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September 30, 2006

Canon IXUS i7

Canon is ready to make some more improvements by upgrading its line of design-consious Ixus digital cameras. The Ixus i7 upgrades the tiny Ixus i adding a 7.1-megapixel CCD and a 2.4x optical zoom lens. Canon has also decided to make the camera fashion friendly by releasing it in four different colors.

The Ixus i7 also comes complete with docking station to make printing images a breeze. The docking station can even use image transfer technology to send the images straight to your television for slideshows (remore included).

This camera also features Canon's Face Detection AF/AE system in order to make people's faces clearer than ever. The system can detect up to nine faces withen a frame. And with a flash for strong backlighting this camera is ideal for parties and group photos, say cheese!

Via LetsGoDigital

Posted by eric at 12:08 AM

September 29, 2006

SW-D II Pro Super Wide Angle Camera

The second generation of the Horseman SW-D super wide angle camera unveiled at Photokina. The SW-D II Pro will feature additional mount compatibility for its interchangeable digital back system plus some new design improvements.

With its unique interchangeable system, the SW-D II Pro is now compatible not only with the Hasselblad "V" mount, but also Hasselblad "H" and Mamiya 645 mounts.

The new camera is a joint venture of Franke & Heidecke, manufacturer of Rollei medium-format cameras, and Komamura, maker of Horseman medium- and large-format cameras. The estimated price of the new camera is $2,799.

Press Release

Posted by eric at 10:03 PM

September 27, 2006

The Sigma SD14

Along with the DP1 Sigma has also announced a new digital SLR, the SD14. The new Sigma SD14 is similar to the more compact SD1 with its 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 direct image sensor and 17mm flash, but offers more advanced features for higher level photographers.

The new layout of control buttons insures quick identification of the desired functions and easy use of the multifunction interface in operating camera settings. Clearly marked buttons make it easy for the photographer to display and adjust the most important settings, namely ISO, resolution, JPEG quality and file type, and white balance, on one screen, using one button. The top LCD panel incorporates a backlight, which enables the camera to be easily controlled in low light or dark conditions.

Press Release

Posted by eric at 11:19 PM

The Sigma Dp1

Today Sigma has announced their new high end compact digital camera. The new Sigma DP1 has a 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 direct image sensor as used in Sigma’s digital SLR the SD14

The camera has a 16.6mm F4 Sigma lens, which has a wide angle file equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm film camera. The DP1 also has the powerful “True” image processor which enables the camera to handle the large files produced by 14 megapixel sensor.

This camera has a 2.5” LCD display for quick and easy picture viewing. And similar to the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro this camera records jpegs as well as RAW files so that you have a small easily accessible file as well as the file you can work with on your computer.

Press Release

Posted by eric at 11:07 PM

September 26, 2006

Ricoh Caplio R5 Reviewed

DigicamReview has reviewed the Ricoh Caplio R5

Quote: "The camera is very easy to use, especially in AUTO mode, or one of the scene modes, even though the camera has a lot of options. The controls on the back of the camera are quite straight forward - the menus are responsive and easy to read and navigate. The menus are also easy to use, and the options are big enough and easy enough to see clearly."

Read the full Review

Posted by eric at 12:31 AM

Kodak EasyShare Z710

Today Eastman Kodak Company released the newest addition to their like of EasyShare cameras. The new EasyShare Z710 comes equipped with an impressive 10x optical zoom as well as a host of performance features.

According to Kodak The secret behind the Z710 camera’s outstanding image quality is the combination of the powerful 7.1 megapixel image sensor and a professional quality 10X optical zoom lens, making it simple to zoom and capture crisp shots, as well as make high-quality prints.

“The line of KODAK EASYSHARE digital cameras has won numerous accolades over the past five years for innovation, advanced technology, and ease-of-use,” said Carolyn Walsh, Product Sales Director Digital, Eastman Kodak Company. “With the release of the Z710 model we are setting a new price-to-performance benchmark making it incredibly simple for people to take, make, share, and organize pictures at a great value.”

Press Release

Posted by eric at 12:30 AM

September 25, 2006

Nikon D80 Reviewed

dpreview.com has reviewed the Nikon D80

Quote: "Two and a half years ago Nikon announced the six megapixel D70, their first affordable enthusiasts digital SLR, it proved to be a very popular camera and strong competitor to the Canon EOS 300D (Digital Rebel). Just fifteen months later Nikon revealed the D70s which was essentially the same camera with a some subtle tweaks (improved AF, wider flash coverage, higher capacity battery, larger LCD monitor). And so just over fifteen months on from the D70s Nikon present the latest incarnation of their 'enthusiasts' digital SLR line, the ten megapixel D80."

