Jun 29

Budget compact shootout finds the best little digicams for your buck

Posted in: digital camera, DigitalCamera, olympus, review, samsung, Today's Chili
Budget compact shootout finds the best little digicams for your buck

Sure, we all like reading reviews of high-end compact shooters, like the Olympus E-PL1 and Ricoh’s transforming GXR, but, when it comes to actually putting down the credit card most folks go with something a bit more… frugal. So, Digital Camera Resource Page has created the 2010 Budget Camera Shootout, which includes eight cameras in the $150 to $180 range with tiny cases and 4 or 5x zoom lenses. Contenders include the Olympus FE-4030, Samsung SL600, and Canon SD1300. It’s perhaps no surprise that the PowerShot, long king of the budget roost, comes out on top, but we won’t spoil the rest of the rankings, which do include some unexpected performances, and should enable your buying with confidence for this summer’s shooting season — without blowing your budget.

Budget compact shootout finds the best little digicams for your buck originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 07:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 18

Olympus cranks out two point and shoots: X560 WP and T100

Posted in: camera, digital camera, DigitalCamera, olympus, point and shoot, PointAndShoot, Today's Chili

Olympus has two new cams in the pipeline according to Let’s Go Digital. The waterproof Olympus X560 WP boasts a 10 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, face detection, a high ISO sensitivity, 18 shooting modes and digital image stabilization. The T100, meanwhile, is a starter camera that’s apparently aimed at teens, and it’s got a 12 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom, and face detection. It also shoots VGA video. There’s no word on pricing or availability for either yet.

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Olympus cranks out two point and shoots: X560 WP and T100 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jun 14

121 Flaring Wallpapers [Photography]

Posted in: lenses, nikon, olympus, photography, shooting challenge, sony, Today's Chili, top

For this week’s Shooting Challenge, you were asked to reignite our interest in lens flare. And, at least for me, you did. More »

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May 11

Sony NEX-5 is small, really really small (video)

Posted in: hands-on, micro four thirds, MicroFourThirds, olympus, Panasonic, preview, samsung, sensor, sony, Today's Chili, video
What started back in 2008 has become a glorious trend: stuffing DSLR-sized sensors into compact camera bodies. First it was Olympus and Panasonic with its Micro Four Thirds standard followed recently by Samsung’s NX10. Now Sony is flexing its digital imaging muscle with the introduction of its own compacts sporting APS-C-sized sensors and interchangeable glass. Both CNET and LetGoDigital already have previews of the NEX-5 — the “world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital camera” according to Sony. And by the looks of that comparison shot above with Olympus’ diminutive PEN E-PL1, we’re guessing that’s a pretty accurate assessment. CNET was particularly stoked by the “aggressively priced” pre-production NEX-5 it took for a spin. Although the camera’s not without faults — quirky UI and controls (hey, it’s Sony!), inconsistent autofocus, lack of electronic viewfinder, and a general lack of manual controls — CNET found the NEX-5 to be “fairly fast” with “really quiet” lenses for both zooming and focusing. Most importantly, it judged the photo quality and noise profile to be “really good” while producing “sharp” 1080/60i AVCHD video. Mosey on through the break for CNET‘s video preview of the NEX-5 and then hit up the source link for some sample photos and a good spec-by-spec comparison of the NEX-5 with its micro format competition.

Gallery: Sony NEX Cameras hands-on

Continue reading Sony NEX-5 is small, really really small (video)

Sony NEX-5 is small, really really small (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 May 2010 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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May 09

Olympus dishes silver PEN E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera

Posted in: camera, digicam, digital camera, DigitalCamera, micro four thirds, MicroFourThirds, olympus, Today's Chili

Look, we’re not saying Olympus’ original all-black PEN E-P2 had no retro whatsoever in its blood, but you’ll be hard-pressed to convince us that this newer, silver-er model doesn’t have a whole lot more. Nearly six months after the (admittedly overpriced) Micro Four Thirds camera got pushed through the ringer, Olympus has decided that the world needs a second color option, though outside of the hue, there’s no difference whatsoever between the two models. It’ll ship later this month in Europe for a still-lofty €799 ($1,016), but at least that scores you a M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens! Ah, who are we kidding — that removes precisely zero pain from the sticker shock.

