit one which costs almost half as much again. Canon’s delivered a superb DSLR which handles beautifully, is packed with useful features and delivers great-looking images.'
Pocket Lint reviews the Canon EOS 40D - "Overall, the Canon EOS 40D is a more than able update of the 30D and since the introduction of the first Canon prosumer DSLR, the 3.1-megapixel EOS D30 back in 2000, it is light years ahead on that base line. In a nutshell, this is a cracking camera and one marred only by the odd metering performance, otherwise it is quite simply excellent and worth a close inspection for anyone either trading up or for those pros’ that need a back up body that is not a compromise to far."
CNET reviews the Canon EOS 40D where they write - "For Canon devotees, the EOS 40D is a great camera and remains an excellent choice compared to most of the dSLRs in and around its price class--with one exception. Despite its many attractions, the Canon EOS 40D doesn't clearly outshine the Nikon D80, which costs a lot less. Though the 40D has the obvious advantage for action shooting--almost double the burst rate and a higher top shutter speed--the D80 generally feels a bit faster and more responsive for single-shot photography. I think the 40D ultimately does deliver better photo quality, but some people might find the differences more subtle than the price differential warrants. And, of course, the more expensive Nikon D300 remains a wild card until we've tested it. So for the moment, the 40D gets a hearty, if not wholly unqualified, endorsement."
PhotographyBLOG reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes - 'The high points of the Canon EOS 40D are the tough, durable body, the control layout and that amazing 6.5fps shooting mode. Yes, it does soundly like a badly-muffled machine-gun, but it lets you grab action sequences that lesser cameras would miss. The speed of the AF system keeps moving subjects sharp, too. But perhaps the most striking thing about the Canon EOS 40D is its value. It’s true that it costs more than other 10-megapixel cameras, but it’s also much more professionally-orientated. Its nearest rival in the semi-pro market would be the newly-announced Nikon D300, but the list price is £1300 for the body only, and for that money you could get an EOS 40D and Canon’s 17-85mm image-stabilised lens and have change to spare. The Canon EOS 40D’s strength doesn’t lie in any great technological breakthrough but in its professional appeal and its sheer value for money.'
The Digital Picture reviews the Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR and writes - "The 40D is a camera that will appeal to a vast range of photographers from advanced amateurs to working photojournalists and wedding photographers. All will appreciate its exceptional image quality, ease of operation, speed, modest weight and size, compatibility with the vast Canon system and very reasonable price." [Canon 40D White Paper] I agree. The 30D already sees a lot of professional use - The 40D offers enough improvements over the 30D to make an upgrade justifiable. Watch for them at the next wedding or other event you attend. And no less important will be the huge number of family memories preserved with the 40D. With its all-around good performance combined with the densest Canon DSLR sensor available, the 40D will have a large number of wildlife (especially bird) photographers as its owners. I'll personally be making the 40D part of my kit (replacing my 30D)."
Steves Digicams reviews the Canon EOS 40D and writes - 'there's a lot to like about the 40D. If you're looking for a 10-megapixel camera that can fire long bursts, is compatible with a mature system of professional accessories, and creates superb images in almost any light, look no further. This lightweight (26.1oz) camera, with it's comfortable molded grip, is small and tough enough to travel easily with active users. Certainly, the 40D is the best performance-cost value that Canon has ever offered, with a street price of just US$1299 or less (Body only). While the 40D is perfect for advanced amateurs, it will appeal to entry-level professional photographers too. The large LCD and improved menu structure make this camera a breeze to use. Canon fans will find the EOS 40D to be a wonderful camera and an excellent choice compared to most of the dSLRs in its price class.'
DP Review has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D where they give it a rating of 'highly recommended' and write - 'When I first started using the EOS 40D a simple description came to mind: that this is a 'well sorted camera'. It feels well rounded - the result of years of evolutionary improvement, it delivers in almost every area, and it inspires confidence. From a usability point of view the viewfinder feels larger, ergonomics are good, the user interface is clear and easy to learn, there are no in-use performance issues, metering and auto-focus show good consistency and the results speak for themselves; colorful (yet accurate) detailed images with low noise even at high sensitivities.'
