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Sony announces their first rugged camera and new compact super-zoom

Sony just announced two new additions to their Cyber-shot line today. The Cyber-shot H55 is a basic version of the H5V camera announced last month - for one Benjamin less, you’ll get the Cyber-shot H55, a similar looking camera sans GPS, backlit CMOS, full HD movie mode and less bells and whistles. Also announced today is the Cyber-shot TX5, Sony’s first ever rugged digital camera. The camera is essentially a T-series cameras that’s more ruggardized to match competing offers in the market by other camera makers.

sony h55

Sony Cyber-shot HX55
(Compact super-zoom)

  • 14 effective megapixels
  • 25 – 250 mm (f3.5 – f5.5) 10X optical zoom lens
  • Optical image stabilization
  • Active stabilization reduces high levels of camera shake in movie mode
  • 3.0 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
  • Some manual controls
  • Standard Sweep Panorama mode
  • Face detection, software redeye removal
  • Standard HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound and optical zoom
  • Single memory card slot takes either SD/SDHC or Memory Stick Duo cards
  • Uses a lithium-ion battery
  • Available in April for $250

sony tx5

Sony Cyber-shot TX5
(Rugged compact camera)

  • Rugged design: Waterproof (10 feet/3 meters), shockproof (5 feet/1.5 meters), freezeproof, dustproof
  • 10 effective megapixels (backlit CMOS)
  • 25 – 100 mm (f3.5 – f4.6) 4X optical zoom lens
  • Optical image stabilization
  • 3 touchscreen LCD (2301,000 pixels)
  • No manual controls
  • Enhanced Sweep Panorama mode
  • High Dynamic Range mode takes and combines two photos into 1 HDR shot
  • Continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second at full resolution
  • Face detection, software redeye removal
  • Standard HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound and optical zoom
  • Single memory card slot takes either SD/SDHC or Memory Stick Duo cards
  • Uses a lithium-ion battery
  • Available in April for $350

Panasonic Lumix GF1 feat. Micro Zuiko 17 mm f2.8 Pancake Gallery

What happens when you pair up the capable Panasonic Lumix GF1 with the Olympus Micro Zuiko 17 mm f2.8 Pancake lens? Well, quite obviously you get this 6 test chart photo gallery which shows you the Panasonic GF1’s image quality from ISO 100 to ISO 3200 and also the image quality characteristics of the Micro Zuiko 17 mm f2.8 pancake lens.

Enter the GF1 + 17 mm f2.8 gallery!

Canon unveils new Rebel T2i/EOS 550D and several Powershot/Digital IXUS models

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

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Preview

olympus epl1 prev

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!

Olympus E-PL1 PEN Preview Gallery

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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