Digital Photography Interface

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

Remember when Nikon released their D300s and D3000 digital SLRs late last month? Well, how’s about something more pocketable for everyone else… Nikon announced four new Coolpix compact cameras today.

Leading the bunch of cameras today is their new Coolpix S1000 pj, the world’s first digital camera with a built-in projector. How many people actually need one built into their cameras is a different story… though I suppose there will be times where it’ll come in handy; like presentations on-the-go and fancy slideshows on your living room wall to impress Uncle Calvin and Aunt Margaret.

Next up comes the Coolpix S70, almost the same camera on paper; minus the projector, add an OLED touchscreen. While Nikon is a relatively new player in the touchscreen camera market (They only had two in the past: S60 and S230), their touchscreen UI’s are awesome (compared to Sony) and very usable with large, clearly labeled icons/menu items and various touch gestures in playback. I’m definitely looking forward to getting my hands on the S70.

The other two cameras, S570 and S640, announced today are relatively ‘meh’ with rather run-of-the-mill specifications. They’re still worth a glance for their low price tags though. One big disappointment about all of the cameras today, I must voice out, is that they all sport ‘slow’ lenses (f5.8 and f6.6 maximum apertures at telephoto?!), which isn’t good news for low-light shots. It’s a sad, on-going trend that has made its way to more and more cameras this year.

Nikon Coolpix S1000 pj
(Premium compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 28 – 140 mm (f3.9 – f5.8) 5X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Vibration Reduction)
• 2.7 inch LCD
• World’s first camera with a built-in projector – you can project images/video in playback onto any flat surface, up to 40 inches in size
• Camera bundle includes a remote control and projector stand
• Nikon’s usual Smart Portrait system: Face, smile and blink detection, redeye removal and now, even with skin softening (sounds like beauty mode)
• No manual controls
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in September for $430
• Comes in your choice of black or beige

Nikon Coolpix S70
(Slim, ultra-compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 28 – 140 mm (f3.9 – f5.8) 5X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Vibration Reduction)
• 3.5 inch OLED touchscreen
• Improved touchscreen user interface includes settings sliders, touch controlled editing and multi-touch gestures in playback
• Touch Shutter mode immediately takes a picture after you’ve ‘touched’ the subject on-screen
• Same Smart Portrait features as above: Face, smile and blink detection, redeye removal and skin softening
• No manual controls
• 720p HD 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in September for $400
• Comes in your choice of black, beige and red

Nikon Coolpix S640
(Compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 28 – 140 mm (f2.7 – f6.6) 5X optical zoom lens
• Optical image stabilization (Vibration Reduction)
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Same Smart Portrait features as above: Face, smile and blink detection, redeye removal and skin softening
• No manual controls
• Nikon claims ‘the quickest startup time’ in its class and super fast response when hitting the shutter release (yea, we’ve all heard that before)
• VGA 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in September for $250
• Comes in your choice of silver, black and pink

Nikon Coolpix S570
(Compact camera)

• 12 effective megapixels
• 28 – 140 mm (f2.7 – f6.6) 5X optical zoom lens
• NO image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD
• Same Smart Portrait features as above: Face, smile and blink detection, redeye removal and skin softening
• No manual controls
• VGA 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, red and pink

Ever wished for a cheaper version of Sony’s Alpha A900 full frame digital SLR? Well, here’s your dream come true – the Alpha A850 full frame SLR (whose news was leaked today and currently spreading around the net faster than wildfire). The Sony Alpha A850 is a cheaper, slightly (and I mean very slightly) less featured version of the A900 announced in September last year.

The Alpha A850 essentially takes the body of the A900 (with tiny one or two millimeter shifts in dimensions here and there) and everything else in it, including the 24.6 megapixel image sensor, and puts a lower price tag on it. There are some minor changes here, which include a single Bionz processor, a viewfinder with slightly less frame coverage (down 2% from the A900) and a slower 3 FPS burst mode (which, however, can take more shots in a single burst versus the A900).

PRICE TAG: As of now, I don’t have an official price tag on the Sony Alpha A850, but by looking at the prices of similar full frame digital SLRs at introduction – Canon 5D Mark II ($2700), Nikon D700 ($3000) and Sony Alpha A900 ($3000) – and the market price for the A900 at the moment (around $2600-2700), I get a feeling the A850 will go for $2400. For people who know their stuff, $2400 is a steal for a new full-frame digital SLR and I’m sure we’ll be seeing more new offerings at lower intro prices in the future.

[Picture to come]

Sony Alpha A850
(Full frame digital SLR)

• 24.6 effective megapixels (CMOS, Full frame sensor)
• Sony lens mount (compatible with Minolta ones too, DT lenses are subjected to 1.5X crop factor to 11 MP)
• Dust reduction
• In-body sensor-shift image stabilization
• Single Bionz imaging processor (versus A900’s dual processors)
• 3 inch super-high resolution LCD (920,000 pixels)
• 98% viewfinder with 0.74X magnification (A900 had same magnification but 100% coverage)
• No on-board flash
• No live view; camera can take a ‘sampling shot’ instead to preview various exposure, dynamic range and white balance effects
• 3 FPS burst mode up to unlimited JPEG, 16 RAW or 12 RAW + JPEG images(versus 5 FPS on Alpha A900)
• Full manual controls with RAW mode and hotshoe
• 9 point AF with 10 extra assist sensors (center is dual cross type)
• No movie mode
• About the same size and weight as the Alpha 900
• Dual memory card slots for Compact Flash (supports Type I/II and UDMA enabled cards) and Memory Stick Duo
• Uses a lithium-ion battery (NP-FM500H, same as Alpha 700 and Alpha 900)
• Available in September for $2×00 (body only)