carlzeiss
Latest
Logitech's QuickCam Pro 9000 and Notebook webcams bring Carl Zeiss glass
Logitech just stepped up their webcam game with the introduction of a pair of $100 QuickCam Pro 9000 and QuickCam Pro for Notebooks. These are the first two webcams to carry a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens under a new exclusive deal 'tween the two. Besides the highly touted optics, the cams feature a less than 3 second auto-refocus time, a 2 megapixel sensor, recordings at 30fps and 960 x 720 pixels, and compatibility with Skype and all the other popular PC video messaging applications. Both should ship in Europe and the US before July is done. Read -- Carl Zeiss deal Read -- QuickCam Pro 9000 and QuickCam Pro
Sony's DSC-H7 / DSC-H9 CyberShots get official, pack 15x optical zoom
If you're here for surprises, you're not apt to leave satisfied, but if you're interested in a few extra deets on Sony's latest duo of megazoom digicams, this is the spot. Set to replace the DSC-H2 and DSC-H5 just about one year after their respective releases, Sony once again did a horrendous job keeping the DSC-H7 and DSC-H9 on the low, but we're not complaining or anything. Anyways, future H7 / H9 owners can look forward to a Carl Zeiss 15x optical zoom lens, 8.1-megapixel sensor, face detection technology, HDTV output, the ability to shoot up to 1/4000 of a second, Bionz processing engine (seen in the Alpha lineup), Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization, up to ISO 3200, and red-eye reduction. The H9 steps it up ever so slightly by adding a three-inch flip-up LCD (compared to the H7's 2.5-inch rendition) and Sony's own NightShot technology, which purportedly allows photographers to snap legible shots even in dark alleys. Notably, neither camera sports any kind of movie mode whatsoever, and those hoping to shoot in RAW will also be sorely disappointed, but if you're fine with those two oversights and the massive zoom tickles your stalking instincts, both cameras will be landing in April for $400 (DSC-H7) / $480 (DSC-H9). %Gallery-1827%
Carl Zeiss creates telephoto lens with 1700mm focal length
This new telephoto lens comes to us from the: "because we can" department. Lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss has just made one of the world's largest telephoto lenses -- it's so big in fact, that you nearly need a construction crane to lift it up. Weighing in at 256 kg (564 lb.), this monstrosity of a lens has a focal length of 1700mm (over 5.5 feet!), a speed of f/4, and has 21x magnification. You can't miss it if you attend this year's Photokina convention in Cologne, Germany starting September 29. Based on the company's press release, it sounds like it was custom-built for a client who wanted to shoot wildlife at a distance on the very high-end Hasselblad 203 FE using 6 x 6 medium format film -- in other words, she/he has some serious cash to spend. No word on if it will be ever made available to the public, but it sounds like Carl Zeiss is open to ideas if you've got a briefcase full of euros to pay for the project, not to mention the means to get it from wherever you are to wherever you actually want to use it without scaring every living thing in your path.
Nokia releases N73 and N93 "multimedia computers"
Even if you're a die-hard Palm or Windows Mobile fan, it's hard to deny the appeal of Nokia's N-series lineup of S60-powered "multimedia computers," whose connectivity and imaging options are some of the best you can find on a smartphone today. As promised, the company has just officially released both the N73 (pictured, bottom) and N93 (pictured, top) handsets that we've been following for some time, and although you probably won't be able to pick them up through traditional channels, we know that they'll definitely be available at your local Nokia retail outlet. As a quick refresher, both of the phones (we know, we know, we're not supposed to call them phones) are highlighted by 3.2 megapixel, Zeiss lens-equipped cameras, with the N93 throwing in a 3x optical zoom and support for 30fps VGA video. Both models also feature high-res 2.4-inch displays, Bluetooth radios, a miniSD slot for image capture or rocking tunes, and quad-band GSM plus 3G UMTS capability. On top of all these attractive features, the N93 also gives you built-in WiFi with UPnP functionality, video out for replaying your precious memories on a big screen, and what sounds like better-than-average in-camera editing. We're still gonna stick with our current smartphones for now, but these models are so hot that we're seriously reconsidering our snobby insistence on rocking those handy QWERTY thumboards at all times.Read- N73Read- N93[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony's 7.2 megapixel DSC-T30 reviewed
For the most part, Sony's latest ultra-compact member of the ultra-popular T-series line of digital cameras sounds like the perfect all-around point-and-shooter -- with a few important caveats. For starters, the DSC-T30 features a Carl Zeiss lens backed up by a 7.2 megapixel CCD, and Sony was gracious enough to toss in some optical image stabilization for steady hand-held shots even at slower shutter speeds. You also get a 3-inch display that fills nearly the entire backside of the camera, and that, according to Imaging Resource, performs much better than average in direct sunlight. For as low as $400, it would seem that this followup to the DSC-T9 should be unrivaled in the marketplace, but several non-minor flaws -- including heavy noise in low-light shots captured above ISO 200 and audible artifacts in some video clips -- would suggest that this model is not for everyone. Still, the small size, good overall photo quality, and superior battery life (400+ shots) are enough to make the T30 one of Imaging Resouce's coveted "Dave's Picks."[Via Photography Blog]
Sony's DCR-SR100 disk-based camcorder reviewed
Remember that hot Sony DCR-SR100 disk-based Handycam we first set eyes to at CES? Yeah, the one with a 30GB hard disk, 3.3 megapixel sensor, 2.7-inch touch-screen LCD, and 5.1 Dolby Surround Sound recording -- that one. Well, CamcorderInfo laid fist-to-product and inked a full review for our consumption. JVC may have been first to market with a hard disk recorder, but the review claims the SR100 is the first to produce "good video." In fact, they say it blows those JVC MG70 and MG77 modesl with MOD file format recordings (Sony goes MPEG-2) "out of the water." Granted, the SR100 still isn't quite up to the quality of MiniDV-taped recorders but the gap is no doubt, "closing quickly" which is good news indeed. Sure, the cam suffers from only a few manual controls and the reviewer doesn't like the Sony touch-screen interface which makes handling the unit a problem. Still, the camera is an easy to use, point-and-shoot camcorder for all your baby, uh, shooting needs. We'll just have to wait and see how it holds up to that mysterious 3CCD JVC GZ-MG505 before getting ourselves in too much of a tizzy over this $1,000-ish camcorder.
Nokia N73 revealed
Some pix of that unannounced Nokia N73 we told you about a few weeks back have surfaced in the forums over at mobile-review. The N73 (on left in the picture) as it's currently called, is the the supposed successor to the N70 (on right), and is expected to pump Symbian 9.1 and Series 60 3rd addition while featuring a 3.2 megapixel cam with with autofocusing Carl Zeiss lens, Bluetooth 2.0, stereo speakers, memory card expansion and that good 3G (UMTS) lovin' for video calls on that large QVGA screen. So really, no additional details, just some fuzzy eye candy this time around. More pics after the break. [Via NewMobile, Thanks Oliver]
