Photo: Olympus

For weeks the rumour mill has been running amok with stories of a new Olympus Micro Four Thirds camera. Given Olympus’ corporate scandal, many thought this would remain just that: a rumour. A premature Amazon Japan listing with a picture and specs may have outed the camera, though.

The Camera

Though the listing has since been removed, info on the camera is out in the wild. Known as the Olympus OM-D Micro Four Thirds camera, the camera has stylish retro 70’s look and will come with an optional battery grip, much like any DSLR.

It is believed to have a 16.1 megapixel EDR CMOS image sensor as well as a 1.44 megapixel electronic viewfinder. It has a tiltable OLED touch screen and will way no more than 454 grams even with its lens attached. That’s light.

It’s also rumoured to have a 5-axis built-in image stabilisation system and will be capable of shooting four frames a second on continuous mode. According to PhotoRumours the OM-D will also have an ISO range of 200-25 600 and shutter speeds that range from 60 to 1/4000^th of a second.

Olympus in trouble

Many feel that this release comes at a strange time especially considering both Samsung and Panasonic are circling in a bid to grab a portion of the company. Olympus has been rocked by an accounting scandal that has cost the company $1.7 billion and untold brand damage.

While Olympus has made a name for itself in the digital camera market, this side of the business has mostly run at a loss with Olympus making the bulk of its profits from the medical field. It is this area of the business that interests potential buyers like Samsung and Panasonic.

Photo: Pentax Forums

In releasing the Pentax K-01 interchangeable lens camera, the famed camera maker has laid to rest months of speculation regarding its interest in developing miniature interchangeable lenses. The K-Designed by acclaimed designer Marc Newson who, among other achievements has had his work displayed in the Museum of Modern Art, the K01 also comes with the world’s thinnest lens to date, which the prolific Newson also had a hand in designing.

Specs

The brand new Pentax K-01 has a 16 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS image sensor, which shoots great image with low-noise levels. It’s been cleverly designed for compatibility with the K-mount lenses that have been around for years so, unlike many new interchangeable lens cameras, there is no shortage of lens options.

The smc PENTAX-DA 40mm F2.8 XS interchangeable lens that comes with the camera gives the 35mm equivalent of a 61mm lens and holds claim to being the thinnest pancake lens in the world. Each Pentax lens comes with a sensor shift Shake and Dust Reduction system, while and the wide ISO range will make sure that your low light images are noise free.

Features

The Pentax K-01 also gives users total control over aperture and shutter speed even when shooting full HD video clips.

The High Dynamic Range mode of the K-01 has been improved for more detailed HDR images. There are 11 Custom Images functions and 19 different filters that you can apply to your images. For amateur photographers who have yet to develop their manual post-production skills, this is a fantastic feature.

Photo: Nikon

We’re only a month into 2012 and many compact digital cameras have already been released. Nikon, not one to be left out, has announced the release of two new additions to their L-series of COOLPIX compact digital cameras.

The Nikon COOLPIX L-810 and the L-26 are both powered by AA batteries and are packed with some of Nikons most innovative features.

World renowned image quality

‘Today’s family spends time together in more places than the dining room table; they are on adventures and vacations together, constantly in motion and creating memories,’ said Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc. ‘Nikon’s latest COOLPIX cameras combine Nikon’s renowned image quality, advanced performance and superior technology to offer simple and affordable cameras for every member of your family.’

Nikon COOLPIX L-810

Armed with a 16.1 megapixel image sensor the COOLPIX L-810 is classed as one of the new ultra-zoom compacts class of cameras that have been hitting the market in droves recently. The 26x optical zoom lens gives the 35mm equivalent of a massive 22.5-585mm telephoto lens and the 22.5mm wide angle means that you will not only be able to photograph closeups and sprawling landscapes alike. Vibration Reduction technology is built into the camera, limiting blur or movement in the COOLPIX L-810 even whe zoomed in close. There is also an array of shooting modes to make sure that no matter what type of scene you are shooting your images will be of the highest quality.

