Category Archives: Compact Cameras

New Samsung makes light of weighty problem

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By: Charles Wright. May 7th 2014. (http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au)

It’s been more than a decade since we last invested in a camera – a Canon EOS 10D DSLR (digital single lens reflex). Until we spent a couple of days in Hobart among a group of journalists evaluating Samsung’s new NX30 last month, we had no idea what we’d been missing out on.

Fitted with its 18-75mm L Series lens – a beautiful piece of glass – the Canon 10D weighs just over 2.2kg. Carry that around your neck every day for a couple of weeks, as we did during one trip to Paris, and you begin to wonder whether you really do want to keep a photographic record of your travels.

As it happens, that’s precisely what happened to us. After Paris, we rarely took the 10D out of its bag.

The NX30 has introduced us to a much more bearable lightness of being and, happily, that has rekindled our interest in photography.

Full article at the source>

Samsung Introduces the Galaxy K zoom, a New Camera Specialized-Smartphone

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April 29, 2014

The Galaxy K zoom incorporates industry-leading camera features with the Samsung Galaxy mobile experience

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom Camera

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom Camera

SINGAPORE – April 29, 2014 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, today announced the new camera specialized smartphone, the Samsung Galaxy K zoom. The Galaxy K zoom is a new smartphone that blends advanced digital camera technology with Samsung’s industry-leading Galaxy experience. It features effortless capturing ability, real optics, and a premium design, offering users the mobile solutions they need with the ability to create professional-quality visual content in a fun, easy–to-use device.

“With the introduction of the Galaxy K zoom, Samsung continues to demonstrate our commitment to creating products that meet the diverse demands of our consumers,” said Sun Hong Lim, Senior Vice President of Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “The new Galaxy K zoom empowers users to effortlessly capture and share their most important everyday moments in stunning clarity, with the convenience and connectedness of a Galaxy smartphone, for a unique, all-in-one mobile experience.”

As a camera-specialized smartphone, the Galaxy K zoom offers an advanced technical camera system designed to offer the control and functionality of a professional camera, ensuring that the important moments are never missed and always captured with complete clarity. The Galaxy K zoom is equipped with new retracting lens technology that provides 10x optical zoom in a remarkably slim and chic body. Other notable features include the 20.7 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor for ultra-clear, ultra-detailed images. It excels in low light conditions, and provides Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS) to reduce blur caused by movement. These specifications ensure the device delivers pictures and video (Full HD) that are crisp and sharp, even when zoomed and in low light. In addition, the device’s Xenon Flash provides a brighter light than LEDs to improve the quality of the image with natural brilliance.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom Camera

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom Camera

The new device also integrates the most advanced camera usability features and functions, including AF/AE Separation(Auto Focus/ Auto Exposure Separation) for the precise balance of light and clarity, next-generation Pro Suggest mode which offers 5 optimized filter settings, Selfie Alarm that allows users to take timed selfies with ease, and object tracing for a clear, focused shot of a moving subject. Each feature comes with a simple User Interface, allowing users to easily capture photos and videos with groundbreaking quality, in any situation.

The compact and highly portable Galaxy K zoom features an ergonomic grip and sleek, stylish lines that feel soft and comfortable in the hand. Additionally, the Galaxy K zoom offers all the features that consumers want in a flagship Galaxy smartphone, such as Ultra Power Saving Mode for minimizing the battery consumption, S Health Lite for personalized fitness and lifestyle coaching, and a Studio app to allow users to easily edit their pictures and videos.

Samsung Galaxy K zoom Product Specifications

Network

LTE

Cat4, HSPA+ 42Mbps
LTE 800/850/900/1800/2100/2600
HSPA+ 850/900/1900/2100
EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

3G

5-band HSPA+ 42Mbps
HSPA+ 850/900/1900/2100
EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900

Display

4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED Display (1280×720)

AP

Hexa core: 1.3GHz Quad-Core + 1.7GHz Dual-Core Processor

OS

Android 4.4 (Kitkat)

Camera

Main(Rear): 20.7 Mega pixel 1/2.3 BSI CMOS Sensor, 10x Optical Zoom, OIS,
24-240mm, F3.1-6.3
AF Assist LED
Sub(Front): 2.0 Mega pixel

ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
Continuous Shot: 3fps MAX with AF
Format: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WBMP, BMP, AGIF
Xenon Flash,
SMART Mode, Expert Mode(P/M), My Mode

Video

Recording   Playback: Full HD (1920×1080 /60p)
Codec : H.263, H.264(AVC), MPEG4, VC-1, Sorenson Spark, MP43, WMV7, WMV8, VP8
Format: MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, WMV, ASF, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM

Audio

Codec : MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC +/eAAC+, WMA, OGG (Vorbis), FLAC
Format : MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, WMA, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA

Value-Added Features

SMART Mode(28): Auto, Pro Suggest, Program, Beauty face, Shot   more, Panorama, Virtual tour, Rich tone, Night, Continuous shot, Selfie alarm, Manual, Kids shot, Landscape, Dawn, Snow, Macro, Food, Party/Indoor, Action freeze, Waterfall, Animated photo, Sound   shot, Surround shot, Silhouette, Sunset, Fireworks, Light race

AF/AE Separation, Object tracking, Studio, Smile/ Blink detection

Ultra Power Saving Mode

Kids mode

S Health Lite

Google Mobile Services

Chrome, Drive, Photos, Gmail, Google, Google+, Google Settings, Hangouts, Maps, Play Books, Play Games, Play Newsstand, Play Movie＆TV, Play Music, Play Store, Voice Search, YouTube

Connectivity

Wi-Fi: 802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz, HT40,
Bluetooth®: 4.0 BLE
USB: USB 2.0
NFC
A-GPS + GLONASS

Sensor

Accelerometer, Gyro Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor

Memory

RAM: 2GB
Internal Memory: 8GB
microSD slot: micro SDSC (up to 2GB guaranteed), micro SDHC (up to 32GB guaranteed), micro SDXC (up to 64GB guaranteed)

*User memory space may be less than the total memory space due to system files. User memory may differ by region, carrier, and supporting language, and may change after software upgrade.

Dimension

137.5X70.8X16.6(20.2)mm, 200g

Battery

2,430mAh

*All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

Canon Powershot Point and Shoot (Compact) Cameras

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Canon Logo

 

 

Canon has a great variety of Compact Cameras also known as point and shoot in their line up. From the High end G1, S, SX series, to the social N Series, to the smaller Elph series, to the Sports Waterproof D Series, to the most affordable A Series. There’s one camera for every need. We like Canon cameras and have had many through the years, being always satisfied with their performance, quality and customer service (when rare problems do arise). Here’s a table with some of the most popular choices.

Smart, Sleek and Steady: Olympus Stylus® SH-1

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SMART, SLEEK AND STEADY: OLYMPUS STYLUS® SH-1 IS WORLD’S FIRST*1COMPACT WITH MECHANICAL 5-AXIS STABILIZATION

Advanced Image Stabilization, Powerful Zoom and Wi-Fi® Sharing in a Sophisticated Design

OLYMPUS STYLUS® SH-1 Digital Camera

OLYMPUS STYLUS® SH-1 Digital Camera

CENTER VALLEY, P.A., March 31, 2014 – Olympus introduces a breakthrough in the long zoom category, the STYLUS SH-1®, the first compact camera equipped with optical*2 5-axis image stabilization for both still images and videos. The STYLUS SH-1’s 5-axis mechanical image stabilization, originally developed for the Olympus OM-D E-M5®  interchangeable lens camera, combined with a powerful 24x, high-powered optical zoom lens, full 1080 60p HD video and built-in Wi-Fi*3, delivers outstanding performance in a body with an elegant look and feel.

Advanced technology, including a 16-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor and the TruePic VII image processor, the same found in Olympus’ award-winning OM-D®  series of interchangeable lens cameras, work in connection with the Olympus STYLUS SH-1’s impressive 24x optical long zoom lens, (48x*4 super-resolution zoom) which covers 25mm to 600mm*5 telephoto. This combination delivers beautiful image quality with high resolution, superior color reproduction and high sensitivity.

