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Pentax's face-recognizing Optio M30 gets reviewed
While we've already seen one underwhelming point-and-shoot in the last 24 hours, the last thing we need is yet another subpar ultracompact cluttering up the camera shelves, but unfortunately for us, that's exactly what we've got. At first glance, it's hard to hate such a shiny, stylish, and uber-thin digicam, but once reviewers got beyond the excellent design, satisfactory noise control, and very respectable battery life, this seven-megapixel darling suffered in the areas that matter most. Put frankly, the M30's "heavy file compression did nothing to help with picture quality," and the lackluster lens led to "heavy barrel distortion at wide angle, pincushion distortion, and appallingly bad corner blurring at medium zoom settings and close range." Moreover, hints of purple fringing reared its ugly head, and performance under low light scenarios was less than enthralling, leaving reviewers with no real option but to rate the M30 a paltry five out of ten. Needless to say, we'd pass on this one.[Via PhotographyBlog]
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]
Vivitar rolls out flurry of point-and-shoot ViviCam digicams
Although Vivitar spent most of its time boasting about the underwater shooting abilities of its 6200W at PMA, the firm apparently had a flurry of additional digicams awaiting release too. While none of the remaining launches tout any truly distinct features, the ViviCam X625, 6385u, 7388s, and DVR530 span between five- and ten-megapixels, and all manage to do an excellent job in fitting in with every other middle-of-the-road shooter already out there. The 7388s touts a seven-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, three-inch LCD, and MP3 playback, while the 6385u features just six-megapixels but comes in an ultrathin metallic enclosure in six different colors. The X625 ups the ante to ten-megapixels, offers a fairly respectable 6x optical zoom, and a nifty "retro" pop-up flash to boot. The five-megapixel DVR530, as the name implies, focuses on capturing 640 x 480 video at 30fps, and makes playing back video on TVs a sinch with the built-in video output. No word just yet concerning price or availability, but considering the lackluster packages found on most of these, bargain hunters should keep an eye out.
Nikon D40x DSLR gets reviewed
Nikon's DSLRs (among others) aren't strangers to being critiqued and held to the highest standards, and while the D40 received its own laundry list of praises and annoyances, now its time for the D40x to hit the testing bench. While it's one thing to see a bevy of photographs, PopPhoto has turned the snapshot taking over to the D40x itself, and found the results to be surprisingly positive. Although the ten-megapixel sensor used in the camera at hand is supposedly of a slightly lower quality than that seen in the D80, the images shot by the little guy proved "about on par with the D80," and reviewers also hailed the impressive ISO 3200 results and color accuracy. Nevertheless, aside from the larger CCD, useful boost in framing rate and a drop in flash-sync speed, it's essentially the same camera as the D40, meaning that the same flaws found in the prior rendition are still apparent in the new edition. Specifically, the cam was dubbed "menu-dependent," which could definitely cause spontaneous shooters to miss a few precious shots fiddling through the (admittedly well organized) internal menus, and you should also make note of the AF-S lens requirement if you're not a DSLR newcomer. Still, if you're not interested in picking up the six-megapixel D40 at a bargain basement price, but would rather hit the ten-megapixel mark without breaking the bank, the D40x looks to be your best bet for now.[Via LivingRoom]
Vivitar ViviCam 6200W handles underwater shooting
It was just about this time last year that Vivitar snuck out of the woodwork to unveil a few ho hum shooters at PMA 2006, and now the firm is making a literal splash with its 6200W at this year's event. Deemed one of the company's first offerings since the recent acquisition by Syntax-Brillian, the six-megapixel compact touts underwater shooting abilities (up to ten meters), a practically worthless 4x digital zoom, SD card support up to 1GB in capacity, 16MB of built-in storage, PictBridge support, and a two-inch color LTPS display. Wrapped in "rubber armor," this rugged beast should take the abusive conditions of YMCA pools and oceanside fun with ease, but considering there's a complete lack of a flash onboard, we'd suggest snapping your photos whilst barely submerged. While there doesn't look to be a hard release date set just yet, it should reportedly hit shelves for around $233 whenever it lands.[Via TGDaily]
