Cameras

Sometimes, it's simply too hard to resist quoting the press release: Fujifilm "today unveiled the FinePix Z20fd, a new ultraglam digital camera packed with useful features that let you face it, beam it, blog it, and now roll it with a new MPEG-4 movie-recording mode for the movie-crazed Generation Z."

Translation: The Z20fd replaces the Z10fd in the pretty-but-not-too-pricey market segment. Its basic specs include 10-megapixel sensor, a slow f/3.7-8.0 35mm-105mm-equivalent (3x) zoom lens and a low-resolution 150,000-pixel 2.5-inch LCD. Some of the more noncorporeal features include Fujifilm staples like Intelligent Flash (… Read more

Canon unveiled today three new budget-priced additions to its PowerShot A-series line of point-and-shoot cameras. Two of the models offer basic shooting for $150 or less, while one packs exposure controls and optical stabilization into a sub-$200 package.

The PowerShot A590 IS stands out as the only new A-series PowerShot camera to include optical image stabilization. The 8-megapixel shooter features a 35mm- to 140mm-equivalent, f/2.6-5.5 4x zoom lens that Canon claims can gain up to three stops with its stabilization system. Like previous high-end A-series Canons, the A590 IS supports additional converter lenses to boost the … Read more

You've gotta admire feisty little Pentax. Undeterred by a dSLR market dominated by Canon and Nikon, plus the deep-pocketed relative newcomer Sony and tireless veteran Olympus, Pentax continues to refine and innovate its offerings rather than just trying to sell cheap models built from off-the-shelf parts. This year sees the first tangible result of the company's alliance with Samsung, a 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor, which makes its way into Pentax's new midrange model, the $1,300 K20D (body only). Pentax's other new model, the entry-level $799 K200D (a kit with the new smc PENTAX DA 18-55mm … Read more

No dSLR launch is complete without a gaggle o' glass to accompany it. Here are the lenses Pentax announced in conjunction with its 2 dSLRs. (All photos courtesy of Pentax Corp.)

 smc Pentax DA* 200mm f/2.8 ED (IF) SDM; March; $1,099.95

  smc Pentax DA* 300mm f/4 ED (IF) SDM; May; $1,299.95

  smc Pentax DA 55-300mm f/4-5.8 ED; May; $399.95

  smc Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 Macro Limited; April; $599.95

  smc Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL II; ships with K200D in … Read more

Pentax just unveiled three new digital cameras in its Optio line of point-and-shoots, the Optio S12, M50, and E50. They run the gamut from budget-priced, simple shooter to high-resolution ultracompact.

The Optio S12 stands out as the smallest and most advanced of the three new cameras. At just 0.9 inch deep, Pentax claims the S12 is the smallest 12-megapixel camera of its class. We'll have to see for ourselves; according to Pentax's measurements, the S12 seems to be a hair or two smaller than the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W200 and the Olympus Stylus 1200, though it might be … Read more

Following up on its current top T-series camera, the Cyber-shot DSC-T200, Sony has announced the Cyber-shot DSC-T300. Resolution has been pushed up to 10.1-megapixels, but the other main specs have remained the same. The T300 sports a 5X optical, 33-165mm f/3.5-4.4 zoom lens, 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD, and has optical image stabilization and a top sensitivity of ISO 3,200.

New to this camera, and some of Sony's other new compacts, are a handful of features aimed at dealing with common, though tricky, shooting situations. Cutest among these is an update to the Smile Shutter … Read more

The DSC-H10 has a 230,000-pixel 3-inch LCD display, compared to the 115,000-pixel, 2.5-inch version on the DSC-H3 it replaces. Given the lack of an electronic viewfinder, that's a nontrivial enhancement, but pretty much the only one. Expect to see it in mid-April, for $299. Now go read something more interesting.

Sony has updated its Cyber-shot DSC-W series of digital cameras with the announcement of four new models, the Cyber-shot DSC-W120, W130, W150, and W170. Sitting squarely between the company's budget-priced Cyber-shot S-series and its more upscale, style-minded T-series, these new cameras should appeal to users looking for a colorful, modestly-featured camera between $200 and $300.

All four new cameras feature a handful of new options based around an improved face detection system. According to Sony, these new cameras can now distinguish between adult and child faces, letting you decide whether the camera will base its auto-focus and auto-exposure on … Read more

Panasonic just unveiled its latest digital camera, the budget-priced compact Lumix DMC-LS80. On the surface, it appears to be your typical inexpensive point-and-shoot, though it includes one feature that belies its scant price tag. The camera uses an 8-megapixel sensor, a 2.5-inch LCD screen, and a 3x optical zoom lens. Slightly chunky at just over 1.2 inches thick, it takes two AA batteries for power. Besides the standard VGA (640 x 480) movie mode found on almost all snapshot cameras, the LS80 features a 30 fps WVGA (848 x 480) widescreen movie mode designed for 16:9 televisions. … Read more