Leica V-LUX 30 High-end Compact Camera

Leica Camera has announced the V-Lux 30 15.1-megapixel compact digital camera. The new compact digicam has a 16x zoom Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens with an extended range of focal lengths, a touchscreen LCD display, an integrated GPS function and a video recording in 1080i-AVCHD Full HD. The Leica V-Lux 30 will be launched in the beginning June 2011. The camera is supplied with an extensive software package such as Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 for still image processing and Adobe Premiere Elements 9, especially designed for video processing. [HighSnobiety]

Casio Exilim EX-Z800 Doraemon Limited Edition Digital Camera

Casio is preparing to drop a new Doraemon themed digital camera ‘Exilim EX-Z800 Doraemon Limited Edition’ for the mass market. Featuring a cute Doraemon picture on the front panel, this compact camera sports a 14.1-megapixel image sensor, a 4x optical zoom lens, a 2.7-inch LCD screen, an SD/SDHC card slot, 720p HD video recording capabilities and is pre-loaded with several Doraemon animation props and power-on/off Doraemon wallpaper. The EXILIM EX-Z800 Doraemon Limited Edition will go on sale in late August for 29,800 Yen (about $365) and will come bundled with a Doraemon carrying case. [Product Page]

Spy Camera Keychain Car Remote Style

Chinavasion is offering you their latest spy gadget, the Spy Camera Keychain Car Remote Style. Disguised as a standard car alarm remote on a keychain, this mini DVR comes with a virtually undetectable pinhole lens, a microSD card slot (8GB card included), a mini USB port, a built-in 240mAh rechargeable battery and can capture both 1280 x 720 HD video at 30fps as well as up to 4032 x 3024 digital still images. The Spy Camera Keychain Car Remote Style can be yours for just $51.72. [Product Page]

Hasselblad H4D-200MS Medium-format DSLR

The Hasselblad H4D-200MS medium-format digital SLR camera is able to capture 200-megapixel photos thanks to its multi-shot technology. The H4D-200MS uses Hasselblad’s patented piezo frame module, which captures 6 shots and combines them into a 200-megapixel file. Designed for studio photographers, the Hasselblad H4D-200MS is ideal for capturing images of stationary items such as cars, jewelry, artwork and other high-end products. The H4D-200MS is now available for €32,000 +tax ($45,605). [Hasselblad]

Bell and Howell S60T Touchscreen Digital Camera

Here’s another budget-friendly touchscreen digital camera for you to grab from Bell and Howell, the S60T. Priced at only $66.99, this compact camera packs a 10.0-megapixel image sensor, an 8x digital zoom, a 2.7-inch touchscreen LCD display, an SD/SDHC card slot (up to 16GB), a USB 2.0 port and has the ability to capture video at 30fps with sound. [Product Page]

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Digital Camera Review

PhotographyBLOG has reviewed the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS travel-zoom camera. This compact digicam features a 12.1-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 3-inch LCD screen, the DIGIC 4 image processing engine, a full 1080p HD movie mode with Stereo sound and an HDMI output. Additional specs include a built-in GPS, a full range of manual exposure modes for more experienced photographers looking to take control, an 8.1 fps burst shooting at 3-megapixel resolution and a Super Slow Motion Movie mode. Here is the conclusion:

The new Canon PowerShot SX230 HS is a more sensibly priced and better-specced challenger to the market-leading Panasonic TZ-series, going head to head with the TZ20, which it actually betters on paper in quite a few aspects. Judged on its own merits, the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS is an easy recommendation as a travel zoom camera that does it all with the minimum of fuss.

