Fujifilm plans on bringing its latest X-series camera, the X-S1 (which is a DSLR-like superzoom camera) to the States. It first launched in the UK for $1,090 as the XS-1, but will be selling it in the U.S. for only $799 (it’ll be available later this month). The camera features a fixed 26x manual zoom lens with a range of 24-624mm and a variable maximum aperture of f/2.8-5.6, with a 2/3-inch 12 megapixel EXR CMOS sensor behind.

Its lens allows you to capture photos that are very far away and very close, making it a very versatile option. Like any high-end camera, there’s 1080/30p video capture with stereo sound and H.264 encoding, along with RAW stills and full manual control. Its seven-frames-per-second high-speed mode at full resolution, or 10 fps at six megapixels will excite sports shooters. Although the X-S1 may have DSLR features, its ISO sensitivity isn’t as great because of its smaller image sensor. There’s no word if Fugifilm will feature the camera at their CES press conference, but they might sneak it in!

Tomorrow, Apple will unveil the next iPhone, presumably the iPhone 4GS or iPhone 5.  Not only will it be faster and have an upgraded camera, but it will be powered by iOS 5.  Here are the top 30 new and improved features that users are going to love.

1. Wireless Sync and activation

Literally right out of the box, new iOS devices will be able to activate without a PC with wireless activation.  That’s something that Apple customers have been screaming for as some don’t want a computer, they just want an iPad.  This new feature fills that need.  And iOS devices don’t have to sync through a USB connection to iTunes.  Using a WiFi connection, users can backup to iCloud, as well as sync to iTunes on their PC.  And with new over the air (OTA) updating, users won’t have to sync to iTunes to get the latest iOS updates, something Android users have enjoyed since day one.  And any time you plug your iPhone into an AC outlet to charge, the iPhone will automatically sync to the Cloud via WiFi and look for a software upgrade.

2. Notification Center

The next new feature is another that isn’t really new to Android users, but that iOS 5 does quite elegantly … it’s the new Notification Center.  When users receive a message, whether text or email, iOS 5 will drop down a notification bar in the upper edge of the screen without kicking users out of the app they’re using at the moment.  Users can then swipe down to pull down the bar for more details. If there’s multiple messages, users can simply swipe to reply to messages.  For messages that come in when the iOS device isn’t being used, the Notification Center has lock screen notification, and a simple swipe will reveal and swipe to reply.

3. Greater Accessibility

This is so high on the list because Apple has always made accessibility to iOS a priority.  And these tweaks really help those who are hard of hearing or blind to further use their devices.  Features include LED Flash and vibration activation for incoming calls, improved voiceover support, a hearing aid mode for altering voice and voiceover, and custom gestures to perform key tasks.  Other improvements include a  larger text option, New speak selection, New assistive touch settings, and the ability to Set Mono Audio left or right.

4. Twitter Integration

With iOS 5, Twitter comes built in.  All users need to do is go into settings, select to install the official Twitter app and sign in.  New users can register within iOS 5 without having to launch the browser and go to Twitter to sign up. Once installed and activated, users will find Tweet options in several places from the Safari browser, the camera app, maps, and contact information where Twitter handles can be added.  Additionally, the keyboard has been redesigned for more prominent #(hash-tag) and @ (mention) keys.  Location services can also be added to any Tweet, making Tweet ups easier to create.

5. Greater phone support

You remember that the iPhone is actually a PHONE right?  It can make and receive calls!  That’s what my wife likes to joke about.  Well with iOS 5, users have greater phone support including deleting of individual phone calls with a wipe, unsecured call warnings, location notifications for calls not in contacts, and users can now edit their phone number in settings.

6. Enhanced email features

With iOS 5, users can now add a little more flair to their emails with rich text editing of italics, bold, underline, and even indenting.  And to make addressing an email even easier, users can now drag email addresses to address fields.  Email also will have the ability to organize messages easier with the addition of custom folders. And users can now select & mark multiple emails as read.

7. Enhanced contact features

iOS 5 brings a few extra fields for contact management.  Users can now add family relations, as well as social media links

8. iMessage between iOS devices

Users can also send unlimited messages directly to users of other iOS devices with iMessage.  iMessage allows you to send pictures, video, text messages, group messages, and contacts to any other iOS device – iPhones, iPads, and the iPod Touch.  Users can set up to receive delivery notification and receipts.  iMessage works on both 3G and WiFi, and messages are encrypted.  And just for fun, users can now use animated GIF images in iMessage (only).

9. Airplay wireless mirroring

Airplay mirroring comes to iOS 5, allowing users to use their iOS device through AppleTV on their TV set.  Suddenly, that iPhone or iPad screen is 50″, making it ideal for meetings or even game play.  And the image will also rotate on the TV as it does on the iOS device as you alter it.

10. Enhanced camera control

Users have been screaming for this feature and now they have it.  In iOS 5, users will be able to take capture those instant moments with a Lockscreen camera control, meaning that they don’t have to go into the camera app to snap a picture.  Additionally, users can use the up volume button to snap photo.  And users have greater control over what the iPhone focuses on with one tap auto focus.  In camera editing features are also added including with red eye reduction, rotating, and cropping.   Users can also organize their photos in camera roll with the addition of albums. And here’s a great additional option – users can use their iPhone earbuds as a remote trigger by using the Volume UP button.

11. Photostream

Through Photostream, users can now automatically upload images and videos to the Cloud and directly to all iOS devices and their Desktop PCs.   Additionally, iCloud stores every photo for 30 days and every iOS device will store the last 1000 snapshots.  Your Desktop, however, can store them all.

12. Improved Facetime features

Apple has also finally freed Facetime from the confines of WiFi.  Users can now video conference over 3G.  And they don’t need a SIM to initiate a call either as calls can be made via phone number or email address.  And what could be better?  How about airplay support?  Facetime now enjoys airplay mirroring for video conferencing over your TV set through AppleTV.  And video quality is improved.

