Category Archives: Point and Shoot

Point and Shoot

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.

New Google Camera App available for Android Kitcat 4.4+

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Google has just released the new standalone Google Camera App for Android 4.4+ (Kitcat) devices (Nexus 7, 10 Tablets and Nexus 5 Phone)

From their description:
Google Camera snaps quick and easy photos and videos, and has creative picture modes like Photo Sphere, Lens Blur and Panorama.Features
• Photo Spheres for immersive 360º views
• Lens Blur mode for SLR-like photos with shallow depth of field
• Panorama mode with high resolution
• 100% viewfinder for getting the maximum resolution from the sensor (no dropped pixels)
• Updated UI that gets out of your way and is centered on an extra large capture button
• Works on phones and tablets running Android 4.4+ KitKat. If you have any of the compatible devices it is well worth checking out.

Here’s a link to a post by: Carlos Hernández at the Google research blog, explaining the lens blur feature. Really cool stuff. Check it out!.

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.

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!

Full article at the source>

Digital Compact Camera Nikon COOLPIX P600/P530/P340

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Multi-functional models, one offering 42x optical zoom and one offering 60x optical zoom, the highest zoom ratio in COOLPIX history
A model equipped with a large 1/1.7-inch backside illumination CMOS sensor and a fast lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8

TOKYO – Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the release of three new COOLPIX P-series models, the P600, P530, and P340. The COOLPIX P series is a line of multi-functional, high-performance compact digital cameras that enable full-scale photography.

Nikon P600

Nikon P600

Nikon P530

Nikon P530

The P600 and P530 are compact models equipped with high zoom-ratio lenses that support capture of a wide variety of scenes with a single camera. Despite being equipped with a 60x (up to 120x*1 with Dynamic Fine Zoom) optical zoom NIKKOR lens offering the highest zoom ratio in COOLPIX history with coverage of a broad range of angles of view, from the wide-angle 24mm to super-telephoto 1440mm (equivalent focal lengths in 35mm [135] format), the P600 is very compact. The NIKKOR lens built into the P600 is also the first COOLPIX lens for which a super ED lens element has been adopted for superior image quality. The P530 is equipped with a 42x (up to 84x*1 with Dynamic Fine Zoom) optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers a broad range of angles of view from wide-angle 24mm to super-telephoto 1000mm (equivalent focal lengths in 35mm [135] format), and a high-resolution, 3-inch, approximately 921k-dot TFT LCD monitor with wide viewing angle. New scene modes, Moon and Bird-watching, have been added to both of these models, allowing users to easily enjoy super-telephoto photography. In addition, these cameras are equipped with a high-performance lens-shift vibration reduction (VR) function that offers camera shake compensation equivalent to a shutter speed 3.5-stops*2 faster and an Active option for effective reduction of blur caused by camera shake with recording of still images and movies. Offering faster AF and a shorter shooting time lag, these cameras ensure capture of the desired moment with quick and nimble focusing. On its own, each of these compact cameras is packed with advanced functions that support photography of a wide variety of scenes, from super-telephoto to wide-angle and macro photography.

Nikon P340

Nikon P340

The P340 features a simple, refined design, and its combination of a fast lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 and large, 1/1.7-inch backside illumination CMOS sensor achieves superior rendering characteristics. It is equipped with a 5x (up to 10x*1 with Dynamic Fine Zoom) optical zoom NIKKOR lens that covers the wide-angle 24mm to telephoto 120mm range of angles of view (equivalent focal lengths in 35mm [135] format) that also enables macro photography as close as 2 cm to the lens. It offers superior operation with adoption of a control ring around the lens barrel, to which a variety of functions can be assigned, and which can be used to fine-tune effects applied in scene modes and Special Effects mode.

In addition, the P600 and P340 offer built-in Wi-Fi® that can be used to easily transfer photos to a smart device for sharing with others*3. This allows users to enjoy connecting with others through their photos after they are taken.

  • *1At the maximum image size.
  • *2Measured at approximately 350mm (equivalent in 35mm [135] format) in accordance with CIPA standards.
  • *3The Wireless Mobile Utility app must first be installed on the smart device (the app can be downloaded free of charge from the smart device’s app store), and Wi-Fi® connection settings must be applied before image transfer is possible.

Full article at source>