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Canon's 35x SX30 superzoomer reviewed: dazzling specs don't trump sub-par performance
The more things change, the more they stay the same, and though Canon's PowerShot superzoom line has gone from SX20 up to SX30, the new model has received a review that's strikingly similar to that applied to last year's model. On the SX20 they liked the focal range but hated the noisy image quality, and such is the case on the SX30 IS. This year it has a whopping 35x focal range, going from 24mm all the way up to 840mm and adding "very effective" IS to boot. The problem is double-trouble on the image quality front: noisy shots anywhere north of ISO 400, and chromatic aberrations that add a little too much Technicolor delight on contrasty shots. Ultimately it sounds like a hugely flexible and capable shooter, but only for those who aren't too picky about quality -- and who don't mind the $429 MSRP.
Sony NEX-5 and NEX-3 firmware update adds autofocus support for company's A-mount lenses
Sony has taken the time to upgrade the firmware on its minuscule NEX-5/3 system cameras to improve usability, make manual focusing easier, and allow single-shot autofocus when using A-mount glass via an adapter. The latter will be perhaps the most important thing for owners of Sony's large-sensor compact, allowing them to use a total of 14 lenses from the company's DSLR range without having to worry about focusing manually. Though, if you are into that kind of thing, the MF Assist mode has been improved with a new feature giving you a zoomed-in view of the area you're trying to keep sharp -- to make it easier to tell if you're doing it right. The UI has also undergone a bit of a streamlining, which you can check out for yourself by downloading the new software from the source link below.
Sony NEX-3 goes pink on November 19, in accordance with our wishes
We weren't shy about telling Sony that it ought to bring some of those NEX-3/5 color concepts from Photokina out on the market, and the Japanese manufacturer has clearly taken note. To be fair, our pining was more concerned with the white variant than this pink number, but whatever, a new hue is a new hue. Japanese lovers of small cameras with big sensors and rosé color schemes will be able to enjoy their slice of nirvana on November 19 for around ¥80,000 ($975), while the rest of the world sits and ponders the crazy price. It's no higher than the standard NEX-3 kit, mind you, which can currently be had in silver, black, or red. And if Sony Japan's scheme to conquer the female market with a lick of new paint pays off, we might see the pink camera -- along with the litany of matching accessories also introduced today -- sailing out to new shores as well. One can only hope. [Thanks, Conrad]
Samsung AQ100 reviewed and found partially-worthy of Flipper glamour shots
PhotographyBlog has indulged us with a thorough review of Samsung's 12.2 megapixel WP10 waterproof compact -- known as the AQ100 stateside -- and their takeaways are mixed. One major concern is that the screen misleadingly makes photos appear overexposed. Its slow 5x zoom, run of the mill feature set and measly battery life good for approximately 150 shots per charge doesn't improve the situation; nor does the lack of separate charger for juicing dead spares while using the camera. That said, an included HDMI port, a clever SmartAuto shooting mode, and relatively quick two second start up time does help balance the equation. Throw in the fact that it's waterproof up to 3 meters, takes decent imagery, and has an MSRP of $199 with street prices dipping even lower and they concede it's not a terrible proposition as a laid-back compact. Whether it's a better deal than a slew of other Cousteau-worthy options released this year such as the Finepix XP10, Sony TX5, or Pentax Optio w90 is still something we'll leave you to mull over. Can you really quantify the value of your camera color matching the water you're shooting in though? For more details, read the full review at the source link below.
