Digital Cameras Reviews

Archive for August, 2008

Filed under: Digital Cameras

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 detailed specs will still be a tiny surprise, eh?

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

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 mode that piqued our interest yesterday is apparently now officially known simply as an “HD movie mode” — a step backwards if you ask us.

[Thanks, Chris]

Update: Looks like the game is still afoot! Circuit City has pulled its page too.

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Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras

First off, the chance of this Japanese super-phone coming to the US or anywhere else outside of Nippon is slim. FCC approval or not, it’s likely only being tested for global roaming. However, as slim is its chances are, they’ve improved dramatically now that Japan’s government is behind a push to promote its twisty, folding phones abroad. This Exilim-branded Casio / Hitachi mashup sports an 8 megapixel camera and with any luck, it’s using that new Omnivision sensor meant to revolutionize cameraphones. As followup to the W53CA, this 3G W63CA flip will no doubt feature the same high-resolution, 800 x 480 pixel swiveling display of its cousin. With autumn nearing, we expect to see the W63A announced any day in a typical shotgun blast of seasonal phones from KDDI.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

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 with Canon’s EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens — $1,399 for the body only.

Gallery: Official: Canon’s 15.1 megapixel EOS 50D with DIGIC 4 processing

[Thanks, Phil W.]

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

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 that it clocks in at 12.3 megapixels, and that it’ll sport a 3-inch LCD, ISO 200 to 3,200, 11 AF points, and video recording with “real movie-like” quality. Be sure to head on past the break for another pic, and dig into the links below if you still want some more.

[Via Neutral Day, Nikon Rumors, thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Seemingly official Nikon D90 pics, specs surface

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

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 LCD (pictured)
• SX110IS: 9 megapixel, 10x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD
• E1: 10 megapixel, 4x optical zoom, 2.5-inch LCD

All four cameras include Face Detection and Digic 3 processors, and the ones with the “IS” suffix include image stabilization. Pictures are after the break.

Continue reading New Canon budget compacts leaked en masse, oppressively mundane?

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

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 twice on the back, top or sides with your bulky, gloved hand to switch the camera into different modes. Pretty smart, actually… let’s hope it takes quality images too. Of less interest is the skinny new 16.5-mm Stylus 1040 ($200) offering all of the 1050′s guts without the Tap Control and weatherproofing. Last up is the Olympus SP-565 UZ ($400). It bungs the 10 megapixel sensor and 20x zoom from Olympus’ SP-570 UZ into the 8 megapixel, 18x SP-560 UZ introduced this time last year. All three cams due in October. See the 1040 and SP-565 UZ after the break.

Update: Speaking of unimpressive, Olympus also outed its 8 megapixel FE-20 (£120 / $221) with 2.5-inch LCD and 3x zoom. We managed to escape our ennui just long enough to post a picture after the break.

Read — Stylus 1050SW
Read — The rest

Continue reading Olympus’ new trio touts 10 megapixel Stylus 1050 SW with motion sensitive Tap Control

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

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

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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Misc. Gadgets

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.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras, Displays

We 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 what we can garner, that’s about all this thing really has going for it, but if that’s plenty for you, look for it next month at around $79.95.

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