Archive for August, 2006
The Ricoh GR Digital is an 8.13 megapixel (CCD) digital camera with a 28mm F2.4 fixed focal length lens and 2.5inch LCD. The Ricoh GR Digital is built in the style of the popular 35mm analogue GR series and is being touted as a high quality camera.
Review by LetsGoDigital
Some time ago we were informed about a new digital camera. In all these years since we have been around we have seen quite a number of cameras, and to be honest, most of them are not that exciting at all. Some models are developed just to function as a follow-up without any new features or improvements at all, just a new colour and a new name. Other models are claimed to be revolutionary, but seem to have been developed without any real inspiration or even passion. Today, we give you an exclusive preview of a digital camera that is developed from the heart and mind of a photographer, for a photographer… The Ricoh GR Digital is a camera that awakens old memories and reminds you of those days when film was the universal platform instead of a flash card. The sample we have used for our preview is not a final sample, although close to a full production model. Therefore some very minor things could change in the end. Enjoy reading the preview of Ricoh’s top model, a digital version of the well-known GR camera series Ricoh GR Digital.
Review by TrustedReviews
Anyone who’s looked into buying a digital camera recently will have noticed that the biggest defining characteristic of the range of cameras on offer is conformity. Every manufacturer’s range is pretty much exactly like that of their competitors in terms of size, specification and price. In a market dominated by mid-range 3x zoom 6MP compacts, it’s a brave company indeed that breaks the mould and launches something completely original. However with the introduction of the GR Digital, Ricoh has done exactly that.
Review by Digital-Lifestyles
If you’re looking for an auto everything camera with a zillion hand-holding scene modes, big pretty icons and more wizards than a cauldron convention, this isn’t the camera for you.
If you’re after a camera with a ginormous zoom able to sweep in and capture the delicate fluttering of a wasp’s wings from 300 yards, move on.
Ricoh GR Digital Camera Review (90%) And if you like your cameras to look mean’n'lean with big shiny lenses, all-swivellin’, flip-out LCD screens with hi-tech add-ons like optical image stabilisation and bleeping bells’n'whistles, walk on by.
You want to zoom in to a scene? Well, get walking because there’s no zoom at all, only a fixed wideangle lens.
Need to take a picture in a complex lighting situation? Then come back when you’ve learnt some photography basics because there’s no dial-full of scene modes to fall back on.
Review by Digital Photography Blog
Ricoh announced today the launch of the GR Digital, a newly developed professional-grade high-resolution compact digital camera. In addition to a CCD with 8,130,000 effective pixels, the new digital camera boasts superb resolution through a newly developed high-performance lens, image-processing algorithms, and other innovations, as well as low noise and low chromatic aberration.
The new GR Digital inherits the superb image quality that made the award winning GR Series (first launched in 1996) of 35mm compact film cameras so popular, as well as the depictive performance to satisfy professional photographers, distilled into a compact 25-mm thin body.
With a high-quality feel and superb expandability, this is the perfect tool for both professional photographers and advanced amateurs.
The Fuji FinePix S9100 updates their popular S9000 model with a few new features. Here are the specs on the S9100 (called the S9600 in some countries):
Specification
* 9.0 effective Megapixel SuperCCD HR sensor
* F2.8-4.9, 10.7X optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28 - 300 mm
* Improved focus speeds over S9000, especially in low light
* Revised image processor promises better sharpness and resolution
* 2.0″ LCD can move away from body and tilt (up from 1.8″ on the S9000)
* Manual zoom and focus rings
* Full manual controls; ISO range of 80 - 1600
* Features Fuji’s Picture Stabilization technology, which boosts the ISO sensitivity to avoid blurry photos
* Uses new i-Flash flash metering system (first seen on the FinePix F30)
* Dual memory card slots support both xD and CompactFlash Type II cards
* Hot shoe for external flash
* Now includes the Hyper-Utility HS-V2 RAW processing software
* Records movies at 640 x 480, 30 fps
* USB 2.0 High Speed support
* Uses four AA batteries; 320 shots per charge (with 2500 mAh NiMH cells)
Review by dpreview.com
Fujifilm today announced the release of the FinePix S9600, replacement to the critically acclaimed FinePix S9500 and the new flagship in Fujifilm’s range of ‘prosumer’ digital cameras. The new model features carefully considered modifications designed to improve image quality as well as making it easier to use and better performing in low light. Refinements include increased image sharpness, a more generous LCD screen, faster autofocus in low light and improvements to the camera’s flash capability. These features combine with existing Fujifilm technologies to result in user-friendliness more usually associated with compact digital cameras, and a performance to challenge entry-level digital SLRs.
An incredibly versatile camera designed for serious hobbyist and enthusiast photographers, the nine megapixel FinePix S9600 features Fujifilm’s successful Super CCD HR sensor and Real Photo Processor II, delivering IS0 1600 performance and enabling capture of crisp and clear images even in low light conditions.
