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Canon intros PowerShot G16, S120, SX170 IS, SX510 HS point-and-shoot cameras
Canon's got a handful of incremental updates to detail today, including a selection of PowerShot point-and-shoots. The G16 is the priciest of the bunch, ringing in at $550. This model, which is set to ship in October, replaces last year's G15, and includes a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 6 processor, 5x 28-140mm f/1.8-2.8 optical zoom lens and 1080/60p video capture. Next up is the S120, retailing for $450, also in October. This pocketable S110 replacement includes a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 6 processor, 5x 24-120mm f/1.8-5.7 optical zoom lens and 1080/60p video capture. The SX510 HS is the cheapest of this premium bunch, with a $250 MSRP. This superzoom, expected in September, packs a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 processor, a 30x 24-720mm f/3.4-5.8 optical zoom lens and 1080p video. The G15, S120 and SX510 HS all include built-in WiFi, letting you pair the camera with Canon's Image Gateway Android or iOS app to upload shots to a variety of social networking sites, including Facebook, Twitter and Flickr. The final model, the PowerShot SX170 IS, does not include WiFi. It's quite a bit cheaper at $180, however, and should ship in September. This entry-level cam includes a 16-megapixel sensor, DIGIC 4 processor, a 16x 28-448mm f/3.5-5.9 image-stabilized lens and 720p video. That last flavor replaced the SX160 IS, which launched last year as well. The SX170 swaps a rechargeable battery pack for its predecessor's AAs, resulting in a thinner profile. Catch a bit more on all four models in the press release after the break.
Nikon Coolpix S3500 ships this month with 20MP CCD, lens-shift VR for $139
We don't tend to get excited about any CCD sensor-equipped point-and-shoot nowadays, but Nikon's Coolpix S3500 has at least one feature that we don't often see on a camera in this price range: lens-shift optical image stabilization, or Vibration Reduction (VR). Otherwise, this point-and-shoot's specifications are par for the course, and include a 20.1-megapixel CCD sensor, a 7x, f/3.4-6.4 optical zoom lens and a rather-weak QVGA (320 x 240-pixel) LCD. It can shoot 720p video, too, though we wouldn't expect industry-leading IQ. At $139, the S3500 is priced right for casual photographers, and its orange, pink, purple, red and silver color schemes should appease most digicam-hungry tweens. Hop past the break for some talking points from Nikon HQ.
Olympus unveils Stylus XZ-10 with f/1.8-2.7 zoom, smartphone sharing app
Olympus is carrying on the recent compact camera trend of fast-ish zoom lenses and wireless sharing capability with the launch of the 12-megapixel Stylus XZ-10. The new model follows in the footsteps of the company's top compact dog XZ-2 model, sporting a slightly smaller 1/2.3-inch sensor and a wider range 5x optical zoom with a similar f/1.8-2.7 iris. Otherwise, it's aimed more at the casual carry-around crowd with a 40 percent smaller body, touch-screen focus selection, control ring exposure adjustment, a 3-inch 920k dot TFT LCD, art filters (in the smartphone app), image (or film) stabilization and 1080P 30 fps HD video. Olympus is also trumpeting its smartphone OI.Share capability, allowing images to be sent wirelessly to an iOS or Android device and edited with the included app -- provided you have the optional Toshiba FlashAir card. It'll be arriving in March in black, brown or white at a rather steep-sounding £349, which equates to $550, though exact US pricing hasn't been revealed yet. See the PR after the break for more nitty-gritty.
