Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Nikon P90 Reviews and Resources

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The Nikon P90 is a 12.1 megapixel point and shoot camera with a 24x optical zoom and 3″ LCD screen.  It also boasts a 15 frame per second capture rate.  Of course, with the superzoom lens, it features optical vibration reduction to reduce camera shake blur.  In the “why bother” category, Nikon gives the P90 a max sensitivity of ISO 6400.  The Nikon P90 should be available in March 2009 for $399.95.  Check availability on Amazon.com.

Nikon P90 Reviews

Imaging Resource

For most people the Nikon P90 will produce good enough output for common print sizes, despite the overaggressive noise suppression, but Auto white balance will often disappoint, and the lens could use a hood.

Let’s Go Digital

The Nikon Coolpix P90 is a versatile mega zoom camera with advanced features.

Cameras.co.uk

I have few complaints about the picture quality offered by the camera. Watch out for purple fringing from time to time. It may need to be cleaned up with a tool such as Photoshop.

PhotographyBLOG

The Nikon Coolpix P90 is an almost kind of camera, offering an attractive overall package but ultimately falling short in certain key areas when compared to its main rivals.

Trusted Reviews

The Nikon Coolpix P90 is a superb camera, certainly one of the best super-zoom bridge cameras on the market, with plenty to appeal to the enthusiast while still retaining some ease of use for the novice.

More info in the press release below. [Read more…]

 

Pentax K2000 Review at DP Review

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DP Review has published its full review of the Pentax K2000.

So our first impressions of the K2000 were very positive – it’s a well designed little thing with some of the best build quality in its class and a level of accessibility that makes it probably the best beginners DSLR Pentax has yet made.

For the latest news and reviews on this camera, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Pentax K2000 Reviews and Resources.

Olympus E-520 Review at Imaging Resource

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Imaging Resource has published its review of the Olympus E-520.

The E-520 faces stiff competition in the increasingly-ubiquitous sub-$700 digital SLR category, and although it possesses a number of enticing elements, it lacks key differentiators to elevate it significantly above its rivals.

You can read more about the new camera on Photography Bay’s Olympus E-520 page.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and DMC-ZS1

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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 and DMC-ZS1 are a pair of new point and shoot cameras featuring 10.1 megapixel sensors and each have a 12x optical zoom lens.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Key Features

  • 10.1 megapixels
  • 12x optical zoom
  • HD video recording
  • 3″ LCD w/ 460k dot resolution
  • Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 Reviews

Steve’s Digicams

Our indoor image samples show the same great exposure and color, as well as a crisp image from edge to edge. ISO 400 is the first time noise appears in the image. Even then, the level is acceptable and will not be noticed in prints of 8×10 or larger.

Imaging Resource

Though image quality is a little soft in the corners at wide-angle, distortion is low at both zoom settings, and overall image quality is excellent.

DCR

What we see is what’s become the norm for cameras in this resolution class, with acceptably clean (though, under careful analysis, still rather grainy) shots at ISO 80 and 100, a decided escalation in noise between ISO 200 and 400, and extremely compromised fine detail at ISO 800 and beyond.

Cnet

As long as you don’t want much in the way of manual features, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is a very nice camera that can handle a variety of shooting situations.

DC Resource

Image quality was very good in most respects. The DMC-ZS3 takes well-exposed photos, without a lot of highlight clipping that’s common on compact cameras (you’ll still encounter it, though).

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 Key Features

  • 10.1 megapixels
  • 12x optical zoom
  • 2.7″ LCD w/ 230k dot resolution

The ZS1 carries a retail price of $299.95 and the ZS3 rings in at $399.95. Both should be available in April 2009.

Check ZS1 availability on Amazon.com. Check ZS3 availability on Amazon.com.

More details in the press release below. [Read more…]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 Reviews and Resources

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The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 is a 12.1 megapixel point and shoot camera, which features a 4.6x optical zoom and 2.7″ LCD screen. The TS1’s claim to fame is its purported robust build, which Panasonic touts as waterproof, shockproof and deathproof dustproof.  All of these features garner a $399.95 retail price tag and it should be available in April 2009.  Check availability on Amazon.com.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS1 Reviews

Imaging Resource

Panasonic has produced a real winner with the Lumix TS1: a digital camera that you can take anywhere, rain or shine, underwater, and you can even mistreat it and it’ll still turn in better photos than many other digital cameras on the market.

