Digital camera review/news

Samsung NV20 spec and review

2008-11-23T02:21:00.000-08:00

Samsung NV20 spec and review

Model : Samsung NV20
Megapixels : 12.1
Max resolution : 4000 X 3000
Sensor information : 1/1.72 CCD
Lens data : f2.8-f5.3, 34-102mm
Zoom : 3x optical, 5x digital
Focus/macro : 80cm/4-80cm
Shutter speed : 1/1500 sec
ISO sensitivity : A, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (at 3.2mp)
Exposure modes : A, P , M, ASR, effect and 15 scenes.
Metering option : M, S, CW, face recognition AE
Flash mode : A, A+RE, FI, Foff, SS. RE fix
Connectivity : USB, AB
Battery : Li-ion
Storage : SD, SDHC, MMC plus, 20mb int

Pros:

Accurate auto contrast balance.
Fast Advance Shake Reduction, boosting up ISO in low light condition.
Using Scheneider-Kreuznach lens, offering maximum aperture of f2.8
Face recognition AF and AE, ensure picture taken are sharp and correctly exposed.
Fast AF even in low light.
Manual modes provide greater flexibility in choosing aperture.

Cons

Noise can be detected from ISO200 above.
Closest focusing distance is limiting the macro shot.

Nikon Coolpix p5100 spec and review

2008-11-23T01:19:00.001-08:00

Nikon Coolpix p5100 spec:
Megapixels : 12.1
Max resolution : 4000 X 3000
Sensor : 1/1.72 inch CCD
Lens : f2.7 - f5.3 (35-123mm)
Zoom : 3.5X optical, 4X digital
Focus/macro : 20cm, 4cm
Shutter speed : 15-1/2000 sec
ISO sensitivity : A, 64, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 2000, 3200
Exposure mode : Auto, P, S, A, scene
Metering option : CW, S, MS
Flash mode : A, RE, slowsync, rear curtain.
Connectivity : USB, AV
Batteries : Li-ion
Storage : 50mb internal, SD
LCD : 2.5"
Viewfinder : optical

Verdict

Features - absolutely everything the serious photographer needs, barring a large wide angle
Build quality - Solid magnesium alloy body.
Handling - Slow startup and processing speed.
Picture quality - sharp focus, good VR lens help it. Some noise at low ISO levels, good built-in flash.
Value for money - reasonable price, all things are considered.

Panasonic DMC-TZ15 spec and review

2008-10-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

Specification of DMC-TZ15:

Megapixels : 9.1 megapixels

Optical sensors : CCD

Digital zoom : 4X

Optical zoom : 10X

Still image format : JPEG, Quicktime

Max resolution : 3456X2592 pixels, video=1280X720

Storage : SD, SDHC

Battery type : lithium ion

Light sensitivity : ISO1600, ISO2000, ISO2500, ISO3200, ISO6400

Lens aperturere : F3.3 to F3.9

Lens manufacturer : Leica DC vario-Elmar

Pros :

-Wide angle

-New Venus engine deliver higher picture quality and sensitivity

-Better optical stabilizer

-Accurate intelligent exposure mode that adjust brightness correctly in most condition

-HD movie recording with sound.

-iA mode that can guess faces location and set the capture mode automatically.

-quick focusing time.

Cons :

-Anti-redeye doesn't work well in some situation.

-no option to turn of extra optical zoom

-microphone isn't sensitive.

Canon 450D Digital SLR camera

2008-06-03T17:45:00.000-07:00

Canon 450D Digital SLR camera

The successor to the 400D, the 450D is a 12.2 megapixel and also the first EOS DSLR that uses SD cards as storage media, moving away from CF cards. The new CMOS sensor can handle high-resolution image files of about 4272 x 2848 pixels. ISO range is from 100 to 1600 and the improved auto setting for ISO speed automatically matches ISO speed up to ISO 800 to the ideal exposure settings.

