August 2007 news and reviews

SanDisk today announced the availability of higher capacities in its Ultra II range of flash media with 4GB SDHC Plus and 8GB Memory Stick PRO DUO cards. The SDHC follows SanDisk's clever and useful two-in-one design with integrated USB connector for effortless data transfer. Worldwide availability is expected by October 2007.

Panasonic has also come up with a smaller, lighter 28-100m equiv. kit lens for its DMC-L10 - the Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-50mm F3.8-5.6 Mega OIS (note the ELMAR label which in Leica nomenclature denotes a simpler lens than the existing ELMARIT). The new lens also omits an aperture ring and focus distance scale from the specifications and provides a larger zoom ring as well as supporting the L10's contrast-detect AF in Live-View.

Panasonic has its answer to the 28-300mm equiv. DSLR 'superzoom' in the form of the new Leica D Vario-Elmar 14-150mm F3.5-5.6 Asph Mega OIS. Optically stabilized as are all the Lumix lenses, focus is quiet and swift as this is the first lens from Panasonic to utilize XS (eXtra Silent) supersonic focusing. The package has remained compact and lightweight thanks to the four aspherical elements used in its design. It is due to be available from 'around' November 2007.

Kodak today announced three new EASYSHARE digital cameras along with an HDTV-capable EASYSHARE Dock. The V1253 and V1233 share 12 megapixel sensors and 3x SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH lenses with the V1253 getting a larger 3.1" screen versus the V1233's 2.5". Both shoot 720p video and 16:9 stills and feature face-detection and digital image-stabilization. The Z812 IS meanwhile has optical image-stabilization to go with its 8 megapixels and 12x zoom range. Kodaks new HDTV Dock explains itself really. The cameras will be available from September 2007 with the dock following a month later in October.

Nikon today announced its new flagship compact digital camera - the COOLPIX P5100. This update from the P5000 uses a variant of Nikon's new EXPEED image processor along with a slightly larger 12.1 megapixel sensor. The lens is unchanged - 3.5x zoom optically-stabilized with Nikon's VR technology. However the sensor change has widened the field of view to 35-123mm equiv. The P5100 also has in-camera distortion correction which works in real time to correct the live preview as well as stored images.

The COOLPIX P50 is an 8.1 megapixel compact digital camera aimed at photographers after a bit more control. The body is modeled after the P5100 with a nice big hand-grip. A 3.6x 28-102mm equiv. lens, Electronic VR (software-stabilization) and ISO 2000 capability help in lower light. The COOLPIX P50 will be available in the UK from Sept 2007 priced at £199.99.

The second metal bodied compact Nikon with an image stabilized lens is the S700. Get ready to be a little bit afraid because this camera packs twelve megapixels behind its three times optical zoom lens (F2.8 - F5.4). Naturally like all the cameras today the S700 gets 'EXPEED', lets hope it has an effective noise reduction algorithm. The S700 will cost £279.99 and will be available from 'Autumn 2007'.

The Nikon COOLPIX S510 is claimed to be the world's smallest digital camera with optical image-stabilization, as well as the most responsive (among 8MP optically-stabilized compacts). There's also Nikon's new EXPEED image processor to deal with images from the 8.1 megapixel sensor. The lens is equivalent to 35-105mm and the camera will cost £199.99 from Sept 2007.

Nikon has a pair of updates to its S-series of wave-like internal zoom compact digital cameras. The COOLPIX S51c and its non-identical twin the S51 share 7.99 megapixel sensors and VR-stabilized 38-114mm equivalent optics along with a 3.0" anti-reflective screen. The S51c incorporates Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless image transfer. The COOLPIX S51c and COOLPIX S51 will be priced at £229.99 and £199.99 respectively from Sept 2007.

Compared to the L14 the COOLPIX L15 adds VR and an 8.0 megapixel sensor. Its lens equates to a 35-105mm zoom range and it has a larger 2.8" 230,000 dot LCD (so more of the same, a subtly different price and another piece of shelf space owned). The camera will be in UK shops from Sept 2007 priced at £129.99

In addition to the FX format (Full-frame) D3 Nikon has also announced the new DX format D300 which also features a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion, EXPEED image processor, sensitivity up to ISO 6400 (with boost), the new CAM3500DX AF sensor (51 point), HDMI video output, UDMA CF support and last but not least the super-impressive 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor with Live View. No ordinary Live View either as this one supports Auto Focus in two ways; using the current 'normal' mirror-drop / mirror-raise but also contrast detect in the same way as a compact camera (although slower). The D300 will be available in November, at around US$1800.

It's here, after perhaps the longest period of speculation ever Nikon has today lifted the covers on their first full-frame digital SLR, the new 12.1 megapixel D3. The D3 is all about speed and sensitivity, twelve megapixels on a big CMOS chip means large photosites (8.45 µm pitch to be precise) and that adds up to base sensitivity of ISO 200 to 6400 with an additional two stop boost over that (up to ISO 25600). The other side of the speed story (apart from blistering AF and shutter lag) is that the D3 can shoot at nine frames per second with AF tracking or eleven frames per second without. Other headline features are a newly branded EXPEED image processor, a new 51-point AF sensor, color AF tracking, dual CF compartments (with UDMA support), an amazing 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor with Live View (including contrast detect auto-focus), HDMI video output and even a virtual horizon function which can tell you when you're holding the camera perfectly level. There's too much to fit here so we crammed as much as we can into a preview. The D3 will be available in November, at around US$5000.

