August 2004 news and reviews

Sony today announced the ultra-compact DSC-L1, a four megapixel digital camera featuring a new three times optical zoom lens which is considerably more compact than any Sony lens before it but provides a 32 mm wide (ish) angle. Looks wise the DSC-L1 is closer to the DSC-U series but has a larger LCD monitor (1.5" vs. 1.0") and the zoom lens. The DSC-L1 will be available in three colors / finishes. We've had a pre-production camera for a couple of days now and have some hands-on images. Expected street price around US$ 329.

Sony today announced another new digital camera in their ultra-slim 'T' line. The DSC-T3 has a five megapixel CCD coupled to Sony's "folded path optical system" which provides a three times optical zoom without the need for a telescoping lens. The DSC-T3 has a completely flat front and flip-up metal lens cover. Around the back is a 2.5" LCD monitor with 230,000 pixels which has an advanced anti-reflective coating (we assume similar to that seen on some Sony notebooks and newer LCD flat panel monitors). Just like previous T models the T3 takes the half-size Memory Stick Duo. Expected street price around US$ 549.

Just posted! Our review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F88, their latest incarnation of the inner swivel lens design which started back in 1996. This camera is a far more advanced beast, its 300 degree swivel lens has 3x optical zoom and is mated to a five megapixel CCD. It may seem quirky but it's nicely put together, flexible and delivers nice colorful images. See how it shaped up in our new concise review format.

Casio is expanding is Exilim Zoom range with the announcement of two new additions, the EX-Z50 and the EX-Z55, which maintain a thin body construction and large LCD screens. The aluminium bodied cameras both have a 5.3 megapixel CCD and a 2-inch (Z50) and 2.5-inch (Z55) screen and are 23mm wide. A Photostand features allows users to run a slideshow of images, while the camera sits in its cradle. The Z50 will be priced (£329 ($399) and the Z55 will be £349 ($449).

Casio has today announced its first camera to incorporate ceramic lens technology, which has a higher refractive index and is stronger and thinner than glass. The 3.2 megapixel Casio Exilim Card EX-S100 is made of stainless steel, which gives it a nice heavy feel, and is the smallest 2.8x optical zoom camera in the world, just 17mm thick. A large 2-inch screen dominates the back of the credit card-sized camera, which has no optical viewfinder. It will be priced £349 ($399).

Casio has today announced its entry level flagship camera in the QV range with the QV-R61, a six megapixel, 3x optical zoom lens camera. It also boasts a 2-inch LCD screen that as well as displaying shooting information and photographic effects, also has Icon Help, which uses pop-ups with explanations of the differenct icons. A rather helpful Business Shot provides automatic alignment for photos of text documents taken at an angle. Images are stored on to 9.7MB of internal memory or removable SD cards.

Pentax has today announced its first swivel lens compact in the shape of the stylish Optio X which echoes Nikon's early design of the 900 series. The right hand side rotates 180 degrees upwards and 90 degrees downwards. Manfactured from aluminium alloy and resin coating, the Optio X boasts five megapixels and is the slimmest camera in the range at 18mm. It will be available in October.

Sony has today announced a revamp of its Memory Stick Pro range which will now include a 2 GB card (twice the capacity of the largest current Sony Memory Stick Pro) as well as High Speed read/write across the range. The new High Speed range also boasts a wider operating temperature range of -25°C to 85 °C (-13°F to 185°F); which will of course be very useful.

Canon's second seven megapixel (after the S70) is the new G6 (yes, odd name but I guess they couldn't have called it the G7). Having skipped the 1/1.8" six megapixel sensor Canon moved right along and dropped the new seven megapixel one into the G6, it features an almost-identical 4x lens as the G5, a flip-out and twist LCD (now 2.0") a narrower body and just about all the manual controls you could ever need. We've got a detailed preview of a production G6 including samples! This camera could be yours for around US$700.

Canon has today announced two new digital SLR lenses and a flash with digital features. The EF-S 17 - 85 mm F4 - F5.6 IS USM lens (US$600) provides an equivelant field of view of 27 - 136 mm (5x zoom), the EF-S 10 - 22 mm F3.5 - F4.5 USM lens (US$800) provides and equivelant field of view of 16 - 35 mm. Currently these new lenses can only be used on the Canon EOS 20D and EOS 300D digital SLR's (the only camera's to support EF-S lenses). Additionally Canon has also announced the Speedlite 580EX flash (US$480) with digital specific features such as zoom linked to sensor size and control of camera white balance.

A raft of 7 megapixel compacts is coming your way soon, with Canon being the latest to announce its PowerShot S70, which is practically the same as the S60, except the resolution. The sliding lens camera retains the wideangle 28-100mm optic of the S60, plus a 3.6x optical zoom. Images can be recorded in RAW or JPEG modes and improved continuous shooting up to 15 images. Price around $600.

Canon has today announced its new flagship A-series PowerShot, the 5 megapixel A95, which replaces the 4 megapixel A80 announced this time last year. The A95 has a larger 1.8-inch vari-angle LCD, improved continuous shooting capability (17-shot burst mode) and VGA movie mode. It is as feature-rich as its predecessor with FlexiZone AF/AE, 21 shooting modes including fully manual modes. PictBridge compliancy allows direct printing to any compatible printer, a hefty four AAs are needed to power the camera and images are stored on to CompactFlash. Price around $400.