Review by LetsGoDigital
Fujifilm S9100 camera - Stabilization
In addition, Fujifilm’s Picture Stabilization technology uses the heightened sensitivity of the Fujifilm S9100 and high-speed shutter settings to reduce blur caused by camera shake and subject movement. This easy-to-access feature is selectable on the mode dial and allows the FinePix S9100 to choose the correct light sensitivity and best-matching shutter speed automatically for the highest quality digital pictures. Due to ship in September, the Fujifilm FinePix S9100 will sell at a price of $599.
Review by Camera Town
The FinePix S9100 features a 10.7x Fujinon optical zoom lens, nine MegaPixel Fujifilm Super CCD sensor and ISO 80-1600 capabilities. The FinePix S9100 is aimed at photo enthusiasts who will benefit from its impressive zoom range, functionality, high light sensitivities and overall image quality.
The camera’s high sensitivity range, made possible by Fujifilm’s Real Photo Technology, enables FinePix S9100 users to capture images using natural light in a wide variety of lighting conditions. In addition, Fujifilm’s Picture Stabilization technology uses the heightened sensitivity of the FinePix S9100 and high-speed shutter settings to reduce blur caused by camera shake and subject movement. This easy-to-access feature is selectable on the mode dial and allows the FinePix S9100 to choose the correct light sensitivity and best-matching shutter speed automatically for the highest quality digital pictures.
One of the first reviews of the Samsung NV3 has been done by Pocket Lint and lets see what they have to say. They like the NV3 for its Styling, picture quality, ability to play MP3 and videos. What they didn’t like it was for its 7MP resolution which they feel is an overkill and the battery cover kept coming out!
he Samsung NV3 promises great imagery via its 7 MP image sensor and the onboard Advanced Shake Reduction (ASR) technology. The ASR technology not only enhances the image but also assures that there no blurry shots as it automatically compensates for hand shakes and poor lightening conditions. While the digicam may just measure about 3.7″ x 2.2″ x 0.7″ but it does sport a sufficiently large LCD which measures 2.5 inches. This one is just not a camera but also a bonafied multimedia player. The patented Digimax Converter software lets one play and enjoys movies and MP3 files on the go. NV3 can playback video formats like MPEG, AVI, MOV, WMV and ASF and audio formats like MP3 and WAV. The NV3 can record in VGA (640×480) at 30fps and includes options like Color Effect, Highlight, Photo Frame, Negative and Composite Shot. Scene modes include Night, Portrait, Children, Landscape, Close-up, Sunset, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow and Text Recognition.
Review by dpreview.com
Functioning as a high resolution 7.2 mega-pixel digital camera, the NV3 is both a luxurious and practical multimedia device sure to attract the next generation of digital photographers. Encased in a thin 17.5mm metal body, it also acts as an MP3 player using a special audio processing chip delivering 3D, Jazz, Rock, and other sound effects. Listen to the music via the built-in stereo speakers or included headphones. The NV3 includes a Portable Multimedia Player (PMP) to watch downloaded movies. The NV3 also doubles as a digital camcorder with MPEG-4 TVD (720×480) 20fps & VGA (640×480) 30fps, Auto Gain Control (AGC) technology minimizes zoom noise during video recording. A text viewer allows the user to read text on the LCD, or to use as an e-book, whilst the multi-tasking ability enables you to listen to music while taking pictures.
Review by CNET
All-in-one devices seem like a good idea on paper, but when they finally come out, they tend to disappoint. Historically, putting a camera together with an MP3 player cripples both functions. Samsung tries to change that with the NV3, a 7-megapixel snapshot camera with media-player capabilities.
The Samsung NV3’s stylish, metal, iPod-size body is not even an inch thick and weighs less than six ounces, making it eminently pocketable. Samsung hides stereo speakers under twin metal discs on the camera’s top edge. Both the power and shutter-release buttons, also atop the camera, are smaller than the speakers, and it might take a few tries before you train yourself not to press the speakers.
As a camera, the NV3 has fairly standard features for a high-end compact. Its 38mm-to-115mm-equivalent lens zooms entirely within the camera. The camera’s sole display is a 2.5-inch LCD screen that washes out easily in bright light. With both antishake and ISO 1,000 modes, the NV3 is well suited for low-light shooting. It also comes with a video mode that can capture MPEG-4 movies in both standard VGA and 720×480 wide-screen modes. While it can’t replace a dedicated camcorder, the movies are good enough for e-mailing and showing to friends.
Review by Pocket-Lint
People no longer want just good pictures when it comes to their digital camera, but to look good taking them as well. So can Samsung’s latest approach with its new NV series be the ticket to stealing the lead from more traditional market leaders like Canon? We get snapping to find out.