Nikon COOLPIX L-26

The Nikon COOLPIX L-26 has a 10.1 megapixel sensor and has been designed with ease of use in mind. Made for everyday use, the L-26 has a 5x optical zoom lens that is versatile enough for most shooting conditions.

There are automatic scene modes that detect what type of scene you are shooting as well as Smart Portrait technology to help you along with your photography, no matter what your skill level.

Photo: Nikon

Nikon has announced the release of two new COOLPIX P510 and P310. These new additions to the P-series each tackle an aspect of photography that many photographers value. The COOLPIX P510 is an ultra-zoom compact digital camera and the COOLPIX P310 makes shooting in low light a breeze.

Bringing out creativity

‘With the new COOLPIX P-series cameras, Nikon is raising the bar for performance and image quality to better accommodate the needs of advanced photographers looking for a compact companion,’ said Bo Kajiwara, director of marketing, Nikon Inc. ‘Both the COOLPIX P510 and P310 combine Nikon’s legendary NIKKOR lenses and advanced features to challenge photographers creatively in environments that call for portability and easy access.’

The Nikon COOLPIX P510

The Nikon COOLPIX P510 has been given a massive 42x wide-angle NIKKOR glass zoom lens which takes advantage of the many years of experience that Nikon has in the construction of quality optics. This impressive lens gives the 35mm equivalent of a 24-1000mm telephoto lens giving users one of the widest focal length ranges of any compact digital camera on the market.

Photo: Nikon

Massive zoom requires an effective Vibration Reduction system, however. Thankfully, Nikon caters to this in the COOLPIX P510. Additionally, it has a 16.1 megapixel backside illuminated CMOS sensor that makes it more sensitive to light than the average CMOS sensor. Finally, the P510 has built in GPS features, and features full HD video recording.

The Nikon COOLPIX P310

The Nikon COOLPIX P310 has been designed with low light shooting in mind. The 16.1 megapixel backside illumined CMOS sensor is more sensitive to light that the average sensor but the real innovation comes in the form of the super wide ISO range that can be expanded to a massive 6400 ISO.

The last in Nikon’s three pronged attack on low light comes in the form of the f/1.8 wide-angle lens that will let in enough light, even in dark situations, for flash free photography. The P310 also has a Vibration Reduction system and can shoot full HD videos, too.

Photo: Sony

Sony recently added three new devices to its popular Cybershot series of compact digital cameras. The DSC-TX200V, DSC-WX70 and DSC-WX50 all feature the Exmor R CMOS sensor that has been combined with the updated BOINZ image processing engine giving you the highest quality images at the fastest speeds.

‘We continue to innovate in the compact camera space, finding new ways to help consumers produce high-quality photos and videos as easily as possible, regardless of lighting conditions’ said Yosuke Tomoda, director of the Cyber-shot business at Sony Electronics. ‘With new technologies designed to improve the overall imaging experience – including extended creativity, control and more – this new line-up of Cyber-shot cameras delivers impressive results with stylish, pocket-sized bodies.’

The Sony DSC-TX200V

The Sony DSC-TX200V is the most feature rich of the three releases and has an 18.2 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor. Its 5x optical zoom lens, which is the 35mm equivalent to a 26mm lens, can be expanded with Sony’s Clear Image Zoom for up to 10x zoom capabilities. Low light situations are tackled with the Extra High Sensitivity and the auto focus works at high speeds.

The DSC-TX200V is dustproof, freezeproof and waterproof up to 5 meters, making it suitable for almost any climate. In addition, it has a nifty Dual Record feature that allows one to shoot stills and video clips simultaneously.

The Sony DSC-WX70 and DSC-WX50

Photo: Sony

The Sony DSC-WX70 and DSC-WX50 both have a 16.2 megapixel image sensor paired with the updated BOINZ Sony image processing engine. They feature the 5x optical zoom lens and Sony Clear Image Zoom technology found on the DSC-TX200V.

Both cameras also have the same Dual Record feature found in the TX200V, along with 9 different picture effects can be applied onto snaps directly from the cameras.

