Digital Photography Interface

Olympus TG320 rugged camera

Olympus has just announced their newest rugged camera in time for the year 2012. The camera is apparently their entry-level rugged offering, so we suspect we will be hearing from Olympus again in the near future about higher-end rugged cameras.

• 14 megapixel CCD sensor
• 3.6X optical zoom 28 – 102 mm (f3.5 – f5.1) lens
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• iAuto mode and scene modes
• Rugged camera design: Waterproof (10 feet/3 meters), shockproof (5 feet/1.5 meters), freezeproof (14F/-10C) and dustproof
• 720p Standard HD movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for $180
• Comes in your choice of red or blue

Olympus VG160 and VR340 entry-level cameras

Olympus has just launched a pair of entry-level compact digital camera models. Despite being different from each other in terms of optical zoom range, both share one thing in common: affordable price tag. First off, here’s the specifications of the basic Olympus VG160:

• 14 megapixel traditional CCD imaging sensor
• 5X optical zoom: 26 – 130 mm (f2.8 – f6.5) lens
• 3 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• iAuto with scene modes and Magic Filters; no manual controls
• Standard HD 720p movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available February for $100
• Comes in choice of silver, black, red or orange

And now, here’s the Olympus VR340 which has a larger zoom lens and image stabilization, along with a higher resolution LCD and SDXC support.

• 16 megapixel traditional CCD imaging sensor
• 10X optical zoom: 24 – 240 mm (f3.0 – f5.7) lens
• 3 inch LCD (460,000 pixels)
• iAuto with scene modes and Magic Filters; no manual controls
• Standard HD 720p movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available March for $150
• Comes in choice of silver, black, red or purple

Fujifilm X-Pro 1: Fuji's first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera

Fujifilm has just made details of their first ever mirrorless interchangeable lens camera today. The new Fujifilm X-Pro 1 throws yet another interchangeable lens system into the growing market of mirrorless large-sensor cameras, using Fujifilm’s new X-mount and lenses. The camera has a rangefinder-like design and looks to be a premium mid-range camera in terms of price.

• 16 megapixel X-Trans CMOS sensor (APS-C sized) with dust reduction
  Sensor designed to reduce moire and false coloring
• Fujifilm X-mount with 1.5X crop factor
• Solid magnesium alloy construction with rangefinder design; has a flash hotshoe, shutter speed dial and exposure dial
• 3 inch LCD (1.23 million pixels)
  Hybrid viewfinder gives you the choice between optical viewfinder (90% frame coverage with variable 0.37X or 0.6X magnification) and an EVF (1.44 million dots)
• Full manual controls with RAW support
  Default ISO range 200 to 12800, expandable to ISO 100 to 25600
• Enhanced Film Simulation mode
• 6 frames per second (full resolution) continuous shooting
• 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080) 24 FPS movie mode with stereo sound
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in February for tentative planned price of $1700

Fujifilm has also announced three lenses to go with their X-mount system: the Fujifilm 18 mm f2.0, 35 mm f1.4 and 60 mm f2.4 macro. Lenses are said to hover around the $650 range; with 9 new X-mount lenses planned for launch over the next 3 years. The Fuji X-Pro 1 will also be made available with optional accessories such as an add-on camera grip, aperture ring for lenses, assortment of lens hoods and leather camera case.

Sony Cyber-shot W610, W620 and W650 trio

Sony has taken the wraps off three affordably priced Cyber-shot models today. The new Sony Cyber-shot W610, W620 and W650 allow you to own a small metal point-and-shoot camera with a decent feature set for not a lot of money.

