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New Digital Cameras – CES 2014

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It’s currently CES 2014 (Consumer Electronics Show, in Las Vegas), and as expected, numerous new cameras have been announced, here’s a roundup of the new cameras announced:

Nikon:
D3300 DSLR, 24mp, entry level DSLR with a new compact zoom lens
CoolPix L29, 5x zoom
L30, 5x zoom
L330, 26x zoom, 20mp
L830, 34x optical zoom, 16mp
S2800, 5x zoom
S3600, 8x zoom
S5300, 8x zoom
S6700, 10x zoom
S6800, 12x zoom

Samsung:
NX30 – 20mp, Mirrorless with tilting EVF and screen
Galaxy Camera 2 – Android camera with 21x zoom
WB2200F – 60x zoom with dual grip ultra zoom bridge camera
WB1100F – 35x zoom ultra zoom / bridge camera
WB350F – 21x zoom travel zoom
WB50F, WB35F – 12x compact zoom

Sony:
Alpha A5000 – 20mp, WiFi, NFC, Mirrorless
Cyber-shot W830 – 8x compact camera, 20.1mp
Cyber-shot W810 – 6x compact camera, 20.1mp, with Party mode

Canon:
Powershot N100 – dual front / rear cameras – 5x zoom with Wi-Fi
Powershot SX600 HS – 18x pocket zoom camera
IXUS 265 – 12x zoom compact camera, with Wi-Fi

Fujifilm:
FinePix S1 – 50x weather sealed ultra zoom bridge camera, 16mp
FinePix S9400W – 50x optical zoom bridge camera with Wi-Fi, 16mp
FinePix S9200 – 50x optical zoom bridge camera, 16mp
FinePix S8600 – 36x “compact” ultra zoom bridge camera, 16mp
FinePix XP70 – Waterproof (10m), 5x optical zoom compact
Fujinon 56mm f/1.2 lens for X Mount cameras

Panasonic:
Lumix TZ60, 30x pocket/travel zoom, Wi-Fi, GPS
Lumix TZ55, 20x pocket/travel zoom, tilting “selfie” screen
Lumix LZ40, 42x ultra zoom bridge camera
Lumix SZ8, 12x zoom compact camera, Wi-Fi
Leica DG 42.5mm f/1.2 lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras

Kodak: details can be found on ePHOTOzine.
PIXPRO S-1 – 16mp Micro Four Thirds camera, Wi-Fi, tilting screen
+ Kodak 12-45mm and 42.5-160mm zoom lens
PIXPRO AZ651 – 65x optical zoom bridge camera
PIXPRO AZ525 – 52x optical zoom, Wi-Fi, bridge camera
PIXPRO AZ421 – 42x optical zoom, bridge camera
Smart Lens SL10 – 10x optical zoom add-on for smartphones
Smart Lens SL25 – 25x optical zoom add-on for smartphones

Sigma: 
50mm f/1.4 Art prime lens
18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OS APS-C Zoom lens

Polaroid:
Polaroid announced some cameras too, seemingly mock-ups or prototypes, and whether they’ll actually be released or not is anyone’s guess. For example, last year they announced a number of mirrorless cameras with vague details (one looked like a Nikon 1 series copy, the other a Pentax Q copy), and we’re still waiting for them to be released. Although they did release one, the Polaroid iM1836 (the Nikon 1 look-a-like), it was quickly withdrawn from the market after Nikon sued them for copyright infringement. Anyway, here’s hoping they do release some of these cameras, as the Socialmatic certainly looks interesting:

Polaroid Socialmatic – Android, Zink photo printing, 14mp front camera, 2mp rear camera, 4.5inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi, due Fall 2014…
Polaroid Ultra Zoom / Bridge cameras, with Wi-Fi, and 50x, 40x, 35x, 30x, and 15x optical zoom depending on how everyone feels, and due Spring 2014.

Latest Digital Camera Rumours – Guest Post

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Looking at the Christmas and Boxing Day sales on digital cameras, you tend to get a view of what is “old” and due to be replaced, based on what cameras are seeing the biggest discounts. For example, the Panasonic Lumix G3 is for sale at Argos (in the UK) for £235 with lens – a bargain for a 16 megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera – but you can easily see why, it’s been superseded by the Panasonic Lumix G5 and then the G6.

So for old cameras that have been replaced by newer models, it’s obvious why the price is so low… and it means you can often pick up a bargain if you don’t mind the older technology. But what about “current” cameras or old cameras that haven’t yet been replaced by a newer model… Here we’re talking about these cameras:

Canon EOS 1100D DSLR

The Canon EOS 1100D – there is no newer model to this, and it’s still available new, yet has been available for at least 2 and a half years – some places are selling it for £245 with lens (Amazon) – others for £160 with lens (Tesco in-store clearance). So next year, will we see a Canon EOS 1200D (or a new model altogether)?

The Nikon 1 S1 – only been out for about a year, yet Tesco are selling it for £149 with lens. It’s either due a replacement (the Nikon 1 S2?) or will be completely discontinued.

