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DPInterface January 2006 News Archive
January 26th, 2006
9 new Olympus cameras
Olympus introduced 9 new digital cameras today, including the rumored EVOLT E-330 which can do a live preview using the LCD!
Olympus EVOLT E-330
- 7.5 effective megapixels; one Live MOS sensor and an additional sensor close to the viewfinder
- Both the Live MOS and the other sensor can perform a live preview; Mode A does autofocus while Mode B can only do manual focus
- Lens mount supports FourThirds (Zuiko Digital) lenses
- 2x crop factor (More than the usual 1.6x)
- Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system
- Improved design over the E-300; more curves make it less weird looking and boxy
- 2.5 inch LCD which can tilt up/down
- Full manual controls plus scene modes
- Hot shoe for external flash units
- Increased battery life with new battery pack
- Dual memory card slots; takes Compact Flash and xD Picture cards
- Uses BLM-1 lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $999 (body only) or $1099 (with the 14 - 45 mm lens included)
Olympus Stylus 710
- 7 effective megapixels
- 37 - 111 mm f3.4 - f5.7 zoom lens
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 2500 (Up to ISO 1600 at full-resolution)
- All-weather body
- 2.5 inch high-resolution LCD
- Digital image stabilizer (how quaint)
- No manual controls but a lot of scene modes
- Compatible with Olympus High-speed xD Picture cards which enable panorama and Olympus' new "Art Functions"
- Unlimited movies; VGA 15 FPS with sound
- Takes xD Picture cards (19 MB built-in)
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in February for $349
Olympus Stylus 810
- 8 effective megapixels
- 35 - 105 mm f2.8 - f4.7 zoom lens
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 3200 (Up to ISO 1600 at full-resolution)
- All-weather body
- 2.5 inch high-resolution LCD
- Digital image stabilizer (what use is this?!)
- No manual controls but a lot of scene modes
- Compatible with Olympus High-speed xD Picture cards which enable panorama and Olympus' new "Art Functions"
- Unlimited movies; VGA 30 FPS with sound
- Takes xD Picture cards (28 MB built-in)
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $429
Olympus Stylus 720SW
- 7 effective megapixels
- 38 - 114 mm f3.5 - f5.0 internal zoom lens
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 1600 (at full-resolution)
- Waterproof and shockproof body; can go 3 m underwater or withstand a 1.5 m drop
- 2.5 inch LCD
- No manual controls but a lot of scene modes
- Compatible with Olympus High-speed xD Picture cards which enable panorama and Olympus' new "Art Functions"
- Unlimited movies; VGA 15 FPS without sound
- Takes xD Picture cards (19 MB built-in)
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $399
Olympus SP-320
- 7 effective megapixels
- 38 - 114 mm f2.8 - f4.9 zoom lens
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 800 (at full-resolution)
- 2.5 inch LCD
- Digital image stabilizer (?!)
- Full manual controls and many scene modes
- Compatible with Olympus High-speed xD Picture cards which enable panorama and Olympus' new "Art Functions"
- Unlimited movies; VGA 30 FPS with sound
- Takes xD Picture cards (25 MB built-in)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in March for $299
Olympus FE-115
- 5 effective megapixels
- 38 - 106 mm f3.0 - f5.0 zoom lens
- 1.5 inch LCD
- Entry-level camera; no manual controls
- Unlimited movies; QVGA 15 FPS without sound
- Takes xD Picture cards (28 MB built-in)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in February for $149
Olympus FE-130
- 5 effective megapixels
- 38 - 114 mm f3.1 - f5.9 zoom lens
- 2.0 inch LCD
- Entry-level camera; no manual controls
- Unlimited movies; QVGA 15 FPS without sound
- Takes xD Picture cards (22 MB built-in)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in March for $179
Olympus FE-140
- 6 effective megapixels
- 38 - 114 mm f3.1 - f5.9 zoom lens
- 2.5 inch LCD
- Entry-level camera; no manual controls
- Unlimited movies; QVGA 15 FPS without sound
- Takes xD Picture cards (22 MB built-in)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in March for $229
Olympus FE-150
- 5 effective megapixels
- 32 - 96 mm f2.8 - f4.8 zoom lens
- 2.5 inch high-resolution LCD (on a budget camera?)
- Entry-level camera; no manual controls
- Unlimited movies; QVGA 30 FPS with sound
- Takes xD Picture cards (12 MB built-in)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in April for $219
January 23rd, 2006
Panasonic Lumix FZ7
Here's Panasonic's update to its 5 megapixel FZ5; the new FZ7 with 6 megapixels and more:
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7
- 6 effective megapixels
- 36 - 432 mm f2.8 - f3.3 zoom lens
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 1600
- 2.5 inch LCD with increased low-light visibility and viewing angle
- Optical image stabilizer
- Full manual controls
- Manual focus function added
- Unlimited movies; VGA 30 FPS and a wide 848 x 480 30 FPS option
- Increased battery life with new battery pack
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $399
Casio Exilim Z600
Casio's first 2006 digital camera is the thin 6 megapixel Z600:
Casio Exilim Z600
- 6 effective megapixels
- 38 - 114 mm f2.7 - f5.2 zoom lens
- 2.7 inch LCD with increased low-light visibility (Supposedly 3 times brighter than the Z500's LCD)
- 32 BestShot scene modes
- Insanely high battery life (for a camera with an LCD this size) of 550 shots; CIPA Standard
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in March
January 19th, 2006
Konica Minolta out
Konica Minolta has left the digital camera sector and is passing most of their dSLR stuff to Sony, who is going to develop digital SLRs (which are compatible with KM lenses).