Panasonic's new Lumix and camcorder lineup arrives at CES
Panasonic may not have dedicated much time to its 2013 Lumix and WiFi camcorder lineup in its CES 2013 press conference, but we're going to break it down for you. The HC-X920, HC-V720 and HC-V520 comes with built-in Wifi, a level shot function and real-time broadcasting, letting you relay the images straight to a smartphone. The HC-V210 and V210M have 72x optical zoom, optical image stabilization and a F/1.8 lens. On the Lumix side, it's announcing the Lumix DMC-TS5, a ruggedized model with a 16.1 megapixel sensor that can dive to depths of 43 feet and is shockproof from a height of 6.6 feet. The LZ30 bridge camera has a 35x optical zoom and a 35mm lens The XS1 has a 14mm thick body and a 14.-4 megapixel sensor. The ZS30 has an 18.1-megapixel sensor, 20x optical Zoom and integrated WiFi and NFC. The company is also shuttling out a GoPro rival in the form of the HX-A100 wearable HD camcorder, which we'll try to get our greasy mitts upon to show you more. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Toshiba preps 20MP, backside-lit sensor for point-and-shoot cameras
When smartphones are encroaching on compact cameras' turf, how does a company try to stay relevant making sensors for those cameras? By upping the resolution, of course. Toshiba has given a peek at the TCM5115CL, a 1/2.3-inch, backside-illuminated CMOS sensor that hits 20 megapixels -- a big jump from the 16-megapixel sensors in many point-and-shoots and some smartphones. To combat the noise and sensitivity problems that usually come with a denser design, the electronics giant is using pixels that can absorb 15 percent more of a charge, and therefore more light. Toshiba has primed the sensor for high-speed shooting and video as well, with the potential for 1080p video at 60FPS and 30FPS burst shooting at full resolution, provided the processor can keep up. We're not bracing ourselves for an imminent renaissance among dedicated cameras, however. Mass production doesn't start until August, which suggests we're unlikely to have 20-megapixel shooters in our pockets during summer vacation.
Samsung Galaxy Camera review: a 21x compact shooter brought to life by Android
There were no heckles, boos or crickets for Samsung's reps back at IFA. But it's fair to say that the atmosphere following its unveiling of the Galaxy Camera was as muted as it was polite. It didn't help that most journalists in that meeting room were there primarily to see the Galaxy Note II, which was undoubtedly the show's headline act. It was also worrisome that Nikon had recently released a half-hearted Android camera of its own -- the Coolpix S800c running on lowly Gingerbread. And finally, some folks in the room -- ourselves included -- may have been put off by Samsung's talk of "convergence," in reference to the fact that the Galaxy Camera has a micro-SIM slot for HSPA+ cellular data. After all, the whole notion of converged hardware has lost the sheen it once had. Hybridized, perhaps. Modular, maybe. But please, not a camera-phablet. Here's the thing, though: the Galaxy Camera is not a converged device. It's a camera, plain and simple. It just happens to be one that's hooked up (in a multitude of ways) to the glorious world of Android. More specifically, we're looking at full-throttle Jelly Bean sitting astride the same optically stabilized 21x zoom lens and almost half-inch 16-megapixel sensor that have already been deployed in Samsung's WB850F WiFi camera. These are components which far exceed anything you'd find in even the most image-conscious smartphone. If you want to put a label on it, it's probably more meaningful to describe all this as software convergence. The same OS and cloud-connected apps that have so radically transformed phones, tablets and TVs are now also being deployed in a camera -- and there's no reason why they shouldn't be just as invigorating in this new role. At the very least, don't dismiss this device as a curiosity until you've read our take on it.
Butlers, lunar rovers, snakes and airboats: the best of Carnegie Mellon's Robotics Institute
How was your week? We got to spend a couple of days trekking around the Carnegie Mellon campus in Pittsburgh, PA to check out some of the latest projects from the school's world renowned Robotics Institute -- a trip that culminated with the bi-annual induction ceremony from the CMU-sponsored Robot Hall of Fame. Given all the craziness of the past seven days, you might have missed some of the awesomeness, but fear not, we've got it all for you here in one handy place -- plus a couple of videos from the trip that we haven't shown you yet. Join us after the break to catch up.
Visualized: GigaPan circa 2006
GigaPan sure has come a long way in a few short years. Sure, it's no Epic Pro, but this old device marked S/N 15 is a pretty cool piece of history for those who love really hi-res images. We spotted it on the shelf of an office here at Carnegie Mellon, clutching on to an old PowerShot point-and-shoot. According to its owner, the tangled device dates back to around 2006. We knew it looked familiar....
