Olympus’ SP-800UZ 30x Superzoom Comes with all the Fixin’s
The tweener world between point-and-shoot and DSLRs gets more interesting all the time. Just when you think 20x zooms, advanced focusing, image stabilization, and lots of megapixels pretty much max out the potential for these cameras, along comes Nikon, Canon, or Olympus to prove you wrong. Case in point, Olympus’ SP-800UZ which comes with a 30x “superzoom”, 14 megapixels, and 720p video.
The SP-800UZ, which is the fourth installment in the SP series, has a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 14 megapixels, giving a maximum resolution of 4288 x 3216. Image ratio is 4:3, but it will also shoot in 16:9. ISO rating is from 64 to 3200, with options for 6400 and 10000 with “boost”. Shutter speeds range from 1/4 second to 1/2000 second, but the shutter can be kept open as long as 4 seconds in Night mode. Wide open the lens is 28mm, and 840mm when fully extended (30x)–and that’s without the 5x digital zoom.
The SP-800UZ uses TruePic™ III Image Processor and saves images as JPEGs (movies as MP4s). Sorry, no RAW. Images are stored to either the 2GB of internal memory or an SD/SDHC card. And, as is the trend in this range, there’s no optical viewfinder. Instead, you have to rely on the 3-inch LCD.
There are 27 shooting modes, four “Magic Filters”, and a panorama mode, which should keep most amateurs busy. Manual control is also available. It also has auto focus, dual image stabilization, face detection, and automatic noise reduction. Flash is built-in. 720p video (1280 x 720) is available at 24fps. You can also capture video at 640 x 480 and 320 x 240 at 30fps or 15fps.
The SP-800UZ isn’t pocket-sized, but it is smaller, and cheaper, than the next step up. The SP-800UZ is currently on pre-order, with a suggested retail price of $349.99.
Image Credit: Olympus
Sony’s Cyber-shot TX5 can Surf or Turf (Water, Shock Resistant)
Sony’s just-announced TX5 Cyber-shot digital camera might just be a dream come true for clumsy or masochistic photographers.
Unlike your wimpy point-n-shoot, the TX5 can be dunked in up to 10 feet of water, which means you can safely take it snorkeling and capture the underwater world in photos, panoramic shots, or 720p HD video.
Sony also claims its TX5 is freeze-proof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, so once you’re finished with your vacation in Hawaii, you can head over to Aspen and take it on the slopes. And should a sand storm blow through the Colorado mountains (or in areas you’re much more likely to be caught up in such a scenario), the TX5 is dust proof. It’s also shock-proof and able to withstand drops from about 5 feet.
"Only Sony can deliver a technology packed, ultra slim, fashionable T-series camera that is also durable. Until now, you couldn’t have it all in one camera," said Kelly Davis, director of the Digital Imaging business on Sony Electronics.
Available in silver, black, pink, green, and red, look for the TX5 to ship this April for around $350.
Image Credit: Sony
Canon Rolls Out Four New PowerShots to Ship End of February
There’s a camera show right around the corner, PMA 2010, and while Canon isn’t going be attending, that’s not stopping them from participating in the ritual release of pre-show product announcements. For the end of February, Canon’s planning on releasing four new point-and-shoot PowerShots: the SX210 IS, SD3500 IS, SD1400 IS, and SD1300 IS.
Three of the four are updates to existing models, with the SD3500 the only new entrant. All of the cameras will have 14 megapixel resolution and HD (720p) video, except the SD1300 which will have 12 megapixels and VGA video. LCD viewfinders range in size from 2.7-inches (SD1300) to 3.5 inches (SD3500), with the SD3500 and SD1400 having touchscreens. (None of the cameras will have an optical viewfinder.) All are powered by a lithium ion rechargeable battery and support SD/SDHC memory cards.
An interesting addition to the SX210 and SD3500 is support for Eye-Fi, which packages storage and Wi-Fi. With Eye-Fi a user can upload images straight from camera to a computer or the Internet with a wireless connection. It also allows for WPS geotagging of images.
Prices range from $200 for the SD1300, up to $350 for the SX210.
Image Credit: Canon
Leaked Samsung DigiCam Trumps Ashton Kutcher’s Nikon Point-n-Shoot
Touchscreen digital cameras are all the rage (just ask any teenage girl who’s seen Ashton Kutcher pimping a Nikon Coolpix), and while that isn’t new territory for Samsung, the company’s upcoming CL80 boasts a few new tricks.