The Samsung NV3 is a slim-line digital camera that offers a whopping 7 megapixel resolution, a 3x optical zoom and a large clear bright (even in direct sunlight) 2.5 inch display.
Review by DCRP
The Samsung NV3 ($350) is one of three new models in the Korean mega-company’s new “NV” series of digital cameras. The NV3 is the ultra-compact of the bunch, offering a stylish metal body, a 7 Megapixel CCD, a 3X zoom lens, and a 2.5″ LCD display. The NV3 isn’t just a camera, though. It’s also a PMP — portable media player — and it can play MP3 music files as well as videos (that must be converted into a special format). In other words, this isn’t your typical ultra-compact camera.
Combining stunning performance with the convenience of Wi-Fi connectivity, the Digital IXUS WIRELESS embodies the IXUS ethos of cutting-edge design and innovative technology.
FEATURES
o Wireless enabled
o Stylish Slit & Frame design
o 5.0 MP CCD
o 3x optical zoom with UA lens
o DIGIC II and iSAPS
o 2.0″ LCD
o 14 shooting modes including VGA movies at 30fps
o PictBridge and Print/Share button
o USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
o Software and CANON iMAGE GATEWAY
Review by dpreview.com
Phil: Wireless (mostly WiFi) will be one of the ‘buzz items’ at PMA 2006, to me at least it’s a solution looking for a problem. At home transfers will be no faster than dropping the camera in a USB dock, there is as yet no public infrastructure in place for ‘out and about’ transfers (and no built-in browser means it’ll be difficult to login publicly) and when WiFi is enabled the small batteries in these compact cameras are likely to be sucked dry pretty quickly. There will of course be early adopters who will buy these models, personally I’d like to see manufacturers spending more R&D on important things like low-noise, high sensitivity sensors, better compact lenses, better automatic white balance and improved performance.
Review by PC PRO
IXUS was once a byword for tiny, but as it enters middle age the range is growing up. This is essentially our A-Listed IXUS 55 (see p42) with Wi-Fi features bolted onto one end, but while the screen has shrunk by half an inch and the optical viewfinder is painfully small, the body has grown by more than a centimetre. Everywhere else, it’s business as usual: the sensor delivers 5-megapixel snaps and movies up to 1GB in size, just like the IXUS 55. It also has the same bright f/2.8-f/4.9 lens and a respectable 35-105mm zoom when compared to a 35mm equivalent, while sensitivity runs from 50-400 ISO.
Review by LetsGoDigital
A sleek new Slit & Frame design complements the camera’s wireless capabilities while staying true to the iconic IXUS style. Appealing to admirers of high-tech elegance, the compact Digital IXUS WIRELESS sports a silver finish and incorporates a stylish blue LED that illuminates during wireless communication. Image quality is assured with a 5.0 Megapixel CCD sensor, a compact 3x optical zoom Ultra-high refractive index Aspherical (UA) lens and Canon’s second generation DIGIC II image processor. Other features include a bright 2.0″ LCD display and 14 shooting modes for creative experimentation.
Review by DCRP
The Canon PowerShot SD430 Digital ELPH Wireless ($499) has the longest name of any camera I’ve reviewed. It also happens to be Canon’s first PowerShot with built-in Wi-Fi technology, which allows you to send photos to your PC without touching a USB cable. You can transfer photos as they are taken, or later while reviewing them in playback mode. In the future you’ll also be able to send photos from one SD430 to another. Canon also throws in a wireless printer adapter, which allows you to print wirelessly from the SD430 to any PictBridge-enabled photo printer.
Aside from the Wi-Fi, the SD430 is a lot like the PowerShot SD400, with a 5 Megapixel CCD, 2″ LCD display, point-and-shoot operation, VGA movie mode, and a compact metal body.
Review by CNET
With Wi-Fi networking integrated into most new laptops sold today and industry-standard add-on adapters available to easily upgrade older notebooks and desktop machines, the ability to use Wi-Fi to transfer photos from digital cameras is becoming an increasingly attractive option. Though not the first manufacturer to produce a consumer-level camera with wireless capabilities — Kodak and Nikon came to market before — Canon has created a boon for remote-shooting fans with its IXUS Wireless, a 5-megapixel ultracompact that is basically an IXUS 50 with a slightly different body and a built-in Wi-Fi transmitter.
Almost a year to the day since the introduction of the hugely popular FZ5 (and 4MP sibling the FZ4) - itself an upgrade to the FZ3 - Panasonic has announced its successor, the 6 megapixel DMC-FZ7. As well as a design facelift and an extra megapixel, the FZ7 introduces several handling and performance improvements over the FZ5, not least of which is the inclusion of manual focusing and significantly easier control over exposure settings via a new joystick (as seen on the DMC-LX1).