The 450D incorporates Live View shooting mode and spot-metering function which were previously only found in more expensive DSLR cameras. Live View allows the user to shoot images using the LCD monitor instead of the optical viewfinder. The camera has a 5x and 10x zooming function that provides ultra-precise focusing in Live View mode.The viewfinder has also been improved, with a higher magnification of 0.87x.

The 450D uses a newly developed 9-point AF sensor for fast and accurate focusing. Continuous shooting is about 3.5 frames per second (fps) and start-up time is only 0.2 second. It comes equipped with a 3-inch, 230,000-dot TFT LCD. Shooting time has also been improved with the new Li-ion battery, LP-E5, that is made for the 450D. Capacity is approximately 1.5 times that of the battery used in the 400D.

Fujifilm FinePix F100fd specification

2008-05-30T06:49:00.001-07:00

Fujifilm Finepix F100fd Specifications

Number of effective pixels : 12 million pixels
CCD sensor : 1/1.6-inch Super CCD HR
Storage media : Internal memory (approx. 57MB)
xD-Picture Card™ (16MB - 2GB)
SD memory card
SDHC memory card *2
File format : Still image
JPEG (Exif Ver 2.2)
Movie
AVI (Motion JPEG) with sound
Audio
WAVE format, Monaural sound
(Design rule for Camera File system compliant / DPOF-compatible)
Number of recorded pixels : Still image: 4,000x3,000 / 4,224x2,816 (3:2 format) / 2,848x2,136 / 2,048x1,536 / 1,600x1,200 / 640x480 pixels
Lens : Fujinon 5x Optical zoom lens, F3.3 - F5.1
Lens focal length : f=6.4mm - 32mm, Equivalent to 28 - 140mm on a 35mm camera
Digital zoom : approx. 8.2x (max)
Aperture : F3.3 - F9.0 (Wide) / F5.1 - F11.0 (Telephoto)
Focus distance : Normal
Wide Angle : approx. 45cm / 1.5ft. to infinity
Telephoto : approx. 80cm / 2.6ft. to infinity
Macro
Wide Angle: approx. 5cm / 3.9in. to 80cm / 2.6ft
Telephoto-Agle: approx. 50cm / 1.6ft. to 1.0m / 3.3ft.
Sensitivity : AUTO / Auto (3200) / Auto (1600) / Auto (800) / Auto (400) /
Equivalent to ISO 100 / 200 / 400 / 800 / 1600 / 3200 / 6400 / 12800 (Standard Output Sensitivity) *
* ISO12800,ISO6400 : Number of recorded pixels : 3M pixels or lower
Exposure control : TTL 256-zone metering
Exposure mode : Programmed AE
Shooting modes : Auto, Natural Light, Natural Light & with Flash, M (Manuial), Movie Portrait, Portrait Enhancer, Landscape, Sport, Night, Fireworks, Sunset, Snow, Beach, Underwater, Museum, Party, Flower, Text
Image Stabilizer : CCD-shift type
Shutter speed : 8sec. to 1/1500 sec. (depends on Shooting mode)
Focus : to focus (Multi, Center) / Continuous AF
AF assist illuminator available
White balance : Automatic scene recognition, Preset (Fine, Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White), Incandescent light), Custom
Self-timer : Approx. 10 sec. / 2 sec. delay
Flash : Auto flash
Flash mode
Red-eye removal OFF: Auto, Forced Flash, Suppressed Flash, Slow Synchro.
Red-eye removal ON: Red-eye Reduction Auto, Red-eye Reduction & Forced

Flash, Suppressed Flash, Red-eye Reduction & Slow Synchro.
Power supply : NP-50 Li-ion battery (included) / CP-50 with AC power adapter AC-5VX (sold

separately)

PANASONIC LUMIX DMC-FX36 REVIEW

2008-04-25T06:21:00.000-07:00

The compact digital camera market is becoming more saturated with manufacturers releasing new models blistering pace. Joining the pool is Panasonic lumix DC-Fz36, at SGD599

The specification of Lumix DMC-FX36:

10.1 megapixels CCD sensors
Wide angle 4X optical zoom lens (25mm to 100mm equivalent of 35mm)
2.5 inch LCD
Mega optical image stabiliser
Venus Engine IV
ISO 6400
Intelligence Auto Mode, iA
Automatic face detection
Video mode at 1280X720 pixels, at 30 frames per second

Auto-focusing is fast in good lighting condition, with shutter lag an acceptable 0.5s. The image quality of the FX36 is impressive, with sharp pixel rendition, smooth skin tines and accurate colour reproduction.

