Fujifilm Finepix A700
Featuring a 7.3 MegaPixel Super CCD sensor, a 2.4″ LCD and 3x optical zoom, the FinePix A700 is aimed at first-time digital camera buyers and consumers looking for an upgrade to their first digital camera. It has a simple design, which is something that digital camera makers should really try to move away from.
The FinePix A700 will be in stores early October and will sell at a price of $199.
Features of the FinePix A700:
- A 7.3 MegaPixel Super CCD HR sensor
- A 3x Fujinon optical zoom lens developed specifically for the FinePix A- series by Fujinon, a Fujifilm sister company
- A 2.4-inch LCD that enables easy viewing and playback. It features an anti-glare coating for improved viewing in direct light.
- Automatic ISO setting up to ISO 400 with low noise.
- Four scene modes — Portrait, Landscape, Sport and Night
- Internal memory: The camera has approximately 12MB of on-board storage
- xD-Picture Card slot
- Two AA batteries power the FinePix A700
Kodak EasyShare V610 Review
Den Guru has the latest review of the EasyShare V610 up from Kodak, a dual-lens design that includes a 10x optical zoom.
The V610 measures just 4.4 X 2.2 X 0.9 inches. The sleek black metal body has a chrome accent trim around the top, sides and bottom of the camera, as well as chromed-looking controls. On the front of the camera, there’s a 1/5/8″ lens cover, prominently marked 10X, that snaps open on power up to reveal the two lenses that comprise Kodak’s Retina Dual Lens system. Each of the lenses is a Schneider-Kreuznach C-Varigon all glass lens. By using dual lenses, each with a different focal length, Kodak is able to achieve 10X optical zoom (38-380mm 35mm equivalent) with a lens system that doesn’t protrude out of the case.
They were impressed with the size of the camera, and the lenses, but they found the V610 too expensive for a 6 megapixel digital camera. Check it out at the Digital Camera HQ.
Nikon D80 Digital SLR Review
HardwareZone has a review up on the Nikon D80, a digital SLR with a 10.2 megapixel image sensor. HardwareZone considers it good competition for the A100 from Sony, which is still trying to gain traction in the marketplace.
Sporting a new and improved 10.2-megapixel image sensor, the Nikon D80 immediately poses a concern and a challenge for Sony’s infant A100 DSLR. The competition from Nikon’s latest DSLR is all the more urgent considering some of its specifications such as the image processing engine, AF system, ISO sensitivity, noise reduction levels, metering system, viewfinder, and LCD monitor are all plucked from the company’s higher-tiered professional models. However, with barely a year gone since the D50 and D70s were unveiled, the arrival of the D80 seems to have come a little earlier than expected. Nevertheless, new is always a good thing, especially for budding photographers contemplating in taking their passion to a more serious level. On paper, the D80 is quite frankly as good as it gets for a mainstream DSLR
In the end they give the Nikon D80, a rating of 4.5 out of 5, and a most value for the money award. Better than the D70, not quite as good as the D200, the Nikon D80 fits in as a great budget digital SLR. An excellent camera all around for the beginner digital SLR user. Check out more user reports and buy the D80 from the Digital Camera HQ.
Sony Cybershot DSC-H2 Review
PhotographyBlog recently reviewed the Sony Cybershot DSC-H2, a big zoom digital camera from Sony. With the size of the camera, I don’t think you’ll ever be able to lose it.
With a massive 12x optical zoom lens equivalent to 36-432mm on a 35mm camera, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H2 is Sony’s current representative in the ultra-zoom class of compact digital cameras. The DSC-H2 has a 6 megapixel sensor and features Sony’s image stabilisation system, called Super Steady Shot, to ensure sharper results when hand-holding the camera at the longer focal lengths. Other highlights of the Sony DSC-H2 include a large 2 inch LCD screen for easier composition and playback, 7 different scene modes for the beginner, and creative shutter-priority, aperture-priority and manual exposure modes for the more experienced photographer.
In the end they give the Sony DSC-H2 a 4.5 out of 5, with some of the low points being its design, and image quality. Two places you don’t want as the low point, but considering they get a 4 out of 5, this camera is still very good.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T50
Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-T50 has been announced, featuring a 7.2 megapixel sensor, three-inch touch-screen displays and built-in slide show capability.
“ 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.”
The T50 includes a 3x optical zoom and a 56 MB internal memory. It comes in red, black, or silver.
The Cyber-shot DSC-T50 camera ships in October for about $500. Optional accessories include the HVL-RLS ring light, used for close-up shots, for about $100, NP-FR1 InfoLithium battery, and LCJ-THA leather carrying case for about $40.
Fujifilm FinePix Z3 Review
ThinkCamera has a great review up on the Fujifilm FinePix Z3, a compact digital camera that was made for taking shots in average situations, the bar, a dim house, this little shooter should have you covered.