Photo: Olympus

Olympus has announced a new addition to their popular Tough line of compact digital cameras. The new TG-320 is an updated version of previous releases and is rugged enough to survive most adventures.

Specs

The Olympus TG-320 has a high-resolution 14 megapixel sensor.  It’s fitted with a 3.6x optical zoom lens that has been constructed from 10 lenses in 8 groups with 4 aspherical lenses. This is the 35mm equivalent of a 28-102mm lens and is versatile enough for shooting both portraits and landscapes. It has an ISO range of 100-1600 and its auto focus has tracking as well as face detection.

Features

As well as being rugged the Olympus TG-320 has some great features to help improve your adventure photography. The Scene Mode detects an array of different shooting scenarios and then selects the correct exposure and focus settings for the best image possible. The Magic Art filters enable the addition of interesting filters to shots and the 3D mode for 3D shooting capabilities, even underwater.

Tough and rugged

The main feature of the Olympus TG-320 is its incredibly rugged build. It has been designed to withstand falls of up to five feet and can still function with ease in Baltic temperatures of 14 degrees Fahrenheit. The TG-320 is also waterproof up to 10 meters. With its ability to shoot stills and video clips alike, the camera can easily be connected to a television using an HDMI cable. The onboard HDMI Control makes for big screen previewing of what was shot before taking it into editing, while doubling up as a convenient way of showing friends and family what you got up to – and shot – while on your latest adventure.

It’s a convinient, feature-rich camera, well suited for the clumsy and photographers who need a camera that can take the odd bump or tumble.

Photo: TAKA@P.P.R.S / Flickr

Thanks to the wonders of modern technology and firmware updates, the camera you buy today could improve tomorrow through a simple update.

These updates can do anything from fix niggling problems with the initial programming or give your camera completely new features, making it prudent and beneficial to keep your camera as up to date as possible so that you don’t miss out. Here are some of the latest firmware update releases.

The Panasonic DMC-GX1

Panasonic has announced a firmware update for their DMC-GX1 that will not only fix some issues found in the GX1 but will add a few features as well. The auto white balance will have improved performance, as will some of the auto focus systems like AF continuous. There will now be a Menu Resume button in each menu tab and you can flip the pegs with the display button. In addition to these tweaks, a step zoom function will also be added to the GX1.

The Ricoh CX6

Ricoh’s new firmware update for their CX6 seems to have only one function. Once you have downloaded the firmware onto the camera the only thing it will change is its ability to focus in very bright conditions.

The Pentax K-5

Pentax have released a firmware update for their K-5 digital camera. The camera has been given an innovative feature called the Astrotracer, an as yet never before seen in any other commercial digital camera. This feature uses the Shake Reduction System, which works alongside a GPS system, to prevent star trails from appearing in your photographs when you use very long exposures at night.

While some people may like the star trails created by the movement of the stars across the frame there may be some shots that require pin-sharp stars in the background. The Astrotracer will freeze the stars movement through the frame. The update will fix an issue with green banded noise that would appear when using this function.

If you’ve had your camera for some time and have never done a firmware update before, there’s a high possibility updates are available.

Photo: Zygonyx / Flickr

Pentax has announced the release of their new Optio VS20 compact digital camera. Arriving with many new improved features the Optio VS20 can be added to the growing list of super-zoom compact digital cameras but is versatile enough for any shooting situation. Deigned with image quality in mind the VS20 even takes a tip or two from the DSLR.

Specs

The Pentax Optio VS20 has a 16 megapixel image sensor that has a CCD shift Shake Reduction mechanism. This means that the sensor itself detects movement of the camera and shift to compensate for it, giving users shake free images.

The powerful 20x ultra-wide angle optical zoom lens provides 35mm equivalent of a 28mm wide angle lens to a massive 560mm telephoto lens. This allow macro shooting with the macro mode on, as wel sprawling landscapes and far away objects. The wide range focal of lengths offered by the VS20 means that it is versatile enough for any circumstance.

