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Panasonic unleashes seven new point and shoots, plethora of camcorders

January 6, 2010

It’s official: Panasonic’s just confirmed all those cams we saw leaked a few days back (and added a few more). On offer, its got the Lumix FS33 and FS30, both 14 megapixel affairs with 8x image-stabilized zoom lenses, HD video recording at 720p. The FS33 boasts a 3-inch touchscreen display while the FS30 has a 2.7-inch LCD. Next up are the slim FP1, FP2 and FP3. The FP1 is a 12 megapixel cam, while the FP2 and FP3 are both 14 megapixels. All three have 4x image-stabilized zoom lenses, and the FP3’s got a 3-inch touchscreen, and the FP2 and FP3 boast 2.7-inch LCDs. Finally we’ve got the FS10 and FS11, both packing 8mm wide angle 5x zoom lenses. The FS10’s got a 12 megapixel sensor, while the FS11’s got a 14 megapixel sensor. No details on pricing or availability yet. Hit the read more to hear all about the camcorder action and to see a very busy gallery of photos.

Continue reading Panasonic unleashes seven new point and shoots, plethora of camcorders

Panasonic unleashes seven new point and shoots, plethora of camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kodak wins preliminary ruling in patent squabble with Samsung

December 19, 2009

Good old December, the busiest time of the year for elves, reindeer, jolly old fat guys… and lawyers, apparently. Joining the rush to make momentous decisions before Santa arrives, the International Trade Commission has made a preliminary ruling in favor of Kodak in its dispute over digital camera patents with Samsung. Though the original lawsuit included LG, an out of court settlement has left only Sammy in the firing line, and this early decision has affirmed that two of Kodak’s patents were infringed in the production of its cameraphones. It’s still necessary for the full commission to look at and approve the judgment, but considering Samsung’s vast range of camera-equipped phones, we’d throw legal caution to the wind and start bombarding the ITC with “holiday cheer” pronto.

Kodak wins preliminary ruling in patent squabble with Samsung originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kodak wins preliminary ruling in patent squabble with Samsung

December 19, 2009

Good old December, the busiest time of the year for elves, reindeer, jolly old fat guys… and lawyers, apparently. Joining the rush to make momentous decisions before Santa arrives, the International Trade Commission has made a preliminary ruling in favor of Kodak in its dispute over digital camera patents with Samsung. Though the original lawsuit included LG, an out of court settlement has left only Sammy in the firing line, and this early decision has affirmed that two of Kodak’s patents were infringed in the production of its cameraphones. It’s still necessary for the full commission to look at and approve the judgment, but considering Samsung’s vast range of camera-equipped phones, we’d throw legal caution to the wind and start bombarding the ITC with “holiday cheer” pronto.

Kodak wins preliminary ruling in patent squabble with Samsung originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio stuffs backlit CMOS sensors in Exilim EX-FC150 and EX-FH25 superzoom

November 16, 2009

Casio’s usual Exilim fare might struggle to engender a second look from the weary-eyed camera cognoscenti, but a few of the company’s models do feature an attention-grabbing 1,000fps shooting mode (albeit at a relatively useless 224 x 64 resolution). A pair of those speedy shooters, the EX-FC100 and EX-FH20, have today been ever so gently upgraded with a set of new name badges and mildly improved performance. The EX-FC150 ups the pixel count to ten million while adding a backlit CMOS sensor, but retains the 5x optical zoom, sensor-shift image stabilization and general performance of the previous generation. The EX-FH25 20x superzoomer (pictured above) has a similar (if not identical) ten megapixel CMOS sensor, which upgrades the camera’s 40fps burst mode from seven to nine megapixel stills, and retains the 720p video recording at 30fps, something the FC150 can also boast. Both are coming out on November 27, though prices have yet to be announced. Hit the read link for the full dish.

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

Gallery: Casio EX-FH25 and EX-FC150

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Casio stuffs backlit CMOS sensors in Exilim EX-FC150 and EX-FH25 superzoom originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trust in Casio’s Japanese Exilim EX-FS10S, it’ll turn your bogeys into birdies

November 13, 2009

Sure, we could rattle off a list of specs — and if you’re curiuos, it’s a 9.1 megapixel sensor with 3x optical zoom and 720p video — but you know what’s really gonna have Casio’s Exilim EX-FS10S flying off shelves? The ability to stand it behind your tee and show you exactly how you screw up your swing, with special help of the company’s trademark 1000 frames per second burst mode. The catch is, while the EX-FS10 is already available in US, only the Japanese model seems to have your golf buddy. Bummer.

