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. Otherwise, you’re basically talking HD video recording, 16-megapixel vstills, and some nice zoom on the 30 while the 20 is a bit less feature-rich. The cameras can even take 3D photos using an odd camera angle technique. Old Toughie is waterproof and includes GPS and a built-in compass. It has four underwater scene modes including a top notch auto mode for divers who are too busy fending off great fish to fiddle with dials. These are UK-only, right now, sadly. PR after the jump. → Read More
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
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
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
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, everything gets overexposed and washed out. Unfortunately, the only way to know exactly what you’re shooting is by lugging around a laptop in hopes of getting a good test shot. Luckily, that problem is a thing of the past. Can we hear an amen for technological advance? → Read More
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 activity is in the clear and that:
Officers should not seize the camera or its contents, and must be cautious not to give such ‘orders’ to a photographer to erase the contents of a camera, as this constitutes a seizure or detention.
Does this mean you’re free to snap away? Well, in theory, yes, but I suspect there will still be extreme instances where this bulletin is ignored in total and the photographer hustled from the scene. Ideally this would never happen but, as we know, in this era the price of security is eternal badgering. → Read More
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
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
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
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 different. One more pic after the jump. → Read More
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
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
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
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 on budget and your photographic aspirations, we can probably narrow it down a bit. → Read More
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
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
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
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
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