13. iCloud

Here’s the biggie.  Users can take advantage of the Cloud with wireless backup and restore.  Users can also schedule daily over the air backup or disable iCloud syn via 3G to save bandwidth.   As previously mentioned, iOS 5 will also automatically sync and backup to iCloud every time users plug in their phone to recharge and look for updates.   Images, videos and files are also backed up to the Cloud and synced down to other iOS devices as well as your PC via iTunes.  And speaking of iTunes, users have the option of a free 256kb upgrade of songs if backing up to iCloud, with any apps or music purchased not counting towards their monthly cap.  Users get 5GB free, with additional storage options ranging from $20-100 annually.  And  Find My iPhone is also available as a part of iCloud integration with an option to disable it.

14. Calendar enhancements

Calendars become more useful with a tap to add event option, tap and drag to adjust time and duration of an event, swipe left or right to view a different day, and viewing of event attachments.

15. Location based Task manager

iOS 5 makes people more productive now with the Reminder Task Manager.   Tasks can be created and checked off, as well as syncd w/ iCal and Outlook.  Reminders can also be location based, meaning when your iOS device sees where you’re in the vicinity of a task, it’ll remind you to do it. reminders. Reminders — Instead of taking notes on your iPhone’s notepad app or putting a reminder in your calendar, you can now use Reminders in iOS to create a digital to-do list right on your iPhone. The geo-location abilities will trigger surrounding events for you to choose from.

16. Storage usage and clean-up

Here’s a nice feature for housekeeping of your iOS device.  iOS 5 brings Storage Usage Clean Up so that we not only see what files have taken up space but also the option to empty that space of Apps, Game saved data, Music, Videos etc. with single wipe.

17. The Assistant

iOS 5 brings a Voice activated assistant feature.   With a long press of the home button, your iOS device will interact and respond to voice commands. Users will be able to drive hands free and tell the phone to send email, texts, get maps, tweet, and even make phone calls.  Based on the popular Siri app, which Apple recently purchased.

18. Split keyboard for iPad

If you’ve ever used an iPad, you know how hard it is to thumb type.  So iOS 5 adds a split keyboard option to make it easier to type in portrait mode.

19. Video and music now separate apps

With iOS 5, the iPod app is retired in exchange for separate video and music apps.  Seems kind of odd, but it was actually done with the iPod Touch, so this change makes it consistent across all iOS platforms.  Users can also move between tracks with a swipe to the left or right (iPad only) and a slide will delete a song right away.

20. Custom Tones

To make the iOS experience more personal, users can now add custom tones for Calendar events, send/receive mail, voice mail, week view on calendar, year view on calendar (iPad) and more.  And of course, that means a new TONES App store!

21. Dictionary

Not an earth shattering feature, but it’s nice that dictionary has been added and is available in every app.

22. News stand subscriptions

Available through iBooks, users can now subscribe to magazines and newspapers.  Searching by popularity of subscriptions is also a plus.

23. Cellular Network for App Store

If users want to be stingy with their bandwidth and only download apps over WiFi, they now have the option to Enable or Disable App Store downloads via GPRS and 3G.

24. Faster Safari

Safari has become streamlined and is faster to load.  Users can also save web pages in reader mode which eliminates all ads to make them easier to read.  They can also be saved off line to read later.  And in the iPad, Safari also offers Tabbed Browsing support.

25. Alternate Routes in Google Maps

Ever frustrated when Maps gives you a route that’s longer or goes out of the way?  In iOS 5, users can choose alternate routes that are more to their liking.  For those who prefer things old school, users can now print directions from their iOS device.

26. HD YouTube

Users now have the option to stream HD/HQ videos through YouTube over 3G.  For those concerned about bandwidth, the ability to disable HQ video playback is also available in settings.  Nice.

27. Disable In-app Purchases

As a dad, I really appreciate this option.  With iOS 5, users now have the option of disabling in-app purchases.  No longer will I have to pay for things I didn’t want to buy because the purchase was done in-app without our knowledge or consent.

28. Game Center Enhancements

By contrast, Game Center now allows in app purchases of games.  Users can also further personalize their account with photos, and decide if your profile is private or public.

29. Weather updates

The iOS weather app becomes more useful with hourly updates, local weather, and the ability to swipe the weather widget in Notification Center to see a 5 day forecast.

30. MultiTasking

Users can now do gesture based multi tasking (iPad only).  With a swipe of 4 fingers, the app switcher appears.  Pinch will return to home screen.  And a swipe left and right to switch between  any actve apps

There are over 200 new features to iOS, and depending on which iOS device you use, some or all are available to enjoy.  But it’s certainly a well thought out and welcome update which will only get better with the addition of the new iPhone!

While the standard point and shoots optical zoom will suffice in most scenarios, it can be a major crux when it comes to capturing shots of your favorite animal while on safari.  To solve this problem Pentax is launching the Optio RZ18.

This point and shoot camera boasts a comparable footprint and form factor to that of cameras in the same class, but includes a massive 18x optical zoom.  That’s the equivalent of a 25-450mm lens.

It also rocks a 16 megapixel sensor, but falls short in the video department, capping out at 720p at 30fps.  After that it’s your usual garden variety camera, including a 9-point auto focus, optical image stabilization, face detection, automatic shooting modes such as Auto Picture and scene modes for taking the “guessing” out of “great photography.”  A creative special effects filter rounds out the in camera modes, while a 4cm macro mode handles the closeups.  And lastly, there is a 3-inch LCD with a 460k dot resolution.

The Optio RZ18 will be available in black, pearl white or metallic orange for $299.95 in October.

4 out of 5 stars

Finding a great compact camera is nearly impossible thanks to the overwhelming variety and our incessant need for a very personalized, specific device. It must be at the right price, the right weight, the right level of sophistication, the right speed, etc. Did Sony figure it out with the Cybershot DSC-TX9?

The Cybershot DSC-TX9 (TX9 from here on out) is a tiny 12.2 megapixel camera with 4x optical zoom, a crisp Carl-Zeiss lens, support for both SD and Sony’s Pro-Duo memory cards, and a 3” LCD touchscreen display. It has a uniform build design, a tight metal frame, and a slide-down lens cover which turns the camera on and off. The TX9 can record 720p video in stereo sound, and includes a several picture modes for many situations, and the whole thing is built to work for beginners and professional photographers.