Read the full Review

Posted by eric at 2:39 AM

Fujifilm FinePix F31fd

In addition to the FinePix S5 pro, Fujifilm has also announced the launch of the FinePix F31fd. The most notable new feature on the camera is Face Detection Technology. This camera will automatically focus on and expose faces, rather than details that can confuse other cameras. While other Fujifilm cameras have had this feature this is the first compact "pocketable" camera to showcase it.

The camera’s fast response times, 0.01 second shutter lag and 1.5 second start-up time, ensure it will catch all the action and spell the end for missed photo opportunities. The camera also has a battery life od 580 shots. So there is no worry of a missed shot because of a slow reaction time or spent battery.

For the size this camera really seems to take the cake (or picture in this case). From its face detection to its ability to take pictures in almost every situation. The camera is equipped with the ability to take pictures at the beach, in the snow, even in low light situations such as fireworks. It looks like Fujifilm has done their homework for Photokina.

Via LetsGoDigital

Posted by eric at 2:22 AM

Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro

Today Fujifilm has finally announced the development of the FinePix S5 pro, the highly anticipated successor to the FinePix S3 Pro. Fujifilm is hoping that this camera will stand out from the other DSLRs due to its superior CCD SR sensor and attractive body. Unfortunately the market for DSLRs has become much more competitive since the release of the S3 Pro, but Fuji if confident that this camera will not only appeal to it's current market but appeal to an even broader range of photographers.

While most of the features are standard and common of most every other DSLR this camera has a new highly sought after feature. That feature is the ability to capture an image as RAW and jpeg at the same time. The purpose is for easy access and distribution of the smaller jpegs, while still retaining the larger size RAW file to edit on the computer.

Via LetsGoDigital

Posted by eric at 1:51 AM

September 23, 2006

SanDisk Extreme IV Reviewed

LetsGoDigital.com has reviewed the SanDisk Extreme IV memory card reader.

Quote: "Some developments are so ground breaking that you just have to give them your attention. Take the new SanDisk Extreme IV CompactFlash memory cards, for example; they are already ahead of things that have not even been put on the market yet. With the Extreme IV CF, SanDisk is so far ahead of the competition that they don't stand a chance of catching up with them in the foreseeable future."

Read the full Review

Posted by eric at 10:31 PM

Take 360° Shots With The Roundshot D3

Seitz has yet another amazing camera up their sleeves and that’s the Roundshot D3. The new Seitz D3 scan technology makes it possible to create a digital 360° panorama of impressive resolution in only 2 seconds and with very high image quality.

The new camera system is fully mobile and easy to operate thanks to a handheld device with a graphical touch-screen. Also the Seitz D3 sensor cassette can be fitted to other cameras, such as the new Seitz 6×17 Digital panorama camera, which makes the investment in the Seitz D3 technology well worth it.

The pricing for this camera is similar to the Seitz 6x17 panorama camera. The mobile version will be about $37,463 while the studio version is only $34,906. Both cameras are due to come out in early 2007 so place your preorder on their website now.Press Release

Posted by eric at 10:29 PM

Seitz 160 Megapixel Camera!

While most digital camera makers are making their cameras smaller and smaller Seitz has decided to go in another direction. They have just released a camera that is 19” x 6” x 3” and weighs 6lbs. The advantage to the rather large size is the ability to take 6 x 17 panoramas at 160 megapixels.

This camera is not for your average consumer though, with a price tag of $36,266 for the mobile version and $33,715 for the studio version. The camera has an ISO range from 500 to 10,000, a read-out speed of 300MB per second and a ridiculously fast shutter speed of 1/20,000th of a second.

One rather large problem for the rather large camera is the size of the photos. Each picture takes up about 1 gigabyte, so storage of more than a few shots is a challenge. The solution is that the camera sends photos right to a specifically configured Mac Mini via gigabit Ethernet.

Press Release

Posted by eric at 10:11 PM

September 21, 2006

Samsung's New GX-10 Digital SLR

It appears as though Samsung is getting ready for Photokina as well with the newly announced GX-10 digital SLR. The new camera looks a lot like the Pentax K10D with just a different logo.

The GX-10 is a 10.2 megapixel camera with a 2.5" LCD and powerful built-in optical picture stabilization (OPS). This camera is well equipped and ready to take pictures even in wet, sandy or dusty conditions as the camera is equipped with water-proof and anti-dust coatings.