Available in pink, blue or black, the Canon PowerShot SX230 is priced at £299 or approx. $350. [PhotographyBLOG]

Magpix IR-101 Midnight/Shot IR Night Vision Camera

The Magpix IR-101 is a compact digital camera that takes pictures in complete darkness as easily as it shoots full-color shots in daylight. This IR night vision camera has an infrared sensor that captures monochrome images in the dark from nine feet away. The Magpix IR-101 features an 5MP image sensor that captures 2,560 x 1,920 pictures and 640 x 480 videos, an 8X digital zoom, a 3-inch LCD display and an SD card slot (up to 8GB). Its rechargeable lithium battery provides enough power for up to 500 shots from a 5-hour charge.

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ContourGPS helmetcam Connect View app hands-on

The $350 ContourGPS sits among the top-tier of consumer-friendly helmet cams, but it's always posed one major problem: you can't really tell where it's pointing. Sure, it shoots a pair of wicked lasers out of the front, but it's always a challenge to gauge the extents of its 135 degree lens. We knew there was a secret trick in there waiting to be unleashed, which we got to play with at CES, and now here it is. Contour has released its Connect View functionality for iOS, letting you view live footage from the camera right on your phone. Keep reading for our full impressions.

Hardware The ContourGPS helmet camera has a GPS receiver built in, as you might have guessed. Interestingly, though, it also has Bluetooth functionality lurking within, disabled at first but now unleashed with the release of a suitable receiving app. The latest camera firmware turns it on and, if you install the (free) app from Contour onto your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can pair the two up.

But first you need to install a little augmentation. Apple requires some certified hardware inside the camera, so you'll need to cough up $29.99 for the Connect View card. It slots in next to the battery and lets camera talk to phone (or PMP, or tablet). We're told this won't be necessary for the Android release that's coming later, which is mighty good news for synthetic humanoids.

Once the card is installed and the firmware updated you're ready to pair. To connect you need to hold the "hidden" button on the ContourGPS down, which is located beneath the slider on top. This requires a healthy squeeze and, if done with enough vigor, will set the camera's status light blinking blue. At that point you can pair it to your device and launch the app.

Testing We were at first having troubles getting the camera and our receiver (a fourth-gen iPod touch) to reliably connect, but a reboot of both devices quickly fixed that. Once paired all that's required is a crushing of the hidden button and, a few seconds later, the two are talking to each other. The problem is that "button" is difficult to find and, even when located, difficult to press. A proper button would have been nice, since you'll be using it a good amount.

The app itself offers a somewhat grainy but definitely workable image of what the camera is seeing, letting you line up the perfect shot before you strap into whatever exotic adventure you're about to partake. That's handy, but even more so is the ability to tweak camera settings. Previously you could only change things like resolution and exposure when the camera was tethered to a computer. Now you can quickly do it in the field. This is a huge step forward, and the app even helps the camera's GPS get a lock.

When you start recording the camera automatically disconnects, so you'll need to squeeze the button after every shot if you need to adjust positioning. Having to manually reconnect each time is a bit of a drag, but probably better than the battery drain you'd get by leaving Bluetooth constantly on.

Wrap-up Contour Connect View isn't exactly a perfect experience - the positioning of the button sucks, spending another $30 on a $350 helmet cam stings, and we'd really like to be able to review recorded footage - but ultimately if you already have the camera and the Apple hardware this is worth the extra money. Knowing which way the camera is pointed is great, but being able to change exposure settings without lugging along a laptop is a lifesaver, especially when we were chasing the setting sun and using this camera to grab footage for our Tesla Roadster review. So, yes, it's worth the money if you're on iOS, but we can't wait to try out the Android version.

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Lensbaby Composer Goes Pro

Lensbaby Composer Pro: The most fun you can have with a camera (with your clothes on)

If you own an SLR and have a single ounce of creative curiosity in your body, you should probably think about trying out a Lensbaby. I bought myself the Composer as a birthday gift a year and a half back and it's crazy fun. And if you're considering buying one, then as of today there's one more lens to choose from.

