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Sony announces quartet of Cyber-shot cams, boasts of slim profiles and tough skin
The Cyber-shot family just keeps growing and growing, with its latest litter focused on keeping slim and staying active. The quartet's most rugged machine, the $330 16.2 megapixel DSC-TX20, promises to be tough as nails by tolerating water up to 16 feet under, bouncing back from five foot falls and braving freezing tundras as cold as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The $350 DSC-TX66, on the other hand, forgoes the armor in favor of a 18.2 megapixel sensor, a 3.3-inch "Xtra Fine" OLED touch screen and 1920 x 1080 video recording. The outfits 18.2 MP DSC-WX150 and 16.1 MP DSC-W690 claim the titles of "world's thinnest 10x optical zoom cameras," (excluding the lens) according to Sony, and are priced at $250 and $180, respectively. Read on for Sony's official press release and all of the rough, tough and svelte details, as well as Sony's own hands-on look at the new Cyber-shot lineup.
NHK's new Super Hi-Vision sensor captures 8K at 120fps, fast enough for Usain Bolt?
As amazing as Super Hi-Vision televisions are, most of the footage we've seen is of slow-moving cityscapes, nature and portraits. We may get more action sequences soon, thanks to a new CMOS sensor capable of picking up 8K (33MP) footage at 120 frames per second. The joint project between NHK, Shizuoka University and the Research Institute of Electronics is being shown off on the 27th at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference The chip is developed on a .18 micrometer process, with an enhanced analog to digital converter that enables the faster frame rates. That cut down data processing time and power consumption, all key to getting some sweet super high res televisions (16x more pixels than your current HDTV) in our living room sooner rather than later. Our only question? If they can build a new camera around it in time to catch the world's fastest human being do his thing at the 2012 London Olympics.
Canon PowerShot G1 X review
Canon's G1 X boasts a beefy 14-megapixel resolution and a tank-load of ambition. Its mandate, no less, is to deliver the image quality and control of a DSLR inside the discreet body of a compact, aiming to attract serious photographers who want to travel light or supplement their main kit. That's why the G1 X houses a substantial 1.5-inch CMOS sensor, stretching to around 80 percent of the size of APS-C, along with an anti-minimalist array of dials, knobs and buttons to provide quick access to manual settings. It also explains why the G1 X is 30 percent heavier than both its evolutionary ancestor and some of its competitors, and why its price tag is equally hefty: $800, which is SLR-like in all the wrong ways. We've had this shooter long enough to gather our thoughts, but as to whether it deserves a smile or a snarl, you'll have to read on to find out.
Nikon D800 slips out for an early bird preview, to be officially unveiled tomorrow?
We've seen Nikon's successor to the D700 slip out a few times this past winter, but this latest leak and its bevy of press images might just be the real deal. According to Brazilian site ZTOP, the company's set to officially debut its 36.3 megapixel D800 tomorrow. So, what's on the spec list? Well, it looks like those rumors were true, as this high-end DSLR apparently boasts that aforementioned CMOS sensor capable of 7360 x 4912 resolution and the ability to toggle ISO from 100 - 6,400. As you'd imagine, this high-end, digital light box also comes equipped with the ability for full 1080p30 HD video capture, recording content in either H.264 or MPEG-4 formats. Naturally, there's also a 3.2-inch LCD screen onboard so you can sift through your sizeable gallery of stills. While we still caution you to take this news with a nigh invisible grain of salt, it's likely all will be revealed in one day's time. Check out the source below for additional shots.
Nikon adds Coolpix S9300, S6300, S4300 and S3300 to point-and-shoot lineup
It's not been all that long since Nikon last augmented its Coolpix S-series, and now the camera maker's at it again, adding another four to the point-and-shoot range. Starting at the bottom end is the S3300, which definitely keeps things simple: 16 megapixels, 6x zoom, 19 picture modes and 720p is what you'll get for the $140 asking price. An extra $30 lands you the S4300, which adds touchscreen control. Stepping up the ladder, we have the S6300 at $200, which includes a 16 megapixel CMOS sensor, 10x zoom and an Easy Panorama mode for those 180- and 360-degree vistas. Video also jumps up a notch to a full 1080p. Assuming a $350 price tag doesn't seem too lofty, you might like the S9300 -- it has the same 16 megapixel CMOS sensor as the S6300, but also throws in GPS for geotagging, and a generous 18x zoom, giving it a 25-450mm range. There's a limited range of colors for each model, and availability is pegged for February, but hit the PR after the break if you want the full rundown.