DPexpert reviews the CANON EOS 40D DSLR and writes - "This is a fine camera with worthwhile advances on its predecessor. Canon has dominated this segment of the market for DSLRs between $2000 and $3000, but now faces stiff competition. The Sony A700, the Nikon D300 and the Olympus E-3 are coming soon, which means four superb cameras to choose from in the price range. Camera shops have already discounted the 40D to around $2600, so expect some serious price cutting."
Popular Photography tests the Canon EOS 40D where they write - 'The 40D's new live preview mode is a hot feature, giving you through-the-lens viewing on the 3-inch LCD, with a full data display under the image. Unlike the 1D Mark III, the 40D's AF works in live preview. It's similar to the live preview AF on several Olympus and Panasonic DSLRs, and causes a short screen blackout while the mirror flips down and the camera focuses. Not the ideal AF method, but useful in some situations.'
DCRP also reviews the Canon EOS 40D writing - 'The EOS-40D is capable of producing excellent quality photos, especially with a high quality lens attached (read: not my 17-85 IS lens). The camera produces very smooth-looking (yet still sharp) photos, with pleasing color, and minimal purple fringing (this last one is really more of a lens issue, though). Noise isn't really noticeable until you get near ISO 1600, and even then, it's more than manageable. Even the ISO 3200 is usable, especially if you do some cleanup work in software. The camera does tend to underexpose a bit, most notably when the sun's not out, so keep that in mind. Much to my surprise, the 40D has a slight redeye problem, probably due to its weak redeye reduction lamp.'
Get More Prices on the Canon EOS 40D from around the web
One more 'pre announcement' from Amazon today is that of a new lens - the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM SLR Lens.
There are no real details except that it's priced at $199.99 USD and will be available in November 2007.
Also 'announced' today were:
Way to go Amazon!
LaptopMag has a review of the Olympus Stylus 780 and writes, "TruePic III also brings Shadow Adjustment Technology (SAT) to the 780, a feature that locks in highlights and opens up shadows to bring out hidden details. We took a self-portrait in a coffee shop with spotty lighting. With SAT off, the flash washed out our face, and the background was dark and nondescript. When SAT was on, the photo was balanced, the subject natural-looking, and the background visible though not overwhelming. ... With its Guide mode, accurate scene selection, and easy-to-use menu, the Stylus 780 is a solid choice for beginners, but its manual settings, Bright Capture LCD, and MIS--not to mention superb photo quality--make it a good option for more advanced users as well."
Read more about the Olympus Stylus 780.
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CNET has a review of the Canon ESO 1D Mark III and writes, "Images shot with the Canon EOS 1D Mark III can be absolutely stunning. Colors look extremely accurate, and the automatic white balance does an excellent job of neutralizing colors under a variety of lighting situations. The only times it became confused was in situations in which there was mixed lighting, and even then it produced pleasing, if not absolutely spot-on results. If paired with a sharp lens, the 1D Mark III can produce images with a vast amount of fine detail. However, where this camera really shines is its ultralow noise. Even at its highest sensitivity setting of ISO 6,400, we were able to make pleasing prints."
Read more about the Canon EOS-1D Mark III.
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DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Olympus FE-230 and writes, "for almost every good there is a bad. While it is constructed of metal, the camera isn’t any sturdier or more ready for rugged use than its plastic counterparts. The body has poorly-designed seals and a pointless port cover that may allow water and dirt to enter the battery and memory card slots. With the exception of exposure compensation, the FE-230 lacks manual controls. This is a disappointment as its competitors certainly step it up in this area. Overall, it will suffice for the novice snapping the occasional outdoor vacation photo, but it won't do it for aspiring shutterbugs."
Read more about the Olympus FE-230.