The Composer Pro is a refined version of the Composer, itself a capable lens. Like all Lensbabies, the Composer Pro twists and turns the front of the lens to blur all but a small sweet-spot, which stays in sharp focus. The Pro version swaps out the plastic ball-and-socket mechanism for a metal one, and has a fluid-damped focus ring. I never have any problem with the tilting ball, but I could certainly appreciate a heavier, more accurate focusing ring.

Like the regular composer, you can swap in different chunks of glass, or “optics”. The Pro can be had with either the regular double-glass optic, which has a focal length of 50mm and requires you to drop in magnetic disks to swap apertures. The Sweet 35 optic is wider, at 35mm, and has a proper aperture ring for dialing in the size of the lens hole.

The price for this pro-level way to make your photos all grungy? $300 with the double-glass optic and $400 with the Sweet 35. And you can still pick up the regular Composer for $250 with double glass.

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Fujifilm FinePix Z900 EXR, we have a new shooter in Town!

Fujifilm unveiled today its latest shooter, the FinePix Z900 EXR. This new 16Mpix Point and shoot comes with Fujifilm EXR BSI CMOS and improve EXR image engine said to be 40% more sensitive than previous generations. The FinePix Z900 EXR comes with five different colors with 64Mb of Internal memory, SDXC Support, 64MB of Internal Memory, a 5x Wide Zoom, Full HD Video mode at 30fps as well as a 720p and 640×480 mode. Finally FinePix Z900 EXR comes with a 12fps burst mode and will be available this April in Japan at around 30,000 Yen.

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Nikon D5100 and ME-1 External Microphone Unveiled

Nikon has recently introduced its latest midrange DSLR, making it ideal for the aspiring photographers who want to let go of their beginner cameras. The Nikon D5100 is an updated version of the popular D5000, featuring a 16.2-megapixel sensor, a 3-inch flipout LCD screen, 1080p video recording at both 30 and 24 fps with auto-focus, ISO settings from 100 to 6400, and an 18-105mm lens.

Nikon also unveils the ME-1 microphone, which can be plugged on the D5100 for a fuller video recording experience.

The Nikon D5100 DSLR and ME-1 external microphone will arrive on April 21. The camera is expected to cost US$900 ($800 for body-only unit), while the microphone would cost $180.

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GoPro Unveils 3D Hero Camera System

Like it or not, 3D video is the way of the future and GoPro decides to catch on with the 3D trend as it introduces its 3D Hero System. It is basically a mounting system that straps two of its 1080p HD Hero action cameras onto a special housing made from polycarbonate material. The system syncs the two cameras together and the images captured are turned into 3D video with the help of an included software in post-production.

The GoPro 3D Hero System costs just US$99, and that is without the cameras. Aspiring 3D filmmakers would have to supply their own HD Hero cameras or buy them separately for $259 each. Note that only the 1080p HD Hero works with the system and nothing else.

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Panasonic UK Offers Free 150 GBP Gift Pack With Lumix G-Series Camera

For a limited time only, Panasonic UK is offering a photography gift pack worth 150 GBP (about $245) with purchases of a selected Lumix G model. This gift pack consists of an Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 software, an Adobe Premier Elements 9 software and a 35 GBP (about $57) gift voucher with Going Digital. This special offer starts from April 7th until May 3rd.

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Fujifilm To Release FinePix X200 And X300 Digital Cameras

According to rumors, Fujifilm will launch the FinePix X200 and X300 digital cameras. The Fujifilm Fixepix X200 is actually a point-and-shoot version of the Finepix X100, while the Fujifilm FinePix X300 is a pro version with interchangeable lenses. The Fujifilm X200 will go on sale in the Fall 2011, and the Fujifilm X300 will be released in 2012. Unfortunately, there is no official confirmation from the company at this moment.