January 17th, 2006
Samsung's first dSLR
Samsung introduced its first digital SLR. This is so obviously the budget Pentax *ist DS2 rebranded with a different name:
Samsung GX-1S digital SLR
- 6 effective megapixels
- Lens mount supports Schneider Kreuznach and Pentax lenses
- 2.5 inch LCD
- 30 - 1/4000 sec shutter speed with bulb mode
- Built-in flash and hotshoe
- Availability and price currently unknown
January 12th, 2006
Nikon S3 and Sony M2 reviewed
I've reviewed the recent Sony Cyber-shot M2 and have also written an in-depth review of the Nikon Coolpix S3.
January 5th, 2006
Sony: 2 new cameras
Sony introduced 2 new digital cameras today (Only one camera if you're outside the US).
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M2
- 5 effective megapixels
- 38 - 114 mm f3.5 - f4.4 3x optical zoom lens
- 2.5 inch rotating LCD
- "Hybrid mode" records a movie 5 seconds before and 3 seconds after taking a still photo
- Unlimited VGA 30 FPS movies with stereo sound and zoom enabled
- Built-in album
- Takes Memory Stick (PRO) Duo cards
- Uses NP-FT1 InfoLithium battery (210 shots)
- Available in this month for $500 (The M2 was already available last year outside the US)
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S600
- 6 effective megapixels
- 31 - 93 mm f2.8 - f5.1 3x optical zoom lens
- 2.0 inch LCD
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 1000
- Unlimited VGA 30 FPS movies with sound
- Entry-level; no manual controls
- Takes Memory Stick (PRO) Duo cards
- Uses 2 AA batteries (460 shots)
- Available now for $200
January 4th, 2006
3 new Panasonic cameras with OIS
Panasonic released 3 new digital cameras today, all with Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS).
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5
- 6 effective megapixels
- 37 - 222 mm f2.8 - f4.5 6x zoom lens
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 1600
- 2.5 inch LCD with increased low-light visibility
- Optical image stabilizer
- AF-assist beam added
- Unlimited VGA 30 FPS movies with sound
- High-speed autofocus mode
- Takes SD/MMC cards (14 MB built-in)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in March for $279
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ3
- 5 effective megapixels
- 37 - 222 mm f2.8 - f4.5 6x zoom lens
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 1600
- 2.0 inch LCD with increased low-light visibility
- Optical image stabilizer
- AF-assist beam added
- Unlimited VGA 30 FPS movies <em>without</em> sound
- High-speed autofocus mode
- Takes SD/MMC cards (14 MB built-in)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in March for $229
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LS2
- 5 effective megapixels
- 35 - 105 mm f2.8 - f5.0 3x zoom lens
- 2.0 inch LCD with increased low-light visibility
- Entry-level camera; no manual controls
- Optical image stabilizer
- Unlimited QVGA 30 FPS movies <em>without</em> sound
- High-speed autofocus mode
- Takes SD/MMC cards (14 MB built-in)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in March for $199
HP releases 7 (!) new cameras
HP has poured out the most new cameras so far in 2006, announcing seven new additions to its HP Photosmart digital camera line.
HP Photosmart R927
- Flagship HP Photosmart with 8 effective megapixels
- f2.8 - f5.0 3x optical zoom lens
- 3.0 inch LCD with increased viewing angle and better low-light visibility
- Unlimited VGA 24 FPS movies with sound
- HP Design Gallery adds borders and effects to photos
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in April (RRP undecided)
HP Photosmart R727
- 6 effective megapixels
- 3x internal optical zoom lens
- One of two HP's first ultra-thin digital cameras
- 2.5 inch LCD with increased viewing angle and better low-light visibility
- Unlimited VGA 24 FPS movies with sound
- HP Design Gallery adds borders and effects to photos
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in April (RRP undecided)
HP Photosmart R725
- 6 effective megapixels
- 3x internal optical zoom lens
- The second of two HP's first ultra-thin digital cameras
- 2.0 inch LCD with increased viewing angle and better low-light visibility
- Unlimited VGA 24 FPS movies with sound
- HP Design Gallery adds borders and effects to photos
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in April (RRP undecided)
HP Photosmart M527
- 6 effective megapixels
- 3x optical zoom lens
- 2.0 inch LCD with increased viewing angle and better low-light visibility
- HP Design Gallery adds borders and effects to photos
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in April (RRP undecided)
HP Photosmart M525
- 6 effective megapixels
- 3x optical zoom lens
- 1.7 inch LCD
- HP Design Gallery adds borders and effects to photos
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in April (RRP undecided)
HP Photosmart M425
- 5 effective megapixels
- 3x optical zoom lens
- 1.7 inch LCD
- "Fast shot" mode (High-speed AF)
- HP Design Gallery adds borders and effects to photos
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in April (RRP undecided)
HP Photosmart E327
- 5 effective megapixels
- Fixed lens = No optical zoom
- 1.8 inch LCD
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Uses AA batteries
- Available in March (RRP undecided)
Fujifilm introduces 4 cameras
Today's Fujifilm's turn to introduce a bunch of cameras. The first has a large LCD and built-in games (Yes, games!), the second is an ultra-thin and the last two are entry-level cameras.