Along with the introduction of the GX-10, Samsung is also announcing that five new Schneider D-Xenon lenses will be available for use with the camera (and the entire GX line).  The new lenses will consist of a 10-17mm, F3.5-4.5  fish-eye zoom, a 12-24mm, F4 ultra-wide zoom, a 16-45mm, F4 wide zoom, a 35mm, F2 fixed focus and a 100mm, F2.8 macro lens

Press Release Via dpreview

Posted by eric at 10:57 PM

Rollei Rolls Out Prego Cameras

With the big Photokina event less than a week away, some big digital camera news is bound to be hitting the papers in the next several days. That's what we've got here with Rollei. On Thursday they unveiled three new digital cameras, all from the Prego line of their "da" model cameras.

The Rollei da 1325 has 10 megapixles with a 2.5 inch TFT viewing screen and 3x optical/4x digital zoom. Boasting a compact size and "user-friendly operation", it will carry a retail price of 249 euros (roughly $320) when it comes out in October. The da 5325 Prego only has 5 megapixels, but also carries a 2.5 inch screen and optical/digital zooms of 3x and 4x, respectively. This one will also be out in October but will understandably be much cheaper, at 149 euros ($190).

Finally, the da 7325, which also sports a near identical build and feature list, falls right in the middle with 7 megapixels and a price point of 199 euros ($355).

Posted by eric at 9:44 PM

September 20, 2006

Digital Camera Lighter

Photographers are everywhere. First people could sneak a shot with a spy cam, then came the cell phone cameras and now a lighter camera?

Stealth has come up with the Digital Camera Lighter, looks just like a fancy lighter but houses a digital camera. The camera has a timer and continuous shooting functions. You can also upload your pictures via USB to your PC, which you'll have to do quite often since the lighter only holds about 30 high quality pictures.

To me doesn't seem that practical since everyone already has cell phones that take the same quality pictures. But at only $29.99 it could be a fun toy.

Get More Information

Posted by eric at 12:46 AM

Casio Exilim Z-1000 Reviewed

dpreview.com has reviewed the new Casio Exilim Z-1000.

Quote: "Announced back in April, the Casio EX-Z1000 was the first compact to break the 10 megapixel barrier, though it was soon followed by a cascade of models featuring what we presume to be the same (Sony) 10.3MP 1/1.8-inch CCD sensor. Headline-grabbing double digit pixel count aside this is pretty standard Exilim fayre; friendly operation and ease of use, 3x optical zoom and stylish, slim, all-metal body."

Read the full Review

Posted by eric at 12:34 AM

The New Polaroid a520

When most people think of Polaroid they think of the auto-developing cameras, not digital cameras. And based on the release of Polaroid's newest camera the a520 is obvious they are not trying very hard to gain momentum in the digital market.

The a520 is nothing more than bottom of the line camera with 5 megapixels, a 2" screen, 16 MB of internal memory and SD support. This camera has no optical zoom, but instead has a 4x digital zoom.

While it's not the newest 10 megapixel camera with all the bells and whistles it is a very nice compact camera perfect for traveling or to always keep on you. This camera will be avalible in October for a very reasonable price of $85.

Get More Information

Posted by eric at 12:25 AM

September 18, 2006

Canon Releases Four New Cameras

Canon has revealed that it will be adding four new models to its PowerShot series, the Powershot G7, SD900, SD800, and SD40.

The Powershot G7 is modeled after the classic Canon cameras in terms of look and feel. The camera comes equipped with a 10 megapixel CCD, 2.5" screen, and a shift-type image stabalization system. The G7 is most expensive in the line of Canon cameras.

Second in the ranks is the new Powershot SD900 which features a 10 megapixel CCD and a 3x zoom. The camera is also fitted with a 2.5" high resolution LCD screen along with 18 shooting modes.

The SD800 and SD40 are very similar cameras. Both have the same 17 shooting modes and are the 2 cameras in the new line not to hit 10 megapixels. The SD800 has a little more powerful of a zoom but if you don't care about the SD40 is $50 cheaper.

Get More Information

Posted by eric at 9:19 PM

Leica Introduces 2 10 Megapixel Cameras

Leica has released two new 10 megapixel cameras. The Leica D-Lux 3 and the Leica V-Lux 1 each promise the very innovative design that Leica always offers as well as the ability to take breathtaking beautiful shots.

