Film is better! No question, right? Well Shanks FX wants you to take a closer look at pictures and footage taken on film versus images and footage taken with a digital camera. As much of a copout as it is to say, I think the answer is it depends.
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This time of year, when new digital cameras are being released left and right, is a great opportunity to look back on those pioneering shooters that led the charge from photochemical to digital supremacy. PopPhoto has a great rundown of the 30 most important digital cameras of all time. Here are our 10 favorites.
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Kodak, a name that is of renown and respect among photographers for more than a century, is still hanging around without any sign of them clocking out from the photography scene anytime soon. In fact, it seems as though they have found themselves a second wind with the new Kodak Pixpro range’s announcement that will deliver some of the the most advanced long-zoom technology as well as easy to use features even for the beginner, ensuring that you will be able to preserve the memories of today for the generations of tomorrow. Of course, Kodak also understands that times are rather difficult economically for certain segments, which is why their range of digital cameras are not going to break the bank.
The Kodak Pixpro Astro Zoom Camera would be focused on the popular and expanding bridge camera category, where it will target a wide range of photo enthusiasts who want something that is more robust compared to your standard point and shoot model. The Astro Zoom will deliver cutting-edge technology with 25x to 52x optical zoom, boasting of 24mm wide-angle lenses and a bunch of manual settings and features that allows you to customize camera settings and explore the art of photography without missing a beat.
The new Kodak Pixpro Astro Zoom Camera line will have the spotlight centered solely on the flagship AZ521 model, where it delivers a powerful 52x optical zoom for less than $300, where it will be accompanied by a 24mm wide-angle lens; 1080p HD Video; 3.0″ 460K LCD; optical image stabilization (OIS) and rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The other Astro Zoom models on offer would deliver a range of affordable price points, where among them include the AZ251 (25x), AZ361 (36x), AZ362 (36x CMOS), AZ501 (50x) and AZ522 (52x CMOS with Electronic View Finder), and the prices will range anywhere from $179.99 to $349.99. If you have the shutterbug bug itching and gnawing at you, would you consider what Kodak has on offer?
Press Release
[ Kodak announces full line of KODAK PIXPRO branded digital cameras copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
When it comes to high-speed photography—and we’re talking about freezing explosions and other occurrences that are over in just thousandths of a second—something known as film-based streak photography has always been the go-to technology. But as film continues its slow death, a company called MetroLaser has come up with a digital alternative that can freeze objects moving at almost 7,500 miles per hour, which is roughly ten times the speed of sound.
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The new CyberShot “DSC-HX50V” from Sony will be out on May 17. It is the lightest and smallest digital camera with 30X optical zoom lens.
20.4 million effective pixels, Exmor R CMOS Sensor is built-in. Compared with existing models, during telephoto mode, the speed of the AF system is 2.3 times faster and the correction effect is 2 times better.
There are many functions making this model enjoyable, for example, “My Photo Style” for adjusting the brightness and colors of photos, “Picture Effect” for taking photos that look more artistic, “360 Swing Panorama” for taking panorama photos, and “Background Gradation” for taking pictures that look like ones you take with a single-lens reflex camera.
It’s compatible with Wi-Fi and GPS.
Price: 43,000 yen
Color: Black, Silver
Size: 108.1 × 64.3 × 38.3mm
Weight: 272g
Monitor: 3 inch 921,000 dot
Canon’s single-lens reflex mirrorless camera series “EOS M” that won a 2012 Good Design Award will add its new color “Bay Blue” on April 25. The color was created by popular Japanese art director Chie Morimoto under the theme of “Travel”.
We wrote about the Canon single-lens reflex mirrorless camera EOS M last year.
Chie Morimoto has been engaged in art works for many popular Japanese musicians such as Mr. Children, and recently she is famous for working on a TV commercial series for apparel brand, Kumikyoku.
Have you ever wished that there were moments in your life where you could have recorded the particular conversation because a dispute rose up later on that concerned “who-said-what” – definitely a sticky situation that nobody would like. Well, here is something that might just help you out, the MeCam which has been described as a small hands-free video camera which can be pinned to a shirt or worn as a necklace, while carrying enough internal memory to capture a couple of hours of first-person footage.
After all, there are some moments in life where you are simply not ready to capture it, but wished you were. This is where the MeCam definitely comes in handy, offering the ability for one to capture those spontaneous, memorable moments using a small, hands-free video camera. Martin is the person behind the MeCam, bringing to life his vision for everyone to be able to shoot impromptu images without missing a beat.
It does not matter whether you pin it to your shirt or wear it as a necklace, the MeCam will be able to catch just about every instant from a first-person point of view, as it records each moment that happens the way users see it. You can upload the video to your computer in a jiffy over USB, and not only that, you can also share your videos using the variety of social media outlets.