Electronista describes the CL80 as "Samusng’s first real connected camera," which points to the model’s Wi-Fi connectivity to upload photos to Facebook, Flickr, Photobox, and Picasa without having to sync up with a PC.
The CL80 will also sport a 3.7-inch AMOLED touchscreen display with haptic feedback, a 14MP sensor, a 7X wide-angle lens, and hardware image stabilization. And of course it will come ready to take H.264 videos at up to 720p.
No word yet on price or a projected release date, both of which are likely to be revealed during CES next month.
Image Credit: electronista.com
Point Grey Plans to Show Off USB 3.0 Camera at IDF
Point Grey has developed the “world’s first” Superspeed-enabled USB 3.0 digital video camera and has plans to show it off at the Intel Developers Forum (IDF) in San Francisco next week. The camera takes advantage of the massive throughput advantages USB 3.0 is expected to offer.
As a prototype, the camera uses a Sony IMX036 CMOS image sensor capable of 3 megapixel video. The Sony sensor also boasts a raw output format streaming video at full 1080p with 60 frames per second. "One of the potential benefits of the increased bandwidth of USB 3.0 is that it allows the main processor to handle compression," explained Point Grey spokesperson Vlad Tucakov.
“This demonstration gives users insight into some of the other applications that are possible with SuperSpeed USB in addition to the high-speed data transfers with external storage devices that we have seen so far," added Jeff Ravencraft, Chairman of the USB Implementers Forum.
Canon’s New EOS 7D: Bigger, Faster, Smarter, Stronger
Canon fired the latest salvo in the hotter-than-ever digital SLR wars this week, introducing its new EOS 7D. The $1699 (body-only) EOS 7D includes some now-familiar features, such as APS-C image sensor size (1.6x crop factor), 3-inch LCD with Live View, and Full HD Video.
The $1699 (body-only) EOS 7D includes some now-familiar features, such as the APS-C image sensor size (1.6x crop factor), 3-inch LCD with Live View, and Full HD Video. Here’s what’s new and different.
Bigger - The EOS 7D cranks up the size of several subsystems, including
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18MP image sensor
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Two DIGIC 4 image processors for faster image processing and better low-light performance
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ISO expandable to 12,800
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100% viewfinder coverage
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19-point autofocus
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63 zone dual-layer metering that uses AF and color information for better exposure and image quality
Faster - Shoot faster with the EOS 7D, thanks to
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8 fps burst shooting (up to 126 large JPEG or up to 15 RAW; requires Ultra DMA Compact Flash Card)
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1080HD video mode now offers frame rates up to 30 fps and includes adjustable frame rates for all supported video resolutions
Smarter - The EOS 7D provides a smarter viewfinder and AF system for better information and composition
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New toggleable LCD overlay for better framing and focusing even in total darkness
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New Spot AF mode for focusing on tiny areas of a scene
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AF Point expansion (borrowed from the EOS 1D series) automatically shifts to adjacent focus points if the selected manual focus point loses focus
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Improved automatic AF point selection and Zone AF
Stronger - The EOS 7D is designed to stand up to protracted use:
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Magnesium body with dust and weather resistant features
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Shutter rated for up to 150,000 cycles
Lens Options, Accessories and More Information
The EOS 7D will also be bundled with Canon’s 28-135mm EF IS lens, which provides framing comparable to a 45-215mm lens on a full-frame 35mm camera. The kit will sell for an estimated $1,899.
Wide-angle fans will want to consider Canon’s new 15-85mm EF-S IS (24-135 35mm equivalent) and 18-135mm EF-S IS (28-215mm 35mm equivalent) lenses.
Canon’s new optional WFT-E5A Wireless File Transmitter ($699.99) provides a variety of storage and backup options for the EOS 7D, including the ability to record to a USB external hard disk and an Ultra DMA Compact Flash card inside the camera at the same time, and it also supports geotagging through Bluetooth. Learn more about the EOS 7D and WFT-E5A here.
Learn more about the EOS 7D’s new AF features here.
Are you excited about the new features in the 7D? Wishing it had a different mix of goodies? Click Comment and sound off.
Photo courtesy Canon USA.
Seeing Double: Samsung DualView Digicam Comes with Two LCDs
Samsung this week announced two new point-and-shoot digital cameras — the TL225 and TL220 — both of which sport two LCD screens, a 3.5-inch one on the back (slightly smaller on the TL220) and a less traditional placement on the front with a 2.5-inch display. So what’s the point of a front-mounted LCD?