The Leica D-LUX 3 is characterized by its clear and concentrated design. The straight-line layout and the reduction to the essentials show the camera’s typical Leica lineage. The LeicaA D-LUX 3 offers clear functions and is intuitive and secure in use, thanks to the simple operating concept. A joystick on the rear of the camera simplifies manual focussing

The V-LUX 1offers a 12x zoom, and incorporates an integral picture stabilizer to protect against camera shake. Other features include a variety of manual settings in addition to automatic modes, video recording, raw and JPEG file format recording, and shooting in 4:3, 3:2 Leica format, and the 16:9 format. The camera records images to SD media, and comes with a 512MB card.

More Information on The D-Lux 3
More Information on The Leica V-Lux 1

Posted by eric at 12:45 AM

The New DC1011 Carat from Minox

Talk about a camera that flashes. the new Minox DC1011 Carat is a special edition of the DC1011 that has a special touch. The outer skin of the camera is 24 carat gold with 10 2mm diamonds adorning the lens.

Each camera is finished by hand making it a unique work of art. But this camera is more than just a pretty face, it promises brilliant and satisfying images with it's magnificent 10 megapixel image resolution

Minox has always understood the need to develop unique lifestyle camera for a demanding market that is always looking for something beyond the norm. And with this new camera most would agree that they have certainly achieved that. Personally though I would be afraid to ever use a camera like this for fear of scratching it.

Get More Information

Posted by eric at 12:10 AM

September 15, 2006

The Miniature DCC Lecia M3 by MINOX

A Digital Milestone - The MINOX Classic Camera Leica M3 now with 5.0 Megapixels! The digital classic camera Leica M3 from the optical and miniaturization specialists MINOX of Germany, has now become a classic of a very special kind on the digital camera scene.

On the outside it features the miniaturized shell of the legendary Leica M3, designed in great detail, and inside it is packed with innovative technology in the form of a powerful digital camera. Despite the size this camera still has awesome features such as a 1.5" color display, 32MB of internal memory and 5 megapixels.

Anyone who has a liking for exclusive classic design and exceptionally small dimensions will be very attracted to this digital gem from MINOX. The fine detail in the metal impressively enhances the design of the MINOX DCC Leica M3 and make it an unparalleled tool of excellence among the mass of available digital cameras.

Get More Information

Posted by eric at 7:20 PM

The New DC1011 From MINOX

The new Minox DC1011 packs every feature you would expect in a compact camera and has a highly impressive resolution of 10.1 megapixels. Despite the size the camera also has a high class lens and an extremly powerful CCD image sensor.

The camera has a 10.4 digital in addition to the 3x optical zoom which provides an enormous resolution. Also as a protection against blurred images when using the long zoom range, the DC 1011 has a built-in electronic image stabilizer. The Camera also has a built in memory of 32MB and a 2.5" color display.

This camera has very nice features for its somewhat compact design. So if you're looking for a smaller camera but still want stunning pictures then the new Minox DC1011 is perfect for you.

Get More Information

Posted by eric at 7:16 PM

The New Nikon D80

Only eight months after the announcement of the D200, Nikon have surprised a few people with the announcement of the new Nikon D80, a successor to the very popular D70/70s, a camera that is a step up from their entry level D50.

The D80 seems to have the same image and LCD quality as the D200 but with the feel, speed and handling of the D70. The camera has features such as 10.2 megapixel, 2.5" high-resolution LCD and 3D color matrix metering II.

One of the coolest features is that the Nikon D80 only takes .18 seconds to power up and the shutter's minimal release lag time of approx 80 milliseconds delivers instant response do that you'll never miss an important shot again.

View Official Press Release

Get Information on Pricing

Posted by eric at 2:56 PM

September 14, 2006

Pentax Announces Two New Compact Cameras

Along with their entry-level DSLR (K10D) Pentax announced an improvement on their line of compact "Optio" cameras. Today Pentax announced the new Optio T20 and Optio E20. The Optio T20 is one of the thinnest cameras with a 3" display at .77 inches. And similar to other Pentax cameras the display is touch-screen in order to minimize physical controls.

The 7-megapixel camera also has a lens with 3X optical zoom, 12MB of internal memory, and a movie mode capable of 30 frames-per-second at 640x480.

The company also released the Optio E20, a replacement for the virtually identical E10. A 6-megapixel sensor, 3X optical zoom, and 13MB of built-in memory define its largely standard features.

Get More Information

Posted by eric at 5:12 PM

The Olympus E-400 Reviewed

LetsGoDigital has reviewed the new Olympus E-400, their answer to their rivals 10 megapixel cameras.

