Articles from January 2007

As the run-up to PMA starts in earnest Panasonic has announced a fairly major refresh of its compact Lumix range, starting here with the DMC-FZ8, which replaces last year's DMC-FZ7. The DMC-FZ8 ups resolution to 7.2 million pixels, adds a newly-optimised (we are told) version of the Venus III processor and throws Raw mode into the mix. The remaining spec (including the stabilized Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 12x zoom lens) is otherwise broadly unchanged. We've had an FZ8 in our hands for a week or so now and a review should be forthcoming very soon.

Nikon has today issued firmware updates for the D40 and D80 digital SLRs. The D40 update contains a range of new features and fixes including issues with flash exposure and Auto ISO, the D80 update includes fixes for a retouching mode crash and improvements to long exposure NR. These updates can be downloaded and installed by owners.

The third and final camera from Samsung is the i7, a curious model which appears in specifications to be the same as the i70 except that this model's 3.0" Touch Screen LCD can be rotated through 180 degrees, we presume to enable easier viewing of portrait images. It also adds SVGA MPEG-4 video capture capability and 512 MB of internal memory. It does appear that this model won't be available in North America but should hit European shores from mid-March this year.

Today is Olympus day with the announcement of eight new cameras in the FE, Stylus (Mju) and SP ranges. Most interesting is the SP-550 UZ ultrazoom, boasting the world's first 18x (yes 18x) zoom capability. Covering an astounding 28-504mm (equiv.) range it is sure to appeal to travellers seeking a compact camera for all occasions. Also featuring CCD-shift Image Stabilization, a 15fps burst mode (1.2MP) and a 7.1 megapixel sensor, the SP-550 continues a legacy of innovative large-zoom cameras from Olympus.

Just Posted! Our in depth review of the Samsung NV7 OPS - which has taken a lot longer than expected due to faulty cameras and some fairly extensive re-testing to double-check some of our findings. The NV7 OPS is - on paper at least - an exciting product from the increasingly innovative Korean manufacturer, offering 7MP, 7x zoom, image stabilization and a feature list as long as your arm in a surprisingly compact body. And it's very aggressively priced to boot. Find out if the NV7 OPS lives up to its promise after the link...

Microsoft has today released a new 'Photo Info' tool designed specifically for digital photographers. After installation this tool provides a new option of 'Photo Info' on the Explorer context menu. The Photo Info dialog enables you to edit both EXIF and IPTC information in compatible image formats as either a single image or a collection. The Photo Info tool works on either Windows XP or Vista and is a free download.

Sharp Japan has announced a new 1/2.5" CCD, now packing a frankly shocking eight million pixels into an area measuring just 5.8 x 4.3 mm it has a pixel pitch of just 1.75 µm which Sharp are proud to announce is the smallest in its class. Is this a good thing? I think probably not, as we will see manufacturers cramming this sensor into existing designs with average quality lenses and then claiming to deliver high sensitivities such as ISO 1600. Progress marches on, at least the marketing department will be happy.

Canon has today announced three new models in their affordable PowerShot A range. Slotting in at the entry-level, the PowerShot A450 and A460 replace the previous A420 and A430. Both sport 5.0 megapixel sensors and 3.2x / 4x zooms respectively. The A550 meanwhile enters the mid-range to supersede the A530, and offers a little more both in terms of features and control as well as increasing the pixel count to 7.1 million.

Sony has today revealed no less than four new seven megapixel digital cameras. First come two new W series the W35 and W55 both with three times zoom lenses but with 2.0" and 2.5" LCD screens respectively. Next the S650 and S700, again with a three times zoom lens and 2.0" and 2.4" LCD screens respectively. The four models range in price from US150 to US$200 and should be available in March.

Just Posted! We're finally sweeping up the last few Canon Photokina 2006 cameras with our Review of the SD 800 IS Digital ELPH (Digital IXUS 850 IS). The SD 800 IS builds on the successful formula established with the SD700 IS (Ixus 800) but adds an extra million pixels and a useful 28-105mm equiv. wideangle zoom. The SD700 IS was one of the better ultra compact P&S cameras of last year, find out if we liked the SD800 IS as much after the link...

Lexar has announced new SDHC cards in two speed categories; a standard line conforming to SDHC class 2* (Greater than 2MB per second) and Platinum II which is class 6* (Greater than 6MB per second). Both types will be available in 4GB capacity from February with 8GB to follow later in the year.
* Minimum sustained write speed

CES 2007: Casio has unveiled 'the world’s slimmest digital camera with a 7X optical zoom lens' - the Exilim EX-V7 - at CES today. The new ultra-slim (just 25.1mm thick) 7.2 megapixel camera features Casio's CCD shift system, H.264 MPEG movies and a 38-266mm equiv. optical zoom. Impressive stuff.

CES 2007: Panasonic has today officially announced its range of 'Class 6 SD Speed' cards, an addition to the Pro High Speed SD card range. These new cards, available in 1, 2 and 4 GB capacities are 'Class 6' speed compliant, meaning they have a guaranteed minimum write speed of 6 MB/sec, they are capable of burst speeds of up to 20 MB/sec. In addition Panasonic has upgraded its existing card range to the next class (Class 4; 4 MB/sec minimum) and also revealed that they intend to introduce a 16 GB card this year.

Here at dpreview we're always pleased to see new technological innovations which lead to genuine improvements. However one thing which has become annoying is the increasing use of the label 'Image Stabilization' or 'Anti-Shake' to describe nothing more than a (noisy) high sensitivity mode. In our product database we only give a 'yes' flag to those cameras which implement image stabilization in the true sense, as either stabilization of a lens element or of the sensor itself (on a shifting platform) which allow you to take a blur free shot at slower shutter speeds. Some manufacturers prefix with 'Digital', however to the average consumer this isn't enough to correct what is a misleading and confusing description.

Pre-CES 2007: In addition to the three typical consumer cameras Fujifilm has also announced a specialized infrared sensitive version of the SLR-like S9100. The new IS-1 joins the quietly introduced S3 Pro UVIR in providing additional sensitivity to the infrared spectrum, used mostly for law enforcement and specialized scientific applications. Additionally you can purchase an add-on hot mirror filter to block IR light and produce results similar to a normal digital camera. Just like the S9100 the IS-1 has a 10.7x optical zoom lens and nine megapixel Super CCD sensor. The IS-1 will be available in February for around $900.

Canon has issued a safety notice to owners of its Powershot A530 and A540 cameras. Certain examples of these models appear to have a design fault involving the metal spring on the door of their battery compartment allowing it to cause a short circuit which may lead to reduced battery life and the possibility of overheating.