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Nikon Coolpix S9100 extends an 18x zoom from a compact body capable of 1080p video
Last we heard from Nikon on the topic of high-end point-and-shoot cameras, it was touting Full HD video and a backside-illuminated 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor on its S8100. Well, here comes the S9100, still possessing those goodies, but now it's attaching them to a lens capable of 18x optical zoom -- a feature you'd usually expect to find on shooters far bulkier than this pocket-friendly portable. ISO sensitivity can stretch up to 3200 (only 800 in automatic mode), there's a 1050mAh battery helping power the 3-inch, 920k-dot rear-mounted display, and you'll also probably want to know that the 1080p movie mode records sound in stereo and ticks along at a healthy 30fps. Our brief time with the S9100 revealed it to be a typically well built little shooter, although we did notice zooming it backwards and forwards is a fairly slow affair -- which can grow into something of a nuisance when you've got such a massive zoom range -- while the tripod mount is way off to the left of center. We're sure Nikon has thought that decision through and balanced the camera's weight appropriately, however. Sales around the world begin on March 17th, with local pricing set at $330, €348 and £300 in the major markets. %Gallery-115974% %Gallery-115973%
Olympus' SP-560 UZ 18x superzoom
There's another super zoom shooter joining the game this AM with the intro of this, the SP-560 UZ from Olympus. Besides featuring the latest TruePic III image processor found in their other compacts, the 8 megapixel (1/2.35-inch CCD) SP-560 brings an 18x wide angle lens shored up with mechanical image stabilization and ISO 6400, 15fps bursting, 2.5-inch LCD, xD expansion, and face detection with that kinda freaky "Smile Shot" mode. All powered by 4x AA batteries which is a nice safety net in a holiday pinch. Available in October for $450.%Gallery-6279%
FujiFilm's pair of 8 megapixelers: the Z100fd and S8000fd with 18x zoom
In the continuing onslaught of FinePix cameras this morning, FujiFilm also announced a pair of 8 megapixel (1/2.5-inch CCD) shooters: the S8000fd and Z100fd (pictured). The fixed lens S8000fd features a Fujinon 18x optical zoom lens and a high-speed, mechanical CCD-shift stabilization, electric viewfinder or 2.5-inch LCD, VGA video at 30fps, and a continuous shot mode capable of 15 shots per second at a 2 megapixel resolution. The Z100fd is pretty much the Z10fd for grown-ups. It brings a 5x optical zoom, IrSimple infrared, and the CCD-shift mechanical image stabilization found in its bulkier cuz. The S8000fd is scheduled to hit The States in September for $400 while the Z100fd will hit Asia around the same time frame for ¥40,000 or about $332. %Gallery-5229%[Via Impress] Read -- S8000fd Read -- Z100fd
Panasonic unleashes a trio of wide angle, 8 megapixelers: Lumix FX33, FX55, and FZ18
Panasonic just unveiled a trio of new Lumix shooters: the wide angle DMC-FX33 and DMC-FX55 (pictured) with 3-inch LCD and FZ18 with 18x optical zoom. Kicking things off are the two nearly identical 28-mm wide angle compacts. The FX33 bests its FX30 sib by packing an 8.1 megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD and new light sensor to increase the 2.5-inch LCD's brightness when in direct sunlight. The FX55 then, brings the same pixel count along with that monster 3-inch LCD and same 28-mm wide angle, 3.6x optical zoom LEICA DC lens. The DMC-FZ18 meanwhile, brings the same CCD sensor only with a 28-mm wide angle, 18x optical zoom Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens. All three ship in a variety of colors with face detection tech and Panny's optical image stabilization which will definitely come in handy on the biggie zoom.%Gallery-5175%[Via LetsGoDigital] Read -- DMC-FX55 Read -- DMC-FX33 Read -- DMC-FZ18
Sony NEC Optiarc joint venture set to release 18x DVD burner
The optical drive industry has been dominated by joint ventures lately, ranging from the Hitachi-LG partnership to the Toshiba-Samsung mashup, so both Sony and NEC knew that they'd better get in bed together if each wanted to remain competitive in the marketplace. The first product resulting from the new Sony NEC Optiarc, an 18x DVD burner called the AD-7170A, is set to hit the market next month -- but competition will still be fierce, as 20x burners are just beginning to see the light of day. Sources quoted by DigiTimes indicate that soon the actual drive manufacturing will be outsourced to Lite-On IT, whose prowess in volume production should complement Sony's skill at developing optical pick-up heads and NEC's chipset design capabilities to allow the JV to produce attractive products at higher margins. Or something like that -- either way, we'll bring you more on this inaugural product (including pics) when it becomes available.[Via TG Daily]
Samsung's SH-S182D 18x DVD burner
If there's one thing that's far beyond diminishing returns at this point, it's insanely fast DVD writers -- but we do know how much Samsung loves to label something "World's blank," which is why we assume they spent the R&D dollars to create the (ahem) world's first 18x DVD burner. And being that we here at Engadget burn DVDs once every, dunno, couple of months, we can see this shaving literally minutes off our burns over of the next couple of years. It also does do DVD±RW, DVD-RAM, and features Tilt Actuator Compensation (TAC -- whatever that is), Double Optimum Power Control (DOPC -- whatever that is), and a $70 US price tag.Update: Zing! Samsung -- and we -- apparently stand corrected. See: Plextor's PX 760A.
