Digital Camera Makers Compete With Color

Colored cameras were all over PMA this year. The colored point-and-shoot camera trend began a year or so ago but really exploded this year at the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) and PMA tradeshows. All the camera manufacturers offer brightly colored compact cameras and there appears to be a competition for the most variety and funkiest colors. I haven’t actually counted, but Olympus seemed to be offering the most colors at the show. And even more conservative companies like Nikon and Canon are jumping in with more colors than they have in the past.

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Olympus Expands Waterproof and Weatherproof Digital Camera Lines

Olympus continues to build the most outdoor-worthy compact digital cameras available. There are two new additions to their waterproof, shockproof, crushproof, and freezeproof Stylus SW line – the 8-megapixel Stylus 850 SW and the 10.1-megapixel Olympus Stylus 1030 SW. I reviewed the first Stylus SW model, the 720 SW (see my Olympus Stylus 720 SW review) a couple of years ago and was very impressed. Although the Stylus 770 SW was released last year, the 1030 SW is the first significant performance leap, in my opinion. The original 720 SW had a 7.1-megapixel sensor and image quality was reasonable, but not awesome. The Olympus compact cameras I tested in 2007 had noticeably improved image quality – especially at high ISO settings. So a 10.1-megapixel Stylus SW digital camera is pretty exciting. I spend a lot of time taking pictures in the outdoors, in all conditions and the Stylus SW cameras literally have no competition when it comes to versatility and durability.

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After Nikon threw down the gauntlet with the D300/D3 last year, it was exciting to think how other manufacturers would respond. In particular, I was very curious about what companies like Pentax/Samsung, Sony, Panasonic, and Olympus were going to announce in 2008. Could they “keep up” with Nikon’s big splash?

To oversimplify, last year Canon fired a significant volley in the ongoing image quality (IQ) wars with the Canon 1D Mark III’s Highlight Tone Priority and 14-bit processing. (We’re just talking IQ here, not other features.) Nikon came back–and then some–with the D300/D3 combo. You had to wonder what the other companies were cooking up in their respective R&D labs.

Now we know: the 15.1 MP (14.6 effective MP) APS-C sized Samsung CMOS found in the K20D/GX-20, and Sony’s full-frame ambition (see Photo-John’s Sony report).

Cutting to the chase here regarding Pentax/Samsung, I didn’t get my hands on a working production K20D/GX-20, but I did grab a few shots with a GX-20 on display at Samsung’s booth. But more on that in a moment.

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Casio EXILIM Pro EX-F1 High-Speed Digital Camera Preview

Casio’s Exilim Pro EX-F1 was introduced at CES, in early January. Popular Mechanics magazine named it as one their top twenty products at that show. But PMA was our first chance to see it. And even though we posted the press release when it was announced, I didn’t really understand what the EX-F1 was about until I saw it in person at PMA. And it’s a very interesting camera, indeed.

Although the Exilim Pro EX-F1 looks like just another superzoom digital camera, it’s not. Casio didn’t want to simply add a new camera to one of the many digital camera categories available. They wanted to create their own niche. And they really did that with the Pro EX-F1.

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Leica M8 Upgrade Program

Leica is introducing an M8 digital rangefinder upgrade program that will ensure an M8 camera investment remains as current as possible. They’re calling it “an investment in the future.” This new program was introduced at the 2008 PMA tradeshow in Las Vegas, Nevada. The first upgrade upgrades the shutter and the LCD cover. The current M8 shutter will be replaced with a quieter unit that produces less vibration. And the LCD cover will be replaced with a high-end watch-quality scratch-resistant sapphire glass cover. In order to get your M8 upgraded, you register at www.leica-camera.com and purchase an upgrade certificate for 1200 Euros. Limited quantities of the certificates will be available.

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It’s a dirty job but Rick’s gotta do it…

Nikon & Canon Add Image Stabilization To DSLR Kit Lenses

Nikon and Canon are offering new image-stabilized kits lenses for the entry-level digital SLRs they introduced at this year’s PMA tradeshow. On the surface this may not seem like anything more than the two camera makers adding value to their most affordable DSLR offerings. However, I think there’s more happening than what we see on the surface. For a while now I’ve been touting the real value of image stabilization for photographers of all types. And Pentax, Sony, and Olympus all offer competitively priced digital SLRs with image stabilization built into the camera body. It would be a mistake for Nikon and Canon to ignore those cameras. And obviously, they haven’t. With the introduction of the Canon EOS Rebel XSi with the new, and the Nikon D60 and its , image stabilization has become a standard feature in entry-level digital SLRs.

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As you’d expect from Sony, this will tag and map video as well as stills.

Another time-synchronising GPS, where you carry the GPS receiver and it tags your images with the location based on comparing the clock of the GPS with the timestamp in your image.
Unlike the ATP GPS Photo-Finder this does not require you to set your camera time to UTC.

The location of images is found by matching the time, but there are two adjustments; firstly the time zone set on your camera’s clock, secondly the offset of your clock from the UTC time that GPS uses. A simple slider control allows +/- 5 minutes adjustement.

The difference from other GPS units I found at PMA this year is that this supports video, hardly a surprise for a Sony product I think.

The supplied Picture Motion Browser will display your track on a map, with a thumbnail of the video clip at each location ready for you to click and view.

This year doesn’t feel as busy or crowded, but the weekend could see more consumer walk-ins. And, no shortage of “celebrity” camera fodder…

Now out from under the glass, the huge 200-500mm f/2.8 zoom lens.

Powered by its own battery, and weighing in at 37lbs this lens isn’t likely to fit into my baggage allowance on the way back to the UK! Nor is it likely to please my bank manager at $25k.
This is one lens that you won’t be hand-holding at any shutter speed.

Oh yes, for the eagle-eyed among you it’s demonstrated in Canon mount.