Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
Alongside the new Pentax K-3, Ricoh also announced the new Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR lens. The new telephoto zoom features Pentax’s multi-layer High Definition (HD) coating and a weather sealed construction.
The Pentax HD DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED WR lens should be available in November for $449.95. Check it out here at B&H Photo. [Read more…]
The Olympus VG-120 is a new compact camera introduced at CES 2011. The VG-120 sports a 14MP sensor, 5x optical zoom lens and a 3-inch LCD. The VG-120 can capture 720p HD video at 30fps.
The VG-120 should be available this month at an initial retail price of $139.99. Check availability on Amazon.com.
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
The Sony Cyber-shot TX5 is a rugged, point and shoot camera that is touted as dustproof, waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof. The TX5 features a 10.2MP Exmor R CMOS sensor for improved low light performance and noise control. Additionally, the TX5 features a 4x optical zoom lens with image stabilization and can capture 720p HD video.
Like it’s more powerful sibling, the TX7, the Sony TX5 features a touchscreen LCD for quick and intuitive menu navigation. The touchscreen LCD also allow you to tap the screen to select your focus point.
I really liked the TX5’s 3-inch touchscreen LCD. There are some touchscreens that just down work on cameras – either in terms of input response or menu navigation. The TX5, along with the pricier TX7, do touchscreens right. [Read more…]
The Canon Rebel T2i is an 18MP DSLR that follows up the popular Canon Rebel T1i. The Canon Rebel T2i is geared toward entry-level shooters with a number of features and components that make it a very powerful camera suitable for serious shooters as well. After spending a few hours with it, I wanted to provide my first impressions, along with some impromptu sample shots. [Read more…]
The Ricoh CX3 is a 10MP point and shoot camera with a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 10.7x optical zoom (28-300mm equivalent) and has the ability to capture HD video. The CX3 should be available in February 2010 at an initial retail price of $399.99.
Ricoh today launched its latest model in the acclaimed CX series of digital compact cameras. With a pedigree of award-winning predecessors, the new CX3 features a host of innovative features, this time including a back-illuminated CMOS sensor to deliver a new level of detail in low light photography.
The essential difference between conventional sensors and the CX3’s improved CMOS sensor is its construction. Using a revolutionary structure to more efficiently capture light coming through the lens, this new sensor greatly increases sensitivity while also reducing noise. When combined with new noise-reducing technology borrowed from the Ricoh GR Digital III, the result is dramatic – beautiful images that have maintained their original resolution, tone characteristics and colour saturation, even at night.
While image quality has been addressed, Ricoh’s commitment to bringing professional photos within reach of the amateur continues with the CX3. A new “scene auto mode” has been added which identifies the image subject and automatically selects the most appropriate scene mode. Whether taking photographs of panoramic landscapes, portraits of the family, action shots at the tennis or getting up close with wildlife, the CX3 takes the guess work and hassle out of mode selection.
Ricoh has also made an effort to increase shooting options with the eagerly-anticipated addition of a 1280 x 720 pixel HD movie function. Adding to its cinematic appeal, the CX3 offers a number of aspect ratios including 16:9 which creates images in a size that delivers maximum impact on a wide-screen television.
Among the other key features, the popular dynamic range double shot mode has been further refined. Using this mode, the camera takes two images with different exposures almost simultaneously, then combines the best exposed parts of each image into a final recorded version. With the introduction of the CX3, photographers are now able to specify the tone range to be given priority – whether it be the highlights or the shadows. Five new settings have also been added to control the dynamic range expansion effect – choose ‘auto’ or four levels ranging from very weak to strong. In scenes which include mixed light, for example, a bright sunlit background with people in the shadowed foreground, images are faithfully recreated with the same detail seen by the naked eye.
The CX3 inherits the 10.7x (28-300 mm equivalent) optical wide-angle zoom lens from its predecessor which, when combined with super-fast continuous shooting speeds of 5 frames per second, user-friendly auto focus (AF) functions which automatically respond to subject movement and scene modes including ‘pets’, ‘high contrast black & white’ and ‘miniaturise’, the photo possibilities are endless.
Available from leading electronics retailers and camera specialists from February 19, the Ricoh CX3 features an inlay handgrip and is available in black, violet and two-tone grey-pink.
The Fuji FinePix J-series cameras are entry-level, budget-minded point and shoot cameras offering a range of features at various price points. [Read more…]
The Olympus SP-800UZ is a compact bridge camera that is situated between traditional point and shoot cameras and larger DSLRs. The SP-800UZ features a 14MP sensor with sensor-shift image stabilization, a 30x optical zoom lens and the ability to capture 720p HD video.
Check out my Olympus SP-800UZ Hands-On Review.
The SP-800UZ should be available in March 2010. Check availability on Amazon.com.
The Olympus SP-600UZ is a compact point and shoot camera featuring a 12MP sensor with sensor-shift image stabilization, a 15x optical zoom and 720p HD video capture.
The SP-600UZ should be available in February 2010. Check availability on Amazon.com.
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
A little over a year ago, I reviewed the Flip MinoHD camcorder and gave it a glowing recommendation. Since then, the MinoHD has been by my side for a ton of daily video clips. I’ve recorded more video in the past year than I’ve recorded in the previous 5 years. Why? Because it’s easy and the Flip MinoHD can fit in my pocket and, as a result, it’s always with me.
Now, it’s time to look at the latest and greatest with the Flip Video UltraHD. The UltraHD is an incremental step up from the MinoHD in my opinion; however, those increments are worthwhile. [Read more…]
PANASONIC ADDS TWO NEW HD CAMCORDERS TO ITS LINE -WORLD’S FIRST AVCHD MODELS WITH A 3MOS SYSTEM
New High Definition Camcorders Offer Increased Manual Functions for More Creative Use and Intelligent Auto Mode to Make Shooting More Intuitive
Secaucus, NJ (June 18, 2008) – Panasonic today expanded its High Definition (HD) suite of products, with the announcement of two new full-HD camcorders, the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100, the world’s first* AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system which provides superb video image quality. The HDC-SD100 records to SD Memory Card, and comes packaged with a 8GB SDHC Memory Card as a standard accessory, while the hybrid HDC-HS100 records to both SD Memory Card and to its internal 60 GB* hard drive. Both models include manual functions for the user wanting more precise control over zoom, focus, iris, shutter speed and white balance. The models also include Panasonic’s new Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, an intuitive set of technologies that automatically activate, making video shooting an easy, seamless process. [Read more…]