Canon announces Q3 2012 results: operating profit down 42 percent to $908 million
Canon just released its Q3 2012 earnings reported, and things aren't looking peachy right now for the camera maker: revenue is down 13 percent to $10.3 billion from last Q3 last year, while profit tumbled by 42 percent. The Japanese company directed the blame toward the "negative impact of economic deterioration" in Europe and emerging markets like China, as well as the strong yen (again). DSLR sales fell over last year, with Canon mentioning that its launch of new models like the EOS 5D Mark III didn't help to shore its camera figures up. Other units within the company didn't fare much better, with printer sales falling and business-to-business numbers flatlining. The company doesn't see a bright fourth quarter either, and is projecting that sales will stay in lockstep with the sluggish economy, resulting in a 6 percent decline in operating profit for the year. It may not want to count so much on the new mirrorless offering pulling it out of the mud, though -- it got fairly mixed reviews.
Message from Me offers dispatches from early education, we go eyes-on (video)
What do you get when you attach a point-and-shoot, display, microphone, RFID reader and a bunch of big buttons to a clear plastic box and stick it all in a classroom with a bunch of three- to five-year-olds? Carnegie Mellon's CREATE Lab calls the creation Message from Me. It's a way of engaging early education students with technology, developing language and social skills and helping keep parents abreast of their school day activities. The tool encourages kids to record a thought or take a picture and send it to a parent by pulling a card with their face on it down from the wall and scanning on the RFID reader. Parents can get updates via text message or email from kids who are often unable to pass along such information at the end of the day. According to the lab, the machines have already been installed in nearly a dozen schools in the Pittsburgh area -- and from the looks of the boxes on the floor in the CREATE Lab, plenty more are on the way.%Gallery-169260%
Samsung Galaxy Camera coming to AT&T, may go without LTE
'Tis the day for AT&T devices. Big Blue has just become the first US carrier officially supporting the Samsung Galaxy Camera and will supply its flavor of cellular data while you're busy posting some of the most detailed Instagram photos ever taken. There aren't any noticeable changes to the connected 16-megapixel shooter that we've seen, but it may not be as fast as shutterbugs might like -- while AT&T is keen to talk up the presence of 4G, it conspicuously leaves out any mention of LTE and suggests that we saw an HSPA-only US model at the FCC just days ago. We're working to confirm what's really inside. Pricing and a ship date will be available in the "coming weeks," although it's unlikely that anyone will absolutely have to sign a two-year contract to start snapping images.
Samsung's Smart EX2F point-and-shoot now on sale for $500
It has taken Samsung a wee bit longer than expected, but the Korean outfit announced earlier that its intelligent, WiFi-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot is finally hitting US store shelves today. And while availability itself comes a few weeks behind schedule, it gave Samsung plenty of time to reconsider the initial $550 MSRP tag it gave when the camera was first unveiled, which means that $500 gets you in the "smart" shooter game with a 3-inch AMOLED display, 12.4-megapixel CMOS sensor and, of course, the lovely f/1.4-2.7 (24-79mm) lens. Still trying to figure out whether this is indeed the one for you? Then be sure to peruse over our own hands-on to help you decide if it's worthy of your hard-earned cash.
Samsung's MultiView MV900F begins shipping with 180-degree AMOLED display for $350
Shipping targets aren't set in stone, so we weren't terribly surprised to see Samsung miss its late-August goal for the new MultiView MV900F. Today, the Korean CE giant announced that its MV900F is now available for purchase at US retailers, still priced at $350. Those three and a half bills will net you a 16.3-megapixel shooter with the series' trademark 180-degree touchscreen -- this iteration packs many more pixels than its predecessor, with a WVGA AMOLED panel. The MultiView snapper lets you frame shots from in front of the camera, with a display that flips to face forward, while gesture controls enable you to fire a frame and zoom the lens with a wave. There's also 1080p video shooting, an f/2.5-6.3, 25mm 5x optical zoom lens and built-in WiFi, for direct image uploads. You can grab your MV900F at big box retailers and camera stores, along with US-based e-tailers beginning today.