Nikon has announced a pair of new professional AF-S lenses, first comes the AF-S 14-24 mm F2.8G ED which promises to offer a huge field of view on the new FX format D3 digital SLR. The lens is made up of fourteen elements in eleven groups, two of which are ED glass, three aspherical. There's also a "Nano Crystal Coat" which features in all the lenses announced today, it's designed to cut down internal reflection within the lens which can be a particular problem with the reflective surface of a digital SLR sensor. Next is the AF-S 24-70 mm F2.8G ED a new slimline (by F2.8 lens standards) lens which will provide wide to just beyond standard field of view on the D3. Both lenses will be available this November, no pricing yet.

Nikon has today announced three new super telephoto lenses to coincide nicely with their first full-frame DSLR, the D3. They are the AF-S 400 mm F2.8G ED VR, the AF-S 500 mm F4G ED VR and the AF-S 600 mm F4G ED VR. These fast aperture 'big reach' lenses are perfectly suited to the types of photography the D3 is aimed at; sports and news. All three lenses feature 'Nano Crystal Coat' which cuts down internal reflections as well as Nikon's Vibration Reduction II optical stabilization system which claims to enable up to four stops slow shutter speeds. Weight wise obviously these are big lenses, in order; 4.9 KG, 3.9 KG and 5.1 KG. Available this November, no pricing yet.

Olympus today announced its SP-560 UZ - successor to the SP-550 UZ which caused quite a stir on announcement with its unprecedented 18x zoom. It's still here but the move to a slightly larger sensor has shifted the range toward the wide. The specs now read 27- 486 mm rather than topping out on the far side of 500 mm. Olympus has fitted this camera out with all it's latest technology so let's hope the slightly disappointing image quality we encountered with the 550 is a thing of the past.

The Stylus 1200 tops off that particular range - known as mju in markets beyond the US. Combining 12 Megapixels with the latest and greatest innovations including Face-Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology and the new TruePic III image processor. The 3x 35-105mm equivalent zoom is a little tame but you can't deny it's one cool-looking little digicam.

Next we have the Stylus 830 which shares most of it's features with the 820 but adds Dual Image Stabilization - a combination of optical stabilization and ISO boost. Available in silver or black, the casing is weatherproofed as a Stylus (or mju as they are known outside the US) should be.

The Olympus Stylus 820 squeezes 8.0 Megapixels, a healthy 5x 36-180mm equivalent zoom lens and a 2.7" LCD into it's sleek, weatherproof* frame. We have Face Detection with Smile Shot to trip the shutter only after your subject cracks a grin and Shadow Adjustment Technology to pull a little more detail from murky areas.

Olympus is known for its robust SW line of ruggedized digital cameras and has today added the 7.1 Megapixel Stylus 790 SW - known as the µ [mju:] 790 SW outside the US. According to Olympus this tough little digicam will withstand falls of 1.5m and a dip in the water down to 3m so it should survive even the most exciting night out. ISO 1600, A 3x zoom and Face-Detection round out the headline features and an LED Macro Illuminator could come in handy for close-ups.

Well here we go with the big pixel counts. The FE-300 packs 12 miliion of them and ISO settings up to 6400 - albeit with the assistance of pixel-binning so you won't be gettng the sensor's full resolution, ISO 1600 is the limit at 12 MP. The rest of the specs are pretty standard with a 2.5" LCD, 3x zoom starting at 35mm equivalent and the Face-Detection with added Smile Shot mode.

Wider is better with the Olympus FE-290. Bringing a 28-112mm (35mm equiv.) lens within reach of the masses, it also sports a generous 3" LCD and 7.1 Megapixel sensor. Concentrating on usability and versatility, we can only hope that cameras like the FE-290 will set a trend towards more practical lens specifications at the lower end of the market.

Next up we have the 8 Megapixel FE-280 which ups the 'bling factor' with a stainless casing available in four colors for those who simply can't abide plain old silver. The technology is here too with Face-Detection and - wait for it - smile detection (we predict this to be the next must-have feature now that just about every camera can track faces). Also making it's debut appearance is a new TruePic III processor to make the most of all those pixels.

Sony has today announced its competitor in the 'pocket superzoom' sector. Featuring an 8.0 megapixel 1/2.5" sensor and 10x optical zoom, the Cyber-Shot DSC-H3 brings plenty of technology to the table with Super-Steadyshot optical stabilization, Face-Detection and Sony's Dynamic Range Optimizer. In a bid to speed up response whilst photographing fast-moving subjects, Advanced Sports Shooting mode with predictive AF is here too. Finally, If the camera's 2.5" monitor isn't quite big enough for your tastes, there is also HDTV output at full 1080 line resolution so expect the imminent return of post-vacation slide shows.

