Sony mocks clueless DSLR users with new ad campaign

Sony has released a new ad campaign for its NEX range of cameras that mocks DSLR users. But not just any DSLR users, clueless DSLR users in particular.

The ads basically concentrate on DSLR users who carry a ton of equipment around for their cameras and don’t know the first thing about how to use them. Most of the situations shown in the video are places where a simple point and shoot camera would be more appropriate but the people are seen carrying around complicated DSLR rigs that are more trouble than worth.

The video goes through multiple scenarios, such as one where couple of girls on a beach are taking a self portrait with a zoom lens and a lens hood attached to their camera just for uploading on social networks. In another scenario, you have a guy who despite having two DSLRs on him manages to miss the moment because he couldn’t get them up and running in time.

The point of these ads is not to mock DSLR users in general (clearly that would be silly because Sony sells some of their own) but basically people who like to carry a gun to a pillow fight. The only bad part about these ads is that there is zero mention of Sony’s own cameras and had it not been for the YouTube description you wouldn’t even know it was for the NEX series.

You can watch the full video below and there are several more short ones in the source link.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Best Cameras Under $300

You don’t need to take out a second mortgage for a DSLR to take great photos. Here are our favorite cameras that will do it for under $300.

These days, any camera worth its weight is going to cost you a couple hundred dollars — and if you have the cash, we can’t help but steer you toward an investment in the $400-$500 range. But if that’s a little rich for your blood, have no fear, there are a variety of point-and-shoots for less than $300 that will get the job done, and then some. Just because you won’t empty your bank account doesn’t mean you can’t experiment with manual settings or fun filters, not to mention that most of the units in this price bracket fit nicely in your pocket or purse. Check out our favorite digital cameras under $300.

Samsung WB150F — $200

You won’t find an easier or more fun to use connected camera at this price. The Samsung WB150F smart camera connects via Wi-Fi to auto-share and backup your photos, and the interface and physical as well as in-camera navigation is one of the most seamless setups we’ve seen yet. While the image quality doesn’t particularly shine, there are enough manual controls and preset scenes available that results will be satisfactory to pretty darn good, depending on setting and lighting.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 520 HS — $280

The Canon name has long been associated with the best of the best point-and-shoots on shelves, and its ELPH series is no exception. These cameras are known for their high-sensitivity capabilities and high speed bust mode. In addition to all that, the ELPH 520 HS also has an incredibly easy-to-master button setup, and we’re big fans of its unconventional boxy shape.

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS — $299.99

The Canon PowerShot SX260 HS comes in at just under $300 (riding the line pretty close there, aren’t we?), but it’s so feature-full it deserves mention. It has a pop-up flash, GPS, manual settings, and 20x zoom lens. It’s a little heavier and bulkier than other point-and-shoots, it’s still a nice-looking device that certainly has plenty built in to keep you busy. This isn’t a camera you’ll easily outgrow.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 — $299.99

This Panasonic model has significantly come down in price, making it quite the steal (the lowest price we’ve seen is around $225, so keep those eyes peeled for cheap units). The DMC-ZS20 has an improved sensor over earlier iterations in the Lumix lineup, as well as impressive video recording abilities and an impressive burst mode. It’s a nice looking, compact unit as well, just to top it all off.

Nikon CoolPix P300 – $278

While Nikon is best known for its DSLR cameras, it’s made an impressive foray into point-and-shoot units with capable manual settings. This unit has an incredibly good-looking shape, and user-friendly button and in-camera navigation setup. The pop-up flash and HD video are also worth noting.

Nikon COOLPIX S9100 — $189

If you like what the Nikon CoolPix P300 is bringing to the table but want to go a little cheaper, then the S9100 might fit the ticket. The two models are incredibly similar looking, while the S9100 is a much simple, no fuss model that performs incredibly well for the limitations that it does have (the manual functions aren’t very developed). Still, for its price, this is a solid bet.

Olympus TG-820 iHS — $279

Olympus’ Micro Four Thirds PEN series has stolen much of the brand’s show, but its tough cams deserve mention as well. While the TG-1 is arguably the best rugged, waterproof digital camera on the market, the last generation TG-820 iHS has taken a price cut and is still a pretty impressive model. It’s durable without hugely sacrificing image quality, and manage not to look too much like an ugly tough cam at the same time.

Sony Cyber-shot Digital Camera HX10 — $270

With an impressively large sensor for its price and size, Sony managed to pack quite a bit into a small package. There are plenty of preset scene modes to choose from here, and image quality manages to do fairly well with nice color saturation and a manageable level of noise. The 16x zoom lens is nothing to shrug at either.