Casio's Exilim EX-H50 superzooms its way to Photokina, we go hands-on (video)
Looking for a superzoom camera without the bulk of a DSLR? Casio's Exilim EX-H50 is a pretty slick proposition. The camera's got a reasonably slim profile that's a bit more like an oversized point-and-shoot, slight bulk that's presently largely because of the extended soft grip and big three-inch TFT display on the rear -- and then, of course, there's that 25 mm wide-angle lens with 24x optical zoom that certainly adds a good deal to the camera's footprint when extended. The flash adds a bit too, but that'll lay dormant until you pop it out via the devoted switch just to the left of the bump, on top of the camera. The zoom is quite smooth -- it certainly did the trick snapping photos of strangers socializing in the halls of the Cologne Convention Center. That three-inch screen is big, if not particularly bright, but does the trick for the camera's fairly simple menu system, which also includes a number of filters like Fisheye, Sepia (move over Instagram) and Monochrome -- the processing on each occurs after the photos are snapped. Inside, you've got a 16.1-megapixel sensor. The superzoom will run €250 when it hits Europe next month.
Fujifilm's XF1 makes a fashion statement at Photokina, we go hands-on (video)
Point-and-shoot or fashion accessory? This is the conundrum posed by the XF1, a new retro-styled point-and-shoot from Fujifilm. It's a nice looking camera with a solid and fairly light build, certainly, and while the faux leather (in black, red or tan) might not be for everyone, the company was quick to point out that it'll go nicely with your new designer handbag, for whatever that's worth. The textured design is complimented nicely by a metal border on the top and bottom. There's a bit of a learning curve here, when it comes to just turning the thing on -- give it a twist and a pull, not unlike a childproof pill cap to put it in standby and another pull to get things started. There's a big, bright three-inch LCD on the rear of the device. Click the E-Fn button on the bottom right, and you can actually reassign the button mapping on the back to your liking on the display. Of course, such style and functionality comes at a price -- this guy will run you $500 when it goes on sale next month.
Leica unveils V-Lux 4 superzoom, D-Lux 6 compact to mirror their Panasonic counterparts
Leica has its more unique creations, but some of its more affordable cameras are usually upscale parallels to Panasonic models -- and that's undoubtedly true for the newly official (and previously leaked) V-Lux 4 and D-Lux 6, which respectively echo Panasonic's FZ200 and LX7 shooters. We can't object too much. That similarity gives the 12-megapixel V-Lux 4 superzoom (seen up top) a 25-600mm equivalent lens with a constant, wide f/2.8 aperture to snap bright images at long distances. The D-Lux 6, meanwhile, combines its large 1.7-inch, also 12-megapixel sensor with a 24-90mm, f/1.4-2.3 lens and that distinctive aperture control ring. What you're really getting over the Panasonic equivalents is a subtler, all-black Leica color scheme and a copy of Adobe Lightroom 4 to manage the imminent flood of photos. Photographers who don't mind knowing their luxury cameras' true roots can swing by Leica dealers in November to buy either design; we don't yet know prices, but it's safe to assume that the V-Lux 4 and D-Lux 6 will carry premiums over their more pedestrian equivalents.
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS hands-on
Sure the SX160 is a bit of a bulky superzoom, but it's got nothing on Canon's beefy PowerShot SX50 HS. As with the similarly named SX500 IS, the SX50's got a big, protruding lens and flash, though the added girth make it look a bit more like a DSLR. Part of its width can no doubt be chalked up to its 2.8-inch vari-angle LCD, which can be swiveled away from the body of the camera to help vary viewing angles. Also, like the SX50, the SX500 has a devoted button for Zoom Framing Assist, which does a quick zoom out to help you reframe subjects on the fly. Above the display you'll find a play button and a cushioned viewfinder. To its right, you've got the Record, Display, Menu and access to settings like Macro and ISO. You'll find the rest to the settings -- plus ON / OFF and access to that big 50x zooming to the right of the flash. The PowerShot SX50 HS will run you $480 when it drops next month.