More details in the press release below.

MIAMI, FL (January 27, 2009) – Panasonic today introduced the LUMIX DMC-TS1, the world’s first*1 waterproof, shockproof and dustproof digital camera*2 to also feature AVCHD Lite High Definition (HD) video recording capabilities*3. The TS1’s tough and rugged design makes it the ideal choice for active users needing the ultimate hybrid for capturing both still and motion images during outdoor activities. The LUMIX TS1, with a 12.1 megapixel resolution, features a 28mm wide-angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens, a 4.6x optical zoom and Panasonic’s proprietary iA (Intelligent Auto) mode, making this an easy-to-use, yet powerful camera that packs advanced imaging features.

“Many consumers are hesitant to take their digital cameras on outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, boating or even a day at the beach, for fear it will be damaged. With the introduction of the LUMIX TS1, we offer a digital camera with a rugged design that consumers can feel confident using in these tough environments,” said David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Even more, with the ability to take both beautiful high-quality still images and High Definition video, with AVCHD Lite, the TS1 offers a powerful one-two punch to capture memories that can later be shared with friends and family.”

The TS1 is waterproof to a depth of 10 feet, shockproof from falls up to 5 feet, and dustproof. With its rubber padding, reinforced glass and carbon resins inside the camera, the TS1 features an airtight body protected against water immersion, dust and sand.

Starting at the 28mm wide angle, and zooming up to a useful 128mm in telephoto, the TS1 gives users the flexibility for a variety of shooting environments – especially underwater, where movement is often restricted and the angle of view becomes important for composing shots. The TS1 also features a 2.7-inch, 230,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle, enhancing visibility during recording and playback by automatic brightness control according to the environment’s lighting conditions. Plus, the TS1’s LCD panel is deliberately thickened for protection against pressure, allowing the display to operate with clear visibility even underwater.

The TS1 records AVCHD Lite HD video, allowing almost double the recording time in HD quality compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format. The TS1 also features Dolby Digital Creator to record high quality audio to match the high-quality motion images.

Also new in 2009, the TS1 features iA mode for both still images and in Movie Mode. For iA in Movie Mode, the TS1 features Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.), which helps prevent handshake when using high-powered zoom. Face Detection automatically detects a face in a frame and adjusts focus, exposure, contrast, and skin complexion on the face. Intelligent Exposure continually checks the ambient light level and adjusts the exposure setting as conditions change to prevent blown highlights and blocked shadows. And Intelligent Scene Selector automatically switches between Normal, Portrait, Macro, Scenery, and Low Light modes according to the situation to optimize visual quality. A Wind Cut function is also available to block out most of the noise from background wind. Optical zoom can be used in motion image recording. Users can start video recording by simply pressing a dedicated button on the camera’s back panel.

The TS1’s iA for still image adds Face Recognition*4 – a feature that “remembers” faces from previous shots. When a registered face appears in the frame, the camera will prioritize focus and exposure to capture it beautifully. With Face Recognition, when a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt you to register the face. Once registered, if the face appears into the frame again, the camera will display the name specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and sharply focused.

The imaging power of LUMIX has further evolved with the Venus Engine HD, which boasts two CPUs to provide approx. 2.4x processing capability and support for Face Recognition, AVCHD Lite and HDMI output. It integrates the numerous advanced functions with high performance, and low-power consumption. Thanks to the Venus Engine HD, it’s easy to view photos or movies recorded in AVCHD Lite. Simply insert the SD Memory Card from the camera in the Panasonic VIERA® HDTV’s Image Viewer SD Memory Card slot to start playback, or connect the camera via an optional HDMI mini cable to a VIERA Link™-equipped Panasonic VIERA HDTV and use the TV’s remote control to run slideshows*5.

This multi-task image-processing engine also enables a fast response time. The TS1 starts up quickly in 1.3 seconds and shutter release time lag is approximately 0.005 seconds, making it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. The Flash Burst mode makes it possible to take consecutive shots with continuous emissions of the flash*6. The Venus Engine HD also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets the TS1 record up to ISO 6400*7, sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash. Despite its outstanding performance, the high performance engine is also more energy efficient, extending the battery life up to 340 shots (CIPA) per a single charge.

The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-TS1 will be available in silver, green or orange models in April 2009 for a suggested retail price of $399.95. For more information, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.