Let’s take a look at the camera’s design.

Build Quality

If you walk into any camera store today, most feel too light and very plastic. They lack sturdiness, that weight we associate with strength. The TX9 is very different. It’s a brilliantly built and designed camera – strong and sturdy for any environment; simple to use for first-time photographers or hardened professionals; and convenient for everyone.

The slide-down cover is great for quick shots. There is no better way to take an instant snapshot of a moment than just sliding down the cover and shooting away. The TX9 takes pictures within 2.5 seconds of sliding the cover in good lighting, and 4 seconds for poor lighting. That’s fast compared to most smartphones and point and shoot cameras, which get the shot in 5-10 seconds. That speed is also under any condition, compared to faster-rated point and shoot cameras, because of how easy it is to activate the camera. Just slide the cover down and shoot. In my testing, I never once missed a shot because I couldn’t activate the camera fast enough.

With a small camera like the TX9, dropping and breaking it is often the greatest fear. That’s why the surrounding metal frame is excellent protection, and should be a requirement for all cameras. We at Gadget Review don’t officially do drop tests on products (testing the product’s build strength by dropping it on various surfaces to see what the breaking point is), but during testing accidents happen. I dropped the TX9 a few times, and the frame always took the brunt of the fall. Besides for one slight paint scratch, it’s still in excellent condition. The metal frame and front metal slider protects the camera excellently.

The TX9 has several main buttons, including the shutter control, a power button, a play media button to view stored pictures and videos, and a picture/camcorder button, which switches stills and video. A corner zoom switch feels odd at first, users will quickly adjust to the placement of the switch. It isn’t well suited for portrait shots.

What’s excellent about the TX9’s size is that it doesn’t change when using zoom. Most point and shoot cameras have lenses which literally come out of the camera, but the TX9’s lens focuses entirely inside the camera, without the lens popping out of the frame. That way the lens is nearly impossible to damage when shooting.

The underbelly of the TX9 houses the SD or Pro Duo media card and battery through a flimsy plastic flap. Beside it is a docking station port and tripod mount. The TX9 does not connect directly and requires a docking station. That docking station is included with the camera, though unfortunately there is no way to connect the TX9 to a PC without the dock, which is very inconvenient. Users can either rely on memory card readers or carry the dock around with them on trips.

Camera Functions and Quality

Sony’s TX9 comes with eight shooting modes: Intelligent Auto Adjustment, an auto mode with facial recognition and controls exposure; Superior Auto Adjustment, which automatically sharpens pictures by reducing blur and noise; iSweep Panorama creates a panorama shot through a composite of five shots by panning the camera from left to right; Program mode uses automatic exposure settings with adjustable white balance and ISO settings; Defocus Background (self-explanatory); Scene Selection offers specific shooting modes based on the environment in the picture. Finally, a 3D shooting mode takes 2D shots and uses the built-in software to make them 3D.

Of these eight modes, only photography aficionados will use more than two modes regularly. Both Intelligent Auto Adjustment and Superior Auto Adjustment modes are powerful, but there isn’t a noticeable difference between the two for most people. The panorama shot requires a supremely steady hand or tripod to not have wavy images. Defocus Background is a neat idea, but often the background is already out of focus, and defocusing backgrounds can be done with many picture editing applications. Scene selection is good for prepared shooting. 3D shooting, however, is almost completely useless because not only can those images not be viewed in 3D properly (the TX9 screen does not support 3D), most computer monitors don’t support 3D either.

Picture quality is excellent. In steady hands pictures are DSLR quality. Colors are accurate and pop, and in strong lighting there is rarely motion blur or inaccuracies. See the pictures below.

Even at full resolution, the TX9 is very clear and crisp. Zooming in beyond the 12MP range will of course pixelate the image, but details aren’t lost except at extremes. All of the pictures seen here have no edited except for cropping (click to see full-size image).

For night shooting, picture quality plummeted because of the slow 3.5-4.6 lens. See below for some good non-flash shots.

Quality of pictures at night is still tremendous, though motion blur is easier to produce. Flash will often eliminate motion blur, but exchange it for washed out colors and too-bright faces and objects.

Video is likewise very good, both during the day and night. The TX9 supports up to 1080p video, and as a camcorder it really is excellent. The stereo microphones accurately record to the right and left channels, and the picture quality is what we except from mid-range standalone video cameras. For anyone who likes shooting video as much as stills, the TX9 is a great option, so long as users don’t mind recording in Sony’s proprietary .MTS format. Don’t worry, YouTube supports .MTS file uploads.

Conclusion

As an everyday camera, the TX9 is pretty great in nearly every way. The sleek design is equally comfortable in the hand and the pocket. The simple button scheme is perfect for any user, and the resistive touchscreen is accurate and tactile. Picture quality is excellent, though low-light shooting lags due to a slow lens. Solid as a rock and twice as powerful, the TX9 is a great, long-lasting point and shoot camera for stills and video. The wide array of shooting modes alone will make it relevant for years to come.

We’ve all got them: friends that destroy their consumer electronics.  Or perhaps it’s a close loved one or girlfriend.  Sorry ladies, but you have more of a tendency to destroy electronics, than guys.  Last week Nikon introduced their all new COOLPIX AW100, which they say is one of the slimmest, yet most rugged in its class.

From a ordinary standpoint the AW100 can capture 16 megapixel photos, has a 3200 ISO for semi-low light situations and can capture full HD video, as in 1080.  But what really makes the AW100 the powerhouse that it is, is its ability to withstand the elements, and by elements we mean anything you or your drunk friends can throw at it.  Okay, so throwing might not be the best idea, but it can survive a 5-foot drop, which should account for those of you about 6-feet or slightly taller.  It’s also built to withstand nature’s elements, which allows it to function in 14°F and be sumberged to a depth of 33 feet.  All of the connectors, including the SD card slot, battery compartment, HDMI mini connector and USB slot are all sealed to insure nothing seeps in or gets out.

