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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.
Sony boosts superzoom collection with DSC-HX200V, HX30V, HX20V, HX10V, H90 Cyber-shots
Sony unleashed a small handful of cameras before this month's CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show, but its spring 2012 line was far from complete. Today's announcements round out the collection, however, with a total of nine new models making their way through the Tokyo camera maker's news gate. Five of these point-and-shoots fit within the company's new H-Series, including the Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V, HX30V, HX20V, HX10V and H90. As you may have gathered, that H represents high-zoom -- this recent offering ranges from the H90 and HX10V, which sport 16x (24-384mm) optical zooms, to the HX200V, with a whopping 30x (27-810mm) lens. Filling in the gap, we have the HX20V and HX30V, both with 20x (25-500mm) optics.All of the cameras include 18.2-megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensors, with the exception of the lower-shelf H90, with its 16.1-megapixel CCD. That lower-end model also stands alone in the display department, with a 3-inch 460k-dot LCD, compared to the 3-inch 921k-dot screens on the other four models. All five cameras can capture HD video, with the H90 shooting at 720/30p, the HX10V offering 1080/60i and the HX20V, 30V and 200V capturing at 1080/60p. As you may have gathered, the H90 is the least expensive of the lot, and is also the only model to exclude GPS, selling for $250 when it hits stores next month. The HX10V and HX200V will also ship in March, with pricing set at $330 and $480, respectively, while the HX20V and 30V will be available in May for $400 and $420. As always, you'll find full details in the PR just past the break.
Pentax crams 18x optical zoom into Optio RZ18 point-and-shoot camera
Guess what, amateur shooters? The superzoom just got shrunk. Pentax has just outed a new compact that touts a downright impressive 18x optical zoomer (25-450mm equivalent), with the snooping lens married to a 16 megapixel sensor, a smattering of shake reduction technologies and a 3-inch HVGA LCD 'round back. Moreover, you'll find a nine-point autofocus system, face detection algorithms, an SDXC card slot and an HD video mode capable of snagging 720p clips at 30 frames per second. It's all set to ship next month in black, white and orange for $299.95 here in the States, with the full presser embedded just after the break. %Gallery-133276%
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V gets reviewed, deemed one of the best super-zooms around
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V been available for a little while now, but it's flown somewhat under the radar when it comes to in-depth reviews. Photography Blog's now chimed in with its take on the camera, however, which is not only thorough but effusive in its praise. According to the site, the HX100V is simply one of the best super-zoom cameras they've tested (30X, in this case), with it delivering some excellent still images and best-in-class 1080p video, along with some welcome added touches including an intuitive focus / zoom ring and built-in GPS (although the latter will lead to a 25 percent hit in battery life if you leave it on all the time). Some of the few drawbacks are a lack of a RAW shooting mode, and an LCD that folds out but doesn't rotate, but the site says those are pretty easy to forgive considering everything else you get for the $400 or so asking price. Hit the source link below for the full review.
Nikon Coolpix P500 reviewed, zooms to infinity but not beyond
It's been more than a year since the Coolpix P100 hit the review panels, and now it's time for the new kid on the block to step up. The fine folks over at Photography Blog seem to find that the P500 performs similarly to the P100 -- the Achilles heel still being image quality, suffering from the same washy retention of detail. The overall handling and controls haven't changed much either -- a second control wheel, the ability to mount an external flash, as well as dedicated ISO and white balance buttons are all still missing. With rather modest changes, the P500 gives you another dose of what the P100 served up -- convenience in a compact package. Besides being able to zoom 10x more with that 22.5-810mm monstrous lens, and take larger pictures due to a 2 megapixel increase, the P100 is still faster (with a f/2.8 lens) and smaller, not to mention $100 cheaper. It's difficult to say that the P500 is ready to grab the reins from the P100 entirely, but that miniature telescope of a lens sure makes it a contender. Hit up the source for the full analysis.
Nikon rumor mill spins tales of manual superzooms this February and EVIL in April
Remember that patent for a manual-and-electronically-zooming Nikon lens? The rumor mill thinks it knows where it belongs: in Nikon's unannounced CoolPix P500, an update to the company's already-ludicrously-lengthy P100 that adds a 36x optical magnifying glass and bumps the backside-illuminated sensor to a full 12 megapixels of resolution. That camera will reportedly bow in February, but April is when Nikon will allegedly bring out the big guns -- the EVIL, market-molding monster of a mirrorless camera it's been teasing since last summer. Hit up our source links for all the scuttlebutt you need.
Canon SX30IS packs a 35x zoom with auto framing for the casual paparazzo
Canon point-and-shoots usually chug along on a pretty iterative update cycle, but the new SX30IS takes a pretty major leap -- it now packs a crazy 24-840mm 35x wide angle zoom, which Canon says is a first on a point and shoot. That monster lens is backed by a 14.1 megapixel sensor with a 720p movie mode and a DIGIC 4 processor, along with a new zoom framing assist system that lets you push in to nail your subject on the 2.7-inch LCD and then back out again. Not bad for $429 when it hits later this month -- we'll have to see how well that lens does at max range, but if it's any good at all this thing is destined to become very popular indeed. PR after the break.
