Samsung introduced a fairly affordable compact camera with built-in WiFi capability today and here it is:
Samsung ST80
(Compact camera)
- 14 effective megapixel CCD
- 35 – 105 mm (f3.0 – f5.6) 3X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization
- 3 inch touchscreen LCD
- Face, smile and blink detection; Smart Auto with auto scene selection
- Built-in Wi-Fi allows you to wirelessly upload and email photos
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes micro SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $250
There we go – it’s my review of the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 (also known as the Mju Tough 6020), one of three rugged cameras that Olympus has introduced for 2010. This new Olympus TOUGH camera gives you more than last year’s models while remaining just as rugged, with a new 720p HD movie mode, 14 megapixels of resolution, a 5X optical zoom lens and 2 GB of internal memory. Also head on to the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 photo gallery posted as well.
Keep reading »
I’ve posted the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 aka Mju Tough 6020 Photo Gallery which contains full-sized pictures taken by the camera. Be sure to check out the Olympus Stylus Tough 6020 aka Mju Tough 6020 review for details and an opinion about this rugged, waterproof camera.
View gallery
Samsung dived into the summer camera announcement party today with the announcement of two new Dual View cameras (also known as 2 View), which sport unique dual LCD screens and one entry-level camera with a lot of zoom.
Samsung TL100 Dual View
(Compact camera)
- 14 effective megapixel CCD
- 35 – 175 mm (f3.6 – f4.8) 5X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization
- Rear display: 3.5 inch wide touchscreen LCD
Second front facing 1.8 inch LCD for self-portraits
- Face, smile and blink detection; Smart Auto with auto scene selection
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes micro SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $350
Samsung TL600 Dual View
(Compact camera)
- 14 effective megapixel CCD
- 27 – 135 mm (f3.5 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization
- Rear display: 3.5 inch wide touchscreen LCD
Second front facing 1.8 inch LCD for self-portraits
- Face, smile and blink detection; Smart Auto with auto scene selection
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes micro SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $330
Samsung PL200
(Entry-level cameras)
- 12 effective megapixels
- 31 – 217 mm (f3.3 – f5.5) 7X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization
- 3.0 inch LCD
- Face, smile and blink detection; Smart Auto with auto scene selection
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $180
Not wanting Fujifilm to feel lonely today, Panasonic has also come up with a bunch of their own new cameras for this fall, including the much-awaited successor to their Lumix LX3 compact/prosumer camera, the new Lumix LX5 and spiritual successor to the Lumix FZ30, the CMOS-touting prosumer Panasonic Lumix FZ100. Panasonic has also come up with a new basic rugged camera for those on a budget as well as a more consumer-oriented super-zoom (essentially a less feature-packed version of the FZ100)
The Panasonic Lumix FZ100 super-zoom and Lumix FX700 compact both sport Panasonic’s brand new CMOS sensor with 14 megapixels of resolution. This new sensor allows for high-speed shooting (isn’t everyone making at least one of these nowadays?) and improved high ISO performance, though I’m surprised Panasonic hasn’t included one of those sweep-style, auto panorama modes like Sony and (recently) Fujifilm have been offering.
Panasonic Lumix FZ100
(Prosumer super-zoom camera)
- 14 effective megapixels (CMOS sensor)
- 25 – 600 mm (f2.8 – f5.2) 24X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization (Power OIS)
- New Venus Engine FHD imaging processor
- 3 inch LCD (460k dots) with ability to flip out and rotate
Electronic viewfinder with dioptric correction available
- Full manual controls with new jog dial and focus switch
- Hotshoe supports external flash units
New port on the side also allows you to plug in an external microphone (ala Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds cameras)
- 11 FPS continuous shooting at 14 MP full-resolution;
and up to 60 FPS at 3.5 megapixels
- Motion Deblur mode attempts to boost shutter speed ‘as high as possible’ by making use of both the camera’s Intelligent ISO/motion detection and Intelligent Exposure features
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) 50i/60i movie mode with stereo sound; AVCHD codec
Lower resolution options ranging from 720p, VGA to QVGA available
Exposure controls, wind filter, optical zoom and optical IS available while recording
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery (410 shots per charge)
- Available in late August for $500
Panasonic Lumix FZ40
also known as Lumix FZ45
(Consumer super-zoom camera)
- 14 effective megapixels (CCD)
- 25 – 600 mm (f2.8 – f5.2) 24X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization (Power OIS)
- 3 inch LCD (230k dots); fixed position
Electronic viewfinder with dioptric correction available
- Full manual controls with new jog dial
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with stereo sound; AVCHD Lite codec
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery (410 shots per charge)
- Available in late August for $400
Panasonic Lumix LX5
(Mid-range compact camera)
- 10 effective megapixels (Sensor has been redesigned since the LX3 for better dynamic range and high ISO performance)
- 24 – 90 mm (f2.8 – f3.3) 3.8X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization (Power OIS)
- New Venus Engine FHD imaging processor
- 3 inch LCD (460k dots)
- Full manual controls with new jog dial
- Hotshoe supports external flash units
New accessory port (first seen on the Micro Four Thirds Lumix GF1) allows an external electronic viewfinder EVF to be attached to the hotshoe
- New 1:1 square image aspect ratio (in addition to existing 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 widescreen options)
- New Step Zoom allows you to preset focal length to those commonly found on SLR lenses (ie 24mm, 28mm, 35mm and so on)
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 50i/60i movie mode with sound; AVCHD Lite codec
Exposure controls, wind filter, optical zoom and optical IS available while recording
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery (400 shots per charge)
- Available in late August for $500
Panasonic Lumix FX700
(Touchscreen compact camera)
- 14 effective megapixels (CMOS sensor)
- 24 – 120 mm (f2.2 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization (Power OIS)
- New Venus Engine FHD imaging processor
- 3 inch touchscreen LCD (460k dots)
- Full manual controls
- 10 FPS continuous shooting at 14 MP full-resolution
- Handheld Nightshot mode takes 10 pictures in a row, combining them into one sharp photo with lower than usual noise (sounds familiar?)