Major changes / improvements over FZ5
* 6 megapixel sensor
* Larger (2.5-inch) screen (lower resolution, however)
* New joystick control for manual focus and exposure operations
* Brighter LCD and EVF performance in low light
* ISO 800 and 1600 options
* VGA movies
* 16:9 movie mode
* Body redesign
Review by PC Magazine
In the past, we’ve awarded the Editors’ Choice to a number of Panasonic superzoom cameras, such as the Lumix DMC-FZ30, specifically for their combination of excellent optics and image stabilization. The only caveat was that most cost about what you’d pay for a D-SLR nowadays. Thankfully, prices have taken a tumble. So it’s no big surprise that the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 sells for about $400—not super-cheap, but more than $100 below what the Lumix DMC-FZ15, our former budget superzoom EC, listed for when it was introduced. This low price and the camera’s excellent optics make the Lumix DMC-FZ7 our new Editors’ Choice for budget superzooms.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 is a 6-megapixel camera with an outstanding 12X optical zoom. The lens has a 6mm to 72mm range (equivalent to a 35mm lens with a 36mm to 432mm zoom) and corresponding maximum f-stops of f/2.8 to f/3.2. The aperture range is quite nice for the telephoto end of the zoom. That means you’ll have a better chance of capturing a sharp picture in low light when using the zoom.
Review by LetsGoDigital
Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ7 digital camera review : Early this year Panasonic introduced the successor of the FZ5: the Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ7 digital camera. Besides the upgrade from 5 to 6 Megapixels, the Panasonic Lumix FZ7 is equipped with several extra settings. The entire camera has in fact undergone a small facelift. The 1.8 inch monitor, for instance, has been replaced by a large format 2.5 inch display. The avid movie fan will be pleased to see a VGA (640×480 pixels) video and 16:9 function. Improvements have also been made to the housing; which is more streamlined and has somewhat rounder corners. Compared to its predecessor, it is even slightly larger.
Review by Imaging Resource
Not too long ago digital cameras with advanced features and SLR-mimmicking long zoom lenses were considered “chunky” or bulky. But with the public’s increasing demand for smaller and smaller cameras with longer and longer zooms–and with manufacturers’ ability to put more power into petite packages, those chunky cameras have been on a diet lately. The new 6.0-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 is just such a camera. Its remarkably trim body houses a Leica 12x optical zoom and Panasonic’s MEGA Optical Image Stabilization (O.I.S.).
Despite a bevy of features including a 2.5-inch LCD screen, a new widescreen VGA movie mode, and a joystick for controlling manual focus and manual exposure, the Panasonic FZ7 weighs in at just over half a pound and is small enough to stick in a backpack when traveling. Plus, the reasonable $350 price tag won’t break your travel budget.
Review by Steves Digicams
Panasonic’s latest addition to its Lumix “super zoom” line is the six-megapixel DMC-FZ7. This compact and lightweight camera features a high-quality Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT 12x optical zoom (equivalent to 35mm to 430mm on a 35mm film camera) with Panasonic’s MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer.
The DMC-FZ7 is Panasonic’s most “anti-blur” camera ever, addressing the two major causes of blurred images: hand movement and subject movement. It incorporates Panasonic’s acclaimed MEGA Optical Image Stabilization technology, which uses a gyrosensor to detect and compensate for hand movement by shifting internal lens elements. It is a true optical system; the image is not electronically processed so there is minimal degradation and exceptional picture quality. MEGA OIS is especially important when utilizing the 12x optical zoom as even the smallest hand movement could ruin the shot. With MEGA OIS, the image remains steady.
Description: Even the home video enthusiasts are impressed with the range of recording capabilities offered by the HDR-HC3 Handycam® camcorder. With HD and SD Recording Modes, you can make the move to HD while retaining compatibility with standard definition equipment. The HC3 sets the industry standard in resolution quality with its ClearVid CMOS Image Sensor™, capturing precise detail and superior color reproduction. Dual Record Mode lets you capture 2.3 Megapixel stills while shooting high definition video. And Smooth Slow Recording captures fast movement with precise detail for slow motion playback. Now you can record what you want however you want it.
Review by PC PRO
With satellite and cable TV now offering HD services, and digital terrestrial HD on trial, the content is finally arriving to supply all those HD-ready TV sets. But the ability to record your own HD video has been around for a while thanks to Sony pushing down the price of its HDV camcorders with each successive generation. After the semi-professional HDR-FX1E came the HDR-HC1, just six months later and for half the price. Now it’s the turn of the HDR-HC3E, bringing with it a price low enough for more than just enthusiasts to consider it.
Review by TrustedReviews
Sony seems intent on dominating the High Definition camcorder market before any other company has even joined in. Although Canon has released a competitor to Sony’s top-of-the-range professional HVR-Z1 (the Canon XL-H1), there’s nothing at all to compete with Sony’s offerings below that in the UK. We thought Sony’s first attempt at consumer HD was pretty stunning (see HDR-HC1E review ). But scarcely six months later, Sony is upping the ante once again, this time breaking below the magical £1,000 barrier – well below. So what has been removed to get the new HDR-HC3E’s price nearly £300 lower than its predecessor?
