Along with a mirrorless Android camera that seems too good to be true, Polaroid has announced two other mirrorless cameras that have sensors built inside the lenses. Intended for amateurs, the cameras’ sensor placement prevents a novice photographer from accidentally ruining the interchangeable lenses. More »
It’s just a concept, sure. But if it means more dog’s eye view videos are destined for YouTube, we whole-heartedly support Sony’s Action Cam Pet Mount.
Canon announced a quartet of camcorders earlier today at CES 2013, and while Vixia G20 is a tweaked version of the previous model, the R40 and R42 bringing a raft of new features like WiFi connectivity to the game. All the new camcorders pack a 53X zoom, DIGIC DV IV image processor and a 3.28-megapixel full HD CMOS image sensor, along with full HD at 60P and 35Mbps AVCHD recording. The R40 and R42 add an interesting twist, however, with WiFi and compatibility with Canon’s new CameraAccess app, which brings streaming and remote control features.
We took the R40 for a quick spin, and for a $400 camcorder, we were impressed with the solidity of the unit, light weight and decent specs. The WiFi component is a welcome option as well, opening the door to low-budget remote shooting and streaming, which could be especially handy for solo bloggers or vacationers. 60fps Full HD capability is also a nice touch, although action shooters would do well to not mistake the unit for a dedicated sports shooter and let it clatter to the pavement. For more info, check the gallery below, or go after the break to let a Canon rep give you a quick video tour of the new model.
Continue reading Canon Vixia R40 wireless camcorder hands-on (video)
It almost wouldn’t be a camera introduction without a couple of superzooms, would it? Appropriately, Olympus is updating its lower-cost SZ models at CES with new sensors and a handful of extras to match the long-distance optics. The 24X zoom SZ-16 iHS makes the undeniably larger leap: its 14-megapixel sensor now relies on low light-friendly CMOS (instead of the SZ-12’s CCD) and introduces a quicker TruePic VI processor. The added power leads to a multi-shot Hand-Held Starlight mode for would-be astrophotographers as well as 1080p video. Not that the very entry level isn’t getting some love, however. The SZ-15 is a meaningful upgrade in its own right, extending to the same 24X zoom as the SZ-16 while replacing the SZ-10’s 14-megapixel CCD with a 16-megapixel CMOS imager. Olympus includes a handful of options that the SZ-15’s older TruePic III engine can handle, such as a Beauty Mode and SR Zoom (read: digital zoom). Both models ship in March, although the narrow pricing spread between the $200 SZ-15 and $230 SZ-16 leaves us leaning heavily toward the higher-end camera.
Continue reading Olympus reveals SZ-15, SZ-16 superzoom cameras with upgraded sensors
Filed under: Cameras
Source: Olympus
Olympus helped conquer shakycam videos first in the OM-D, but not everyone has $1,300 to throw at a high-end mirrorless body. It’s clearly aware of our plight in launching the SH-50 iHS at CES. Despite the 16-megapixel camera’s PEN-like looks, it sits squarely in the point-and-shoot category with a matching $300 price, even while it borrows the OM-D’s 5-axis stabilization to fight unwanted jolts while making movies. We’ll have to make do with 3-axis work on our still photos, although we won’t mind as much when there’s full-resolution photo capture in mid-video, 1080i video at 60FPS and 720p slow-motion video at 120FPS. A 24X, 25-600mm equivalent lens certainly doesn’t hurt, either. Aspiring video producers will only have to wait until the SH-50’s March availability to cut out the jitter.
Continue reading Olympus SH-50 iHS touts 5-axis video stabilization in a compact, $300 camera
Filed under: Cameras
Source: Olympus
Olympus knows many of us will be jonesing for a rugged camera once the weather warms up, and it’s more than happy to deliver with a trio of refreshed Stylus Tough point-and-shoots. The TG-2 iHS flagship is all about going closer and deeper than before: it preserves the 12-megapixel CMOS sensor, 25-100mm equivalent f/2.0 lens and 1080p video of its predecessor, but introduces a new Microscopic Macro mode that Olympus claims can provide extreme detail from as little as 1cm (0.4 inches) away. The body’s waterproofing is also resilient enough to survive at a deeper 50 feet, just in case the TG-1 isn’t quite a match for that upcoming reef expedition. The TG-2 will arrive in March, and it should undercut its predecessor’s original asking price at $380.
