Digital cameras
| Panasonic's HDC-SD100 HD camcorder does the review thing / 03:03 PM |
Surely you remember Panny's new duo of camcorders that featured the so-called 3MOS technology. No? At any rate, Panasonic's HDC-SD100 has just been reviewed by the cool cats over at TrustedReviews, and while we're not sure if all that MOS was the reason for its success, critics were generally pleased with the performance (at least in good lighting). They noted that point-and-shoot fans would likely be thrilled, but the professionals in the crowd will probably wish for a few more manual controls... |
| Toshiba's SD Multi Tool and SD Photo Editor are a nice, touchable surprise / 08:01 AM |
Toshiba is offering up a nice respite from the inane quantity of LCDs and, um, more LCDs at IFA this year. The SD Multi Tool and the SD Photo Editor are two touchable handhelds, offering up some beefy features where similar devices lack, and also skipping over some of the more traditional MID OS features that might put these over the top -- a confusing mix, but again, not an LCD, so we're hooked. The SD Multi Tool is the real wild one, offering dual 3.5-inch touchable (finger or stylus) LCDs, r... |
| RED's next move: Monstro super DSLRs / 08:02 PM |
Filed under: Digital CamerasRed CEO, Jim Jannard, is stirring up trouble in the RED User forums, J. Wong-style. His latest volley discusses the new Mysterium "Monstro" sensor program, the next evolution (and future free upgrade) to the Mysterium X sensor slated for RED's 5k Epic. The most interesting revelation though is this little nugget: in addition to Epic, RED plans to place Monstro into, "another camera aimed squarely at the DSLR market." He later adds, "Future cameras will shoot ultra-hig... |
| How would you change Nikon's D700? / 08:02 PM |
The phrase "full frame" brings a smile to the face of anyone remotely familiar with photography, and the term "D700" is likely to do the same for shooters with three large to plunk down on a new body. Still, even with its long list of drool-worthy features, we're certain that anyone who dropped the aforementioned dough on this beauty has a few things to say about it. Are you satisfied with the live view implementation? Any problems with its reliance on CompactFlash? Oh, and is the image quality... |
| Toshiba's Cambridge Research Lab shows off gesture-controlled TVs, image recognition / 08:02 PM |
Toshiba is pulling an EyeToy, minus a diabolical plan to actually sell the thing and make a killing off of collectable elemental decks. The company's Cambridge-based Research Lab has some new video camera-based feature they're prototyping for possible eventual TV implementation. The real highlight is a fist-based cursor control -- just stick out your hand, make a fist, and control a cursor on-screen for navigating the TV's functions. You can also put up your palm to stop the madness, and even r... |
| Sony Cyber-shot T500 hands-on / 08:02 PM |
We got a look at Sony's new HD-shootin', 10.1 megapixel Cyber-shot T500 today, and it seems to do what it says on the box. There was no Memory Stick in the display version, so we couldn't test out any HD recording, but the touchscreen interface did seem responsive, and mode switching from stills to video is a snap. Perhaps it was the lighting we were under, but the large LCD did seem to flicker a bit, and wasn't stunningly bright either, but otherwise we're big fans of the build quality of the ... |
| Video: Sony's ODO wind-up camera really works / 08:02 PM |
We've seen pictures of Sony's ODO Twirl N' Take, wind-up camera before. Here in Berlin, we actually had a chance to take this eco-friendly digicam for a spin. Ha, get it? We said spin to refer to this kinetic concept camera! Amazing.