Fujifilm FinePix F750EXR — $250

The FinePix point-and-shoots continue to get better and better, and the F750EXR is no exception. The unit has an impressive sensor as well as full manual controls. It doesn’t have the GPS function that the F775EXR does, but that’s what keeps its price lower. Preset modes, a 20x optical zoom, and 1080p HD video are also included, and the dropping price makes these all that much more attractive.

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Panasonic announces DMC-GH3 Micro Four Thirds camera, two new lenses and a battery grip

Photokina is now underway and we’ve already seen new cameras by virtually every major manufacturer out there. It’s now Panasonic’s turn to join the fun as the company just unveiled its latest Micro Four Thirds camera.

The Panasonic DMC-GH3 comes to replace the GH2 Micro 4/3 camera. Along with the GH3 Panasonic also ousted two new LUMIX G X series lenses – 12-35mm and 35-100mm and a new battery grip.

The Panasonic GH3 comes with a 16.05 MP multi-aspect ratio sensor and a maximum ISO of 12800 (25600 with extension) and improves on almost every aspect of its predecessor – the electronic viewfinder and rear display are now OLED instead of LCD, the sensor is improved and the GH3 uses the latest Venus image processor. Continuous shooting has been boosted to 6 fps from 5 fps. Additionally the EVF now covers all 100% of the image.

Panasonic put a lot of emphasis on video recording. The GH3 now does 1080p video capture at the doubled 60p (instead of 60i or 30p of the GH2) and has gone with a very high 80 Mbps bitrate over the smartphone-esque 24 Mbps of the GH2. There’s also a 3.5 mm microphone jack in place of the 2.5 mm one. Stereo microphones on the GH3 body are also present.

The body of the GH3 is noticeably bulkier but is weather sealed and made from a magnesium alloy. This means that the GH3 is almost as light as the GH2 (550g with battery only versus the 609g of the GH2 with a battery and the 14-42mm kit lens).

Panasonic’s new Lumix G X series lenses include the 12-35 mm and the 35-100 mm zooms. Both feature Panasonic’s renowned POWER O.I.S. image stabilization. You can read DPReview’s preview of the Panasonic DMC-GH3 here.

Pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed by Panasonic.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Nikon announces the D600, the smallest and cheapest full-frame DSLR on the market

Looks like full-frame sensors are suddenly in vogue. Yesterday we saw a whole bunch of Sony cameras with full-frame sensors, including one camcorder. Now Nikon has announced the D600, which packs a full-frame sensor in what is the smallest, lightest and cheapest camera on the market right now.

The Nikon D600 uses a 24.3 megapixel 35.9 x 24mm full-frame CMOS sensor. The camera uses Nikon’s EXPEED 3 image processor and is capable of shooting at 5.5 fps.

Other features include ISO range of 100-6400 (expandable to IS 50-25,600), 39 point AF system, 0.13 second startup time, 1080p video recording in 30, 25 or 24 fps and 720p in 60, 50 or 30 fps, uncompressed video out via HDMI, dual SD card slots, HDR mode and a 3.2-inch, 921k dot LCD.

The Nikon D600 will go on sale on September 18 and will retail at $2,099 (body-only) or for $2,699 with the AF-S NIKKOR 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR lens.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Sony announces Handycam NEX-VG900 full-frame and VG30H APS-C digital camcorders

Along with some digital still cameras, Sony also had a couple of new camcorders to announce today. The first of them is the new NEX-VG900, which according to Sony is the world’s first consumer 35mm full-frame interchangeable lens camcorder.

The VG900 uses the same 24.3 megapixel sensor that we saw on the A99. That sensor is big by DSLR standards and enormous when compared to other consumer camcorders by as much as as 40 times. The VG900 is also capable of taking full-frame 24 megapixel still photos in RAW format, just like the A99.

But the real feature here is the video recording and the VG900 can do 1080p video in 60 or 24fps with Sony’s CinemTone Gamma and CinemaTone Color to give it that cinematic look. There are also several other image filters to choose from. The VG900 features a seesaw level for controlling the zoom, which gives smoother results than using the zoom ring on the lenses, although it only works with Sony powered zoom lenses. The camcorder also comes with Sony’s Quad Capsule Spatial Array Microphone that incorporate four omnidirectional microphones for recording 5.1 surround sound.

