Technology Vessel

Today, Pentax announced two new additions to its line of Optio point-and-shoot, the two that cost less than two hundred dollars. The P70 ($ 199, pictured right), most elegant of the two cameras, 12 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch LCD and 4x optical zoom (28mm lens should allow a few broad strokes Nice, too).

The other features include face detection rapidly to 32 faces ISO up to 6400, Smile Capture, Blink Detection, video recording and 720p (although at a slower speed of 15 frames per second). Vertical as a supplement allows you to use the navigation pad to four lanes to take pictures as you would on a phone. The metal will be available in February P70 white, red and silver.

As for the E70 ($ 139) is the most entry-level and entry level are: has a resolution of 10 MP, 3x optical zoom and a 2.4 inch LCD screen and must be AA.

However, it shares some features with the P70, including early detection Face detection, capture blinks and smiles. We like automatic image Pentax select one of the seven automatic scene modes (we may recall, not long ago, when Intelligent Auto modes are a feature of point and shoot).

The E70 will be available in February and will be available in Champagne, Red and Blue Deep.

On the basis of programming new camcorder from Canon, announced this morning, two things are clear: the company focuses on high definition format and Flash in particular. And if this is the first Canon camcorders with a bit rate of 24 Mbps peak, remains one of the outlets of the top line.

Canon has also introduced a faster DIGIC DV III and a new HD CMOS sensor, which allows instant autofocus (AF). We have seen demonstrations of this past November, the rapid response time is impressive.

As for ease of use, Canon has introduced Video Snapshot Mode that captures clips of four seconds, users can join, with music, create slide shows video. If you’re never sure when to stop filming, this is for you. Note: This feature is only available in flash models.

Canon is trying to decide the price of these models. For now, here’s a summary of the models and their characteristics.

High Definition Models

Except for the HV40, all new Vixia HD camcorders have a bit rate of 24Mbps maxiumum, and they all have optical image stabilization (IS) and Instant AF. As for standard-definition models, each with a 2.7-inch LCD screen that the powers of the camcorder by opening overthrown.

VIXIA-luxury are HFS10 Vixia hf20At (pictured above) and VIXIA HF20 (right), two Full HD flash templates that run on the new DV DIGIC III processor and the latest CMOS sensor. Although both have a 10X optical zoom, video and instant pre-registration modes and face detection, the HFS10 has 32 GB of internal memory, while the HF20 does not (only an SD / SDHC).

The first flash model high-definition Vixia HFS100 has a 10X optical zoom, and shoots 6-MP video and images 8-MP. The Vixia HF200 (right) updates 15x optical zoom, but the MP-2.99 shoots video and 3.3 MP picture. At 12 ounces, the HF200 is 3.9 ounces lighter than HFS100. Both have face detection, movie mode Flash mode, pre-registration, and an LED flashlight.

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Thank you for the price, stylish, compact and utility, digital cameras are perennial crowd pleasers of holidays and gift gifters same. And yet, there is the possibility that the recipient will be disappointed.

On the one hand, there is a reason camera market is so crowded: there are different types of cameras and, in this context, various specifications of the packages, which cater to all photographers serious type of person who loves to write vague albums Facebook. Chances are you’re somewhere in between.

Then there is the aesthetic component. People express allegiance to the flag with the cameras as they do with laptops. Finally, people have the habit of asking for things for the holidays when they have actually done research and have an idea of what model they want. With digital cameras, a product most people understand, it’s pretty easy to do.

This seems to be what happened to a reader, who received an Olympus FE-370 ($ 179), but is considering negotiating for a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5 ($ 199). Welcome to today’s edition of “keep or throw?”

Panasonic Lumix DMC – fs5Disclaimer: we have not examined more of these cameras. And we gave both low light and views from various cameras Olympus and Panasonic, so you do not hear an expression of brand loyalty on our part.

Let’s start with the specifications, then: The FE-370 has 8.0 megapixels, dual image stabilization (IS), 5x optical zoom, Face Detection, Intelligent Auto Mode, smiles, 19 scene modes and an LCD screen 2 7. Like all Olympus xD-should the size of their business.

The FS5 is a 10.1 megapixel, optical image stabilization, 4x optical zoom, face detection, intelligent auto mode, 23 scene modes and a 2.5-inch LCD screen. It is possible that a MultiMediaCard (MMC) or SD cards.

On most counts, the two devices correspond, 8.0 and 10.1 megapixel formats are clear enough to produce 4 x 6 and 8 x 10 prints yet. One objective 5X is more versatile than a 4X objective, of course, but even 4x is more than enough for shooting range in or near.

As for the difference in the size of the LCD, which should not be a deal-breaker here. (In the case of the Canon Powershot SD880 IS, however, which has a 3 inch screen and an accelerometer, much less touch-screen models, the screen is a bigger selling point.)