- Motion Deblur mode attempts to boost shutter speed ‘as high as possible’ by making use of both the camera’s Intelligent ISO/motion detection and Intelligent Exposure features
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) 50i/60i movie mode with sound; AVCHD codec
Wind filter, optical zoom and optical IS available while recording
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery (300 shots per charge)
- Available in late August for $400
Panasonic Lumix TS10
(Rugged compact camera)
- Rugged design: Shockproof (1.5m/5 ft), waterproof (3m/10 ft), dustproof, freezeproof
- 14 effective megapixels (CCD)
- 35 – 140 mm (f2.2 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization (Mega OIS)
- 2.7 inch LCD (230k dots)
- Point and shoot; no manual controls
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound; MJPEG
- Takes SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery (300 shots per charge)
- Available in September for $250
- Comes in your choice of silver, black, red or blue
Yes, it’s that time of year again and you’ve guessed it - new camera announcements for fall! But Fujifilm isn’t sitting around, oh no, they’re not going to wait any longer… And so, they’ve become one of the first camera manufacturers to announce a bunch of new cameras for fall 2010. That’s a whole two months ahead of Photokina 2010 coming in September.
But let’s get right to the cameras, shall we? These new Fujifilm cameras feature something totally unique, that we’re seeing for the first time - a dual “hybrid” autofocus system that makes use of both contrast detection and phase detection (compact cameras have traditionally been using contrast detection AF only), made possible by having the phase detection system built onto Fujifilm’s special SuperCCD EXR imaging sensor. Fujifilm says this allows today’s new cameras to focus with digital SLR-like speeds (a statement we’ll have to put to the test when we review them).
There’s also a new Motion Panorama feature that two of today’s Fujifilm FinePix EXR cameras have, which allow for automatic capture and stitching of a panorama just by panning the camera from side-to-side (like what Sony has been doing with their Sweep Panorama)
Fujifilm FinePix F300 EXR
(Compact super-zoom camera)
- 12 megapixel SuperCCD EXR sensor
- 24 – 360 mm (f3.5 – f5.3) 15X optical zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3 inch LCD (460,000 pixels)
- Full manual controls and auto scene mode selection
- Hybrid High Speed AF combines traditional contrast detection with phase detection autofocus
- EXR sensor modes: High resolution, high sensitivity or high dynamic range
- Intelligent IS mode combines mechanical stabilization with high ISO
- Motion Panorama automatically captures and creates a panoramic image as you pan the camera; up to 360 degrees
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 24 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in August for $330
Fujifilm FinePix Z800 EXR
(Touchscreen compact camera)
- 12 megapixel SuperCCD EXR sensor
- 36 – 180 mm (f3.9 – f4.7) 5X optical zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3.5 inch wide touchscreen LCD (460,000 pixels)
- Point and shoot operation with auto scene mode selection; no manual controls
- Hybrid High Speed AF combines traditional contrast detection with phase detection autofocus
- EXR sensor modes: High resolution, high sensitivity or high dynamic range
- Intelligent IS mode combines mechanical stabilization with high ISO
- Motion Panorama automatically captures and creates a panoramic image as you pan the camera; up to 360 degrees
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 24 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in August for $230
Fujifilm FinePix S2800 HD
(Basic super-zoom camera)
- 14 megapixel CCD
- 28 – 504 mm (f3.1 – f5.6) 18X optical zoom lens
- Sensor-shift image stabilization
- 3 inch LCD (230,000 pixels) and electronic viewfinder
- Full manual controls and auto scene mode selection
- Automatic in-camera panorama stitching
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 24 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses 4 AA batteries
- Available in September for $260
Fujifilm FinePix JX280
(Entry-level camera)
- 14 megapixel CCD
- 28 – 140 mm (f3.6 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
- 2.7 inch LCD (230,000 pixels)
- No manual controls; only automatic/scene modes and SR Auto scene mode selection
- 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with sound
