Just Posted: Our group test of waterproof, rugged compact cameras. It’s been two years since we last published a review of this class of cameras and a lot has happened in the meantime. Today’s crop of rugged compacts are better specified and more competitively-priced than ever and, while most still look distinctly utilitarian, some are positively stylish. We’ve subjected six current models to our usual studio and real-world testing, on both dry land, and underwater. Click the link below to find our what we thought, and which cameras prevailed.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Posts Tagged ‘compact’
Just posted: Our group test of waterproof compact cameras
18
Aug
Sony announces DSC-WX30 CMOS-based compact camera
08
Aug
Sony has announced the WX30, a 5x zoom camera with 16.2MP backlit CMOS sensor. The lens covers a 25-125mm equivalent zoom and uses the company’s ‘By Pixel Super Resolution’ image processing to provide the ‘Clear Image Zoom’ feature claimed to double the effective zoom range at full resolution. It also gains the same ‘Picture Effect’ image filters as the TX55, along with a 3.0" (7.5cm) 920,000 dot, touch-sensitive LCD screen. It uses the CMOS chip’s fast read-out to provide 10 fps continuous shooting in a burst of up to 10 shots as well as 1080i50 HD movie shooting (on the European variant).
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Sony launches DSC-TX55 touch-screen CMOS compact
08
Aug
Sony has announced the TX55 touch-screen card-style camera. The 16.2MP camera features a backside illuminated CMOS sensor and stabilized 5x zoom lens (which we calculate to offer a range of approximately 26-130mm equivalent). The TX55 can capture 1080i60 movies and store them on the MicroSD/SDHC or Memory Stick Micro cards it uses to keep the body size down to an impressively slim 12.2mm deep. Beyond this it has a 3.3" OLED touch screen, the now-standard Sony features such as 3D Sweep Panorama and gains the ‘Picture Effects’ image processing filters that debuted in the NEX C3. It also uses a ‘By Pixel Super Resolution’ digital zoom mode that applies image processing to try enhance the image back up to full pixel-count (more details when we get them).
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Olympus quietly unveils SZ-11 and VG-145 compact cameras
08
Aug
Olympus has announced the SZ-11 and VG-15 14MP compact cameras. The SZ-11 is a compact superzoom that manages to squeeze a 20X wide-angle zoom (25-500mm equiv.) into a relatively compact body. Despite the numbering, it appears to have more in common with the SZ-30H than the SZ-10, seemingly using a shorter version of the SZ-30’s lens. This means a maximum aperture of F3.0-6.9, rather than the SZ-10’s rather more impressive F3.3-4.4. The SZ-11 also has 10 Art Filters, rather than the eight offered by existing SZ models. Meanwhile the VG-15 is a budget compact with a 26-130mm equiv. unstabilized zoom lens. It has the same 14MP sensor as the SZ-11 and includes a 3.0" 230k dot LCD, rather than the SZ-11’s 460k dot panel.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Just posted: Our group test of travel zoom compact cameras
20
Jul
Just Posted: our group test of travel zoom compact cameras. The travel zoom/compact super zoom category is one of the great success stories of recent years, with all the major manufacturers offering at least one small camera with at least a 10x zoom. And that success is understandable – few other camera types offer such a balance between size, price and flexibility. We’ve looked at thirteen of the latest models and narrowed these down to a shortlist of six for the full review treatment. Our 18-page grouptest shows how these six perform in a variety of situations, but all thirteen have both real-world samples and studio comparisons. Click here to find out what we thought and which cameras prevailed.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Ricoh PX rugged compact announced and previewed
09
Jun
Ricoh has announced the PX rugged, waterproof compact. It combines a 16MP stabilized CCD sensor and 2.7" LCD with conventional camera styling. Despite its appearance, it can withstand a drop from up to 1.5m and being submerged to a depth of 3m for 60 minutes. Along with the camera, Ricoh has launched a range of silicone covers that help make the camera still-more durable. We’ve had access to a pre-production PX and have prepared a brief preview and 20-image samples gallery.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Samsung releases ST93 compact camera
20
Apr
Samsung has announced the ST93 compact camera. The 16MP CCD-based camera offers a 5x optical zoom lens starting at a useful 26mm equivalent. Its features include 720p HD video recording, a Panorama mode, the company’s latest Smart filters and Magic Frame templates. Further specifications are not currently available.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Which?: Fujifilm Finepix W1 3D compact camera at IFA berlin 09
15
Dec
Fujifilm has made a fresh attempt at the stereoscopic 3D camera with the launch of the Finepix W1 at the IFA electronics show in Berlin. The rather large device is essentially two cameras in one body so lets you take 3D images or two 2D images at the same time so you can, for example, shoot both tele and wide angle shots at the same time. Get the full details and more reports at www.which.co.uk
Video Rating: 5 / 5
There is a lot of choice out there for stereoscopic 3D gaming on PC – and it’s easy to get confused on what you really need. Neil Schneider, President & CEO of Meant to be Seen, shares important shopping advice, gives a rundown of the available technologies, and helps you steer clear of the mistakes that can rob you of an awesome 3D gaming experience! More guides can be found at www.mtbs3d.com,
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Canon unveils PowerShot S95 premium compact
27
Aug
Canon has launched the PowerShot S95 premium compact as successor to the S90. The latest model includes an upgraded sensor capable of 720p HD video recording and the company’s ‘Hybrid IS’ system that compensates for more types of movement. It also adds multi-aspect ratio shooting and SDXC card compatibility. Other than these features it inherits a lightly tweaked version of the S90’s basic body design including the control ring, 28-105mm F2.0-4.9 stabilized lens and 3.0" LCD.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
Ricoh announces CX4 compact with improved IS
27
Aug
Ricoh has released the CX4 compact superzoom with a 10 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor. It offers the same 10.7x (28-300mm equiv.) zoom lens, 920k dot 3 inch LCD and 720p HD video recording as the company’s CX3, but with enhanced image stabilization. The company says its latest version reduces blur to a degree equivalent to using a shutter speed 3.7 EV faster than actually being used. Other features include subject-tracking AF and additional shooting modes.
News: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)