The down side of the camera is the noise performance. At ISO 200, you start to notice little noise artifact surfacing.

Verdict

Despite increasing the megapixels count and adding a wider-angle lens, the performance of the Panasonic Lumix FX-36 is marred by noise artifacts.

If you can look beyond that flaw, you''ll probably find the camera a worthy companion thanks to its easy operation, compact body and wide-angle lens

Ricoh Caplio R5 review - Specification, pro and cons

2007-12-18T05:43:00.000-08:00

Ricoh Caplio R5 review

Feature

7mp CCD sensor
7.1 optical zoom lens (28~200mm eqv) f/3.3~4.8
2.5" LCD 230k pixels
vibration correction (anti-shake CCD sensor)
3.6X digital zoom/auto resize
ISO auto, 64, 100, 200, 300, 800, 1600
Video mode : 640X480 pixels, 30 fps with sound
1cm macro
pictBridge support
10 scene modes including 2 customs scene modes
380 shot battery life

Pro

very compact, stylish and solid body
built in vibration reduction, enable steadier long range shot or night shots
7.1X optical zoom lens
very fast focusing (spot AF) and shutter response
fast continuous shooting mode (2.5fps)
excellent macro mode
very good battery life

Cons

flash position, easy to put finger in front of it
flimsy battery cover
minor blue and red over-saturated
noticeable noise at ISO 800 above

Canon EOS 30D review - Spec, pro and cons

2007-12-13T23:46:00.000-08:00

Canon EOS 30D review - specification, pro and cons

Specification

Sensor : 8.2 megapixels, 22.5 X 15mm

SLR - focal length conversion : 1.6X

SLR lens mount : Canon EF/EF-S

Tested focal length : 17-85mm (27-136mm equivalent)

Tested aperture : f/4.0-f/5.6

Memory : CF type I and II.

ISO range : 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, extendable to 3200

Exposure mode : Auto, portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night portraits, no flash, program AE, shutter priority AE, aperture priority AE, Manual, A-DEP

Metering modes : Evaluative (35 zones), centre-weighted, partial (9%), spot (3,5%)

Focusing modes : AI focus, one shot, AI servo, auto or manual focus point selection, manual.

Shutter delay : 0.25sec or less

Shutter speed : 30 - 1/8000sec plus B

Integral flash : G13 at ISO 100

Flash sync : 1/250sec

Flash modes : Auto, on, off, red-eye, slow sync, rear curtain, hotshoe

Drive modes : single, continuous (3fps or 5 fps)

Write times : JPEG 1 sec approx, RAW 2 sec approx

LCD monitor : 2.5 inch colour LCD, 230000 pixels

Weight : 700g body only, without battery or card

Power supply : lithium-ion, BP-511A

Battery llife : 750 shots, CIPA

Transfer mode : USB 2.0, pictBridge

Software : Includes Zoombrowser EX/image browser

Pro

Auto focus speed is fast
Evaluative metering produces good exposures.
Colour rendition's very good
produces sharp images, photos are rich and saturated
5fps shooting

Cons

Noticeable noise at ISO 800 above
dual funtion buttons and tricky power switch annoy.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX55 - spec, pro and cons