Martin said, “Life moves fast, and the best moments are usually the unexpected. With a MeCam, users can now have a hands-free camera capable of recording their life on the go.”
The MeCam wearable video camera measures under two inches in diameter, and will tip the scales at under two ounces. The MeCam records video in 720p high-definition resolution at 30 frames per second, where it is powered by a lithium-ion battery for 80 minutes of non-stop run time and up to 4 hours of video storage on a microSD memory card. $49.99 does seem to make the MeCam a steal, don’t you think so?
Press Release
[ MeCam helps you record your everyday affairs casually copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
Back in the olden days, if you had a good idea brewing in your head, you needed to gather enough folks to buy into your idea so that they can throw some money your way (as an investor, of course, not for you to take that dough and swindle it on wine, women and song). Well, the modern day method of raising funds have taken an online persona, and here we are with yet another fruit of the Kickstarter tree – the Snappgrip from cooltopia. Just what the heck is the Snappgrip? Well, Snappgrip has been described to be a snap-on camera controller which will transform your smartphone into point-and-shoot cameras. Wait a minute here, aren’t the latest smartphones well equipped enough to function as a decent entry level point-and-shoot camera? Perhaps there is more than meets the eye to the Snappgrip.
We know that Snappgrip will enter production from late February 2013 onwards, and it allows smartphone users to snap photos using a single hand, not to mention to be able to snap spontaneous pictures without batting an eyelid. All you need to do is attach the controller to the back of a smartphone and you are good to go. It works in the same manner as that of a digital camera, where before long you will be able to enjoy different functions such as zoom mode, shooting mode and focus.
Since the Snappgrip is completely portable, compact and removable, you can more or less say that this is one smartphone accessory that should not escape the attention of your wallet. Expect the Snappgrip to be released next month for $99 a pop, although if you are interested in saving a little bit money on the side so that your lunch can be a wee bit more luxurious, you are able to place a pre-order for the Snappgrip now for approximately $79.
[ Snappgrip achieves success in Kickstarter campaign copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
You know, with each edition of CES, consumer electronics manufacturers would come up with new and revised versions of existing models, be they camcorders or digital cameras. This year, we see Canon update the PowerShot range with a slew of new models, although we are going to take a closer look at the PowerShot N for now. The spanking new PowerShot N digital camera will feature an innovative Creative Shot mode which help enhances artistic expression as well as sport a host of new connectivity features which will be able to support instant sharing, turning the Canon PowerShot N into quite the ultimate storytelling tool. In a digital manner, of course.
First of all, here are more details about the Creative Shot, which is a new imaging mode that is capable of intuitively analyze an image, and it will automatically get to work, creating a series of five artistic photos of the original with different composition, lighting and color so that you have quite the array of options to choose from. Integrated wireless capabilities will also see it hook up the camera to a variety of mobile devices in a jiffy, allowing you to upload and comment on your images regardless of where you are.
Other hardware features include a 2.8-inch capacitive, tilt-touch panel LCD, that gives you the option and freedom to shoot creative images at unique angles. Not only that, there is also a shutter and zoom ring that is located at the top and bottom of the lens, allowing images to be snapped from virtually any position, leaving your friends to stop and ask, “How did you manage to capture that image?” while you wear a smug smile on your face and wave the PowerShot N at them.
With an 8x optical zoom and a 28mm wide-angle lens, accompanied by a 12.1- megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5 Image Processor, you know that the PowerShot N is up for just about anything – video or stills, it does not matter. You can expect to pick up the Canon PowerShot N from April onwards for $299.99, where it will come in white or black shades.
Press Release
[ Canon PowerShot N announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]
With CES looming like an electrically charged storm of news and announcements, it’s time for us to give you our best bets on what you’ll see come January. During the month of December, we’ll bring you a series of CES preview posts, forecasting what you can expect when the news deluge begins. For more of what’s to come, check out our hub.
Las Vegas has seen its fair share of digital camera launches, but with the PMA show all but defunct, manufacturers are shifting their focus to overseas events, like Photokina in Cologne, IFA in Berlin and even newcomer CP+ in Yokohama, Japan. That trade show trio helps to keep the international airlines in business, but it doesn’t do us much good at CES, when nearly every other consumer electronics category gets a major products boost. That’s not to say there won’t be any new cameras at all — PMA does have a small presence at the show, and major players like Canon, Nikon, Samsung and Sony all invest in significant floor space (they’ll need some new products to fill their shelves, after all). But announcements are largely spread throughout the year.
Continue reading Engadget’s CES 2013 Preview: Digital Cameras
Filed under: Cameras
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