Category Archives: Digital Cameras

BenQ T850

The BenQ T850 (announced 28 May, 2008) is a super slim touch screen digital camera featuring 8 megapixels, 3x optical zoom lens (38-112mm equivalent) and a 3.0 inch TFT LCD touch screen.

With the 3 inch touch screen almost all camera functions can be accessed and engaged by using one of three simple finger movements: tap, circle, swipe. At only 14.9 mm thick and weighing just 120 grams the BenQ T850 also features a Super Shake-Free setting, Auto Face Tracking and up to ISO 1600.   

Wrapped in a stainless steel casing the BenQ T850 is available is black or red.

BenQ T850

BenQ T850 Press Release

BenQ’s New T850 8M Digital Camera Has Users Smiling

EUROPE, May 28, 2008 – BenQ announced the launch of the world’s slimmest 8-mega-pixel digital camera, the T850 with 1600 ISO, 3x optical zoom and smc PENTAX lens. Sleek and compact at 14.9mm thick, the T850’s chic stainless steel casing (available in black or red) reflects the minimalist operating ease of the camera. Exceptional efficiency and user-friendliness are made possible by the highly intuitive photo taking and photo editing functions, which center around smartly organized circular touch buttons on the 3” TFT LCD screen. Furthermore, almost all camera functions can be accessed and engaged by using one of three simple finger movements: tap, circle, swipe. In fact, the T850 standouts among touch screen cameras as the only one employing a natural “swipe” gesture for viewing photos and video. A comprehensive selection of options including “Smile Catch”, Auto Face Tracking, Z Lighting, advanced photo art, scribble & scrawl and Quick Bar make the T850 a fabulously fun companion for bringing enjoyment and quality to today’s digital life.

Photo Taking So Simple, It’s Second Nature!
Spontaneous, quick, spur-of-the-moment. Such is what defines that special moment so precious to capture in a photo. And that’s exactly what defines the T850: controls and menus so simple and second nature that capturing a spontaneous moment is a snap. No pressing button after button to navigate through multiple menus. The T850 has pared down complex camera operations to a minimalist, logical approach. Circular touch buttons (just the size of the fingertip), which can be pulled up instantly on the extra-large screen, get users to the right setting fast so the moment isn’t just a memory. Plus, the T850 features a Quick Bar that gives users even faster access to 80% of all photo taking needs. For customized convenience, users can add three of their favorite functions to the Quick Bar. Intelligently designed touch-screen icons that clearly represent their functions further eliminate the confusion typical of other complicated camera menus.

Tap, Circle, Swipe for Easy Navigation and Photo Editing
Once pictures are taken, users can easily view and enhance photos via three types of finger motions on the screen. To reset the focal point, simply tap the preferred spot on the screen, and the T850 will re-center and automatically refocus the image. To enlarge a specific portion of the image, simply draw a circle around the location with your fingertip. The T850 will instantly perform a 12x zoom to the circled area. Plus, by using the picture cropping mode, users can save the enlarged image as a new image. Playback is no longer a pain with the T850’s ingenious functionality, which includes “swipe” recognizing ability – it’s the only camera currently available to perform functions with a simple finger swipe across the screen. While reviewing pictures, swipe a finger right to left across the screen to see the next picture; swipe left to right to see the previous image. When playing video or audio content, users can tap the playback bar forward (advance) thus eliminating the hassles of restarting the content from the beginning every time. The T850 is also equipped with advanced photo art functions. Touch screen capability lets users free-hand scribble and scrawl fun captions and drawings to photos. In addition, users can select from a numerous callout balloons and photo backgrounds/frames.

User-Friendly Conveniences
Despite a minimalist approach for operational ease, the T850 is packed with an array of thoughtful features for picture-perfect results. A high ISO 1600 lets users take pictures in dim lighting without artificial flash. “Z Lighting” enables users to adjust the image’s lighting after the photo has already been taken. The T850’s brilliant “Smile Catch” mode captures every elusive smile by automatically shooting in rapid succession, stopping only when the shutter button is pressed again. Competitors’ similar function can only shoot up to six times in succession. And for capturing life in fractions of second – such as for action shots – a “12 Burst” feature snaps 12 pictures in one second! Crisp, clear, well-defined pictures are guaranteed with a Super Shake-Free setting and Auto Face Tracking, which can fine-tune up to nine faces in one frame – perfect for scenes with many people. The T850’s 30 preset modes range from standard auto and video to more exact settings such as “Museum,” “Party,” “Beach” and “Fireworks.”

Benq T850

Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd

The Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd (announced 22 May, 2008) is a stylish, ultra compact 10 mega pixel point and shoot digital camera. The FinePix Z200fd is ultra slim at just 19.8mm thick and features a 5x optical zoom lens (33-165mm equivalent), dual images stabilization, and a wide 2.7 inch high resolution screen.

The Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd also features Face Detection Technology, 52 megabytes of internal memory, VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second, two brand new self-timer modes: Couple Timer and Group Timer, intelligent red-eye removal, and ISO 100-1600 sensitivity at full resolution.

Finepix Z200fd

News Release

Fujifilm introduces a stylish new snapper: the FinePix Z200fd

Fujifilm today announced the launch of the 10 Megapixel FinePix Z200fd, the latest addition to its popular range of ultra-slim, metal-bodied, high performance ccompact digital cameras.

Despite being only 19.8mm thick the FinePix Z200fd is packed with state-of-the-art technology including a 5x Fujinon optical zoom lens, Fujifilm’s acclaimed Face Detection technology, intelligent red-eye removal and Dual Image Stabilisation, as well as two brand new self-timer modes: Couple Timer and Group Timer.

It’s all about the timing
The FinePix Z200fd features two brand new self-timer modes: Couple Timer and Group Timer. Working in combination with Face Detection technology, the self-timer automatically sets off after the camera has detected faces in a frame. The camera won’t take the photo if one of the faces is out the frame, so there’s no need to worry about someone being missed out of the shot!

Cheek-to-cheek
The Couple Timer mode cleverly detects two faces in a frame and will automatically release the shutter button as the two faces come closer together. The Couple Timer mode has three settings so users can set the timer to detect faces at various distances, whether they are standing side by side, or cheek-to-cheek.

The more the merrier
Group shots have never been so easy. The FinePix Z200fd’s Group Timer mode can detect up to four faces in a frame and automatically sets the timer to take that precious shot. Using the Face Detection button, the user can select the number of faces in the frame, from one to four, and the camera will only take the shot once all the specified number of faces are in the frame.

Cutting edge design and packed with features
The FinePix Z200fd houses powerful features in an elegant, metal body. This stylish camera comes in four attractive colours – a black and red combination, pink, silver and black – and has a unique diagonally sliding lens cover with a snazzy ‘Z’ logo that illuminates when the camera is switched on. Its slim design means that it can fit easily into a cluttered handbag or jean pocket so your camera is always to the ready.

Beneath its trendy exterior, the FinePix Z200fd boasts an impressive Fujinon 5x zoom lens (33-165mm equivalent), Dual Image Stabilisation, which combines CCD-shift and high ISO to combat the problem of camera shake and blurry images, and ISO sensitivity up to 1600. There’s also Fujifilm’s Intelligent Flash system, which sets the power output to achieve natural foreground illumination with balanced background exposure for more natural looking photos. For users who cannot decide whether to use a flash or not, Natural Light plus Flash mode takes two photos in quick succession, one with flash and one without. Both photos are then displayed side by side for quick comparison allowing users to decide which one they prefer.

The FinePix Z200fd makes perfect portraits simple with Fujifilm’s Face Detection technology. Face Detection works by triangulating eyes and mouth, using an algorithm to optimise focus, white balance and exposure for up to ten faces in a single frame, and is not confused by spectacles. In addition, the automatic red-eye removal feature can find and instantly correct any red eye from every face in the frame, saving the user the time consuming process of doing it afterwards on the computer.

To share and share-alike
The FinePix Z200fd is a perfect social camera. In addition to the Face Detection technology and people-friendly self-timers modes, the FinePix Z200fd features a Blog mode, which resizes images for easy upload to social networking sites such as Facebook™, and an Auction mode, which combines up to four photos in one frame – ideal for eBay™ users. What’s more, the FinePix Z200fd’s IrSimple™ function allows consumers to share photos from one IrSimple™ device to another.

Real Photo Technology
Driving the FinePix Z200fd is Fujifilm’s unique Real Photo Technology (RPT). The guiding principles behind RPT are simple; to set the highest possible standards for overall image quality, to expand digital photography opportunities and to give users fewer wasted shots.

With the human eye as the ideal, Real Photo Technology cameras are designed from the ground up to capture ‘real’ photographs with stunning quality – giving users the power to capture the moment exactly as the eye sees it, no matter how challenging the shooting conditions.

Adrian Clarke, Fujifilm’s Director of Photo Products, said: "The FinePix Z200fd is the perfect ‘social’ camera for the user looking for a combination of classic styling and cutting edge features. We believe that consumers wanting a super-slim camera shouldn’t have to make compromises on image quality or features, and with the FinePix Z200fd they don’t."