We've had a production Canon PowerShot G9 for a few days now and have just posted a brief samples gallery in advance of our in-depth review which will follow in the next couple of weeks. Dive in to see if the step up to twelve megapixels has affected image quality and what this bridge camera can deliver in its first outing with us. (Sadly no RAW converted shots yet, updated Canon software is not yet available).

As anticipated Canon has today announced the successor to the hugely popular EOS 30D digital SLR. Enter the EOS 40D, headline improvements are a more robust build with weather-proofing, ten megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC III and 1D style menus, 6.5 fps continuous shooting, three custom user modes on mode dial, 3.0" LCD monitor, Live View with optional mirror-drop auto-focus, larger brighter viewfinder with interchangeable focusing screens, much shorter viewfinder blackout and a quieter mirror mechanism, a all new AF system with all nine points cross-type with F5.6 or faster lens and a new optional combo vertical / WiFi grip. UPDATED: Detailed preview posted.

Canon has today tipped digital SLR resolution over the twenty megapixel barrier with the new EOS-1Ds Mark III. The much anticipated Mark III version of the full-frame EOS-1Ds delivers medium-format threatening resolution; 5616 x 3744 (21.1 million) pixels to be precise, in a portable and robust five frames per second Canon EOS body. From a built, function and usability point of view the EOS-1Ds Mark III is identical to the EOS-1D Mark III apart from the full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor, (naturally) larger viewfinder and UDMA support (up to 45 MB/sec) for Compact Flash cards. At full tilt (at five frames per second) the Mark III is processing an mighty impressive 185 MB of data every second. UPDATED: Detailed preview posted.

Canon has revealed an updated version of their EF 14 mm F2.8 L USM lens, this 'Mark II' release has undergone a complete optical redesign and now features two aspherical elements and one UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) element. This specialized lens delivers an impressive rectilinear 114° field of view on a full frame camera (such as the new EOS-1Ds Mark III). This lens should be available in October for US$ 2199.

Canon has today announced two new Image Stabilized EF-S lenses. Utilizing an all new and considerably simpler stabilizer system these two lenses are virtually the same size and weight as the lenses they replace / upgrade. These two lenses in a 'combined kit' form would provide you with approximately 28 to 400 mm equiv (14.3x) field of view, with image stabilization, on an EF-S compatible Canon digital SLR (such as the Digital Rebel XTi / EOS 400D). No word on price for the 55-250 mm IS at this point but the 18-55 mm IS should be $199 when it arrives in October.

Almost exactly a year after the PowerShot G7 was announced Canon has lanched its successor, the PowerShot G9 digital camera. Key changes include the much-requested inclusion of a raw shooting mode, a bright new 3.0-inch screen and a new 12.1MP 1/1.7-inch sensor. The face detection, focus and handling have also been improved (the latter through a redesign of the grip and the addition of a small thumbgrip) and the G9 is now compatible with Canon's ST-E2 wireless flash transmitter. One thing we have all asked for has now returned; RAW capture. The 6x optically-stabilized zoom remains the same. We've had a production quality G9 for a few days and have produced a small gallery of sample shots.

Perhaps the most surprising of Canon's PowerShot announcements today is the SX100, the first in a new series of budget super zoom compact digital cameras. The PowerShot SX100 IS features a 10x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer, 8.0 Megapixel image sensor (1/2.5") and DIGIC III processor. It's also got face detection (of course) and a full complement of auto and manual exposure modes, plus a 2.5" LCD screen (there is no eye level viewfinder). It's not the prettiest camera Canon has ever made but it has a suprisingly comprehensive spec for a 'budget' model.

Canon is calling it the 'ultimate Digital IXUS' (or IXY or ELPH or whatever it's called where you live), and the titanium-cased IXUS 960 IS / SD950 IS - successor to last year's IXUS 900Ti (aka SD900) - certainly scores highly on the bling factor. We're pleased to see image stabilization arriving (the lens range has been stretched to a 3.7x zoom) on the flagship IXUS, but we doubt anyone really looked at last year's model and thought 'if only it had 12 megapixels - ten just ain't enough'. Megapixel and lens boost aside, there's a few minor tweaks here and there, and a new intervalometer, but the essential spec and features remain roughly the same.

Next up in Canon's new camera frenzy is the Digital IXUS 860 IS, successor to the IXUS 850 IS. If you live in North America that sentence should read: 'Next up in Canon's new camera frenzy is the SD 870 IS Digital ELPH, successor to the SD800 IS'. Confused yet? You should be. The new model shares its predecessor's 28-105mm wideangle zoom but ups the sensor resolution to 8.0MP and the screen size to a massive 3.0" (it almost fills the rear of the camera).

According to data from CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) digital camera shipments by CIPA members (the majority of digital camera manufacturers) are up 27% overall in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. The largest growth coming from DSLRs, a total of 3.5 million units, up some 75% compared to the first half of last year. Despite strong growth price pressures mean that growth by value is less at around 11% for a total of $5.9 billion.