GE stuffs DLP projector into 14MP PJ1 point-and-shoot camera, we go hands-on
It ain't the first point-and-shoot to emerge with a beamer within, but it's the first from GE's General Imaging branch. Boasting a 14 megapixel sensor, a vanilla enclosure and a DLP projector, the PJ1 was seen making its debut here at Photokina in Germany. The highlight of the device is obviously the 854 x 480 resolution projector that's somehow stuffed within the casing, while the most impressive part to us was just how thin it remained with such a unit inside. In other words, the projector itself was certainly lacking, and with just 15 lumens, we felt that the darker-than-dark test room (shown in the video just past the break) still wasn't dark enough. On the capture side, there's a 7x optical zoom, SD / SDHC card slot and support for 720p movies; thankfully, GE's not planning to include too hefty a premium for the projector, as we were told to expect it for "around €250 ($334)" when it lands in Europe next February. %Gallery-103085%
Leica slaps D-Lux 5 badge on Panasonic LX5, hitches up the price (update)
What has a 1/1.63-inch CCD sensor capable of 10.1 megapixel stills, a 3.75x DC Vario-Summicron lens, and 720p AVCHD Lite video? The Panasonic LX5? Why yes, it does, and so does this carbon copy that Leica just unveiled, the D-Lux 5. Much as with the identikit LX3 and D-Lux 4 before them, the new 5 models share pretty much everything apart from brand name, accessories bundled in the box, and that all-important price tag. If you opt for the red circular logo above, you'll have to dish up £630 ($983), whereas the LX5 -- which was criticized for being pricey at launch -- can now be had for around £355 ($554). Feel free to peruse our gallery of D-Lux 5 shots below while pondering the "value" on offer here. Update: We just got word that Leica's already priced the D-Lux 5 for a stateside release -- find it for the slightly-more-reasonable-but-not-quite price of $799 when it ships this October. %Gallery-102818%
Casio debuts Exilim EX-H20G (with Hybrid GPS) and EX-Z16 point-and-shoots
Photokina's kicking off in earnest today with a serious bang in the point-and-shoot realm; Casio just introduced the planet's first camera with Hybrid GPS, which essentially enables it to geotag photos and videos where traditional cameras cannot. Yeah, indoors. The Exilim EX-H20G (shown above) also packs a 14.1 megapixel sensor, SD / SDHC / SDXC memory card slot, a 10x optical zoomer, an ISO range of 80 to 3200, 3-inch rear LCD, CCD-shift image stabilization, 720p movie mode and an HDMI output. Moreover, the company has throw in a world atlas with detailed maps of 140 cities around the world, and the rear screen can actually display a user's current position on said map for kicks and giggles. It'll hit shops this November for $349.99 (or €300 in Europe). If that's a bit too fanciful for you, the lower-end EX-Z16 might just fit the bill. Boasting a 2.7-inch rear LCD, VGA (640 x 480) movie mode, a 12.1 megapixel sensor, SD / SDHC card slot, a whopping 14.9MB of internal storage (um... okay?), CCD-shift image stabilization and an integrated YouTube capture mode, this dead-simple cam is designed to be about as hands-off as they come. According to the company, the only settings you have to adjust on the 2.7-inch panel are image size, flash and self timer -- everything else sets itself accordingly. 'Course, that won't sit well with the tinkerers in the group, but you can sure brighten a newbie's day by gifting 'em with one when it ships later this month at $99.99. More details are packed in after the break, should you find yourself thirsty for more. Update: We snagged a quick hands-on with the EX-H20G, and while the images below don't do it justice, the rear screen on this bad boy was something to gawk at. The map on there actually looked amazing, and while you'll have a tough time prying Google Maps Navigation away from our paws, this is definitely a lovely inclusion for those who'd prefer to simply enjoy nearby attractions on a map without pulling out a smartphone (or encountering roaming charges while navigating abroad). %Gallery-102609% %Gallery-102758%
Pentax announces customizable cameras, faceplate-swapping RS1000 and Lego-loving NB1000
Sure, you can buy compact cameras in dozens of garish and offensive colors, but what if you're the sort who craves a different garish and offensive color every day of the week? You need the $150 Pentax RS1000, a 14.1 megapixel shooter with a 4x optical zoom, 720p video recording, and faceplate that's just four screws away from getting lost. Using the Personal Skin Designer app you can craft your own custom cover (the first one is free), meaning you could be just a few clicks away from having that brick of a camera look like a real brick. Far more exciting, however, is the identically spec'd NB1000 and its Nanoblock connectors, which are a lot like Lego but smaller and presumably cheaper to license. With that you can truly shape whatever you want, like the above safari scene, which makes this model particularly pocket unfriendly. Both cameras are set to release later this year, though the Lego-esque NB1000 is tragically destined only for kids of all ages in Japan.
Lumix DMC-LX5 review roundup: great hardware for a not-so-great price
Reviews are starting to trickle out for Pansonic's LX3 successor, the DMC-LX5, and so far they all seem to echo similar sentiment. The form factor hearkens back to its Micro Four Thirds darling GF1, at least from the top, with "dinky buttons" (in CNET UK's words) on the back reminding you of its point-and-shoot bloodline. The pictures are solid if not characteristically warm -- and the ability to simultaneously produce RAW and JPEG files is a nice touch -- as is the choice of either Motion JPEG or AVCHD Lite video. The universal issue with this camera is the price; that £449.99 tag (the equivalent of $691 in US currency) doesn't quite seem to match the offerings, especially when it's about on par with entry-level DSLRs with interchangeable lenses (albeit without the slim look). As PhotographyBLOG puts it, Panny's gotta hard case to make for a camera "that looks, at first glance to be very similar to a £299 model." Hey, a hardware switch for changing the aspect ratio (just above lens barrel; 4:3, 3:2, 16:9, or 1:1) doesn't come cheap. Much more detail can be found in the reviews below. Note: It's worth mentioning that this camera can be had for $500 at Amazon right now. Still pricey, but not $700 pricey. Read - PhotographyBLOG Read - CNET UK Read - Pocket-lint Read - Trusted Reviews
Nikon wants to create a 'new market' with its new concept
We thought Nikon just wanted to join the burgeoning ranks of mirrorless interchangeable lens shooters that bridge the gap between full-fledged DSLR and pocket-friendly compact cameras. But oh no, as company president Makoto Kimura puts it, Nikon wants to create a whole "new market" with its next big idea. Noting that his lab lackeys have tested all sorts of eccentric possibilities, such as a head-mounted display, Kimura says it's time for digital cameras to move with the times and Nikon will be ready to take up its usual leadership position. When might that be, you ask? Well, in classic bigwig style, he keeps the roadmap tucked firmly inside the breast pocket of his smoking jacket, but at least we know that Nikon won't be sitting on the sidelines and letting whippersnappers like Sony's NEX-5 steal customers away.
