Photography

Canon just announced the new 18-megapixel EOS 7D Digital SLR camera featuring fast eight fps continuous shooting, Full HD video recording with variable frame rates and manual exposure control. The EOS 7D DSLR is not just an update of an older model, it is a new product with features never before seen in a Canon camera.

The EOS 7D features a 3.0-inch Clear View II LCD screen with 920,000 dot/VGA resolution, an 18-megapixel Canon CMOS sensor and Dual DIGIC 4 Imaging Processors with the ability to freeze fast motion in high-resolution with eight fps continuous shooting up to 126 Large JPEGS using a UDMA CF card. And with a range of ISO speed settings from 100-6400 (expandable to 12,800), low-light images can be taken with or without flash. Full HD video can be captured at 1920 x 1080 resolution with selectable frame rates of 24p, 25p or 30p.

New features of the EOS 7D include a new 19-point Autofocus system, new Canon iFCL Metering System (Intelligent Focus, Color, Luminance), new Intelligent Viewfinder, and a RAW/JPEG toggle button for fast dual-format shooting. Not only that, the camera has a built-in Dual Axis Electronic Level, built-in Integrated Speedlite Transmitter for control of multiple off-camera EOS Speedlites without needing an external transmitter, as well as a new Intelligent Macro Tracking function to reduce blur. The new Quick Control Button opens a menu on the camera's LCD screen to quickly adjust all camera settings including AF modes. Read more

Roxio Creator 2010 is an upgrade focused on the process of capturing, editing and enjoying personal video, including high-definition content. Roxio Creator 2010 now offers automatic smart encoding to dramatically decrease rendering times while maintaining optimum video quality, and leverages ATI Stream and NVIDIA CUDA technologies to make project encoding up to five times faster. Creator 2010 also adds a range of Blu-ray Disc (BD) features including AVCHD Archiving, BD-RE on-disc editing, and complements its comprehensive Blu-ray Disc authoring capabilities with a new array of high-definition motion menus.

Roxio Creator 2010 makes it easier to enjoy video on a range of mobile devices with a newly revised output display that enables users to quickly transfer videos that are automatically optimized for the display characteristics and playback features of their particular device. Adding to Creator 2010's versatile video capabilities is a Web video capture feature that allows you to grab streaming video, such as user-generated content on YouTube, for viewing offline on portable devices and DVD players.Read more

Casio announced today that they have added two more digital cameras to their EXILIM line, the EXILIM Zoom Z280 and EX-Z33. The folks over at Casio have certainly been busy…after all; the EX-Z450 and EX-Z90 were released only two weeks ago. The new EXILIM models are said to be aimed toward those new to digital photography.

The new 12.1 megapixel EXILIM Zoom EX-Z280 has a wide-angle 26 mm 4X optical zoom lens and comes with features such as CCD-shift image stabilization, Face Detection, and an Easy Mode that helps new digital camera owners by having a simplified menu screen. The camera also has Casio's Dynamic Photo feature which lets you add animated clip art to any picture by using only the camera (no additional software is needed). The pictures can then be printed, emailed or posted on social networking sites. Read more

Sony today introduced the new full-frame alpha DSLR-A850 camera and a new 28-75mm F2.8 lens, geared towards the pro photographer. Almost identical to the flagship a900, the a850 has a 24.6-megapixel, 35-mm full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor and fast image processing with dual BIONZ processing engines. It also offers high-speed continuous shooting of 24.6 megapixel images at up to three frames per second.

Other features include:

• Intelligent Preview function: "grabs" a RAW preview image, displays it on the screen, and lets you fine tune it without using up memory on the camera's memory card
• Autofocus system: nine sensors with 10 assist points for improved tracking of moving subjects. A center dual cross sensor comprised of two horizontal and two vertical line sensors as well as a dedicated f/2.8 sensor are included for better precision when using fast-aperture lenses
• SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization: the camera achieves an anti-shake effect equivalent to shutter speeds faster by 2.5 to 4 stops. The anti-shake system stabilizes all Sony, Minolta and Konica-Minolta compatible lenses even wide angle or large aperture lenses.

The camera also has HDMI output and Photo TV HD mode, and includes dedicated slots for Memory Stick PRO Duo, Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo, HX series and CompactFlash media.Read more

Canon just introduced the new SELPHY ES40 Compact Photo Printer. This portable printer has ink and paper in one cartridge and prints color or black and white images in either credit card or postcard sizes. But what makes this portable printer different is it talks to you! It has a voice guidance system that gives you step-by-step instructions for printing and adding graphics to images without having to read the manual. Because, really, who reads the manual anyway?