The in-body 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization, now enhanced to support still images, corrects for various types of camera shake to deliver crisp images and video even when shooting in dark locations without a flash or tripod. The Olympus STYLUS SH-1 also incorporates a new hybrid image stabilization that electronically stabilizes movie shooting to easily create natural-looking recordings of children and other active subjects, even when the user is walking.

The design of the Olympus STYLUS SH-1 is inherited from the popular Olympus PEN® interchangeable lens system cameras. The top and main controls are built with aluminum alloy, and superior craftsmanship extends to every detail of the camera components, including the lens barrel, dials and grip.

Built-in Wi-Fi is easy to set up. Sync with the Wi-Fi network created by the camera by quickly scanning the QR code displayed on the camera’s 3-inch, high-resolution 460,000-dot rear touch LCD monitor with a smart device. The complimentary Olympus Image Share app synchronizes a user’s iOS® or AndroidTM  mobile device and the Olympus STYLUS SH-1 so the camera’s Live View is displayed on the phone. The camera can be fully controlled remotely by touching the Smartphone display, as if it were the camera itself, and users can send selected images directly to websites and social media.

The Olympus STYLUS SH-1 is equipped with an updated Advanced Movie Mode for powerful video recording functions, including fast 240 fps*6 (or 120 fps in 720p) High-Speed Movie, which allows users to capture subjects that move at split-second speeds, and 60-frames-per-second HD recording*7 for smoother images of moving subjects. Photo & Movie Capture allows users to simultaneously capture full-res still photos while recording Full HD video. The Time-Lapse Movie*8 feature compresses up to five hours of action into a 20-second time-lapse video.

Expanded creative capabilities include an Interval Shooting function for a maximum of 99 shots; High-speed burst shooting for capturing up to 11 fps in full resolution; Manual Mode for adjusting exposure parameters; Live Guide for adjusting color and brightness via touch sliders; an electronic Level Gauge for perfectly aligned photos; Touch screen controls for selecting the autofocus area and tripping the shutter and multiple Art Filters and Photo Story.

*1: Among cameras that carry out optical image stabilization on both still images and movies, as of March 31, 2014, according to Olympus research
*2: Optical image stabilization is defined by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) guidelines and includes sensor-shift image stabilization
*3: “Wi-Fi” is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance
*4: Zoom magnification ratio from the wide-angle setting (including the optical zoom)
*5: 35mm equivalent
*6: The recording time for a single movie clip is limited to 20 seconds
*7: The maximum recording time for a single movie clip is limited to 29 minutes. Recording will automatically stop once the file size has reached 4GB
*8: Select from 1080p, 720p and VGA

U.S. Pricing and Availability
The Olympus STYLUS SH-1 will be available in May at an estimated street price of $399.99 (available in Black, White and Silver).
For a complete list of specifications, visit the Olympus website: http://www.getolympus.com/us/en/digitalcameras/long-zoom/sh-1.html.

Journalists interested in more information, review units and high-resolution images of the Olympus STYLUS SH-1 should contact Elin Boman, Mullen Public Relations, 212-885-3266, elin.boman@mullen.com, or Jennifer Colucci, Olympus Imaging America Inc., 484-896-5719, jennifer.colucci@olympus.com, or visit the Olympus website: http://asset.olympusamerica.com/login/.

ABOUT OLYMPUS IMAGING AMERICA INC.
Olympus Imaging America Inc. is a leading provider of digital imaging and audio technology solutions, noted for their precision optics and ground-breaking technologies.

For more than 90 years, Olympus has innovated and developed best-in-class products that expand the boundaries of product design and functionality, empowering consumers and professionals alike to capture their stories. These include:

For more information about Olympus and their award-winning products, please visit www.getolympus.com or connect with us and other fans like you through our social and photographic communities: @getolympus on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest,Instagram and Flickr, as well as at www.penready.com.

Specifications and design are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.

All trademarks and registered trademarks listed herein are the property of their respective holders, in the U.S. and/or other countries.

©2014 Olympus Imaging America Inc.