• W610 and W620: 14 megapixel CCD imaging sensor
  W650: 16 megapixel CCD imaging sensor
• W610: 4X optical zoom: 26 – 104 mm (f2.8 – f5.9) lens
  W620: 5X optical zoom: 28 – 140 mm (f3.2 – f6.5) lens
  W650: 5X optical zoom: 25 – 125 mm (f2.6 – f6.3) lens
• W650 only: Optical image stabilization
• W610 and W620: 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
  W650: 3 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• Intelligent Auto with scene modes; no manual controls
• 360 degree Sweep Panorama
• W620 and W650 only: 4 Picture Effects
• W610: VGA (640 x 480) movie mode
  W620 and W650: Standard HD 720p (1280 x 720) movie mode
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• W610 will be available this month for $110
  W620 and W650 to be available February for $120 and $250 respectively
• W610 comes in choice of silver, black, blue, green or pink
  W620 comes in choice of black, silver or red

Panasonic Lumix SZ1 and Lumix SZ7 ultra-thin super-zoom cameras

It seems like it’s raining cameras today and Panasonic has a pair of ultra-thin super-zoom cameras to show you. While neither model has a price nor a release date just yet, we are guessing that these two cameras will be relatively affordable compared to the higher-end Lumix TZ-series based on their specifications. The Lumix SZ1 measures under an inch thin, yet packs a huge 10X optical zoom lens.

• Lumix SZ1: 16 megapixel traditional CCD imaging sensor
  Lumix SZ7: 14 megapixel MOS sensor
• 10X optical zoom: 27 – 270 mm (f3.1 – f5.9) lens
• Optical image stabilization (Mega OIS)
• 3 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• Intelligent Auto with scene modes; no manual controls
• Special effects modes and in-camera panorama
• Lumix SZ7 only: 10 FPS high-speed burst (up to 4 full resolution shots), in-camera HDR, handheld nightshot, motion deblur and 3D photo mode
• Lumix SZ1: Standard HD 720p (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
  Lumix SZ7: Full HD 1080p (1920 x 1080) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Price and availability to be announced
• Lumix SZ1: Comes in your choice of black, silver, blue or red
  Lumix SZ7: Black only

Panasonic Lumix FH6 and Lumix FH8 compact cameras

Panasonic just introduced a pair of compact point-and-shoot digital camera models. These cameras are pretty straight forward: pocketable, easy to use, simple and probably going to be affordable (like the Lumix SZ1 and SZ7 pair, Panasonic has not revealed pricing or availability details for these two cameras)… check out the scoop on the two cameras:

• Lumix FH6: 14 megapixel traditional CCD imaging sensor
  Lumix FH8: 16 megapixel traditional CCD imaging sensor
• 5X optical zoom: 24 – 120 mm (f2.5 – f6.4) lens
• Optical image stabilization (Mega OIS)
• Lumix FH6: 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
  Lumix FH8: 3 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• Intelligent Auto with scene modes; no manual controls
• In-camera panorama mode
• Standard HD 720p (1280 x 720) movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Price and availability to be announced
• Lumix FH6: Black only
  Lumix FH8: Comes in your choice of silver, black, red or purple

Panasonic Lumix S2 entry-level camera

Panasonic didn’t forget something at the entry-level, which anyone can afford. Introducing the Lumix S2, their new basic model for 2012.

• 14 megapixel traditional CCD imaging sensor
• 4X optical zoom: 28 – 112 mm (f3.1 – f6.5) lens
• Optical image stabilization (Mega OIS)
• 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
• Intelligent Auto with scene modes; no manual controls
• In-camera panorama mode
• Standard HD 720p (1280 x 720) movie mode with sound
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Price and availability to be announced
• Comes in your choice of black, pink or purple

Casio Exilim ZR15 high-speed compact camera

Casio has just taken the wraps off their new compact Exilim ZR15 model, a compact camera with a nice feature set and stylish look.

• 16 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor
• 7X optical zoom 28 – 196 mm (f3.0 – f5.9) lens
• Sensor-shift image stabilization
• 3 inch LCD (460,800 pixels)
• Premium Auto mode and scene modes
• In-camera HDR, background defocus mode and panorama mode
• Super-wide angle 17mm effect mode by combining multiple photos
• 1080p Full HD (1920 x 1080) movie mode with stereo sound
• Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
• Uses a lithium-ion battery
• Available in April for $330
• Comes in your choice of black, white, red or gold