Pentax Optio S5z Review
It has been half a month since our last Pentax review was shown on here, so I am happy to see another one as Digital Camera Review looks at the Optio S5z.
The Pentax Optio S5z is the fifth generation update of that original micro-cam, a stylish ultra compact brushed aluminum digital camera with 5-megapixel resolution, a 3X zoom, and a 2.5″ LCD screen (and yes it’s still small enough to carry around in an Altoids tin). What really sets the S5z apart is that it’s fun, it’s incredibly easy to use, and it has the ability to deliver very good images (despite its diminutive size).
Pentax Optio S5z is a great choice for first time digicam buyers, busy folks who like trendy techno-toys, casual photographers who want a camera small enough to take along everywhere they go, and style conscious snap shooters.
Fujifilm FinePix S9500 Zoom Review
Stephen Pritchard from The Independant has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S9500 Zoom digital camera.
The camera also comes with an LCD, rather than an optical, viewfinder. Fujifilm and other manufacturers have used these for some time but optical viewfinders perform better in low light; they will also work when the camera is powered off. An LCD viewfinder does remove the shake that comes with an SLR’s mirror, though, so it should be possible to practise handheld photography using the S9500 in conditions where an SLR would produce blurred shots.
One further drawback: the tiny, 16MB xD storage card supplied with the S9500 is far from sufficient.
The S9500 does have its good points and will produce quality results if you take the time to explore it. But it is not that much better than a good compact-style camera, and with digital SLRs such as the Nikon D50 now available at around £500 including lens, it might struggle to find a niche.
And to wrap up his post, he gives the camera a three out of a possible five.
Website Security 101
I was over at Digital Photography Review last week and noticed a very funny, but true post that I think everyone needs to read. It talks about how there have been many “leaks” lately of new camera information long before the information was supposed to be found or read.
It is a great laugh to start your monday morning (or tuesday depending on where you live).
Please manufacturers get a grip on your webserver security, don’t upload embargoed material until the minute of announcement and if you must make sure that it is in a password protected area of the site and isn’t indexed by your search engine.
Glad I got that of my chest, we’re expected to act in uptmost secrecy about any new product, god forbid we ever leak anything like the amount of material I’ve seen “leaked” by manufacturers this year.
Nikon Coolpix S4 Preview
Many people are starting to get excited about the Coolpix S4 from Nikon, as its odd body, and interesting features get closer to being released to the world.
Lets Go Digital has a preview of the camera, going over some of the capabilities of the camera.
The concept of the Nikon S4 is rather familiar. The adjustable lens is also found on the Coolpix 4500 and 995 digital cameras. At the time this already was a successful concept also because of the extensive possibilities these cameras had to offer. In fact many photographers considered the before mentioned cameras to be attractive second cameras. Despite the look-alike design of the Nikon Coolpix S4 compared with its predecessors, the target group seems to have changed. My estimation is that the target group has definitely grown because of the fact that the S4 camera is more of an entry-level model with attractive specifications than a versatile camera with emphasis on this versatility. Huge alterations can be found on the lens offering a wide optical range with 10x optical zoom and besides that the appearance of the 6 Megapixel CCD with the software solution that is lately more often used by Nikon.
Nikon Coolpix 7900 Review
A great review up over at Digital Camera Info on the Nikon Coolpix 7900, a 7.1 megapixel compact digital camera.
Announced in February and released in April, the Nikon Coolpix 7900 is still a candidate for the 2005 holiday shopping season. Its small black body makes it one of the more stylish Coolpix models and it packs an impressive 7.1 effective megapixels onto its 1/1.8” CCD. The Coolpix 7900 is the big sister of the Nikon Coolpix 5900 and has many of the same features, but the 7900 boasts a larger pixel count and a few other tweaks in the specifications. This model houses Nikon’s new technology set, which includes face-priority auto focus, in-camera red-eye fix, and D-Lighting compensation. The 7900 has a 3x optical Nikkor zoom lens, a 2-inch LCD screen, and 13.5 MB of internal memory. Retailing for $399.95, the Nikon Coolpix 7900 can currently be found online for about fifty bucks less.
Canon PowerShot SD550 Review
Imaging Resource stays on top of reviewing this week with its quick review of the Canon PowerShot SD550. And don’t let the name fool you, as their quick reviews are pretty detailed.
