Hasta La Gadget!

When it comes to the world of digital cameras, it is safe to say that we are more or less spoilt for choice. After all, there are plenty of manufacturers out there with a gamut of offerings to choose from, that the uninitiated will definitely lose their way around unless they have different sites to help guide them select the camera that best suits their needs and requirements. Without much further ado, here we are with the Sony Cyber-shot RX1 that will boast of a 35mm full-frame image sensor and wide aperture f/2 lens, where it is touted to be the first full frame point-and-shoot digital camera in the world. Anyone else beg to differ? Let us check out just what the Sony Cyber-shot RX1 offers in the extended post.

As tipped earlier, the Sony Cyber-shot RX1 comes with an advanced 35mm full-frame 24.3-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor and exceptional Carl Zeiss T*t 35mm f/2.0 fixed lens, being carried on a highly portable, lightweight camera body. Tipping the scales at just slightly more than a pound, it is by far and large smaller and lighter than any full-frame DSLR without sacrificing image quality, HD video quality or manual control. Of course, there is a price to pay for that, but we will get to the pricing details at the end.

With its unified lens and body design, the Sony Cyber-shot RX1 delivers performance which few interchangeable lenses are able to match, boasting a near-silent in-lens shutter and is far more compact than comparable lenses of interchangeable design. Full manual control options as well as an intuitive user interface make life easier for photographers to adjust all settings quickly and easily.

With the 35mm full-frame sensor within, the Sony Cyber-shot RX1 more than doubles the area of APS-C sensors commonly found in much bulkier DSLR cameras, letting it take in far more light when shooting. This means the camera’s sensitivity range is a generous ISO 100 – 25600, letting you shoot as low as ISO 50 in expanded sensitivity mode.

The asking price for the Cyber-shot RX1? A rather wallet burning $2,800. Any takers?

Press Release

[ Sony Cyber-shot RX1 camera debuts copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Just before Halloween in 2009, Canon announced its most powerful DSLR to date. The $5,000 full-frame EOS-1D Mark IV was the company’s answer to Nikon’s market-leading D3S, which rang in just shy of $5,200. On the basis of price alone, Canon won that round. Then, after two years of silence, the company launched its new flagship, the 1D X. The date was October 18th, 2011 — roughly 10 (or “X”) years after the very first model in the series was announced, way back in 2001. A decade ago, Canon priced that introductory 1D at $5,500 — a princely sum considering the 4.15-megapixel CCD on board. Now, the 1D X, which is arguably the most powerful sub-five-figure camera available, commands 6,799 of your hard-earned dollars, or $800 more than the D4, Nikon’s $6,000 equivalent. All this talk of price may seem to skirt the camera’s long list of lust-worthy features, but when the cost of any piece of hardware approaches a year’s tuition at a public university, a purchase decision deserves thorough consideration.

A camera in this league is absolutely to be used as a professional tool. And while deep-pocketed amateurs may pick one up — in the way folks with cash to burn may build a collection of overpowered two-seaters — the vast majority will live in $30,000-plus kits, where they’ll reach six-figure shutter counts, and will likely change hands several times before their eventual retirement. Right now, you’re probably researching the 1D X as exhaustively as you would a new car — in fact, you may have even lined up a test drive, through the company’s Canon Professional Services group. Many months after it was first announced, we’ve had an opportunity to take the new eXtreme model for a spin ourselves, and it’s every bit as impressive as its price tag suggests. Canon’s top model isn’t any smaller or lighter than its predecessors, the 1D Mark IV or 1Ds Mark III — but is all that bulk justified, despite strong contenders like the workhorse 5D? Buckle up and join us in the field (ahem, after the break) to find out.

Continue reading Canon EOS-1D X field review

Filed under: Cameras

Canon EOS-1D X field review originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If you’re still unsure about what you’ll be getting into if you see the 48fps version of “Hobbit,” Red has jumped into the fray with an article on its website and, most importantly, high quality HFR (high frame-rate) videos. It delves into all the aspects of the tech, starting with a primer on the minimum frame rate required to perceive motion, illustrated by a pair of clips to show the threshold. From there it details “judder” when panning at 24 fps versus 60 fps, motion blur, the possibility of brighter projection with HFR in 3D and of course, action at slower versus faster frame speeds. Finally, it demonstrates the hated “TruMotion” soap opera-esque interpolation method on modern TVs, and why that’s different from true fast-frames. Sure, Red has a vested interest in seeing upcoming HFR films from its Epic camera succeed, but a little education might be what’s needed to break old habits.

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Home Entertainment

Red posts high frame-rate video demonstration to smooth out misconceptions originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Aug 2012 08:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Those who were quite amused by the revelation of that Padcaster back at this year’s NAB might want to start prepping their wallets, as the creator’s announced it’s now shipping the filmmaking iPad companion. Notably, during our first encounter with the Padcatser, we were told it’d be selling for “about $200” once it was released — but, as it turns out, the SLR lens-mounting peripheral is being priced at a decent $149, while $40 more gets you the Padcaster / Lenscaster combo. That being said, it’s also worth noting the company’s dubbing this as a “special pricing” and for “a limited time only,” with no word on when such promo will be running out. Either way, you can grab one now at the source link below, though it appears you’ll have to wait between 2-4 weeks for it to show up at your lovely doorstep.

Continue reading Padcaster SLR lens mount for iPad now available: priced at $149 or $189 for Lenscaster combo

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Peripherals, Tablet PCs

Padcaster SLR lens mount for iPad now available: priced at $149 or $189 for Lenscaster combo originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thought Olympus only made one camera named after a writing implement? Meet the Stylus SP-820UZ, announced alongside the less romantically titled SP-720UZ and the SZ-14 DX bundle. The Stylus (the only one we’re expecting to see in the US) comes with a 14-megapixel CMOS tied to the same image engine you’ll find inside the company’s desirable PEN series. It’s ideal for crazy cat people, since it comes with a Pet-face detection mode to ensure your hilarious cheezburger submissions are perfectly focused, and it’s even got a series of magic filters to jazz ’em up further. The snapper uses AA batteries (a genius or insane move, depending on how cheaply you can pick ’em up at the store) and will arrive in September.

Meanwhile, the SP-720UZ includes a 26x optical lens perched in front of a 14-megapixel sensor with HDR backlit correction and high-speed shooting. The company’s also outing the “Big Telephoto Set,” combining a SZ-14 compact camera with a pair of binoculars for those who want to drag along a spotter. Both sets will be available in August, though Olympus has only confirmed US availability for the 820UZ, which is expected to retail for $330 in silver and black.

Continue reading Olympus introduces Stylus SP-820UZ, SP-720UZ cameras and SZ-14 binocular bundle

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Olympus introduces Stylus SP-820UZ, SP-720UZ cameras and SZ-14 binocular bundle originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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