Technology Vessel

There’s something for everyone in Olympus’ Spring 2009 lineup: the nine cameras announced today include point-and-shoots for all budgets, a 26X superzoom, and several rugged models, an Olympus specialty.

Budget Point-and-Shoots

Fe-5010The FE-3000 ($139), FE-3010 ($149), and FE-5010 ($189, pictured at right) all have  Intelligent Auto mode, face detection for up to 16 faces, in-camera help guides, an LCD backlight boost for viewing images in bright light, and a rechargeable battery, a feature that’s still not standard on budget cameras (or even mid-range ones, for that matter).

The FE-3000 has 10-megapixel resolution, 3X optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD, and 16 scene modes; the FE-3010, meanwhile, includes a resolution bump (12-MP) and a slimmer (0.7-inch thick) design. Both models have digital image stabilization.

The FE-5010 also has 12-MP resolution and a 2.7-inch screen, but its lens has 5X optical zoom. It also has dual image stabilization, which is more effective than digital IS.

Read the rest of this entry »

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.

CES 2009 lineup principal of the Kodak Z980 is a 24x superzoom. The 12 MP camera ($ 399, March) is designed for experienced photographers, with vertical grip, manual controls, and Shue hot for optional Kodak P20 Flash.

Kodak expected to present an attractive alternative to digital SLRs, which are even more expensive. To begin, you 720p video recording, a feature for which you have to pay a lot of money in a digital SLR.

At the other end of the spectrum, Kodak has announced three new additions to its M series of budget situation: M380 ($ 179), M340 ($ 149) and M320 ($ 129). Both M380 and M340 are 10-PD, but they have 5x optical zoom and 3x respectively. The M320 is 9 PM-with 3x optical zoom. Everyone has a 2.7 inch LCD.

The M380 and M340 will be available in March, the M320, in February.

Last year, Kodak Zi6 won the election of our editors, including the Pure Digital Flip Thunder series, which launched the category of pocket camcorders. Now, Kodak has added a second model to its line: the waterproof Zx1 ($ 149).

The rugged camcorder that will not ship until April, is not intended to be submerged in water, but rather lead aerosol. At 2 inches, the screen is much smaller than the Zi6, which is 2.4 inches. The Zx1 not replace the Zi6, the program complete it.

Since the Zi6, the 720p video Zx1 30 or 60 frames per second (Kodak is still the only company that offers 60 frames per second shooting in pocket cams).

It also takes pictures of 3 MP, but lacks the Zi6 dedicated macro mode. AA rechargeable batteries are also read SD cards the size of 32 GB, and an HDMI output, cable included. It will be available in red, black, blue, pink and yellow.

Only three weeks after the launch of the Alpha DSLR-A200, the monitoring of its first digital SLR, the Alpha DSLR-A100, Sony introduced two models for more advanced users: the Alpha DSLR-A300 ($ 799 U.S. April) and Alpha DSLR-A350 ($ 899, March).

The big news is that these cameras are the first Sony DSLR line to include Live View shooting, which allows users to frame photos on the LCD. For all the sports photographers you curious about upgrading to a DSLR, it is not a standard feature, as it is to point and shoot.

The disadvantage is that the Live View mode, with many brands, which undermines the ability of the camera to take pictures quickly and processes. 10.2 The two A300 and A350 MP 14.2 MP image sensor has a dedicated live, so do not take advantage of the resources to actually take pictures. To begin with, both models have a 2.7-inch variable angle LCD for easy framing.

We liked the A100 slim, and these two models are very rare, and have a cluttered interface. Like previous models, have a level of anti-dust up to ISO 3200, support for JPEG and RAW, and a CompactFlash card slot.

If you have extra money to blow, Sony also introduced two high-end lenses to be available in April: SAL2470Z ($ 1,750) and SAL70300G ($ 799). Otherwise, both the A300 and A350 will be sold in a kit.

Verizon last Android phone in his name for a fast processor, strong 8-megapixel camera, excellent screen and a friendly interface HTC multitasking.

Motorola Droid owners now have a reason to be jealous. Verizon third and probably the best phone HTC Droid Droid is incredible, a powered device Android 2.1 with an updated version of the HTC interface is the sense. Incredible trackpad sport a stylish black and red, optical trackball instead of one, and a bright 3.7-inch 480 x 800 AMOLED capacitive touch screen. If this is not enough, the incredible comes with a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, an 8-MP camera strong and the ability to unite the right of the box (take that, iPhone). Even if we have complaints, and the $ 199 price will be too strong for some, throughout the Incredible is a smartphone sweet.
Design

Awesome is a beautiful phone black with red accents (ie, its ties to Verizon). It measures 4.6 x 2.3 x 0.5 inches, which makes it very portable, thin and weighs 4.6 oz. It is much lighter than the droid Motorola (6 ounces), but the same weight as the GSM version of the One Nexus. He felt light enough that sometimes we notice in our pocket. At the top, there is a headphone jack and 3.5mm power button, which serves as a button Sleep / wake when the phone is switched on. The right side of the unit is clean and free of buttons, sailed houses a micro-USB port and a volume rocker.

When you return the most incredible and look in the back, things start to look busy. There is a large chamber, 8-megapixel camera with dual LED flash red sitting on a plate with an odd number, terraced design that resembles a topographical map. We wonder if the peaks and raises the example of a design feature of arbitrariness, but when you remove the battery cover emblazoned HTC, you will find that they are there because the interior of the phone. He was also hit with more red than you’ve ever seen in a camera both inside and battery are bright red. You either love it or hate it.

Read the rest of this entry »