Photography

Canon on Tuesday took the wraps off of ten new PowerShot digital cameras. The lineup includes Wi-Fi models, a new rugged digital cam, and one with a 20x zoom (to name a few).

Canon PowerShot ELPH 530 HS

First up is the flagship of the ELPH line - the PowerShot ELPH 530 HS. Measuring in at a mere .78 inches thick, this Wi-Fi enabled camera packs a 10-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, DIGIC 5 image processor, and 12x optical zoom into its tiny body.

The ELPH 530 HS sports a 3.2-inch LCD touch screen and also records 1080p Full HD video. Additional features include Smart AUTO scene selection with 58 scenes, Face ID for up to 12 registered subjects and Intelligent Image Stabilization (IS).

The PowerShot ELPH 530 HS will be available in April 2012 in black or white for $349.99.Read more

February is in full swing, which means it's time to announce X-Rite's schedule of webinars for professional and serious amateur photographers. Four free webinars are offered this month – Editing Portraits in Photoshop & Getting Prints Back that Match Your Display!, Image Edits and Enhancements in Lightroom 3, For the Birds! Nature Photography with Maxis Gamez and Edit & Enhance Landscape Images in Photoshop – all which will help photographers gain new confidence and learn quick, easy and powerful ways to enhance their color workflow.

"This month, X-Rite hosts four completely new Webinars that will surely appeal to a range of photographers looking to improve their photography as well as color management skills," said Mark Rezzonico, vice president, X-Rite Photo Marketing. "And we're especially pleased to co-sponsor with Nik Software, professional nature photographer and bird specialist Maxis Gamez's nature photography Webinar."

February Webinar Schedule:

Thursday, February 9, 2012, 11:00 AM EST and 1:00 PM EST
Editing Portraits in Photoshop & Getting Prints Back that Match Your Display!

Spend an hour with host Joe Brady learning how to edit portrait photographs to create images clients will love. In this free webinar sponsored by X-Rite, Joe will share some of his favorite techniques, tips and tricks for adding shape, direction and finish to portraits. From simple blemish removal to complex reshaping of body parts, these step-by-step tutorials will enhance your Photoshop skills and improve your editing quality and speed.Read more

When you position your camera vertically, getting the perfect shot can mean a stretch of the fingers to the shutter button when not holding the camera horizontally. PENTAX has the solution with its new Optio VS20 digital compact camera. The 16-megapixel camera packs an accelerometer, which will flip your image to the correct orientation and a second shutter release and zoom lever on the topmost side of the body for easier snapping. The company also thoughtfully included a second tripod mount, so there's no fussing with your stand required.

Other features include a 3-inch LCD, automatic picture modes including fish-eye. It'll capture 1280 x 720 movies with its independent video button (also recording in fish-eye) and variable aspect ratio.

Unlike most point and shoot, the two shutter release buttons - one on the top for landscape shots and one on the side for those portrait snaps - is a pretty useful invention. That said, don't mistake the VS20 as a one trick pony. It boasts a massive 20x optical zoom, which is very unorthodox for a camera of this size.Read more

FUJIFILM unveiled the X-Pro1 interchangeable lens digital camera at CES last month, and now we know just how much this bad boy will cost. Available at the end of February 2012, you can pick up the FUJIFILM X-Pro1 (body only) for a hefty $1,699.95.

The FUJIFILM X-Pro1 boasts a brand new, custom developed 16MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor, new color filter array and Fujifilm's EXR Processor Pro technology which work together, as the company says, "to deliver superlative image quality that will rival currently available mid and high-end DSLR models."

The camera also features a new 2nd Generation Hybrid Multi Viewfinder and three prime interchangeable FUJINON lenses – the 18mm (27mm equivalent) f/2.0, 35mm (53mm equivalent) f/1.4 and 60mm (90mm equivalent) f/2.4. Read more

PENTAX on Thursday announced its second interchangeable lens camera – the K-01. Designed by Marc Newson, the PENTAX K-01 features a 16MP APS-C CMOS sensor and is compatible with most of the lenses the company has ever made – and that's a bunch, folks – we're talking over 25+ million K-mount lenses!

This mirrorless camera also features a 3-inch LCD with 920,000 dots, sensor-shift image stabilization, it can shoot at up to 6 frames per second, and has an ISO range of 100-25600 for noise-free imaging in almost any lighting. In addition, the K-01 captures Full HD 1080p video at 30 FPS with h.264 compression (60 FPS at 720p). What you won't find on the K-01 is an optical viewfinder or quick-return mirror – the elimination of these components gave Marc Newson more freedom when it came to the camera body's design.