Canon's PowerShot S95 gets reviewed, found to be worthy S90-successor
Canon's PowerShot S90 managed to attract a considerable fan base with some stellar image quality and professional-level features, but it did have a few drawbacks -- most notably a lack of HD video that's hard to overlook these days. The new and improved PowerShot S95 promises to address that and other complaints, however, and according to PhotographyBlog, it succeeds on most counts. Not only does the camera maintain the same high image quality as its predecessor, but it offers some added flexibility with an improved lens Control Ring, improved image stabilization, a new HDR mode and, last but not least, 720p video recording. Despite those newfound HD capabilities, however, video still seems to be this camera's main shortcoming, as you'll have to make do without autofocus or optical zoom during recording. That wasn't enough to prevent it from getting a 4.5 out of 5 rating from Photography Blog, though -- hit up the link below for the site's full review.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 reviewed, bests the FZ35 but falls short of the FZ100
Panasonic's DMC-FZ35 (aka the FZ38 in some regions) was highly regarded in its time -- which was all of a year ago. The superzoomer won shootouts along with the hearts of many, but now it's being retired in favor of a new camera, the DMC-FZ45 (aka the FZ40). This one moves up to a 14 megapixel CCD sensor but, according to PhotographyBlog's review, doesn't suffer the resulting decrease in image quality you might expect. Its 24x, 25 - 600mm zoom lens is highly rated, as is the 720p30 mode. A total winner, then, right? Yes -- except that it doesn't compare to Panasonic's own recently-released FZ100, which does all that and throws in 1080p recording, better burst-shooting, and a few other niceties. That camera is, however, $100 more than the $399 FZ45, so you're going to have to let your budget be your guide here.
Nikon Coolpix S1100pj and S5100 hands-on
Nikon's new projector-equipped camera has broken cover today and we've naturally had a little play around with it. Regrettably, the Japanese DSLR dominator had pretty early firmware on board and refused to let us take any sample pictures or video, but we were able to compile a few impressions anyhow. Firstly, as to the S1100pj's body, it's your typical compact affair -- feeling sturdy and light, it's basically fit for its intended purpose, but no more or less than that. We found accessing the compartment for the battery and memory card a pain, as it doesn't auto-lock when you close it, requiring an unnecessary bit of finger adroitness, and removing and replacing batteries can also be a fiddly affair. There's not much good to say about the built-in "tilt stand" at the bottom, either -- it only alters the angle of projection slightly and feels too plasticky -- but at least it gives you an extra option. On the plus side of things, the battery is a generous 1,050 mAh unit, and there's a pleasingly instant access scheme for the camera's most regularly used functions. Video recording has a dedicated button, as does switching to projector mode. Both seem to work quite well too, with the 720p video looking smooth and buttery, but then on-camera playback can be deceiving. We got to check out those 14 lumens of projection power in a dimly lit room, and came away with a pair of impressions. Firstly, you should be able to squeeze out a decent-ish 40-inch image out of this shooter if you set the right mood with your lighting, and secondly, focusing is a relative cinch with the included controls on top. All in all, given that it's intended as a quickie display station at parties, we think the S1100pj does what it promises. We rarely praise compact camera software here, but we'd be remiss not to note the saturation adjustment tool on this touchscreen shooter. It was a particular highlight for us and something we could definitely see ourselves getting creative with. We also spent some time with the S5100, which surprised us with its quick autofocus and generally snappy execution of instructions. Its 720p movie mode also looked competent, but bear in mind that it doesn't allow you to zoom while recording video. Ah well, such is the fate of budget shooters, we suppose. Hit up the galleries for the hands-on imagery or skip past the break for video of the S1100pj's projector in action. %Gallery-99897%%Gallery-99898%
Nikon's P7000 to increase the model number but decrease resolution from the P6000?