Nikon Coolpix P100 joins the superzoom party at 26x (updated)
Nikon just fired off its first pre-PMA camera announcement with the new Coolpix P100 superzoom, which packs a five-way stabilized 26x optical zoom lens in front of a 10.3 megapixel CMOS sensor with ISO 3200 sensitivity, Backside Illumination and Active D-Lighting. Yeah, it's not quite the 30x zoom from the new Olympus SP-800UX, but the lens can also do macro shots at 0.4 inches, and there are in-camera HDR features, a 40-shot pre-shooting cache, and a 3-inch 460,000-dot tilting LCD. We're also told the P100 shoots 1080p video, but we don't know anything about frame rates or formats yet -- we're looking for more, we'll let you know. Should be out in March for $400; peep the full PR after the break. Update: Just got word from Nikon that it shoots in MOV (H.264) format at HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) 30fps, HD 720p (1280 x 720) 30fps, VGA (640 x 480) 30fps, or QVGA (320 x 240) 30fps. %Gallery-84532%
Olympus intros SP-800UZ and SP-600UZ megazooms, Stylus Tough 8010 / 6020 (Updated: with hands-on impressions)
Aw, yeah. The pre-PMA part is officially on. Olympus is kicking out a foursome of new shooters this fine morning (or evening, for those camped out in the great state of Hawaii), so we'll just get right to it. The SP-800UZ megazoom (which we spotted a few days ago) boasts an almost mind-melting 30x optical zoomer, a 14 megapixel image sensor, dual image stabilization, AF tracking, 720p movie mode, face detection and a 3-inch rear LCD. The SP-600UZ sports a stepped-down list of features, including a 12 megapixel sensor, 15x optical zoom and a 2.7-inch rear LCD. Both cams support SDHC / SD cards and are slated to ship next month, with the big boy setting you back $349.99 and the other guy $249.99. Moving on, there's the "shockproof, waterproof, crushproof and freezeproof" Stylus Tough 8010 and 6020, both of which feature a 14 megapixel sensor, HD movie mode, 5x wide-angle optical zoom, 2.7-inch rear LCD and an HDMI output. The only major difference is the toughness level; the 8010 can withstand a 6.6-foot drop and 220 pounds of pressure, whereas the 6020 can only withstand a 5-foot drop and undisclosed amount of pressure. Check 'em later this month for $399.99 (8010) / $299.99 (6020). Full releases are after the break, per usual. Updated: The good guys at Olympus gave us a chance to check out the new cams today. The Stylus Tough point and shoots continue to feel really solid, and the SP-800UZ felt surpsingly light in our hands. We also dig the comfortable rubberry grip on both the SP-800UZ and the SP-600UZ. But the new bodies aside, the Magic Filter mode is pretty cool, especially the drawing function that turns your shot into a sketch. Check out some of our hands-on shots below. %Gallery-84510%
Samsung WB5000: hands-on with a 24x zoom featherweight
When not concerned with the futility of existence we know what has your mind preoccupied: just how manly is Samsung's WB5000? With a 24x optical zoom, full manual control option, ISO 6400 sensitivity, and RAW format support it's just gotta be a heaving mass of elongating gadget hedonism, right? Well, no... at least not physically. Granted, our nerdceps are tuned to negate the shutter recoil of Nikon's beastly D300 DSLR. But the WB5000 feels surprisingly light, hollow even. Now the weight of a super-zoom camera, in general, has nothing to do with image quality. But the size to weight ratio was surprising nonetheless, and a stark reminder that the WB5000 is nothing more than a massive 26mm Schneider-KREUZNACH lens with compact-camera quality components inside its chunky posterior. We'll reserve judgment until we, or someone else, can grab a unit for a full review. 'Till then, you know where to find more pics.
Samsung's upcoming WB5000 24x zoomer shoots RAW photos and HD video
Samsung has a new one in the works, the WB5000, presumably offering the price advantages of an 24x zoomin' all-in-one with some of the features and image quality of a DSLR -- that's the dream, anyway. The camera shoots 12.5 megapixel stills, with full manual controls, face detection and support for RAW formatted images, while also offering HD recording and a relatively compact form factor. True details are scarce, but it sounds promising on the surface. The WB5000 should be out in the fourth quarter, no word on price just yet. [Via Engadget Spanish]
Sony intros the Cyber-shot DSC-H50 "super zoom" camera
Sony is no stranger to digital cameras, as the company has professed in its press release detailing the Cyber-shot DSC-H50, a new 9.1-megapixel shooter that should have camera fans perking up their ears. The new model -- a successor to the DSC-H9 "super zoom" camera -- sports a Carl Zeiss 15x optical zoom lens, a 3-inch tilting LCD display, ISO to 3200, and a long-distance flash (capable of lighting subjects from 55 feet away). The DSC-H50 also has an "advanced sports" shooting mode which allows it to utilize ultra-high shutter speeds (like 1/4000 of a second). The camera is expected to go on sale in May, and will only slightly break the bank at $400.
Olympus' SP-560 UZ 18x superzoom
There's another super zoom shooter joining the game this AM with the intro of this, the SP-560 UZ from Olympus. Besides featuring the latest TruePic III image processor found in their other compacts, the 8 megapixel (1/2.35-inch CCD) SP-560 brings an 18x wide angle lens shored up with mechanical image stabilization and ISO 6400, 15fps bursting, 2.5-inch LCD, xD expansion, and face detection with that kinda freaky "Smile Shot" mode. All powered by 4x AA batteries which is a nice safety net in a holiday pinch. Available in October for $450.%Gallery-6279%
Sony's Cyber-shot DSC-H3: an 8 megapixel, 10x zoomer
While everyone is pining over the new Canons (and rumored Nikons), Sony has quietly unveiled their Cybershot DSC-H3. Of course, it doesn't warrant the comparable fuss. This latest super-zoom to go point-and-shoot brings a 1/2.5-inch, 8 megapixel sensor; 10x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens; optical image stabilization; ISO 3200 sensitivity; and 1080p image out via a multi-use AV terminal which requires -- you guessed it -- a $40 proprietary component conversion cable from Sony. Thanks. Still, not bad for $300. Pre-orders for US-itizens start tomorrow. %Gallery-6223%[Via Akihabara News]