Fujifilm FinePix V10
- 5 effective megapixels (SuperCCD)
- 38-130 mm f2.8 - f5.5 3.4x zoom lens
- ISO sensitivity up to ISO 1600
- 3.0 inch high-resolution LCD
- No manual controls
- Features 4 built-in games (Huh?!)
- Takes xD Picture cards (16 MB included)
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $349
Fujifilm FinePix F470
- 6 effective megapixels
- 35 -105 mm f2.8 - f4.9 zoom lens
- 2.5 inch LCD
- No manual controls
- Takes xD Picture cards (16 MB built-in memory)
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in March for $279
Fujifilm FinePix A400/A500
- 4 & 5 megapixels (for A400 & A500 respectively)
- 38 - 114 mm f3.3 - f5.5 zoom lens
- 1.8 inch anti-glare LCD
- No manual controls
- Takes xD Picture cards (12 MB built-in memory)
- Silent, choppy QVGA movies
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in February for $149 & $179 (A400 & A500 respectively)
January 3rd, 2006
Another 2 cameras, now from Pentax
Pentax also introduced two new cameras today: one being their new flagship compact camera and an entry-level camera.
Pentax Optio A10
- 8 effective megapixels
- 38 - 113 mm f2.8 - f5.4 zoom lens
- Shifting CCD image stabilization (Shake Reduction)
- 2.5 inch high-resolution LCD
- Only 23 mm thin
- Takes SD/MMC cards (24 MB built-in memory)
- Uses lithium-ion battery
- Available in February for $349
Pentax Optio E10
- 6 effective megapixels
- 38 - 114 mm f2.8 - f4.8 zoom lens
- 2.4 inch LCD
- No manual controls
- Takes SD/MMC cards (10 MB built-in memory)
- Uses 2 AA batteries
- Available in February for $199
Samsung announces 4 cameras
Samsung released its 6 megapixel Digimax i6 today along with 3 other entry-level cameras (These 3 cameras are available in 5, 6 and 8 megapixel variations).
2 new cameras from Kodak
Kodak introduced more cameras today: a new entry-level camera and an ultra-zoom.
Kodak EasyShare Z650
- 6 effective megapixels
- 10x zoom lens; no image stabilization
- 2.0 inch LCD
- Full manual controls
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Available in February
Kodak EasyShare C663
- 6 effective megapixels
- 34 - 102 mm 3x zoom lens
- 2.5 inch LCD
- First Kodak camera to feature "Perfect Touch" technology
- Takes SD/MMC cards
- Available in March
January 2nd, 2006
Kodak EasyShare V570
Kodak introduced a cool (but weird looking) camera with two lenses and CCD sensors today.
- Two 5 megapixel CCDs
- First lens is fixed at 23 mm, F2.8 and the second is a 39 - 117 mm F3.9 - F4.4 zoom lens
- High-resolution 2.5 inch LCD
- MPEG4 VGA sized movies at 30 FPS
- Battery life of 150 shots (CIPA Standard)
- Takes SD/MMC cards (32 MB built-in memory)
- Priced at $399, available this month
First quarter revealed
Today, I'm going to tell you more about DPI and my plans for the first quarter (of the year).
The name Digital Photography Interface sounds more practical than Camera List and for those who haven't noticed, we've got our own .com now. Thus, the change in site name and location.
Right now, I'm in the process of converting reviews to a more organized style - I've got about twenty to go. All of them will be online by the end of this month.
At the same time, I'll be posting new reviews; I've already posted one on the Nikon Coolpix P1 (one of four WiFi digital cameras available now). I'll also cover new 2006 digital cameras as they are launched and review them as soon as possible.
Currently DPI needs some new input (Hmm... I may start a newsletter) so if you have any suggestions, you can e-mail me. The site doesn't have a contact page right now so you can contact me at dpinterface at gmail dot com (Please do NOT spam).
January 1st, 2006
Happy New Year!
Firstly, welcome to Digital Photography Interface (and welcome back, Camera List readers). What was known as Camera List last year is now known as Digital Photography Interface, or DPI for short, which is a more practical name.
I hope you all had a great 2005 and will have an even better 2006. Happy New Year!
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