Quote: "The new Olympus E-400 is equipped with a newly designed CCD with 10.0 million effective pixels. This instantly puts Olympus in the same group of digital SLR cameras as the Nikon D80 and the Canon EOS 400, which each have the same amount of Megapixels. To provide increased flexibility, the Olympus E-400 features 2 card slots; one for the xD Picture flash memory card and one for CompactFlash type I & II and Microdrive. One could wonder if support of Secure Digital would not have been more logical."

Read the full Review

Posted by eric at 1:15 PM

September 13, 2006

Pentax K10D

Well it's finally here, today Pentax announced the K10D. But this is no camera for amateurs. The K10D is capable of 10.2 megapixels, and has the most advanced shake reduction system I have ever heard of. Another Interesting feature is that the camera is dust-proof and weather-resistant.

“Advanced photographers will not find another 10 megapixel digital SLR that offers features such as a weather-resistant body, shake reduction, and great ergonomics, at any price, ” said Ned Bunnell, director of marketing, PENTAX Imaging Company.

The camera also features a '22 bit' analog to digital convertor, eleven point auto focus, sixteen segment metering, and some unique exposure modes including sensitivity and combined shutter/aperture priority.

Read dpreview's Hands-on Preview
View Official Press Release

Posted by eric at 9:33 PM

Casio To Make EX-Z700 in Red and Blue

So your going out with your blue dress, blue shoes, and blue purse; then you pull out the clashing silver camera to take a picture. Thanks to Casio this may never happen again. Casio has announced that they will make the new EX-Z700 available in blue and red.

With 7.2 megapixels, an extra bright 2.7 inch screen, and 37 BEST SHOT motif programs, this camera is more than just a pretty fashion accessory. The most notable feature of this camera is the auto framing function.

The auto framing function marks an object as the center with the auto-focus and always holds it at the center. The camera then saves the content of the framed motif as a new photo. The camera also has a 3-fold optical zoom, anti shake, and the ability to take almost 500 pictures in one battery charge.

More Information

Posted by eric at 8:38 AM

September 12, 2006

World's Largest SD Memory Card

Until now you could only take an average of 2000 pictures before you had to change the memory card in your camera. But with the release of the 8GB SD card by Pretec you can not hold around 4000 pictures on your camera.

The only problem with this new memory card is that it is actually a new type of SD called SDHC which can only work with SDHC compatible host devices. So your current memory card reader would need to be upgraded.

Official Press Release

Posted by eric at 7:05 PM

Fuji Releases the New Finepix A700

Fuji is once again raising the bar in home photography performance. The first notable feature of this new camera is the 7.3 Mega Pixel Super CCD sensor. A quality that was once only available to professional photographers is not available to everyday consumer. And of course the feature designed specifically for the Finepix A- series, a 3x Fujinon optical zoom lens.

This camera really doesn't have anything special besides high quality images. For the most part it seems like a standard camera just geared at the ability to make high quality prints at a large size.

The camera also includes features such as a 2.4-inch LCD display, an internal memory of 12MB, and the 4 basic scene modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sport and Night). The Finepix A700 will arrive in stores early October.

Official Press Release

Posted by eric at 6:29 PM

September 11, 2006

The New Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T50 and DSC-N2

Sony always seems to be on top of the game when it comes to digital cameras and these two are no exception. The new DCS-T50 and DCS-N2 offer a wide variety of options that go beyond just snapping a picture. To start, the back of the cameras have an extra large screen with menu options to eliminate the need for a lot of buttons resulting in a sleeker design and better resolution for picture viewing. Another interesting feature is the new slide show display. You can now create slideshows right from the camera with your own music and different transitions.

“With digital photography, the social interaction that happens when people share their pictures has become as important as making great photographs,” said Phil Lubell, director of marketing for digital still cameras and photo printers at Sony Electronics. “Large, durable, scratch-resistant touch screens with enhanced photo-viewing capabilities are a means to ensuring that photo buffs get the maximum enjoyment out of using their cameras.”

Get more info and view the press release

Posted by eric at 7:17 AM

September 7, 2006

Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ1 Reviewed

LetsGoDigital has reviewed one of Panasonic's more ambitious price-conscious Lumix cameras, the DMC TZ1.

Quote: "The Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ1 is a Mega zoom digital camera with compact measurements. Not so long ago, it would have been impossible to place such a large optical range in such a small casing. For example, the Panasonic FZ series has a zoom range of 12x but is a good deal larger than the Panasonic TZ1. The FZ series has more functionality and settings options, making it more suitable for enthusiastic amateur photographers. The Panasonic Lumix TZ1 is aimed more at convenience and the compact size obviously contributes to this greatly." Read the full review

Posted by mark at 2:39 PM