Canon has today announced a new range opening camera in the shape of the 3.2 megapixel PowerShot A400, which is available in four colours – Silver, Sky Blue, Spring Green and Sunset Gold. It has a focal length of 45-100mm offering a 2.2x optical zoom and features 9-point AiAF technology, Intelligent Orientation Sensor, DIGIC processor as well as eight scene modes. Stills and video can be recorded and saved on to SD memory. The user interface also now supports two new languages, Portuguese and Russian. Price around $180.

Ricoh has today announced two four megapixels cameras, the Caplio RZ1 has a 35 -105mm lens, while the Caplio R1 boasts a wideangle 28 – 135mm optic and 4.8x optical zoom. They also exhibit Ricoh’s now ubiquitous 1cm macro mode and fast start-up times. The new Ricoh Caplio RZ1 and R1 have shed a few millimetres from their waistline, compared to their predecessors, and now measure a slimline 25mm. Both will be available in September.

Pentax has today announced the third addition to the S range in five months with the 5 megapixel Optio S50. Aimed at newcomers to digital photography, it has a nine-option control dial plus a help mode that displays explanations of the control buttons. It has a 1.8-inch LCD screen - which is larger than the S40 (1.6-inch) - but retains the same compact dimensions. Pentax’s proprietary sliding lens system also helps keep things compact. The Optio S50 has a digital filter function that can be applied in-camera during playback and allows users to convert images to black and white, while retaining red, blue or green areas. It will be available in October priced around £250 (approx $370).

Just posted! Our review of the compact five megapixel, three times optical zoom HP PhotoSmart R707. Announced at PMA this year the R707 caused a 'quiet storm' because it was the first HP digital camera to have a nicely styled design with a sweeping stainless steel front and rubber coated rear. In use the R707 feels faster and is more advanced than any HP before it. See how it shaped up in our new concise review format.

Just posted! Our review of the compact five megapixel, 3.6 times optical zoom Canon PowerShot S60. Sucessor to the S50 the S60 sees a new body design which is smaller and lighter and yet sports a zoom lens which provides a useful 28 mm at its widest position. See how the S60 shaped up in our new concise review format.

Just posted! Our review of the compact three megapixel, ten times optical zoom Canon PowerShot S1 IS. Believe it or not but it's been three years since Canon last introduced a ten times optical zoom digital camera, and that was the Pro90 IS. Feature wise it could be considered prosumer, with manual controls and Image Stabilisation, it's price however places it at the affordable end of the market. See how the S1 IS shaped up in our new concise review format.

Developed for the younger generation and style conscious, Samsung has announced the pocket-sized U-CA 4, which boasts 4.1 million pixels. Available in two colours, it features a long time shutter function for shooting in low light and allows users to customize menus using the Move & Set function. Movies can be recorded in MPEG4 format and it also features, no doubt for the ‘young and stylish’, a 7-colour function lamp. It is set to retail at under £200 (approx $310).

Casio has announced the development of a new lens for compact cameras which is made from a transparent ceramic material instead of glass. The material (Lumicera) was originally developed for other applications but happened to have interesting optical properties including a higher refractive index than glass. Casio has refined the process of polishing and coating the material to make lenses which can be thinner and stronger than conventional glass. Casio claim this will allow a reduction in the profile of a lens system by approximately 20%.

Kodak has today announced the EasyShare Printer Dock Plus which can print 6x4-inch images that have been sent wirelessly from your mobile phone, as well as printing directly from digital cameras and memory cards. Built-in infra-red technology allows user to print directly to the Dock and receive hard copy images in around 60 seconds. A new auto enhance button instantly corrects underexposed shots, a common with phone camera images. The Printer Dock Plus also includes the ability to print, one, four, two or nine images on a 6x4-inch sheet. It also incorporates PictBridge technology, has an SD/MMC slot and users can transfer images from EasyShare cameras as well as recharge batteries in three and a half hours using the dock.

Almost a year after Kodak announced its first 10x zoom camera, the DX6490, today it has announced its new flagship digital camera and second 10x zoom model, the 5 megapixel EasyShare DX7590. The SLR-styled camera boasts a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 38-380mm lens which can reach its optimum zoom in two seconds. The new model offers just one million more pixels than the EasyShare DX6490. The DX7590 is fully manual and aimed at both beginners and enthusiasts. It offers 16 program modes, as well as a 2.2-inch LCD screen and EVF.

Rollei has today announced the ultra-slim Prego dp4200 which offers a 4.2 megapixel CCD as well as video with sound. After announcing its highest resolution compact earlier this month, Rollei is aiming at the entry level market with lower priced cameras offering fewer megapixels. The metal-bodied dp4200 is just 24mm wide and boasts a 3x zoom and a large 2-inch LCD and takes SD memory.

HP has today announced the newest addition to the sleek R series with the 4.1 million-pixel Photosmart R507, which houses a 3x zoom Pentax lens. It retains the good looks of its older brother, with a metal front and sculpted grip as well as in-camera red-eye removal and HP Photo Advisor, which analyses users photos and makes suggestions as to how the image can be improved. The in-camera panorama mode allows you to preview the panorama on its 1.5-inch LCD, then stitches them together when you download them using the supplied software.

If size matters and you like the look of the new R series then you might be interested in the new Photosmart M307 announced by HP today. The 3.2MP camera looks like a stretched version of the R507/R707, with a sleek aluminium front, rubberized plastic back and ‘wave-style’ finger grip. Aimed at the entry level market, it has a large 1.8-inch LCD monitor, 3x zoom, a 'fast-shot' mode plus video clips with sound.