Digital Cameras

Nikon Coolpix L1 Digital Camera
NIKON’S NEW COOLPIX L1 POINT-AND-SHOOT CAMERA COMBINES SOPHISTICATED FEATURES WITH A 5X OPTICAL ZOOM

New Six-Megapixel Compact Camera Delivers Impressive Functions with Easy-to-Use Operation

Joining Nikon’s award winning Coolpix line of compact digital cameras is the new Coolpix L1. Compact and lightweight, the six-megapixel L1 offers 5x optical zoom performance, an incredibly, bright 2.5-inch LCD, and a host of advanced in-camera features for crisp, clear photos with the press of a button.

“The Coolpix L1 is an ideal camera for the first-time through step up user,” says Bill Giordano, General Manager of Marketing ¬¬¬for Nikon, Inc. “Not only does this camera take fantastic pictures, but it actually helps users compose shots, fix red-eye, compensate for undesirable lighting conditions, and much more.”
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Nikon Coolpix S3 Digital Camera

NEW COOLPIX S3 DIGITAL CAMERA PUTS SIX STYLISH MEGAPIXELS IN YOUR POCKET

Building on the popularity of the S Series of Coolpix digital cameras, Nikon introduced the new Coolpix S3 – a 6-megapixel camera that delivers high shooting power and image quality in a sleek and ultra-portable package. Like the Coolpix S1 and S2 before it, the new Matte Black Metal-body Coolpix S3 boasts a 2.5“ LCD screen and Nikon’s exclusive feature system, including D-Lighting for fixing dark pictures in the camera, the exclusive Face Priority AF (Auto Focus) for automatic face-finding focus and getting great portraits and In-Camera Red-Eye Fix to remove most instances of red-eye in the camera. The Coolpix S3 provides consumers with top-notch performance and the look to match.

”The new Coolpix S3 provides Nikon’s state-of-the-art technology to consumers in a shirt pocket sized design that offers efficient and responsive shooting for all levels of photographers,“ said Bill Giordano, General Manager of Marketing for Nikon, Inc. ”The Coolpix S3’s intuitive features make the camera a perfect choice for consumers looking to capture those unexpected moments…and look good doing so.“

Improved Performance for Great Pictures
More efficiency and fast performance can only mean one thing – more shots! With the ability to take up to 190 shots from the included rechargeable Li-ion battery*, improved start-up time, and continuous shooting mode, the new Coolpix S3 allows for more shots to be captured than ever before. This superior engineering is paired with a range of Nikon’s unique in-camera functions and 17 different scene modes that help make a perfect moment into a perfect photo with the click of a button.
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New Olympus Stylus 600 Delivers Superior Performance In Compact, All-weather Design

Premium Size 2.5-Inch LCD, 6-Megapixel CCD, and All-Weather Design with New Features and Functions

Defined by all-weather durability and stylish ergonomic design, the Olympus Stylus series of digital cameras are among the most popular point-and-shoot cameras in history. The new Stylus 600 continues this tradition, adding advanced performance and enhanced usability with the new Bright Capture Technology for improved low light photography and the inclusion of a premium size 2.5-inch LCD, as well as the TruePic TURBO Image Processor for high image quality and fast response time, 26 shooting modes for versatility, a built-in Help Guide for on-the-fly instruction, and a 6.0-megapixel image sensor for high-resolution large format prints.

“Over the years, Stylus cameras have come to enjoy a legacy as the best selling point-and-shoot camera in history,” said Tomoko Matsunaga, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The Stylus 600 continues the Stylus tradition of all-weather durability and stylish compact design, adding new features for added performance and enhanced usability.”
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Here is a new 7.1 megapixel digital camera from Olympus : SP-310 features a 2.5inch LCD and 3x Optical Zoom, 25 megabytes of internal memory, xD Picture Card, USB 2.0 connectivity and 30 shooting modes.

From Olympus SP-310 news release:

New SP-310 and SP-350 Offers Advanced Manual Controls, 30 Shooting Modes and a Large 2.5-Inch Premium Size LCD

With the release of two new SP-series digital cameras, the 7.0-megapixel SP-310 and the 8.o-megapixel SP-350, Olympus introduces state-of-the-art specialized features that enable photographers of all skill levels to express their creative vision. Both cameras offer the option of either manual settings for creative control or 30 selectable shooting modes for convenience and ease-of-use, along with optional add-on accessory lenses, an optional underwater housing, and a large, easy-to-view 2.5-inch premium size LCD. The SP-310 and SP-350 are highly versatile cameras, powerful enough to satisfy the creative needs of the advanced user, and expansive enough to grow as users develop their talent.

“With the new SP-series digital cameras, Olympus offers a selection of cameras that are specifically designed for users with a variety of needs and photography skills,” said John McGuire, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The SP-310 and SP-350 each offer users the versatility of an advanced fully-featured camera and an easy-to-use point-and-shoot in one compact unit.”
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Luminous Landscape’s first impression review of the Canon 5D digital camera: “The easiest way to visualize a 5D is to imagine a Canon 20D that has a somewhat thicker body and larger prism. Because this is a full-frame camera the mirror box needs to be larger than that in a 1.6X factor body, as does the prism, and so the body is somewhat fatter and slightly taller. Indeed, if you mount the accessory battery grip the 5D and the 1Ds MKII is quite similar in size, if not in weight. Note though that while the 5D is based on the paradigm of the 20D, it is a completely new body size.”
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Canon EOS 5D News Release

Canon, a leader in photographic and imaging technology, announces the 12.8 Megapixel EOS 5D, creating a new D-SLR category combining a full frame CMOS sensor with a lightweight, compact magnesium alloy body. Weighing just 810 grams, it features a second generation 35.8 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor, 3 frame per second, 60 Large JPEG frame burst and 0.2 second start up time operation.

