Click on the image for a larger view (and sorry, the camera pic had to be interpolated)

Well, I’m not really a big fan of covering leaks and stuff, but when I noticed much of the internet community talking about the Panasonic GF1 (which was leaked this evening) and the ‘mysterious port/slot/piece/button thingy’ below the hot shoe, I thought I’d chime in to help solve the puzzle. It’s not a slot, it’s not a button, IT’S A FINGERPRINT READER!

The instant I saw the rendered pictures of the camera, I just knew what it was – I simply looked down to the palmrest of my notebook and boom, the exact same thing! *Of course, it could just be an electronic connector for an electronic viewfinder or external microphone or to plug in that popcorn machine you saw at Walmart. Happy speculating! (I have no idea what’s with the many cameras being leaked this summer, it’s almost as if it has become a new norm; how disturbing)

Update: For our readers’ sake, here’s what’s already known about the camera (you can also find this info elsewhere on the net)

• It’ll be called the Panasonic Lumix GF1
• It’s a Micro Four Thirds camera
• There is an on-board flash, as well as a hotshoe for an external one
• 720p HD movie mode with mono sound; there’s a dedicated movie button on the top of the camera
• Two new lenses (20 mm and 45 mm primes) will be announced with the camera

Update 2: This is a speculation post. All the full juicy details available will have to wait until the camera becomes official on September 2nd!

I’ve just finished writing my review of the Canon PowerShot D10; Canon’s first rugged digital camera with 12 megapixels, a 3X lens and interchangeable front plates. Do visit the Canon PowerShot D10 photo gallery as well. Hit the link and check out the full review of the camera now!

Read the Canon D10 review

Here’s the Canon PowerShot D10 Photo Gallery containing full-sized pictures taken by the camera. Be sure to check out the Canon PowerShot D10 review for more about the camera.

Enter the Canon D10 gallery

Sony announced two new ‘premium’ compact cameras today. The Cyber-shot TX1 and WX1 cameras sport Sony’s new 10 megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor. The first fixed lens camera which had the Exmor CMOS was the Sony Cyber-shot HX1, and the special features that came with the HX1 have now trickled down to the two new models announced today.

In addition to better noise and low-light shooting abilities (which Sony is emphasizing on), the Exmor CMOS also brings features such as ‘Sweep Panorama’ mode (which enables you to create a large wide-angle photo by just panning the camera), a super fast 10 frame per second burst mode (which is unfortunately, still limited to 10 shots) and multi-shot and handheld night shot modes. The new TX1 and WX1 are definitely two of the more exciting cameras announced this summer, umm besides cameras with built-in projectors, that I look forward to trying out later in fall.

Brad: Naming conflicts here, Canon also had a camera called the PowerShot TX1, a compact superzoom-camcorder hybrid. The Sony Cyber-shot TX1, however, is like a Cyber-shot T90 outfitted with a fancy image sensor.

Sony Cyber-shot TX1
(Premium compact camera)

• 10 effective megapixels (Sony Exmor CMOS)
• 35 – 140 mm (f3.5 – f4.6) 4X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization
• 3 inch touchscreen LCD
• Intelligent Scene Recognition (automatic scene mode selection)
• Face detection and recognition; blink and smile detection
• Sweep Panorama
• No manual controls
• 10 FPS full-res burst mode
• 720p 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes Memory Stick Duo memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in September for $380
• Comes in your choice of silver, gray, pink and blue

Sony Cyber-shot WX1
(Premium compact camera)

• 10 effective megapixels (Sony Exmor CMOS)
• 24 – 120 mm (f2.4 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Intelligent Scene Recognition (automatic scene mode selection)
• Face detection and recognition; blink and smile detection
• Sweep Panorama
• No manual controls
• 10 FPS full-res burst mode
• 720p 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes Memory Stick Duo memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in October for $350 (Pre-order starts now)

Pentax announced three new digital cameras yesterday, a waterproof compact (not fully rugged, mind you) and two low-cost cameras. I’m a bit saddened by the fact the replacements for the Optio P70 and E70 (announced January this year) are out so quickly. We’ve been seeing the “6 month replacement cycle” more and more frequently in 2009, a disappointing trend.

Pentax Optio WS80
(Waterproof camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 35 – 175 mm (f3.8 – f4.7) 5X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• No manual controls
• New digital filters (effects) in playback
• D-Range mode improves dynamic range
• Auto Picture mode recognizes scenes automatically, digital 26 mm wide and image recovery/undelete
• 720p 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in September for $240
• Comes in your choice of black (with orange accents) and white (with purple accents)

Pentax Optio P80
(Compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 27.5 – 110 mm (f2.6 – f5.8) 4X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• No manual controls
• D-Range mode improves dynamic range
• Auto Picture mode recognizes scenes automatically, digital 20 mm wide and image recovery/undelete
• 720p 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in September for $200
• Comes in your choice of silver, black and mint (light green)

Pentax Optio E80
(Entry-level camera)

• 10 effective megapixels
• 32 – 96 mm (f3.1 – f5.9) 3X optical zoom lens
• 2.4 inch LCD
• No manual controls
• Auto Picture mode recognizes scenes automatically
• 720p 15 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
• Uses 2 AA batteries
• Available in September for $130
• Comes in your choice of silver and black

Here’s my review of the Nikon Coolpix S60 along with the Nikon Coolpix S60 photo gallery. If you’re more interested in the recently announced Coolpix S70, then you should still read this review if you wanna get an idea of Nikon’s touchscreen user interface.

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Here’s the Nikon Coolpix S60 Photo Gallery containing full-sized pictures taken by the camera. Be sure to check out the Nikon Coolpix S60 review as well.

View gallery