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Voigtlaender kicks out Vitoret 73 digital camera
If you thought Kodak's EasyShare C813 was a bore, get a load of this. Thankfully, the Voigtlaender Vitoret 73 does boast one of the more exotic names in the digital camera industry, so yeah, there's that. As for specs, you'll find a 7-megapixel sensor, 3-inch LCD monitor, 320 x 240 resolution video mode, 22MB of free internal storage, an SD expansion slot, 3x optical zoom, red-eye reduction, PictBridge support and USB connectivity. As we've come to expect with this firm, you'll find yourself wondering who would actually hand over €149 ($219) for such a paltry set of features, but apparently its marketing team knows a thing or two that we don't.
Kodak offers up EasyShare C813 point-and-shoot
We hope you weren't counting on Kodak to get you all amped up about this one, because its EasyShare C813 is about as ho hum as they get. This fantastically average point-and-shoot sports a been-there-done-that design, an 8.2-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, 2.4-inch LCD monitor, ISO up to 1,250, 16MB of internal storage space and an SD / MMC expansion slot. Furthermore, you can capture video in Motion JPEG format at VGA (15fps) or QVGA (30fps), and considering that it runs on just a pair of AA cells, you won't have to worry over losing a proprietary battery. If you're still with us, you can call the C813 yours for $119.95 (or less on the street) -- just don't expect it to spice up your life, cool?[Via LetsGoDigital]
Fan-made DS Lite redesign is impressive
Either someone created the coolest DS Lite redesign ever, or they're just a little too into Transformers. We love the screen that flips up and we're especially fond of the first process of the unit opening itself up. Regardless of what caused its creation, this fan-made unit is pretty slick and something we'd easily plunk down the dough for. Actually, now that we think about it, how much would Nintendo even charge for something like this? [Thanks, shak!]
Credit card sized MP3 player ups your street cred
Looking for a small, light, credit-card-esque flash drive... which doubles as an MP3 player... which is covered in a "liquid" print? Well you're in luck, kiddies, because some anonymous Chinese electronics maker has got you covered on all fronts. Enter the "USB Flash Card MP3 Player," an ultra-thin, 2GB device that plays MP3s and WMAs, functions as a USB flash drive, and will give you absolutely no information about the song you're listening to. Hey, if you wanted information, you would get a screen -- this thing fits in your wallet. Available right now for the bargain basement price of $42.
FujiFilm's A920 and A480 compact shooters
FujiFilm has been busy this morning. After the torrent of new cameras we just saw, we figured it was time for a little breather -- clearly we were wrong. The company just announced another set of FinePix models, the A920 and the F480 (pictured). The former is a 9 megapixel compact, with a 4x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD screen, xD / SD / SDHC card support, Picture Stabilization, and "movie mode" up to 640 x 480. The latter is a follow-up to the company's F470, a compact of the 8 megapixel variety with specs so similar to the aforementioned A920 we would say they are identical except for the F480's 4x "wide zoom". Both the A920 and the A480 will be available in September for $199.95 and $179.95, respectively.Read -- FujiFilm A920Read -- FujiFilm A480
Samsung's 7.2 megapixel S750: yet another compact digital camera
Samsung, known for its vast (and we do mean vast) selection of digital cameras in all shapes and sizes, has yet again dropped a new model -- at least on the unsuspecting citizens of Germany. The S750 is a 7.2 megapixel compact shooter, available in a black or silver finish, with all the standard fixin's, such as: ASR stabilization, PictBridge integration, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, ISO to 1000, and USB 2.0 connectivity. Actually, it's awfully similar to this group of cameras we told you about last week. We admit, it does look pretty sweet in black, but who is buying all of these things? Only Samsung knows for sure. No word on pricing or availability, or when Samsung will slow down and release a truly innovative compact.[Via LetsGoDigital]
Sony's feature-packed Cyber-shot DSC-G1 reviewed
