Digital Camera Review

Fantasea Line announces the multi-use Nano Spotter Waterproof LED Light, perfect for all water sports and outdoor recreation, including scuba diving, snorkeling, white water rafting, paddle sports, boating, aviation, surfing, fishing, hunting, backpacking and camping.

The Spotter is ultra compact and makes use of five super bright LED bulbs, powered by four AAA batteries which last up to 60 hours at maximum output. Unlike the old chemical “Stick Lights” the Nano Spotter is environmentally friendly and re-usable. This specially designed and unique multi-purpose LED Light application comes with small colored plastic discs allowing for various lighting options. The Nano Spotter is perfect for diver identification during night dives, cave dives, wreck dives and allows for easy identification in any group situation. A plastic cone attaches to the flashlight head and emits a diffused light in multiple color combinations. The Spotter is positively buoyant and perfect for signaling below and above the waves.

Featuring a bright beam and a compact body, the Nano Spotter can also serve as a backup Dive light or as a signal light while on the surface. The Spotter is depth rated to 30m/100 feet (but has been successfully tested to 40 meters/130 feet).

Included with the Kit:
Nano Spotter light
Hand lanyard
White plastic cone with a lanyard
5 color (white, blue, yellow, green and red)
The suggested retail price of the Nano Spotter is US $14.95

The Nano Spotter is also available in a Promotional product with your company’s name and logo/website stamped on a silicon sleeve (see sample in picture above) For a minimum order of 500 units we can prepare the units with your own graphics.

About Fantasea
Fantasea Line is an international company dedicated to developing, manufacturing and marketing of creative and affordable product solutions for the diving, underwater photography and water sports markets. Fantasea’s management has been involved in the diving, water sports and photographic industries for over 38 years. With offices and representatives worldwide, Fantasea cooperates with leading international manufacturers on joint venture projects for product development and distribution.

Categories: Light // Add Comment »

Panasonic today announced the launch of the new LUMIX FS-Series of digital cameras, debuting a pair of 10.1-megapixel models, the DMC-FS20 and DMC-FS5, both which feature 30mm wide-angle Leica DC lens with 4x optical zoom. The FS models, a stylish sister-line of the highly-acclaimed LUMIX FX-Series, combines easy operation with a slim and sleek look, enabling both beginner and advanced users to take beautiful digital photos with a model they can slip in their pocket. Both cameras also have Intelligent Auto Mode, an advanced intuitive system of technologies that help users take better photos more easily.

“Panasonic added the FS-Series to our LUMIX line of digital cameras to address the needs of consumers who want a point-and-shoot camera that is not only affordable, intuitive and easy-to-use, but also stylish and small enough that they slip it in their pocket or into a small purse,” said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “The FS-line packages Leica lenses, Intelligent Auto Mode, powerful image processing and superior memory power in a small, sleek design. We want our LUMIX digital cameras to have features that enable great digital photos regardless of the level of the photographer.”

The FS20 and FS5 feature Intelligent Auto Mode, comprised of five functions: Mega O.I.S., Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Detection and Quick AF (auto focus).
MEGA O.I.S. – Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and the lens system shifts to compensate, helping to prevent hand-shake from creating a blurry image.

Intelligent ISO – With Intelligent ISO, the FS20 and FS5 can determine if the photo subject is moving and change the ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly, thus giving a blur-free photo.

Intelligent Scene Selector – Intelligent Scene Selector senses the ambient conditions, recognizes the shooting environment and will automatically select the appropriate scene mode from: Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode. This intuitive technology, helps the consumer use the most common scene modes that are built into the camera, but often go unused, without making any manual adjustments.

Face Detection – Panasonic’s Face Detection detects faces anywhere in the frame and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure settings so portraits come out clear and crisp. Detecting up to 15 faces, Panasonic’s Face Detection can even track a face if the subject is moving.

Quick AF – The Quick AF (auto focus) system starts focus on the subject by just pointing the camera to the subject, thus minimizing the AF time.

In addition to powerful the Intelligent Auto Mode, the fourth generation high-performance image-processing Venus Engine IV LSI helps produce higher-quality pictures with an advanced signal processing system. It adds a new high-performance noise reduction system that helps reproduce even the most delicate parts of images naturally and without color bleeding. The Venus Engine IV reduces shutter release time lag while still enabling high-resolution picture taking, making it easier to capture spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities.

Other features of the DMC-FS20 and the DMC-FS5 include approximately 50 MB of internal memory and a 3.0-inch LCD for the FS20 and a 2.5-inch LCD for the FS5 – perfect for easy-to-see viewing of images. Furthermore, these models feature Intelligent LCD, which detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level of the LCD to offer optimal clarity in any situation, whether dark or light; indoors or outdoors.

The LUMIX DMC-FS20, with a manufacturer’s retail price (MSRP) of: $299.95 will be available in pink, black and silver models, and the DMC-FS5 (MSRP: $249.95) will be available in red, black and silver models. Both will be available in February 2008.

About Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company

Based in Secaucus, N.J., Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company is a Division of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (NYSE: MC) and the hub of Panasonic’s U.S. marketing, sales, service and R&D operations. In its commitment to provide consumers with extensive imaging resources, Panasonic LUMIX established the Digital Photo Academy, a series of nationwide workshops designed to instruct consumers how to optimize the features on their digital cameras and produce high-quality photos. Panasonic is honored to support OUR PLACE – The World’s Heritage, a project that will create the world’s largest photographic collection of UNESCO World Heritage sites, with acclaimed photographers exclusively using LUMIX digital cameras to capture all images. Information about Panasonic LUMIX digital still cameras and its affiliated programs is available at www.panasonic.com/dsc.

Categories: Compact Camera, Panasonic Lumix // Add Comment »

Panasonic today announced the newest addition to its popular line of super-slim LUMIX FX-Series digital cameras, with the introduction of the DMC-FX35, complete with Panasonic’s first-ever 25mm ultra-wide-lens. The FX35, with 10.1 megapixels, also features a 4x optical zoom, Panasonic’s Advanced Intelligent Auto mode, a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens offering f2.8 brightness and the new fourth-generation new fourth-generation Venus Engine image processor.

“With the Panasonic LUMIX FX35’s 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens, we are providing consumers with a camera that captures remarkable and unprecedented width and depth – all available in a slim camera that is small enough to carry in a pocket or small purse,” said Alex Fried, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “Consumers are gradually beginning to understand the value of wide-angle lenses. When they fully understand that the FX35 can help them capture almost double the frame, meaning they can squeeze twice as many friends into the group shot, we’re confident we’ll have some happy digital photographers.”

To achieve a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens in the slim design of the FX35, Panasonic developed a new unevenly thick concave meniscus EA (Extra high refractive index Aspherical) lens. Working closely with Leica to meet their strict standards on lenses, the LUMIX FX35’s lens compromises of seven elements in six groups, including four aspherical lenses with six aspherical surfaces.

Panasonic’s Advanced Intelligent Auto mode expands Panasonic’s system of intuitive technologies with the addition of Intelligent Exposure and Digital Red-eye Correction. Consisting of seven advanced and intuitive technologies, with Advanced Intelligent Auto mode, the consumer is able to rely on the advanced technologies happening automatically, without them changing any settings, thus taking high-quality photos is easy and effortless. Advanced Intelligent Auto mode includes:
Intelligent Exposure – With this new feature, photos will no longer be under- or over-exposed. Instead, the FX35, instantly analyze the framed image and adjusts the brightness in areas that are too dark because of dim lighting, backlighting or the use of the flash. The camera will automatically adjust the brightness accordingly.

Digital Red-eye Correction– This feature helps to eliminate the red-eye problem that sometimes results when taking flash shots at the night. Incorporated into the camera, the built-in flash emits a small preliminary flash before the main flash, detects red-eye and will digitally correct it.

MEGA O.I.S. – Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and the lens system shifts to compensate, helping to prevent hand-shake from creating a blurry image.

Intelligent ISO – With Intelligent ISO, the FX35 can determine if the photo subject is moving and change the ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly, thus giving a blur-free photo.

Intelligent Scene Selector – Intelligent Scene Selector senses the ambient conditions, recognizes the shooting environment and will automatically select the appropriate scene mode from: Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait or Night Scenery mode. This intuitive technology, helps the consumer use the most common scene modes that are built into the camera, but often go unused, without making any manual adjustments.

Face Detection – Face Detection detects faces anywhere in the frame, even if they are moving, and automatically chooses the optimal focus and exposure settings so portraits come out clear and crisp. Panasonic’s Face Detection detects up to 15 faces.

Quick AF – The Quick AF (auto focus) system starts focus on the subject by just pointing the camera to the subject, thus minimizing the AF time.
The FX35 features a fourth-generation high-performance image processing LSI, the Venus Engine IV. The Venus Engine IV produces higher-quality digital photos, as compared to the Venus Engine III predecessor, with an advanced signal processing system that produces a quick response time. The shutter release time lag is as short as 0.005 second, making it easier to capture sudden, spur-of-the-moment photo opportunities. In burst shooting mode, the DMC-FX35 can snap 2.5 shots per second at full resolution**. Also, in High-Speed Burst shooting mode***, it fires an incredible 6 shots-per-second, plus unlimited consecutive shooting****, which lets the consumer snap photos until the memory card is full.

Consumers can view slideshows on the FX35’s 2.5-inch LCD, and new this year, can also add mood-appropriate music, choosing from natural, slow, urban or swing tunes. The LUMIX FX35 incorporates an Intelligent LCD, which detects the lighting condition and controls the brightness level of the LCD in 11 fine steps, to offer a display with the most appropriate clarity in any situation. Users can also enjoy slideshows of captured images with music effects to match the mood of the images. Furthermore, the High Angle mode makes the LCD screen extremely easy to view when the camera is held high, such as when shooting over a crowd.