Review by CNET Asia
The Sony Handycam HDR-HC3 brings down both the size and the cost of HD video to more reasonable levels. It’s still not an impulse buy, but the excellent HD/SD video quality, the good mix of automatic and manual features, and the passable still-photo capabilities will make you feel like you got your money’s worth. The bigger challenge is working with the video you shoot. Even after you upgrade your video-editing package to work with HD, your options for storing, transferring, and playing back HD video are far more limited than those of standard DV. Though you can get a high-end three-chip MiniDV camcorder for this price that will deliver higher-quality standard-definition content, the clarity and detail of the HDR-HC3’s high-definition video might make it worthwhile to deal with HD’s early-adopter limitations.
The Olympus EVOLT E-500 is a digital SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) camera with 8-Megapixel resolution. The camera has a unique feature called SSWF (supersonic wave filter) that cleans the imaging sensor by removing the dust that could have accumulated there during the lens changes. The SSWF is engaged every time you turn the camera on. The camera supports interchangeable lenses of Zuiko series with 2x magnification factor. The kit I got includes the 14-45 mm f/3.5-5.6 Olympus Zuiko lens, which is 28-90 mm equivalent.
The camera has a 3:4 aspect ratio CCD sensor and a large 2.5-inch LCD screen. The E-500 stores images on either inexpensive Compact Flash memory cards or xD-Picture cards. It is powered by a rechargeable proprietary battery pack. The camera can record images in JPEG or RAW format.
The camera has a built-in flash as well as the hot shoe for external flashes. The camera has automatic modes as well as manual ones. Just as all other SLR cameras, the E-500 uses an optical through-the-lens viewfinder.
The lens features manual and automatic focusing and a solid construction. The camera and lens also support combined automatic and manual focusing - you can focus automatically then use the ring around the lens to focus manually. The camera supports ISO 100-1,600 with fine adjustments and features USB 2.0 connectivity. The camera has no dedicated mode LCD, but uses the 2.5-inch screen to show all parameters, which works really well.
Review by DCRP
Like the E-1 and E-300, the E-500 uses the FourThirds system, and it supports all of the Zuiko digital specific lenses that Olympus offers.
The E-500 has a much more traditional design than the E-300, which is a good thing in my opinion, as I was not a fan of the body design of the E-300. (Olympus did tell me that the E-300 design isn’t dead yet.) In addition to the new look, there are these other new features on the E-500 when compared to the E-300:
* Larger LCD display (2.5″ versus 1.8″)
* New noise reduction system which promises less noise than the E-300
* Dual memory card slots (adds xD slot in addition to CompactFlash)
* Auto pop-up flash (the flash on the E-300 was released manually)
* More shooting and metering options
* New digital filters (color and black and white)
* New advanced histogram display in playback mode
Other features on the E-500 include an 8 Megapixel CCD, dust reduction system, full manual controls, hot shoe, and the kind of performance you’d expect from a digital SLR.
Review by PC World
This well-equipped and reasonably priced entry-level digital SLR produces high-quality images. The 8-megapixel camera comes with a wide array of features that establish it as a legitimate challenger to Canon’s popular, similarly priced Digital Rebel XT. Regrettably, usability issues prevent me from wholeheartedly recommending it over the XT.
Olympus markets the E-500 in three versions: $700 for the body only, $800 for the body plus a 14-45mm lens (the kit I tested), and $900 for that combination plus a 40-155mm lens. The E-500’s body felt sturdy, the rubber grip fit snugly in my hand, and the 2.5-inch color LCD was eye-catching. By contrast, the Canon Digital Rebel XT seems somewhat less rugged, its hand grip is too skinny, and the color LCD is smaller.
Review by DC Views
As the third model in their Four-Thirds system Olympus have released the Evolt E-500, an entry level DSLR designed to be used by photographers of all skill levels. Apart from a large 2.5″ LCD screen and an 8-megapixel sensor, its special features include dual card slots for XD and CF cards; digital black and white filters and even more shooting and metering options than before.
Although the Olympus Four-Thirds cameras have as yet failed to reach the same level of popularity as the Nikons and Canons of this world, we believe Olympus have introduced enough innovative features in their digital E-series to be granted a prime spot in the DSLR arena, and we believe their new Evolt E500 could well be the camera to change Olympus’ fortunes for the better.
Review by Imaging Resource
Having spent several days with a prototype sample, I must say that Olympus’s new EVOLT E-500 has been a pleasant surprise. I have enjoyed shooting with it at least as much as my favorite digital SLR cameras, and that is saying something. I’ve so far only tried an early pre-release camera, but from my experience thus far, I think the E-500 is going to make a lot of people very happy.