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Wrotniak has a review of the Olympus E-510 and writes, "All in all, the image quality delivered by this camera is hard to beat — certainly not in this price range, and possibly much higher. I say "possibly", because to make a stronger statement I would have, again, to use all cameras compared, and my experience is limited, with a few exceptions, to entry-level models from other makers. ... I already like this camera. The ergonomics is excellent, build quality very good, results — outstanding, period. The aspect I'm most impressed with on this front is the detail rendition with noise filter off, and the noise itself is well-controlled and very nicely structured. The colors seem close to the classic "Olympus look" I like so much, but I need more time to make a definitive statement on this."
Read more about the Olympus Evolt E-510.
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ePhotozine has a review of the Panasonic DMC-FX100 and writes, "On top of the good looks then, it packs 12Mp resolution inside and this can give some very detailed images. With good focussing and metering, plus easy-to-hand exposure compensation and scene modes, it's possible to get some very nice, detailed images. The portrait scene mode works equally as well, brightening and rounding out skin tones without making them softer - though there's a mode for that as well. Colour reproduction is good and as long as you generally stay under ISO400 then the noise issues shouldn't impact the image quality significantly. The fact that there's a 28mm wide angle lens, and high resolution, and the fact that it looks nice makes this one of the stars in Panasonic's firmament. Keep an eye on the ISO control and it will make a very handy little compact capable of very high resolution shots."
Read more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX100.
Trusted Reviews has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 and writes, "There’s no question that the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 is a very good camera, capable of producing very high quality images, and with exceptional performance, especially in low light conditions. Build quality is superb, and the optional manual exposure and focusing options are a bonus for experienced users. However the 12.1-megapixel sensor offers no real advantage over a 10-megapixel sensor, and may in fact have a negative impact on image quality at high ISO settings. As such there are better cameras that cost less money."
Read more about the Sony Cybershot DSC-W200.
Camera Labs has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX30 and writes, "Ultimately if you can live with the noise and mostly automatic controls, then the FX30 is a lovely compact to use. It’s slim and light while packing in a decent lens with genuine wide angle and optical stabilisation. The sensor issues prevent us from awarding our highest recommendation, but since this is par for the course with today’s compacts coupled with the overwhelmingly positive aspects of the FX30, means it’s a model we can still comfortably Recommend."
Read more about the Panasonic FX30.
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DigitalCameraReview has a review of the GE E850 and writes, "The GE E850 is, overall, an average camera. It is easy to use, it's built well, and it has decent battery life. Image quality has some good aspects and some bad ones. I thought that the color reproduction and macro performance was good, but noise performance, lack of dynamic range, and edge softness detracted from the good column. Also, its speed of operation is pretty sluggish. However, the biggest problem facing the E850 is that the competition is already ahead and this camera doesn't do anything to help it catch up. It lacks optical (or mechanical) image stabilization and it's priced similarly to models that do, like the Canon Powershot A570 IS and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W80, and the image quality is not good enough to recommend it over some other cameras that may even be cheaper."
Read more about the General Electric E850.
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."
Read more about the Nikon Coolpix L12.
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Ken Rockwell has a review of the Canon SD850 and writes, "the SD850 has more aggressive noise reduction (NR) at high ISOs. Noise reduction doesn't remove noise; it merely smudges it to attempt to hide it while not smudging sharp edges. This leads to cartoon-looking images if overdone. The SD850 appears to have less noise (grain) at ISO 400 and above than the SD700, but the SD700 is sharper at those ISOs due to less NR. The additional NR of the SD850 lets you use one stop more ISO and have about the same apparent level of noise, but the SD850 is then softer at that higher ISO. Either camera at a lower ISO looks better than either camera at a higher ISO."
Read more about the Canon IXUS 950 IS (PowerShot SD850 IS).
