Digital Cameras

It feels really weird the first time you dunk your $400 Panasonic DSC TS3 digital camera in the water—especially for guys like me who grew up thinking that cameras and water should never mix. But after you’ve gotten a few in-water shots, you’re hooked. They are so cool. But I’ll confess: I made my ten-year-old daughter take the first several shots in the pool.

Quick Specs
Waterproof to 40 feet and dustproof
Shock resistant; withstands a drop of 6.6 feet (2 meters) without damage
4.6X Leica zoom lens starts at true wideangle (28-128mm equivalent)
Built-in GPS, Compass, Altimeter, Barometer and Depth Indicator
Close focus to 1.7 inches
Captures Full HD 1920x1080 video
2.7 inch LCD monitor
12.1-megapixel CCD sensor
Available in orange, aqua, dark red and silver

Coolest Features
It’s tough. Waterproof to 12 meters (40 feet), dustproof and shock resistant: survives a 2 meter (6.6 feet) drop. That means the kids can use, you can toss it in your fishing tackle box, and you can carry it in a hip pocket and still sit down.

Read the full Panasonic Lumix DSC-TS3 Review here >>>

Valhalla, NY—Fujifilm North America Corp. reports that its all-new premium compact X10 camera, first announced on September 1, 2011, will have a retail price of $599.95 and will ship in early November.

The latest addition to the Fujifilm X series of advanced digital cameras, the X10 features a larger 2/3-inch 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor and a bright high-def Fujinon f/2.0 wide-angle to f/2.8 telephoto, 4x manual zoom lens (28-112mm). Its blackout and retro body design includes the easy-to-use manual barrel zoom lens and a traditional optical viewfinder with a 20° field of view.

The X10’s body is built from lightweight die-cast magnesium alloy and has an upper control deck with mode dials and an aluminum-milled textured finish lens ring. The 4x manual zoom lens ring doubles as an on/off power switch. The camera is capable of delivering high-speed continuous shooting of 7 frames per second at the full 12MP resolution (L size) and 10 fps at the reduced resolution M size; it also boasts a shutter-release lag time of 0.01 sec.


Other features include: 1cm super macro shooting; optical image stabilization; soft-focus bokeh effect; a 2.8-inch 460K-dot LCD; manual shooting modes that can be selected according to scene type; four auto-bracketing functions for exposure, ISO sensitivity, dynamic range and film simulation ; RAW shooting and in-camera RAW processing; 1080p Full HD movie recording ; eight film simulation modes, including Velvia, Provia and Astia; a manual pop-up flash with a 23-foot range; an electronic horizon-leveling gauge; a histogram display to check image gradation; and motion panorama 360° shooting.

The Canon PowerShot SX230HS is the perfect travel companion. It’s quite compact, which belies its 14X zoom lens. And it has a built-in GPS for geo-tagging images, shoots Full HD (1080p) with stereo sound, and special effect filters that will keep amused forever.

Coolest Features
The list of cool features is long, but here’s a start. The SX230HS has a Super Slow Motion Movie mode that records video at 240 fps for dramatically slow motion playback; and there’s a High-Speed Burst mode than can capture still shots at up to 8 frames per second...

Get the full review here >>>

Rochester, NY—Kodak’s next-generation EasyShare Touch camera, the M5370, has a new 16MP sensor and HD video capabilities, and it makes creative editing, organizing and sharing possible with one touch.

The enhanced M5370 features Kodak’s “share” button and a responsive 3.0-inch capacitive touch screen. Once connected to a PC, selected photos will automatically upload to sites like Facebook and Kodak Gallery or can be e-mailed. The enhanced Share Button App enables people to easily share and transfer their favorite images, and Face Tagging allows them to stay more organized by enabling them to upload images to Facebook with friends already tagged.