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Trust in Casio’s Japanese Exilim EX-FS10S, it’ll turn your bogeys into birdies originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ricoh GXR now official, generates sample images and early impressions

November 10, 2009

That Ricoh GXR camera system we saw yesterday has today become official, and dpreview have gotten on the case to provide an early preview and a set of sample images taken with the shooter. The novelty to this new setup is in the so-called lens units, which contain both a lens and an appropriately matched sensor inside a sealed casing. This precludes dust from getting in where it doesn’t belong and provides a tailored pairing of optics and electronics. The body, in spite of not doing much — zoom motors plus aperture and shutter mechanisms are all handled within the lens unit — is built out of a magnesium alloy, and its major attraction will be a good control scheme allied to excellent ergonomics, according to dpreview. What you’re getting then, is a competitor to Micro Four Thirds that’s smaller in size, but larger in price. Sounds about right.

Read – Press release
Read – dpreview preview
Read – Sample image galleries

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Ricoh GXR now official, generates sample images and early impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus E-P2 leaks out again, brings along lofty price tag

November 4, 2009

We heard way back in August that an E-P2 could be on tap for a late 2009 release, and while it doesn’t appear that the actual ship date will happen before next year, we’d be shocked if Olympus didn’t come clean with its second Micro Four Thirds camera here soon. We’ve seen leak after leak after leak, and now we’re staring at what appears to be a few press images of the not-yet-released camera. Reportedly, the 12.1 megapixel shooter will feature AF tracking, an electronic viewfinder, a black color option, 3fps shooting and a 720p movie mode. Nothing earth-shattering, but an appreciated update nonetheless. We’re told that it’ll be available across the pond in January for the mildly stunning price of £849 ($1,406), but at least that sum includes a 14-42mm lens. Or so they say.

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Olympus E-P2 leaks out again, brings along lofty price tag originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 scores mixed reception

November 3, 2009

By now you should be thoroughly familiar with Sony’s Party-shot-loving and almost unreasonably svelte TX1 compact shooter. Its headline features — 720p movie mode and better low light performance courtesy of the Exmor R sensor — have now been put to the test and we’re here with the scorecard ready to spill the results. Reassuringly, all reviewers found image quality to be excellent for the camera’s size class, and the TX1 even outperformed its peers by keeping noise comfortably in check all the way up to ISO 800. A 1cm (or 0.4-inches for you heretics) Macro mode was another highlight, though criticisms did rain down on issues of lens distortion, a fiddly touchscreen menu that was too prone to accidental activation, and an uncompetitive price point. Of course, your biggest draw here might still be the optional (and spendy) party dock, but the thorough reviews below at least give you the chance to pretend like you’re buying this camera for the image quality alone.

Read – Photography Blog review
Read – Wired review
Read – Imaging Resource review
Read – Electric Pig review

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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX1 scores mixed reception originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RED DSMC specs detailed, prices start at $28,000 for EPIC-X, lower-end Scarlet still vague

October 30, 2009

Here we are at last. RED has finally dropped the full specs of at least one its “Digital Stills and Motion Cameras.” And what did you expect? RED has naturally blown this thing out. The first camera to be released will be the insanely high-end EPIC-X, which will come out in four stages and retails for $28,000 (ouch). A pre-production “TATTOO” version will hit this year, followed by a production model for pre-existing RED owners next year, a release after that for RED trade-ins and then finally a widespread release. Meanwhile the Scarlet 2/3-inch camera (which is much more akin to current video-shooting DSLRs, though it doesn’t have a full frame sensor) hasn’t been given a price range or a release window, but promises to please with dual XLR inputs, electronic lens interoperability with RED, Canon and Nikon lenses (adapters required) and 1080p shooting at 60 fps. One great function shared between the cameras is the ability to operate the camera with a touchscreen and perform “touch focus tracking.” So, now that we’ve frightened off all but the die-hards with a hint at pricing and some vaguely defined functionality, let’s let the bullet points take it away after the break:

Continue reading RED DSMC specs detailed, prices start at $28,000 for EPIC-X, lower-end Scarlet still vague

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RED DSMC specs detailed, prices start at $28,000 for EPIC-X, lower-end Scarlet still vague originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus E-P2 tap keeps leaking, new viewfinder now on show

October 30, 2009

Now this is how you build up anticipation for a new product. Start off with just the name accidentally popping up on one of your corporate websites in order to get our imaginations flowing, then leak a teeny tiny image of the optional viewfinder. There’s actually a good bit of info here — you can tell the new attachment (titled VF-2) seems to be vertically adjustable, something missing from the previous generation, but there’s also the bogus news that it’ll fit only the forthcoming E-P2. The silver lining to that knowledge, though, is that the body we can only partially see must be the as yet unannounced E-P1 successor, which means the new Micro Four Thirds shooter will at least have the option of a black body… which some people care about. Deeply.

