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Sony Ericsson gets official with "Idou" 12 megapixel mobile
We didn't doubt it for a second (okay, maybe one second), but Sony's so-called Idou is for real. Though, we wouldn't go memorizing that name or anything, 'cause SE has plans to change it to something more commercial before summer. At any rate, the touchscreen-heavy handset -- which will run Symbian Foundation at launch -- does indeed sport a 12.1 megapixel shooter (which was hinted at last November), which sort of makes the also-just-official Samsung Memoir seem a bit dated already. It's funny too, as the only dozen megapixeler we were actually expecting at this show was from Samsung. We're still waiting on the minutiae, but we do know that it will pack a 3.5-inch panel (640 x 320 resolution; no word on capacitive or resistive) and "full media consumption," a phrase we're still struggling to digest. More as we get it!%Gallery-44764%
Samsung dashes hopes for 12 megapixel phone at MWC
Okay, so a recap is definitely in order here. Merely 11 days ago, a flurry of rumors about Samsung's Mobile World Congress plans filtered out, which just so happened to include word of a 12 megapixel cameraphone. Then, the outfit itself leaked nine new models, giving just a wee bit of credence to the whispers we'd heard. Following that, we even saw a certain UK branch get ahold of one of its flagship models prior to the show, while it casually mentioned that no Android-based phones would be on display. Now, the other most awesome handset (er, rumored handset) is being squashed for a MWC debut, as Telecoms Korea has it that no dozen-megapixel phone is coming to Barcelona. No worries, though -- you'll have plenty to gawk at between the Blue Earth and the Ultra Touch S8300.[Via Samsung Central, thanks David]
Fujifilm FinePix F200 EXR's photos shown off
We were fairly hopeful that Fujifilm's recently revealed 12 megapixel FinePix F200 EXR point and shoot would produce some great looking shots. Well, the fine folks over at Impress Watch have gotten their hands on one and taken it for a spin. In case you've forgotten, the camera is Fuji's first offering to boast its new 1/1.6-inch Super CCD EXR sensor, and it's got a 3-inch LCD, a 28-mm wide-angle 5x zoom lens, and is capable of 640 x 480 AVI video recording. The photos we're seeing are very crisp and detailed, with excellent color and very low noise. Though we won't know until we see for ourselves (still no word on pricing or availability for this one), we're preliminarily impressed. Check a few more after the break -- hit the read for full comparison shots with explanations.
Samsung to release 12 megapixels of cameraphone foolishness this month?
It's been a few years since Samsung unleashed its 10 megapixel cameraphone onto the world. Now we're hearing that Samsung will push the limits of absurdity to a full 12 megapixels "this month," likely at Mobile World Congress. The phone is expected to hit the production lines in February with a European debut shortly thereafter. No details are provided other than the picture above used (but not attributed) by Unwired View. If this is the unannounced phone then we can obviously expect GPS geotagging, DivX video capture, and WiFi with DLNA support. One thing is clear: Samsung thinks that Europeans are pixel braggarts with little concern for image quality.Update: Nope, that image is just a Photoshop of an 8 megapixel Innov8 -- still, we wouldn't be surprised to see the same feature set and industrial design in a 12 megapixel handset.
Ericsson: 20 megapixel cellphones shooting Full HD video in 4 years
It's tough to predict the future, especially with cutbacks to R&D budgets in the face of a global economic slowdown. Still, it's always nice to see a forward-looking corporate-slide related to mobile handsets from the taller, blonder half of that Sony Ericsson partnership. LTE and fast CPUs are certainly no surprise, nor is that 1,024 x 768 XGA screen resolution that Japan's superphones are already bumping up against. The most compelling vision is that of the embedded camera sensors: 12-20 megapixels capable of recording Full HD video by 2012. Adding more fuel to firey speculation that handsets are about to find themselves embroiled in a megapixel war. Fine by us, just as long the optics and image processing are there to support such a resolution. Even though 12-20 megapixels seems high compared to the 5-8 megapixel cell phones we see today, those numbers are entirely within reason when you recall that Samsung hit 10 megapixels in Korea two years ago. In fact, we wouldn't be surprised in the least to find Ericsson's mythical device on the market well prior to 2012. Combined, these features certainly make for a tantalizing glimpse at the wireless handset future.
Ricoh's 12 megapixel GX200 for the undecided
So long GX100, hello GX200 and your new 1/1.7-inch 12 megapixel CCD sensor. Ricoh's bridge between point-and-shoot cameras and DSLRs also features new Smooth Image Engine III processing to better control noise, a larger 2.7-inch LCD, and a 5fps continuous RAW shooting mode. The 24 to 72-mm (35mm equiv) wide-angle lens, SDHC slot, RAW image support, thin 25-mm chassis, and removable tilting electronic view?nder all carry over from the predecessor. Available next month for £350 (about $689) or £400 (about $788) if you find that viewfinder a must.
