Here’s the Nikon D3000 digital SLR Photo Gallery containing full-sized pictures taken by the camera. Be sure to check out the Nikon D3000 review for more about the camera.

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I recently had the opportunity to attend Panasonic’s launch event for their new 2010 video camcorders and digital still cameras.

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Canon just announced a bunch of new digital cameras today: a new entry-level digital SLR and a couple of new compact cameras. The new Canon EOS Rebel T2i, also known as the EOS 550D, is the successor to last year’s popular Rebel T1i/500D model and features a new image sensor, more external controls and improved movie mode. Seems like Canon’s Rebel T-line is getting more and more sophisticated, which makes me wonder if they’ll introduce an even more basic model (ie 1000D class) to fill in the gap below.

Next up is the new PowerShot SX210 compact super-zoom camera. My, what a change, the camera looks nothing like it’s predecessor, the SX200 – it’s now smaller, slimmer and more stylish. Then we start with the Digital ELPH models: the SD3500 and SD1400 pair, which come to quickly replace the SD980 and SD940 (IXUS 200 and IXUS 120) models introduced barely 6 months ago. The SD1300 fills in the 2009 SD1200’s shoes as Canon’s affordable stylish ultra-compact camera.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i
AKA Digital EOS 550D
(Entry-level SLR camera)

• 18 megapixel CMOS sensor (APS-C, 1.6X crop factor); apparently derived from EOS 7D’s sensor
• Canon EF/EF-S lens mount
• DIGIC IV processors
• Dust reduction
• 3 inch super-high resolution LCD (1,040k pixels)
• 9 point AF
• Live view with contrast detection autofocus
• Larger exposure compensation range (up to +/-5 EV); additional controls on the back
• ISO range of 100 – 6400 (expandable to ISO 12800)
• Full manual controls with RAW mode and flash hotshoe
• 3.7 FPS burst mode up to 34 JPEG or 6 RAW photos
• 1080p (1920 x 1080) movie mode with sound; dedicated movie button and optional external microphone
  Seletable frame rate and resolution settings: 1080p at 24, 25, 30 FPS; 720p/VGA at 50 or 60 FPS
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery (new LP-E8 battery)
• Available in March for $800 (body only) or $900 (with the EF-S 18-55 mm kit lens)

Canon PowerShot SX210
(Compact super-zoom camera)

• 14 effective megapixels
• 28 – 392 mm (f3.1 – f5.9) 14X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization
• 3.0 inch widescreen LCD (230,000 pixels)
• Full manual controls
• Automatic and scene modes; with a couple of new scene modes
• New “wink” detection/self-timer; in addition to existing face, smile and blink detection
• 720p (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with stereo sound and optical zoom
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in March for $350

Canon PowerShot SD3500 IS Digital ELPH
AKA Digital IXUS 210 IS
(Stylish compact camera)

• 14 effective megapixels
• 24 – 120 mm (f2.8 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization
• 3.5 inch full widescreen LCD (460,000 pixels); touchscreen operation and no physical controls/buttons
• No manual controls; only automatic/scene modes
• New “wink” detection/self-timer; in addition to existing face, smile and blink detection
• 720p (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for $330
• Comes in your choice of silver, black or pink

Canon PowerShot SD1400 IS Digital ELPH
AKA Digital IXUS 130 IS
(Ultra-compact camera)

• 14 effective megapixels
• 28 – 112 mm (f2.8 – f5.9) 4X optical zoom lens (New design!)
• Optical image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• No manual controls; only automatic/scene modes
• New “wink” detection/self-timer; in addition to existing face, smile and blink detection
• 720p (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for $250
• Comes in your choice of silver, black, pink or orange

Canon PowerShot SD1300 IS Digital ELPH
AKA Digital IXUS 105 IS
(Ultra-compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 28 – 112 mm (f2.8 – f5.9) 4X optical zoom lens (Old design)
• Optical image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• No manual controls; only automatic/scene modes
• VGA (640 x 480) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for $200
• Comes in your choice of silver, blue, pink, green or brown

In the latest of their ‘new generation system cameras’, the compact PEN E-PL1, Olympus is aiming for ease of use and portability while offering good image quality of a large image sensor. The Olympus E-PL1 was announced internationally last Wednesday and we have a preview of this latest camera which joins in the growing array of Micro Four Thirds cameras. Hit the link for all the juicy details about the camera.

*Note from Brad: A big thank you to the folks at Olympus who made previewing of the PEN E-PL1 on DPInterface possible.

Read our preview!

DP Interface recently had the opportunity to take some sample photos (including a bunch of high ISO shots) using the newly launched Olympus PEN E-PL1 and have been given the green light to share them with readers (but first, read this disclaimer: photos were taken using a PRE-production unit of the camera so image quality is not final).

UPDATE: We’ve been told to replace full-sized photos with extremely reduced size/resolution photos seeing that photos were taken using an Olympus PEN E-PL1 with beta firmware. However, taking into account the interest of our readers and other factors, I have opted to wait for a retail/production camera instead before posting photos.

