Hasta La Gadget!

After digesting loads of scuttlebutt here lately, we’re elated to see that Pentax has finally come clean with its new K-7 DSLR. The 14.6 megapixel shooter packs a rugged magnesium alloy body and arrives with an HD movie mode that captures video at 640 x 416, 720p (1,280 x 720) or 1,536 x 1,024 — all at 30fps. Needless to say, that’s more than the D90 and D5000 offer (both top out at 720p), and while Canon’s T1i does 1080p, it does so at just 20fps. There’s also an HDMI port, a 3-inch Live View LCD, in-camera lens correction, shake reduction and an improved dust reduction system. The real kicker, however, is the High Dynamic Range (HDR) capture mode, which snags a trio of images, then combines them in-camera to widen the exposure gamut. The body alone should ship in July for $1,299.95 — which is notably more expensive that recent wares from Canon, Nikon and Sony — and you can peek the full slate of specifications just past the break.

Continue reading Pentax gets official with 14.6MP K-7 DSLR: HD movies, HDR mode

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Pentax gets official with 14.6MP K-7 DSLR: HD movies, HDR mode originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Many PMPs are svelte, portable things that feel good in the hand and not too bad in a pocket. The same cannot be said for the 8GB Chuwi M70, a PMP packing a 7-inch, 700 x 480 widescreen LCD and not much else. In a review at MP4 Nation Blog that screen gets high marks, as does the ability to play video up to 1280 x 720 smoothly, but build quality is apparently a disappointment, and those dimensions make it something less than totally portable. The device hasn’t officially been released in the US, but if you’ve got room in your heart for a PMP with a little extra to love they can be found online for under $120. Get hunting.

[Thanks, Tom]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Chuwi M70’s 7-inch PMP reviewed, said to be large and in charge originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oh, goodie goodie! Merely ten days after the D5000 was formally introduced to the world — and just hours after Amazon’s pre-order page went live — we’re now being told that Nikon’s first DSLR with an articulating display will be shipping in three short days. Starting on April 27th, the cam will begin making its way out to those who pulled the trigger early on… at least in kit form. We don’t expect the body-only configuration to leave the docks for at least a week or so later, but you can rest assured we’ll be giving one a go and letting you know if it’s worth the cheddar.

[Thanks, Jonathon]

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Nikon’s D5000 DSLR (and its articulating display) shipping April 27th originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic’s latest camcorders have been well-liked by the masses, but haven’t quite had enough features to appease those consumers with higher expectations — or professionals on limited budgets. To captivate the eyes and ears of that prosumer market the company has announced the AG-HMC40, a 2.2 pound semi-pro cam that will do 1080i or 720p at 60 frames-per-second, but more important for many can manage a cinematic 1080p at 24 frames-per-second, all written to SDHC cards. With 10.6 megapixel stills and a 12x optical zoom on tap it sounds like a very well-rounded offering, and, while $3,195 may not fit into every budget, it should do well for modestly funded aspiring filmmakers when it ships in August — just in time for capturing some back-to-school teen angst drama.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Panasonic’s AG-HMC40 does 1080p24 on something of a budget originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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It’s pretty remarkable the speed at which new DSLRs are emerging these days, so it’s ever more important that you really know what’s what when selecting your first (or next) shooter. Sites around the web have already begun to scrutinize the newest cam from Nikon, the mid-range D5000. DPReview has an outstanding chart that breaks down the features, similarities and differences between this one, the D90 and the D60. It seems the biggest differentiators between the D5000 and the pricier D90 is the complete lack of an in-body focus motor and the pentamirror viewfinder (versus pentaprism on the D90). Oh, and while that 2.7-inch articulating display is nice, it can’t hold a candle to the D90 in terms of resolution. For folks hoping and praying for autofocus in movies, keep on kissing the ground; early reports suggest that the 720p footage looks eerily similar to that put out by the D90 — no shock there. Needless to say, there are far too many nuances to cover here, so dig in below if the D5000 hopped on your short list earlier this morning.

Read – Imaging Resource preview
Read – LetsGoDigital preview
Read – DPReview preview
Read – DPReview sample images

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Nikon D5000 DSLR preview roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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