Vertical shooting has also been enhanced with the Pentax Optio VS20. Pentax has placed an extra shutter release button and a zoom lever on the side of the camera making it both easier and more comfortable to shoot with the camera in a vertical position. The image will automatically shift depending on whether you are holding the cameras vertical or horizontal and the side tripod mount will allow you to mount the VS20 vertically on any tripod.

Features

The Pentax Optio VS20 has an Auto Scene Mode that will automatically match up the subject and scene that you are shooting to the 15 scenes it has in its programming. It then auto selects the correct exposure settings for that scene, ensuring as close to the best image as possible every time.

There is also an array of filters that you can apply to your images to give them an artistic edge, while the Face Detection mode will detect pre-programmed faces and the smile recognition will make sure that everyone’s happiest moments are captured.

Photo: Fujifilm

The Fujifilm X-Pro1 digital camera scooped up four awards at the Consumer Electronics Show 2012.

‘We are honoured to receive these awards in recognition of the advanced technical innovation in our FUJIFILM X-Pro1 digital camera,’ said Go Miyazaki, division president, Imaging & Electronic Imaging Division, Fujifilm North America Corporation. ‘Professionals and consumers have enthusiastically recognized the FUJIFILM X100 and the FUJIFILM X10 as the new “must have” cameras. Now the X-Pro1 marks Fujifilm’s re-entry into the interchangeable lens system camera category, with award winning design and technology that lives up to our legacy of supporting the culture of photography.’

Awards

The Fujifilm X-Pro1 won the Best in CES from two of the judging groups present at the event. CNET, whose Best Camera award was judged by a panel of CNET journalist awarded it Best in CES, recognising the innovations that went into the manufacture of the X-Pr01. Tom’s Guide also gave it their Best in CES saying,’ Each year, there are a special few products at CES that really wow us. Among them is the Fujifilm X-Pro1, Fujifilm’s new interchangeable lens camera.’

Popular Science gave the X-Pro1 CES 2012 Product of the Future for its innovation and Popular Mechanics gave it CES 2012 Editor’s Choice Award for its stunning design.

The Fujifilm X-Pro1

The Fujifilm X-Pro1 has a 16 megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor. This has then been combined with the high-speed and top notch quality EXR Processor Pro image processor.

It has a dual-magnification hybrid viewfinder and a brand new fully electronic X lens mount. The dual-magnification is designed to help the camera cope with the different focal lengths of the interchangeable lens system of the X-Pro1. The LCD screen on the X-Pro1 offers a wider viewing angle than earlier editions and is less reflective for better viewing in bright conditions.

Photo: Olympus

Olympus has announced the release of the long zoom SZ-12 compact digital camera. This camera is small enough to fit into your bag and stylish enough to go anywhere with you. The SZ-12 also has enough features to keep you busy for hours as well as ensure that you get the shot every time.

Specs

The Olympus SZ-12 has a 14 megapixel sensor that will ensure the highest quality images that Olympus has to offer. This however is not the best feature of the SZ-12, its 24x wide-angle optical zoom lens is what really makes this camera special. The 24x will give you a 35mm equivalent of a massive 25-600mm lens and the wide-angle makes it versatile enough to shoot almost anything. There is also a close-up mode for those great macro style shots.

Image blur is taken care of on two fronts. Firstly there is a retro style grip at the side of the camera that gives you a better hold on the camera, which, in turn, will reduce camera shake. It also features built-in Dual-Image Stabilisation that will ensure that any other camera blur will be eliminated.

The Olympus SZ-12 has an ISO range of 100-1600, which will allow flash free shooting in low light situations and the Auto focus can track subjects as well as detect faces.

Features

HD video clips can be shot at 720p and the massive zoom capabilities can even be used while shooting video. The continuous mode provides an impressive 7 frames per second of shooting, while the Magic Art filters allows you to add special effects to your images to give them a more arty and creative feel.

The Scene Mode can detect an array of different scenes, including sunset, fireworks, portrait, beach and snow. It will then select the correct shutter speed, aperture and focus to give you the best shot possible in any circumstance.