Norcent intros Xias / 25 / 50 Series digicams with face detection
Just as Norcent slammed CES with a bevy of new displays, the electronics firm is bringing a bit more fresh gear out for the oh-so-crowded PMA. First up is the ultrathin Xias lineup, which looks to satisfy the style conscious shooter who doesn't have much room in those pants pockets for any extra gadgets. The DSC-760 / DCS-860 / DCS-1060 sport seven-, eight-, and ten-megapixel sensors respectively, feature a 3x optical zoom (plus 4x of the useless digital variety), a scratch-resistant 2.5-inch LTPS color monitor, rechargeable Li-ion battery, and SD / MMC card slots. The 25 Series touts the usual brushed metal enclosure, a vanilla 2.5-inch LCD, 16MB (DCC-725) or 32MB (DCC-1025) of built-in storage, and share the other specs with its Xias brethren. Picking up the rear is the 50 Series cams, which up the ante a bit with their three-inch LCDs, face detection / anti-shake technologies, and compatibility with SDHC cards. The myriad of shooters will be available from April to Q3 of this year depending on model, and while you can snag the lowest-end of these siblings for around $129, the high-end units will be upwards of $200.[Via Imaging-Resource]
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]
Sony's DSC-H7 / DSC-H9 CyberShots get official, pack 15x optical zoom
If you're here for surprises, you're not apt to leave satisfied, but if you're interested in a few extra deets on Sony's latest duo of megazoom digicams, this is the spot. Set to replace the DSC-H2 and DSC-H5 just about one year after their respective releases, Sony once again did a horrendous job keeping the DSC-H7 and DSC-H9 on the low, but we're not complaining or anything. Anyways, future H7 / H9 owners can look forward to a Carl Zeiss 15x optical zoom lens, 8.1-megapixel sensor, face detection technology, HDTV output, the ability to shoot up to 1/4000 of a second, Bionz processing engine (seen in the Alpha lineup), Super Steady Shot optical image stabilization, up to ISO 3200, and red-eye reduction. The H9 steps it up ever so slightly by adding a three-inch flip-up LCD (compared to the H7's 2.5-inch rendition) and Sony's own NightShot technology, which purportedly allows photographers to snap legible shots even in dark alleys. Notably, neither camera sports any kind of movie mode whatsoever, and those hoping to shoot in RAW will also be sorely disappointed, but if you're fine with those two oversights and the massive zoom tickles your stalking instincts, both cameras will be landing in April for $400 (DSC-H7) / $480 (DSC-H9). %Gallery-1827%
Details emerge on Sony's DSC-W90, W200 digital cameras
The big PMA 07 trade show is still weeks away, but we seem to be already getting a pretty good idea of what Sony will be showing off, first with word of its 7.2 megapixel DSC-W80 getting out earlier today, and now with details on two additional models appearing on SonyCenter.lu's discussion forums before not-so-mysteriously disappearing. Thankfully, good 'ol Google Cache has preserved all the relevant information so you won't have to wait until March to satisfy your curiosity. Apart from the difference in megapixels, with 12 on the W200 and 8 on the W90, the two cameras appear to be virtually identical, each boasting a 3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD, Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar optics, Sony's trademark SteadyShot and Face Recognition features, ISO settings up to 3200 and, perhaps most notable, HDMI outputs. Unfortunately, there's no pics of either camera, although they'll apparently be similar in design to the W55 (pictured here), only with a "finer," "more beautiful" case. There's also no word on price or availability, although that should be revealed at the official PMA launch next month.[Thanks, Rashid]
Sony's 1/1.8-inch high-speed CMOS sensor outputs 60fps
Thankfully, it looks like Sony has come through yet again, and while it wasn't exactly in the timeliest of manners, the high-speed CMOS sensor that it promised would deliver 60fps of video output is finally upon us. The 1/1.8-inch IMX017CQE sensor boasts 6.4-megapixels of resolution and the uncanny ability to "output this resolution at 60 frames per second (a data rate of around 384 megapixels per second)." In layman's terms, this chip has the ability to capture full motion video and grab high-quality stills without dropping a single frame, giving users a seamless transition between the two. Additionally, the 1/1.8-inch size and its ability to deliver 300 frames per second at lower resolutions moves it a bit further from the pack, not to mention the 12-bit A/D converter for each column. No word just yet on when these video-centric chips will hit Sony's CyberShot lineup, but it's an awful lot closer to reality than the last time we caught wind of it. [Warning: PDF read link][Via DPReview]
