By way of a brief heads up for those of you looking for a killer deal on a new Nikon camera – specifically the point and shoot Nikon CoolPix L19 – whether for yourself or to give as a gift as Walmart are offering the Nikon CoolPix L19 bundled with a 4GB SDHC memory card and a case for a mere $79.
The 8 megapixel Nikon CoolPix L19, as mentioned above, is very much an entry level point and shoot camera offering 20MB of internal memory capacity (you’re getting a 4GB card bundled in so no worries there), 3.6x optical zoom (and 4x digital zoom) and, as you’d expect from a P&S camera, there’s a host of auto features such as Nikon’s Scene Auto Selector as well as their Smart Portrait System, BBS (Best Shot Selector). The CoolPix L19 also offers up 16 scene modes, Flood Mode, D-Lighting and movie recording capabilities up to 640 x 480 resolution.
9-megapixel CMOs sensor, 5x zoom and 10x slow motion all in HD
In an industry where, suddenly, if you can’t record full HD and take stills with a CMOS sensor, you’re not in the game, JVC has still managed to pull out an impressive camcorder in the shape of the Everio X.
The X, or GZ-X900 as it’s also known, offers 9-megapixel pictures and 1080p HD at a weight of 298g but, most interesting of all, it features video capture at up to 500fps. That translates as 10x super slow motion speeds. It’ll be like watching the Tornado Camera in your own home movies.
It’s out in June complete with 5x zoom Minolta glassware, an HDMI 1.3 port and will record onto SDHC.
The design of Everio X is a distinct departure from other camcorders, including other Everio models. About the size of a chunky smart phone, Everio X is a slab-sided rectangle without the handgrip, protrusions or indentations found on most camcorders. The design allows plenty of flexibility in how the camera is held – from below, above, or whatever suits the situation and the user’s preference. There are top-mounted zoom and record buttons, and a second set next to the LCD screen for additional shooting flexibility. The camera is black with silver accents, with the right side featuring a textured carbon fiber-like finish to provide a secure grip and resist smudges.
Small enough to easily slip into a pocket or purse, Everio X weighs just 0.66 pounds (including the internal battery and a memory card) and measures 2.6 inches tall, 4.88 inches long and just 1.46 inches wide.
Recording speed Image size Recording time Playback time
600fps 640 x 72 pixels Approx. 2.4 sec. Approx. 24 sec. (10x)
300fps 480 x 116 pixels Approx. 4 sec. Approx. 20 sec. (5x)
120fps 480 x 270 pixels Approx. 8sec. Approx. 16 sec. (2x)
Summit Global, the exclusive licensee of Polaroid imaging, has announced the return of one of the world’s most iconic camera brands.
Polaroid will once again manufacture a range of classic instant film products like the Polaroid “600″ instant film, and also bring back a range of instant cameras to use them with, including the easy to use ‘Polaroid One’.
As well as focusing on traditional analogue film, Polaroid will continue to develop its digital instant platforms, enhancing the revolutionary ZINK (zero-ink) technology used in the Polaroid POGO Instant Digital Printer. This allows users to print photos instantly from a mobile phone or digital camera.
One new product that is planned is the Polaroid “TWO”, the digital version of the traditional instant camera as well as the Polaroid “THREE”, an instant digital camera that produces 4inch x 3inch instant digital photos.
Says Giovanni Tomaselli, Managing Director of Summit Global: “With significant marketing effort being applied to instant photography, both with the re-launch of instant film and through product line expansion of the digital formats we will introduce the Polaroid Brand to younger consumers and ready them for a lifetime of Polaroid experiences.”
Certainly Polaroid was a classic in its hey day back in the 1960 and 1970s, but the world has moved on very quickly since its departure from the instant camera market in early 2008. It will be interesting to see if it can compete in the digital age with its new range of instant digital cameras.