Those who aren’t quite so committed to rough-and-tumble photography still get a few updates of their own. The TG-830 iHS adds geolocation to the TG-820’s formula with both GPS and an electronic compass to show the way; its 16-megapixel CMOS sensor is also new, although we’re more interested in a newfound option to shoot stills while recording video. At the entry level, the TG-630 iHS is a close cousin of the recent TG-625, adding a front metal plate to the 12-megapixel model we know. The two will ship alongside their bigger sibling in March with respective prices of $280 for the TG-830 and $200 for the TG-630.
Continue reading Olympus intros upgraded Stylus Tough TG-2, TG-830 and TG-630 rugged cameras
Filed under: Cameras
Source: Olympus
What’s square and rounded with white all over? That’d be Canon’s new PowerShot N — a point-and-shoot that can be held in any which way. At first glance, it’s a bit of a strange proposition — the camera’s square shape is admittedly a bit bizarre, and it does’t look like it’d be terribly comfortable to use. So, did Canon get it all wrong with the boxy N? Not exactly. It’s surely not going to be a first choice for everyone, but we do see what the device’s design team was thinking here. The idea is that you can hold the camera any way you like, thanks to a shutter release and zoom trigger positioned around the lens itself. So, if you want to flip it upside down, that’s perfectly fine. In fact, doing so will let you take advantage of the 2.8-inch flip-up LCD in order to snag some overhead shots, while keeping it in a more traditional orientation will enable below-the-waist captures.
The camera seems a bit thick because of the small square design, but it’s still compact enough to fit in a jeans pocket, or to be dangled from a wrist strap. And, because there’s no shutter release at the top right corner, it’s a solid fit for lefties, too. The white version we saw was incredibly glossy, and paired with the unconventional design, it’s sure to attract a fair amount of attention on the streets. All in all, it’s designed for fun — the Creative Shot mode lets you add in a bit of color, while the built-in WiFi and direct connect button enable instant sharing on social media sites, via your smartphone. Take a closer look in our hands-on video after the break, or you can pick one up for yourself for $300 in April.
Gallery: Canon PowerShot N hands-on
No question, today’s Sony press conference was all about the 4K. TVs, media services and even 4K recording for consumers. The latter arrived in the form of a couple of prototypes. First off was the generically labelled 4K Consumer Camcorder, a prototype device that was hanging out in a glass case at the Sony booth after the event concluded — though there was a Handycam logo on the side of the device. It’s not a bad looking handheld — about a standard size for a prosumer model, with a viewfinder, mic and handle at the top. As for specs? No such luck at this early stage.
Directly to the right of the camcorder was another glass-encased device, the HXR-IFR5 Interface Unit, which scales video shot with an existing camcorder like the NEX-FS700 up to 4K. The RAW video files show up in 4096 x 2160 resolution. As with the camcorder, details are scarce at the moment.
The New Nikon 1 J3 and Nikon 1 S1 are steps one and three of the newly established price ladder for Nikon’s series of mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. At $500 with a slim 11-27.5mm kit zoom lens, the 10.1 megapixel Nikon 1 S1 is a particularly well-priced option that might entice the photographers who should actually be interested in Nikon’s mirrorless camera system. More »
After bouncing around overseas for a couple of months, Nikon’s update to the D5100 DSLR is finally coming to the United States. As with its predecessor, the D5200 is a step-up from Nikon’s ultra-beginner model, which these days is the pretty lackluster D3200. Basically, the D5200 has a number of features that the D3200 is badly missing. More »
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