CompactCamera
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Samsung HZ15W and hands-on, with friends
We're not exactly enthused at all the granularity makes up Samsung's wide assortment of digital compacts, but it's not like they're the only offenders in the industry. In the high end they've got the HZ15W and TL320 -- we've seen the TL320 and is marvelous analog dials in the wild before, but the HZ15W is a new one on us. Overall the camera is a bit bulky for this segment, and we'd have a hard time sticking it into a pants or jacket pocket without discomfort. That said, the camera is flush with functionality like HDMI out, 720p video recording and a wide view lens. The second look at the TL320 reminded us how completely in love we are its analog dials, though unfortunately the pre-production model we were looking at was having trouble with its OLED screen. The rest of the line, including the SL820, SL620 and SL202, was hanging out for the photo op, but there wasn't much that stood out.%Gallery-48951%
FujiFilm's FinePix F200EXR, and its pricetag, get reviewed
While some early shots showed a lot of promise, a full review was necessary to ensure that FujiFilm's latest compact camera would be the performer we were hoping for -- and that it would live up to its $400 price. According to Photography Blog this 12 megapixel shooter doesn't disappoint, scoring very high marks for image quality and features. Its EXR mode, which can toggle between favoring resolution, dynamic range, or low noise, works more or less as advertised, bringing far more depth to shadows than your usual pocket cam can manage. Pictures were clear through ISO 800, but anything above that (up to its ludicrous ISO 12800 mode) were too noisy to be usable. Overall the cam was found to be a "veritable breath of fresh air" and a solid choice for a serious photographers who like air and don't want to lug their SLR everywhere.
Casio's new EX-Z29 10.1 megapixel compact does WVGA video
It's not HD, but we'll still give Casio's new EX-Z29 props for trying. The primarily bland compact camera (Casio itself describes the shooter as "Sleek & Sturdy") offers up a 848 x 480 video record mode and direct-to-YouTube setting to go along with the 10.1 megapixel sensor, 3X zoom and 2.7-inch LCD. The "Sturdy" camera is 0.91-inches thick, offers Anti Shake DSP for mildly less blurry photos and hits retail this month for $150, available in black, pink, blue, silver or purple. There's another photo of the camera after the break, brace yourselves for all its splendor.
BenQ announces E1050 camera for drab and mysterious shooters
BenQ is enhancing its selection of pocketable shooters with another modestly-spec'ed offering, the E1050. It has your standard 3x optical zoom lens on the front and 3-inch LCD on the back, with a 10 megapixel CCD forming the meat in this 17.6mm thick sandwich (though BenQ points out that it is 16.8mm thin at its skinniest bit). Its stainless case is only available in a muted gray, surely to disappoint those who need color in their life. However, that nondescript hue plus the inclusion of shooting speeds all the way down to ISO 3200, twice that of the earlier (and thinner) T850, should make this a solid choice for spies and ninjas. Beyond potential espionage action there isn't much to get excited about here, especially at an undisclosed price and undisclosed availability -- but don't let that stop you from checking out a picture of its back-side after the break.
BenQ intros "world's slimmest" 8-megapixel camera, the T850
BenQ has never been one to shy away from laying claim to world's thinnest / smallest titles, and it's done so yet again with its new T850 camera, despite the fact that it's seemingly identical in size to the company's previous T800 model. New this time around, however, is an increasingly-common smile-catching feature, as well as a "swipe" gesture interface, which BenQ claims is unique among touch screen cameras. Otherwise you'll get the same 8-megapixels, 3x optical zoom, and 3-inch display as before, as well as the usual anti-shake and face-tracking features. No word on a price just yet, but you'll apparently be able to get this one in your choice of black or red when it launches in the (presumably) not too distant future.
BenQ rolls out E800, C850, C750 compact digital cameras
Those that like their digital cameras entry-level and nondescript now have a couple of new options to consider from BenQ, which has just announced its new E800, C850, and C750 models. Kicking things off, the E800 is an 8-megapixel shooter, with a 3x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD, ISO settings up to 1600 (no promises on quality), and the increasingly common face-tracking and smile-catching features. The C850 (pictured above) and C750, on the other hand, get a little bit fancier with leather-wrapped handles, but otherwise boast many of the same specs, with the C850 staying at eight megapixels and the C750 dropping down to seven. No word on prices just yet, but you can expect the C850 and C750 to hit "select countries in Europe and the Asia Pacific region this month, with the E800 launching "worldwide" by the end of May.Read -- Photography Blog, BenQ E800Read -- Photography Blog, BenQ C850 and C750
Olympus Mju 1030 SW gets reviewed
Olympus' Mju 1030 SW compact digital camera got a little lost in the jumble of cameras that the company released earlier this year, but the folks at Photography Blog have now given the compact shooter its due with a full review. As you might expect, the 10-megapixel camera's main selling point (its toughness) earned it the highest marks, with its metal case proving to be decidedly studier than the competition -- not to mention shockproof and waterproof, although the site apparently didn't test those features too strenuously. It was a bit of a different story when it came to actually taking pictures, however, with the Mju turning in only "acceptable" results, and only then after some basic tweaking. The fact that you have to pay a fairly hefty premium for all that sturdiness ($399) doesn't help things either, but if you're the type that goes through cameras like nobody's business, it may not be the worst option to consider.