This leaves two key factors. First is the stabilization of the image. This is one of the most important features to consider when buying a camera, but the lenses of the companies do not play until all the gadgets, the resolution and face detection.

Well I’m here to tell you optical image stabilization, hands down, better than digital stabilization or duplicate the net, blurry images. Not depends on many scene modes have a camera, or even if it is wise you can choose the most suitable for you, if the IS is the blurry pictures, going to look bad anyway.

Finally, the memory card slot could be a deal-breaker for some people. The xD format only works with Olympus cameras, not all laptops slots “memory card reader. EA, meanwhile, is the format in place. If you want you can buy a card and use the camera and camcorder. And since your laptop probably has an SD card slot (sorry Mac fanboys), you can upload your photos and the faster the process.

The bottom line: I would say you should take the FE-370 and get FS5 place. Not only because that’s what I prefer. But it seems to me, my friend, you’ve done your homework, and I wanted the camera from the beginning. This will address you.

It is not a digital SLR, and certainly not a point and shoot Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, announced today it is the smallest camera with interchangeable lenses. Because it gives you a mirror for the internal digital SLR Micro Four Thirds system, the body weighs only 0.85 pounds rare. It also saves space by using an electronic system, and no optical viewfinder. According to Panasonic, the G1 is for people who are now extinct forms of large digital SLR but want a comparable image quality.

According to Panasonic, the G1 is also the first camera with interchangeable lenses come in a variety of colors: users can buy it in black, red or blue. The 12.1 megapixel camera has a 3-inch LCD screen 100 percent field of view and which rotates 180 degrees. Other features you expect from a camera of this caliber: Optical Image Stabilizer, Intelligent Auto mode (including Intelligent ISO, Intelligent Exposure and Intelligent Scene Selector and Face Detection up to 15 faces). It also has an HDMI output and a dust reduction system vibrates. The G1 comes with a 14-55mm objective.

The price of the G1 will be announced in October. Check the pics after the jump.

Stealing a page programming Sony, Pentax, with its new Optio V20 point andPentax shoot, the Optio V20 ($ 279) with smile detection. Sony has improved, too, and threw the blink detection. The camera also has 8 megapixels with 5x optical zoom, a 3-inch LCD screen, Face Detection and Auto-Macro mode for close fast.

As the technology of Sony, Pentax Smile detection automatically detects the shutter when subjects happy. blink detection has nothing to do with the trigger, but warns him blinkage after suffering a blow. This seems a bit unnecessary since you already have a large 3-inch LCD screen on which to read the images. Following the detection of flicker, simply means that you do not choose the playback mode before shouting: “No!”

As for its range of camcorders announced at CES earlier this month, Sony, AOS eight new digital cameras offer a stability of the new features using almost any price.

The line includes eight cameras, including models with two levels of entry and an ultra. The high-end models offer new features like Smile Shutter Mode Intelligent Scene Recognition and while budgets have become the Face Detection and rechargeable batteries.

The DSC-T300 ($ 399, March), digital cameras highest range unveiled today has 10.1 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, large 3.5 inch LCD screen, and many new features, including a recognition Improved face, which differentiates between adults and children, and Smart shutter mode, you take a picture when it detects a smile, without the user having to press the shutter release, and users can set this mode so that it responds only when children and adults smile. Sony AOS new intelligent scene recognition (ISCN) lets the camera automatically selects the optimal scene mode, given the configuration of lighting and the environment it finds. The T300 also includes Sony, AM D-Range Optimizer (DRO), which improves details in the photos taken with a backlight difficult.

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Expected Olympus Stylus 1030 SW you take with you on your next vacation (or, you know, the North Pole expedition): Strong and shoot, today announced it is shockproof, waterproof, freeze up the bumps and dust.

The camera, which Olympus calls the “most difficult point and shoot camera in the world” can withstand drops from 6.6 meters, immersion in water up to 33 feet, 220 pounds collapse of pressure and temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spec-wise, the 1030 SW has 10.1 megapixels, 3.6x optical zoom wide, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, face detection, digital image stabilization in camera editing, and xD slot microSD with an adapter . It will be available in March for $ 399.

Olympus has also added four models to its range of entry level FE: FE-310 ($ 149), FE-320 ($ 179), FE-340 ($ 199) and FE-350 ($ 249). All will be available this month, and have an eight-megapixel resolution Face Detection, digital image stabilization, Perfect Shot Preview guides, and help in camera.

The FE-310, the cheapest of the group, has 5x optical zoom, not bad for a $ 150 device. The FE-320 (3x) and FE-340 (5 times), offers a fine and colorful, respectively. Each pre-set modes including shooting and shooting Smile, which detects smiles and takes three consecutive shots. The FE-320 FE-340 FE-350 includes all in-camera red-eye correction and lighting. The FE-350 features a wide angle 4x optical zoom and a large 3 inch screen, ideal for people who enjoy your camera to your surroundings.