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Casio Computer Co., Ltd. today announced the release of new EXILIM compact digital cameras that come in a variety of colors and textures to match any lifestyle. The new EX-N1, EX-N10 and EX-N20 cameras all have rounded bodies that are easy to grip, and employ a CMF Design approach based on materials and finish in addition to color. These three elements are integrated to realize uniquely appealing designs, with a range of variations to appeal to the preferences of a broad spectrum of users. …

The fisheye lens is a staple of anyone photographing skateboarding and BMX. Rokinon’s latest lens—the 8mm T3.8 Cine Lens—should please DSLR videographers looking to get in on the action footage. More »

Have you managed to get your hands on Nikon’s elusive D4 full-frame DSLR? It should be smooth sailing from here, with the occasional firmware update being your only critical acquisition going forward. D4 firmware 1.02 brings a handful of minor fixes, but if you’re in need of any of the enhancements listed below, it’s surely a must have:

• Format memory card can now be added to My Menu.
• Gamut for Adobe RGB images displayed in the camera’s monitor has now been changed. This enables more vivid display of images.
• The stability of network connections when the FTP upload option is selected has been increased.
• When recording movies using a lens with an aperture ring in [P] or [S] exposure mode, and Aperture ring selected for Custom Setting f10: Customize command dials>Aperture setting, the minimum aperture was applied. This issue has been resolved.
• When a still image captured during movie recording with 1920 ×1080; 30 fps; crop, 1920 × 1080; 25 fps; crop, or 1920 × 1080; 24 fps; crop selected for Movie settings>Frame size/frame rate and Live frame grab selected for Custom Setting g4: Assign shutter button was displayed in Capture NX 2 or ViewNX 2, the position of the focus point displayed differed from actual recording position. This issue has been resolved.
• An issue that caused the camera to freeze when attempting to format a memory card (setup menu > Format memory card) while the camera was connected to a network in HTTP server mode has been resolved.

OS X and Windows users alike can hit up the source link below to get their download on.

Nikon releases D4 firmware 1.02 with minor display, formatting, network stability improvements in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jul 2012 21:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Face detection is a common sight in still photography, but it’s a rarity in video outside of certain research projects. Google may be keen to take some of the mystery out of those clips through a just-published patent application: its technique uses video frames to generate clusters of face representations that are attached to a given person. By knowing what a subject looks like from various angles, Google could then attach a name to a face whenever it shows up in a clip, even at different angles and in strange lighting conditions. The most obvious purpose would be to give YouTube viewers a Flickr-like option to tag people in videos, but it could also be used to spot people in augmented reality apps and get their details — imagine never being at a loss for information about a new friend as long as you’re wearing Project Glass. As a patent, it’s not a definitive roadmap for where Google is going with any of its properties, but it could be a clue as to the search giant’s thinking. Don’t be surprised if YouTube can eventually prove that a Google+ friend really did streak across the stage at a concert.

Google patent filing would identify faces in videos, spot the You in YouTube originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 15:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung’s been flaunting its WiFi-equipped Smart cameras throughout the last year, but with a generally significant tradeoff in image quality, we haven’t been terribly impressed. The EX2F, however, is a model we’re finally eager to get our hands on. This 12.4-megapixel CMOS shooter packs an f/1.4-2.7 lens — quite a feat for any point-and-shoot — along with a full-size hot shoe, dual image stabilization, a top ISO setting of 12,800 (extended), a 24-79mm 3.3x lens and a 3-inch swivel VGA-resolution AMOLED display. That’s in addition to the full manual shooting mode, RAW option, 1080/30p HD video capture and the standard plethora of WiFi options, including Remote Viewfinder and Auto Backup. Accessory add-ons include an optical viewfinder, external mic and a secondary flash (a smaller pop-up model is built-in, and retracts when not in use). There’s no hint of pricing or availability, but with that industry-leading f/1.4 lens, pro-level features and AMOLED display, we’re certain that the EX2F won’t come cheap. Full PR is after the break.

Update: It appears that the EX2F includes a 1/1.7-inch sensor, compared to the significantly larger 1-inch sensor on the Sony RX100. Samsung has also confirmed that the camera will be priced at $549, and is scheduled to hit stores in August.

Continue reading Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549

Samsung upstages Sony with f/1.4-equipped EX2F point-and-shoot for $549 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Jul 2012 10:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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