Pentax intros compact Optio M50 digital camera
If those high-end Pentax DSLRs aren't your thing, then perhaps the company's just-announced Optio M50 will be more to your (and your bank account's) liking. Available in your choice of silver, blue or pink, this one boasts 8 megapixels and a slightly better than usual 5x optical zoom, along with a 2.5-inch LCD, ISO shooting modes all the way up to ISO 6400, and increasingly common features like face recognition and smile capture. Look for it to hit in March with a list price of $230 and be sure to hit up the gallery below for a closer look at the camera in each of the available colors. %Gallery-14497%
Fujifilm rolls out FinePix Z100fd compact camera
It looks like Fujifilm just couldn't wait for CES to take the wraps off its new FinePix Z100fd, with it instead doing things the old fashioned way today by issuing a press release from its cozy confines in Valhalla, New York. A follow-up to the company's now year-old Z5fd model, this one ups things to a full 8 megapixels and packs a slightly larger 2.7-inch LCD (not to mention a 5x optical zoom), while also maintaining a slim 19.8 mm thick form factor. You'll also get the same "Blog Mode" and face recognition features as before, and your choice of four, two-tone color schemes, including pink, silver, brown, and black. If that sounds like it's for you, you should be able to get your hands on one sometime this month for $250.
Yashica resurfaces with a trio of new compact cameras
We haven't heard much from Yashica since it was snapped up by Kyocera way back when, but it looks like that's about to change, as Crave recently spotted three new digital cameras sporting the familiar brand at the Imaging Expo in Singapore. Leading the pack is the 14-megapixel AV1400-HD model, although there doesn't appear to be any more details on it than what you see on the face of the camera above (it will apparently be released by the end of the year though). Specs are a bit more plentiful for the now available EZ8032 and EZ7033 models, however, with the former boasting 8.2 megapixels, a 2.5-inch LCD, and thickness of 22 mm, and the latter packing a still decent 7.2 megapixels, along with a 3-inch screen, a 3x optical zoom, and an even slimmer thickness of just 18.5 mm. There's still no word on a possible release 'round there parts though, so die-hard Yashica fans may have to find a way to get one from Singapore.[Thanks, Canonkid]
Nikon's Coolpix frenzy continues with L14, L15, S700, and S510
Hope you're not tired of Coolpixes yet, cause Nikon's got another bundle of compact cameras for us, including two new models in its L series and two in its S series. As the model numbers suggest, there's not a whole lot of difference between the L14 and L15 (on the top above), with the former packing a 7.1 megapixel CMOS and a 3x zoom lens that covers a practical range from 38-114mm, while the latter ups things to 8.0 megapixels and a 3x zoom covering 35-105mm. The L15 also boasts a slightly larger 2.8-inch LCD, as opposed to a 2.4-inch one on the L14. Moving into higher-end territory, the Coolpix S700 packs an impressive 12.1 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom and a 2.7-inch LCD in a slim aluminum body, while the also-aluminum S510 boasts 8.0 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom, and a pink color option in addition to the standard black and silver. Look for the whole lot of them to be available sometime next month, with the L14 and L15 running $150 and $180, respectively, and the S700 and S510 setting you back $380 and $300 apiece.Read - Nikon Coolpix L14Read - Nikon Coolpix L15Read - Nikon Coolpix S700Read - Nikon Coolpix S510
Samsung intros slimline L77 compact camera
Samsung's gone into full bragging mode with its newly announced L77 digital camera, claiming the sure-to-be-shortly-held title of "world's thinnest" camera that has both a 7 megapixel sensor and a 7x optical zoom. It appears that a thickness of 0.8 inches was enough to snag that honor, with the camera's other dimensions equally pocketable, measuring 3.7 inches in length and 2.2 inches in height. Apart from its size, the camera appears to be decent but fairly unremarkable, with a 2.5-inch LCD, 30 fps VGA video recording, ISO settings up to 1600, and Samsung's trademark "Advanced Shake Reduction" system, along with the usual array of pre-set camera modes. While there doesn't appear to be any word on price just yet, the camera will apparently be available sometime this April.