“The EasyShare Touch camera offers the family ‘Chief Memory Officer ’ great 16MP pictures or 720 HD video that can be simply shared with a touch,” said Phil Scott , vice president, Marketing, Digital Capture and Accessories, Kodak. “The EasyShare Touch camera has a completely new compact and clean design with an intuitive touch screen and many additional features. These options allow consumers to effortlessly tap the screen to take a picture or add in effects like background blur and spot color easily from the touch screen...

Read more about the Kodak EasyShare Touch M5370 >>>

Golden, CO—Pentax Imaging’s new Optio RZ18 digital compact camera has a slim, lightweight body that houses an 18x optical zoom lens covering equivalent focal lengths from 25mm wide angle to 450mm super telephoto.

The RZ18 is the latest addition to the Pentax Optio RZ zoom lens series, which is designed to provide photographers with effortless shooting of a variety of subjects and occasions, from travel and landscape to action and spectator sports.
The camera’s intelligent zoom function is said to further extend the zoom range to 130 times to cover the equivalent focal length of a 3250mm super-telephoto lens. Other key RZ18 features include...

Read more about the Pentax Optio RZ18 digital camera >>>

Melville, NY— Nikon introduced four Coolpix S-series models to address the lifestyle of social users who care about the quality of the images they take and share. The new cameras, scheduled to be available mid September, offer enhanced zoom ranges and new ways to share photos and High Definition (HD) video, as well as Nikon core technologies like Vibration Reduction (VR) and Expeed C2 image processing.

Expanding on the ultracompact superzoom category, the Coolpix S8200 and S6200 are designed for high-performance zoom with Nikkor optics, while the Coolpix S1200pj sports a 20-lumen built-in projector and compatibility with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. And, with an enhanced organic LED touch screen, the trendy Coolpix S100 is a stylish model built for easy operation...

Read more about the new Nikon Coolpix S cameras here>>>

Ridgefield Park, NJ—Samsung Electronics announced the worldwide debut of three digital cameras that include its newest flagship: the NX200 compact system camera, equipped with a list of professional-standard features that include Samsung’s in-house-developed 20.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor ($900, September availability).

The other two cameras (models MV800 and WB750) due out in September at MSRPs of $279 each, are affordably priced with features derived from consumer research and designed to set them apart on the sales floor, said the company. Reid Sullivan , Samsung’s senior vice president of digital imaging, said the NX200, besides carrying the newly designed sensor...

Read More about the new Samsung NX200 here>>>

posted @ Monday, September 05, 2011 9:10 AM | Feedback (0)

Tokyo, Japan— Canon is reported to be considering development of a mirrorless compact camera system that offers the features of a conventional DSLR in a more portable body, a senior executive told Reuters.

Canon’s camera production reached pre-earthquake levels at the end of June, with supply-chain problems following the March 11 disaster dissipating, Masaya Maeda, head of Canon’s camera division, told Reuters in an interview.

Maeda added that Canon will increase production in Taiwan to bring its total SLR output to 10 million units annually, from about 7 million units, according to Reuters, who reported that competitor Sony offers “mirrorless models, enabling them to market lucrative accessories such as lenses to consumers who are seeking to move upmarket from compact cameras but unwilling to carry around a hefty interchangeable-lens model.” The news agency noted there is speculation that Canon and Nikon may follow suit.

“We are considering the technical aspects,” Maeda told Reuters when asked about the mirrorless segment. “We will launch an interesting product next year,” adding that it would be small, but not whether it would be a mirrorless compact. canon.com

Gardena, VA—At the PMA Australia Imaging and Entertainment Expo in Sydney, General Imaging (GIC), the worldwide licensee of GE digital cameras, unveiled the latest additions to its Power and Power Pro series—the GE G100 and GE E1410SW, respectively.

These are the first GE digital cameras to feature Aptina A-Pix CMOS pixel technology, which was incorporated to bring performance-enhancing features to the new GE cameras. Increased shutter speed, 10-frames-per-second continuously shooting, 1080p Full HD video recording capabilities and enhanced light sensitivity for better photos in low-light conditions are a few of the advancements found in the G100 and E1410SW.