Fujifilm's Z5fd compact digicam arrives in pink
If there's ever a good time to locate a pink-clad gizmo to fit in with the surrounding holiday, that would be now. You latecomers or forgetful ones should greatly appreciate Fujifilm's pretty-in-pink Z5fd digital camera, which sports a six-megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, 2.5-inch monitor, face-finding abilities, and built-in image stabilization to boot. Moreover, you'll find 26MB of internal memory in case you don't have the cash to spring for an xD card right away, and the dual shot mode, iFlash, and 30fps movie mode should come in handy capturing the night out on the town. Possibly the best feature of this digicam (aside from the color) is its immediate availability, but you should probably scrounge up that $219.99 and make a run for it to beat the hordes of others having the same idea.[Via ChipChick]
Gigapan robot snaps panoramic views, assembles results
We're absolutely certain there's a vast array of naturally gifted photographers out there that don't need a robot to do a man's job, but for those of us who can't hold our elbows perfectly still and snap a dozen or so photographs in a panoramic pattern without ruining the entire shot, Gigapan's got you covered. The robotic shooting platform was developed by Carnegie Mellon University and the NASA Ames Intelligent Robot Group, and can manhandle almost any digital camera in order to capture a wide-angle view of any particular scene without the breaks we humans often inject. The robot will click away depending on a timer and the number of snapshots that users program in, resulting in a very high resolution, widescreen image of a crime scene, vacation overlook, or your entire basement wall of Transformers posters. Moreover, the team has developed accompanying software to "piece together" the resulting images, leaving a nearly flawless reproduction of a panoramic view with an immensely increased level of detail. Expected to cost "around $200 or less," the Gigapan could be in civilian hands as early as next month, after which we'll have to start an entirely new photo contest devoted to cramming as many miles as possible into a single, uber-wide shot, but for now, be sure to click on through for a small taste of what this monkey can do.[Via Primidi]
Canon readying 22-megapixel mini 1DS Mark II?
You guessed it, this here is nothing more than somewhat believable rumor mill material, but it seems that Canon just might be readying a 22-megapixel beast of a digicam that would come in "around half the size of the firm's EOS-1DS Mark II." Unsurprisingly codenamed the 1DS Mark III, this DSLR is said to have been behind a few photo shoots seen in recent editions of Vanity Fair, and Canon is reportedly "hustling to make lenses that will work with what this body can resolve," not to mention the possibility of a "new mount for an entirely new lens design." While this certainly isn't the first big-name digicam to start in depths of shadows, we purportedly won't see it surface (or not) until this fall, as the elusive 1DS Mark III won't be shown to the public before the PhotoPlus Expo in October (if it's proven real at all).[Via Image-Acquire]
Researchers developing ultrathin Origami lens for mini digicams
The constant battle between companies trying to shove the most megapixels into the smallest frame at all costs just might have some serious competition on the horizon, as researchers at UC San Diego have built an ultrathin, high resolution digicam by simply "folding up the telephoto lens." The aptly-named Origami lens hopes to "yield lightweight, slim, and powerful miniature cameras for unmanned surveillance aircraft, cellphones, and infrared night vision applications," and was constructed using the same basic principles found on the Cassegrain telescope that was crafted in 1672. On a disk of calcium fluoride, the engineers "cut a series of concentric, reflective surfaces that bend and focus the light as it is bounced to a facing flat reflector," creating an area where incoming light will follow a zigzag path until it reaches the CMOS light sensor. The biggest drawback, however, is the new camera's "limited depth of focus," but the folks behind the creation are already designing variable-focus folded optical systems to hopefully cure that nagging issue. Ideally, the team would like to see their work bring high resolution, respectful imagers to cellphones, doing away with the relatively antiquated sensors on most mainstream mobiles, but even under the best conditions it's probably a few years away.
Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro previewed, inspected
Although Fujifilm's S3 Pro UVIR DSLR isn't exactly antiquated, the company's next rendition has been anticipated for quite some time, and now LetsGoDigital has had a chance to open 'er up, snap some shots of it, and let us know what this thing's all about. While not delving into specifics, the preview does showcase the S5 Pro's frame, features, and expectations of the February-bound digicam, and harps on the magnesium casing which favors the one found on the Nikon D200. It was also noted that the current edition can only handle up to 4GB flash cards, but hopefully a firmware update will allow larger cards to take part in the fun. As expected, the Super CCD SR Pro image sensor was highly regarded, and the firm's well-known face-finding technology is alive and well on this unit too. Overall, the company felt that this unit did the Fujifilm brand justice, as it paid close attention to the minutiae that makes Fujifilm cameras "unique," so be sure and hit the read link for closeups of crannies that you didn't even know this €1,895 ($2,448) monster had.
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
Samsung's 7.2-megapixel VLUU i70 brings HSDPA / texting
Yeah, it'd be nice if every swank HSDPA-equipped cameraphone that you felt comfortable texting on boasted a 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor, 3x optical zoom, and a three-inch LCD monitor to hold down the photography end of the spectrum, but unless you happened to throw down for Samsung's own SCH-B600 and get the bulk of those niceties, you're currently out of luck. Enter the VLUU i70, which is designed to presumably tackle the niche market of folks who'd rather communicate via text than spoken word and simply have image quality as a slightly higher priority than cellphone capability. The device sports the aforementioned features and also touts up to ISO 1600, 30fps VGA movie mode, Advanced Shake Reduction (ASR), and face recognition technology. Furthermore, you'll find MP3 / MPEG4 playback support as well as a text viewer, and just in case you didn't take the hint, the onboard HSDPA allows users to beam photos wherever they please (and hastily, too) right after snapping them. Oddly, there's no mention of a memory card format, and not so surprisingly, we're left in the dark regarding price and availability as well, but we don't envision this here runnin' ya cheap whenever it does hit shelves.[Via TrustedReviews]
ASKA's 20GB Tripper Light: autonomous HDD for photographers
We're fully aware that digicam sensors are getting incredibly large (sometimes unnecessarily so) these days, and it seems like alternatives to carrying around an assortment of flash cards are popping up everywhere. Even if you aren't shooting with a camera that produces 78MB RAW files with each shutter click, high quality images can churn through megabytes with ease, and ASKA's 20GB Tripper Light is looking to lighten the load on your poor memory card(s). Similar in function to Polaroid's autonomous HDD, Axxen's renditions, and SavitMicro's HyperDrive, this device handles your CF, SD, MMC, MD, MS, and MSPro cards and copies all files to the handy drive with the press of a button. It boasts 20GB of internal space, on / off button, Mac and Windows functionality, USB charging capability, 2.49Mbps transfer rate, and USB 2.0 connectivity. So if you're frustrated with carrying around oodles of half-filled flash cards, you can pick up the Tripper Light for ¥19,950 ($165) and save yourself the trouble.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Exemode kicks out ultralight DC567 digicam
Although Exemode is entirely better known for its budget offerings than ones of professional allure, the firm's latest digital camera does sport one aspect that (somewhat) separates it from the uninspiring camera posse. The DC567 doesn't have a whole lot to offer, as its five-megapixel CMOS sensor, 12fps movie mode, fixed F3.2 lens, and two-inch LCD monitor could indeed provoke fits of snickering, but this compact point-and-shoot weighs in at just 80 grams (2.8 ounces) sans batteries. This lightweight cam also features 32MB of built-in memory, an SD card slot, USB 1.1 connectivity, and while it should only provide marginally better results than your current cameraphone, you can't help but appreciate the ¥10,000 ($82) pricetag it should carry when it lands next month.[Via FarEastGizmos]