2007-11-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

Specification

Sensor : 8.1 megapixels, 1.25 inches
Optical zoom : 3.6X
Focal lenght : Leica 28 - 100mm (35mm equivalent)
Aperture : f/2.8 - f5.6
ISO range : 100, 200, 400, 800, 1250, 1600 (6400 high mode)
Exposure modes : program AE, intelligent auto, scene mode
Metering modes : Intelligent mutliple
Focusing modes : auto, Macro
Shutter speed : 8 - 1/2000 sec
Memory : 27MB internal, SD/MC/SDHC

Pro

Good intelligent auto mode for beginer
Good auto focus on potrait mode
Low ISO images are sharp and colourful
Menus and joystick controller at suitable place
Minimal distortion and little colour fringing

Cons

ISO 400 above images have water colour texture due to noice reduction.
limited 3.6X zoom

Kodak P880 - DSLR replacement

2007-11-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

Kodak P880 specification

Effective pixel count : 8 million
Sensor type : 1/1.8" CCD
Lens : Scheneider-Kreuznach Variagon 5.8X optical zoom (24-120mm in 35mm format)
Resolution : 3264 X 2448
Aperture : f2.8 - f4
Shutter speed : 1/2s - 1/4000s
Closest focusing distance : 25cm (macro)
LCD display : 2.5" TFT LCD, 115000 pixels
Power source : Lithium-ion
Storage : SD/MMC
Dimensions : 116 X 97 X 91 mm
Weight : 513g with battery)

Kodak P880 review - Pro and cons

Pro

Impressive sharpness
Wide 24mm, good for landscape
Long battery life, about 600 shots
LCD is bight and crisp

Cons

Noticeable noice at ISO 400 and above
auto white balance is fairly inaccurate and there's an obvious colour deviation

PENTAX Unveils the Optio Z10

2007-09-10T07:05:00.000-07:00

PENTAX Corporation is pleased to announce the PENTAX Optio Z10, a compact digital camera equipped with a high-magnification 7X optical zoom lens that is convenient for various photography scenes.

The Optio Z10 is equipped with 7X optical zoom lens, the highest magnification among current PENTAX compact digital camera models, built in a small and lightweight body of easy mobility. In addition, the Optio Z10 has a high resolution of 8.0 effective megapixels, and features shake reduction that allows stress-free telephoto photography, and face recognition with high-speed detection time. In all, the Optio Z10 is a model that everyone can easily enjoy photography with high magnification and high image quality.

Main Features:

1. High magnification 7X optical zoom

The Optio Z10 includes a 7X optical zoom lens that covers focal lengths from 6.3 to 44.1mm (equivalent to 38-266mm for 35mm format) and features a refraction lens system so the lens never protrudes from the camera while zooming. This optical zoom covers a broad range, from wide-angle to telephoto zoom, and when used together with digital zoom, ultra high-magnification photography of up to approximately 35.7X is available.

2. High-speed "Face Recognition AF&AE" function of approximately 0.03 seconds

The Optio Z10 is equipped with the "Face Recognition AF&AE" function that automatically adjusts the focuses and sets the exposure, so users can take the photos of people easily and beautifully, by letting the camera do the work. In addition, this function can detect the faces of up to 15 peoples at once, and the detection time has been reduced to approximately 0.03 seconds at minimum.

3. Digital SR

Digital SR (Shake Reduction) mode reduces camera shakes and blurring of the subject when photographing still images. The sensitivity is adjusted automatically, to as high as the ultrahigh sensitivity of ISO 3200, to match the brightness of the subjects. This enables photography with fast shutter speeds, and images with less blurs can be obtained. In addition, an electronic shake reduction function corrects blurring in images during image playback.

4. Auto Picture mode automatically determines the best setting for the shooting conditions

The Auto Picture mode lets the camera automatically determine the shooting conditions for Landscape, Portrait, Night Scene, and Normal mode and choose the optimum settings for each subject. This function makes photography a lot easier for users since it eliminates the necessity of making a number of individual settings.