And just because it can withstand this onslaught of, well, let’s just call it crap, it doesn’t mean that it’s a bloated pig.  The AW100 is no more than .9-inches thick and weighs 6.3oz.  Don’t get us wrong, this isn’t smartphone thin, but seeing as it’s tough as nails it’s a pretty acceptable size.

In addition to a 16 megapixel sensor complemented by Nikon’s EXPEED C2TM image processing engine for capturing high resolution photos, there is a 5x optical zoom (35mm equivalent of 28-140mm), optical image stabilization, a 3-inch LCD and a GPS function with compass to track the location of your photos.

Like most point and shoots of this ilk, there is an auto scene mode as well as a Smart Portrait System that automatically selects In-Camera Red-Eye Fix, Face-Priority AF, Face Priority AE, Smile Mode, Blink Warning, Skin Softening and Pet Portrait mode.  But that’s not all.  The AW100 has something called an Action Control, which lets you assign and select a scene mode simply by swinging the camera – great if you’re wearing gloves or in frigid weather.

You can expect Nikon’s COOLPIX AW100 to arrive early this September and costs $379.95.

The COOLPIX S1200pj is Nikon’s third attempt at a camera that sports a built-in projector.  And this time it’s the most robust, and thus why it’s worth purchasing.

We’re not sure why, but the previous generations of this COOLPIX camera seemed gimmicky.  The addition of a projector, while a great idea, didn’t really resolve a problem that the mass consumer ran into.  How many times have you been sitting around biting your lip and stopping your feet because you couldn’t project your camera’s photos onto a nearby white wall.  And perhaps that’s what Nikon figured out and hence why they increased the projectors compatibility to work with, what else, Apple’s iOS products.  Now you can plugin in an iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad and project your contents in all the grandeur it deserves.  It’s also compatible with Macs and PC via a USB connection.

The COOLPIX’s S1200pj projector is capable of shining up to a 60-inch image from 10-feet away and boasts a 20-lumen rating, 40% brighter than the previous iteration.  The camera has a 14.1 megapixel sensor, sports a 3-inch LCD on its rear, a 5x optical zoom, picture effects, an ISO of 80-6400 and image stabilization.  If no tripod is near, the COOLPIX S1200pj includes a built-in stand.

The Nikon COOLPIX S1200pj will retail for $429.99.  An exact launch date hasn’t been announced.

Today, Olympus officially unveiled the Olympus PEN E-PM1 camera.  It’s the smallest and lightest of the PEN cameras, but can still capture HD video and photos, and is compatible with Olympus’ interchangeable lens system.

Behind the lens is a 12.3 megapixel sensor supported by two (dual core) processing engines that is designed to capture photos in low light situations thanks to its 12,800 ISO.  However, it lacks a built-in flash, so you’ll need to purchase that separately if you really want to take night time portrait shots.

This particular model is devoid of a touchscreen, but still boasts a 3-inch 460k dot LCD, which should suffice for most consumers.  And much like the E-PM1′s bigger brothers, it boasts 23-scene select modes (3D mode, Fireworks, Sunset, Children, Macro, Panorama, etc) and an iAuto mode that that automatically identifies the scene at hand and adjusts the settings accordingly.

A dedicated movie button lets you capture full HD movies at  moments notice, while up to 5 photos can be captured per second.   And to add to the impressive list of features, Olympus says that the E-PM1 can not only focus at an incredible speed, but that it can offers 35 separate focus areas enabling it to focus on the smallest of subject throughout the entire frame.

So are there any caveats to this PEN camera?  Just based alone on the press release, there appears to be little to no manual options.  So the E-PM1 is largely targeted at the point and shoot crowd that wants the equivalent optics of a DSLR, but not the hassle of tweaking a variety of settings.

The Olympus E-PM1 will launch this September and retail for $499.99, which includes a MSC M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED m14-42mm II lens.

Until a few years ago, megapixels, otherwise known as photo resolution, was the name of the game.  But now the market is saturated with an abundance of cheap, high resolution cameras that can not only achieve stunning picture quality, but full HD video that is comparable to some professional cameras of just a few years ago.  But one problem still remains: an affordable dolly system for producing high end cinematography.  That is until now.

Justin Jensen of Austin, TX, while studying as an engineer at the MIT media lab, recognized this problem.  The result? The CineSkates. They’re designed, along with his patent pending Cinetics Connect attachment, to connect a portable tripod to a set of rollerblade like wheels, enabling everyday joes to achieve professional dolly like shots.   Those shots include:

• Arcing shots that rotate around objects
• Sliding shots that push or pull the subject into focus
• Rolling shots that glide over the subject
• Time-lapse shots that move the camera slowly and smoothly
• Panning shots that scan a wide area
• “Worm’s eye view” shots that slide just above the floor

He is quick to point out that his apparatus can be used in a variety of scenarios (detailed further in the video) such as weddings, music videos, real estate ads and even narrative or documentary films.

While it may take sometime to adjust to the CineSkates, it’s probably safe to conclude that the learning curve is pretty minimal.  But in the event you struggle with this new fangled camera toy, Justin is also tossing in a ‘how to’ video.

The CineSkates are made up of 44 different parts, so to call them intricate might be an understatement.   It’s up to you if you want to buy the whole kit, which includes not only the skates, a carrying case and his Cinetics Connects, but one of Joby’s GorillaPod Focus and Ballhead X mounts.

As it happens Cineskates is a Kickstarter project.  They asked for $20,000 in funding and have already achieved their goal.  As a result you’ll have to wait for the Cineskates to enter the retail market, where upon you can purchase your very own for $200, or spend $350 and get the whole package, including Joby’s products.

Sony has been at the camera game for sometime now, but until today none of their compact digital cameras have been as robust and exciting as the just introduced NEX-7.  Yes, it’s comparable in terms of form factor to the NEX-3 and NEX-5, but it extends well beyond their feature set to provide a fully featured, interchangeable lens camera that can capture high res pics and full HD video, all the while weighing just 10.3oz (body only).