Nikon's P6000 came out swinging at high-end compact competition a few years ago, aiming to take down Canon's G9 but getting soundly KO'd in the review ring. Nikon went back to training, pledging to take the G11 to the ropes, and now we have the first indications of what the new competition will look like. Called the P7000, the follow-up compact will naturally be quite similar to its predecessor (pictured above), but is said to move up to a physically larger 1/1.7-inch sensor with a lower, 10 megapixel resolution -- just like the G11. It's also said to offer a 28 - 200mm zoom lens with an f/2.8 - 5.6 range, rather more flexible than the G11's 28 - 140mm, f/2.8 - 4.5 glass. No confirmation from Nikon on these specs yet, but we reckon it won't be long before this fighter gets its trunks on.
Engadget's back to school guide: Digital cameras
Welcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today, we've got our optical viewfinders set firmly on digital cameras -- and you can head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here! Time for us to open up chapter two of this year's Back to School advice compendium. Up for discussion today are digital cameras, which have been in the gym all year working on their processing prowess and return today with 720p HD video as an almost standard feature. We've got a good cross-section of young pretenders and finely aged veterans for your perusal, so why not give your mouse a little exercise as well and click past the break?
Sony NEX-5 preview
In every geek's life, the time must come when he or she steps away from the pocket-friendly compact point-and-shooter and straps up with a hefty DSLR to do real photography with. Or such was the received wisdom until not too long ago. It's still the case that lenses, bound by the laws of physics, will protrude more than most of us want them to, but mirrorless Micro Four Thirds shooters from Olympus and Panasonic, along with Samsung's NX series, have shown that prosumer camera bodies don't always have to be that bulky. This is the stage upon which the NEX-5 enters, with Sony predictably aiming to outdo everyone using an ultraslim magnesium alloy body that delivers 1080p video and 14 megapixel stills. Join us after the break to see what we thought of the Japanese giant's latest product.%Gallery-95474%%Gallery-95477%
Sony NEX-5 pops up in UK for £589, no waiting required
Stock of Sony's premier new compact system camera is still pretty scarce on the ground, but British photography retailer Jessops has managed to round up a batch and is ready to ship you one right this minute. Provided, that is, that you're equipped with £589 ($867) and a lusting for the silver variety of the NEX-5. The swarthy variant and the kit that includes a 16mm pancake lens are not yet ready for their time in the spotlight, but you can pre-order them now as well. Or, should your needs not stretch to quite such stratospheric heights, peek out the NEX-3, which can already be had from US e-tailers at far saner price tags. See the mini shooter in-store after the break. [Thanks, David]
Ricoh GXR P10 sensor and lens combo gets reviewed
We're still not sure that the world knows it needs a compact camera with both interchangeable lenses and sensors, but Ricoh's giving us all another reason to believe with the P10. This is a 10 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch sensor combined with a 10.7x, 28 - 300mm lens that, according to Photography Blog performs much better than its compact-sounding specs would lead you to believe -- as it should for a price of $299 on its own, or $499 with the GXR body. It'll do 720p video recording and capture RAW images at 5fps with full manual controls. These features earn it a solid recommendation and it's said to be the best expansion pack for the GXR yet. That's despite not offering any new factions, levels nor, indeed, a single new playable character.
Sony's waterproof and dustproof DSC-TX5 stands up to review scrutiny
You'll remember the TX5 as Sony's do-it-all solution for compact camera fans. It aims to be both stylish -- with a slender 0.7-inch profile and a 3-inch touchscreen -- and rugged, thanks to a metal frame that makes it impervious to water, dust and sub-zero conditions. Throw in the backlit Exmor R CMOS sensor, optical image stabilization, SDHC compatibility, and 720p movie mode and you've got a pretty fearsome paper tiger on your hands. But does it roar in reality? According to Photography Blog, you won't be getting the finest image quality around, but the TX5 impressed with some terrific high ISO performance, excellent handling of chromatic aberrations, and a versatility that allows you to take photos you might not otherwise get to with more conventional shooters. That is an opinion broadly shared by CNET, though both reviewers agreed that pricing will be a tough pill to swallow given that this is still just a 10 megapixel point-and-shoot. Hit the sources for more or mosey on past the break for a sample video.
Dell rolls out compact, inexpensive WM311 wireless mouse
It may not be quite as sleek as a Magic Mouse or as button-happy as the WarMouse, but we're guessing there's plenty of folks looking for something just like Dell's new WM311 wireless mouse, which is compact, decent-looking and cheap. Running just $30, the travel size-friendly mouse promises 1000 dpi optical tracking, packs a nano USB receiver with "concealed, fold-up storage," and is available in your choice of black, red, white or blue (each of which sport a black base and a glossy finish). Hit up the source link below for a closer look, and to get your order in if you like what you see.