PENTAX is also releasing a new lens for the K-01. The smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS interchangeable lens is said to be the world's thinnest interchangeable lens (as of February 1, 2012). The PENTAX K-01 will be available in black, white and Newson's signature yellow colors, and it features the designer's autograph logo stamp on the bottom of each camera. Read more

Consumers shopping for a new digital camera are sure to find what they need with Nikon's introduction today of not one but NINE new COOLPIX cameras that will soon be coming our way. These new digital cams come packed with features to please everyone from the casual shooter to the advanced photographer. Read on for more information on the new COOLPIX models.

COOLPIX P510

Great for the outdoor photographer, the COOLPIX P510 features a 42x Wide-Angle Zoom-NIKKOR Glass Lens (24-1000mm) with advanced optical VR image stabilization. An additional zoom control is located on the side of the lens barrel as well, for added stability.

Featuring a 16.1-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, the P510 offers high-speed continuous shooting (can capture five images at full resolution in about one second), a super-fast autofocus (AF), and also comes with built-in GPS capabilities.

The COOLPIX P510 shoots video in Full HD (1080p) with stereo sound and the expansive zoom range can also be used during recording. In addition, shooting at odd angles is made easier thanks to its 3-inch tilting vari-angle LCD display. Read more

Panasonic on Tuesday announced a slew of new LUMIX digital cameras, ranging from an entry level rugged model to a top-of-the-line rugged camera with GPS and Full HD recording – they even unveiled a new super-slim LUMIX boasting a 20x optical zoom lens. Read on for details on the new models…

First up is the 16.1-megapixel LUMIX TS20, Panasonic's entry-level rugged camera. This baby is waterproof to 16 feet (5 meters), shockproof to 5 feet (1.5 meters), dustproof and freezeproof to temperatures as low as 14 degrees F.

The LUMIX TS20 features a 2.7-inch Intelligent LCD display with High Angle mode and includes a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 4x optical zoom (35mm equivalent: 25-100mm) that can be used for still shots and video recording. An Intelligent Zoom function extends the zoom to 8x equivalent. The TS20 shoots HD video in 1280 x 720p at 30p in MP4 format and a dedicated video record button makes it easy to switch between still photos and videos. Read more

Sony unveiled three new compact Cyber-shot digital cameras this week - the DSC-TX200V, DSC-WX70 and DSC-WX50 – all three featuring a high-resolution "Exmor R" CMOS sensor and an improved BIONZ image processor for better low-light shooting.

The new Cyber-shot TX200V features an 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS sensor, which Sony says is the highest-resolution currently offered in the point and shoot market, along with a new BIONZ processor. Both work together to create images/videos with extremely low noise. The camera offers fast AutoFocus speeds of approximately 0.13 seconds in daytime and 0.25 seconds in low-light, and features a new reinforced glass design with a 3.3-inch Xtra Fine TruBlack OLED wide touch-screen.

This beauty is also waterproof (up to 5m or approx.16 feet), dustproof and freezeproof (up to 14oF), and features a "Photo Creativity" interface that lets you adjust creative settings for custom-styled photos.

The other two new Cyber-shots - the WX70 and WX50 - both include a 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS sensor, with the WX70 featuring a 3.0-inch 921k dot LCD touch-screen and the WX50 featuring a 2.7-inch LCD screen.Read more

PENTAX added a new compact superzoom digital camera to its arsenal this week – the Optio VS20 featuring a 20X optical zoom lens (28-560mm equivalent). This camera also has a unique design – it features a shutter release button on both the top and side of the camera which gives it added stability at long optical zooms, as well as a more comfortable grip when shooting portraits, high-rise buildings, sports action, and panorama frames. There's even a vertical tripod socket for stabilized vertical support.

Additional features:

• A 16.0 megapixel CCD sensor with mechanical sensor shift Shake Reduction for stabilized, blur-free images even in low lighting
• A large 3.0 inch, wide view (approx. 170 degrees) LCD for easy image capture and review
• Auto Picture mode that automatically chooses the best camera settings
• Triple Shake Reduction (SR) for sharp, blur-free images and video
• A new Handheld Night Snap mode captures images with minimal blur and noise in low light settings
• Other new scene modes including Fish-eye, Sketch modes and a Stretch filter for more creative options

Read more