Articles from August 2009

Pre-IFA 2009: Sony unveiled its second full-frame digital SLR in the shape of DSLR-A850. It offers almost all features of the company's flagship full frame DSLR A900, but at a more affordable price. It is built around the same 24.6MP CMOS sensor and incorporates A900's 3.0 inch 921k LCD, sensor-shift image-stabilization and Dual Bionz processors. The only compromise is a 98% viewfinder coverage against A900's 100% and slower continuous shooting. To complement the A850, Sony has also announced a mid-priced 28-75mm constant F2.8 SAM lens to fit with the A850's affordable full-frame ethos. The A850 will start shipping from September 2009 with the 28-75mm lens available from November 2009.

Pre-IFA 2009: Sony has also added to its consumer-level DSLR range, with the A500 and A550 taking the count to five cameras. The DSLR-A550 and DSLR-A500 digital SLRs are based around new CMOS sensors and add a manual focus confirmation live view mode using the main imaging sensor, in addition to Sony's secondary-sensor Quick AF live view system. Both cameras feature Sony's better noise reduction, include an Auto HDR mode and offer sensitivity of up to ISO 12800. The 14.2 MP A550 features a high resolution 921k dot 3" tilt-angle LCD, while the 12.3 MP A500 comes with a 230k dot resolution 3"tilt-angle LCD.

Pre-IFA 2009: Sony has released a full-frame 28-75mm F2.8 SAM lens to accompany its new Alpha DSLR-A850 digital SLR. The constant F2.8 lens offers a less expensive alternative to the Sony Zeiss 24-70mm F2.8 ZA for A850 and A900 owners looks for a fast standard zoom. Construction is made up of 14 elements in 16 groups, including four aspherical elements. It features the SAM (Smooth Autofocus Motor) in-lens autofocus technology, rather than the SSM system used in the ZA lens. Priced approximately at around $800 USD, it will start shipping from November 2009.

Pre-IFA 2009: Ricoh has unveiled the CX2 compact super-zoom. Featuring the same 9 MP CMOS sensor inherited from its predecessor CX1, it offers a larger 10.7x zoom range at 28-300mm equivalent, a faster continuous shooting range of 5 fps, Pre- and Continuous-AF modes and additional scene modes. The rest of the features mirror the CX1 including the 3.0 LCD with 920k dot resolution and the faster Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor.

Nikon has released a statement explaining why some D5000 owners have been asked to return their cameras for a second time. The company says it developed an enhanced preventative maintenance procedure after it had started servicing cameras so 'a small number' of customers will need to send their cameras back again. It has also updated its list of affected serial numbers under the original service notice.

The Canon's PowerShot S90 appears to represent exactly the sort of compact we like - a bright lens, good screen and easy access to a selection of manual controls. Then we discovered the control ring around the lens and thought it worth publishing our first impressions. Click here to have a read of our brief hands-on with Canon's latest photographers' compact.

Pre-IFA 2009: Canon has announced a handful of compact cameras including models aimed squarely at keen photographers. Top of the line is the PowerShot G11, successor to its flagship PowerShot G10 compact released last year. The G11 replaces the G10's 14.7MP sensor with what it describes as a high sensitivity 10 MP CCD though it still uses the same 28-140mm equivalent stabilized lens. The camera also gains a tilt and swivel LCD, though the size drops to 2.8 inches. Flash sync speed increases to 1/2000th of a second and HDMI output is also added. Other features include Dual Anti-Noise System (more sensitive sensor and Digic 4 offering a claimed 2-stop improvement over the G10), RAW shooting and P/A/S/M shooting modes.

Pre-IFA 2009: Next comes the PowerShot S90 digital compact, resurrecting Canon's S-series of compact 'photographers' cameras. It features a 28-105mm F2.0-4.9 stabilized lens with a control ring built around it that enables control of camera settings such as exposure compensation. It also offers a 3 inch LCD with 461k dot resolution in a slim, compact body. Like the G11, it includes the high sensitivity 10MP sensor and Digic 4 noise reduction to make up a 'Dual Anti-Noise System.' In keeping with the photographers' camera brief, the S90 includes manual control and RAW shooting.

Pre-IFA 2009: Then come Canon's first touch-screen camera, the SD980 IS (Digital IXUS 200 IS), and its slimmest wide-angle compact, the SD 940 IS (Digital IXUS 120 IS). The SD 980 IS features a 3 inch touch-screen LCD and an optically stabilized 5x zoom lens starting at a wide 24mm equivalent. The SD 940 IS is bundled with a wide-angle 28-112mm equivalent lens with optical stabilization and 2.7 inch LCD in a slim body design. Both cameras feature 12.1 MP sensors and offer HD video recording.