The Handycam NEX-VG900 go on sale in November (body-only and LA-EA3 lens adapter) for about $3,300.

If you think that’s a bit much then there is a cheaper alternative in the form of the NEX-VH30H, which is the successor to the VG20H model launched last year. It features a smaller 16.1 megapixel APS-HD CMOS sensor, same as the one from the NEX-6 we just saw. This one can also record 1080p videos in 60 and 24fps and shoot high resolution still images. It also has a high resolution XGA OLED viewfinder and the seesaw zoom level from the VG900.

The Handycam NEX-VG30H will be sold with a SELP-18200 E PZ 18-200mm f3.5-F6.3 power zoom lens with built-in image stabilization for $2,700. A body-only NEX-VG30 will be sold for $1,800.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Sony announces new RX1, NEX-6 and Alpha SLT-A99 digital cameras

Sony has announced three new cameras, the most exciting of which is the DSC-RX1 that was leaked a couple of days ago. The other two are the NEX-6, the newest member of Sony’s mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, and the Alpha SLT-A99.

Let’s talk about the RX1 first. As was revealed before, the RX1 packs in a 35mm full frame sensor within a compact camera size body. The sensor is a 36 x 24mm EXMOR CMOS with a resolution of 24.3 megapixels. To go with that sensor, the RX1 has a fixed Carl Zeiss 35mm/f2.0 lens with dedicated focus and aperture rings.

Other features include a leaf shutter for near silent operation, dedicated exposure control dial, built-in flash with a hotshoe, ISO sensitivity up to 25,600 (extended to 102,400 using software tricks), RAW shooting mode, 1080p60 video recording and a 3-inch 1,229k dot LCD.

The RX1 will go on sale this November and will retail at $2,800.

Next is the NEX-6 that falls between the previously launched NEX-5N and the NEX-7. The new NEX-6 gets the Fast Hybrid AF, Wi-Fi and camera apps from the 5N and the high-resolution XGA OLED Tru-Finder viewfinder from the NEX-7.

On top of that it also has a 16.1 megapixel EXMOS APS HD CMOS sensor, electronic viewfinder, a new mode dial and hotshoe that were missing on the previous models, 3-inch, 921k dot tilting LCD, 1080p60 video and ISO sensitivity up to 25,600.

The NEX-6 will be sold in November for $1,000 with a SELP1650 compact 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 powered zoom lens and for $850 body-only.

Lastly we have the Alpha SLT-A99, part of Sony’s SLT range of cameras that look identical to a DSLR but have a fixed translucent mirror instead along with an electronic viewfinder. The A99 is the flagship model in this range and includes a full frame, 36 x 24mm, 24.3 megapixel sensor with built-in phase detection.

Other features include the world’s first dual AF system, with a 19-point main focusing system complemented by the 102 point focal plane phase detection AF on top of the camera’s sensor, 1080p60 video recording with mic and headphone jacks and FullHD video output through HDMI so you can connect an external recorder, a silent, programmable multi-control dial on the front, XGA OLED viewfinder, 3-inch, 1,229k dot articulated LCD with Sony’s WhiteMagic technology that adds an extra white subpixel along with the usual RGB for increased brightness outdoors and ISO 25,600 sensitivity.

The Sony Alpha SLT-A99 will be sold in October as body-only for about $2,800.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Nikon unveils its Android-enabled S800c, compact S7700, and beginner-friendly S01

Ahead of Photokina, Nikon unveils a handful of new Coolpix consumer cameras.

The new camera parade continues as Nikon just announced a trio for very different photographers, including the first Nikon digicam featuring the Android OS. While the $349 Coolpix S800c is pretty cool (details to follow), the updated version of the S7100—the S7700—will give enthusiasts something to chew on as they consider buying it or the Canon G12 or Panasonic LX7.

The new S800c is Nikon’s latest Wi-Fi-enabled digicam. With Android onboard, social networks aren’t far behind as you can connect to Google+, Facebook, and Twitter to upload much higher-quality images than your basic smartphone. You can also surf the Web and download apps and games from Google Play. We didn’t get the chance to connect with our Wi-Fi network (the camera is due next month) but hopefully it’s easier than Nikon’s earlier efforts. Internal memory holds up to 680MB of apps.

Although you can’t make calls, the S800c’s photographic capabilities blow away any smartphone. It has a 16MP BSI CMOS sensor and a 10x optical zoom (25-250mm). This glass lens is far superior to plastic smartphone lenses and their digital zooms. Like a smartphone, the S800c has a built-in GPS. It has a nice 3.5-inch touch screen too using OLED technology rather than a typical LCD. 

