March 3rd, 2011

Videos: This Camera Shoots Color Video Even In Darkness

Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has developed a security camera that shoots video in color even in pitch-black conditions. The so-called Color Night Vision Camera [JP], produced by AIST spin-off company Nanolux [JP], uses infrared to reproduce the red, blue, and green colors of objects. → Read More

March 2nd, 2011

Olympus Releases Some Point And Shoots

Olympus, who normally makes our favoritest portable camera in the world, the E-PL1, just announced three standard point and shoots into the world. The SZ-30MR and SZ-20 are your bog-standard shooters while the Tough TG-810 is apparently “crushproof,” which is great if you work at Fred Flintstone’s quarry and tend to leave your camera near the brontosaurus that lifts the boulders. → Read More

February 23rd, 2011

Sony Apparently Stops Producing The NEX-3 Camera


Where did this come from? Sony Japan updated the websites of the NEX-3A, NEX-3K and NEX-3D earlier today, stating that all three models of the camera won’t be produced anymore (the “buy now online” buttons were also removed from the product descriptions). → Read More

February 18th, 2011

MAME-CAM: Thanko's Cute Micro Camera

Sometimes, just sometimes, Tokyo-based USB accessory maker Thanko announces gadgets that are not completely silly. Case in point: the so-called MAME-CAM that Thanko started listing [JP] today, a micro camera that looks cute, is fully functional and weighs just 11g. → Read More

February 14th, 2011

Scaloupe: USB Camera To Check Your Scalp, Post Info On Twitter (Video)

If you’re constantly worried about the condition of your hair and/or scalp, this gadget from Japan might help you: the so-called Scaloupe [JP] is a USB 2.0 camera that makes it possible to check your scalp and also shoot close-up pictures of it. → Read More

February 1st, 2011

GoPro's New LCD BacPac Let's You See What You're Shooting

Here at the CrunchGear offices, we have a few GoPro HD Hero cameras that we use for an assortment of footage, including our auto coverage. These are great cameras for getting video in places you wouldn’t want to put an expensive, more fragile, camera. But, the biggest problem with the HD Hero has been its lack of a viewfinder. Sometimes, when the camera is pointed too high, like towards the sky… → Read More

January 27th, 2011

Photographers: You're Now Officially Free To Shoot In Public Places And Outside Federal Buildings

It’s a often-heard story: a photographer is shooting in a public place and security shoos them away, or worse, takes them into custody. Thanks to a recent settlement with the NYCLU, however, all federal personnel should be aware and adhere to a clarified set of rules and, in the end, allow photogs to shoot away.

The Information Bulletin, after the jump, state clear that almost all photographic… → Read More

January 25th, 2011

Panasonic To Make, Sell More Cameras

Panasonic, makers of cameras, will sell these new cameras. These cameras include the FX78 with 5x optical zoom and “smart touch screen” and the ZS10 with 16x optical zoom. They will attempt to distribute these cameras for as long as they’re salable and then make new ones. Eventually they will end up on Woot.com. Then they will poison a landfill. → Read More

January 20th, 2011

CHOBICAM1: Super-Tiny Camcorder Weighs 12g

Tokyo-based accessory maker Japan Trust Technology (JTT) is known for its CHOBI CAM series of ultra-small cameras. Today JTT announced [JP] a new model, the so-called CHOBICAM1. It’s being marketed as a toy movie camera, and as you can see on the pictures, it looks like a DSLR in micro format. → Read More

January 10th, 2011

Coming Soon: Smartphones With 16MP Cameras

If you look at the batches of new cell phones Japan’s leading mobile carriers have been presenting in recent months, you’ll notice the high-quality cameras some of the models have. And now major Japanese chip maker Renesas (which merged with NEC last year) is even promising [JP] 16MP cameras in future handsets. → Read More

December 28th, 2010

Olympus E-PL2 Appears In The Rumorsphere

This is kind of exciting but also not: the Olympus E-PL2 appeared in the camera rumornet but it’s not a major upgrade – at least so far – from the E-PL1. Improved features include a new “PENPAL” Bluetooth module that connects to the hotshoe and a new filter called “Dramatic Tone.” Sadly, it has the same good sensor but the size and shape are slightly… → Read More

November 24th, 2010

Video: Sony's Twin-Lens 3D Shoulder Mount Camera

In October last year, Sony started teasing a 3D CMOS camera with two lenses and the ability to shoot video at up to 240fps. Unlike Panasonic’s model, Sony’s camera was intended for professional use, and now big S is showcasing their latest 3D camcorder prototype (which again will be geared towards professional users). → Read More

October 20th, 2010

Cerevo Livebox: Broadcast Live Video On Ustream Without A PC

Have you ever wanted your camera to stream live video to the web (on Ustream) without having to carry a computer around? Then the so-called Cerevo Livebox [JP], made by Japanese startup Cerevo, might do the trick for you. → Read More

October 11th, 2010

A Camera For Every Budget

Wanting to get into photography or upgrade your current camera doesn’t always mean you’ve got disposable income. But if you’re serious about your hobby, you’re always ready to drop some money. Let’s see what you can get for a few common budgets. → Read More

September 17th, 2010

Back To School: Cameras For Campus

There will be many times you will want to remember during your years at college, and many you will be unable to remember. In both cases you’ll be glad to have taken pictures, though you may wish to keep them off Facebook. And of course there is the whole question of what you’re going to take these pictures with. Well, there’s no shortage of cameras to choose from, but depending… → Read More