Sony's new cameraphone CMOS jams bigger gear into the same space (video)
Sony's done gone and developed a new back-illuminated CMOS designed to improve the state of your casual camerawork. Traditional units mount a merged pixel-sensor and circuit on a supporting substrate -- the innovation here is to produce the two separately and layer them without any additional material. This makes manufacturing easier and without a mount, you're able to lever-in bigger kit into the same space. It's also packing HDR Movie, which like the still-image version, will produce better moving pictures in tricky light. An eight-megapixel version will ship to cellphone producers in March, with a 13-megapixel edition following in June and if Sony's really successful, it might earn enough to buy a copy of Photoshop rather than producing release images in MS Paint.
Engadget Primed: Why your camera's sensor size matters
Primed goes in-depth on the technobabble you hear on Engadget every day -- we dig deep into each topic's history and how it benefits our lives. You can follow the series here. Looking to suggest a piece of technology for us to break down? Drop us a line at primed *at* engadget *dawt* com. The first thing I look for when purchasing a camera is something most aren't even aware of. It's not the brand name or the quality of the lens, the touch screen technology or the LCD screen size, and not the array of functions it offers or shooting presets available – it's the size of the image sensor. As a 20-year pro photographer who's captured over a million images during my career, I'm the guy who admires the parts of the engine instead of falling in love with the flashy exterior or high-end sound system. The image sensor is where the rubber meets the photosensitive diodes. In writing my first installment for Primed, I'll give a few definitions to clear things up a bit when it comes to a camera's image sensors and size, explain in detail the parts of a sensor, how it alters the photos (or video) you capture, where it came from, and why it's important to consider its size – I'll cover the meat and bones, get to the heart of the matter, the nub, the crux, the nuts and bolts, get down to the brass tacks, all while exhausting our thesaurus. Let's dive in, shall we?
Leica rehashes Panasonic's Lumix Fz150 as the V-LUX 3, because 'image' matters
Leave it to Leica to rebrand a recent Panasonic camera, tack on its iconic red dot and then likely charge a premium. Such is the case with its "new" V-Lux 3 digital superzoom, which is essentially its take on the venerable Lumix FZ150 we spent some hands-on time with back in August. To recap, this shooter features a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, Leica's DC Vario-Elmarit 4.5 - 108 mm f/2.8 - 5.2 ASPH lens (that's 25 - 600mm for you full-frame buffs), 1080p AVC HD video recording at up to 60fps with stereo sound and an a77-like 12fps continuous burst mode (albeit using manual focus). On back, you'll find an articulating 3-inch LCD loaded with a 460K pixel resolution and a 0.2-inch EVF, both of which feature nearly 100% frame coverage. While there's no word price, you can surely expect the V-Lux 3 to cost a few Benjamins more than its Lumix counterpart when it hits shelves in January. Hey, at least you can say it's a Leica, right?
Fujitsu, SuVolta push SRAM to its efficiency limits, demo 0.425 volt chip
Get the power requirements down for your next generation of RAM and you can have a raise in your allowance. For the perfect example of two companies that learned to play nice together and deserve a little something extra, Fujitsu Semiconductor and SuVolta today announced the successful demonstration of their ultra-low-voltage SRAM blocks at the International Electron Devices Meeting in Washington, DC. The new SRAM, which sips a mere 0.425 volts (nearly half that of previous chips), uses SuVolta's PowerShrink CMOS platform with Fujitsu's energy-efficient process technology. The companies showed that a 576Kb block of SRAM can run at just 0.4 volts by cutting its CMOS transistor threshold voltage variation in half. It's all very technical and, speaking of which, you'll find all those science-y details and diagrams in the PR after the break. Now, whip us up a crucial component that sips half the power it used to and you'll get a boost in your allowance and an approving tussle of the hair.
Sharp's slim 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor to further trim smartphone silhouettes (updated)
Mobile waistbands are about to get tighter. Sharp's taking that whole thin is in thing to the extreme with its just outed 12.1 megapixel, 1/3.2-inch CMOS camera module. Measuring in at 5.47 millimeters thick, this component's set to ship out to manufacturers for ¥12,000 apiece (about $154) starting tomorrow and is, apparently, the result of overwhelming demand for anorexic handsets -- we're looking at you, dear readers. Okay, not really. The company actually claims its "proprietary high-density packaging technology" (jargon, much?) is responsible for this slimmed-down image sensor that's capable of full 1080p HD capture. So, does this coming wave of starved form factors mean we can expect less bloatware? Let's all hard wink at the carriers together. Update: It turns out that the Sharp AQUOS SH-01D already utilizes this awesome sensor, and you can see its optical image stabilization in action after the break -- it's super impressive!