One might wonder if Sony packed a little too much into the relatively compact DSC-G1, but as we'd already seen, even the CNET review crew didn't really think so. The only noticeable digs were the slightly larger-than-usual frame and additional weight added on, and unfortunately, the "slow-going" WiFi wizardry. To its credit, the WiFi features did seem to elicit quite a bit of smiles once the initial kinks were worked out, and while they weren't crazy about the "narrow, slow zoom lens" per se, the image quality seemed on par. Additionally, the digicam's 3.5-inch LCD monitor was dubbed "a television" in an of itself thanks to the impressive resolution, and the 2GB of internal memory along with an additional Memory Stick expansion slot was also highly regarded. Another seemingly minor thumbs-up was given to this unit's ability to accept "drag-and-drop" music file transfers to play back on the built-in media player, which is a much appreciated departure from previous cams that forced users to rely on Sony's SonicStage software. Still, $600 isn't chump change for a pocket-based camera, so be sure and read up on the full skinny before throwing down on the (admittedly flashy) G1.[Thanks, Antipathy]
Vision Research's Miro 3 snaps 2200 frames-per-second
We've seen cameras with megapixel numbers that defy logic, and while Vision Research's latest camera doesn't quite do one million frames-per-second, it holds its own in the fast-snappin' game. The first member of the Phantom lineup, dubbed the Miro 3, is a lightweight, rugged device "targeted at industrial applications ranging from biometric research to automotive crash testing." Essentially, this little bundle of joy is meant to be strapped into daredevil-type situations in order to grab as many photos as possible within a split second, as it can programmed to snap 2,200 frames-per-second at 512 x 512 resolution, or up to 95,000 fps if you only need 32 x 32 images. It touts shutter speeds as low as two-microseconds, an ISO rating of up to 4,800 in monochrome, selectable 8-, 10- or 12-bit pixel depths, and a "number of external control signals allowing for external triggering, camera synchronization, and time-stamping." The Miro 3 looks to be available right now, but unless you need to capture stills of your next stunt, we wouldn't bother inquiring about the (presumably lofty) price.[Via Wired]
Olympus Stylus 1000 digicam gets reviewed
Olympus' Stylus 1000 quickly got lost in the mishmash of other digicams that the company unleashed alongside of it, but if you came away less than enthralled about the lower-end units of the bunch, fret not, as Imaging-Resource took time to single out the flagship device just for you. The ultracompact 1000 boldly proclaims its built-in Digital Image Stabilization care of a highly obvious sticker on the front of the enclosure, but reviewers found that the feature proved more like a gimmick, and deemed it quite the "disappointment." Nevertheless, the control interface, button layout, size, in-camera editing, and all-weather operation received a fair amount of praise, but the run-of-the-mill perks still didn't seem to outweigh the digs. Most importantly, the cam tended to produce "oversaturated colors and blow out highlights," didn't fare well in macro mode, and the paltry internal storage may as well have been excluded to save a few bucks. Still, the Stylus 1000 was dubbed the best of the lineup, but considering all the quirks that even this unit has, we'd highly recommend reading the in-depth analysis before plunking down your $400.[Via Digital Photography Blog]
Casio's Exilim EX-Z11 point-and-shoot looks good in black
Regardless of what vivid color tries to replace it, black is still the new black when it's all said and done, and not too many gizmos look better on the dark side that Casio's Exilim EX-Z11. Sporting an ebony brushed-metal finish, this compact point-and-shoot screams sexy while packing a fairly respectable feature set to boot. Inside you'll find a 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor, 3x optical zoom, auto / "manual" focus options, 2.6-inch LCD monitor, SD flash card slot, anti-shake DSP to reduce blurring, up to ISO 800, and a rechargeable Li-ion battery. While there's no hard release date that we can scrounge up, the 3.76- x 2.39- x 0.77-inch Z11 should run users around £299 ($589) whenever it lands.[Thanks, David]
Agfa joins the PMA action, unveils DC-630i point-and-shoot