The printer also features a, large 3.5-inch LCD screen, Easy Scroll Wheel and a Creative Print function that lets you add things like stamps, frames, and effects to your pictures. Its Portrait Image Optimize feature has face detection, backlight correction and noise reduction, as well.

The SELPHY ES40 doesn't need to be connected to a computer to print photos. You can print directly from your memory card, camera or Bluetooth device. It will be available in September 2009 with an MSRP of $149.99.

Not only did Canon announce six new PowerShot digital cameras today, they also unveiled their latest VIXIA HD Camcorder. The new VIXIA HF S11 Dual Flash Memory Camcorder features 64GB of internal flash memory, advanced HD features and professional-level manual controls.

The VIXIA HF S11 features a Genuine Canon HD Video Lens, an 8.59-megapixel Full HD CMOS Image Sensor, Canon DIGIC DV III Image Processor, Canon Face Detection, Instant AutoFocus, and the ability to record in 24p Cinema Mode or 30p Progressive Mode. Also, the VIXIA HF S11 has manual gain control limits and manual focus controls, usually only found in professional camcorders. The VIXIA HF S11 also takes 8.0 megapixel photos. And with its huge 64GB internal flash drive; you can record up to 24 hours of HD content. Another option is recording to a removable SDHC memory card (not included). Read more

Casio today announced two new EXILIM digital cameras, the EXILIM Zoom EX-Z450 and EXILIM Zoom EX-Z90.

Both cameras feature Casio's Intelligent AF feature which automatically detects even non-human photo subjects to determine the focus and exposure area. Taking pictures of Fido, or even your trip to the mountains, can be done easier than ever thanks to this new function.

The cameras also include Casio's Dynamic Photo function, which lets you easily cut out images of a moving subject and combine them with a different still image with just a single shot (as long as the background is flat and in one color). In the past, you had to take photos twice, having separate photos with and without the subject, while keeping the camera in the same position.

The EXILIM Zoom EX-Z450 features 12.1 megapixels, 3.0-inch LCD monitor with 230,400 dots of high resolution, a wide-angle 28 mm 4X optical zoom lens, HD Movie function, CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism, Landscape Mode, a Makeup Mode, and has a battery life lasting about 550 shots on a single full charge. The EX-Z450 will be available in October and have an MSRP of $199.99. It will be available in just one color...champagne. Read more

Not only did Samsung introduce a new Wi-Fi digital camera with Geotagging yesterday, they also unveiled two new DualView Cameras, the TL225 and TL220. These cameras feature Dual LCD screens on the front and back, allowing the photographer to be the subject of the photo. Gone are the days of awkwardly holding the camera in the air to take a self-portrait.

Both the TL225 and TL220 have a 1.5" LCD on the front of the cameras so you can easily take a self-portrait and actually see what the photo will look like! With a 3.5" wide, 1,152K resolution touch-screen LCD, the new TL225 has one of the highest resolution screens available on a digital camera. This 12.2 mega-pixel camera also features a 27mm wide-angle Schneider KREUZNACH lens with 4.6x optical zoom, for a wider shooting range from a shorter distance. Read more

Samsung today announced the new CL65, a 12.2 megapixel digital camera that features built-in geotagging, Bluetooth, DLNA compatibility and Wi-Fi.

With built-in geotagging, the CL65 displays the city on the camera's LCD screen, showing the location where you're taking a photo, as well as a reference for when you are reviewing the images. It also includes embedded PC software package 'intelli-studio', so you can view, edit and manage pictures on the camera before uploading them.

Thanks to Bluetooth 2.0, you can wirelessly send your photos to other compatible devices. And with a Wi-Fi connection, you can email photos directly from your camera and upload them to social networking sites. The CL65 also has DLNA connectivity, so you can wirelessly connect to other DLNA devices in your networked home, such as an HDTV, to view images.Read more

Eye-Fi recently announced the Geo card, a new wireless SD memory card exclusive to Apple, that allows users to automatically upload photos from a digital camera to a computer and offers lifetime geotagging service. Available now in all Apple stores and online, the Eye-Fi Geo card is the latest addition to the Eye-Fi product family and is built to seamlessly integrate with Mac products and applications, including iPhoto '09 and '08, the iPhone and MobileMe.

The Eye-Fi Geo wirelessly uploads photos straight to a folder on your computer or Apple's iPhoto gallery where they arrive automatically geotagged with location information about where the image was captured.Read more