Fujifilm XPro1

The Fujifilm X-Pro1 is another camera that has been widely reduced, and even offered with a free lens, meaning a replacement is likely (the X-Pro2?) and many rumor sites have suggested this is likely.

Sony Alpha a3000

Other cameras that have seen big reductions include the Sony Alpha A3000 – reduced from £299 to £199 – which would suggest that it is being replaced – yet it has only been available for a few months? Would they really replace the camera so soon? (Perhaps with a Sony Alpha A3100 or A3000N?) Many reviews have complained about the poor screen, and poor EVF, if both the screen and EVF are poor, then it can’t be a very nice camera to use… however if they released a newer model with a better screen and/or EVF at least you’d be happy with at least one of them. Others: The Samsung Galaxy Camera, now £199, it was £399 when new… so Samsung Galaxy 2 Camera anyone?

Either way you’d be wise to bare this in mind when shopping for a digital camera in the “sales” – most likely it’s due to a newer model either being available, or coming soon, but if the price is right and it takes good photos, then does it really matter?

Ed note: Guest post from a reader who wished to remain anonymous.

Retro: Sony Cyber-shot R1 Quick Review

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Sony Cyber-shot R1

The Sony Cyber-shot R1 was the World’s first APS-C CMOS sensor fixed lens camera released in 2005, it also provided the first “live view” of any APS-C / Large sensor camera, meaning it could display the output on the 2inch LCD or electronic viewfinder. It features a 10.3 megapixel sensor, ISO160-3200, and was priced at $999 US / £699 UK (inc VAT). Similar Digital SLRs were the Canon EOS 350D with an 8 megapixel APS-C sensor and ISO100-1600, and the Nikon D70, with a 6 megapixel sensor and ISO200 to ISO1600.

Sony Cyber-shot R1 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* Lens

The lens is a 5x optical zoom Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* with f/2.8-f/4.8 aperture and the equivalent zoom of 24mm to 120mm, providing both a useful wide-angle lens and a decent amount of zoom. Click more below to continue reading…

[Continue Reading…]

Sony Alpha 3000 Reviews

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Sony Alpha a3000

The Sony Alpha 3000 is one of the cheapest Digital SLR style cameras available, it looks like a Digital SLR, but it’s a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses, a 20 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, 3inch screen, electronic viewfinder, and takes Sony NEX E-Mount lenses, of which there are a large number available. Here’s what ePHOTOzine had to say about it:

“The Sony Alpha 3000 has a number of advanced features that you wouldn’t expect with such an entry level product including Focus peaking, AF fine tuning, an info-lithium battery that keeps you informed as to exactly how much life is left, and full HD video with stereo sound.”

Sony Alpha 3000 Reviews: ePHOTOzine, AmateurPhotographer, WhatDigitalCamera.

Digital Cameras Announced (A3000, 70D, G16)

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A roundup of digital cameras announced recently, along with links for more information, previews, reviews, sample photos and more:

Sony Alpha a3000

Sony:
Sony Alpha 3000 – 20mp APS-C DSLR shaped camera with Sony E-Mount, shown above, Preview
Sony NEX-5T – Wi-Fi, NFC Mirrorless camera, Preview

Canon:
Canon EOS 70D – 20.2 megapixel APS-C DSLR, new AF, 7fps, see Canon UK, there is also a review with sample photos at Cameralabs.
Canon Powershot S120 – 12.1 megapixel High Speed (HS) CMOS sensor, 5x zoom compact, f/1.8, more details.
Canon Powershot G16 – 12.1 megapixel HS CMOS sensor, 5x zoom, f/1.8, Preview
Canon Powershot SX510 – 30x optical zoom, 12 megapixel HS CMOS sensor, compact ultra zoom, more details.
Canon Powershot SX170 – 16x optical zoom, 16 megapixel CCD sensor, Almost pocketable pocket zoom

Nikon:
Nikon Coolpix S6600 – 16mp, 12x zoom, tilting / swivelling screen, details. This one looks pretty cool, and it’s been a while since a compact camera has had a tilting / swivelling screen like this.
Nikon Coolpix L620 – 14x optical zoom, 18mp, full HD video, AA batteries.

Casio: (Japan, Europe only?)
Casio Exilim ZR800, 18x optical zoom, details.

GE:
GE Cameras no longer for sale in the UK according to ePHOTOzine.

Sony Cybershot RX100 II Announced

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Sony has announced the Sony Cybershot RX100 II – an update to the RX100 – the RX100 II adds a flash hot-shoe, tilting 3inch 1.229 million dot screen, and updates the 20.2 megapixel sensor to a backlit CMOS sensor. It features a 3.5x optical zoom lens, with bright f/1.8 aperture at the wide-angle end of the lens, and ISO upto 25600, Full HD video, 10fps continuous shooting, Wi-Fi, full manual controls and Raw shooting.

It will be available in July with an RRP for £650.

Latest Digital Camera Reviews

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Here is a roundup of some of the latest reviews of cameras, including the new Sony Cybershot HS50 – the 30x optical zoom pocket / travel zoom with built in Wi-Fi, and 20 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor.