Equivalent in size to a frame of 35mm film, the camera’s 35.8 x 23.9 mm CMOS sensor gives photographers a full angle of view without magnification or cropping effect. It provides tighter control over depth of field and improves image quality by capturing more light with its large pixels.

“The discreet full frame EOS 5D is the camera many photojournalists and agencies have been asking us for,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “It will be an indispensable piece of equipment for a wide range of professionals – from contemporary wedding to reportage photographers.”

Marking five years since Canon’s first CMOS image sensor appeared in the EOS D30, the release represents Canon’s fifth new CMOS sensor to be released since April 2004. “CMOS sensors are a critical technology advantage driving Canon’s rapid digital SLR development,” remarked Jensen.

Canon EOS 5D Key features
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Canon Powershot A620

Canon, a leader in photographic and imaging technology, announced its latest high performance compact digital still cameras, the PowerShot A620 and PowerShot A610. With 7.1 and 5.0 Megapixels, respectively, the cameras incorporate a host of high-end features normally reserved for G-series PowerShots. DIGIC II processors drive a fast, responsive performance, and – in combination with the cameras’ 4x optical zoom lenses – deliver superior image quality. A wide range of manual, automatic and special scene modes offer flexibility, creative control, and simplicity when required.

The A620 and A610 digital cameras are both equipped with a Print/Share button, PictBridge printing as well as ID Photo Print and Movie Print . USB 2.0 Hi-Speed connections provide for high-speed transfer of image data.

The cameras also feature a 2.0“ vari-angle LCD, My Colors, and a macro mode that allows photographers to get as close as 1 cm. VGA movies at 30 fps can be created with both models. A complete range of optional accessories, including wide and tele-converters and waterproof case, extends shooting flexibility. A comprehensive software suite is provided as standard.
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Photoxels reviews the Kodak EasyShare V550 Zoom and writes :

“The Kodak EasyShare V550 Zoom is elegant in its all-metal ultra compact body with a SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH C-VARIOGON 3x optical zoom. It is strictly a Point-and-Shoot camera with Auto and scene modes and everything is designed for easy use.

The Kodak V550 is compact enough to fit in your pocket; those with large hands would want to try out its small control buttons first. An extra large 2.5 in. LCD monitor with 230,000 pixels high resolution and a wide 170° viewing angle makes viewing pictures easy. Standard is a docking station that recharges the camera’s battery and also serves as a convenient stand for viewing your pictures hands free: press the Slide Show button on the docking station and your captured pictures automatically plays.

‘The Kodak EasyShare V550 Zoom is basically a P&S digital camera that gives well exposed, vivid and sharpened images straight out of the camera. Though it allows some manual adjustments, I wouldn’t count on them too much because they are limited. Add the optional Printer Dock Series 3 printer and you have One-Touch facility in printing 4×6 in. prints in the convenience of your home.”

PC Magazine features a Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro digital camera review and writes:

Like the Fujifilm FinePix S2 Pro before it, the new Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro is built on the Nikon N80 film SLR chassis—one of the most enjoyable cameras to hold. Because the N80 is a plastic-bodied camera, however, it’s not as rugged as other pro cameras, such as the Nikon D2X, which has a harder magnesium-alloy body. It’s just one of the ways in which the S3 Pro seems to exhibit an identity problem: Is it an expensive consumer digital SLR or a cheaper alternative to the high-priced pro D-SLRs? That’s a question that you may have to answer for yourself, depending on your needs.

For the excellent picture quality, the wide dynamic range and lots of control over settings, Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro digital camera gets 4 points (out of ten) on this review.

There is a new Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 Review from Steves Digicams : “The overall image quality was average for a 5-megapixel consumer camera. Outdoors it produced good results, with the majority of our sample images being relatively sharp and showing good color balance. The exposure system did well under most conditions, however it did have some problems with subjects that were illuminated by bright sunlight. You can see what I mean by looking at the Army canon shot on our samples page. We noticed average amounts of noise in both high and low contrast areas, but virtually no signs of chromatic aberration (purple fringing.) Indoors, its flash has a range of about 8 feet when using ISO Auto. I found it was adequate for most interior shooting. The X60 did very well at macro photography. You can focus on a subject at about 4 inches (0.1m) from the lens or get as close as 2 inches (0.05m) with its Super Macro mode. It also controls the flash well by “throttling down” to ensure you don’t overexpose the subject. This would be handy when shooting product shots of items for inclusion at online auctions.

The X60 can also record video at QVGA resolution (320×240) at either 15 or 30 frames per second with sound. Because sound is recorded, you may use the optical zoom before recording but not during. There’s a variety of options when using Movie mode, it allows you to adjust white balance, exposure compensation and color modes. I was pleased with our movie samples, they were sharp and showed very little compression artifacts.

Bottom line - the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 is a worthy competitor in the 5-megapixel ultra-compact and durable class. It should make a good choice for anyone who wants a simple point-n-shoot, with good image quality, speedy performance and can be carried in any size pocket or purse. Its Large/Fine images have plenty of resolution to create high-quality 8×10-inch or larger prints. With a street price of around $300 it offers a good value.”