Yes, we all know Compact System Cameras and DSLRs get all the headlines but we’re rather fond of fixed lens digicams with quality zooms and enhanced imaging sensors. This class of camera is designed for shooters comfortable with apertures and shutter speeds—and don’t mind spending $500 to capture images. The Canon PowerShot G12 is the clear leader here but Nikon and Panasonic have quality offerings. (We’re leaving the Canon G1 X and Sony RX100 off the list as they’re much more expensive.)  The new Nikon Coolpix S7700 ($499) should be a winner—but we’ll withhold final judgment until we get a production sample to review. The new model has a 12MP 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, 2 megapixels more than the S7100 which featured CCD technology. Switching to CMOS also speeds up response.

The S7700 has a 7.1x optical zoom (28-200mm) just like its predecessor but with a much wider aperture of f/2.0 versus f/2.8 of S7100. This helps you take better shots in low light. The CMOS chip lets you grab photos at up to 8 frames per second (for 6 shots) and video is improved to 1080p from 720p.

It has a 3-inch vari-angle LCD screen rated 921K-dots, lets you capture RAW files and gives you access to P/A/S/M (program, aperture, shutter, and manual priority) so you can make adjustments to your heart’s content.

Rounding out the list is the Coolpix S01, a $179 camera Nikon claims is one of the thinnest and lightest available. We didn’t handle it but the tiny digicam weighs 3.4 ounces and measures 3.1 x 2.1 x .7 (WHD, in inches). Since it’s so small, you’ll make your adjustments via the 2.5-inch touchscreen. Beyond the dimensions, the S01 won’t make your inner techie swoon as its uses a 10MP CCD sensor and a 3x zoom (29-87mm), decidedly unimpressive specs for a 2012 digital camera. 

Don’t worry, the announcements aren’t over yet…

Source : digitaltrends[dot]com

Canon unveils two PowerShot superzoom cameras – meet the SX150 and SX500

Canon just announced two new members of the PowerShot line of digital cameras – the SX500 IS and the SX160 IS. Both feature 16 MP 1/2.3″ CCD sensors and Canon’s DIGIC 4 image processor.

The S160 IS is the successor to the SX150 IS, while the SX500 IS is a totally new package. The duo is expected to hit the market this September for $329.99 (SX500 IS) and $229.99 (SX160 IS).

The Canon PowerShot SX500 IS features a lens with the impressive 30x optical zoom covering the 24-720mm range and offering a maximum aperture range of F/3.4-5.8. It comes with Canon’s Intelligent IS for camera shake reduction. The superzoom also offers a Zoom Framing Assist feature – if you lose sight of your desired target just hit the ZFA button and the camera will quickly zoom out so you can see what you want to focus on. Releasing the button brings you back to the zoomed-in position.

Canon PowerShot SX500 IS

The SX160 IS packs a 28-448mm lens capable. It’s powered by AA batteries, which is either good or bad, depending on your taste.

Both cameras have 3″ LCDs, but the one on the SX500 IS has 461k dot resolution, while the SX160 IS screen makes do with 230k dots.

Canon PowerShot SX160 IS

Both cameras share an ISO range of 100-800, and can shoot HD 720p video at 25 fps – neither of which is particularly impressive.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com

Nikon found to have been working on Android-based Coolpix S800 camera

Cameras running Android is not exactly a new concept. Polaroid showcased the SC1630 earlier this year at CES and even Samsung is said to have been working on a similar device.

Now we are hearing that Nikon too is working on an Android based camera and there is some proof to back that claim as well. This information comes courtesy an Indonesian Communication filing from July 2012 that shows a product named Coolpix S800c (or S800), which is said to be running Android 2.3, Gingerbread.

According to Nikon Rumors, the expected features of this camera include a 25-250mm lens, 3.5-inch OLED display, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi. They also say that the camera will run all apps from the Google Play Store, although that seems unlikely. The possible announcement date for this product is said to be August 22.

While you may not exactly be able to play games on this camera, what the inclusion of Android means is that you will be able to install and use photo editing and sharing applications on the camera instead of having to depend upon the built-in features. If this category of cameras takes off, we might even see more specialized apps appear on the Play Store. It should also make it easier for people to install custom firmware on these cameras. This also means that the future of dedicated digital cameras might not be as bleak as everyone thinks.

Source : blog[dot]gsmarena[dot]com