Fujifilm released a slew of new digital cameras today, including two new ‘EXR’ SuperCCD cameras and a new ‘Real 3D’ camera – details on the 3D camera are scarce, other than the fact that it can take 3D photos, 3D movies and play them back on its high-resolution screen (in 3D, no less), and I’ll only be posting details on Fujifilm’s 3D camera when there’s more in September. The thing I noticed about all of them is they all use SD/SDHC cards… and lack xD-Picture card compatibility. That now leaves Olympus as the only camera maker to use the proprietary xD-card format in some of their cameras (personally, I hope they abandon it completely). Alright, enough commentary, let’s get to the exciting stuff:

Fujifilm FinePix S200 EXR
(Ultra-zoom camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 31 – 436 mm (f2.8 – f5.3) 7X optical zoom lens
• Sensor shift image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD with electronic viewfinder
• New “Pro” features: Pro Focus captures 2 to 3 shots to simulate the shallow DoF of SLRs for subject isolation (we’ll see how well that works) while Pro Low-light takes four shots and combines them into a single, low-noise shot
• Resolution, dynamic range and high sensitivity EXR modes as seen in F200 EXR
• Film Simulation includes three ‘film types’ (Velvia, Provia and Astia) for different image/color output
• Full manual controls with hotshoe and RAW/RAW+JPEG image modes
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in August for $600

Fujifilm FinePix F70 EXR
(Compact super-zoom camera)

• 10 effective megapixels
• 27 – 270 mm (f3.3 – f5.6) 10X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Sensor shift image stabilization
• New “Pro” features: Pro Focus captures 2 to 3 shots to simulate the shallow DoF of SLRs for subject isolation (we’ll see how well that works) while Pro Low-light takes four shots and combines them into a single, low-noise shot
• Resolution, dynamic range and high sensitivity EXR modes as seen in F200 EXR
• Film Simulation includes three ‘film types’ (Velvia, Provia and Astia) for different image/color output
• Limited manual controls
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in August for $280

Fujifilm FinePix Z35 aka FinePix Z37
(Entry-level camera)

• 10 effective megapixels
• 35 – 105 mm (f3.7 – f4.2) 3X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• No manual controls
• Automatic scene mode selection
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC Picture cards
• Use a lithium-ion battery
• Available in August for $150
• Comes in your choice of purple, green and blue

Fujifilm FinePix J38
(Entry-level camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 32 – 96 mm (f2.9 – f5.2) 3X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• No manual controls
• Automatic scene mode selection
• Panorama mode with automatic camera stitching
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC Picture cards
• Use a lithium-ion battery
• Available in August for $130

Fujifilm FinePix A170/A220
(Budget cameras)

• 10 effective megapixels (A170)/12 effective megapixels (A220)
• 32 – 96 mm (f2.9 – f5.2) 3X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• No manual controls
• Panorama mode with automatic camera stitching
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC Picture cards
• Uses 2 AA batteries
• Available now for $90 (A170)/$100 (A220)

Olympus announced four new compact cameras today – the new Stylus 7010 is a compact super-zoom camera (it has a new 7X zoom lens and the camera fits in your pocket) while the three FE series cameras are budget cameras. The new ‘Magic Filters’ feature, first spotted on the new Stylus Tough 6010 from last week, is here again…

But the best thing of all is the fact that all of the new cameras today (except the low-end FE46) have new lenses. That’s right folks, no sign of the el-cheapo “36-108 mm f3.1-f5.9” lens here – so with the new lenses they have, I’m willing to give the new FE-series cameras another chance at proving themselves to be worthy picture taking devices (once I get my hands on them for review, of course).

Olympus Stylus 7010
(Compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 28 – 196 mm (f3.0 – f5.9) 7X optical zoom lens
• Sensor shift image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD
• NEW: Subject tracking (continuous autofocus) mode
• NEW: Magic Filters (sounds like Art Filters from Olympus digital SLRs) with effects like Pop art, fisheye, sketch and pinhole
• No manual controls
• Intelligent Auto mode (camera picks a mode automatically), Beauty mode
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes xD Picture cards (and microSD cards via bundled adapter)
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in August for $200
• Comes in your choice of grey or silver (huh? They look ALMOST the same)

Olympus FE5020
(Entry-level camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 24 – 120 mm (f3.3 – f5.8) 5X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Magic Filters: Pop art, fisheye, pinhole
• No manual controls
• Intelligent Auto mode (camera picks a mode automatically) and subject tracking
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes xD Picture cards (and microSD cards via bundled adapter)
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in August for $160
• Comes in your choice of red, gray and blue

Olympus FE4000
(Entry-level camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 26 – 105 mm (f2.6 – f5.9) 4X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Magic Filters: Pop art, soft focus, pinhole
• No manual controls
• Intelligent Auto mode (camera picks a mode automatically) and subject tracking
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes xD Picture cards (and microSD cards via bundled adapter)
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in August for $150
• Comes in your choice of white, gray and pink

Olympus FE46
(Entry-level camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 36 – 180 mm (f3.5 – f5.6) 5X optical zoom lens
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Magic Filters: Pop art, soft focus, pinhole
• No manual controls
• Intelligent Auto mode (camera picks a mode automatically) and subject tracking
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes xD Picture cards (and microSD cards via bundled adapter)
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in September for $100
• Comes in your choice of white, blue, black and pink

I’ve just published my review of the Olympus Stylus 550 WP aka mju 550 WP, an entry-level waterproof camera, and the Olympus Stylus 550 WP photo gallery as well. The full review waits after the jump.

Continue reading...

I’ve posted the Olympus Stylus 550WP aka Mju 550WP Photo Gallery which contains full-sized pictures taken by the camera. Be sure to check out the Olympus Stylus 550WP aka Mju 550WP review as well.

Continue to the Stylus 550WP gallery

Check out my review of the Nikon D5000 digital SLR, the mini-me, less expensive version of Nikon’s D90 SLR, with swivel LCD added to the mix. Visit Nikon D5000 photo gallery as well for full-sized photos taken using the camera. Hit the link for the full review.

This review was written based on a full production, retail unit of the Nikon D5000 using firmware v1.00.

Read the Nikon D5000 review

Olympus announced a new rugged camera today. The Olympus Stylus Tough aka Mju Tough 6010 is an incremental upgrade to the Stylus 6000 launched earlier this year (see our review), featuring just two main changes – an up in megapixel count and new Magic Filter effects

Olympus Stylus Tough 6010
(Rugged compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 28 – 102 mm (f3.5 – f5.1) 3.6X optical zoom lens
• Rugged design: waterproof to 10 feet, drop proof to 5 feet and freezeproof to 14 degrees
• Sensor shift image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Tap control and LCD backlight boost
• NEW: Magic Filters (sounds like Art Filters from Olympus digital SLRs) with effects like Pop art, fisheye, sketch and pinhole
• No manual controls
• Intelligent Auto mode (camera picks a mode automatically), Beauty Fix mode
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes xD Picture cards (and microSD cards via bundled adapter)
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available this month for $300
• Comes in your choice of grey, turquoise and red

In other news, for those who are wondering, our review of the Nikon D5000 will be up very soon.

Here’s the Nikon D5000 digital SLR Photo Gallery containing full-sized pictures taken by the camera. Be sure to check out the Nikon D5000 review for more about the camera.

Visit the Nikon D5000 photo gallery