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Canon XF305 and XF300 professional camcorders get 3D capabilities

Canon sees the future, and it has 3D written all over it, which is why the Japanese company has decided to include 3D capabilities into their XF305 and XF300 professional camcorders thanks to a new firmware upgrade. This will include Canon's 3D Assist Function that enables both camcorders to be set up easily for 3D HD video, not to mention an updated Scan Reverse function, Double Slot Recording for instantaneous backup, and the option to disable Relay Recording. With Canon's 3D Assist Function, it paves the way to setup two XF305 or XF300 Professional Camcorders when used in tandem to shoot 3D HD video. This allows one to perform OIS Lens Shift so that one is able to optically align a couple of XF305 or XF300 camcorders and a Focal Length Guide when it comes to displaying the zoom position of each camera in relation to each other, while helping out in the calibration of zoom settings. The Canon XF305 and XF300 Professional Camcorders will retail for $8,000 and $6,700, respectively, where each purchase will come bundled with a Genuine Canon 18x HD L-series lens, a trio of Canon developed and designed native 1920 x 1080 CMOS image sensors, and Canon's own XF Codec.

Pentax To Drop DC Super Heroes RS1500 Digital Camera Set

Pentax in collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products are preparing to drop a limited edition DC Super Heroes RS1500 digital camera set for the mass market. This special edition set will consist of a Pentax RS1500 digital camera, seven DC Super Hero skins, a 4GB SD card and a protective case based on the forthcoming Green Lantern movie. The DC Super Heroes RS1500 set will go on sale from May 1st for 119.99 GBP (about $196).

KGB HD Spy Cam

Here's the latest spy gadget from Chinavasion, the KGB HD Spy Cam. Codenamed CVMV-I109, this marker-shaped device is equipped with a 5.0-megapixel CMOS image sensor, a microSD card slot (up to 32GB), a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, a built-in 400mAh battery and can capture both 720p HD video at 30fps as well as up to 8.0-megapixel digital still images (interpolated mode). If you're interested, the KGB HD Spy Cam will set you back $70.29.

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Nikon COOLPIX L23 for Beginners

COOLPIX L23 primary features include: Effective pixel count of 10.1-million pixels and 5X optical zoom NIKKOR lens; Large and clear 2.7-in. TFT LCD monitor; Simple and reliable shooting functions; Refined design for a slimmer image; and Powered by AA batteries readily available anywhere.

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Samsung SL50 10.2MP Digital Camera On Sale For Just $64.36

Here's your chance to own one of this Samsung SL50 10.2MP digital camera for just $64.36 (normal price $99.99) at Amazon, meaning you could save up to $35.63. In case you didn't know, this compact camera sports a 10.2-megapixel image sensor, a 27mm wide-angle lens, a 5x optical zoom, a 2.5-inch LCD display and 640 x 480p video recording capabilities at 30fps. Grab yours now!

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Panasonic AG-3DP1 shoots movies in 3D

Panasonic has just announced the AG-3DP1, a new camcorder designed for shooting movies in 3D. The shoulder-mounted camcorder packs a 3D twin-lens, and is designed for users planning to shoot 3D productions of live events, sports, documentaries and independent films. The AG-3DP1 packs 2 1x3″ full-HD 2.2 megapixel 3-MOS images with enhanced sensitivity, a 20-bit Digital Signal Processor for generating full production quality, native 1920 x 1080 resolution images. The camera also captures 3D footage directly through the dual-lens, without the need for any external equipment or post processing - it is possible to just shoot and cut footage from the camera to make a 3D movie. With functions like variable frame rate to create fast and slow motion effects, users can get creative with the camera itself. The lenses can zoom up to 17x and the camera records up to 80 minutes of footage on dual 64GB P2 cards in AVC-Intra 100 1080x24pN and a 3.2″ LCD display for previewing recorded footage rounds things off. No prices have been announced but we can expect to see the 3DP1 on sale in autumn this year. With 3D cameras becoming more accessible to everybody - you can expect a lot more 3D movies to start popping up in the future, especially in the indie movie scene.

