CAMERAS

cameras

Samsung’s High-Performance Compact Camera

Samsung just announced four new point-and-shoot cameras, and the most interesting by far is the TL500, a high-performance compact camera that has a very bright f/1.8 lens and a comparatively large image sensor. These two features should make it much easier to get good shots in low-lighting conditions.

Samsung TL500

The $450 TL500, unveiled at the PMA show in Anaheim, Calif., also has an ultra-wide 24mm Schneider Kreuznach lens with a 3X zoom. It will go head to head with Canon’s highly regarded PowerShot S90, with has the same size sensor (1/1.7) and a maximum aperture of 2.0.
The TL500’s F/1.8 maximum aperture is the widest I’ve seen on a compact camera, so I’m eager to see how the camera does in hands-on reviews. It should enable users to capture better low-light images as well as provide some depth-of-field effects like a blurred background. The sensor offers a maximum ISO speed of 3200, which should also help it perform capably in low lighting.
The TL500 also includes dual image stabilization technology and a 3-inch AMOLED display that swivels for more flexible framing  AMOLED is the latest display technology that delivers brighter, crisper display while consuming less battery power.
As you’d expect from an enthusiast camera, the TL500 gives you the choice of shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual shooting modes; it also captures RAW images. Video is standard definition 640 by 480 at 30 frames a second.
One step down is the $350 TL350, a high-speed camera that can snap full-resolution stills at a rate of 10 per second and capture video at 1,000 frames per second, which enables super slow-mo playback (although the resolution is a very low 138 by 78).
At 30 frames per second, the TL350 can capture full high-definition 1080p video and enables you to snap still images while recording HD video. It has a versatile 24mm lens with 5X optical zoom and a 3-inch AMOLED display. It also offers RAW and manual control capabilities.
And at the lower end of the price spectrum, Samsung unveiled a camera that’s waterproof and another that is somewhat ruggedized. That’s an interesting approach, since waterproof cameras are also typically ruggedized as well (and vice versa).
The waterproof AQ100, priced at $200, is submersible down to 10 feet. It has a dedicated Aqua mode that optimizes camera settings for underwater photos and a nonprotruding 5X optical zoom.
The $130 SL605 is billed as a durable camera but it really doesn’t offer more than rubberized buttons and compartments to protect it from dust, dirt and sand. It has a 27mm lens with 5X optical zoom.

The Camera Is Less Sleek, but the Price Tag Is More So

By RIK FAIRLIE

Olympus has announced a new version of its slick-looking PEN Micro Four Thirds camera that is aimed at everyday users with intuitive features and a lower price.

Best Cameras for $300 or Less

By DAVID POGUE

An experiment begun in 2001 continues: Which camera offers the most bang for relatively few bucks?

Rugged, Speedy, Aquatic, Cold-Tolerant. And Not a Seal.

By RIK FAIRLIE

The Tough-3000 is the first of the company’s rugged line to offer HD video capture (720p) and is also the most affordable Tough model at $230.

Bringing Big Smiles to iPhone Shutterbugs

By RIK FAIRLIE

A look at 15 of the roughly 2,000 camera apps that can help you capture, edit, enhance and share your images.

Novel Now, but Not for Long

By DAVID POGUE

This year has produced many gadgets high-tech and low that point toward the future.

A Camera That’s Svelte but Ready for Roughhousing

By RIK FAIRLIE

Casio’s first rugged point-and-shoot camera, the Casio Exilim G EX-G1, is a lean model that’s strong on tough features.

Big Sensors, Shrinking Cameras

By DAVID POGUE

Canon and Panasonic introduce two cameras that take giant technological steps.

Getting Photos Off Broken Cards

By J. D. BIERSDORFER

Data rescue services and file rescue software offer hope for retrieving photographs from damaged camera memory cards.

Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR is Good for Outdoor Photography

The second new lens announced today by Nikon is the AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR which is considered as the world’s first ultra-wide angle zoom lens which features VR for FX-format cameras such as the D700. It is also the world’s first ultra wide angle zoom lens to offer Vibration Reduction technology which would enable you to take pictures at shutter speeds that are four stops slower. The... 