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS appears at Photokina, we go hands-on (video)
In amongst the deluge of new cameras at Canon's press event here in Cologne, Germany was this looker. It's the PowerShot SX160 IS, a nice-looking, if somewhat beefy mid-range superzoom point-and-shoot. The company was showing off three different colors -- the black, silver and red, and we spent the most time with the latter, the most eye-popping of the bunch. In spite of its large size -- the majority of the front taken up by the lens, plus a bit of a bump up top for the flash -- the camera's pretty light. It also doesn't feel particularly solid in the hand. On top, to the left of the pop-up flash, you'll find a settings wheel, power button and the knob for that 16x optical zoom, all positioned atop a textured black backing. On the back of the SX160 is that three-inch LCD, with buttons for recording, playback, menu, display and settings like macro and flash, to pop up the big bulb on top. The camera's not particularly quick on the snaps -- roughly what we'd expect from a mid-range point-and-shoot. It'll be hitting stores this month for $230, so for more of our impressions, check the video after the break.
Olympus Stylus XZ-2 is a digital compact stuck in a mirrorless camera's body, we go hands-on
Looking to boost your compact capabilities, but don't want to deal with the hassle of swapping lenses? You might take interest with the Stylus XZ-2 -- Olympus' most powerful point-and-shoot model. Admittedly, we're having a bit of difficultly working through the appeal of this latest fixed-lens snapper, given the $600 price tag and a body that's comparable in size to the PEN E-PL5 and even larger than the E-PM2. In the model's defense, it does include an impressive f/1.8-2.5, 28-112mm 4x optical zoom lens, though its 12-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor is smaller than what's included with its interchangeable-lens cousins, and the camera's sensitivity tops out at ISO 12,800. It does, however, offer 1080p shooting and a higher-res swivel 3-inch 920k-dot LCD with Touch AF Shutter control. Still, we would have liked to see these features included with the company's latest Micro Four Thirds cameras, rather than on a model with a smaller sensor and no interchangeable lens. If you're set on the XZ-2, you'll be plenty pleased with the design -- it's quite similar to the E-PL5, and therefore quite capable. There's an option to swap in red, beige and purple grips (the camera body itself is only available in black), and you can add a body jacket and an underwater housing. There's also a built-in flash, which pops up from the top left corner, and you'll find PEN-like controls, to boot. We spent a few minutes with the XZ-2, though the battery was dead during our demo, unfortunately, so we weren't able to shoot. Still, the design felt practical, and the camera seemed solid overall. The hybrid control ring is a "world's first," according to Olympus, and offers the same functionality in both a click mode, which provides feedback, and a smoother silent mode, which won't produce any noise or vibration when shooting videos. The Stylus XZ-2 will ship a bit after the new PEN models, in November, but you can take a peek now in our gallery just below.%Gallery-165433%
Canon adds the G15, S110 and SX50 HS to its PowerShot lineup
Canon already outed a pair of superzoom cameras prior to Photokina 2012, but it turns out the company wasn't done adding to its PowerShot family. First, we have the PowerShot G15, which has a 28 - 140mm wide angle f/1.8 - f/2.8 lens, 12.1 megapixel sensor and Canon's DIGIC 5 image processor. Its sensor has a max 12,800 ISO, shoots RAW stills and records 1080p video, and you can view your subjects using the optical viewfinder or the 3-inch, 922,000 dot LCD on the back. It replaces the G12 in Canon's lineup when it goes on sale for $500 this October. The PowerShot S110 replaces the S100, and like that camera, it's got a 12.1-megapixel sensor, max 12,800 ISO and an f/2.0 lens. Unlike its predecessor, however, its got a 3-inch, 461,000 dot capacitive touchscreen on the back and ditched GPS in favor of WiFi. That wireless capability lets the S110 pull GPS data for geotagging from Android or iOS devices using Canon's CameraWindow app and share photos and videos on the web. It does RAW shooting, has a 10fps burst mode and records 1080p 24fps video as well. It'll come in both black and white versions that run $450 when it goes on sale next month. Lastly, there's the PowerShot SX50 HS superzoom camera. It packs a 24-1200mm, f/3.4 - f/6.5 lens and optical image stabilization to ensure clear shots even when using the camera's full 50x zoom capability. Like the SX40 HS is replaces, it has a hotshoe and a 12.1-megapixel sensor. It has a max 6,400 ISO and like its new PowerShot mates, it has a 10fps burst mode, shoots RAW photos and 1080p video. The SX50 HS can be had in October for $480.