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Vnunet has a review of the Olympus E-410 and writes, "lenses used by the Olympus system – known as Four Thirds – offer twice the focal length of their 35mm equivalents, meaning the bundled 14-42mm zoom lens is equal to a 28-84mm lens on another manufacturer's SLR. So you get a bigger range from a physically smaller lens, even if it is just the standard 3x zoom (dividing the 42mm longest focal length by the 14mm shortest). There’s some barrel distortion – the edges of the picture curve very slightly – at maximum wide angle, but for the most part images are crisp and colour is naturalistic. To sum up, the E-410 has so many boxes ticked it’s hard to see where Olympus has made any oversights, and it represents a great camera for the first-time digital SLR user."
Read more about the Olympus EVOLT E410.
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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."
Read more about the Canon PowerShot SD750.
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DigitalCameraReview has a review of the Fujifilm Finepix A820 and writes, "The Fujifilm Finepix A820 is a solid little camera. With its current price point of between $150 and $200 and the low noise performance of the 1/1.6" Super CCD sensor, the camera is a great value. Good image quality, good battery life, quality construction, and minimal shutter lag also tip the scales in the favor of the Finepix A820. I would have loved to see other features, like more focus area and metering options, image stabilization, and a higher ISO possibility, but you have to keep in mind that this is an entry-level camera and you'll get entry-level features. Regardless, the A820 is a good value."
Read more about the Fujifilm Finepix A820.
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PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 and writes, "The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1's image quality is slightly above average. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1's main drawback in terms of image quality is noise, with ISO 400 showing obvious noise and blurring of detail. The noise gets progressively worse as you go from ISO 400 to ISO 800 and finally the completely unusable 1000 setting. The noise at ISO 400 is also clearly evident in a 15x10 inch print. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1 handled chromatic aberrations very well indeed, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations."
Read more about the Sony Cybershot G1.
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PhotographyBlog has a review of the GE E850 and writes, "The GE E850 produced images of poor quality during the review period. The GE E850 dealt fairly well with chromatic aberrations, with some purple fringing effects appearing in high contrast situations. The built-in flash worked well indoors, with no red-eye and average overall exposure. The night photograph was OK, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds allowing you to capture enough light in most situations, but the resulting image was very noisy."
Read more about the General Electric E850.
Imaging Resource has a review of the Olympus EVOLT E-510 and writes, "It's the E-510's special features that push it over the top. Live View mode, while easily misunderstood, is actually quite useful so long as you know its limitations. Shoot with it all the time, and you'll find you miss a lot of important shots due to increased and unpredictable shutter lag; but use it properly, and you'll get a lot of shots you'd have otherwise missed. The same holds true for the E-510's sensor-shift image stabilization. Learn where and when it works, and take several backup shots, and you'll get pretty good results; certainly better than you would without it. Add the ability to manually focus on a 10x zoomed area via Live View, and the E-510 is clearly a great solution for the experienced photographer wanting a closer look at what he's about to capture."
Read more about the Olympus Evolt E-510.
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Imaging Resource has a review of the Olympus EVOLT E-410 and writes, "The Olympus E-410 is a handsome and handy little SLR, one I could have easily fallen in love with. Though its Live View mode is not what it many will think, introducing extreme shutter lag, it is quite useful on occasion, allowing you to get shots you couldn't otherwise. Its small size and light weight let me take it along more often, and it was nimble and easy to adjust to my needs. Autofocus in low light was weak, however, resulting in many a missed shot; and its tendency to blow highlights and underexpose the mids left some shots similarly out of reach. As has been the case with every Olympus SLR I've reviewed, though, I managed to get some very good shots with the E-410. Some of them, unfortunately, were a lot of work, either before or after capture. Manually tweaking the contrast to a lower setting helped reduce the blown highlights, so there is a way to deal with it if you know how. So it's a mixed bag. Easy to use, great design, perfect size, nice features, good lens; but sometimes getting a good shot is harder than it should be."
Read more about the Olympus EVOLT E410.