Nikon’s AF-S Nikkor 24mm f/1.4G ED Set to Impress Landscape Photographers

Nikon introduced today two new lenses one of which is the AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED. This is said to be the ultimate lens for landscape photographers as  it has a maximum aperture of F1.4 and minimum of F16 combined with other new features designed to enhance landscape photos. The AF-S NIKKOR 24mm f/1.4G ED has a shallow depth of field and brilliant view finder that will sure attract many photographers.... 

Fujifilm FinePix S1800, S2550 HD, XP10, Z70 and Z70EXR Specs and Price

Here are the best among the pack of new Fujifilm FinePix announced today: FinePix S1800. It has a 12 MP censor, megazoom lens that can take up to 18x wide angle optical zoom. It has a 3.0 inch LCD and can take 720p movies. It is also equipped with smile and blink detection technology for those who are always blinking in pictures (like me). It also has tracking auto focus, auto picture rotation and... 

Fujifilm FinePix JV100, JX250, JZ300 and JZ500 Specs and Price

Here’s more new camera releases from Fujifilm that will set you in the mood for buying spree: FinePix JV100. This has some similarity to the FinePix AV100. Thus you can find in it a 12MP censor, 2.7 inch LCD, a 3x optical zooms lens and it can take movies at 720p. There’s an added bonus which is the capacity to detect smiles as well as blinks. You can have this for only $129.95 and it... 

Fujifilm FinePix AV100, AX200, F8EXR and HX10 Specs and Price

Fujifilm introduced today its lineup for 2010 of Finepix cameras. I assume there’s more to come out in preparation for the PMA. Moving on, here’s what you need to know about the new Finepix cameras: FinePix AV100. It has a 12MP CCD censor and a 2.7 LCD. Users will be offered a standard zoom of 3x optical zoom. It will also be nice for low light settings because it has 3200 ISO. You can... 

Canon Rebel T2i Specs and Price

A reliable source revealed that Canon is set to release a new Rebel camera called the Rebel T2i. It will be out next week and is to provide a better LCD with a higher resolution. The new Canon Rebel T2i will also feature a selectable FPS setting for taking videos. The expected specs of the incoming Canon Rebel T2i are the following: New LCD with higher resolution Selectable FPS setting for taking... 

Panasonic DMC-ZS7/TZ10 has GPS and Manual Setting Features

Panasonic doesn’t want to stop impressing us with its recent camera announcements, one of which is the Panasonic DMC-ZS7/TZ10 which not only includes the AVCHD Lite HD movie recording capability and 25mm ultra wide angle lens as well as the 12x optical zoom, it also packs a GPS for your geotagging needs and manual setting feature which gives you a DSLR feel of your compact camera. You can get... 

Panasonic DMC-ZS5/TZ8 is Compact Superzoom; Read Specs

Here comes a successor to the widely popular DMC-TZ6 Lumix camera, the DMC-TZ8, which offers 12x optical zoom in a compact body. It also features a wide variety of useful specs such as the Intelligent Resolution technology which is also present in the other camera releases announced by Panasonic today. It also respects the professional photographer in you with the manual exposure feature thereby enabling... 

Panasonic DMC-FT2 Lumix is Perfect for Outdoors; Read Specs

Here’s for the outdoor junkies, Panasonic just announced the DMC-FT2 camera which is rugged and perfect as a travel companion. The DMC-FT2 promises to offer us waterproof capability of up to 10 meters, shockproof of up to 2 meters, freeze proof of up to -10 degrees Celcius and also dustproof. How’s that for a compact camera? Enjoy the feautures present also in its DMC-ZX3 brother, the... 

Panasonic DMC-ZX3 can Double your Video Captures; Read more Specs

Another new camera from Panasonic is the DMC-ZX3 which boasts an optical zoom of 8x brought by the 25-200mm Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens built in its compact body. Just like the earlier mentioned model – the DMC-FX66, the DMC-Zx3 is also equipped with the Intelligent Resolution technology. Thus the 8x zoom can be extended to 10x without compromising the picture quality. The DMC Zx3 is also packed.