5. Easily viewable LCD monitor with a wide viewing angle

The Optio Z10 comes with a high resolution, a 2.5-inch LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 pixels that enables images and the text to be displayed largely and clearly. The LCD monitor has a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees from all directions, making it easy to confirm images, even when looking at the screen diagonally.

6. 8.0 effective megapixels produces exceptionally fine-detailed photos

Optio Z10 delivers high resolution photos that look sharp even at large magnifications, thanks to its 8.0 effective megapixels and high performance PENTAX lens, which precisely captures images down to the finest details.

7. High quality recording with shake reduction function

The Optio Z10 smoothly captures movies at 30fps (frames per second) at sizes up to 640 x 480 pixels with image quality rivaling camcorders. In addition, Movie SR (Shake Reduction) function that effectively corrects in images due to camera shakes through software, allowing for movies to be taken more easily and without hassles.

8. Other features

(1) Digital wide function converts two images into approximately 28mm wide angle expression (equivalent to 35mm format)
(2) Mode palette provide quick access to 15 shooting modes and 15 playback modes
(3) Data imprint function for easier image categorizing
(4) Approximately 52.1 MB of built-in-memory
(5) Compatible with SD memory cards and SDHC memory cards
(6) FotoNation’s red-eye compensation function for flash shots
(7) Includes the ACDsee for PENTAX 3.0 image viewer/image management software that supports Windows Vista
(8) Support PictBridge, DPOF functions, Eixf Print, and PRINT Image Matching III

Fujifilm Finepix S9600 (spec, pro and con)

2007-09-08T22:22:00.001-07:00

Features at a glance

9Mp super CCD sensor HR
28~300mm (10.7X) zoom lens with manual control
ISO 1600 at full resolution
Low sensitivity of ISO 80
2.0", (235k pixel) tilting LCD screen
0.01s shutter lag and 0.8s start-up time
Real-time histogram
Highlight warning feature
VGA movie at 30fps with zoom capability and sound
Hot shoe and PC sync terminal
xD-Picture card and CF/microdrive compatibility

Pro

All-in-one solution with 10.7X zoom lens
usage of AA batteries - convenient for travelers
good color and image quality
lost of manual controls
comfortable feel to grip
buttons are well laid out
records good quality video

Con

image noise noticeable at mid to high ISO
weak sound on video
no true image stabilization

Minox DCC Leica M3

2007-09-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

Komamura, makers of the popular RolleiFlex mini digital camera, had introduced the new replica - the Minox DCC (Digital Classic Camera) Leica M3. The camera uses the familiar body of the Leica M3 in a miniature form factor. It can take pictures in a range of resolutions up to 4Mp. Despite the small form factor, then wind lever and shutter are fully functional.

The camera can also function as a web-cam and comes with 32mb of built-in memory. It can connect to a PC or Mac via USB. Although unusual, the Minox DCC Leica M3 is both easy to use and ideal for those getting started in the field of digital photography and want a classic convention rather than high tech. The size of the camera is 65 X48X44mm, weight about 95g.

Digital Camera Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

2007-07-25T00:26:00.000-07:00

Digital Camera - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

More information at: http://panasonic.co.jp/pavc/global/lumix/popup/pressrelease/fz18.html

Panasonic is pleased to introduce a new 8.1-megapixel Lumix digital camera, featuring a 28mm wide angle Leica DC lens with an amazingly powerful 18x optical zoom (equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm film camera) with f/2.8 brightness. Panasonic LUMIX FZ series has been highly evaluated across the world, for concomitant realization of both high performance and ease of use, and the new DMC-FZ18 has also been developed with no compromise of picture quality, operational ease and portability. The newly developed 28mm wide angle 18x optical zoom lens in the DMC-FZ18 boasts notable optical performance and compactness, to open the door for the new world of expression that has ever been thought impossible with a single compact camera.