Behind the lens is a 24.3 megapixel all new Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor.  Sony says that it’s the highest in its class and we’d have to agree.  As already mentioned the NEX-7 can capture full HD video as well as shoot in low light situations thanks to it’s massive ISO range of 100-16,000.  If for some reason the lighting scenario is of no concern, but speed is, you should take comfort in the fact that its shutter lag has been reduced to a mere 20 milliseconds – the fastest of any interchangeable lens digital camera – and all the while boasting the ability to capture up to 10fps, which is also a world’s first for any mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.

Now when it comes to many of this supposed pocket friendly DSRL, you often lose the manual options that their big brothers sport.  However, Sony says that the NEX-7 has two control dials as well as a control wheel, allowing photogs the ability to manual adjust pics and achieve what the company says are advanced DSRL like pictures.

A first for Sony, and any camera in this class, is a an integrated XGA OLED TruFinder viewfinder.  While its optics have yet to be tested, we can only assume that colors and the overall image are more accurately portrayed than other viewfinders on the market.  It’s also worth noting that this viewfinder provides approximately 100 percent frame coverage and a wide field of view “that rivals pro-grade optical viewfinders.”  Complimenting the viewfinder is a 3-inch Xtra Fine LCD display that can be angled up to 90-degrees up or 45-degrees down for those over the head or under the dress situations.

Much like the NEX-C3, the NEX-7 also includes Sony’s Picture Effects, which includes 11 modes and 15 effects, allowing for “artistic effects” to be achieved without the need for a computer.  These effects include new HDR Painting, Soft Focus, Miniature and Rich-Tone Mono, Soft Skin, Auto HDR, Handheld Twilight and Anti Motion Blur Modes.  And lets not over look their 3D Sweep Panorama mode, which as the name says should provide a 3D image (on a compatible screen) of a panoramic view.

Last, and most certainly necessary to make the NEX-7 a success, is a built-in flash and an Auto-lock Accessory Shoe – latter supports the full range of Alpha flashes and monitors, as well as adaptors to accommodate studio lighting.  The NEX-7 is compatible with both Sony’s line of memory cards as well as SD cards.

The Sony NEX-7 will be available this November in a kit with an exclusive black 18-55mm zoom lens for about $1350, or as a body-only for about $1200.

Canon says that their newest camera, the PowerShot ELPH 510 HS, is the world’s thinnest with a 12x optical zoom and a 28mm wide angle lens.  While we’ll over look the fact that this claim is dependent on two variables, we will applaud the 510′s robust feature set.

Under the hood is a 12.1 megapixel sensor.  Not the highest in terms of resolution, but in most scenarios this will suffice.  If you need anything more you should probably opt for something in the SLR category.  Canon is still utilizing their DIGIC Image 4 processor, which we expect will get updated sometime next year, but what the vast differences are from one processor to the next is a bit beyond the requirements of this post.  There is of course Canon’s image stabilization to reduce blur during those shaky, or should we say drunken moments.  32 scene modes (21 for video) assist with optimizing the picture to what we can only hope is the utmost quality, while their HS system reduces noise at high ISO speeds.  But that’s not all the ELPH 510 HS has to offer.  It can capture full HD video and up to 7.8 frames per second in Burst Mode.  Lastly, the rear panel contains a 3.2-inch touchscreen that allows you to focus and capture a photo all in one simple touch.

The Canon Powershot ELPH 510 HS will release this October for $349.99.  It will be available in red, black and silver.

Remember the Canon Lens Mug from last year?  Guess it was only a matter of time until someone produced a shot glass version.

Who else, but Photojojo sells them for $18, which gets you a set of 3.  Each 1.5oz shot glass is made from ceramic and according to Photojojo “they’re perfect in every way,” including the “teeny raised numbers to the focus-ring ridges to the wee auto/manual focus switch.”  In case you’re wondering it’s a replica version of Canon’s EF 24-105mm lens.

Fujifilm is certainly no stranger to photography, but global positioning systems, now that’s a different story.

Yesterday, the company introduced the Finepix F600EXR. And while it boasts the usual assortment of high end point and shoot camera features (we’ll get into those in a sec), it includes a GPS system and a database of over 1 million points of interest. Users can also store their finds, building on the existing database, though we’re not sure if you can share those in a community like fashion. In the event you get lost during your travels you can use the F600EXR to backtrack or simply plot your trip, all which can be accessed using Photo Navigation, if necessary of course.

And the buck don’t stop there. There is a 16 megapixel sensor that can detect motion to reduce blur, EXR dynamic range, the usual image stabilization and a 15x optical zoom. On the back is a 460k 3-inch LCD, though it doesn’t look like it’s touchscreen, which we can most certainly live without. And lets not over look the F600EXR’s ability to capture full HD video and 360 degree panoramic shots.

The Fujufilm F600XR is expected to hit retail stores this October for $349.95.

5 out of 5 stars

Lugging around a giant camera is not exactly how I envisioned becoming a photographer. For the best pictures, you need an SLR, but they’re big, bulky, and a hassle to carry. For the past two years, as I’ve picked up photography as a hobby, that’s the one sticking point, the one reason I’d leave my camera at home instead of carrying it everywhere.

I don’t have to anymore.

The Capture Camera Clip System – CCCS for short – is a buckle with a tripod-like 3/8th” connector that snaps a camera safely and securely to a belt or bag strap so you don’t have to carry it by hand or strap. After using it for a month, it’s changed the way I take pictures.

When I went to Hawaii last year, I rarely used the D7000. Between running through the hotel resort doing various water-based activities and going out on the town, carrying a big camera to capture those favorite moments, frankly, sucked. There are a number of strap-based solutions, vests, and bags that promise to fix that exact problem, but they’re all large or in some way strenuous to the user.

The CCCS does just that, using only two pieces, the buckle and connector. Attaching the buckle to straps or belts is simple and painless, and it can be adjusted to hang on so tightly that it won’t move. A giant red button acts as the camera release, which slides lets users slide the connector out. To put it back in place, just slide the camera in and the red button will click shut. The point is this: when you’re ready, unclip and shoot.