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Pocket-lint has a review of the Canon EOS-1D Mark III and writes, "The Canon EOS 1D Mk III looks unrivaled in terms of its burst shooting prowess and noise performance at higher ISOs. Ditto its handling, which, despite the weight is superb to use and easy to control thanks to very clear and simple to navigate menus, despite all the custom modes and adjustments on hand. Overall, the good stuff is tempered by a couple of disappointments that include the LCD-exposure assessment issues and the focusing performance, which Canon have already started to address with the aforementioned firmware updates."
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Trusted Reviews has a review of the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS and writes, "Exposure metering is generally accurate, and colour rendition as good as ever thanks to Kodak’s Colour Science chip, but the dynamic range from the relatively puny 1/2.5-in sensor is limited, and produces a lot of black shadows and burned-out highlights. Noise control is better than average, with very little noise appearing until 800 ISO, and even at that speed the results were quite printable. All in all a pretty impressive performance from a relatively low cost camera, but I can’t help wondering what that excellent lens could do if paired with a better sensor. ... Build quality and handling are good, overall performance is well above average, low light performance is exceptional and the optical image stabilisation system is very effective. Picture quality is generally very good, but it could have been even better if the excellent Schneider-Kreuznach lens wasn’t let down by a small sensor and over-enthusiastic image compression."
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Trusted Reviews has a review of the Olympus FE-230 and writes, "The camera’s real Achilles’ heel is its lens, which produces significant barrel distortion and corner blurring at wide angle, and at medium focal lengths produces very noticeable pincushion distortion, which is where the picture appears pinched in towards the middle of the frame. ... Although a big improvement on some earlier FE models, the Olympus FE-230 is still far from perfect. Build quality, design and handling are very good, and the all-automatic operation is extremely easy to use for the novice or technophobe. Image quality is also reasonably good under most conditions, but the poor quality lens, sluggish performance and limited low light ability mean that there are other cameras with similar specifications that are a better choice."
Read more about the Olympus FE-230.
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Trusted Reviews has a review of the Olympus E-410 and writes, "The 10-megapixel Four Thirds sensor, while physically smaller than the APS-C sensors found in most other DSLRs, still produces an equivalent level of fine detail, and high ISO noise control is as good as anything else on the market. As with the E-510, there is perhaps marginally less dynamic range than an equivalent APS-C camera, but if so it is barely noticeable. All in all, the E-410 produced extremely good image quality under all circumstances, despite the lousy weather available during my test period. ... Although currently slightly more expensive than some of its competitors, the E-410 has several advantages, not least its compact dimensions, low weight and useful live view feature. It also offers fast performance, extremely high image quality and a very wide range of creative control. If you want a highly portable DSLR and aren’t too bothered about image stabilisation then the E-410 would make a rewarding enthusiast’s camera."
Read more about the Olympus EVOLT E410.
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Over at Digital Photography School we've just published a post with the Top 10 Point and Shoot Digital Cameras as owned by DPS readers.
The list is pretty interesting with the following cameras
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."
Read more about the Nikon Coolpix S200.
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Luminous Landscape has a review of the Canon Powershot S5 IS and writes, "the S5 IS is a very nice little camera with plenty of range and possibilities as a 3rd camera for pros who want something eminently portable when the full-size beasts don’t fit in. Learn the image quality and viewfinder limitations and you’ve got a new sliver bullet for niche problems. I intend to give the S5 IS to my assistant at weddings to shoot candids while I’m taking the money shots. With the right carry bag, I’ll also bring it with me in the car just about wherever I go for those creative moments that I’ve been missing lately. The S5 IS is also, I might add, a great instrument for amateurs looking to step-up in the digital world from a cheesy point-and-shoot, or to ditch that old film SLR and can’t quite face the time and expense commitment of DSLR technology."
Read more about the Canon PowerShot S5 IS.