Panasonic also made an epoch in digital photography by providing all Lumix cameras with Intelligent Image Stabilization system that comprehends MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) to suppress hand-shake and Intelligent ISO control to prevent motion blur, allowing anyone to take clear, beautiful pictures with ease. Even going far beyond that, Lumix cameras pursue both the beauty of picture and the ease of operation at the same time to newly include the Intelligent Auto mode. In addition to two of the essential image stabilizing systems, this mode further features three new advanced functions. The Intelligent Scene Selector automatically sets the appropriate scene mode according to the scene you’re going to take. It is selected from most frequently-used scene modes such as portrait, scenery, macro, night scenery and night portrait. The Face Detection system helps the camera to recognize a human face and focus and set AE. The Continuous AF system allows the camera to keep focus on the subject even without pressing a shutter button halfway, to get best result out of a shutter chance by minimizing the AF time. These multi-capable functions happen automatically, so you can shoot without the bother of adjusting settings every time conditions change. Lumix and its powerful Intelligent Auto Mode does all the work for you. You can enjoy easy, trouble-free shooting in any situation and get the satisfaction that comes with capturing clear, beautiful images.

The high-speed, high-performance image processing LSI is the Venus Engine III, which boasts shooting at ISO 1600 in normal recording mode and even max. ISO 6400 in high sensitivity mode*. Effective resolution has been increased to 8.1-megapixels, which supports the Extra Optical Zoom function, that provides additional magnification - even up to 28.7x when taking photos with 3-megapixel resolution. The 2.5-inch large, high resolution LCD with 207,000 pixels, and the large, 0.44-inch Electric Viewfinder with 188,000 pixels, make it easy to see when monitoring and playing back images.

Panasonic redesigned the FZ18 to make it more stylish and enhance its operational ease. AF/AE lock button and Macro button is now independent to allow quick and direct operation. A long battery life lets the FZ18 take approximately 400 pictures (CIPA) on a single charge. And the FZ18 can save image data in the RAW file format, which can be edited and developed with included software. A metal-finished mode dial also adds further strength to the design while enhancing the grip with rubber to make it easier to hold. For users who feel that ordinary compact cameras simply do not give them the functions and control they need for full enjoyment, the Lumix DMC-FZ18 serves as a gateway to truly creative photography.

* In 3-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording. Resolution significantly decreases in high sensitivity mode.

1. A 28mm Wide Angle Leica DC Lens with f/2.8 Brightness and Powerful 18x Optical Zooming in a Compact Body

The DMC-FZ18 packages a 28mm wide angle LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with f/2.8-4.2 brightness and powerful 18x optical zoom (equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm film camera) together with a 8.1-megapixel CCD into a compact body. The lens unit comprises of eleven elements in eight groups, including three aspherical lenses and two ED lenses. Notably two ED lenses minimize the chromatic aberration that is likely to occur in telephoto images. This set of lenses secure picture quality high enough to pass Leica's stringent standards and delivers exceptional optical performance. With the long zoom range from 28mm to 504mm, equivalent to 18x, the DMC-FZ18 can be the best suitable camera to take expansive scenery with dynamic perspective and a close-up of a distant subject, having the appealing angle of view. Further, in 3-megapixel resolution mode, the Extra Optical Zoom function uses the centre part of the CCD to provide additional magnification, extending the zoom power to 28.7x.

2. Great Photography is not only from the Professional Photographer Anymore- Intelligent Auto Mode

Panasonic incorporates both MEGA O.I.S.(Optical Image Stabilizer) to compensate for hand-shake and Intelligent ISO Control system to detect and suppress motion blur into all Lumix cameras, which are the industry’s most advanced countermeasures against blurring.