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Fujifilm's FinePix F100fd, Z20fd, and new J-series of compact shooters
Bringing up the tail to Fujifilm's pre-PMA announcements are four new compact cameras. The 12 megapixel F100fd ($380) features a 5x wide-angle optical zoom, mechanical and digital image stabilization, IrSimple, and a handy "dual shot mode" which takes a picture with and without a flash in rapid succession. It also brings a 2.7-inch LCD and likely useless (even for Fujifilm) ISO 12,800 setting. The "ultra-glam" 10 megapixel Z20fd ($200, pictured) targets the "movie-crazed Generation Z" with a "Dual Blog Mode" which automatically resizes stills or MPEG-4 movies for sharing. It also features the dual-shot mode found on the F100fd, intelligent flash, 16 pre-set scene modes, face detection, and a "stamp it" mode which replaces your friend's faces with "fun designs." Lastly we have the new J-series of 8.2 megapixel J10 ($150) and J50 ($150) compact shooters with 3x and 5x optical zooms, respectively. All available in March, all pictured in the gallery below.%Gallery-14540%Read -- F100fd Read -- Z20fd Read -- J-series
Canon's SX100 with 10x zoom, A720, and budget 12 megapixel A650
Crave more point-and-shoot news this morning? Yeah, we feel ya. Still, we're compelled by the dark digicam overlords to tell you about the new SX and A-series of Powershot cams from Canon. The first camera in the new SX ultra-zoom series is the $300, 8 megapixel SX100 IS shooter (pictured). It features a 10x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, DIGIC III image processor, OIS, advanced face detection, 30fps VGA recordings, 19 shooting modes ranging from manual to fully automatic, and a chubby little grip to keep hold of the action. The budget minded A-series then, gets a pair of 6x, optical stabilized zoomers with the 12.1 megapixel A650 IS and 8 megapixel A720 IS for $400 and $250, respectively. The A650 even brings an old school, 2.5-inch flip-out LCD for shooting around corners. Look for the new A-series models starting in September with the new SX100 hitting in October.%Gallery-6118%Read -- SX100Read -- A-series
Canon's PowerShot G9: the DSLR wannabe
More from Canon, this time it's their top-o-the-line G-series, PowerShot G9 compact shooter. Think 12.1 megapixels (1/1.7-inch CCD), 6x optical zoom, optical image stabilization, a DIGIC III image processor, optical viewfinder and 3-inch LCD, Canon's Advanced Face Detection wares, ISO 1600 max sensitivity, 23 shooting modes (including manual), SD/SDHC media support, and even a RAW image mode to pretend you're a pro. Hell, it's even compatible with optional wide-angle, telephoto, and macro supplementary lenses, EOS Speedlite flashes, and Canon's waterproof cases. In stores starting in October for a cool $500 making this one helluvan interesting new shooter.%Gallery-6114%
Samsung's NV8, NV15, and NV20 Smart Touch shooters
So in addition to their newest PMP cam, Samsung also loosed three updates to their NV (as in eNVy, yuk yuk) line-up of digital cameras. On the mostly meaningless megapixel scale, we're looking at the 8 megapixel NV8, 10 megapixel NV15, and 12 megapixel NV12. All the new NV cams feature Samsung's "Smart Touch" softkeys surrounding a 2.5-inch LCD, Schneider optics with a 3x optical zoom, likely useless ISO 3200 max sensitivity with ASR image stabilization, face detection technology, SDHC expansion, and VGA video at 30fps. The NV20 and NV15 both hit the US in the Fall for $399 and $299, respectively, while the NV8 is TBD on all accounts.%Gallery-5340%
FujiFilm's FinePix F50fd 12 megapixel compact powerhouse with IrSimple
Step aside Mary Lou Retton, there's a new pint-sized powerhouse loose in the US. Meet the $300 F50fd from FujiFilm which stuffs that ridiculous 12 megapixel, 1/1.6-inch CCD into this FinePix's slim chassis with 3x optical zoom and 2.7-inch LCD in tow. The cam sports a dual-shot mode (one with and one without flash taken in rapid succession), xD/SD/SDHC expansion, and FujiFilm's v2.0 Face Detection tech, a mechanically stabilized CCD sensor and the ability to shoot at ISO 1600 at full resolution. It will also be one of the first domestic shooters to support IrSimpleShot (IrSS) high speed data transfer when it enters the US market in September. And here you thought infrared was dead you silly, silly boy.%Gallery-5225%
Kodak's new Zooms: the 12 megapixel Z1275 and ZD710 with 10x zoom
Egads, Kodak just busted out two new members of their Zoom series: the 12 megapixel Z1275 and 7 megapixel ZD710. That's right, 12 freakin' megapixels packed into a tiny 1/1.72-inch CCD -- thanks a lot Sharp. The Z1275 brings a 5x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon optical zoom lens and 2.5-inch LCD powered by 2x AA batteries. As for that "HD" on the front? Well, that's due its ability to record 1280 x 720 video in MPEG-4 format. Meanwhile, the ZD710 cranks the zoom up to 10X while dialing the LCD back to 2-inches. Both shooters lack any kind of optical or mechanical image stabilization which, amongst other shortcomings keeps the price down to $249 when they ship starting August 2007.[Via Photography Blog]
Sharp announces 12-megapixel sensor for compact digital cameras
We should really know by now, but you just can't convince everyone that more isn't always better. While we've already seen less-than-stellar results from the bevy of compact cameras touting unnecessarily large 10-megapixel sensors, Sharp is apparently preying on any remaining clueless consumers by unveiling a sure-to-be-disappointing 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch sensor for wee cameras. The prodigiously small photosite (just 1.88 microns) generally means "less sensitivity, higher noise, and an even higher requirement on the lens optics" than current 2 micron models. Nevertheless, Sharp is hoping to ship these sensors en masse starting January 2007 at a cost of ¥7,500 ($64) each.[Via PhotographyBLOG]