September 8th, 2010

Nikon's Coolpix S8100 Is A Solid Luxury Point And Shoot

Ths S8100 is the cheapest of the three cameras being released by Nikon today, and although at $300 it’s starting to get into the luxury range for point-and-shoots, I think it looks like a pretty solid deal. → Read More

September 6th, 2010

3D Shot Cam: Takara Tomy's "3D" Toy Camera

The 3D hype is now entering the toy market as well. Takara Tomy announced [JP, PDF] the so-called 3D Shot Cam today, a simple photo camera with two lenses. This “toy version of Fujifilm’s FinePix REAL 3D W3” is aimed at children aged 12 and older who have to use a special viewer to view images shot with the camera in 3D (see below). → Read More

August 27th, 2010

Ricoh's New Rugged G700 Camera Looks Like A Disposable

Ricoh has a sort of aesthetic going on here. I only just realized what it is the recently-released CX4 reminds me of: one of those disposable cameras. This new G700, although it looks like a totally solid camera, definitely looks like you’d throw it away when you were done. → Read More

August 23rd, 2010

Kodak Releases Two New Cameras: The PlayTouch And The Ultrathin M590

It’s a Kodak kind of morning. The company just released a new 1080p video camera, the PlayTouch ($229.95), complete with touchscreen along with an ultrathin 14-megapixel M590 ($199.95) digital camera with 5x optical zoom. Press releases after the jump as well as a pic of the PlayTouch. → Read More

August 19th, 2010

Another Late Night Canon Powershot Frenzy

God damn it, Canon. Seriously. Every time I try to relax with a cold glass of juice*, you have to release a gaggle of point and shoots. You know I’m not going to pay close attention! Why not release them during the day?! All right. Let’s do this. → Read More

August 13th, 2010

Are These The Specs For The Upcoming Nikon D3100? Hopefully

Rumors have been flying left and right about Nikon’s upcoming cams. The word around the tubes is that both the D90 and D3000 are getting a refresh real soon. We supposedly saw the specs for the D90 replacement last week and now a German magazine published with what they claim are the D3100 specs. Hopefully it’s not twisted joke because these specs would make the D3100 one hell of a camera. → Read More

July 28th, 2010

Samsung Pumps Out Two Cameras

Need a camcorder or a Wi-Fi camera? Samsung has you covered. Sadly, these two bog standard cameras come from our friends at Samsung look a little plain but both record in HD and the camera supports Wi-Fi uploads. The camera, the ST80, costs $249. The camera, the HMX-E10, costs $199. → Read More

June 15th, 2010

The Sony NEX-5 is available right now in the UK

Don’t look now, but a UK retailer has the the brand-spanking-new Sony NEX-5 cameras in stock. We can’t say that about a single US-based seller right now so this seems like the best bet if you must be the first kid on the block with Sony’s latest camera. Of course this previledge comes at a premium as the camera is selling for £589 ($867), which is a tad more than the US’s MSRP of $650. Worth it? → Read More

June 8th, 2010

Casio's rugged digital camera EX-G1 gets 2 limited edition colors (in Japan)

When Casio’s rugged digital camera, the Exilim EX-G1, came out last year, it received great reviews (for example, from us). And it appears as if the 12.1MP device sold really well, too, as Casio today in Japan announced [JP] two limited edition colors (the EX-G1 GN in green and the EX-G1 SR in silver). → Read More

June 7th, 2010

Video: NHK's millimeter-wave TV camera films "invisible" objects

NHK isn’t just Japan’s national TV broadcaster, but it’s also developing some pretty cool technology on its own. One example is a “millimeter-wave TV camera”, which takes images of objects (or people, for that matter) by using radio waves instead of visible light. The camera makes it possible to see objects “hidden” behind fog or plywood, for example, in the images. → Read More

June 4th, 2010

7,680 x 4,320 pixels: NHK shows "super-HD" camera and display (video)

If you ever thought full HD delivers pictures in awesome resolution (1,920×1080), think again. Because Japanese national TV broadcaster NHK is working on a camera and display system that boasts 16 times the resolution of full HD, namely 7,680×4,320 pixels. In other words, the format makes it possible to produce pictures four times as wide and four times as high as full HD. → Read More

June 1st, 2010

Sanyo Xacti DMX-CA100: World's first waterproof full HD camcorder in action (video)

Sanyo last week announced the DMX-CA100 for the Japanese market, the world’s first waterproof full HD camcorder “for consumer use with optical zoom lenses” (Kodak has released a simpler model just recently). And now we can (courtesy of DigInfonews Tokyo) give you a video that shows the device in action. → Read More

May 17th, 2010

The Samsung TL500 / EX1 gets a South Korean release

Samsung’s upcoming flagship shoot brook a few months back. The TL500 / EX1 woo’d us with its rugged good looks along with a host of top-tier specs. Well, you don’t have to wait any longer. The camera is now available — in South Korea. → Read More

May 13th, 2010

Fujitsu teases 3D desktop PC with built-in 3D camera

Another day, another 3D-related tech news item from Japan. This time, it’s a 3D-powered desktop PC Fujitsu is currently demoing at a two-day company event (Fujitsu Forum [JP]) in Tokyo. It’s not only able to display 3D images but also has a 3D camera built-in (just above the display). → Read More

May 12th, 2010

Sharp unveils world's first 3D HD camera module for mobile devices

Sharp really believes in 3D, it seems. In the past weeks the company presented a new 3D touchscreen for mobile devices, then the world’s first four-primary 3D display, followed by a 3D e-book reader. And today Sharp in Japan unveiled [press release in English] the world’s first 3D camera module that can be used in mobile devices such as cell phones, cameras or portable gaming systems. → Read More