In addition to these two paramount anti-blurring technologies, Panasonic keeps pursuing its own ideal that anyone at any technical level of photography can take beautiful pictures with ease, and Intelligent Auto mode is newly incorporated into Lumix. Increasing numbers of scene mode is one thing and taking advantage of them is another, and that’s why here comes the Intelligent Scene Selector that automatically sets the appropriate scene mode according to the scene you’re going to take among the most frequently-used scene modes such as Portrait, Scenery, Macro, Night Scenery and Night Portrait. The Face Detection system helps the camera to recognize a human face and focus and set AE. Up to 15 human faces can be recognized simultaneously. The Continuous AF system allows the camera to keep focus on the subject even without pressing a shutter button halfway, to get best result out of a shutter chance by minimizing the AF time. These multi-capable functions happen automatically, so you can shoot without the bother of adjusting settings every time conditions change. Lumix and its powerful Intelligent Auto Mode do all the work for you. You can enjoy easy, trouble-free shooting in any situation and get the satisfaction that comes with capturing clear, beautiful images.

3. High-Quality, High-Performance Image-Processing LSI: The Venus Engine III

The DMC-FZ18 features the Venus Engine III, Panasonic's advanced image-processing engine that can record at a sensitivity setting as high as ISO 1600 with full resolution. Noise reduction is also greatly improved, with picture noise removed in stages during image processing. First, critical noise is roughly undraped, then chromatic noise and luminance noise are separated. The chromatic noise, which has a greater effect on picture quality, is then selectively suppressed to a substantial degree. It also supports a High Sensitivity mode that lets the DMC-FZ18 record at a setting of up to ISO 6400 - sensitive enough to capture subjects in near-total darkness without using a flash*.

With its multi-task image-processing capability, the Venus Engine III also boasts outstanding response time. Shutter release time lag is as short as 0.005 second and the shutter interval is as short as 0.7 second**. This fast response makes it easy to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment shots together with the quick start-up time of 1.5 second. In burst shooting mode, the FZ18 can fire off three shots per second at full resolution***. It also allows unlimited consecutive shooting**** - you can continue snapping shots until the SDHC/SD memory card is full.

This advanced processing engine is also energy efficient. Its low power consumption means you can shoot around 400 images (CIPA) on a single charge, for a full day of shooting fun.

*In 3-megapixel(4:3), 2.5-megapixel(3:2), 2-megapixel(16:9) recording.
**Not including the time for AF.
***Max. seven images in standard mode / four images in fine mode.
****The consecutive shooting speed varies with the memory card, image size, and image compression mode. The number of shots depends on the memory card size, battery life, image size and image compression mode.

4. More Intuitive Control, More Comfortable Operation and Easy-to-see Intelligent LCD

The joystick that was so popular in the sister model DMC-FZ8 for its superbly easy operation is now included in the DMC-FZ18. This allows a host of settings, such as manual focusing and exposure, to be made quickly and easily. When manually focusing, both the focal length and the depth of field according to the zoom range and aperture are displayed. The MF assist function lets you enlarge the focus area and even move it around with the joystick, to achieve quick focusing to suit the composition even when framing is fixed due to the use of a tripod. The newly incorporated AF/AE lock button maintains the focus and exposure values that were automatically fixed when the lock button was pressed. This means that there are no more worries about accidentally changing a delicate focus point after you have worked hard to get it just right. The Custom Setting mode is also incorporated for the camera to memorize your frequent setting patterns to be instantly applied by simply selecting this function with the mode dial.

The DMC-FZ18 boasts a 2.5-inch large Intelligent LCD with full 207 k pixels resolution for comfortable viewing while both monitoring shots and playing back the results. The camera detects the light condition and automatically boosts the LCD backlighting by 40% when shooting outdoors in bright sunshine, and boosts signals by pixel-mixed readout method when shooting under low-lit situation to secure a clear image in any circumstances. The High Angle mode, which can be accessed quickly and easily via a dedicated button, makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as to shoot over a crowd.

The large 0.44-inch in-line Electric Viewfinder has high, 188,000-pixel resolution to provide easy, corner-to-corner focusing confirmation even in manual focus mode.

