Sony has announced its new Alpha 3500 (a3500) which, at this point, is only for the Australian market. The camera is identical to the a3000, with the exception of a new kit lens. This 18-50mm F4.0-5.6 lens is less impressive than the 18-55 F3.5-5.6 that came with the a3000, as it’s shorter, slower, and lacks image stabilization. The a3500 will be available soon for AU$ 499.
Canon has refreshed its lineup of compact cameras with the launches of the Elph 130 IS and the PowerShots A3500 IS, A2600 and A1400. The Elph 130 IS (called the IXUS 140 in Europe), features an 8X, 28-244mm equivalent zoom in front of a 16MP CCD sensor. Although it features Wi-Fi, it does not promise the PowerShot N’s one-touch convenience and uses a previous-generation Digic 4 processor. The A3500 IS is also Wi-Fi capable but features a 5x, 28-140mm equivalent, stabilized lens and the same 16MP sensor. The less expensive A2600 loses the A3500 IS’s stabilization and Wi-Fi, while the AA-battery-powered A1400 gains an optical viewfinder.