Digital Technology News, Camera, Camcorder and Cool Gadget Reviews

SONY is set to launch a 5-in screen intended to work with the company’s NEX and Alpha cameras.

The accessory is designed to allow users to monitor, capture and playback in a larger format via HDMI connection.

The CLM-V55 LCD screen is set to go on sale in March  and is expected to cost $399.

Designed with the NEX-VG10 video camera in mind, the shaded screen is also able to take over the job of any camera that features an HDMI output connection whether made by Sony or not.

Powered by a standard Sony Alpha battery, the screen comes with an adapter to allow it to be fitted to the Alpha hotshoe as well as one for a standard tripod socket. Read the rest of this entry »

The Apollo has an LCD screen of 240X400 resolution instead of AMOLED display and runs Android 2.1.

Snaps from the 3 megapixel camera are average for a phone but the lack of a flash dooms low-light shot.

Video can only be captured at 320X240, which is barely good enough for posting to YouTube.

Battery life is good, although it’s highly dependent on your use of WiFi, 3G data and GPS. Apollo I5801 supports up to 7.2 hours of talk-time.
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Sony’s H55 is one of the most recent additions to the mid-zoom compact genre. Its lens spans a focal range from a wideangle 25mm to an impressive 250mm at the long end, while a 14.1 MP CCD sensor and a 3-inch LCD screen also feature.

There is plenty of functionality tucked away in the menu options too, including Sweep Panorama, Smile Capture and a 720p HD movie recording mode.

The H55 bears more than a slight resemblance to Panasonic’s rival TZ range, but its grip is less defined and there are fewer direct controls. The small menu pad on the rear can be awkward to operate comfortably due to its size. Read the rest of this entry »

The CX4 is the latest advanced compact from Ricoh. It has an eye-catching specification.

The Ricoh CX4 features the 10 MP CMOS back-lit sensor that debuted in the CX3, which also offers HD video capture at 1280 X 720 pixel resolution and at a frame rate of 30fps. A 10.7X optical zoom, offering a focal range of 28-300mm in 35mm equivalent terms, is also present.

One area in which the CX4 has been improved over its predecessor is image stabilization.

A 3-inch, 920k-dot LCD screen remains as does the lack of Raw capture and full manual control. Rather than add Raw capture, Ricoh has added a new host of ‘Creative Shooting Modes’. These modes apply filters such as Cross Process and Soft Focus to images captured.

The CX4′s focusing system is both fast and accurate, and subject tracking also performs well. The design of the camera is such that shooting with it is a pleasure, while a reasonably well-designed menu system also helps.

The best live-view experience in DSLRs just got better with the addition of 100% accuracy view from the imaging sensor plus the no-delay version using a separate sensor.

Speedy 7-fps burst capture and in-the-camera HDR, too, but still a bit expensive considering there’s no video.

The Alpha 550 also features 3-in LCD screen, 14.2 megapixel CMOS, 12-bit RAW capture.

The COOLPIX L22 is the ideal camera for consumers who are looking to easily capture all of life’s memories at an affordable price, but without compromising performance.

The COOLPIX L22 features 12-megapixel resolution for stunning image detail, a 3.6x Zoom-NIKKOR lens for creative compositional freedom. ISO up to 1600 capability helps give you sharper results when shooting in low light or capturing fast-moving subjects.

The COOLPIX L22 sports a huge bright 3.0-inch 230,000-dot LCD screen with a wide-viewing angle and anti-glare coating,: 3-way VR Image Stabilization System; Smart Portrait System; Easy Auto Mode and more.

Following in the footsteps of its K-x Pentax’s 12.4MP K-r has an APS-C CMOS sensor. But this new DSLR offers a 3-inch 921,000-dot LCD screen, 720p video at 25 fps, and lots of shooting options, including two in-camera HDR modes.

Action shooters take note: The K-r has a 6-fps burst rate. It also uses Pentax’s new SAFOX IX autofocusing system, with 11 focus points, as well as an AF assist lamp to help in low light. And low–light shooting should be better with the K-r—its ISO tops out at 25,600, a full stop higher than the Pentax K-x.

There is also such features as the ability to transfer data between cameras via an infrared sensor, and the option to use either the supplied Li-ion or AA batteries.

Zippy Pentax K-r is available in three colors: black, white, and red.

Motorola’s range of Android phones has included some bold designs. Its unique feature is a hinge at the corner that lets you swivel the screen around by 90º to reveal a five-row QWERTY keyboard. The hinge is spring-loaded, and the flipping action is smooth, which helps to dispel doubts about build quality or longevity. A solid metal plate behind the screen means there’s no flex there.

Although small, the keyboard is surprisingly good, with a dedicated row for number keys. There’s even a four-way cursor control. The small touchscreen’s capacitive interface also proved responsive. Image quality isn’t brilliant, however, with only a 320×240 resolution. As with most LCD screens, viewing angles are optimized for the screen’s usual orientation. Read the rest of this entry »

The almost fully automated Nikon Coolpix S8000 with a 10X optical zoom is the ideal high-zoom camera for anyone who doesn’t want to fuss with in-camera settings.

Advanced photographers won’t like the lack of manual controls, but people who are looking for a dead-simple pocket megazoom will appreciate this 14.2-megapixel camera. It has a wideangle–to–telephoto reach of 50mm to 30mm, 720p HD video, and a sharp 3-inch LCD.

Shooting modes include full auto, 15 scene modes, and an automatic scene selector that chooses the best scene mode.

The 10.5-megapixel Nikon Coolpix P100 is the rare camera that’s as easy to use as it is versatile, thanks to a powerful 26X optical zoom lens and an intuitive control layout with scene modes and full manual controls.

It has good macro performance, wide-angle–to–telephoto range, user-friendly operation, and an adjustable 3-inch LCD screen. This camera is great for beginners, but a lack of raw shooting and disappointing distortion and sharpness capabilities make it a harder sell for advanced photographers.