Panasonic's DMC-FT1, TZ7, TZ6, FX550, and FX40 cameras outed by French authority

Panasonic's DMC-FT1, TZ7, TZ6, FX550, and FX40 cameras outed by French authority

We're not sure what's going in France at the moment but a bevy of new 12 megapixel Panasonic Lumix cameras have broken loose with or without corporate approval. Let's start with the rugged €399 DMC-FT1 (pictured). It features a 12 megapixel (1/2.33-inches) with a 28-128mm optically stabilized 4.6x zoom Leica lens and a 2.7-inch LCD. It'll survive drops of up to 1.5 meters, water to a depth of 3 meters, while surviving storage in the dustiest of apartments. It'll even shoot 720p video in 'AVCHD Lite' format... whatever that is. Next up are the €429 DMC-TZ7 and its £329 DMC-TZ6 little buddy. The TZ7 couples a 12x optically stabilized zoom (25-300mm) with the ability to shoot 720p HD video in that same AVCHD Lite format and reviewable on a biggie (but relatively common) 3-inch LCD.

Also outed is the €299 FX550 with 5x zoom, 720p video capture, and a 3-inch touchscreen buzzing along with haptic feedback. It'll even handle aperture and shutter priority modes in addition to manual exposure for those who wish to push their amateur credentials to the edge. The €299 DMC-FX40 dials things back with a skinnier chassis and smaller 2.5-inch LCD while ditching the manual stuff. Check 'em all in the gallery.

Gallery: Panasonic's DMC-FT1, TZ7, TZ6, FX550, and FX40 cameras outed in France

[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]

15.2 megapixel Sony Alpha A800 DSLR rumored

15.2 megapixel Sony Alpha A800 DSLR rumored

At this point, it's remarkably tough to say how legitimate these claims are, and while we'd wholeheartedly recommend digesting these details with a dose of NaCl, we'd be shortchanging you to not pass 'em on. According to a curious post over at Photofan.jp, Sony is readying an Alpha A800 DSLR (mockup pictured) with a 15.2 megapixel sensor, an ISO range of 200 to 12,800, a new high-speed sync flash, 23 total AF sensors, a fresh metering / AF sensor tracking system and inbuilt WiFi. We're told that the camera will be officially unveiled at PMA 2009 alongside a trio of new lenses -- thankfully, March (and our answer) is less than two months out.



[Via Photography Bay]

Panasonic Launches The DMC-LS85

Panasonic Launches The DMC-LS85

Panasonic released The new DMC-LS85 that powered by AA batteries. But don’t underestimate this one, because it has 8.1 megapixels, 4x optical zoom and an intelligent auto mode. This feature sets things like the ISO level, face detection, scene selection and compensates for any blur, all of which is activated by hitting the iA button on top of the camera.

[Dotgizmo]

Canon VIXIA HF S10 HD Camcorder

The Canon VIXIA HF S10 camcorder may be, perhaps, the closest thing to a high quality, all-in-one camcorder/camera device out on the market. Featuring Full HD resolution AVCHD recording at 24Mbps (the highest possible), the Canon VIXIA HF S10 can capture still photos at 6 megapixels while you are simultaneously recording video, or even 8 megapixels in still mode.

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Sony DSC-W220 Compact Digital Camera

Sony DSC-W220 Compact Digital Camera

Here is the latest compact digital camera from Sony. The Cyber-shot DSC-W220 is a 12.1MP with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4X optical zoom lens with 30 millimeter (equivalent) wide angle view, 15Mb of internal memory, a 2.7 inch display screen, and a HDMI out. What makes the digicam cool is that it adopts Intelligent Scene Recognition that automatically recognizes a total of five scenes including twilight portrait, twilight, twilight using a tripod, backlight and backlight portrait. Other features include the Optical SteadyShot image stabilization to minimize blur, and Sony’s Smile Shutter technology that automatically captures a smile the moment it happens. Available in silver, black, pink and blue, the Sony DSC-W220 retails for about $190.

[SonyStyle]

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 launches: world's first WiFi camera with web browser

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 launches: world's first WiFi camera with web browser

No clue why Sony didn't unleash this pretty boy with its litany of items yesterday, but maybe it just saw fit to give it some special attention. Thanks to the all-admitting FCC, we already had a good idea that this was coming, but now that it's finally here, we're still pretty jazzed. Set to rival Panny's Lumix DMC-TZ50, the DLNA-certified Cyber-shot DSC-G3 is the planet's first WiFi camera with a built-in web browser, enabling users to upload images and video directly to popular sharing sites wherever a WiFi connection is available. Of note, the camera comes with complimentary access to Sony's Easy Upload Home Page via AT&T WiFi, which provides easy entrance into Shutterfly, Picasa, YouTube, Photobucket and Dailymotion. Other specs include a 10 megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom and Face Detection. It's yours to grab right now for around $500.

Gallery: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G3 launches: world's first WiFi camera with web browser

(Via Engadget.)

Samsung debuts H-Series of HD camcorders, first with 64GB SSD

Samsung debuts H-Series of HD camcorders, first with 64GB SSD

You should've known that Canon wouldn't be able to introduce a new family of HD camcorders without Samsung hitting back with a crew of its own, so it's with that in mind that we present Samsung's H-Series. The HMX-H106, HMX-H105, HMX-H104, and HMX-H100 all arrive with Full HD sensors and a Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD lens with Optical Image Stabilization, but it's the H106 that really steals the show. Said device is the first Full HD camcorder to incorporate a 64GB SSD within, while the H105 and H104 offer up 32GB and 16GB SSDs, respectively; as for the H100, you'll be providing your own SD / SDHC card before anything gets recorded. The whole crew utilizes H.264 compression, meaning that the big daddy can hold 12 hours of footage at Full HD resolution. Mum's the word on pricing / availability, but the full release is waiting just after the break.

Gallery: Samsung debuts H-Series of HD camcorders, first with 64GB SSD

Continue reading Samsung debuts H-Series of HD camcorders, first with 64GB SSD

(Via Engadget.)

Kodak's rugged Zx1 handheld camcorder does 720p in the jungle

Kodak's rugged Zx1 handheld camcorder does 720p in the jungle

Kodak's 720p Zi6 has only been out for six months, but already we're seeing what's likely its beefed-up predecessor. The mighty Zx1 is debuting here at CES, and with it comes a 2-inch LCD monitor, easy upload to YouTube, 720p HD video capture at 60fps, an IP43-certified weather-resistant design and an SD / SDHC card slot that can understand media up to 32GB in size. All told, users can capture up to ten hours of high-def video, and the bundled HDMI cable makes showing off recent grabs as easy as pie. The Zx1 will arrive in five colors (pink, blue, yellow, red and black) and will include pre-charged AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries alongside a charger. We'll bet Creative and Pure Digital have a little something of their own to show off before this one lands in April for $149.95. Full release is (where else?) after the break.

Continue reading Kodak's rugged Zx1 handheld camcorder does 720p in the jungle

(Via Engadget.)