It was September, 2004 that Olympus announced their first SLR aimed at consumers, the EVOLT E-300. I was glad to see them back in the market with a consumer SLR, and I found that though it was an odd shape that remained difficult to accept, I liked quite a bit about the original EVOLT. It captured stunning images. Some of the images I captured with it are hanging in my home and office. The original EVOLT E-300 had many unique features, some of which were useful. The pop-up flash could be used simultaneously with an external flash to serve as fill light. Most competing camera designs can’t achieve this. But the E-300 was heavy and way off balance. Much of the weight seemed to be left of the lens, and the camera wanted to twist out of the right hand. There was also a critical metering flaw that we found, where a bright object at the center of the frame would trick even the normally excellent Olympus Digital ESP mode into underexposing the image. (For those unfamiliar with the term, Digital ESP takes readings from multiple areas of a frame to make its exposure decision and usually handles bright central objects well, without underexposing everything else; the common term is “matrix metering.”)
5.1 Megapixels - 10 X Optical Zoom , 5.7 X Digital Zoom - SLR / Large Digital Camera - 1.8 in LCD Screen - Storage: xD-Picture Card - Built In Flash.
Capture your memorable moments with the FinePix S5200 Digital Camera from Fujifilm. With its Super CCD-HR sensor, this camera comfortably delivers 5.1 MP photographic images in great style. It features a Fujinon lens that combines 10X optical zoom and 5.7X digital zoom for a combined 57.0X total zoom range. With multiple shooting modes like Auto, Scene Position, Macro, Movie and Burst/Continuous, it provides excellent results in various shooting conditions. The camera’s 1.8-inch LCD monitor makes it easy to frame your photos and share the results in brilliant color. An auto gain function automatically adjusts brightness for optimum viewing anytime, whether you are inside or outdoors. Plus, a host of shooting functions including Post Shot Assist Window that lets you take the next photo while seeing the playback of previous shots, are supported by a shooting/playback interface for intuitive operation. You can even record up to 13-second long movies in 640×480–pixel resolution or up 26-second long movies in 320×240-pixel resolution. Featuring the Real Photo Technology, the FinePix S5200 offers you photos that are vividly natural and beautiful. Sporting a compact, contemporary design, the FinePix S5200 is engineered for convenient one-hand operation, so you don’t miss out on any photographic opportunity that comes your way.
Review by PC World
The Fujifilm S5200 is fast in a number of ways. For one thing, it starts up quickly: It was ready to shoot in about a second after we turned the power on, and shutter lag was less than half a second. That’s quick enough to ensure that you wouldn’t miss many shots.
The autofocus is very snappy, finding the right focus point in under a second in most situations. A couple of unconventional modes make it flexible. The AF Multi mode focuses on a high-contrast object located near the center of the screen. This works well when you take a shot of two people: Though the faces are off-center, the camera usually finds them and focuses on them. The AF Area mode lets you pick a spot anywhere on the screen as the focusing target, which is useful if you want to focus on an off-center object to create a depth-of-field effect. We found this tool is a lot easier to use than the manual focus, which required us to hold down the exposure compensation button while using the zoom buttons to focus.
Review by Photoxels
The Fujifilm FinePix S5200 Zoom is one of the new generation of Fujifilm digital cameras with the 5th Generation SuperCCD HR image sensor with low-light capability.
With 10x optical zoom and 5.1MP resolution, the Fujifilm S5200 provides excellent image quality. Similar to the Fujifilm F10, noise is low at ISO 64, 100, 200 and 400. ISO 400 is very usable, and a high ISO 1600 allows you to get the shot where otherwise you may not be able to depending on the amount of light present.
The Fujifilm S5200 is f-a-s-t! Startup is about 1 sec. and there is no practical shutter lag.
Easily one of the best looking long zoom digital camera around, the Fujifilm FinePix S5200 looks very professional in its mostly black body with silver accents, handles comfortably and in use is “so easy that even mom can use it” — while still providing full exposure flexibility for those who desire room to learn and grow.
Review by Steves Digicams
The FinePix S5200 is styled after and handles like a SLR camera and offers mid-level digital photographer 5.2 million pixels combined with both point-and-shoot simplicity as well as a more advanced manual feature set including continuous shooting, continuous auto- focus, shutter priority and aperture priority modes. This model offers a 10x optical zoom and proprietary technology that suppresses camera shake and blur caused by subject movement.
The FinePix S5200 offers 5.2 million effective pixels, which can produce high-quality prints up to 13 x 19 inches in size. Recorded images can be saved in standard JPEG format or for the ultimate in picture quality use the CCD-RAW mode. The camera also offers an amazing 10x optical and 5.7x digital zoom and optional wide and telephoto lens adapters.