The same size as the predecessor PowerShot SD500 model, the new Canon PowerShot SD550 features the great looks and sharp design that are a signature of Canon’s ELPH cameras. Canon refers to the SD550 as having “Perpetual Curve Design”, which basically means that there are few flat surfaces or right-angled corners on the camera body — it has a very smooth, comfortable feel in your hands. Very compact and quick on the draw (thanks to a smoothly operating retractable lens design), the Canon SD550 is a convenient point-and-shoot digital camera with a handful of extra exposure features for added flexibility. That includes a few features that you might not use every day, but that add some “wow” factor. With the lens retracted, the Canon SD550’s front panel is smooth and pocket friendly, and its all-metal body is rugged and durable (although it will show scratches, so expect to buy a soft case if this bothers you). Equipped with a 7.1-megapixel CCD, the Canon SD550 captures high quality images, suitable for making sharp prints as large as 11×17 inches, or 8×10 inches with some cropping. Smaller image sizes are also available for email transmission or Web applications, and a movie mode captures video clips with sound.
Olympus Mju Digital 600
Photography Blog has a review of the Olympus Mju Digital 600 also known as the Olympus Stylus 600 in the USA.
The Olympus Mju Digital 600 is a 6 megapixel compact digital camera with a weatherproof body that is resistant to water spray. Standout features on the Olympus Mju 800 include a large 2.5 inch LCD screen (although there is no room for an optical viewfinder), 23 different scene modes for the novice user, and a Super Macro mode that focuses as close as 7cm from your subject. Olympus have also incorporated some completely new ideas. BrightCapture Technology automatically brightens the LCD screen in dark conditions to enable better framing and better image results in low light. A new Image Blur Reduction mode reduces the possibility of image blur created by a moving subject or camera movement. The Red-Eye Fix editing function removes red-eye effects from photos already saved in the Olympus Mju Digital 600’s memory. So does all of this add up to make the Olympus Mju Digital 600 the perfect pocket camera for you? Read my extensive review to find out.
Pixmantec RawShooter Premium 2006
Danish digital imaging software specialists Pixmantec announce the release of the latest addition to their Photographers’ Toolbox applications for the camera RAW format, RawShooter | premium 2006. Building on the incredible success of the FREE RawShooter | essentials 2005 product (now with several hundred thousand copies installed worldwide), RawShooter | premium 2006 provides unsurpassed RAW workflow functionality and professional image quality at an unbeatable competitive price. In addition to a state of the art feature set, RawShooter | premium 2006 adds camera RAW support for several new DSLRs including the Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 1D II N.
The ethic of RawShooter | premium 2006 is to allow any photographer, no matter what their level of expertise, to get the most from their RAW workflow. This is achieved by:
· Removing the need to have several different products for a photographer’s workflow by seamlessly integrating individual workflow functions within the existing and familiar user interface of RawShooter | premium 2006.
· Allowing the photographer to have complete control of how their RAW images are displayed by allowing them to create and save a Personalized Appearance. This could be to match a favourite high saturation slide film, to create perfect skin tones for portrait photography or to correct for a DSLR that always tends to over / under expose. This level of personalization, a unique feature to RawShooter | premium 2006, will save photographers valuable time, a vital consideration in these times of constant family and work pressures.
· Packing RawShooter | premium 2006 with state of the art image correction tools that use our Scene Adaptive Technology (patent pending) to work “under the covers” and make subtle changes to image contrast and other parameters. For instance, the new Vibrance tool progressively enhances colors in areas that need it. Intelligent, easy to use tools that give the maximum quality output with the simplest single keystroke.
RawShooter | premium 2006 is packed with features; here are some of the highlights:
(more…)
Canon Rebel XT/350D Firmware Update v1.0.3
Version 1.0.3 of the firmware running the Canon Digital Rebel XT cameras is now out, and it fixes some very inconvenient bugs.
What has been changed?
- Fixes the phenomenon of shots being unable to be taken when using the remote controller RC-1.
- Fixes the phenomenon wherein the camera continues to scroll through images being played back.
- Improves reliability in communication when using some CF cards.
Kodak EasyShare V550 Review
Pocket-Lint has a review up on the V550 from Kodak, and they give it a strong eight out of ten.
The V550 is small and compact 5 megapixel offering from Kodak with a 3x optical and 4x digital zoom. It features a large 2.5in 260k colour screen on the rear of the model and a series of buttons on the back and the top offer shortcuts to this and that. The design is simple, but effect and we very much like the range of picture mode buttons on the top of the model.
Closer inspection reveals three buttons for choosing the right picture mode for the shot. Auto, portrait and scene select.
Auto sets up the camera to adapt to the best possible settings in any given situation. Portrait changes the settings to suit portraits of people and makes sure the camera focusses on the subject at the front of the image rather than what’s behind them. The final shortcut button access the scene menu and allows you to select from a list of a further 18 modes, such as Beach, Fireworks or Landscapes with people.
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