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Sony's 3D Library lets Aussies borrow products free of charge
Sony's push for three dimensional entertainment has inspired it to launch a series of product-loaning machines in the land of Oz. These "3D Library" kiosks, as the manufacturer is simply dubbing 'em, will let Aussies checkout a variety of Sony's 3D-capable products at no cost and for up to three days. Folks itching to create some 3D content for free can choose from the Handycam HDR-TD10, NEX C3 and Bloggie cameras. And, as if hardware wasn't enough, you'll be surprised to hear the company's also throwing in its own flicks and PlayStation games as part of its loaner campaign. The program is underway now, so all you Australians willing to take Sony up on its offer can hit up the PR below to find the nearest freeloading location.
Ask Engadget: best quick-shutter camera for under $700?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Travis, who is soon to become a father (congratulations!) and wants to capture the baby's life with a new camera. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I'm about to become a new parent and my not-so-tech-savvy wife thinks we need a ridiculous DSLR to get good, quick pics of our new child. I argue there are plenty of cameras out there with fast shutter speeds that won't cost us too much, but I don't know what exactly to look for. I want to take quick pictures to capture those really cute shots that other cameras miss. What's a good camera that I can get less for $700?" Camera experts, baby owners, people who balance objects on your pets, what's the camera you can rely on to catch those split-second moments of cuteness? Our thoughts lead us toward the Nikon J1's motion snapshot, or the Sony NEX-C3, but perhaps someone out there knows the perfect baby-snapping camera? Dear friends, the floor -- by which we mean the comments feed below -- is yours.
Tamron unveils 18-200mm E-mount lens, ups your NEX glass selections
With a whopping total of eight official lens choices (and two wide angle converters), saying that Sony's NEX cameras could use a few more options in the decent glass category would be putting it lightly. Thankfully, Tamron today announced its latest zoom lens, the BO11 18-200MM F/3.5-6.3 DI III VC, which is made specifically for E-mount shooters. The BO11 weighs in at just over a pound and features a built-in stepping autofocus motor, along with Tamron's moving coil-equipped Vibration Compensation technology -- a must given that Sony's NEX shooters rely on their lenses for image stabilization. While there's no mention of price, the lens will be shipping to dealers starting December 15th and you'll have your choice of either black or silver. Of course, we'd be remiss not to point out the option of lens mount adapters, but if you're set on dedicated solutions you'll the full press release just past the break. Update: Tamron has announced pricing at $739.
Engadget's holiday gift guide 2011: digital cameras
Welcome to the Engadget Holiday Gift Guide! We're well aware of the heartbreaking difficulties surrounding the seasonal shopping experience, so we're here to help you sort out this year's tech treasures. Below is today's bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to the Gift Guide hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the holiday season. With cameras popping up on tablets, smartphones and even Bluetooth headsets, there's a fairly good chance that there's already a device in your pocket capable of shooting high-res stills and HD video. But even with popular apps like Instagram on-board, mobile devices still can't match the versatility and image quality of a dedicated snapper. If you're looking to hide a new point-and-shoot under the tree this year, there are plenty of great options to consider, for any budget. So clear off the memory card and get ready to jump past the break for our top picks that will deliver -- and capture -- plenty of holiday cheer.
Engadget Podcast 249 - 07.22.2011
Here at Engadget, and here on the Engadget Podcast in particular, we're all about customer service. OK, maybe not all about customer service, but on this episode we've dedicated twenty percent of our breath to answering your questions! If you happen to enjoy a bunch of Apple news too -- which we heard you do you -- then we're at about fifty percent on-track to serving you completely. If you like Apple news, having your questions answered, and a healthy dose of other up-to-the-minute information in the spacecraft, e-reader, and digital camera realms...well, let's just say we got this.Host: Tim Stevens, Brian HeaterGuests: Dana WollmanProducer: Trent WolbeMusic: Paradise City02:44 - Apple Mac OS X Lion available now in the App Store06:00 - Apple refreshes MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt, and backlit keyboards08:35 - Apple OS X Lion (10.7) review17:32 - The MacBook drops from Apple's Store (update: confirmed)22:37 - Apple updates Mac mini: Core i5 and i7, Thunderbolt, AMD Radeon HD, no SuperDrive22:55 - Apple rolls out 27-inch Thunderbolt Display with FaceTime HD camera, built-in speakers23:45 - Apple's Q3 earnings exceed estimates: $28.57 billion revenue, $7.31 billion profit, 20 million iPhones sold25:13 - Apple outpaces Nokia in global smartphone shipments28:00 - Nokia Q2 2011: 'clearly disappointing' results as challenges prove 'greater than expected'32:35 - Motorola Droid 3 review37:35 - Sony Alpha NEX-C3 review42:55 - iRiver Story HD review49:51 - Space Shuttle Atlantis touches down in Florida, won't be going back up again50:44 - Google 'winding down' Labs, likely due to meddling older sister51:40 - Listener questionsHear the podcastSubscribe to the podcast[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune MarketplaceDownload the podcastLISTEN (MP3)LISTEN (AAC)LISTEN (OGG)Contact the podcastSend your questions to @tim_stevens.Leave us a voicemail: (423) 438-3005 (GADGET-3005)E-mail us: podcast at engadget dot comTwitter: @tim_stevens @bheater @danawollman
Sony Alpha NEX-C3 review