Pre-IFA 2009: Canon has announced the PowerShot SX20 IS super-zoom digital compact, successor to the the SX10 IS. Featuring the same wide angle 20x (28-560mm equiv.) zoom lens and 2.5 inch vari-angle LCD of its predecessor, the latest model features a 12.1MP sensor and offers 720p HD video recording.

Pre-IFA 2009: Canon has also launched the super-zoom PowerShot SX120 IS. Featuring the same 10x zoom lens (36-300mm equiv.) and 3 inch LCD of its predecessor (SX110 IS), but has seen the resolution increase to 10MP. The rest of the features are similar to the the SX110 IS including P/A/S/M shooting modes but with faster Face Detection that can detect up to 35 faces.

Pre-IFA 2009: In addition to its camera announcements, Canon has introduced the Selphy ES40 compact dye-sublimation photo printer with built-in voice guidance. Offering an option of seven different languages, the voice guidance helps users through the printing process and also informs them of common printing issues. It features a similar design of its predecessor, the ES30, including the Easy Scroll Wheel and large buttons, but with a larger 3.5 inch LCD.

Samsung has also released the TL225 and TL220 (ST550 and ST500 in Europe), the world's first compact cameras with front and rear LCDs. The 3.5" touch screen LCD (1.2m dot resolution) of the TL225 and the 3.0" LCD (230k dot resolution) of the TL220, incorporate a Smart Gesture User Interface technology, enabling users to tap and browse through features. In addition both feature 1.5" 61k dot front LCDs for shooting challenges such as self-portraits. Both 12.2 MP cameras, which use the MicroSD memory format, sport optically stabilized wide-angle 4.6x optical zoom lenses starting at 27mm equivalent.

Update: We've just posted an update to our in-depth review of the Olympus E-P1 'Digital Pen', adding lens tests for the 14-42mm and 17mm pancake kit lenses. Find out if Olympus's first two Micro Four Thirds lenses can match the E-P1's sensor - and maintain the standards set by its existing Four Thirds optics - check out our updated review after the link...

Sony has announced the Party-shot personal photographer, an automated photo-taking cradle. The device uses the DSC-WX1 and DSC-TX1's face- and smile detection functions to detect photo opportunities in social environments. The Party-shot sits on a table or tripod and tilts and pans to locate and follow potential subjects. It will also recompose its shots based on the rule-of-thirds.

Sony has announced the Cyber-shot DSC-WX1 and DSC-TX1 digital compacts, the first to use back illuminated CMOS sensors. According to Sony, its 'Exmor R' sensor offers low-light performance with approximately twice the sensitivity of traditional image sensors. The sensor has been incorporated into familiar W and T series bodies. The WX1 features a 5x zoom starting at 24mm equivalent and f/2.4. The TX1 is a touch screen camera with 4x zoom lens (35-140mm equiv.). Like the existing, conventional CMOS-based HX1, both cameras offer HD video recording and a Sweep Panorama mode.

Sony's latest TX1 and WX1 compacts are the first to make use of the back-illuminated CMOS technology that the company has developed. Initially announced in June 2008 the technology, dubbed Exmor R, essentially involves exposing what would be the underside of a conventional CMOS chip, meaning that the light doesn't first have to travel past the chip's electronic circuitry to reach its light-sensitive region. The result is a chip with a greater light-sensitive area that the company says is more than twice as sensitive as conventional CMOS sensors.

Next up is the Optio P80 ultra-compact camera. Incorporating most features of the earlier released P70 into a lighter body, the 12MP camera comes with a 4x zoom lens (27.5-110mm equiv.) and 2.7 inch LCD. It offers features such as HD video recording and a new 'Small Face filter', which makes the subject’s face appear smaller in relation to the body. Interesting.

Last in the line of Pentax's announcements comes the Optio E80, expanding the company's affordable E series of digital cameras. It sports a similar interface to its predecessor, the E70 but with larger buttons, a larger 2.7 inch LCD, 3x zoom lens starting at a slightly wider-angle 32mm and HD video recording.

Nikon has also announced three new Coolpix S-series compact cameras. The Coolpix S70 is built around a 3.5 inch touch-sensitive OLED screen. New screen technologies can register multiple touchs and should make the camera more responsive, easier on batteries and easier to view than its predecessor. It features an optically stabilized 5x zoom lens (28-140mm equiv.), 12.1MP sensor and HD video recording. Next comes the S640 - the fastest Coolpix to date, which Nikon says offers 'DSLR-like focus speed.' It also features an 'air gapless' screen which fits the protective outer panel more closely to the LCD for improved contrast. Along with the less expensive S570, it features a 5x optically stabilized zoom lens starting at 28mm, 2.7 inch LCD and 12MP sensor. The S570 does without the S640's air gapless screen, fast AF and USB charger, helping keep its MSRP €50 lower.