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Digital Trends has a review of the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050 and writes, "Sad to say, I can’t recommend this camera. It has a lot of things going for it. Solid image quality, excellent battery life, good response and many hidden features that go way beyond what you’ll find in a point-and-shoot camera. Unfortunately, you have to dig into the Owner’s Manual on the CD-ROM to find them. But the Achilles’ Heel is the poor LCD screen, making this the deal breaker. Casio needs to go back to the factory that supplied these screens and ask for their money back. Your money is better spent on another camera."
Read more about the Casio Exilim EX-Z1050.
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DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Olympus FE-250 and writes, "while an improvement within the Olympus line, the FE-250 falls short of other manufacturers' offerings in this price range. Cameras by Casio and Kodak either offer the same or more features at a lower price. Noticeably absent from the FE-250 are white balance presets. The camera instead relies on its mediocre Auto White Balance setting, so what you see is what you get, odd colors and all. The FE-250 will suffice for the consumer looking for a point-and-shoot that looks slick and is easy to use. However, users seeking manual control, color accuracy, handling confidence, or a more durable design should consider another camera."
Read more about the Olympus FE-250.
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DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 and writes, "With a budget-friendly $149 price tag, clean layout, and inclusion of custom image shooting modes and a Movie mode, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70 appeals to the consumer who wants picture-taking made easy. Panasonic falls short of the mark for the manual control enthusiast; the LS70 only offers control over white balance, exposure compensation, and ISO. Other drawbacks include a lack of audio recording in Movie mode and a sluggish relationship between the lens and the zoom ring. But even with these shortcomings, features such as optical image stabilization are definitely not a common feature found on cameras in this price range, and their inclusion at this price gives the DMC-LS70 an advantage over competing manufacturers."
Read more about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS70S.
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DigitalCameraReview has a review of the Fujifilm Finepix F40fd and writes, "The F40fd is a capable compact automatic digital camera whose overall performance is in keeping with that of its main competitors in the class. The one significant advantage enjoyed by the F40fd is superior high ISO noise performance, but in a field where more and more of the competition are becoming equipped with image stabilization systems worth up to three stops, that advantage can be largely negated by permitting the stabilized units to shoot at lower ISO settings. An F40fd against an unstabilized competitor is no contest in a high ISO shootout – against a stabilized camera the outcome is much less certain as to image quality."
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Megapixel has a review of the Olympus Stylus 780 and writes, "The Olympus Stylus 780 is, to put it simply, a good camera. It delivers an excellent image quality and its 5X optical zoom allows more flexibility when framing shots than most of its competitors. The value of the zoom is moreover enhanced by the CCD stabilization system, albeit that the (audible) noise that the system produces is at first a bit surprising. This, combined with the capability of capturing good images at 400 ISO outdoors, and doing so with an ultra compact camera that is weather and dust proof, makes the Stylus 780 very attractive."
Read more about the Olympus Stylus 780.
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Megapixel has a review of the Samsung L74 Wide and writes, "While shots captured in bright daylight and sunlight are free of noise at 80 and 100 ISO, some noise starts to appear — at least in shadows and sometimes in areas of uniform colour — as soon as the amount of light available to the camera decreases, and even at 80 ISO. Similarly, if they are captured with enough ambient light, flash images can show noise. ... Yet, used with natural light, the L74 Wide is able to yield low-noise images up to 200 ISO, and even 400 ISO when both subject and light lend themselves to it. ... Photos captured with the L74 Wide print extremely well, right up to 8 x 10.6 inch size (20 x 27 cm) at 288 dpi, a density that is sufficient to produce a continuous print on current inkjet type printers."
Read more about the Samsung Digimax L74 Wide.
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Steve's Digicams has a review of the Olympus EVOLT E-510 and writes, "The Olympus E-510 is a very capable digital SLR, offering terrific image quality, an extensive list of useful features and an automatic cure for a common dSLR annoyance - the dusty image sensor. The E-510 is also a terrific value; for under $1000 you can get the E-510 in a Two Lens Outfit with both the 14-42mm and 40-150 lenses, a package that covers an effective focal length range of 28-300mm. It competes well with other consumer dSLR's and offers a compelling alternative to those considering high-end consumer digicams. The E-510's Auto and Scene modes will produce high quality snapshots for beginners, while its advanced operating modes will satisfy the enthusiast photographer - it's truly a camera the entire family can use."