5. Viewing in Various Styles; HD Photo and Wide-Aspect Motion Images

With TV screens getting bigger and picture definition getting higher, consumers want to be able to shoot higher-quality still images and motion pictures. Panasonic has long focused on making photography more enjoyable, such as by letting people view their images easily on a Viera TV, with its internal SD card slot. With the FZ18, you can shoot high-definition 1920 x 1080 pixel photos that are ideal for full-screen viewing on a wide-screen (16:9) TV. Panasonic also offers the DMW-SDP1 HDTV Photo Player, which makes it easy to view a slideshow of Lumix photos in 1080i high-definition quality.

In addition to recording standard VGA (640 x 480), the DMC-FZ18 can record WVGA (848 x 480) motion images at 30 frames per second. Fitting a wide-screen TV perfectly, these wide –aspect motion images captured by the FZ18 make for extremely impressive viewing.

The DMC-FZ18 also offers an exceptional function that lets you select and display thumbnails of nine sequential frames from a motion image. This is useful, as an example, for analysing the way you swing a golf club or tennis racquet.

6. Quick and Smart AF and Easy Manual Focusing

To match the shooting situation and subject's position, the user can select from six auto-focusing methods: face detection, multi, 3-point high-speed, 1-point high-speed, 1-point normal-speed, and spot. With the 1-point AF or spot AF method, the auto-focusing area can be chosen from as many as 11 points with the joystick or cursor button. Various group area patterns can also be selected in the new Multi method.

The newly added Face Detection system helps the camera to recognize a human face to capture it bright and clear. Up to 15 human faces can be detected simultaneously. The detection keeps working on the faces even if subjects are moving so that the time for AF is minimized before you click away the shutter.

Manual focusing, which is a valuable tool for professional-level photography, is also easy thanks to the previously described joystick. Instant switching between AF and MF is available with the independent AF/MF button. The DMC-FZ18 is also equipped with AF Macro button and it activates One-Shot AF function in MF mode with a single press of the button. In both AF/MF, the subject just 1cm away can be finely captured sparing no detail of it. You can experience the dynamic close-up of macro shots.

7. Other Advanced Features

In addition to its outstanding basic specifications, a host of other improvements make the DMC-FZ18 an ideal tool for creative photography. One additional function that broadens the fun of photography is an Advanced Scene Mode, that provides the users more fine control over some frequently-used scene modes; Portrait, Sports, Landscape and Night portrait. Selecting the Portrait or Sports mode and you’ll further have options to define whether it is in outdoor or indoor. Selecting Landscape mode, you’ll have options to specify if you’re going to take nature or architecture. Thus more suitable compensation for the scene will be available on the picture to get the best results. On the other hand, you can simply select the original mode without any further adjustment or select Creative mode that even allows manual controls over an aperture or a shutter speed.

SILKYPIX Developer Studio 2.1SE software application comes bundled with the DMC-FZ18 for editing and developing images in the RAW file format. Using this software, you can freely adjust RAW data settings such as exposure bias and white balance even after shooting for greater enjoyment of digital photography.

Approximately 27 MB of built-in memory is provided, and the camera accommodates large-capacity SDHC memory cards. Also interesting is the new Title Edit* function, which allows inputting text as an additional information of the picture, for example, names of children or pets, and travel places. When combined with Text Stamp function*, the FZ18 can show on which day of the trip a photo was taken together with the place you went in addition to showing the date a photo was taken for pictures using Travel Date function. It can also stamp your baby or pet's age in months on a photo together with his/her name, after you've taken the shots. These dates, which can be helpful when making a photo album, can be stamped on photos whether you print them yourself at home or have a photo shop do them. The FZ18 also provides Category Playback function, which sorts images into such categories as portraits, scenery, night scenery, events, baby, pet, food, travel date-stamped and motion pictures, so you can play back or make slideshows of a particular type of image.

BenQ touch screen camera

2007-06-14T03:56:00.000-07:00

BenQ is marketing their latest touch screen camera - BenQ DC T700, DC X725, DC C640, DC C740i and DC C1050.
Cool....very less button on the body

Kodak C330

2007-06-14T03:08:00.000-07:00

I captured this picture during my trip to yosemite, using a kodak C330.