Rest assured a completely new photo gallery with new images from a production-level camera will be posted in the future once I get a production-level camera for review. Meanwhile, check out our Olympus PEN E-PL1 preview for our initial hands-on with the camera.

Brad: I *still* would like to extend my thanks to Olympus and co for giving us the opportunity to try out the camera!

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Was the E-P2 PEN a bit too heavy on your wallet? Good news, Olympus just announced an affordable offering in their line of PEN interchangeable lens cameras. The PEN E-PL1 (what a mouthful) takes most of the E-P2’s features and puts them in a mostly plastic body, throws in a couple of new features like Live Guide to make the camera more beginner friendly and a built-in popup flash.

I will have a preview of the camera ready and online very soon.

Olympus E-PL1 PEN camera
(Micro Four Thirds camera)

• 12 megapixel Live MOS sensor (Micro Four Thirds, 2.0X crop factor)
• Micro Four Thirds lens mount (adapters available for normal Four Thirds and Leica lenses)
• Sensor-shift image stabilizer
• Dust reduction
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Optional electronic viewfinder attaches via hotshoe
• Six Art Filters (photo effects)
• On-board flash
• Live Guide feature for simplified manual control adjustment for beginners
• ISO range of 100 – 3200
• Full manual controls with RAW mode and flash hotshoe
• 3 FPS burst mode
• 720p (1280 x 720 at 30 FPS) movie mode with sound
  Optional external microphone accessory; attaches via hotshoe
• Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in March for $600 (with 14-42 mm kit lens)

Olympus also announced two new Micro Four Thirds lenses today: the 9 – 18 mm f4.0 – f5.6 ultra-wide angle zoom lens to be available in May for $700 and the new 14 – 150 mm f4.0 – f5.6 all-in-one super zoom lens, which will go for $600 in June.

Olympus made a second round of camera announcements for 2010 today, bringing out their new line of Ultra Zoom series cameras and rugged Stylus Tough cameras.

In terms of zoom, Olympus’ UZ series (Ultra-zoom) live right up to their name, one of which features a 15X optical zoom lens, while the other has a whopping 30X optical zoom in a single lens. Yes, you heard that right, THIRTY times optical zoom (I wonder how anyone can handhold that and take a sharp photo for anything but landscapes on a sunny day). The two new UZ cameras take several small steps forward with plenty of internal memory, 720p HD movie mode, plenty of bells and whistles, and how could we forget, that huge 30X lens… but they also take a big step backward in terms of control – both of today’s newly announced cameras lack any sort of manual exposure controls (unlike their predecessors and forefathers). Plus they also lack electronic viewfinders (presumably to reduce size, not that either camera is pocketable)

Next up are two rugged cameras. Olympus, the pioneer of rugged digital cameras (I think their first one came out in 2005/2006), has always been at the front if ’super heavy duty’, ultra-rugged cameras are what you want. These two new Tough series cameras sport decent improvements, including a brand new 5X optical zoom lens and 720p HD movie mode. Let’s see if their image quality can live up to their features.

Previews of Olympus’ new ultra-zoom and rugged cameras to come!

Olympus SP600 UZ and SP800 UZ
(Ultra-zoom cameras)

• SP600 UZ: 12 effective megapixels
  SP800 UZ: 14 effective megapixels
• SP600 UZ: 28 – 420 mm (f3.5 – f5.4) 15X optical zoom lens
  SP800 UZ: 28 – 840 mm (f2.8 – f5.6) 30X optical zoom lens
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• SP600 UZ: 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
  SP800 UZ: 3.0 inch LCD (230,000 pixels) widescreen
  Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder (EVF)
• No manual controls (huh?! why?!)
• Magic Filters, AF tracking and Intelligent Auto features
• 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC cards
  SP600 UZ has 1 GB internal memory
  SP800 UZ has 2 GB internal memory
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in March for $250 (SP600 UZ) and $350 (SP800 UZ)

Olympus Stylus/Mju TOUGH 6020 and Stylus/Mju TOUGH 8010
(Rugged compact cameras)

• 14 effective megapixels
• 28 – 140 mm (f3.9 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• No manual controls
• Built-in LED lamp to illuminate photos and videos
• Tap Control allows you to adjust settings by tapping the camera’s sides
• Magic Filters, AF tracking and Intelligent Auto features
• 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC cards
  Stylus/Mju Tough 6020 has 1 GB internal memory
  Stylus/Mju Tough 8010 has 2 GB internal memory
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for $300 (Stylus/Mju Tough 6020) and $400 (Stylus/Mju Tough 8010)
• Stylus Tough 6020: Waterproof (16 feet/5.5 meters), shockproof (5 feet/1.5 meters), dustproof, freezeproof (14 F/0 C)
  Stylus Tough 8010: Waterproof (33 feet/11 meters), shockproof (6.6 feet/2.0 meters), dustproof, freezeproof (14 F/0 C), crushproof (220 lbs/100 kg)