Read more about the Olympus Evolt E-510.
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Megapixel has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S700/S5700 and writes, "The Fujifilm FinePix S700/S5700 is a very good camera that easily produces excellent images. If its flash is no better than most compacts, its image quality outdoors is one of the best we have seen recently. This said, could the FinePix S700 be even better? Yes, it would be even better if it also offered an effective optical stabilizer. But even as is, this camera should garner a wide following."
Read more about the Fujifilm FinePix S700.
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PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Olympus E-510 and writes, "Stick to ISO 800 and below in the main and there are no problems to report, while noise levels at ISO 1600 are more than acceptable. Like its E-410 sibling however, you have to watch white balance on the E-510, particularly when shooting using filtered natural daylight rather than flash, which is want to give images a decidedly cool blue colour cast. So fire off a shot or two and set the white balance manually before taking a shot if you're planning on shooting a sequence."
Read more about the Olympus Evolt E-510.
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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."
Read more about the Canon SD750 (Canon Digital IXUS 75).
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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."
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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."
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CNET has a review of the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS and writes, "Kodak's EasyShare Z712 IS is a nice superzoom, especially for the price, though its image quality does falter at higher ISOs. ... If you tend to be more of a snapshooter, but want the reach of a 12x zoom lens, you'll probably like the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS. In fact, even advanced amateurs will be impressed with its manual exposure controls and image quality, but more choosy photographers may take fault with the artifacts we saw and the noise at higher ISOs. However, for this price, it's very hard to find a camera that matches the Z712 IS."
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ePhotozine has a review of the Olympus SP-550UZ and writes, "The previous UltraZoom from Olympus was something of a triumph of marketing over functionality. The image quality at the end of the zoom was dreadful. So it's nice to see that it's actually a lot better here. It isn't super sharp, but it's acceptable and means that you can zoom in from very far away to reveal small details or capture people surreptitiously. ... The SP-550UZ does look good, it has got some great features, but there are aspects of the performance and operation that leave something to be desired. However, if you really want to have a compact camera with an unfeasibly large zoom, then this will fit the bill."
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Unbeatable has a review of the Samsung NV11 and writes, "Image quality is very good with the lens ensuring that they are focused from corner to corner and detail is brilliant, thanks to the 10.1 MP sensor which also ensures that colour reproduction is very natural and bright. The touch screen interface proves to be very successful and very easy to use which also describes the camera as a whole. Images were good at ISO 100 & 200 but when we assessed the images taken at ISO 800 and higher we found that they had high levels of image noise and were unfortunately unusable. ... The Samsung NV11 has great features and is excellent value for money."
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PhotographyBLOG has a review of the Samsung i7 and writes, "The Samsung i7's main drawback in terms of image quality is noise, with ISO 400 showing obvious noise and blurring of detail. The noise gets progressively worse as you go from ISO 400 to ISO 800 and finally the completely unusable 1600 setting. The noise at ISO 400 is also clearly evident in a 15x10 inch print. The Samsung i7 handled chromatic aberrations excellently, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations. The 7.2 megapixel images are just a little soft straight out of the camera at the default sharpen setting, but there are 5 different in-camera sharpening levels to choose from. ... Overall a more than satisfactory performance by the Samsung i7 in terms of image quality."
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Megapixel has a review of the Canon PowerShot S5 IS and writes, "The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is a camera designed for advanced amateurs, and some time is required to tame it and obtain the highest image quality. Nevertheless, it would appear that the 8-megapixel resolution seems to be at the limit of what the lens can support, and with wide angle shots it is not unusual for images to require some post capture sharpening. Similarly, noise is a factor and the S5 IS produces its highest image quality if sensitivity is kept to a maximum of 200 ISO."
