Hasta La Gadget!

Polaroid left little doubt that it was launching its Android-based, interchangeable lens camera at CES, and sure enough, it’s here: meet the iM1836. It mates an 18.1-megapixel, 1080p video-capable mirrorless body with Android (which we now know to be Android 4.1) to quickly share imagery with social networks over WiFi, or directly to other devices through Bluetooth. Its 3.5-inch display won’t put the Galaxy Camera’s 4.8-inch panel to shame, but Polaroid is no doubt counting on the ability to swap optics (which includes Micro Four Thirds lenses, through an optional adapter) and a pop-up flash to clinch a sale. The iM1836 should arrive in the first quarter at a $399 price, with a 10-30mm lens included — uncommonly cheap for a camera that could potentially outshoot its Nikon and Samsung opponents.

That’s not the only camera in the Polaroid brand’s 2013 lineup, however. Non-Android parallels to the iM1836 are coming with both WiFi (

iM1232W, $349) and without (iM1030, $299) for cost-conscious photographers; those who don’t mind a fixed-in-place lens can get the iS2433, a $199 bridge camera with a 24x (25-600mm equivalent) lens, a 16-megapixel backlit Sony CMOS sensor and a 3-inch LCD. One camcorder, the iD975, is joining the fray with 1080p video, 16-megapixel stills, a 3-inch touchscreen and a video-in-video mode that shows the person recording video along with the main footage. Polaroid hasn’t provided launch dates for its more conventional shooters.

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Source: Polaroid

Kodak has been offloading many of its signature businesses, and we’re seeing a another symbolic changing of the guard today: after deciding to quit digital cameras last year, the company is licensing rights to make Kodak-branded cameras to JK Imaging, a subsidiary of global supplier JA Capital Holdings. No, we’re not expecting those names to be immediately recognizable, although the Kodak-badged cameras, pocket camcorders and projectors that should result from the deal will be familiar enough. While it’s unfortunate that any future Kodak cameras won’t come straight from the original source, we won’t judge just yet — after all, similar deals have led to surprising new directions for some of Kodak’s competitors.

Continue reading Kodak licenses its name to JK Imaging for cameras and projectors

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Fujifilm may have more than a few treats in store for shutterbugs this year. Details and photos have emerged that supposedly reveal the X20 and X100s, direct sequels to the company’s well-known X10 and X100 cameras. Both semi-pro bodies could resemble their ancestors on the outside, based on Digicam-info‘s images, but reportedly tackle the autofocusing performance issues that have dogged the X-series up to the X-Pro1. Photo Rumors hears the two shooters will switch to a newer, faster hybrid (both contrast and phase detection) focusing system that also includes Sony NEX-style manual focus peaking, which provides a rough visual guide as to when a subject is as sharp as possible. A few model-specific upgrades may also be in store: the X20 might get a new X-Trans sensor, while the X100s could add a much sharper 2.4-megapixel OLED viewfinder (up from 1.4 megapixels) and a Digital Split Image feature that could once more help with focusing. Launch plans aren’t part of the leak, although we may not have to wait long to hear about them. There’s a prominent X-series banner at the CES 2013 venue, which hints that we may learn about the X20 and X100s as early as next week.

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Source: Digicam Info (translated), Photo Rumors

Samsung doesn’t just have smartphones and televisions in its repertoire. The company just unveiled its new NX300 mirrorless camera, and it claims it has the fastest autofocus system of any camera. The new NX300 doesn’t come with Android on board like the Galaxy Camera, but this 20.3 MP APS-C camera is the company’s new flagship mirrorless model.

The NX300 replaces the NX210, and other than the 20.3 MP APS-C CMOS sensor, there’s a 3.31-inch AMOLED touch display, and it can shoot 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second, as well as taking up to 8.6 shots per second in burst mode. There’s also an ISO range of 100 to 25600, and a maximum shutter speed of 1/6000th of a second.

While the NX300 doesn’t have an Android OS (like other NX-series cameras), it does have built-in dual-band WiFi, and an accompanying Android and iOS app will allow users to connect their smartphone via WiFi to the NX300 and instantly upload photos and video to the web, and can even use the smartphone as a remote viewfinder for the camera.

The NX300 is slated to cost $750 with a 20-50mm kits lens and a copy of Adobe Lightroom, while the 2D/3D lens will set you back $600. You’ll also get your pick in either black or white when the camera eventually releases this March. The new camera is certainly priced competitively, so we don’t think Samsung will have a problem selling these things.

Samsung announces 3D-capable NX300 mirrorless camera is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
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Shinichi Maruyama, a NYC-based Japanese artist, has long studied the interactions between motion and time. However, for his most recent set, Maruyama has traded in his water sculptures for a nude dancer, though you’d never know if from the results. More »