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Canon celebrates production of 250 million digital cameras

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TOKYO, Japan, March 27, 2014—Canon Inc. today celebrated a camera-manufacturing milestone as combined production of the Company’s compact digital and interchangeable-lens digital cameras surpassed 250 million units on January 31, 2014

Canon EOS 70D Digital Camera

The EOS 70D, featuring
innovative autofocus technology

Canon Powershot G1 X Mark II Digital Camera

The PowerShot G1 X Mark II,
targeting the highest levels
of imaging performance

Canon, a company that has continuously produced cameras since its founding in 1937, began producing and marketing digital cameras in the mid 1990s. In 1995, when film cameras were still the norm, Canon launched its first digital camera, the professional-model EOS DCS 3* digital SLR camera.

At the time, compact cameras were leading the digital shift within the camera industry. In 1996, Canon announced its market entry with the introduction of the PowerShot 600, the Company’s first compact digital camera. In 2000, amid the market’s rapid growth, Canon launched the IXY DIGITAL (PowerShot S100 or DIGITAL IXUS in markets outside of Japan), featuring a ground-breaking compact, stylish body design that set the trend for compact digital cameras.

Subsequent models released by the Company reflected the diverse evolution of compact digital cameras with models becoming increasingly compact and lightweight, achieving higher sensitivity, incorporating more enhanced automatic functions, and realizing greater network connectivity. This evolution fueled robust growth as Canon’s cumulative production of compact digital cameras surpassed the 100-million-unit mark in 2008, and broke through the 200-million-unit threshold in December 2013. Aiming to further extend its production volume, in 2014 Canon launched a new lineup of compact digital cameras that let users enjoy high value-added photography, including the PowerShot G1 X Mark II, designed to deliver the highest levels of imaging performance, and the new-concept-model PowerShot N100.

As for interchangeable-lens digital cameras, while the market in the mid 1990s had consisted primarily of professional models, with the start of the 2000s, the segment rapidly took off. In 2000, Canon launched the EOS D30, developed as a “next-generation standard digital SLR camera” to satisfy the needs of a wide user base, from advanced photo enthusiasts to professional users. In 2003, Canon again led the market with the introduction of the entry-level-model EOS Kiss Digital (EOS Digital Rebel or EOS 300D), which set the stage for dramatic expansion of the market.

Since that time, Canon has successively launched innovative products that capitalize on the Company’s strengths in CMOS sensors, image processors and EF lenses, such as the professional-model EOS-1 series and EOS 5D series targeting advanced-amateur users, as well as the compact-camera-system EOS M series. As a result, in 2005, production of Canon interchangeable-lens digital cameras reached 25 million units and, in February 2014, surpassed 50 million units. Among the new products worthy of note that contributed to the realization of this milestone were the EOS 70D, featuring innovative Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocus technology, and the entry-level EOS Kiss X7 (EOS Rebel SL1 or EOS 100D), which combines a ground-breaking compact, lightweight body design with advanced basic performance.

Canon will continue to refine its diverse imaging technologies based on its core optical technologies, striving to produce exceptional and reliable cameras and lenses that cater to the varying needs of photographers—from first-time users to advanced amateurs and professionals—while contributing to expanding the culture of photographic and video imaging.

* The EOS DCS 3, jointly developed by Canon and Eastman Kodak, was also sold under the Kodak brand.

 

Buying a camera: everything you need to know

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By: By David Pierce and Vlad Savov (www.theverge.com)

Cameras are everywhere. There’s one in your laptop, two in your phone, and probably a pair in your tablet that you’ve never used. There’s maybe one in your doorbell, even, or strapped to your head while you bomb the slopes. We’re taking more pictures in more ways and sharing them in more places than ever. Yet most of us use our cameras with the bare minimum of knowledge, just pointing and shooting and hoping for an Instagrammable moment. And even if you’re buying a camera because you’re ready to move beyond your iPhone and take pictures you’ll want to save forever, it’s hard to know what to do.

Camera companies don’t exactly make life easy, either. Spec sheets are laden with alien terms like ISO and f-numbers, and once you manage to get a grasp on what they mean, you’re still confronted with a spectacular variety of options. So we’ve put together this guide to help you navigate the quagmire of excess information, acronyms, and jargon. It’ll enlighten you about which specs are important when, and what cameras are suitable for whom. Sound good? Then read on!

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