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Ricoh CX2 has 10.7x optical zoom, CX1 pedigree
Ah, the cruelty of rapid refresh cycles. It was only six months ago that the well reviewed CX1 hit the scene, but already Ricoh is trotting out its replacement in the form of the CX2. You needn't fret though, as the new shooter retains its predecessor's winning features while adding a few goodies of its own. The zoom has gone from 7.1x to 10.7x, taking it comfortably into the superzoom category, continuous shooting gets upgraded from 4 to 5 fps, and face detection and AF have been enhanced. The latter features should make the new cam easier to use for novices, but when you add up the whole package -- including the already competent 9 megapixel CMOS sensor and HDR imaging capabilities inherited from the CX1 -- you have to wonder if this camera isn't too good for the point and shoot moniker. Suggested UK price is £299.99 ($495), and it should be available in early September. [Via Akihabara News]
Ricoh's CX1 camera gets reviewed
The kids at Photography Blog have finally got their hands on that Ricoh CX1 that won our respect not too long ago, and they've been cool enough to post a review online. The camera, the reviewer said, begins where the ol' R10 left off, throwing features like multi-pattern auto white balance, multi-target auto focus, and 4fps continuous shooting speed into the mix, making this "the best Ricoh point-and-shoot yet." That said, it can't all be groovy -- the review goes on to cite the camera's "bog-standard" 640 x 480 / 30fps video and rudimentary face detection as "nothing to write home about." Image quality -- often a deal-breaker for this company -- has greatly improved, with a new 9 megapixel CMOS sensor sporting "a now usable ISO range of 80-800." Of course, the big news is the camera's high dynamic range. DR mode is, for the most part, "radical and very effective." But there's much more to it -- hit that read link for all the gory details.
Sony CyberShot DSC-HX1 with 20x zoom and 1080p video rumored
The rumor mill seems to be coalescing around a new CyberShot DSC-HX1 camera from Sony in the run-up to the big PMA camera show next week. In fact, on-line camera shops are already adding placeholders for Sony's new flagship, super-zoom with 1080p video and HQ sound. If true, we're just days away from seeing the official launch of a 9 megapixel (CMOS) camera with 20x zoom, 2.7-inch (possibly 3.0-inch like the DSC-H50) LCD, optical SteadyShot with anti-motion blur, and a 10fps burst rate at unspecified resolution. Rumor also has it priced at £400 which directly translates to $571 -- though it'll likely be priced between $400 and $500 (pre-tax) Stateside as these things generally go. [Thanks, Semi]Read -- BuyACamera DSC-HX1 cached entry Read -- DP Review rumor
Ricoh's CX1 point and shoot combines two shots for greater dynamic range, glory
While high dynamic range is only recently getting some attention in the gaming and display worlds, for decades it's been a tool of serious photographers wanting eye-popping exposures. Now Ricoh's gone and offered it to the masses with its latest consumer digi cam, the CX1, creating a "dynamic range double shot" mode that takes two images nearly simultaneously with different exposures, then combines them automatically to present the best bits of both. It features a 9 megapixel CMOS sensor fronted by a 7.1x (28-200mm) lens and backed by a 3-inch LCD. VGA videos are a bit disappointing these days, but 120 frames per second can be captured at that resolution, which is good news for slow-mo junkies. UK release is mid-March for £299, about $430, and we expect/hope it'll be lighting up dim photos Stateside around the same time. %Gallery-45312%[Via PhotographyBLOG]
Canon's A1000 IS, A2000 IS, SX110 IS and E1 break free
Here's three more from Canon, the same, entry-level trio we saw leaked yesterday now official (where's the E1?). The optical image stabilized set feature face detection and DIGIC 3 image processing. Let's highlight the differences: $300 SX110 IS: 9 megapixels, 10x zoom, 3-inch LCD $250 A2000 IS: 10 megapixels, 6x zoom, 3-inch LCD $200 A1000 IS: 10 megapixels, 4x zoom, 2.5-inch LCD All three break loose at the end of this month and ship with a pair of AAs and 32MB SD card.Update: Ah ha, we just found the missing Powershot E1 from yesterday's quartet. The cutesy, OIS cam targeting teens and tweens features the same DIGIC 3 processing with a 10 megapixel sensor, 4x zoom, and 2.5-inch LCD.%Gallery-30459%