"With one LCD located on the front of the camera and other one on the back of the camera, photographers can now step out from behind the camera and join their subjects in the photo," Samsung wrote in a blog post.
Samsung also says the front-mounted display will come in handy for taking profile pics for social networking sites. We think it’s the perfect feature who can’t stop looking at themselves.
Both cameras also boast a 12.2MP, 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor, 27- to 124.2mm, f/3.5-5.9 8.6x zoom lens, and the ability to shoot 720p HD videos at 30fps.
The TL225 and TL220 will be available in September for $350 and $300 respectively.
Image Credit: Samsung via ZDNet
Confirmed: Nikon Coolpix S1000pj Sports an Integrated Projector, Other Models Announced
We heard rumors Nikon would be releasing the world’s first digital camera with a built-in projector, but didn’t have much information to go on. However, we’ve been able to confirm the speculation with Nikon, who sent us information on not one, but four new digicams it plans to release as part of its Coolpix series.
The one everyone is talking about — the S1000pj — will come with an "ultra-small" integrated projector capable of beaming images 5 to 40 inches in size. Nikon advertises a flexible throw distance ranging from 10 inches on up to 78 inches (6.5 feet) with brightness rated up to 10 lumens. While using the projector, you can expect about an hour of battery life.
Other features include the ability to record movies at 640 x 480 resolution at 30fps, a 12.1 megapixel sensor, 5x wide-angle zoom, 2.7-inch high res LCD, 5-way hybrid VR image stabilization, motion detection with automatic shutter and ISO settings, up to 6400 ISO, 16 scene modes, and other odds and ends.
S570, S640, S70
Three other Coolpix cameras are also planned for a September release, starting with the sub-$200 (by a nickel) S570. For two Benjamins, the S570 boasts a 12.0 megapixel image sensor, 5x wide-angle zoom, up to ISO 3200 at full resolution, 2.7-inch LCD, 4-way VR image stabilization, and automatic focus on up to 12 faces. Nikon will offer the S570 in a variety of colors, including black, red, blue, and pink.
Moving a step up, the S640 ups the ante with a slightly larger image sensor at 12.2 megapixels, ISO from 100-6400, and a start up time of just 0.7 seconds, which Nikon claims is the fastest in its class. Offered in "Calm Black, Velour Red, Precious Pink, and Pearl White," the S640 will carry an MSRP of $250.
Finally, the S70 will sport a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen interface with a "new generation of touchscreen controls that offer an enhanced shooting and playback experience," the ability to capture HD video in 720p, a 12.1 megapixel image sensor, 5x wide-angle zoom, ISO up to 6400, 5-way image stabiliation, and more. The S70 will come in "Red & Red, Champagne & Beige, Black & Black, and Champagne & Light Brown," with an MSRP set at $400.
Image Credit: Nikon
Nikon Coolpix S1000pj First Digital Camera with a Projector?
Is that a projector in your pocket, or a Nikon Coolpix S1000pj digital camera? Perhaps both, if the latest rumor turns out to be true.
According to NikonRumors.com, the Coolpix S1000jp will be the first digital camera with a built-in projector that allows users to project photos or movie clips onto any flat surface at up to 40 inches in size. In addition to an LED projector, the Coolpix will also include a projector stand, a multi-function remote control, and other goodies.
Other details remain sparse, although preliminary specs show the new digicam sporting an effective resolution of 12.1 megapixels, a 5x Zoom-Nikkor lens, and a 28mm (equivalent) wide-angle coverage.
Look for availability sometime this September at an as-yet unannounced price.
Image Credit: NikonRumors.com
Eye-Fi Cards Jump to 4GB, Now Upload Videos
If you’re any kind of fan of adding WiFi to your digital camera, you may want to check out Eye-Fi’s latest cards, which will double the previous storage cap and add support for uploading videos.
The new versions are the 4GB Explore Video, which will run you $100 and the 4GB Share Video, for only $80. The Explore will automatically geotag photos and videos for you, and offers hotspot access at over 10,000 locations. The Share loses the ability to geotag, and only allows users to send photos and videos to the Web and your home computer.
These new cards are available today. If you’re not looking for all of the fancy frills and are happy with the 2GB space limit, you get the old cards for only $50.
Image Credit: Eye-Fi