Hasta La Gadget!

Sony’s imaging wing has been on a roll lately, with the brilliant NEX-7 and equally impressive Alpha A77 DSLR simply blowing us away with brand new features and excellent image quality. But these $2,000 digital binoculars? Yeah, we’re not so sure. We went hands-on with a pre-production sample of the 3D binocs, which replace the traditional optical finders with a pair of high-res LCD EVFs. But when you consider that high-end binoculars are a joy to use because of their excellent optical viewfinders, swapping in an electronic version puts the DEV-3 ($1,400) and DEV-5 ($2,000) in a completely new category — if an excellent (and traditional) viewing experience is what you’re after, these “cost-competitive” optics really won’t hit the spot. Jump past the break for our impressions.

Continue reading Sony DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars hands-on (video)

Sony DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today, we’ve got a pair of Canon point-and-shoots to show you. The S100 is the successor to the highly regarded S95, while the SX40 HS takes on the super-zoom market with its 35x lens. Both cameras use the company’s new DIGIC 5 image processor, which brings high-speed burst shooting and 1080p video to the party. The S100 features improved low-light performance thanks to its f/2.0 lens and new, larger 12.1 megapixel CMOS censor (gone is the CCD of yore). It also has a GPS receiver for embedding location data in your photos. The SX40, more or less, slaps the new processor and sensor into last year’s somewhat disappointing SX30 IS. Hopefully, those internal upgrades will solve some of the SX line’s problems with image quality and noise. Both cameras will cost $430, with the S100 set to ship in early November and the SX 40 HS in late September. Check out the gallery below as well as the PR after the break.

Continue reading Canon unveils PowerShot S100 and SX40 HS high-end point-and-shoots

Canon unveils PowerShot S100 and SX40 HS high-end point-and-shoots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We really like Fujifilm’s X100 — it’s a solidly-built camera, with an APS-C sensor, f/2 lens, and a rather unique hybrid optical / electronic viewfinder. But the X100 carries a $1,400 sticker price, and that 23mm lens — as sharp as it may be — is permanently fixed to the mount. That’s why we were rather exited when Fuji announced its X10 earlier this week. Would this be a much more capable (and affordable) replacement for the X100? Turns out it’s not — well, not exactly — though this latest model is certainly a better fit for the consumer market. We had a chance to go hands-on with an early prototype on display at the company’s IFA booth, and while some features (notably the pop-up flash) weren’t yet functional, we’re told it’s a rather accurate representation of what we’ll see when the X10 hits stores in late October, priced within the €499-599 range (about $715-860).

The first thing you’ll notice with the X10 is that, well, there’s nary a power button in sight. Instead, you’ll rotate the 28-112mm f/2-2.8 manual zoom lens to fire it up. There’s also no aperture ring, unlike its more powerful sibling, and manual focus is handled electronically, instead of directly on the lens. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find that the X100’s slick hybrid viewfinder has been replaced with a strictly electronic one. And what about image quality? We weren’t able to take away any sample pics, but with a much smaller 2/3-inch sensor, we haven’t a doubt that images won’t look nearly as good as those shot with Fuji’s better-equipped model. To compensate for that, the camera’s EXR mode can bump the resolution down from 12 megapixels to six, in turn capturing higher quality images in low light. We’re looking forward to checking out a production version sometime this fall, but in the meantime, thumb through the images below, or jump past the break for a video overview.

Continue reading Fujifilm X10 hands-on (video)

Fujifilm X10 hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 12:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There’s nothing all that exciting about most point-and-shoot cameras. You point, they shoot, end of story. But Samsung has been shaking things up as of late. First, the TL220 and TL225 added a second, 1.5-inch LCD to the front of the camera, making up the company’s 2009 lineup of DualView cams. We’ve never actually seen anyone using them on the street, but Samsung reps insist that they’ve been an absolute hit. Well alright then. This year, CES brought the company’s remote-shooting-enabled SH100, which lets you use a Samsung-branded Android smartphone to frame, zoom, and capture images over WiFi. A rather obnoxious delay doesn’t make this a blockbuster feature, but still, this is pretty imaginative stuff.

Now this week at IFA, the company just introduced yet another completely original (and practical) camera design with its MV800. The camera’s image quality isn’t much to speak of (though we’ve only had a chance to use a pre-production model), but its MultiView flip-up LCD is pretty darn fantastic — in concept, at least. The 16.1 megapixel cam’s entire 3-inch capacitive touchscreen flips from flush with the rear up to a 180-degree angle (and anything in between), making it possible to not only shoot perfectly framed self-portraits, but also to have a direct view of the display when shooting both below, and above eye level. We love to see manufacturers continue to push the envelope when it comes to innovation, but how did the $279 MV800 perform overall? Jump past the break for our impressions.

Continue reading Samsung MV800 MultiView camera hands-on (video)

Samsung MV800 MultiView camera hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 05:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Retro designs seem to be the latest thing when it comes to high-end point-and-shoot cameras, and Fujifilm is helping to lead the pack with its rather limited (and pricey) X100. The company’s just-announced X10, however, appears to expand upon its well-received cousin with a mighty fast f/2-2.8, 28-112mm manual zoom lens with a proprietary “Electron Beam Coating” that promises excellent image quality, even at the edge of the frame. The camera features a black magnesium alloy housing — we have to admit, it’s a very elegant look. There’s also a 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor with sensitivity up to ISO 12,800, 1080p video, an optical viewfinder, 10 fps continuous shooting (7 fps at full res), a pop-up flash, and a full-size hot shoe. Advanced photogs will appreciate the shooting mode, focus mode and exposure compensation dials, along with dedicated buttons to adjust a variety of other settings, including activating RAW capture. Fuji is mum on price, but we’re certain to get an update before this hits stores in early November. Jump past the break for the full feature rundown.

Continue reading Fujifilm announces X10 camera with 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, optical viewfinder, f/2 lens

Fujifilm announces X10 camera with 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, optical viewfinder, f/2 lens originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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