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Olympus E-P2 tap keeps leaking, new viewfinder now on show originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Digital camera inventor Steve Sasson collects honorary PhD, Economist award

October 29, 2009

If there’s one thing we know about geeks, it’s that they hate having nothing to do. Bill Gates has filled his spare time collecting knighthoods and Harvard degrees, and Steve Sasson — inventor of the first, and assuredly biggest, digital camera — is now following in his distinguished footsteps. Sasson perfected a microwave oven-sized 0.01 megapixel prototype while working for Kodak way back in 1975, and has now been awarded an honorary PhD for his troubles from the University of Rochester. The man, the geek, and the legend (all the same person) will be in London later today receiving further recognition, in the form of The Economist’s Innovation Award, which commends the “seismic disruption” his invention caused in the field of consumer photography. Funny, nobody gives us any awards for being disruptive.

Read – University of Rochester honorary doctorate
Read – The Economist Innovation Award

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Digital camera inventor Steve Sasson collects honorary PhD, Economist award originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Olympus E-P2 leaked in the most insignificant of ways

October 29, 2009

Olympus’ E-P1 micro four thirds camera only hit the market a few months ago, but already it seems as if a successor is inching closer to release. A peek at the outfit’s official Chinese website shows a panel and link for a “new” E-P2 camera, though it seems as if the page it’s listed on isn’t quite complete. Still, we’re guessing there’s a reason of some sort it’s listed, but we’re still struggling to find the patience required to see this whole thing through.

[Via 4/3Rumors]

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Olympus E-P2 leaked in the most insignificant of ways originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujifilm’s Remora flash could save those underwater family portraits

October 28, 2009

Fujifilm's Remora flash could save those underwater family portraits

Underwater photography is tough, and, when you’re dealing with something less than Caribbean-clear blue seas, finding the right lighting can be near-impossible. Fujifilm’s Remora looks to make things a little easier, offering a 60 degree beam of light with a guide number of 20, so it’s bright enough even for nighttime cuttlefish documentaries but can be dimmed to save the retinas of sensitive cephalopods. Four AA batteries give you 240 flashes at a depth of up to 180 feet, but at £229 (about $370) only the most serious rebreathers need apply.

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Fujifilm’s Remora flash could save those underwater family portraits originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax’s entry-level K-x DSLR receives glowing review

October 27, 2009

Pentax’s K-x has been shipping in various corners of the globe (in various hues) for a hot minute now, but at long last the entry-level DSLR has found itself on the test bench. The good folks over at Tech Radar were able to take the $650 shooter for a spin, and with few exceptions, they absolutely adored it. Image quality was deemed fantastic, and without qualification, that’s easily the most important aspect of a camera. Critics also appreciated the build quality, rear LCD and ergonomics, though they did note that the 720p movie mode was “hit and miss.” They found it to be a good fit for novices and amateurs, and while they did feel that it was somewhat less comfortable to wield than Nikon’s D5000, they still maintained that it’ll be a great bargain when the street price falls just a bit. Tap the read link for the full skinny — but only if you feel compelled.

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Pentax’s entry-level K-x DSLR receives glowing review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Epson adds tethering, remote shutter release to P-6000 and P-7000 photo viewers

October 22, 2009

Epson’s P-6000 ($599.99) and P-7000 ($799.99) Multimedia Viewers were always a bit too rich for our blood, but those hemming and hawing might just have the final bit of motivation they need to pull the trigger. A forthcoming firmware update for the 80GB and 160GB (respectively) photo viewers brings along a hotly-anticipated new feature: tethering. Put simply, pro shooters (and novices, we guess) can now connect select Nikon and Canon DSLRs to their photo viewer via USB, and in real time shots will be simultaneously captured to the camera’s memory card and the viewer’s hard drive. Moreover, the update includes a remote shutter release function for added convenience, though we’re sad to say that the retail pricing of these buggers hasn’t budged. If you’re a proud owner already, keep your eyes glued to Epson’s support site — the download should go live in “late-October.”