Cambridge researchers translate graphene into printable circuitry material, bring basic 'Skynet' factory to you
Yes, graphene is amazing and possesses many useful / otherworldly properties. The ability to use graphene itself to print flexible, transparent thin-film transistors via an inkjet printer is just another one of them. Over at the University of Cambridge, researchers have discovered that it's possible to print standard CMOS transistors using a graphene component. Provided the graphene is chipped off a block of graphite using a chemical solvent and the larger (potentially print-head blocking) chips are removed, it can be turned into a polymer ink which can then run through a conventional inkjet printer. The potential result of this is flexible, transparent and wearable computer circuitry coming from ordinary printers as opposed to several multi-million-dollar machines in a factory, which has long been the historical standard. Besides, who wouldn't want to print their own circuitry on a PhotoSmart MFP rather than whatever report might be due the next day?
ThinFilm and PARC demo printable, organic CMOS circuit, inch us closer to an 'internet of things'
ThinFilm and the legendary PARC (of mouse and GUI fame) announced they have produced a working prototype of a printable circuit that incorporated organic, rewritable memory and transistors. The resulting integrated circuits are essentially CMOS "chips" that can be printed on large rolls at extremely low cost. The most obvious application of the technology is in NFC chips, but the small price and size could find the printable circuits turning up as everything from price tags to freshness sensors on food packaging. Sure, the idea of an "internet of things" sounds a bit cheesy, but there's no denying the allure of a world where practically everything is "smart." Check out the full PR after the break for a few more details.
Chipworks throws an iPhone 4S under its infrared microscope, finds Sony-sourced image sensor
Look closely. Can you spot it? That gray abyss is actually an infrared image by Chipworks revealing an iPhone 4S' Sony-branded, 8 megapixel CMOS sensor. Looks like Howard Stringer wasn't bluffing to Walt Mossberg back in April, after all. At the time, it was reported that Apple's usual sensor supplier, OmniVision, was experiencing production delays, prompting speculation that Sony would eventually usurp the position. While the iPhone 4S that Chipworks looked into seems to confirm this, it's pointed out that Apple does have a habit of "dual sourcing" components (with its contacts saying this should be no different), so Sony may not be the sole supplier this time around. What ever the case, there's no denying that the iPhone 4S takes some stellar shots. You'll find more information -- including X-rays of the 4S -- at the source link below.
Sony DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars sample photos and video
We can't say that we were too keen on Sony's DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars at first look -- it really is hard to get past that $2,000 price tag. But after Sony finally allowed us to shoot photos and video (albeit for a mere three minutes) at the company's CEATEC booth, we were pleasantly surprised at the image quality, at least some of the time. The images we shot were in 16:9 format, and were roughly 5.3 megapixels in size (the camera's maximum resolution is 7.1 megapixels). With only a few minutes to play around, we didn't have time to switch the menu from Japanese to English (CEATEC is held just outside Tokyo), so we had no choice but to use the default settings. Still, images shot at f/1.8 appeared crisp, even with moderate shake (it's difficult to keep a heavy pair of binoculars steady when holding them at eye level), with accurate exposure and white balance. When zooming to 10x, however, still photos appeared very noisy, as you'll see in the gallery below. So are they worth the sky-high price tag? Well, it's safe to say that we're not ready to whip out the credit card, though they did perform better than we expected, based only on what we had initially seen through those dual high-res viewfinders. Jump past the break for an HD sample clip, or click the more coverage link below for the untouched samples.%Gallery-135896%
Sharp's Aquos Phone 102SH brings 3D 720p display, 12 megapixel CMOS sensor to Japan
Just a few days after unveiling the waterproof IS13SH, Sharp has come out with yet another beastly submersible, known as the Aquos Phone 102SH. Juiced by a 1GHz TI OMAP 4430 CPU, this Gingerbread-coated handset boasts a 4.5-inch glasses-free 3D display with 720 x 1280 resolution, along with 1GB of RAM and a 32GB microSDHC card. The device also packs a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor and supports DLNA, infrared connections, e-wallet functionality and your standard 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities. No word yet on price, but Japanese carrier SoftBank will begin selling the 102SH in early December. Scurry past the break for more information in the full and translated PR. Update: Oops, it looks we got the resolution terminologies mixed up. It's definitely 720p HD, not qHD. Apologies for the confusion.
