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Nikon D300s, pro photographers meet up to make magic together
What better way to show off your company's latest DSLR than by giving it to a couple of professional photographers to work their magic? Nikon's done just that, handing off its just-announced D300s to noted photojournalist Ami Vitale and sports photographer Robert Bösch. The pair submitted stills and videos from their trial run, and the results are unsurprisingly impressive -- there's only one noticeable instance of rolling shutter, in the beginning of Bösch's video with the helicopter blades. Of course, there's no telling how much post-production work went into these pieces, and let's not forget these are pros in their element -- average Joe isn't gonna be able to pick up this camera and produce the same results. Footage after the break, or hit up the read link to see all the impressions and sample works. [Via PDNPulse and ProLost Blog]
Nikon Coolpix S1000pj to boast projector? Sure looks like it!
Now, we still can't be sure that this thing is legit -- but it's definitely starting to look more than likely. The rumor early this morning was that Nikon would be announcing a small digital camera with an LED projector in the very near future, with a shelf-date sometime in September -- the VP650. Well, now Photo Review has some shots of this supposed badboy. The Coolpix S1000pj will supposedly boast a projector capable of projecting an image up to up to 40 inches in size, with a remote control and projector stand as part of the package. The camera itself will be a 12.1 megapixel affair, with a 5x Zoom-Nikkor lens with 28mm wide-angle coverage -- with pricing at $699 AUD (that's about $587). Word is that VP650 was just a codename for the product, and we'd think we'll be hearing much, much more about this little dude in the very near future. There's one more shot to check out after the break.[Via Nikon Rumors]
Samsung's 'Tap and Take' teaser hints at revolutionary, unicorn-approved Smart Cameras
Samsung sure has been milking this whole "teaser" thing for all it's worth of late, with the newest mystery coming to us in the form of its fresh 'Tap and Take' campaign. From now until August 12th, users can give the read link a visit in order to ingest clues about the outfit's upcoming line of Smart Cameras. These wildly intelligent shooters will purportedly "transform the way consumers take pictures," and they just might provide each and every American with free health care, solve world hunger and put the mighty Hubble to shame. The whole thing will be revealed in full on August 13th, but for now, why not drop a comment below as to what you think will be so revolutionary about the forthcoming point-and-shoot range?[Via Korea Newswire]
Rumor mill: Nikon VP650 camera / projector combo soon to be revealed
Looks like our one of our dreams just might come to fruition after all, if this newest rumor coming from the vicinity of Nikon is to be believed, anyway. Now, there aren't a lot of details to go round here, but Nikon Rumors is reporting that Chasseur d'Image -- a print magazine in France with a history of publishing rumors that turn into reality -- has published a report that Nikon will soon announce the VP650. What is this VP650, you ask? Well, it's a hybrid compact digital camera with an LED projector (which may or may not be manufactured by Taiwanese company Foxlink) that can project 8 x 12 images in "good quality" in the dark. Chasseur d'Image reports that the VP650 will ship in September. Like we said -- not a whole lot of detail, but we'll keep our eyes peeled to see if this thing ever appears. We'll say this though -- such a product would probably make the tiny projector a lot more attractive.
Sony Alpha 850 DSLR manual pops up on Hong Kong support site
Sony's Alpha series DSLR cameras are almost notorious for how often they leak, and as is custom with an introductory assertion like that, we've got another one to show you. The company's Hong Kong support site has an instruction manual available to download for an as-of-then unknown iteration, the α850. The gang at Dyxum forums have gone through it more thoroughly than we have so far, and the Initial reaction is that it's similar to the α900 but with only three FPS, a smaller viewfinder, and still no video (unlike its competition). We've assembled some highlights from the guide, including full specs, in the gallery below. Hit up the read link to grab the full manual for yourself, but just a word of caution, even though the PDF's only 3.54MB in size, the download has proven to be rather painfully slow. [Via Dyxum forums; thanks, Doug]
Leica S2 DSLR hitting UK scene in October for eye-opening $26,165 without lens
Remember Leica's S-system flagship DSLR camera? We'd wager a nickel you probably stuck this in the deep in the back of your brain after its September 2008 debut, figuring something that boasts 37.5 megapixels and Leica branding was gonna be just out of your budget range. Well, you were right. The company announced that it'll be out in the UK as of October this year, and the starting price is £15,996, or about $26,165 in US dollars. Since you're going on the wild side anyhow, why not consider the S2-P, which features a sapphire glass monitor screen and "Platinum Service" support package? That'll set you back £19,092 ($31,229). Bear in mind both those prices are for body only, and with lenses range anywhere from £3,096 to £5,160, you might as well forget about that year of salary.