FinePix Z200fd features at a glance

  • Ultra slim (19.8mm thick) styling with two-tone all metal body
  • 5x optical zoom lens (33-165mm equivalent)
  • Dual Image Stabilisation
  • Face Detection Technology and automatic intelligent red-eye removal
  • 52MB internal memory plus xD-Picture card, SD and SDHC compatibility
  • ISO 100-1600 sensitivity at full resolution
  • Wide view 2.7-inch high resolution screen
  • Playback features including Face Zoom and Micro Thumbnail (100 shot) view
  • IR Communication (IR simple™)
  • Blog mode and Auction mode
  • VGA movie capture of 30 frames per second with sound
  • New modes including Folder Select (categorise your photos using handy preset folders) and Illustration Mode.
  • PictBridge™ compatible for direct printing without a PC

Fujifilm Finepix z200fd front

Finepix z200fd back

Canon EOS 40D Review at DP Review

DP Review has reviewed the Canon EOS 40D a 10.1 megapixel (CMOS sensor) DSLR with 6.5 frames per second shooting, a new Autofocus system with 9 cross type sensors, 3.0 inch LCD with Live View, DIGIC III image processor, EOS integrated cleaning system, Spot Metering, and a larger, brighter view finder and quieter mechanism than it’s predecessor.

They write – “When I first started using the EOS 40D a simple description came to mind: that this is a ‘well sorted camera’. It feels well rounded – the result of years of evolutionary improvement, it delivers in almost every area, and it inspires confidence. From a usability point of view the viewfinder feels larger, ergonomics are good, the user interface is clear and easy to learn, there are no in-use performance issues, metering and auto-focus show good consistency and the results speak for themselves; colorful (yet accurate) detailed images with low noise even at high sensitivities.”

Canon EOS 40D

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Sony Alpha A200 Review at Trusted Reviews

TrustedReviews has reviewed the Sony Alpha A200 an entry level digital SLR camera featuring a 10.2 megapixel (CCD) APS image sensor, 2.7 inch LCD Clear Photo LCDTM screen (230,000 pixels), and ISO range of 100 to 3200, built in super steady shot and a burst mode of 3 frames per second to the full capacity of the card that it is using when shooting in JPEG (and for a burst of 6 frames in RAW).

They write: “..the A200 is a definite improvement over the A100. As with most DSLRs the A200 starts up in well under a second, and shuts down again almost instantly on power-off. The AF system is now much faster and more accurate, and is noticeably better at locking on quickly to low-contrast or poorly lit subjects… It ticks all the right boxes, with an attractive and easy-to-use design, brisk performance and good picture quality. Its feature set will leave advanced amateurs and semi-pros wanting more, but that’s pretty much the idea of an entry-level camera. For the price it offers a comprehensive package for the first-time user with very few problems.”

Sony Alpha A200

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Sony Alpha A350 Review at Imaging Resource

Imaging Resource has reviewed the Sony Alpha A350 a 14.2 megapixel (CCD) DSLR with a 2.7 inch tilting LCD and live view.

They write: “ISO 3,200 is good as well, despite the early noise suppression in RAW that many enthusiasts will distrust. The printed results at 3,200 are good enough for a good 5×7, which is what most consumers will want. That’s pretty rare from any camera… the Sony A350 is easy to recommend to just about any consumer photographer wanting higher quality in their images. Using the Sony A350 is a convenient and easy way to learn more about photography, and get great shots of the family to boot.”

Sony Alpha A350

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Canon EOS 450D / Digital Rebel XSi Review at Outback Photo

Outback Photo has reviewed the Canon Digital Rebel XSi / EOS 450D which features a 12.2 megapixel CMOS image sensor, DIGIC III Image Processor, 3.5 fps continous shooting, 9-point AF system, 3.0 inch LCD with Live View, and optical image stabilization.

They write: “ISO 100-200 very smooth with hardly any noise. ISO 400 is very good too. ISO 800 shows a bit more noise but still excellent. Even ISO 1600 it looks like most digicams at ISO 100-200. With this excellent noise behavior we wonder why Canon left ISO 3200 out”

Canon EOS 450D

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Sony Alpha A200 Review at CNET

CNET has reviewed the Sony Alpha A200 an entry level digital SLR camera featuring a 10.2 megapixel (CCD) APS image sensor, 2.7 inch LCD Clear Photo LCDTM screen (230,000 pixels), and ISO range of 100 to 3200, built in super steady shot and a burst mode of 3 frames per second to the full capacity of the card that it is using when shooting in JPEG (and for a burst of 6 frames in RAW).

They write: “The good: In-body image stabilization; supports wireless flash. The bad: Loud; Sony doesn’t have a stable of inexpensive lenses for consumers; oddly located, proprietary USB connector. The bottom line: The Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 is a solid entry-level dSLR that doesn’t really stand out in its very competitive field.”

Sony Alpha A200

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Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ5 Review at Photoxels

Photoxels have reviewed the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 a 9.1 megapixel (CCD) digital camera with 10x optical zoom (28mm – 280mm), 3.0 inch LCD with 460,000 pixel resolution and 20 megabytes of internal memory.

They write: “Performance is very good for an ultra zoom: startup and shot to shot times are about 2 sec. With a contrasty subject and good lighting, there is no practical shutter lag and autofocus is quite fast and precise…. If you are looking for one digital camera that has pretty much everything you need for snapshooting, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 is a well-designed ultra zoom digital camera that will make many point-and-shoot photographers happy ”

Panasonic Lumix TZ5

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