- Takes SD/SDHC memory cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in August for $150
Sony announced three new compact cameras over the weekends, two of which are capable of taking 3D shots (to a certain extent). The announcement also marks a quiet introduction of Sony’s new 12 megapixel “Exmor R” backlit CMOS sensor (versus the 10 megapixel backlit sensors we’ve been seeing for quite a while now), which I’m pretty sure we’ll be seeing in other manufacturers’ cameras later this summer/fall. The high-speed, high sensitivity CMOS sensor allows the two models announced today that utilize it (the Cyber-shot WX5 and Cyber-shot TX9) to perform various tricks such as quick continuous shooting, combining multiple photos into a single ‘high quality’ (At least in theory) shot and doing seamless in-camera panoramas without having to constantly take multiple shots and stitch them up later. The ultra-thin Sony Cyber-shot TX9 also sports a touchscreen display with TruBlack technology (first seen on Sony’s NEX cameras announced in May), which improves on contrast and screen legibility.
Sony Cyber-shot WX5
(Stylish compact camera)
- 12 effective megapixels (CMOS)
- 24 – 120 mm (f2.4 – f5.9) 5X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization
- 2.8 inch LCD (460,000 pixels)
- Some manual controls; new “Superior Auto” (that’s some name there)
- Intelligent Sweep Panorama automatically constructs a panorama from panning the camera;
New 3D Sweep Panorama does the same thing, except this time the result comes out as a 3D photo
- Intelligent Multi Angle lets you take 15 shots at various angles and assembles one image that moves when you angle and tilt the camera in playback
- Background Defocus mode blurs out the background behind your subject (faux SLR shallow depth-of-field effect) by combining one ‘sharp’ photo and another defocused one
- Anti-blur and Handheld Twilight prevents blurry photos in low-light by automatically taking and combining 6 photos into one
- Continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second at full resolution (up to 10 pictures)
- Face, blink and smile detection, software redeye removal
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) 60i FPS movie mode with stereo sound using AVCHD codec;
1080i and 720p recording also available as options
- Single memory card slot takes either SD/SDHC/SDXC or Memory Stick Duo cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $300
- Comes in your choice of silver or black
Sony Cyber-shot TX9
(Stylish compact camera)
- 12 effective megapixels (CMOS)
- 25 – 100 mm (f3.5 – f4.6) 4X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization
- 3.5 inch wide touchscreen LCD (921,000 pixels) with TruBlack technology
- New “Superior Auto” (that’s some name there)
- Intelligent Sweep Panorama automatically constructs a panorama from panning the camera;
New 3D Sweep Panorama does the same thing, except this time the result comes out as a 3D photo
- Intelligent Multi Angle lets you take 15 shots at various angles and assembles one image that moves when you angle and tilt the camera in playback
- Background Defocus mode blurs out the background behind your subject (faux SLR shallow depth-of-field effect) by combining one ‘sharp’ photo and another defocused one
- Anti-blur and Handheld Twilight prevents blurry photos in low-light by automatically taking and combining 6 photos into one
- Continuous shooting up to 10 frames per second at full resolution (up to 10 pictures)
- Face, blink and smile detection, software redeye removal
- Full HD (1920 x 1080) 60i FPS movie mode with Dolby Digital stereo sound using AVCHD codec;
1080i and 720p recording also available as options
- Single memory card slot takes either SD/SDHC/SDXC or Memory Stick Duo cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $400
- Comes in your choice of black or red
Sony Cyber-shot T99
(Ultra-compact camera)
- 14 effective megapixels (regular CCD)
- 25 – 100 mm (f3.5 – f4.6) 4X optical zoom lens
- Optical image stabilization
- 3.0 inch wide touchscreen LCD (230,000 pixels)
- No manual controls
- Standard Sweep Panorama automatically constructs a panorama from panning the camera
- Face, blink and smile detection, software redeye removal
- Standard 720p HD (1280 x 720) 30 FPS movie mode with mono sound using MPEG4 codec
- Single memory card slot takes either SD/SDHC/SDXC or Memory Stick Duo cards
- Uses a lithium-ion battery
- Available in September for $250
- Comes in your choice of silver, black, pink, purple or green