Traditionally known as DSLRs, interchangeable lens cameras (ILC) have always promised excellent image quality, speed, and versatility. But their enormous size and weight, lofty price tags, and intimidating design have forced casual photographers to focus on compact and superzoom point-and-shoot cameras instead, often leaving those bulky, confusing monstrosities to the pros. Enter mirrorless models, which scrap an optical viewfinder in favor of shrinking both body size and price tag, have provided the rest of us with a welcome mat to the world of powerful sensors, high-speed shooting, and swappable lenses -- with relatively little sacrifice along the way.The 16-megapixel Alpha NEX-C3 builds upon the successes of its predecessor -- the NEX-3 -- sporting a slimmer body and redesigned APS-C sensor. It also adds a reported 20-percent boost in battery life, improved low light performance, and a slimmer, more attractive design. We spent well over a month using the NEX-C3 as our primary camera for product shoots, trade shows, hands-on videos, and vacations, and were blown away by its performance as both a versatile still snapper and a powerful video camera. It's important to note that while the C3 does capture 720p video, it can't shoot in 1080p, so you'll need to look elsewhere if you need full HD. Like all mirrorless cameras, there's also no optical viewfinder, nor is there a traditional hot shoe. Instead, Sony included the same propriety connector found on the NEX-3 and NEX-5, enabling connectivity with a dedicated external microphone and a limited variety of external flashes, including the compact strobe that ships in the box. While some photographers may find the NEX-C3 inadequate for their needs, we absolutely loved shooting with it, and we think you will too. Jump past the break to see why.%Gallery-128646%
Sony NEX-C3 hands-on (video)
Sony announced the successor to its NEX-3 digital camera earlier this week, so we decided to take a post-E3 road trip down to the electronics maker's US headquarters in San Diego to check out the $599 NEX-C3 for ourselves. We'll analyze the new sensor's image quality in a full review before the camera hits stores later this summer, but from our initial impressions, the new cam appears to offer fairly minor tweaks compared to its predecessor. It's incredibly small for a camera with an APS-C sensor -- perhaps even awkwardly so, when paired with the comparatively massive 18-55mm kit lens or Sony's enormous 18-200mm optic -- but not small enough to be any less functional than the previous iteration. Like the NEX-3, the camera was designed to be held by resting the lens on your left palm, rather than by the grip, so size isn't likely to be an issue. Cosmetic changes include a magnesium alloy top panel, front microphone positioning, and a more efficient display hinge, which helped reduce the camera's thickness. We'll be posting a full review in several weeks, but jump past the break for more observations, and a hands-on video from Sony HQ, shot with the NEX-C3.%Gallery-126159%
Sony announces NEX-C3 and Alpha A35 cameras, new macro lens
We've been (impatiently) waiting for Sony to update its NEX line of digital cameras since the NEX-3 was discontinued earlier this year, and it looks like a worthy successor has finally been named. Announced today, the NEX-C3 appears identical to the model leaked in April, and uses the same format APS-C image sensor as its predecessor, bumping resolution to 16.2 megapixels in a camera body smaller than the NEX-5. Sony says the new entry-level cam is designed to fill the gap between point-and-shoot and DSLR cameras, and is the smallest body to pack an APS-C sensor, offering DSLR-level image quality -- the same 16.2 MP chip is also included in its new full-size Alpha A35, which replaces the A33. Both cameras can shoot at up to 5.5 fps (the A35 adds a 7 fps mode at 8.4 megapixels), and include 3-inch LCDs, with the NEX keeping its hallmark tilt display, and the A35 adding Sony's Translucent Mirror live-view mode, and an electronic viewfinder. We have plenty more to share, including a new lens and flash, along with pricing and availability for all, so jump past the break for the juicy details. %Gallery-125282%
NEX-C3 instruction manual appears on Sony's Czech site, quickly removed
Sony is still staying mum on any official details for the NEX-C3, but the camera's instruction manual has now made a brief appearance on the company's Czech Republic site, offering yet more evidence that the successor to the NEX-3 is set for an imminent launch. The camera mock-up on the description page appears to be identical to previously leaked photos, and judging by control layout, NEX-3 and NEX-5 users should have no trouble adjusting. The full manual is no longer available, but DPReview points out that the camera is smaller than both previous models, and includes a 16 megapixel sensor. A post on Mirrorless Forum also reveals a new lens -- a 30mm f/3.5 macro priced at €259 (about $383) -- adding a fourth option to the limited mix of NEX-compatible optics.
Sony NEX-3 successor NEX-C3, Alpha A35 images leaked?
We were a bit unsettled when Sony suddenly discontinued the NEX-3 after just eight months on the street, but if these leaked images are in fact authentic, then we might just have a worthy successor on our hands. The NEX-C3 is rumored to include the same 16.2 megapixel image sensor used in the Sony Alpha A55 DSLR, as well as HD video capture (as expected) and the new flash seen in the image above. Leaked photos on Sony Alpha Rumors reveal an LCD with the same tilt capability we love on the NEX-3, as well as minor adjustments to the controls. The blog also got its hands on some leaked images of the Sony Alpha A35 DSLR (added after the break), but details on that camera are a bit spotty. Rumor has it Sony originally intended to announce both cameras earlier in the month, but plans were delayed in the wake of the catastrophic earthquake in Japan. No word on cost or availability, but we'd expect to see pricing on the NEX-C3 in line with last year's model -- around $500, with lens. [Thanks Andrea!]