[Via Slashgear]

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Epson adds tethering, remote shutter release to P-6000 and P-7000 photo viewers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon PowerShot G11 review roundup

October 22, 2009

We had an all too brief hands-on with Canon’s PowerShot G11 way back in August, but the first real flood of reviews has only just recently started, and now seemed like as good a time as any to get you caught up on some of them. As you might expect, one of the real stand-out features is that swiveling LCD, which is not only good in and of itself, but “one of the best of its type” according to What Digital Camera. Other reviewers like Wired UK and CNET UK also found that G11 delivered some noticeably better results than the previous G10, with it aided especially by the surprising but welcome shift from the old 14.7-megapixel sensor to a new 10-megapixel one that offers an improved dynamic range and better performance at high ISO settings, among other advantages. On the downside, the camera is somewhat bulky, and PhotographyBlog says it fails to live up to Canon’s claims of it being the “ultimate compact,” especially when you consider some of the similarly-sized (but admittedly pricier) Micro Four Thirds offerings available.

Read – Wired.co.uk
Read – What Digital Camera
Read – CNET UK
Read – PhotographyBlog

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Canon PowerShot G11 review roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Casio Exilim CA003 and CA004 uncloaked in KDDI au’s winter lineup

October 19, 2009

KDDI au’s unleashing its winter lineup, and among them sits Casio’s latest cameras phone, the 12.17 megapixel Exilim CA003 and 8 megapixel CA004. The higher-tier former boasts a 28mm wide angle lens with 3x optical zoom and autofocus, and a 3.3-inch WVGA OLED screen. It’ll also shoot a quick burst of 20 pics per second when you need to capture the exact moment and aren’t exactly sure when that is. Other amenities include microSDHC card slot, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, FM radio, and a handful of color options. Not wanting all that horsepower? The CA004 has smaller resolution shots, support up to 2GB microSD, and a 3.1-inch WVGA OLED screen, but is otherwise touting the same features. Akihabara News has some hands-on shots of the beaut you might wanna check out, unless you’re the type who gets violently jealous by phones that aren’t hitting American soil.

[Via Engadget Japan]

Read – KDDI au lineup
Read – CA003 / CA004 hands-on

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Casio Exilim CA003 and CA004 uncloaked in KDDI au’s winter lineup originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 06:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CEIVA Pro 80 digiframe accepts new images from MMS, networked PCs

October 15, 2009

Timely, no? Exactly a year to the day after the CEIVAlife and CEIVAshare went on sale, the creator of those has decided to out its first digiframe since, and we’ve got to say — the Pro 80 is a refreshing change of pace in the drab digital photo frame world. Aside from accepting images via the traditional means (USB, memory cards and telepathy), this one can also take in new pixels via a cameraphone or computer… wirelessly! The built-in WiFi module enables networked PCs to pass along slideshows, while PicturePlan customers ($6.95 per month) can send photos in from their mobiles. In case that’s not nearly enough to excite you, there’s also free CEIVA Channels (ABC News, ESPN, etc.) to keep you occupied. She’s all yours for $179.99, or $147.99 if you snag it this holiday season.

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CEIVA Pro 80 digiframe accepts new images from MMS, networked PCs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon D3S shows its high ISO prowess in two sample videos

October 14, 2009

Well, we just got the first round of Nikon D3S previews this morning, but it looks like we now also have the first few sample videos shot with the camera — possibly a bit ahead of Nikon’s preferred schedule. While it’s a bit hard to draw some firm conclusions due to their YouTube-ness (not even a “High Quality” version, unfortunately), the videos do go some way towards backing up claims that the camera truly delivers the goods when it comes to high ISO shooting — something that’s particularly evident in the stunning wildlife video shot by Vincent Munier (pictured above). Head on past the break to check it out for yourself, along with a second, also impressive short shot down under.

[Via CrunchGear]

Continue reading Nikon D3S shows its high ISO prowess in two sample videos

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Nikon D3S shows its high ISO prowess in two sample videos originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sanyo unleashes two iFrame compatible Dual HD camcorders

October 14, 2009

Sanyo’s just unleashed two new full HD camcorders — the VPC-HD2000A and the VPC-FH1A. Both of these babies boast 1080p and 1080i recording at 60 fps, plus iFrame recording at a 960 x 540 resolution and 30 frames per second and 8 megapixel still shooting with 10x optical zoom. The cams are the first to offer iFrame compatibility, a ‘next gen’ format designed for easy importing, editing and sharing of video — and hey, Apple just released an iMovie update adding iFrame compatibility, so the timing is spot-on for those of us aching to ditch the super-lameness of AVCHD. The VPC-FH1A has a 3-inch LCD and HDMI output, while the VPC-HD2000A has a 2.7-inch LCD. They’re both available now, with the FH1A running $499.99 and the HD2000A $599.99. Full press release is after the break.

Continue reading Sanyo unleashes two iFrame compatible Dual HD camcorders

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Sanyo unleashes two iFrame compatible Dual HD camcorders originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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