Anyway, enough with our overly-tired, undernourished gibberish, the full-on hands-on is posted after the break.Continue reading Video: Sony's ODO wind-up camera really works... |
| Sony's Cyber-shot T500 10 megapixel compact shoots HD videos / 08:02 PM |
It's no D90, but Sony has a new compact stillcam for your snapping pleasure, the Cyber-shot T500, and it's touting an HD movie mode just like any good bandwagon hopper should. The 10.1 megapixel camera offers up a 5x optical zoom, 3.5-inch LCD and Optical SteadyShot, but most of the attention is likely to be lavished on the 1280 x 720 30 fps h.264 movie mode. You can grab 720p stills while you shoot, and you can expect to store about an hour of video on your 4GB Memory Stick... you do have a 4... |
| Physicists develop microlens with earth-shatteringly short focal length / 08:02 PM |
Filed under: Digital Cameras, Misc. GadgetsIt's hard to say when we, the consumers, will actually see any real benefit from the latest noteworthy discovery from Northeastern University, but we can only imagine that Srinivas Sridhar and team aren't wasting any time moving things forward. Said crew has recently created a "new microlens that focuses infrared light at telecommunication frequencies," and if you're looking for specifics, it can focus an infrared beam to a spot just 12-micrometers away... |
| Nikon's new D90 in full, gory detail / 08:02 PM |
So, Nikon finally fessed up to its new D90 prosumer DSLR, which means all that's left for us is to do is to pick through the spec sheets, drool on the product shots and imagine ourselves taking the film industry by storm with that D90-shot indie flick we're plotting.INT. SUBURBAN HOME - DAYBLOGGER sits at his computer typing. He looks inspired, witty, unkempt. The camera's short depth of field captures the writer in his element.Oh, right, the tech specs:
New 12.3 megapixel Nikon DX-format ... |
| Nikon D90 outed by USA Today (Update: Now official) / 08:02 PM |
Sure, the Nikon D90 isn't going to be any huge surprise when it arrives at this point, but it looks like whatever ta-da moment Nikon had planned just got upstaged by USA Today, which is running its piece on the new cam just a little early, complete with quotes from Nikon's senior technical manager. Nothing we don't know about here: 12.1 megapixels, 3-inch Live View screen with HD video recording and a kit price of $1,299. Not bad -- and that HD video mode certainly sounds intriguing. At least d... |
| Nikon D90 now up for order at Circuit City / 05:02 PM |
Nikon's still unofficial D90 DSLR may have been pulled from Target's website after making a brief appearance a few days ago, but it looks to be holding steady at Circuit City, where you can now get your pre-order in for the expected price of $1,299.99. As you can see above, the site is also listing the camera with a release date of September 5th, which is only a tad off the mark of some of our earlier tips. There's also no surpises with the specs, although the "real movie-like" video recording ... |
| Official: Canon's 15.1 megapixel EOS 50D with DIGIC 4 processing / 03:02 AM |
Not much left to tell here that you didn't already know. Still, now that the EOS 50D is official, we can list the specs with certainty: 15.1 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 image processor, up to ISO 12800 support, 3.0-inch LCD with face detection Live View, HDMI output, 6.3fps burst mode, and same AF system found in Canon's 40D with new Microadjustment feature. This DSLR targeting the "advanced amateur" will be ready for the holidays (shipping in October) for an estimated $1,599 wit... |
| Canon's A1000 IS, A2000 IS, SX110 IS and E1 break free / 03:02 AM |
Here's three more from Canon, the same, entry-level trio we saw leaked yesterday now official (where's the E1?). The optical image stabilized set feature face detection and DIGIC 3 image processing. Let's highlight the differences:
$300 SX110 IS: 9 megapixels, 10x zoom, 3-inch LCD
$250 A2000 IS: 10 megapixels, 6x zoom, 3-inch LCD
$200 A1000 IS: 10 megapixels, 4x zoom, 2.5-inch LCD
All three break loose at the end of this month and ship with a pair of AAs and 32MB SD card.Update: ... |
| Seemingly official Nikon D90 pics, specs surface / 07:02 PM |
Nikon's much-anticipated D90 has been popping up all over the place lately, but it hasn't actually shown its face -- in any non-Photoshop fashion, that is. That now looks to have changed, however, as the all-but-official picture above (and a few more) recently made an appearance on Target's website only to be unceremoniously yanked, but not before being grabbed by a helpful member of the dpreview.com forums. Nikon Rumors also claims to have some "100% legit" specs for the camera, including word... |
| Picwing intros social digital picture frame / 03:02 PM |
Internet-connected digital photo frames are hardly rarefied device they once were, but upstart Picwing looks to be aiming quite a bit higher than most with its new eponymously-named device, with it focusing as much attention on its software and photo-sharing site as on the hardware. The frame itself is essentially a Linux-based computer (exact specs are a bit light at the moment, apart from built-in WiFi and a 7-inch display), and the company is quick to admit that, in its current state, it's "... |