We know, the PMA blitz really turns the bevy of digicams into one big pixelated blur, but Agfa is trying to steal a little attention with its relatively uninspiring DC-630i. The new compact marks the firm's first point-and-shoot with "integrated face-tracking technology," which allows up to three faces to be automatically detected along with optimal focus / exposure selections. Inside the black plastic casing lies a six-megapixel CCD sensor, adjustable image / exposure modes, and a 2.5-inch LCD monitor; additionally, users should also enjoy the SDHC compatibility, 3x optical zoom, 640 x 480 video mode, and video-out. While you're not likely to get overwhelmed with the simplistic button setup, you will need a few extra AA cells if you're looking to shoot all day, and at 128-grams it shouldn't weigh you down all that much. Still, there's not an awful lot to get excited about here, but the $169 pricetag you can expect to see come April is at least somewhat in line with the middle-of-the-road feature set.[Via PMA Show]
Samsung's new S830 / S1030 compact digicams
Although we're a bit partial to the more stylish NV lineup of Samsung shooters, the firm has unveiled a new duo of middle-of-the-roads compact for the budget-minded set. Both the S830 and S1030 sport the same silver casing, 3x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD monitor, built-in microphone for voice memo attachments, auto-macro, ISO 1600, SD / MMC card support, optional rechargeable battery pack, AVI / MPEG4 movie mode, and ten pre-set scene modes as well. The 8-megapixel flavor packs just 20MB of internal memory, but does add a "one-touch playback" mode for reviewing photos without fully powering the camera up. The 10-megapixel version boasts 45MB of integrated storage, a slightly faster shutter speed, and comes bundled with a nice two-year warranty right out of the box. Unfortunately, pricing on each wasn't available, but both the S830 and S1030 should be landing sometime this Spring amongst the hordes of other ho hum point-and-shoots vying for your dollar.Read - Samsung S830Read - Samsung S1030
Casio's EXILIM EX-Z1050 and EX-Z75 compact digicams
Looks like Casio is in the mood for ever-so-slight upgrades rather than completely revamping a pair of its EXILIM digital cameras, as the EX-Z1050 and EX-Z75 both seem to be brushed up versions of their former selves. Nevertheless, the 10-megapixel Z1050 sports that all too common shiny silver enclosure, 2.6-inch LCD monitor, anti-shake technology, up to ISO 3200, rechargeable Li-ion battery, USB 2.0 connectivity, and a 30fps VGA video mode as well. The slimmer, sleeker Z75 comes in with 7.2-megapixels, a equally sized 2.6-inch screen, 3x optical zoom, anti-shake, USB 2.0, and a "best shot" feature that presumably measures lighting and surroundings in order to automatically snap the most attractive shot. So while Casio hasn't done anything revolutionary here, you can still pick up the Z1050 for ¥12,990 ($107) or the Z75 for just ¥9,990 ($83) if you're content with middle-of-the-road.Update: Hold up, before you go buying a plane ticket to whatever fantasy land they sell these $80 cameras in: the quoted prices are actually in Taiwanese dollars, not yen, meaning that the Z1050 is dropping for $394 and the Z75 for $303. [Thanks, Victor T.]Read - Casio EX-Z1050Read - Casio EX-Z75
BenQ intros six-megapixel DC-E610 / DC-C610 shooters for Europe
Not too long after gifting its Joybooks with Vista, BenQ is unveiling a duo of ho hum six-megapixel shooters for the European market. Both compact digicams sport a classic, silver finish, ISO ratings of 80 to 400, and SD support, but the slightly thicker E610 gets a more fleshed-out set of specs than its admittedly lacking (albeit thinner) sibling. The E610 comes in with a 6.1-megapixel CCD sensor, Pentax lens, 3x optical zoom, VGA video mode at 30fps, "shake-free" operation, 2.4-inch LCD monitor, USB 2.0 connectivity, a rechargeable Li-ion cell, and PictBridge support to boot. The less-featured C610 gets a six-megapixel sensor, a fixed 42-millimeter lens, two-inch LTPS LCD screen, 320 x 240 resolution movie mode, AA-battery support, USB 1.1 connectivity, and a presumably lower pricetag to compensate. Currently, no information regarding price is available, but you can reportedly pick either of these uninspiring point-and-shoots up in Europe right now.[Via LetsGoDigital]
Samsung stuffs PMP functionality inside its i70 digicam
If any one company had a lot of steam to blow off today, not to mention a lot of new kit to unveil, it was Samsung. (Potentially) rounding out the barrage of Blu-ray players, printers, DVD recorders, and just about everything else we could imagine is a svelte new digicam that pulls double duty as a PMP. The 7.2-megapixel i70 camera sports a sleek, silver / black motif, 3x zoom, three-inch LCD monitor, and a unique sliding cover that reveals a 9-button user interface when opened. Additionally, it sports that oh-so-handy intelligent face recognition feature that's (thankfully) becoming quite a common feature among new cams. Sliding away from the photography side a bit, the i70 also mimics a basic PMP, playing back MP3s, video files, and even text files while on the go. Couple that with a MPEG4 720 x 480 resolution (at 15fps) movie mode and you've got a fairly capable device that still fits the subcompact mold. Of course, Samsung didn't stop to let us know how much this sucka would run you, nor how long we'd have to wait to see it in stores, but surely we won't have to hold out too much longer.[Via LetsGoDigital]
