Hasta La Gadget!

The leading model of Sony’s “upper entry level” trifecta of Alpha-branded shooters, the 14.2 megapixel DSLR-A380, has been hitting test benches lately and we’ve rounded up the results for your perusal. The consensus appears to be that Sony has focused on bringing fans of compact cams up to the big time, with its uniquely responsive Live View and straightforward usability. Alas, ease of use is not the only thing brought up from the little leagues, with comparatively poor output at ISO 400 and above, lack of any video recording (as with the Canon EOS 500D and Nikon D5000, its nearest competitors) and unsatisfying viewfinder ergonomics. Conclusion? If you were looking for a point-and-shoot on steroids, your search is at an end, young hobbit — but photography enthusiasts should probably look elsewhere.

Read – DP Review
Read – CNET review
Read – Camera Labs review
Read – Photo Review

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Sony Alpha 380 gets lukewarm reviews, must be someone’s perfect bowl of porridge originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah, the cruelty of rapid refresh cycles. It was only six months ago that the well reviewed CX1 hit the scene, but already Ricoh is trotting out its replacement in the form of the CX2. You needn’t fret though, as the new shooter retains its predecessor’s winning features while adding a few goodies of its own. The zoom has gone from 7.1x to 10.7x, taking it comfortably into the superzoom category, continuous shooting gets upgraded from 4 to 5 fps, and face detection and AF have been enhanced. The latter features should make the new cam easier to use for novices, but when you add up the whole package — including the already competent 9 megapixel CMOS sensor and HDR imaging capabilities inherited from the CX1 — you have to wonder if this camera isn’t too good for the point and shoot moniker. Suggested UK price is £299.99 ($495), and it should be available in early September.

[Via Akihabara News]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Ricoh CX2 has 10.7x optical zoom, CX1 pedigree originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The EX-Z450 above is Casio’s new Exilim Zoom flagship model, but you’ll be forgiven for confusing it for its predecessor the Z400. Their spec sheets are almost identical: both come with 4x optical zoom, 12 megapixel sensor, 720p / 24 fps video, and Exilim Engine 4.0 — hell, even the max ISO setting is identical at 3200, and you can upgrade that ‘for free’ since nobody expects your highest settings to be usable anyway. What’s new? An autofocus for the ages, apparently, as the sole difference is a new Intelligent AF feature that automatically adjusts focus and exposure for photographic subjects, human or otherwise. The Z90 shrinks those innards into a more portable package, but drops to 3x zoom in the process. The two cameras are expected in early October for $199 and $149, respectively. They’ll be joined by the unpriced Z280 shooter that misses out on the auto-detect magic, but gains a wide-angle 26mm lens. Full frontal shots of each camera after the break.

[Via Impress]

Read – Exilim Zoom EX-Z450
Read – Exilim Zoom EX-Z280
Read – Exilim Zoom EX-Z90

Continue reading Casio’s Exilim EX-Z450, EX-Z280 and EX-Z90 compacts invoke more Zzzs

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Casio’s Exilim EX-Z450, EX-Z280 and EX-Z90 compacts invoke more Zzzs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re anything like us (and let’s face it, you’re exactly like us), you’ve been counting down the nanoseconds until Samsung finally revealed what its ‘Tap and Take‘ campaign was all about. This, folks, is it. As many of you sharp folks surmised, Samsung is delving deep into the intelligent camera arena, equipping its luscious CL65 (no, not that CL65) with a 12.2 megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom, 720p (30fps) movie mode, an HDMI output, and a 3.5-inch touchscreen that utilizes a Smart Gesture user interface. Furthermore, the camera can access certain features when simply tilted, and the built-in Bluetooth 2.0 module enables users to easily share images with other BT-equipped devices.

Considering that you’re probably still not impressed, how’s about a little more on the cutting-edge front? The point-and-shoot also includes WiFi (much like Sony’s disappointing DSC-G3 and Panny’s Lumix DMC-TZ50), giving users the ability to upload directly to Facebook, Picasa and YouTube. Unfortunately, all photos uploaded via WiFi will be reduced to a resolution of two megapixels, and while we understand the reasoning, we figure an option for full / reduced res would’ve been a much better compromise. At any rate, the device also includes DLNA support for streaming to HDTVs and the like, while the integrated GPS chip handles the geotagging. The cam, which is admittedly bursting at the seams with features, will land next month in the US for $399.99. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Samsung crams WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth 2.0 into well-specced CL65 point-and-shoot

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Samsung crams WiFi, GPS and Bluetooth 2.0 into well-specced CL65 point-and-shoot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cameras with projectors? That’s old tricks by now. Samsung wants you to know the new, hip differentiator in the point and shoot market is two LCDs — one in the back like usual, and a 1.5-inch LCD in the front, right next to the lens. According to CNET Asia, that latter display’s good for making sure your self-portraits are just right, or alternatively, it can play “cute animations to capture kids’ attention.” We also think it might also be useful for capturing the exact moment of horror from a coulrophobist. Both 12.2 megapixel cameras sport a 4.6x optical zoom, image stabilization, 720p video capabilities, and a touchscreen rear LCD with haptic feedback. The ST500 has a 3-inch display in the back, while the ST550 (pictured) features a 3.5-inch display that’s also much, much sharper. Nothing said on price, but word from a press release pinpoints a worldwide release date by the end of this month.

Read – Samsung unveils cameras with two screens
Read – ST550 preview

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Samsung’s ST500 and ST550 cameras add a LCD in front to help with your self-portraits originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 23:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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