Digicams Archives - Page 6 of 7

Pentax Fields Long Zoom In Optio RZ18

Pentax rolled out the new Optio RZ18 as manufacturers try to get their point-and-shoot lines on store shelves in advance of the holidays.

The RZ18 is built around an 18x zoom offering the equivalent of 25-450mm, a fairly impressive range for a pocket cam. Behind that is a high resolution 1/2.33 in, 16-megapixel CCD sensor with sensor-shift image stabilization and an ISO rating out to 6,400. The maximum image resolution bumps in at a respectable 4608 x 3456.

The downsides are typical for a camera in this price range. You give up RAW images and are limited to 720 video at 30 fps. There’s no viewfinder, which means you’re limited to framing through the 3 in LCD screen on the back, something that I’m sure is an interesting exercise at the maximum zoom setting.

While the video specs aren’t great, it does include mono audio and continuous shooting at 1 frame per second.

You don’t get much in the way of manual control, but most people are not buying a camera like this if they’re concerned with manual overrides. Anyone who cares that much about manual mode would also want RAW images to work with anyway.

It does feature an adequate array of automatic shooting modes and in-camera effects. All in all, not bad for a pocket cam Pentax is expected to field for $299.95. Availability in October.

Olympus New Lightweight PEN E-PM1

With the launch of the Olympus PEN E-PM1, Olympus fields their lightest, smallest, and one of the less expensive models in the PEN line.

You definitely can’t complain about carrying it around all day. At just over 4 inches long and 1.5 inches wide it will fit in your pocket. Weighing in at just over 9 oz, with the battery, you’ll hardly know it’s there.

The E-PM1 is built around the mid-range MOS 4:3 sensor, yielding 13.1 MP resolution at its native 1:33 (4:3) aspect ratio. That’s backed up by the TruePic VI image processor that serves as the electronic brains behind the curtain.

The stock lens is a respectable 14mm to 42mm zoom, fitted for the 4:3 sensor size. Behind that is the Olympus iAuto feature that automatically identifies the type of scene you’re shooting and adjusts the camera settings for optimum results. There are also a selection of in-camera art filters.

For a small camera the PEN has some nice features. It gives you the option to shoot JPEG or RAW stills, along with 3D stills in the MPO format. It also has modes for fireworks, sunsets and panoramas. the E-PM1 also features face detection and Eye Detect AF, which, as the name implies, uses the eyes as subject focus point.

For video the E-PM1 can pack in a full 29 minutes of 1080/60i HD video with stereo sound. Videos can be in either AVCHD or AVI fomats and there’s a one-touch video button.

Available for pre-order for $499 at B&H, but no word on a delivery date.

Fujifilm’s X10 Boasts Impressive Features

The Fujifilm X10 boasts impressive features at a humble price

Earlier this month Fujifilm launched the X10, another in its line of inexpensive but feature-packed retro-styled cameras.

The X10 starts with a respectable 12-megapixel, ⅔-inch EXR CMOS sensor behind a Fujinon 4x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization, sporting a 28mm-112mm equivalent zoom range. The lens turns in a respectable f/2 at the wide end and f/2.8 at the zoom.

Even though it’s smaller than the X100, the shell is die-cast magnesium alloy for durability and a bit of heft. The barrel on the lens controls the zoom, but it’s also the camera’s power switch. A very clever design feature.

The X10 has a side-mounted optical viewfinder with a 20 degree angle of view that takes me back to my Rangefinder days and a host of external menu controls that are easy to work and intuitive. The internal software is supplemented by a wide range of manual options and colour presets.

The EXR-CMOS, in conjunction with Fujifilm’s EXR imaging technology, gives the camera three specialty exposure modes: The SN mode for high sensitivity and low noise, the DR mode for wide dynamic range and the HR mode for high resolution shots. It also includes an electronic horizon level to insure the camera is level.

The improved EXR processor is fast enough to give the X10 a continuous burst rate of 7 fps at the full 12-megapixel resolution and the ISO range is listed in the specs as 100 to 3200 but has a feature to push the ISO to 12800 at a reduced quality setting.

For video the X10 records 1080 HD at 30fps with stereo sound and uses the H.264 codec.

Importantly for people who like to work with their photos in post, it supports storage in jpeg or RAW format. All in all pretty impressive specs for a camera.

Check out some comparisons of the Fujifilm X10 vs some of its competitors:

Nikon Fields Coolpix S1200pj Projector Camera

Nikon announced a slew of new, impossibly thin consumer cameras this year that included the latest generation to feature a built-in projector, the Coolpix S1200pj.

It’s neat enough the camera can project pictures and video of its own, but you can also project video and still images from any Apple iOS device as well.

The Coolpix S1200pj features a 20 lumen built-in projector - photo by Nikon

The S1200pj is actually the third generation of Nikon cameras to feature a built-in projector. The first to have the feature was the S1000pj launched in 2009, but that model suffered from lackluster photo capabilities. Apparently the projector was a popular enough feature for Nikon to stick with the concept.

In this model the engineers were able to up the output of the projector to 20 Lumens, which improves the viewing experience but drains the battery in less than hour.

Nikon beefed up the picture quality in the S1200pj with a 14 megapixel CCD sensor behind a 5x 28-140mm zoom lens with 720p HD movie capture.

The camera internals feature an automatic motion detector that tracks the subject’s motion and modifies the photo settings to keep the image in focus. The camera also features the type of in-camera filter effects you’d expect in a point-and-shoot.

Blurry images are a thing of the past with a four-way advanced vibration reduction system and people pictures will be vastly improved with the Smart Portrait System with features like smile detection, face-priority AF which can track up to 12 different faces, blink warning, red eye fix and skin softening.

Available for pre-order at Amazon for $429.00 USD.

Fujifilm HS20EXR Super Zoom

The Fujifilm FinPix HS20EXR has been out for a few months now but still is a powerhouse of a camera. Replacing the HS10, which was a successful model for the company, the HS20 features an 16-megapixel EXR CMOS sensor that’s a significant step up from the HS10’s 10-megapixel sensor.

Fujifilm built the HS20 around a 30x zoom Super EBC Fujinon lens, which yields an effective focal length of 24mm to 720mm, offering an affordable alternative for consumers who want big glass features without the big glass price tag.

To keep the extreme end of the zoom stable, the HS20 includes three image stabilization features: One that actually shifts the sensor to eradicate shake, backed up by Pixel Fusion technology to increase sensitivity and boost shutter speed. Finally there’s EXR Auto, which takes four pictures in rapid succession and combines them into a single, blur-free image.

The BSI-CMOS sensor in the camera delivers good quality low-light results and the camera software includes features to push the dynamic range in tricky lighting situations and can deliver 11 frames per second at 8-megapixel resolution in burst mode.

For video the HS20 can shoot 1080 HD with stereo sound, but limited to 30fps. The camera also has a high speed movie mode that shoots at 320 fps.

On the downside, some testers have reported some minor focusing issues and dinged it for using 4 AA batteries instead of a rechargeable lithium-ion option.

With a price tag in the $400 range, those are workable annoyances. With the zoom and fast action capability, this would be the go-to consumer camera for people wanting to take pictures at their kid’s sporting events.