Also introduced was the J1456W model, which expands the 2011 GE Smart series line and now offers consumers a broader choice of AA or rechargeable Li-Ion battery models in the entry-level category.

“We are very excited to announce three new cameras to our 2011 lineup, particularly with the addition of Aptina A-Pix CMOS pixel technology, to our Power and Power Pro series,” said Hiroshi Seki, president and COO, General Imaging (Asia) Co. Ltd. “This year’s expanded line features more advanced technologies that make stunning photos and videos effortless to capture and share. Our commitment to continuous innovation has become synonymous with GE cameras and all at highly affordable price points.”

GE G100. A compact model bridge camera in the mega-zoom category, it offers 15x optical zoom, 14 megapixels and Aptina A-Pix CMOS pixel technology to enable it to shoot at 10 fps photos and record 1080p Full HD video. A built-in HDMI port allows users to connect the camera to a HDTV. The GE G100 is also equipped with more than 30 shooting modes, a 3.0-inch high-resolution LCD, optical image stabilization, ISOs to 3200 ISO, multi-exposure, object tracking and HDR (high dynamic range) with image blending. It ships in October.

GE E1410SW. Boasting 14 megapixels and 10x optical zoom in a thin design, this ultracompact camera is capable of taking multi-burst photos with increased shutter speed, with Aptina A-Pix CMOS pixel technology as well as 1080p Full HD video. This model will also be released in October.



GE J1456W. Adding a second rechargeable Li-Ion battery model to GIC’s entry-level Smart series, this model provides: smile, face and blink detection; red-eye removal; 720p HD video capabilities; GIC’s pan-capture panorama shooting mode; and a new 28mm wide-angle 5x optical zoom lens. It launches in August.

Gardena, CA—General Imaging (GIC), exclusive worldwide licensee of GE-branded digital cameras, received recognition for the second year in a row from the Plus X Awards for four of its 2011 cameras.

GE digital cameras took top honors in the following categories: GE X500 for Quality, Design and Ease of Use; GE PJ1 for Innovation and Ease of Use; GE DV1 for Ease of Use; and GE E1450W for Ease of Use.

An international honor, the Plus X Award recognizes manufacturers for introducing innovative products with major advances in technology that simplify or enhance consumers’ lives. The Plus X jury, consisting of 144 members from 32 nations, awarded top honors to the four camera models for their innovative design and performance qualities.

“We are extremely proud that the Plus X judges recognized the superiority of GE digital cameras once again this year,” said Paul Meyhoefer, General Imaging’s vice president of Marketing and Product Planning. “We incorporated the results of intense consumer research into our GE-branded innovative, high-quality cameras. Our industry peers recognizing these cameras as well designed and easy to use is further testimony that we are answering a need in the market.”

Award-Winning GE Digital Cameras
Quality, Design, Ease of Use: The GE X500 brings the features of more expensive cameras to the everyday user. With 16 megapixels (MP) and 15x optical zoom, it is available in white and black. $179.

Innovation, Ease of Use: The GE Power Pro PJ1 features PICO Projection technology, enabling users to project their pictures and videos onto any flat surface at the touch of a button. This high-performance point-and-shoot camera is equipped with 720p HD video capabilities, 7x optical zoom, 14MP resolution and optical image stabilization. $279.99.

Ease of Use: The GE DV1, a pocketable shock- and waterproof handheld 1080p HD digital camera, features a built-in flip-out USB plug for connecting and uploading HD videos and photos. It’s available in a variety of colors at select online and in-store retailers. $129.99.

Ease of Use: The GE E1450W features an ultra-slim, aluminum design combined with intelligent features. Equipped with HD video, a 28mm wide-angle long zoom lens and image stabilization, it retails for $119.99. general-imaging.com