The Z3 does rather a good job at a range of “normal” pictures. The lens seems plenty sharp enough and doesn’t have any major faults. There’s a little distortion at its very widest setting, but nothing that would really trouble you in everyday shooting. By current standards, 5MP could be considered a little on the small side but the camera is capable of some very nice looking A4 prints.
Exposures are also pretty good with most general scenes returning a very pleasing picture. The dual exposure mode can work well if you’re not sure whether to use flash or not. However, on a number of shots with high contrast scenes the main area came back a little underexposed. This isn’t unusual (the camera has to balance a bright sky and dark foreground) and can usually be dealt with by exposure compensation. On most compacts this isn’t a big deal but on the Z3 exposure comp only works in “manual” mode. If you are shooting in “auto” mode (and the camera performs very well in this mode most of the time) you are 10 button presses from adding +1 exposure compensation.
In the end they give the FinePix Z3 a rating of 8 out of 10. Its lowest mark being 6 out of 10 for ease of use. The highest mark being given to its design. If you want to purchase its little brother the Z1, have a look at Digital Camera HQ.
Nikon Coolpix S10
Nikon has released details on a small camera with a big zoom, the S10. You can expect to see the Nikon Coolpix S10 in stores next month. It looks to be an interesting camera, not all that different from previous swivel designs I have seen. I guess we will have to wait for reviews to come out on it.
“Creativity is written all over this camera. This stylish camera with a 10x optical zoom, Vibration Reduction and Nikon’s expansive in-camera technology is a great camera to take to a sporting event, concerts, vacation and just about anywhere,” said Bill Giordano, General Manager of Marketing COOLPIX for Nikon, Inc. “The COOLPIX S10 makes it easy to take great-looking pictures from almost any angle.”
S10 Specs:
- 6.0 effective Megapixel CCD
- F3.5, 10X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 38 - 380 mm
- CCD-shift image stabilization system (Nikon calls it Vibration Reduction)
- 2.5″ LCD display (230k pixels)
- Unique swivel design puts a lot of zoom in a small package
- Point-and-shoot operation
- All the usual Nikon bells and whistles (D-Lighting, redeye reduction, Face Priority AF, Best Shot Selector, and more)
- Records movies at 640 x 480 (30 fps) with sound
- Pictmotion tool produces elaborate slideshows with music and transitions
- 16MB onboard memory + SD memory card slot
- Uses proprietary lithium-ion battery; 300 shots per charge
- Shipping next month for $400
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review
Digital Photography Review has their review up on the Lumix DMC-FZ50, from Panasonic.
Announced bang on schedule exactly a year after the camera it replaces, the FZ50 is the new flagship in Panasonic’s big-zoom Lumix range, upping the image size to a class-leading 10.2 megapixels and adding a couple of welcome new features. Unlike the FZ30, which represented a leap forward in design and features over the FZ20 (and closed the gap between fixed lens and SLR cameras further than ever before), the new camera is a fairly minor upgrade. Then again, the FZ30 was hardly crying out for a massive overhaul; despite a wealth of ’super zoom’ competitors it really does sit in a class of its own, offering true SLR-like handling and operation and an amazingly versatile 35-420mm equivalent 12x optical zoom (with fluid-damped mechanical zoom mechanism).
In the end they gave the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50, a recommended rating, but make sure that we all know that it just made the cutoff for that rating, as its value was only a 7.5 out of 10 on their rating scale.
Pentax K100D Review
Digital Camera Resource Page has a review on the Pentax K100D, a digital SLR from Pentax that looks somewhat like its predecessor the *ist DS2.
The K100D looks a whole lot like the *ist models before it, with the biggest changes inside the camera. it’s a midsize D-SLR that’s very well put-together considering its $600 street price. The camera has a nice, large right hand grip, and it fits well in your hands. Pentax didn’t go overboard with buttons and dials — it’s pretty easy to just pick up and use the K100D. The camera supports all Pentax KA-mount lenses ever made, with a 1.5X focal length conversion ratio. In terms of resolution, the K100D is a bit lacking, still using the same 6.1 Megapixel CCD as the original *ist D. The K100D has a large, fairly bright viewfinder as well as a 2.5″ LCD display. The camera is also somewhat unique in that it uses AA batteries straight out of the box, instead of expensive proprietary li-ion batteries like most of the competition.
If you are looking for a reasonable digital SLR, and are not looking to take too many fast action shots in sequence, the Pentax K100D could be just the camera you are looking for.
Firmware Update Pentax *ist Digital SLRs
If you own any Pentax *ist DL, DL2, DS, DS2, you can get a firmware update that will allow you to use SDHC cards. SDHC cards are high capacity SD cards that will allow capacities of 4GB or greater.
Pentax has also announced that they are planning to release a similar update for the K110D which will be released on September 14.
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