BenQ intros 8-megapixel C840 point-and-shoot

Keepin' the flow of new BenQ gear rolling is the C840 point-and-shoot, which claims to be the successor of the 2.5-month old C740i. This camera features an eight-megapixel CCD sensor, an SMC Pentax lens, face tracking functionality, anti-shake, 3x optical zoom, a 2.5-inch LTPS LCD monitor, red-eye reduction, ISO all the way up to 1,600, optical zoom in video recording mode and 3:2 / 16:9 output sizes. The video mode enables users to capture clips in 720 x 400 resolution at 30 frames-per-second, and there's 15 different shooting modes built-in to handle a variety of scenarios. You'll also find a paltry 6MB of internal storage, but you can (thankfully) expand that a little with an SD or SDHC card. Sadly, mum's the word on pricing and release date information, but click on for a shot of the back.

[Alex @ Sep 21st 2007 10:14AM]

What's the point of posting products such as these run-of-the-mill cameras? If you're going to do it, might as well do every electronic product out there. Oh, wait? Is BenQ paying you guys?

[Leoedin @ Sep 21st 2007 10:38AM]

Do you read engadget regularly? They post things like this quite regularly - pretty much any new product launch is covered. Engadget cover new webcams, digicams, monitors etc.

[Al @ Sep 21st 2007 10:49AM]

Look closely at the picture on the bottom left button.. we'll need a full review of it before really judging (although I wouldn't hold my breath for anything revolutionary).

Anyway, run of the mill compact cameras would not have the functions as indicated under that bottom left button... for those that know how to use it, it's handy to have that power fit in your pocket. :)

[yoshi @ Sep 21st 2007 10:55AM]

Am I the only one who hates the name "BenQ"? I can't see myself EVER buying anything with that stupid name attached to it.

[trumpton @ Sep 21st 2007 11:17AM]

It looks horribly cheap, doesn't it?

[blackshtef @ Sep 21st 2007 11:59AM]

Yes, it does. But I have one C740 at home, and I can't say that I'm dissapointed or something like that.
The camera was pretty cheap here in Croatia, it came with 2 GB memory card and it costed 1000,00 kunas. That's about $200,00.

The camera is pretty neat, and I'm satisfied with it. No complaints yet. No extra options, but hey, that an ordinary point-and-shoot camera. And a pretty good one.
I guess I could say that it's a best buy. Sony cameras, for example, costed about $400,00...

[Al @ Sep 21st 2007 7:10PM]

Ever tried Av or M ? That's all I use.. compact camera or not :)

[Pete @ Sep 21st 2007 1:38PM]

I really like the retro look. Everyone is so obsessed with the future, it's nice to see a camera that's kinda kitschy...