| New Canon budget compacts leaked en masse, oppressively mundane? / 02:01 PM |
There's no telling how legit these shots are: the impressively extensive spec sheets and well-done product shots make us want to believe that no one on earth is actually bored enough to fake these, but at the same time we're really hoping Canon has something better in store for its A-series cams and other budget shooters -- they're all cute, but perhaps overly so. Here's the breakdown:
A1000IS: 10 megapixel, 4x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD
A2000IS: 10 megapixel, 6x optical zoom, 3-inch L... |
| Olympus' new trio touts 10 megapixel Stylus 1050 SW with motion sensitive Tap Control / 04:01 AM |
When pumping out unimpressive point-and-shoot cameras, one sure-fire way to grab some attention is to innovate around the UI. That seems to be Olympus' approach with its new semi-rugged, Stylus 1050 SW ($300) pictured above. Able to withstand drops from 5-feet (1.5-meters), temps as low as 14 degrees F (-10 C), and submersion to 10-feet (3-meters), the new 10.1-megapixel shooter with 3x zoom and 2.7-inch display also packs an accelerometer for Olympus' new motion-driven "Tap Control" -- tap twi... |
| Canon's EOS 50D product shots, test photo leaked / 08:01 PM |
It's fairly obvious that the EOS 50D is on its way out into the world, especially considering those pics and specs we just caught wind of. Still, it's nice to see some decent images of the 15.1-megapixel DSLR, and thanks to a brief Canon Japan website slip-up, we're able to do just that. Check out one more view of the device after the break.Continue reading Canon's EOS 50D product shots, test photo leaked... |
| Modder adds CCD eyepiece to binoculars, Bill Belichick seems interested / 01:01 AM |
Oh sure, you've been able to buy digital camera-equipped binoculars for years now, but finding one that does video (particularly with the camcorder you already own) has been a continual struggle. Thanks to one engineering soul, you can forge ahead with your plans to video all sorts of sights by adding a CCD eyepiece to any 'ole set of binoculars. Once installed, you simply hook up your camcorder (hope it has video in), mash record and get to gazing. Be careful what you look for, though.... |
| Kodak's P520 digiframe touts Quick Touch Border for off-screen flicking / 12:01 PM |
Filed under: Digital Cameras, DisplaysWe can all agree that touchscreens are pretty much the best thing ever, right? Good. Can we also agree that fingerprints on said screens are patently awful? Marvelous. Apparently Kodak is right in tune with us, as its 5-inch P520 digital photo frame enables owners to flick through photos without actually greasing up the LCD. The secret is the "Quick Touch Border," a sensitive side panel that lets viewers slide their finger to move to the next photo. From wha... |
| Canon EOS 50D briefly appears on Canon's Chinese site / 01:01 AM |
Filed under: Digital CamerasWe'd take all these rumors with a huge grain of salt given how much chatter there is ahead of Photokina, but Canon's Chinese site briefly posted an official page for an EOS 50D this afternoon. It's down now, but the listed specs are pretty solid: 15.1 megapixel sensor with a 1.6x crop and ISO 128000 sensitivity through a DIGIC 4 processor, dust reduction, VGA-res 3-inch LCD, and built-in image stabilization -- which is a little odd given Canon's great line of IS lense... |
| Maria Sharapova and Canon to give away diamond-clad SD1100 ISs / 07:06 PM |
Maria Sharapova has already had her greatness spread over a number of Motorola handsets, but now the tennis queen is partnering up with long-time associate Canon in order to make five lucky individuals extraordinarily happy. As part of an elaborate marketing scheme, Canon and Maria (but mostly Canon) are cranking up a contest in which five Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS's are given away. But these aren't just any SD1100 ISs -- these are diamond-encrusted editions worth around $12,000 apiece. No word... |
| Canon's EOS Rebel XS / 1000D DSLR hits the test bench / 10:01 AM |
With all the DSLR noise going on, the EOS Rebel XS managed to sneak in without too many people noticing. The proper entry-level replacement to the XTi / 400D recently took the time to cave to Camera Labs' every request, and when all was said and done, critics didn't find too many negative points to harp on. The all-important image quality ranked very highly, and the built-in live view was obviously a boon. Granted, the fixed screen and 7-point AF system (versus the 9-pointer on the XTi) were sl... |
| DXG-595V HD camcorder does 1080p for 200 bones / 10:01 AM |
We've seriously stopped trying to understand what differentiates one DXG camcorder from the next. Every release reads something like "blah, blah, 1080p," followed by a price that's simply too good to be true. The DXG-595V claims to capture 1080p (imagine that!) video onto your SDHC card for a mere $200, and the ability to snag stills / connect to your SDTV via composite or S-Video is thrown in for free. Thanks, DXG -- can't wait for you to slap a new model number on some leftover inventory and ... |
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