This system works magnificently because of the sturdy and minimalist design. Trusting expensive equipment in something this small was tough. After very strenuous use (I couldn’t ply my D7000 off the mount with all my strength), the CCCS stands up as strong enough to hold a DSLR on a strap without breaking. All that strength comes from that red button, which is tremendous. I haven’t once had difficulty removing or clicking a camera into place.

The CCCS stays hooked to a strap or belt so strongly that it’s practically impossible to remove it by force

The overall design is so well thought out that the bottom of the clip includes a 3/8th” pin so the camera can be connected to a tripod without removing the clip. Two screws tighten and loosen the clip to hold onto belts and straps, and are hand-adjustable. The red button is easy to press and find, and because of the adjustable height of the clip the CCCS will fit on almost any belt or strap.

If you own a DSLR, or even a large point and shoot or small camcorder that you hate carrying by hand or with a bag, the Capture Camera Clip System is the best camera accessory to own. It’s fast, a snap to use, and a photographer’s new best friend. I never leave home without it. There are only two things I would change: the extra locking screw (which only damages the camera attachment), and the name. Capture Camera Clip System is a terrible name, I demand this Kickstarter project find a better one. Try PhoClip.

The Capture Camera Clip System is available for purchase via Kickstarter for various prices.

At this point camera lenses for the iPhone are old news.  There are a myriad of options on the market today and nearly, if not all of them require you to append a special case to your iPhone such that you can attach them.  The Olloclip was probably the only exception to this rule…until now.

Photojojo, who sells all things camera related, and does a damn good job doing so, now offers a set of lenses that work with any smartphone’s camera.  And get this, doesn’t require one of those bulky cases that is limited to a few handsets.  Nope, instead you stick a magnetic ring around your device’s camera.  We’re not too thrilled about the idea of sticking something adhesive to our precious device, but for these we might be willing to make an exception.

For $49, the same price as the Olloclip, you can score all three lenses or pay $20-25 for each one.  The lineup includes a Telephoto lens, a fisheye lens and a wide/macro lens.  The telephoto increases your phone’s optical reach by up two times.  The fisheye lens provides a 180-degree view, while the wide angle/macro hooks up the closes up to a new level of detail.

The Fisheye, Macro, Wide Angle and Telephoto Phone Lenses are available now.

Mythical technology or real thing?  That’s the question that has always loomed around those movies that depict investigators zooming into a photo and “enhancing” the persons face, despite the fact that the resolution has already been set.  However, Sony’s newest camera, the Cyber-shot TX55 offers something like that.  They’re calling it ‘Clear Image Zoom’ and they say it digitally increases the cameras 5x optical zoom to 10x without degrading the image quality.  Skeptical?  We are.  Nonetheless, there is tech out there that can fill in the blanks of an image using an algorithm, but we’d be shocked if it showed up in a consumer device of this slimness so soon; the TX55 is just 12.2mm thick.  Under the proverbial hood is a 16.2 megapixel sensor, the ability to focus in on subjects at a stunning 0.1 seconds and a 3.3-inch OLED touchscreen.  It can also capture 42.9 megapixel panoramic photos and full HD video.

You can expect the Sony Cyber-shot TX55 to hit store shelves this September for $350.

SONY’S NEWEST CYBER-SHOT CAMERA EXPANDS RANGE OF CREATIVE OPTIONS

Ultra-thin DSC-TX55 Camera Delivers Full HD Video, 3D and Picture Effect Mode – with up to10x Clear Image Zoom at Maximum Resolution

SAN DIEGO, July 25, 2011 – With an exceptionally slim and stylish design, Sony’s new DSC-TX55 Cyber-shot camera makes it easy to capture any moment with high-quality still photos, full high-definition video and amazing 3D images, providing consumers with the ultimate in creative control of their photos and videos.

The DSC-TX55 camera features a range of innovative new technologies, including “By Pixel Super Resolution” technology, which boosts the cameras’ zoom range to a virtual 10x without losing quality at the image sensor’s maximum resolution (16.2 million pixels). The new model is also the first Cyber-shot camera to offer a “Picture Effect” mode, which expands a shooter’s artistic possibilities without the need for editing software.

“Our new DSC-TX55 model redefines what a compact camera can do,” said Yosuke Tomoda, director of Sony Electronics’ Cyber-shot business. “In addition to the newly developed, ultra-thin chassis design, the camera features an incredible combination of features and performance, putting more creativity at users’ fingertips than ever before.”

The TX55 boasts a 16.2 megapixel, highly sensitive Exmor R™ CMOS sensor that delivers incredible image detail and ultra-low picture noise in both still images and Full HD video – even in low light conditions. Also the camera’s hi-speed auto focus can lock onto subject in as little as 0.1 seconds, letting users grab the most fleeting photo moments with ease.

16 Mega-pixel CMOS Sensor with Clear Image Zoom

Just 12.2mm slim (measurement excludes lens cover), which is smaller than the thickness of a standard AA-size battery, the Cyber-shot TX55 is the world’s thinnest camera in its class (among cameras with an optical anti-shake function). The new model captures Full HD AVCHD video clips as well as 16.2 megapixel still images through its innovative and exceptionally thin 5x optical folded zoom lens.

It introduces brand-new ‘Clear Image Zoom’ that boosts magnification without lowering the pixel count in the final image. Exclusive to Sony, ‘By Pixel Super Resolution’ processing further extends the camera’s 5x optical zoom range, allowing full-resolution 16.2 megapixel images with a maximum 10x zoom.

‘By Pixel Super Resolution’ technology also significantly boosts still image quality during movie recording. At a touch of the shutter button, ‘Dual Rec’ grabs detail-packed 12 megapixel-level still photos without interrupting Full HD video shooting.

Further, the camera’s back panel is dominated by a super-sized 3.3-inch (8.3cm) Xtra Fine™ OLED wide touch-screen, perfect for showing off photos and movie clips with incredible detail.