Retro Apple: The QuickTake 100 digital camera
In 1994, I was working as the IT manager for a natural gas pipeline company (all Macs, of course), had long hair pulled back in a ponytail, and none of that hair was gray. In January of '94, I remember being invited down to Apple's Denver office -- they had a Denver office in those days -- to see some new products that were being introduced. While I was disappointed that they didn't show us an updated Newton (the MessagePad 110 would be introduced in March), I was intrigued by another device that was demonstrated -- the Apple QuickTake 100 digital camera. At the time, the only other small business / consumer digital cameras on the market were the Canon Ion, a device from Kodak (rebranded by Apple as the QuickTake 100), and the Logitech PhotoMan. After the demo, we passed around the camera and took photos of each other, and then waited as the pictures were uploaded to a Mac. Considering that "digital photography" for us at that time meant taking a picture with a film camera, waiting for the film to be developed and prints made, and then scanning the pictures on an expensive and slow SCSI scanner, this seemed like the future. Of course, I remember comments from many of the people in attendance to the effect of "digital photography will never replace film photography."
Kodak debuts EasyShare Z950, M381 and M341 digicams
Had enough Kodak this fine morning? No? Good. Just hours after showcasing its newest 1080p pocket camcorder, the aforesaid firm is hitting us up with a few more new pieces to digest. First up is the EasyShare Z950, a modest megazoom-in-a-P&S-body that packs a 10x optical zoom, 12 megapixel sensor and a $279.99 price tag. Next, we've got the totally ho hum EasyShare M381, which also offers a dozen megapixels alongside a 3-inch rear LCD, 5x zoomer, easy upload to Facebook / YouTube, face detection, a variety of lovely hues and an MSRP of $179.99. The last cam is the M341, which steps down to a 3x optical zoom and a smaller 2.7-inch LCD for $149. Closing things out is the EasyShare D830 (£119.99; $196) and D1030 (£169.99; $279) digital photo frames, which check in at 8- and 10-inches respectively (in terms of display size) and tout interchangeable face plates, 512MB of internal memory, a Quick Touch border, memory card reader and a USB port. Everything here should ship in the US and UK by September, though those hungry for additional details are welcome to tap that read link.[Via DigitalCameraInfo]
Liquid Image video camera goggles get upgraded specs, Japanese release
Aloha, friends! Are you finding your beach holiday experience is missing that certain bit of techno je ne sais quoi? Maybe it's because your snorkeling exploits are going undocumented, in which case you may look to Liquid Image's newly unveiled UDCM310. An evolutionary improvement on the previous model, the new goggles feature a 5 megapixel CMOS sensor, software-free USB connectivity and the ability to record 720 x 480 video at 30 fps to a microSD card. Sure, it's not exactly overwhelming you with shooting options, but it also keeps your hands free for whatever underwater heroics you want to film. [Via Akihabara News]
Manage multiple cameras with Cameras
Flexibits has just released Cameras, an application designed to manage multiple camera hookups on your Mac. With Cameras, you can direct which programs launch when you connect any number of photo-related devices to your computer; including digital cameras, the iPhone or a digital media reader. Cameras installs a preference pane in System Preferences. The first time you connect a new device to your Mac and start to sync it, the device will show up in the preference panel. From there, you can choose what that individual camera does when connected. It's a simple, great application for managing different cameras and keeps unwanted programs from opening when you connect them and works well when multiple devices are developed. Cameras is a free download and requires OS X. 10.4.11 or later.
Sony readying CyberShot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras?
It was only a few months ago that we were fielding rumors about Sony's CyberShot DSC-HX1, and now we're struggling to keep our credit card at bay each time we waltz by one in the local camera shop. Today, Sony Insider has pointed out that the outfit may be readying a new duo to complement the megazoom: the DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1. If the latest whispers prove legitimate, the TX1 will boast a 10 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, 720p movie mode and a price tag somewhere south of $400. The WX1 should check in as a lower-end model with 10 megapixels, a 5x optical zoom, 2.7-inch LCD and the same 720p movie mode; why exactly it'll be cheaper we're not sure, but that's the good word at the moment. E-tailer Provantage already has listings for both cameras up, so it seems as if it's just a matter of time before Sony confirms all the good news.[Via Sony Insider]
Canon PowerShot D10 review
For the longest while, your options were highly limited in the waterproof / rugged point-and-shoot arena. In fact, it was arguably better to just buy a standard P&S camera and a waterproof casing for said camera than to worry over any of the standalone waterproof alternatives. When Canon introduced its PowerShot D10 earlier this year, we immediately noticed that this waterproof shooter was quite unlike the models before it. Outside of a somewhat bulbous casing, it didn't look drastically different than some of the thicker, non-waterproof options out there. Not to mention the respectable 12.1 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and ten meter waterproof rating. Needless to say, we couldn't resist the opportunity to grab this bugger and test it out for a week along the shores of Playa Tamarindo in Costa Rica and Lago Cocibolca in Nicaragua, so follow us past the break to find out if this cam is the perfect accessory for your upcoming beach holiday.
Pentax's Optio W80 point-and-shoot shrugs off water, haters
While Canon's PowerShot D10 has been hogging the spotlight in the waterproof point-and-shoot arena, Pentax is dropping in a formidable opponent this evening with the Optio W80. Said shooter measures in at just one inch thick and features a 12.1 megapixel sensor, a 5x internal optical zoom, a wide-angle 28mm lens and a SuperProtect coating that helps repel water, grime and finger marks from the len's crystal cover. The chassis is built to handle submersion in water up to 16 feet deep, not to mention extreme cold, dust and drops of one meter or less. There's also a 2.5-inch rear LCD, a 720p movie mode, face detection and shake reduction. It's slated to ship next month for $299.95; now you've just got to decide between Cardinal Red, Azure Blue and Gunmetal Gray. Tough call, right? The full release is just past the break.