Travel / Pocket Zoom: compact with lots of zoom
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX50 Review – 30x optical zoom, Wi-Fi, Manual, Hot-shoe

Ultra Zoom / Bridge Camera:
Nikon Coolpix L820 Review – 30x optical zoom, AA
Nikon Coolpix L320 Review– 26x optical zoom, AA

Digital SLR:
Sony Alpha A58 DSLT Review – 20 mp entry level DSLR
Canon EOS 700D Digital SLR Review – 18mp touch screen

Mirrorless: compact interchangeable lens cameras
Olympus PEN E-P5 Hands-On Preview – 16mp compact, touchscreen, Wi-Fi
Samsung NX300 Review – 20mp compact, touchscreen, Wi-Fi
Panasonic Lumix GF6 Review –  16mp compact, touchscreen
Panasonic Lumix G6 Hands-On Review – 16mp DSLR styling

Compact:
Nikon Coolpix AW110 Review – Waterproof, GPS, Wi-Fi
Sony Cybershot DSC-TX30 Review – Waterproof
Pentax WG-3 GPS Review – Waterproof, GPS
Canon IXUS 255 HS Review – 10x optical zoom, Wi-Fi
Fujifilm X20 Review – 4x zoom, premium compact

Camera Phone:
HTC One UltraPixel Review – 4mp, OIS, f/2 lens, 4.7inch screen

Latest Digital Camera Reviews

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Here’s a roundup of some of the latest digital camera reviews from around the web

Ultra Zoom – aka the “Bridge” camera
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX300 Review – 50x optical zoom lens, 20mp
Nikon Coolpix P520 Review – 42x optical zoom lens, 18mp
Fujifilm FinePix HS50EXR Review – 42x optical zoom lens, 16mp

Travel Zoom – compact with lots of zoom
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ40 Review – 20x optical zoom lens, GPS, 18mp (do megapixels still matter?)
Nikon Coolpix S9500 Review – 22x optical zoom lens, GPS, 18mp

Serious Compact – designed for strong image quality and controls
Olympus Stylus XZ-10 Review – 5x optical zoom lens, RAW, manual controls, 12mp etc
Nikon Coolpix A at NeoCamera – APS-C 16 megapixel sensor, 28mm wide-angle

Waterproof – tough, rugged, outdoor cameras
Olympus Tough TG-830 Review – waterproof, 16mp, 5x optical zoom lens

Compact – Stylish, compact etc.
Sony Cyber-shot WX200 Review – 10x optical zoom lens, 18mp sensor

Digital Camera Reviews Roundup

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Here’s a roundup of reviews and previews from around the web:

Mirrorless:

Nikon 1 V2 at NeoCamera – top of the range mirrorless from Nikon
Nikon 1 J3 at NeoCamera – mid-range mirrorless from Nikon

DSLR:

Canon EOS 6D DSLR Review at Cameralabs, 20mp full frame sensor, ePHOTOzine, etc
Canon EOS 100D Hands-On Preview – 18mp APS-C sensor
Canon EOS 700D Hands-On Preview – 18mp APS-C sensor
Canon EOS 100D Vs 700D Comparison – shown side by size, little and large

Compact:

Fujifilm FinePix XP200 Hands-On Preview – Waterproof, 5x zoom
Nikon Coolpix P330 Review – 12mp, 5x zoom, manual controls RAW etc at ePHOTOzine
Nikon Coolpix L28 Review – 20mp, compact, budget, at ePHOTOzine
Nikon Coolpix S5200 Review – 16mp, Wi-Fi, 6x zoom
Nikon Coolpix A Review – 16mp APS-C, wide-angle lens, at Photography BLOG
Sigma DP3 Merrill 50mm f/2.8 APS-C Foveon sensor at Photography BLOG
Canon Powershot SX270 SX280 HS Preview – 20x zoom, 12mp
Canon IXUS 140 Review – Wi-Fi, 8x optical zoom
Sony Cybershot DSC-WX300 Review – 20x zoom, 18mp, Wi-Fi

Digital Camera Reviews and Sample Photos

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Ultra Zoom / Bridge:
Fujifilm FinePix SL1000 Review – 50x optical zoom lens

Compacts:
Nikon Coolpix S2700 Review – budget, 6x optical
Nikon Coolpix S6500 Review – 12x optical zoom, Wi-Fi
Sigma DP3 Merrill Sample Photos – 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens (75mm equivalent), Foveon sensor
Pentax MX-1 Review – Serious compact with manual controls

Waterproof:
Panasonic Lumix FT5 Review – Tough compact

Mobile Phone:
Sony Xperia Z Preview – 13 megapixel waterproof smartphone.

Mirrorless:
Nikon 1 S1 Review – Compact mirrorless, with high speed shooting.

DSLR:
Nikon D7100 Sample Photos – 24 megapixel APS-C sensor camera
Nikon D600 vs Canon EOS 6D Comparison Review – Full frame Digital SLR cameras compared
Canon 5D, Mark 2, Mark 3 DSLR Comparison Review – full-frame cameras compared
Hasselblad H5D-50 Medium Format Digital SLR  Preview – 50 megapixel DSLR