Review by Imaging Resource
Fujifilm’s greatest success has been in creating good-quality midrange cameras that sell at very competitive prices, and the new Fuji S5200 aims to continue that success. A couple of years ago, Fuji introduced long-zoom digicams at affordable price levels with their FinePix 2800 and 3800 models. Now, the Fuji S5200 advances the cause even further, with a 5.1-megapixel CCD (up from the S5100’s 4.0-Mp CCD), a 10x optical zoom lens, and a host of exposure modes and features. While it still sports a fully automatic mode, the Fuji FinePix S5200 goes beyond basic “point & shoot” capability with Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and Manual modes, as well as a few Scene modes. The Fuji S5200 offers very long-zoom capability and greater exposure control at a surprisingly affordable price.
Review by dpreview.com
Fujifilm today announces the launch of the FinePix S5200 Zoom, the third generation of its powerful, mini SLR-style digital cameras with long zoom lens. Packed with features, including 10x optical zoom and Anti-Blur Mode, the FinePix S5200 Zoom is an impressive reworking of its popular predecessors.
Beneath its robust body lie the sensor enhancements that make the FinePix S5200 Zoom punch above its weight. Boasting a new 5th Generation five megapixel Super CCD HR sensor and Fujifilm’s new Real Photo Technology, the FinePix S5200 Zoom has the power to capture large images with incredible clarity and detail in a range of lighting conditions.
Complete with an unrivalled sensitivity range from ISO 64 to ISO 1600, the camera makes it possible to achieve crisp photographs with minimal noise, even in very low light conditions. The Anti-Blur Mode, which exploits the camera’s exceptional ISO capabilities, reduces blurring caused by movement of the user, as well as movement blur caused by the subject, making it much more effective than image stabilisation technology alone.
Nikon’s new S5 ultra-compact is a slightly reduced version of the robust and magnificent S6, but even in the shadow of its bigger brother, the S5 can hold its own. It still has all the same great features, like integrated support for Wi-Fi, which allows for instantaneous image transfer to your computer and direct printing (with a printer adapter). The PictMotion functions also allow for in-camera slideshows with custom music, displayed on the large 2.5 inch screen. It’s not the luxury model like the S6 (really the main difference is the S6’s larger LCD), but it’s still loaded with neat features that will get the neighbors talking about your hot new toy.
Specifications
* 6 megapixels
* 3x optical zoom / 4x digital zoom
* auto focus
* auto exposure
* JPEG file format
* movie mode w/sound
* lithium ion battery
* 2.5 inch LCD
* SD card storage (21MB internal)
Review by PC Pro
At first glance, the Nikon S5 is unassuming. The near-featureless fascia and tiny recessed lens give it a distinctly minimalist appearance. It’s anything but modest once you start using it, though - excellent image quality, loads of features and ease of use make this a great point-and-click camera.
The images we captured with the S5 were generally excellent. A noticeable lack of noise, even at the highest ISO setting of 400, is a huge benefit, making it flexible enough to use either indoors or outside. We were also pleased by the absence of chromatic aberrations in areas of high contrast. Colour reproduction was superb, with skin tones and natural colours rendered faithfully. One minor complaint is that at zoom levels approaching 100 per cent, JPEG compression artefacts became too obvious, but with the 6-megapixel CCD giving a maximum image size of 2,816 x 2,112 you’ll still be able to print your images comfortably at A4 without any trouble.
Review by TrustedReviews
It’s a funny thing, but last week I ran out of my allotted 1,000 words trying to describe all the features and options of the Olympus E-500 DSLR. This week I’ve got a camera that’s so simple I’m going to be hard pushed to find 1,000 words to describe it.
Launched in February this year, the Coolpix S5 is one of two new cameras in Nikon’s S range of ultra-slim pocket compacts. The S series itself is relatively recent, starting with the 5.0 megapixel S1 launched around this time last year. All the cameras in the series share the same basic layout, with a 3x optical zoom non-protruding lens mounted in the top right corner of the front panel, and only a bare minimum of external controls. The S5 has a 6.0 megapixelssensor, a high resolution 2.5in LCD monitor, and a strong metal body. It measures 93 x 59 x 20mm and weighs 165g including battery and card – it may be neither the slimmest nor the lightest camera on the market, but it is small and light enough to slip into a shirt pocket or purse without leaving much of a bulge.
Review by dpreivew.com
Nikon Corporation is delighted to announce two exciting new cameras – the COOLPIX S5 and S6. The stylish models have been built with the sharing and enjoyment of digital photography in mind, combining high-quality imaging performance with a striking wave-surface design, the ability to improve images in-camera, outstandingly large LCDs and a powerful new Pictmotion function that allows users to create entertaining in-camera shows.