Olympus E-P1 now available for pre-order
You might've noticed this already, but for those out there who share our lust for Olympus' E-P1 "digital Pen," but haven't done too much digging, consider this a public service announcement. The retro-chich micro four thirds camera is now available for pre-order from a handful of online retailers, with several different packages to choose from based with various body color (silver or white) and lens color (silver or black) combinations. Looks like it'll still cost you about $750 if you want body only, but really, at this point we don't know why you wouldn't pay an additional Ulysses S. Grant and grab a lens with it. Ready to smash that E-P1 piggy bank a bit early? You've got plenty of retailers willing to help you out there, but don't feel too pressured, there's still a little bit of time to decide before the July launch.Read - AdoramaRead - AmazonRead - B&HRead - J&R
Nikon's D5000 gets reviewed in staggering detail
Just in case our comparatively brief overview of the D5000 wasn't enough to sway you either way, why not have a gander at DPReview's astonishing 33 page critique of Nikon's first-ever DSLR with an articulating display? Within, you'll find oodles of sample shots, comparison to rival cameras and enough analysis to make you feel like a bona fide expert upon leaving. If you're looking for the long and short of it, however, you'll find a conclusion that essentially matches up word-for-word with our own summary: the articulating display is a bit of a personal preference, but every other aspect is rock solid. If you're not down with ponying up for the marginally more expensive D90 and you can't bear the thought of buying Canon glass, there's hardly a better option on the market right now. Dig in below if you still need more proof.
How would you change Nikon's D5000 DSLR?
Nikon's newest entry-level DSLR -- the D5000 -- has been out and about for just over a month now, which means it's just about time that we checked in with the early adoption crowd to see what kind of vibes are emanating. As Nikon's first DSLR with an articulating display, this one drew all sorts of attention for its unorthodox design. During our time with it, we found the display to be more of a gimmick than an aid in most scenarios, but we're interested to see if you agree / disagree. Has the D5000 lived up to your dreams? Are you stoked on the image quality? Have any quirks kept you up at night? Spill it all in comments below, we're all friends here.
Pentax gets official with 14.6MP K-7 DSLR: HD movies, HDR mode
After digesting loads of scuttlebutt here lately, we're elated to see that Pentax has finally come clean with its new K-7 DSLR. The 14.6 megapixel shooter packs a rugged magnesium alloy body and arrives with an HD movie mode that captures video at 640 x 416, 720p (1,280 x 720) or 1,536 x 1,024 -- all at 30fps. Needless to say, that's more than the D90 and D5000 offer (both top out at 720p), and while Canon's T1i does 1080p, it does so at just 20fps. There's also an HDMI port, a 3-inch Live View LCD, in-camera lens correction, shake reduction and an improved dust reduction system. The real kicker, however, is the High Dynamic Range (HDR) capture mode, which snags a trio of images, then combines them in-camera to widen the exposure gamut. The body alone should ship in July for $1,299.95 -- which is notably more expensive that recent wares from Canon, Nikon and Sony -- and you can peek the full slate of specifications just past the break.
Sony's Alpha 230, 330 and 380 DSLRs get flood of official pics
Sony's latest mainstream DSLRs cameras got the seal of officialness this past Saturday, and now the company's added some icing to the cake by releasing of plethora of pictures for its α230, α330, and α380. Direct your eyes lovingly at the articulating screens and SD/SDHC card slots in the gallery below. Pre-orders for the trio are supposed to start today at Sony's official retail site, but as of this writing, they're not yet there.
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH1 produces sample shots and videos galore
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH1 has already shown off its visual prowess a time or two before, but the eagle-eyed photogs over at DPReview have finally hosted up a cornucopia of sample shots and videos for those still unsure if a Micro Four Thirds camera is right for them. And hey, even those cats obviously understand a little tongue-in-cheek humor, wouldn't you say? Tap the read link for the full array of goods.
Ask Engadget: Best small camera (with good video) under $600?
We know, you were hoping to just glance over today's hottest articles in the world of consumer electronics, and along comes this: something that actually asks a little of you. Trust us, it'll be alright, and hey -- after you've replied, you can send in a question of your own to ask at engadget dawt com. "The family and I are headed to Walt Disney World in June for the first time. I have a Canon Digital Rebel and a Canon GL1, but really do not want to haul either or both of them to the Magic Kingdom with us. So, the question is: what is the best camera that does great stills and video and is super small? Under 600 bones preferably. Thanks!" No Rich, thank you for making us all envious. Be sure to take the advice that'll surely flow in comments below and send us picture postcards while waiting in line to ride the Tower of Terror for the forty-third time. (Seriously, do not miss Tower of Terror.)