Enhanced Creativity and Functionality

The innovative Picture Effect mode broadens the range of artistic options with an exciting palette of in-camera image treatments. Effects can be viewed on the camera screen, allowing users to see the result of a chosen effect instantly rather than during the post-shooting experience.

The full list of seven Picture Effect options includes HDR Painting, Rich-tone Monochrome, Miniature, Toy Camera, Partial Color, Pop Color and Soft High-key.

Newly enhanced with additional electronic image stabilization for vertical and horizontal handshake correction, SteadyShot® image stabilization with Active Mode compensates for handheld camera movements during Full HD video shooting. Users can enjoy crisp, blur-free movie clips at all zoom settings, even when holding the camera while walking.

Great Results Made Easy

The new DSC-TX55 camera makes it simple for users to easily achieve DSLR-like picture quality. Superior Auto mode recognizes a wide range of shooting situations, adjusting exposure and other settings for high-quality images with low noise and high dynamic range.

Intelligent Sweep Panorama mode also features HR (High Resolution) mode, letting users capture breath-taking up to 42.9 megapixel panoramas. Just sweep the camera, then enjoy the results on a connected HD TV, or zoom in using a PlayStation®3 system to reveal the finest details.
3D Still Image captures dramatic 3D photos without the need for a large, bulky stereoscopic lens. With a single shutter press, the camera takes two shots consecutively, using the first image to estimate depth information to create a dramatic three-dimensional still image. Other 3D shooting options include 3D Sweep Panorama mode and Sweep Multi Angle.

Enabling its incredible slimness, the new TX55 camera includes a slot to accept Memory Stick Micro™ (Mark2) and MicroSD/SDHC flash memory cards. Sony offers a choice of ultra-compact, high quality media in capacities up to 16GB, with Memory Stick Micro™ being enhanced to achieve data transfer speed of up to 15MB/s (fastest among micro memory cards) by carrying the same high performance HX Engine controller used on Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo to fully support the new cameras’ features such as 3D and full HD video shooting. All cards come with free PC software (available via download), File Rescue for quick, easy recovery of deleted or damaged photos and files, and x-Pict Story™ that simplifies creation of dazzling slideshows.

Pricing and Availability

The new Sony Cyber-shot™ TX55 camera will be available for about $350 this September at Sony stores, www.sonystyle.com and other authorized retailers throughout the Sony Dealer Network.

The range of Sony Memory Stick Micro™ and MicroSD/SDHC media cards are available now throughout the Sony dealer network and along with an expanded range of coordinating accessories – including the colorful new LCJ-THF camera cover, AC-UD10 AC adaptor and BC-TRN2 fast battery charger.

The iPhone 4′s camera is without a doubt a top notch shooter. However, if you’re a PI, as in private investigator, it’s anything but practical.  That is unless of course you throw down $250 for the iPhone SLR Mount from Photojojo.  OK, so the chances a PI would use their iPhone 4 for snooping is beyond slim, but it does enable you to use your Nikon or Canon lenses with the iPhone’s camera, which means you can achieve that professional look on your smartphone.  The case itself is crafted from aluminum, comes with a special UV filter, and features two loops for attaching a strap and tripod mount.  

There are a few caveats to consider, though.  Keep in mind each brand has its own version.  So if you own Nikon and Canon lenses you’ll need to buy two of these, provided of course you’d like to use both brand of lenses.  The iPhone is mirrorless, so as a result the images will appear upside down, but that isn’t something you can’t fix in post.

Via: Tumblr

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If you recall, the Olympus PEN E-P1 had a few major caveats when it launched.  Since then, Olympus has released a few different iterations but failed to quell the camera’s short comings, that is until now.

First off, they’ve finally built-in in a pop up flash.  All previous PEN cameras required you to buy a separate flash, which mounted onto the camera’s hot shoe.  Not ideal for the on go photos and practically negated its use time by as much as 50% (night vs day).

Olympus says they’ve also improved the auto focus time, enough to boast the the “World’s Fastest AF** speed” – we assume the “**” means in its class.  ISO has been increased to 12,800 and full HD movies can now be recorded with 16-bit CD quality sound.  There are also a variety of exposure options that you can work through depending on your fancy as well as a 3D mode, which requires to shoot and slowly pan across whatever image you’re shooting.

Under the hood is a 12.3 megapixel sensor and a new processing chip called TruePic VI.  On the back of the camera is a 3-inch OLED touchscreen that rocks a 614k dot resolution.  You can touch to focus like the iPhone and administer all your settings, but Olympus says they haven’t done away with the manual buttons, just in case you’re wondering.

When the camera ships this August for $900, you’ll be able to choose between two lenses; the Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm II R ƒ3.5/5.6 zoom or the Zuiko Digital ED 17mm ƒ2.8 prime.

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Pictures of 7th generation iPad Nano reemerged yesterday.  As discussed in a previous leak, the next gen iPad Nano will include a 1.3 megapixel camera.  A source that is supposedly close to the project stated that the new Nano won’t have a built-in clip, unlike the current gen version, to make room for the camera.  However, we believe – assuming the rumors are true – that Apple will just bore a hole into the clip to allow for both features to exist in harmony.

Keep in mind that the 5th generation iPod Nano included a camera.  So readding such a feature to a smaller form factor could very well add some sales to the product.  But, the Nano is so small that it would be difficult, or at least a tad trying to hold the device and shoot a photo without blocking the lens.  Perhaps Apple will add a running feature that snap photos as you jog a set distance.

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AC adapters, at least these days, are just about in every room in every house.  So if you’ve got plans to spy on your loved one, roommate, babysitter or cats, this Motion-Activated AC Adapter Hidden Spying Camera makes complete sense.

Believe it or not it records 720×480 video at 30fps and can be attached to any TV via RCA to review the footage.  Power is derived from the outlet, so there is no need to fret about battery life, and the SD card slot means a virtually endless recording medium.  

The standard version, which doesn’t include a date/time stamp, on-screen display settings or a continuous recording function like the Pro model, costs $295 (tack on $100 if want the more feature rich version).