The brand new Pictmotion function lets users create much more than just a slideshow – indeed it enables a radically new form of in-camera entertainment. This allows users to select favourite images and movie files, pick a style, and then select a music file from one of the five pre-installed files in the camera - or even add their own music via PictureProject for Windows only - to suit the show. Pictmotion then automatically analyses all these elements to produce highly entertaining shows that are coupled with pace and transition selected to match the chosen music and style.
These shows can then be played back anywhere, anytime on the ample-sized LCD monitors (COOLPIX S5: 2.5-inch; S6: 3.0-inch), and because each of these monitors offers a surprisingly wide viewing angle of 170° (both horizontal and vertical), such in-camera entertainment can be enjoyed by everyone at the same time. Both cameras also feature Auto Image Rotation, which detects pictures that have been taken with the camera held vertically, automatically rotating them to suit in-camera LCD playback.
Review by Imaging Resource
Based on looks alone, the new Nikon Coolpix S5 has it all — sleek, sexy and ultra-slim. In case you didn’t notice these traits at first glance, the marketing folks at Nikon have paired the S5’s Wi-Fi enabled sibling the S6 (which looks nearly identical to the S5) with supermodel Kate Moss in a series of television commercials. But there’s more to the 6-megapixel S5 (and the 6-megapixel S6, for that matter) than just appearance. To fit a larger Nikkor ED Glass 3x zoom lens into the camera so it doesn’t protrude, Nikon’s designers have transformed that flat rectangle design, so common to slim cams a few years ago, into a flowing all-metal wave-like chassis with a slight ripple on the left side to accommodate the lens. The features packed into the Nikon S5’s skinny body are also pretty decent — a 2.5-inch LCD with 170-degree viewing angle, a fun new slideshow called Pictmotion, an easy-to-use new jog dial selector, a new One-Touch Portrait button, and Nikon’s Feature System which includes In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, Face Priority AF, and D-Lighting. Sound like a nice package? Read on and I’ll tell you whether Nikon delivers the goods.
About the size of a credit card, the amazing 6.0 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T9 combines Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization, high ISO sensitivity and Clear RAW Noise Reduction to give you bright, beautiful indoor shots that preserve the mood of your memories.
An extra-large 2.5 LCD screen lets you share entertaining Slide Shows with music background. You’ll also have precision Carl Zeiss 3X Optical/6X Digital zoom lens: An ingenious folding optical path provides 3X Optical Zoom capability in amazingly compact camera dimensions and the precision 2X Digital Zoom lets you zoom in on a subject without creating jagged edges.
The Cyber-shot DSC-T9 includes advanced Super HAD (Hole Accumulated Diode) CCD design that allow more light to pass to each pixel, increasing sensitivity and reducing noise.
With 58 MB Internal Memory, the DSC-T9 allows you to shoot photos without a flash memory card — then transfer your images to Memory Stick Duo media, upload to your computer or make prints on your digital printer.
To improve camera response and extend battery life, the Real Imaging Processor LSI (Large Scale Integrated) circuit decreases shutter lag, improves picture quality and clarity, and increases battery stamina.
The DSC-T9 includes a InfoLithium rechargeable battery, which lets you shoot up to 240 pictures, recharges quickly and easily with no “memory effect,†and shows you how much shooting time remains.
Review by CNET
The Sony Cyber Shot DSC-T9, the latest in Sony’s T-series of shirt-pocket-size digital cameras, is a great tool whether you’re a casual shooter or a more serious photographer. Snapshooters will appreciate the camera’s ease of use, and discerning photographers will appreciate the 6-megapixel model’s above-average image quality and responsive performance. And while a not-so-wide lens and poor red-eye behavior will mar some indoor portraits, any user will love the camera’s 2.5-inch LCD screen, its thin and attractive body, and its image stabilization for keeping low-light pictures sharp. The deal is sweetened by 58MB of internal memory.
Review by DigitalCameraReview
The Sony Cybershot DSC-T9 is Sony’s latest entry into its ultracompact T Series (DSC-T1, DSC-T5, DSC-T9), all credit card sized cameras with Carl Zeiss optics and sliding lens covers. The immediate predecessor to the T9 is the T7, a model that got less than stellar reviews due to user complaints of a slow lens and weak flash, allegedly making the camera all but useless in low-light environments. With the T-9, Sony has attempted to address these issues and is actively marketing this camera as a camera suited to low-light environments, due to higher ISO sensitivity (up to 640 ISO equivalent) and Sony’s antishake system, Super SteadyShot.
Review by PCPro
Despite housing a 3x optical zoom and a 6-megapixel CCD, the Sony T9 has the height and width dimensions of a credit card. It’s only 20mm deep, too, making it perfect for slipping into a pocket.
The lens has a range of 38 to 114mm, and there’s a luxurious 2.5in LCD TFT on the back. There’s no optical viewfinder, so the fact that the screen is bright and has a high resolution (230,000 pixels) is a definite bonus.