Olympus dishes silver PEN E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 09 May 2010 05:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 21

Olympus E-P1 outfitted with Rollei EVF

Posted in: camera, micro four thirds, MicroFourThirds, mod, olympus, Today's Chili

Looking to add even more retro flavor to your Olumpus E-P1? Then you might want to consider taking after Flickr user Lok Cheung, who was inspired by the Rolleiflex TLR to create this Rollei EVF (of sorts) for the Micro Four Thirds camera. While the setup isn’t actually anything more than a viewfinder for viewing the screen, Lok nonetheless says the results are “really good,” with the viewfinder resting almost right behind the lens, and the manual focus “almost as fast as you can get on a true manual camera.” Not the most practical camera mod, perhaps, but certainly one of the more interesting ones.

Olympus E-P1 outfitted with Rollei EVF originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 15

Olympus serves up autofocus update for PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras

Posted in: digicam, digital camera, DigitalCamera, firmware, firmware update, FirmwareUpdate, micro four thirds, MicroFourThirds, olympus, Today's Chili, update

Got yourself a new PEN? If you’re nodding your head furiously up and down, you owe it to yourself to take ten minutes late next week and install a minty fresh update. Olympus has today let loose a new firmware build that improves auto focus performance for still images and high-definition video recording for the PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras. Better still, it enables the menu and recorded image to be displayed on the E-P2 and E-PL1 LCD while the VF-2 electronic viewfinder is in use. Unfortunately, the bits and bytes you’re after won’t be available to download until next Thursday (the 22nd), but till then, you can keep on using your Micro Four Thirds shooter while imagining how much better your images will be in just a few short days.

Continue reading Olympus serves up autofocus update for PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras

Olympus serves up autofocus update for PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1 cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 09

How would you change Olympus’ E-PL1?

Posted in: camera, digicam, digital camera, DigitalCamera, dslr, HowWouldYouChange, HWYC, micro four thirds, MicroFourThirds, olympus, point and shoot, PointAndShoot, Today's Chili

It’s half retro, half compact, and chock full of adventure. It’s Olympus’ PEN E-PL1, and it’s the first Micro Four Thirds camera from the company to boast an MSRP that you aren’t terrified to tell your friends about. We’ve spent some quality time with one here over the past month or so, and aside from a few minor quirks, we were fairly pleased with the overall package. But let’s be frank — that’s absolutely not why you’re here. You’re here to tell us how you’d change things if given the chance, and how you’d differentiate the E-PL1 from all those wannabes that seem to crop up every other month. Bump the megapixels? Improve the ISO performance? Offer it in neon green? The sky’s the limit, and comments are the place to dream.

How would you change Olympus’ E-PL1? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 23:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mar 22

80 Ravishing Reflections [Photography]

Posted in: feature, nikon, olympus, photography, shooting challenge, Today's Chili, top

We’ve all viewed our share of photography through a mirror, but I can almost promise that the entries in this week’s Shooting Challenge: Reflection in a Mirror have a few tricks you’ve never seen before. More »

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Mar 08

Olympus Pen E-PL1 spins up a review cycle

Posted in: camera, digicam, digital camera, DigitalCamera, hands-on, micro four thirds, MicroFourThirds, olympus, preview, review, roundup, Today's Chili

Olympus’ E-PL1 is a camera on a mission — it not only shrinks the entry-level price tag for Micro Four Thirds cameras to $600, it retains the same 12.3 megapixel sensor, image processor, autofocus and metering systems of its elder, the E-P1, while introducing its own advantages that even the pricier E-P2 doesn’t offer (hello, integrated flash!). With a 720p movie mode, a 14-42mm kit lens, and access to the growing catalog of Micro Four Thirds glass, it really looks like a guaranteed win for the company, but it’s always good to run it through a few tests to make sure. While it sports a body rather richer in plastic than its senior siblings, we’re told the E-PL1 still feels robust in the hand, and its control scheme is commended for being accessible to novices and including a dedicated video recording button. Image quality is ranked, as was to be expected, right on par with the costlier models with only the more professionally inclined ISO 3200 and 1/2000th shutter speed proving limiting. Get reading for fuller impressions as well as some sample video shot with the E-PL1.

Read – Photography Blog
Read – Pocket-lint
Read – dpreview
Read – CNET
Read – Imaging Resource

Olympus Pen E-PL1 spins up a review cycle originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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