The LUMIX FX35 is capable of recording 720p High Definition motion pictures and 1920 x 1080 pixel High Definition-ready photos that perfectly fit a wide-screen (16:9) HDTV. Panasonic VIERA Plasma or LCD HDTVs that have an integrated SD Memory Card slot, so viewing still images is simple as inserting the SD card. In addition, with the newly added HD component output capability, consumers can enjoy watching still and motion images in stunning HD quality taken by simply taking the DMC-FX35 and connecting the camera via an optional component cable (DMW-HDC2).

The DMC-FX35 will be available in March 2008 in silver, black and blue, models with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $349.95.

*Comparison to 35mm film camera

** Maximum 5 images in standard mode/ 3 images in fine mode.

*** In 2-megapixel (4:3), 2.5-megapixel (3:2), 2-megapixel (16:9) recording.

**** The consecutive shooting speed varies with the memory card, image size, and image compression mode. The number of shots depends on the memory card size, battery life, image size and image compression mode.

Categories: Compact Camera, Panasonic Lumix // Add Comment »

Sony today unveiled its S-Frame brand of digital photo frames, offering vibrant LCD screens and stylish designs suitable for the living room, bedroom or office.

The new DPF-V900, DPF-V700 and DPF-D70 digital photo frame models have WVGA resolution (800 x 480 pixels) along with 15:9 aspect-ratio screens to showcase your digital pictures with detail and clarity. Inside the black bezels of these thin frames is an advanced image processor that scales and displays images up to 48 megapixels, making the frames capable of handling photos taken with the most advanced digital cameras.

“Digital photo frames are a natural addition to our line of digital imaging products,” said Ted Okada, senior vice president of digital imaging for Sony Electronics. “Our new S-Frame brand of digital photo frames takes inspiration from the style and features of our Cyber-shot cameras and BRAVIA LCD televisions. They give consumers a beautiful and technically advanced way to showcase their memories.”

The three new frames offer convenient features such as 10 slide show variations, clock and calendar views, and two index modes so you can preview several photos at once. You can also conserve energy by using the auto power on/off setting to program when you want the frame to turn on in the morning and off at night. Functions of the digital photo frame can be managed remotely using the included controller.

The 7-inch DPF-V700 and 9-inch DPF-V900 digital photo frames have 512MB of internal storage, while the 7–inch DPF-D70 model has 256MB of internal flash memory. In order to maximize internal memory, the models all offer an auto-resizing option that downsizes photos so you can store hundreds within the device and then return your memory card back to the camera.

Digital images can be loaded onto the internal memory of the digital photo frames from several types of flash memory cards, including Memory Stick PRO™, Memory Stick PRO Duo™, SD Memory Card, MMC, Compact Flash, Microdrive® and xD-Picture Card. Photos can also be transferred to the frames via the USB cable from a personal computer or digital camera.

The DPF-V900 and DPF-V700 digital photo frames are Bluetooth®-enabled. Using a Bluetooth adaptor, sold separately, the frames can import images wirelessly from a Bluetooth-device such as a mobile phone. Both frames also connect to Sony® BRAVIA and other compatible HDTV sets to display your photos in high definition via an HDMI cable, sold separately.

All three S-Frame models support JPEG and RAW (SRF, SR2, ARW) image file formats. The DPF-V900 and DPF-V700 frames also support TIFF and BMP file formats. These two models also feature Sony’s Bionz™ processor with face detection technology for faster processing speeds, as well as in-frame photo correction like focus enhancement, red-eye corrections and exposure adjustment.

The DPF-V900, PPF-V700 and DPF-V700 digital photo frames will be available for $250, $190 and $140, respectively. All three will ship in March and can be purchased online at http://www.sonystyle.com, at Sony Style® retail stores, at military base exchanges, and at authorized dealers nationwide.

Categories: Photo Frame, Photo Viewer // Add Comment »

DP Review has posted their review of the Fuji FinePix S8000fd where they write:

The S8000fd packs an awful lot into its compact body, and seems to be trying pretty hard to be all things to all people, with manual exposure controls sitting alongside point-and-shoot convenience features such as face detection. There is a high-speed shooting mode (at reduced resolution), and some extremely high sensitivity modes (again at lower resolution), for shooting in low light. What compromises this all-encompassing approach brings, we shall see. …

The advantage of a larger camera is that the designers can fit more controls onto the body – and allow them room to breathe, so it doesn’t feel too ‘cramped’. And the S8000fd certainly has more than its fair share of buttons and switches, which between them give the user instant access to pretty much all the most commonly accessed controls – although you still need to use the menu system if you want to change white balance or metering, or to use the self-timer (infuriatingly the self-timer also cancels itself after every shot)…

This is because cramming an 18x (27-486mm equiv.) lens into a compact body involves some compromises, both optical and digital (to avoid the camera ending up the size of a suitcase, the sensor has to be very small indeed). The zoom produces significant levels of chromatic aberration at the long end and clearly visible distortion at both ends, but that is to be expected. As is the slight loss of resolution and contrast at longer focal lengths and the less than class-leading image quality in general. We were more disappointed to see that Fuji still hasn’t sorted out the purple fringing and red channel clipping that has plagued previous models.

Detail review about  Fuji FinePix S8000fd

Categories: Fujifilm, Prosumer Camera // Add Comment »