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Hitch Cameras Force Guests to Share Their Photos

The Hitch combines a set of simple cameras with a base station to suck up and share photos

People take more photos now than possibly ever before, so why is it I still don't get to see any of the pictures they take at my awesome parties? All those frames exposed, and the only ones I ever see are the ones from my own camera.

“We'll e-mail them to you,” they say. Thanks, but no you won't. And if you do, they'll be tiny shrunken JPEGs. What if there was a way to force them to share?

The solution is Martin Spurway's Hitch, a set of tiny, stripped down cameras, together with a bowl (or, as Martin calls it, a “dock”). Your guests grab a camera, snap some pictures and then drop them back into the bowl. This dock then slurps the pictures from the cameras, wirelessly, and stores them in its heart. The dock even has a projector to show images during the event.

And what of those who refuse to use anything but their own camera? The Hitch dock has slots and Bluetooth to grab their images, too. Hopefully having the card reader right there in the room will encourage sharing.

But watch out if you go to one of Martin Spurway's parties: make sure to use a freshly-formatted card in your cam. Otherwise his Hitch might just grab and project those “arty” self portraits you took last night when you were naked and drunk.

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Kodak C1530 Point-and-shoot Camera

Kodak has recently introduced the new C1530 point-and-shoot camera. This 14-megapixel digicam comes jam packed with a 3x optical zoom lens with a built-in mechanical lens cover, a 3-inch LCD monitor and a 32 MB of internal memory. This compact camera also features Kodak's EasyShare button, allowing you to send photos to your friend via e-mail or upload your favorite photos to KODAK Gallery, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and Orkut sites. Available in red, black and white, the Kodak EasyShare C1530 retails for $79,95 each.

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Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXR Now Available In The UK

Fujifilm's latest premium compact camera ‘FinePix F550 EXR' is now available for purchase in the UK for 329 GBP (about $535). In case you didn't know, F550 EXR sports a 16-megapixel EXR CMOS image sensor, a 15x wide-angle optical zoom lens, a 3.0-inch LCD display, built-in GPS, an HDMI interface and 1080p Full HD video recording capabilities at 30fps.

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Rest in Peace, Flip

Cisco has announced that it will ditch its Flip video camera business, which it claims as part of the company's operation alignment and refocusing on its Home Networking business. Flip, which is part of its $590 million acquisition of Pure Digital, will close down while Cisco will “support current FlipShare customers and partners with a transition plan.” Part of the transition includes firing 550 employees.

With consumers recording and streaming videos using their smartphones, Flip video cameras are no longer novel and useful despite its advantages.

Readers at TechCrunch expressed dismay over the decision, citing that Cisco should have sold the Flip business instead of carelessly throwing it away.

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Sony HVL-F43AM Flash For Alpha DSLRs

Sony is back with a new accessories for its Alpha DSLR cameras. The Sony HVL-F43AM external flash comes with a powerful output of GN43 (105mm ISO100 m). This external flash also features the innovative Quick Shift Bounce system, allowing the flash head position to be adjusted instantly when you are switching between horizontal and vertical compositions. Additionally, the company also introduces the VCT-55LH mounting bracket, the ALC-SH111 Lens Hood and the LCS-AMB carry case to protect your A-mount camera.

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Midnight/Shot Night Vision Camera

If your ongoing quest to prove the existence of Bigfoot has always been thwarted by his irritating use of the cover of night, ThinkGeek‘s new camera might be for you. The Midnight Shot NV-1 touts just 5 megapixels–but when was the last time your fancy Nikon or Canon was able to take a clear picture in the absolute dark? Midnight Shot uses infrared to capture its night time shots, resulting in clear shots of its subjects even with no visible light. The camera can be switched back and forth from night vision to regular shooting modes, but IR can be turned on in the daytime as well, for those IR photography enthusiasts. In addition to stills, the NV-1 is also able to switch over to capture video at 640 x 480 (8x digital zoom). Careful though while using IR during the daytime–IR light travels through certain thin materials, which will render them see-through (yikes!!).

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