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DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the General Electric G1 and writes, "I don’t know about GE’s other cameras, but the G1 is disappointing. It isn’t anything different than the standard digital camera. It has 7 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens, and a 2.5-inch LCD screen with sub-par resolution. That’s all been done. ... The G1 does have some interesting highlights: great software that provides a lot more editing than most included software, a $199 price tag, and a Panorama Stitching mode that stitches everything together in the camera. However, these don’t justify the overexposed or grainy pictures. In the end, the GE G1 just isn’t worth it."
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DigitalCameraInfo has a review of the Olympus EVOLT E-510 and writes, "The E-510 is very similar to its competition in many ways, but it really distinguishes itself with the live-view LCD screen. This feature attracts consumers who are used to shooting with the live-view LCD on compact digital cameras and miss that feature on most DSLRs. Few DSLRs have it and Olympus was the first to introduce it on the E-330. The Olympus E-510’s live-view LCD is still flawed, though. The view blacks out so the mirror box can flip and allow the auto focus system to work: this all adds a second or two to the total time it takes to snap a picture. It really is faster to snap a picture on most live view compact digital cameras than on the E-510, so why even have a DSLR?"
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The Digital Picture has a review of the Canon EOS 1D Mark III and writes, "My only reservation with this model is the poor AI Servo AF accuracy under the narrow set of circumstances described earlier - and I'm sure Canon is researching this issue. Otherwise, the Canon EOS 1D Mark III is a big hit. The 1D3, along with an impressive range of available lenses and accessories, is an especially appealing body for sports, photojournalism, wildlife, weddings and other low light photography. At this moment, my primary camera will remain the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark II only because of its higher resolution full frame sensor. But, I'm waiting anxiously for a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III that incorporates the same improvements."
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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."
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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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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."
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Imaging Resource has a review of the Casio EXILIM ZOOM EX-Z75 and writes, "In the end, though, it comes down to image quality. The 7.2 megapixel sensor in the Casio Z75 should be good enough for prints up to 11x14, if not higher, but the image noise and suppression-softening is prominent even at ISO 100, and gets worse from there. If you keep the Z75 at ISO 50 and shoot in daylight, you'll be reasonably happy with the pictures, but if you venture indoors, your images will be soft and slightly noisy. Noise and noise suppression both muddle the images badly enough that it's tough to give the Casio Z75 the high marks we want to for its other aspects. If you're sticking to 4x6, however, you might be very happy with the Casio Exilim EX-Z75."
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ThinkCamera has a review of the Olympus E-410 DSLR and writes, "The camera delivers excellent out-of-camera JPEGs, although the dynamic range isn't that, er, dynamic. You seem to tread a thinner line between blocking up shadows and blowing out highlights than usual on this camera. ... Most of the limitations here are small, and so is the camera. That's the big point here; this is a camera that's small and light enough not to take up the bulk of the crazy hand luggage restrictions UK air travellers have to suffer. We reckon that, among rock-hoppers, mountaineers and world travellers, the Olympus E-410 is the camera of choice."
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DPReview has a review of the Leica M8 and writes, "I'm mostly disappointed because of the wide difference between the quality of the output image (at a pixel level) between JPEG's created in-camera and RAW converted using either Capture One or Adobe Camera RAW (or pretty much any other third party converter). The image processor (specifically the demosaicing, sharpening and low pass algorithms) exhibit some 'roughness' which we wouldn't expect to see in 2007, there must be plenty of off-the-shelf engines which can do a better job. ... I have to admit that I've been turned, from a skeptic to a believer, certainly the M8 isn't a camera everyone is going to afford, but a rangefinder is certainly something any 'serious' photographer should try at some point in their life. It's changed the way I shoot, I've found myself going back to manual focus more even when I use DSLR's and being more selective about lenses and depth of field, and more creative in my framing. My advice on the M8 would be, if you can afford to then get one, be aware of its limitations, shoot RAW and rediscover 'capturing moments'."
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