BenQ's new 6 megapixel DC-E600 with "Lens-Eye"

With PMA just around the corner we're starting to see some cameras being announced in an effort to get the jump on the competition, and BenQ is joining the fray with their new DC-E600 shooter. It's a compact 6 megapixel camera with a 2.5-inch LCD and 30fps VGA movie recording, but the real interesting part here is the 2D-Rotating "Lens-Eye" that does -- something. There is a Panoramic Focus as well, that also does some undescribed activity, but seems related to the Lens-Eye. We suppose there will be info as to these mystery features soon enough, but if anyone could fill us in that would be great.

[Via LetsGoDigital]

[apeguero @ Feb 15th 2006 4:47PM]

Could it be that the lens rotates to take portrait or panoramic shots instead of the user actually rotating the camera itself?

[Balls @ Feb 15th 2006 4:56PM]

Whats with all these point and shoot cameras with no viewfinder?

Makes the camera absolutely worthless in bright light.

[loban @ Feb 15th 2006 5:06PM]

just because the lens rotates, doesn't mean the picture rotates making it a portrait shot. the sensor has to also rotate.

[Jorge @ Feb 15th 2006 5:15PM]

Might be a (ultra or not) wide-lens, to let you take panoramic shots?

[Brandon @ Feb 15th 2006 5:16PM]

If the lens elements rotate, for example from the left side to the right side, it would allow for panoramic images to be stitched together without the need for special software or algorithms.

The camera would basically have a built in 'shift' lens.

Not sure if this is what it's doing, but it kind of looks like it.

[koo @ Feb 15th 2006 5:23PM]

Its apparent that it shoots at a slightly awkward angle to catch people by surprise, and after its done taking the picture, it begins to spin incessantly, emitting 1.21 gigawatts of electricity, thus transporting you back in time to prevent you from taking bad photos to begin with.

[Mic @ Feb 15th 2006 5:29PM]

Didn't you heared about the Lens that focus not by changing position but by put some electricity on it, that makes oil liquid bent different. And makes the light enter different in you cam

[AUA @ Feb 15th 2006 5:35PM]

Sounds like a device for making stereoscopic images.

[Klunkers @ Feb 15th 2006 5:44PM]

It looks to me like a ultra magnification lens system, with light going in through the bottom of lens to back of camera then that image bounces off mirror to front of protruding housing then back to CCD.
This would enable the camera to get (uneducated guess!) double magnification while halving the size of the stick out lens area.

Till later,
Da Masta Of Go Fasta

[Bob Mcdougal III 34 @ Feb 15th 2006 6:39PM]

yeauh...w/e that means but I think the dual, cytoplasmic rays can be sent via wifi to the sun distorting the suns level of intensity so the light won't be as noticable..so basically it has a built in sunblock, as for the lens its probably a shifting tubular-like bacteriaphage with approx 2million nanobots located inside it organized into thyroids.

[Kyung @ Feb 15th 2006 6:46PM]

because of the rotating eye, you could in theory take a image, then rotate the lens 180 degrees and take another, and fuse the two images to make a 3D image.

[ScaryFast @ Feb 15th 2006 6:55PM]

"Whats with all these point and shoot cameras with no viewfinder? Makes the camera absolutely worthless in bright light."

Incorrect. Current LCD's are much improved and while they aren't perfect under direct sunlight they are definately useable. all the information is readable, the subject you're trying to photograph is clear. My 3 year old Canon A80 LCD is horrible under direct sunlight but all these current cameras from Olympus, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Etc. are all decent.

[Donovan @ Feb 15th 2006 7:48PM]

It is just a fancy way to have the lens cover built into the camera, so it rotates closed, and it protects the lens.

[anthony @ Feb 15th 2006 9:15PM]

It couldnt be for 3d image for a 3d to work it has to be shot as so c= camera i= image... 180 would just make the picture be upside down...

C C
/
/
/
I

I believe the thing is just like the user said "It is just a fancy way to have the lens cover built into the camera, so it rotates closed, and it protects the lens."

[Graham Jupp @ Feb 15th 2006 9:48PM]

I would guess that the camera actually has two lenses, rotating the front section reveals the other lens and hides the first. One would be for extreme macro or zoom etc... whilst the other would be for wide angle.

[Cameradude @ Feb 16th 2006 7:42AM]

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Olympus/oly_d630z.asp

Look familiar?

[A.P. @ Feb 16th 2006 11:12AM]

This looks like a Sony N1 knockoff!

[Evan Adams @ Feb 16th 2006 1:03PM]

Two other ideas: 1) if I were to name something 'eye' in a camera I would make it related to red eye. Perhaps it moves off axis when it sences that it is going to get red dots. 2) A while back there was a story about being able to take a new type of photo that could audjust focus post facto. I'd expect that to be in a SLR first and $$$ but you never know.

[loban @ Feb 16th 2006 3:58PM]

"If the lens elements rotate, for example from the left side to the right side, it would allow for panoramic images to be stitched together without the need for special software or algorithms."

wow, that's just not true at all. how could you take a panoramic shot with a lens that shifts a whole half inch from one side to the other? you can try this with a regular camera, take a picture, then step a whole half inch to the right, then take another picture. stich these together and you get......a completely normal picture, the two pics would look pretty much identical.

[Tim @ Feb 16th 2006 8:49PM]

Actually rotating lenses (split lenses) have been used for (film) panoramic capture in the past - although they required a curved piece of film and a 'slit' which tracked across it as the lens moved. I would guess this is the same idea, simply exposing the CCD one row at a time as the lens moves. Likely to offer around 130-160 degree view
Reasonably clever idea but probably not any better than a typical photo-stitch.
By the way, Klunkers, the lens you describe is essentially a Reflex lens - the theory is good but images suffer from some distinct characteristics which would make it unsuitable for general use.

[Spoonman @ Feb 17th 2006 4:07AM]

"while they aren't perfect under direct sunlight they are definately useable"

Direct sunlight is also bright light, which is what the original poster said. If I can't use the LCD outside, then it does become useless. I have to agree with him, I'd much prefer a viewfinder to using the screen any day.

[Sandra @ May 20th 2007 5:19AM]

I agree completely. This camera is useless!!! I went on holiday and half the pics i took came completely black. I might as well throw it away. What is the use of having a camera where you cant take a pic outside

[kyle @ Oct 1st 2006 3:18AM]

how do i rotate the lens eye?