Independent lens make Sigma has launched a 18-200mm lens exclusively designed to be used on all Nikon digital SLRs with an APS-C size imaging sensor.

Billed as ‘compact and lightweight’ - and boasting a built-in AF motor – the 395g newcomer measures 75.6mm in length.

Features include two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) elements and aspherical lenses designed to minimise aberrations. Read the rest of this entry »

Olympus Stylus 790 SW
• Desire a quality 7.1 MP resolution point-and-shoot digital camera.
• Camera must be able to take bumps, knocks and falls… and keep working, even in cold temperatures.
• Camera must be weather and waterproof (up to 3m / 10ft).
• Want a compact, JeansPocket™ Certified digital camera (small fashion purse, jeans pocket).
• Have no problem with small buttons and dial as long as they are precise and responsive.
• Able to hold a small camera steady and gentle with shutter release.
• Like the WOW! Factor: this camera makes a fashion statement.

The third generation Olympus SW digital camera, the Olympus Stylus 790 SW, gains a more elegant design in its all-metal brushed silver compact body which is JeansPocket™ Certified. It basically retains its “toughness”: it is shockproof and can internally withstand a 1.5m (5 ft) fall; is waterproof up to 3m (10 ft); and, is freezeproof to -10°C (14°F).

The Stylus 790 SW can be used at the beach, boating on the lake or ocean, hiking, skiing, or just traveling — without worrying about bumps, knocks, rain, mud, sand or dust!

This camera is targeted to Point-and-Shoot photographers, has 7.1MP resolution and a 3x optical zoom. AUTO and 24 Scene Modes simplify shooting. More advanced photographers can also switch to the Programmed AE (P) mode which provides control over ISO (ISO 80 to 1600), WB, exposure compensation, and light metering. Digital Image Stabilization favours a high ISO and fast shutter speed to reduce or eliminate blurring caused by camera shake and/or subject movement (though the use of high ISOs introduce noise and/or loss of image detail).

The large 2.5-in. LCD monitor has a high 230,000 pixels resolution which, together with a fast refresh rate, makes for a clear and smooth display. The LCD monitor gains up in low-light to permit easier composition.
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The Fujifilm FinePix S8000fd is Fujifilm’s first ultra zoom digital camera with image stabilization. It has many of the features beginner to serious amateur photographers could wish for: very good to excellent image quality, a 18x optical wide-angle zoom with an effective sensor-shift image stabilization, and flexible exposure control.

The new sensor-shift image stabilizer allows hand holding shots at the long focal lengths and slower shutter speeds. The wide-angle makes this a great camera for landscape and large group shots.

There is full exposure flexibility, so if you are a beginner, you can start with Auto, Scene and Program AE exposure modes, then move on to Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, and full Manual modes when you are ready to learn and explore. Switching from mode to mode, and using the different options available is intuitive.

The Fujifilm S8000fd has good performance for an ultra zoom. A large 2.5 in. LCD monitor makes focusing and composition easy. Both the high-resolution EVF and LCD gain up very well in low-light situations. An AF-assist Lamp helps achieve focus in low-light. The on-board flash is quite good with a 8.8 m reach. Read the rest of this entry »

The Nikon Coolpix P5100 is identical to the Coolpix P5000 with a slight increase to 12.1MP resolution. Many of you will like this relatively compact digital camera that offers total exposure flexibility in an attractive and durable body. The design is clean with lots of controls that make the camera intuitive to use. The P5100 has one of the best grip on a compact digital camera. The textured and almost all-black finish give the camera a professional look.Nikon P5100 User Profile

• Desire a 12.1MP resolution digital camera with very good image quality at ISO 64.
• Want Image Stabilization to prevent blurred pictures due to camera shake.
• Want an easy-to-use point-and-shoot with manual controls.
• Want full exposure flexibility, plus advanced features.
• Want a digital camera for learning and growing in digital photography.

Like on the P5000, advanced functions include Manual AF area frame and corresponding Spot AF area metering, auto exposure bracketing, manual WB and Best Shot Selector. An effective Vibration Reduction (VR) technology (”Image Stabilization”) allows handholding the camera at slow shutter speeds. Read the rest of this entry »

This is all-purpose digital SLR with live view LCD and professional quality underwater housing system. At this year’s PMA — the Mecca of shows for professional photographers — Olympus product manager Sally Smith Clemens pointed out that in the digital era, unlike in the olden days of film, cameras change very quickly. “In electronics, the technology is constantly evolving, and we want to bring the new innovations to our customers as soon as we can,” Smith Clemens said in an interview with USA Today.

And things indeed change quickly. No sooner did we complete a detailed review of the Olympus Evolt E-330 that the company revealed its 10-megapixel Evolt E-410 and E-510 models. Does that mean the E-330 is already obsolete because its maximum image resolution is 7.5 megapixel instead of 10? Not really. Newer is (almost) always better, but we found the E-330 to be an exemplary digital SLR, one that worked beautifully, took great shots, and, best of all, gave us a chance to test it not only for everyday shooting, but also underwater, in full scuba gear. Above you can see how substantial the waterproof housing is. Yes, we probably took more pictures in the depths of sinkholes, caverns, and rivers than we took on the surface. That’s with the extensive, professional-quality PT-E02 underwater housing, of course, and we’ll get into that.

As is, the Evolt-330 is a formidable camera. It has most of the same technologies used in the just released E-410 and E-510 models, and now that the new cameras are out, the E-330 may come down in price (it was originally more expensive than the two new dSLR offerings).
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For a long time, if you wanted a “big zoom” camera, you had to buy a bulky ultra zoom model. Things have started to change though, with ultra-compact, high zoom cameras from Canon, Casio, Pentax, and Sharp now available.

What’s in the Box?

The Exilim EX-V8 has an average bundle. Inside the box you’ll find:

* The 8.1 effective Megapixel Exilim EX-V8 digital camera
* NP-50 lithium-ion rechargeable battery
* AC adapter
* Camera dock
* Wrist strap
* USB cable
* A/V cable
* CD-ROM featuring Casio Photo Loader with Hot Album, Photo Transport, and YouTube Uploader
* Fold-out quick start guide, 26 page basic manual, plus full manual on CD-ROM
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The Pentax T30 is an ultra-compact digital camera that has a touchscreen for menu navigation and image manipulation instead of buttons. From the front it looks like any other modern, elegant camera, but turn it around and you quickly see that this is a totally different animal.

The Pentax T-Series is unique insofar as virtually the entire interface is touch instead of using the conventional hardware buttons and controls. There is a huge 3-inch LCD with a touchscreen (see picture below) but all other controls are gone except for a menu button and a record/playback toggle. Now why would Pentax do that just when the industry has finally settled on a more or less standard button and control arrangement? And how difficult is it to figure it all out? Those are good questions. But keep in mind that the T30 is already the third touchscreen model Pentax offers. The T10 and T20 were very similar, so there must be enough demand for something bold and different to rapidly evolve the T-Series.
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