Fujitsu-Toshiba unveils waterproof Arrows Z ISW11F handset with 13 megapixel CMOS sensor
Toshiba may be bowing out of its mobile joint venture with Fujitsu, but not without bestowing this Gingerbread-munching flamingo upon the Japanese market. The Wimax-enabled Arrows Z ISW11F, unveiled today by Japan's KDDI au, is juiced by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor, sports a 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 LCD and, most notably, rocks a 13 megapixel CMOS sensor. It also features a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera and supports 1080p video, along with your standard suite of 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities. Oh, and to top it all off, it's waterproof, too. No word yet on pricing, but KDDI plans to bring this bubblegum to the Japanese market sometime in November. Doggie paddle past the break for more information in the translated presser.
Canon's 8-inch CMOS sensor can record SPACE at 60fps
For whatever reason, Canon seemed more concerned with showing off its engineering prowess than finding a use for the giant 8-inch CMOS sensor it created last year. Fortunately, the super-powerful snapper has found its way into the 105-centimeter Schmidt Telescope at the University of Tokyo's Kiso Observatory. The sensor's size makes it a perfect fit to record in low-light; capturing the wonders of the universe in 0.3 lux at 60 fps. The University will premiere footage from the experiment, possibly with nibbles, after September 19th -- presumably in a theater with a blanket ban on people muttering the introduction to Star Trek as it plays.
Sony DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars hands-on (video)
Sony Digital Recording Binoculars look like military night vision goggles, cost almost as much ARRI's ALEXA busts out native ProRes recording, plans for RED smiting New Sony Bloggie Mobile HD Snap camera gets bowed design, FCC inspection Sony's imaging wing has been on a roll lately, with the brilliant NEX-7 and equally impressive Alpha A77 DSLR simply blowing us away with brand new features and excellent image quality. But these $2,000 digital binoculars? Yeah, we're not so sure. We went hands-on with a pre-production sample of the 3D binocs, which replace the traditional optical finders with a pair of high-res LCD EVFs. But when you consider that high-end binoculars are a joy to use because of their excellent optical viewfinders, swapping in an electronic version puts the DEV-3 ($1,400) and DEV-5 ($2,000) in a completely new category -- if an excellent (and traditional) viewing experience is what you're after, these "cost-competitive" optics really won't hit the spot. Jump past the break for our impressions.%Gallery-133999%
Sony's F65 CineAlta 4K camera now available for a paltry $65,000
Sony's F65 CineAlta camera now has a price tag to match its name -- and its girth. The imager, which was first unveiled at this year's NAB Show, has now been officially released ahead of this week's IBC conference in Amsterdam. The newest member of the CineAlta family captures images in 4K (4096 x 2160) resolution and features a speedy 20.4 megapixel, Super 35mm CMOS sensor, capable of reaching up to 72fps at 4K resolution and 120fps on 2K. The F65 also comes boasts 16-bit RAW output at 19Gbps on 4K and WiFi connectivity that allows you to manipulate it from the comfort of your tablet. The shooter won't start shipping until January, but filmmakers or production houses with lots of disposable income can order one now, for a mere $65,000. More details await you in the press release, after the break.
Samsung unveils WB750 camera, with long zoom for all your paparazzi needs
Sometimes a photographer needs to get really, really close to his or her subject. And sometimes that requires a little help from a friend. Samsung has just that situation in mind with its new WB750, which features an 18x optical zoom with 24x Smart Zoom -- that's the longest zoom in the company's compact portfolio. The camera also sports a 12.5 megapixel CMOS sensor with Sammie's proprietary BSI (Back Side Illuminated) technology, and a redesigned image sensor, lens, and image processor. In addition to still photos, it also shoots 1080p HD video; a dual capture function allows you to shoot video alongside 10 megapixel pictures. Or, if you'd rather, you can take up to 10 frames per second in high-speed continuous mode. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, but we have our fingers crossed it arrives before our next safari. See more pictures in the gallery below, and check out the full PR after the break. %Gallery-132212%