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4.5 out of 5 stars

Pros:

• Excellent build design and fit for any selection of camera equipment
• Protects bag contents magnificently
• Shoulder strap is easily adjustable and can be upgraded with add-ons
• High customization with camera equipment placement

Cons:

• No top strap for easy grabbing one-handed
• Camera bag zipper makes it very difficult to quickly pull out a camera for a shot
• Extra pockets not very roomy

Good camera bags are hard to find, especially if you’re an on-the-go photographer who has plenty of expensive equipment and needs to be able to lug it around efficiently and safely. That means if it can’t be too heavy or too light; it can’t be too big or too small; it has to be just right. And, if you’re a burling photographer who must snap and send photos ASAP, that bag needs space for camera equipment, a laptop, cables, and more.

Thus, the Timbuk2 Snoop Camera Messenger.

Timbuk2 – a company based in San Francisco that specializes in messenger bags for bike riders, style aficionados, and anyone using the latest tech gear – made the Snoop Camera Messenger with a simple goal in mind: give photographers what they need most. That is room for multiple bodies, a handful of lenses, room to secure a laptop, and all in a lightweight case with strong protection.

The Snoop has two ways of closing the front flap, velcro and buckle straps

Let’s start with the camera portion. I tested the medium Snoop, which has enough space for, well, just about any assortment of camera equipment. It can fit two camera bodies with four lenses at once, or one body with a large flash attachment and 4-5 lenses, or one body and six lenses. The Snoop has a bag inside the messenger bag which holds the camera equipment for easy storage (as seen in the picture below) with removable walls to match your assortment of equipment. Or you can remove it entirely and fill the three-gallon space with anything. It worked well for carrying a load of books to the local library.

This second bag fits snug as a bug in the Snoop, but it’s not easy to put in or take out. That’s because it’s nearly 1:1 with the larger bag so there is minimal space between the two, which helps protect expensive equipment within. Less room to move around, less shake. Remember, the Snoop has to work for bike riders, so every bit is designed with hard movements in mind. I’ve found the bag-in-a-bag design brilliant in all but one regard: the zipper system is not suited for speed. With a camera fully secured and zipped up, it’s next to impossible to rip out any camera before missing a shot, mostly because the zippers are so loose and hard to open quickly.

Even without a camera in the bag, there is still plenty of unused space to fill

However, when considering protection or versatility with thousands of dollars in question (and possibly livelihoods), protection supersedes everything. There are effectively three layers of protection that the Snoop offers: a weather-proof outer layer, the zippered middle layer, and tightly cushioned inner layer. After three weeks of heavy walking, occasional biking, some bag throwing and plenty of car riding, I’m completely satisfied with the level of protection by the Snoop. None of my equipment – camera or otherwise – has been harmed in my testing. And when I say throwing, I mean literally.

What’s equally important to protection is comfort. Once again, the Snoop is made for bikers, so it has to remain comfortable in the worst conditions. While I’m not a biker, I did ride around briefly to try it out for myself as well as walked all around Santa Monica, Downtown LA and other areas. Comfort really is the most important thing when you’re carrying anywhere from 15-25 pounds of equipment. I stuffed my test Snoop with my Nikon D7000, two zoom lenses (18-105mm, 55-200mm), two primes (50mm 1.8, 30mm 1.4), an extension tube, a 3lb laptop, 3-ring binder, some pens and cables, and at least one variable item. Sometimes I carried my iPad along as well with the SD-Card adapter, or the Samsung Galaxy Tablet, or even the Nikon P100 as a pseudo second body. With all that equipment, I could walk for a mile and not have any aches. I did switch sides because one shoulder got tired, but that’s all.

The front “Napoleon” style pockets are too thin…good for cellphones and credit cards, but little else

This is accomplished through a simple strap system that makes it easy for wearers to literally snap on and off. The Snoop’s strap is made to fit perfectly, and doesn’t require users to always find that sweet spot. As someone who’s walked around a few expos and shows, hitting milestones in dozens of miles daily, all while taking the bag on and off for meetings or switching shoulders, finding the best position to wear the bag consistently is not impossible. It is, however, insane. Timbuk2’s solution is ingenious: keep the sweet spot with a lock mechanism that snaps open whenever you want. One simple buckle solves everything.

Let’s get back to stuffing the bag. It’s almost like a Thanksgiving turkey…there’s really no end to what you can fit in it. I put all my camera equipment, laptop, paperwork and folders, two tablets, a second camera, and still I had space. But more importantly, I felt comfortable that my dearest and most precious cargo was secure. I’ve spent years trying to find something this good.

It’s not all rainbows and unicorns though. As an LA resident, my life and work often revolves around my car, so I don’t sling a bag across my shoulder as much as I throw it into my trunk or passenger seat. Doing so is surprisingly difficult, especially if you pack heavy. Because there’s no top strap on the Snoop, there’s no easy way to hold onto the bag except when wearing it. The camera bag-in-a-bag has a strap, why doesn’t the entire Snoop? One lousy strap could make a world of difference.

The Snoop Camera Messenger can be a very fat bag when packed fully. The gold add-on is the Beer Candy bottle opener that was given to press at CES earlier this year. More strap accessories are available directly from Timbuk2

The “Napoleon” style pockets are also convenient, but too flat. If packing plenty of equipment like me, those front pockets will be crushed so much that only the thinnest objects will fit without causing a ruckus. I hefted the Snoop around with the Smartfish Whirl Mini in that front pocket, and it stuck out more than Waldo in the arctic tundra.  These are clearly intended to hold wallets, phones, perhaps small cameras and other thin things, but no larger pockets are available on the bag.

When discussing camera bags, the one we need is reliable as Lassie. The Snoop Camera Messenger is tough as nails and provides excellent security for all of your equipment. It’s customizable, giving users options like how to seal the bag (Velcro straps or buckles) to storing camera equipment or something else entirely. The Snoop isn’t quick for pictures, nor is it easy to handle when not strapped to your back. However, there is no bag that offers the security, reliability and peace-of-mind like the Snoop Camera Messenger, while also looking so damn good.

The Timbuk2 Snoop Camera Messenger is available for purchase from Amazon for $108-140.