Kodak quietly releases 6.1-megapixel EasyShare C653
Another month, another ho hum offering from Kodak. This time around it's an addition to the already loaded EasyShare lineup, as the 6.1-megapixel C653 joins the fray. Sporting a (somewhat) compact 3.5- x 2.6- x 1.4-inch enclosure, the point-and-shoot boasts a 2.4-inch LCD monitor, mediocre 3x optical zoom, 32MB of built-in memory, SD / MMC expansion slot, three pre-selected scene modes, panorama functionality, up to 1,250 ISO, and automatic red-eye reduction. Additionally, you can capture VGA movies at 10fps or QVGA clips at 20fps, and Kodak's Perfect Touch technology supposedly clears up your photos without a lot of effort on your part. You'll also find USB 2.0 connectivity and the company's EasyShare software bundled in, which supposedly helps the technologically disabled share and email photos without pulling what's left of their hair out. While there's clearly not a whole lot here to be proud of, at least the price is fairly reasonable, and those scouting a very run-of-the-mill shooter can pick up the C653 now for $129.95.[Via PhotographyBlog]
Voigtlaender rebadges Premier offering, dubs it Vito 65
Premier should just start reselling its designs to ho hum resellers rather than spending the loot to brand its own products, as it seems to be the object of desire for companies like Ricoh and Voigtlaender. Nevertheless, Germany's own has rebadged the DM6365 and slapped a Vito 65 logo on it, but didn't bother tweaking the specs. Touting a 3.48- x 2.17- x 0.75-inch enclosure, this compact features a played-out six-megapixel CCD sensor, 2.5-inch LCD monitor, 32MB of internal storage, SD slot, 30fps movie mode, 3x optical zoom, built-in red-eye reduction, USB 2.0 connectivity, and PictBridge compatibility. Per usual, Voigtlaender manages to pack a humdrum feature set into a fairly overpriced package, with the Vito 65 coming in at a less-than-attractive €199 ($265).[Via LetsGoDigital]
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]
Fujifilm FinePix F20 reviewed
After dropping a solid, low light-capable offering in the FinePix F30, the folks over at PhotographyBlog were anticipating another winner in the F20. While admitting that their expectations for the little brother were intentionally lowered, they were "pleasantly surprised" by its competency in everyday point-and-shoot environments, as well as low-lit situations. The overall image quality was "on par" with most other average alternatives, with hints of purple fringing and "chromatic aberrations in areas of high contrast" holding it back from superiority; however, it should be noted that this compact didn't suffer from the notorious red-eye introduction that has become all too common amongst pocket-friendly options. The ISO settings -- while not quite reaching the outlandish 3200 available on the F30 -- performed "quite well" up to ISO 800, while shooting at ISO 2000 (unsurprisingly) created images with a bit too much noise for large prints. Overall, Fujifilm certainly cut a few corners here, but if you're only looking for a reliable P&S tagalong that isn't afraid of the (occasional) dark, the FinePix F20 delivers a "beautiful marriage of price and performance."
Pentax Optio T20 is tiny, and tangibly sweet
Pentax is throwing down some lightweight love today, too, with its Optio T20 ultracompact joining the beefier K10D DSLR we just brought you. Sporting most of the niceties found on the Optio T10 -- including that ultrathin 0.77-inch enclosure and expansive 3-inch touchscreen LCD -- the Optio T20 also packs a 7 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, 640 x 480 movie mode at 30fps, and a nifty stylus used to decorate your images in-camera via the "Drawing Function." You'll also find a rechargeable Li-Ion battery, 12MB of internal storage, and an SD card slot here (sorry, no SDHC just yet) -- all for a reasonable $350. Sadly, though, you'll have to wait until next month to get your hands on one of these shiny little point-and-shoots -- but hey, that's the price you pay for demanding only the freshest gadget news.
