Mobile z Talk

Samsung Electronics unveiled a powerful compact digital camcorder ‘MX20‘, with its newly developed platform that enables higher video quality and longer recording times. The new MX20 also allows users to upload their files to iPod and YouTube without transcoding the files.

The new MX20 is the first to apply H.264 CODEC to SD camcorders. Compared to SD camcorders using MPEG-2, the MX20’s H.264 enhances video quality and recording times significantly. In the fine mode, Samsung’s MX-20 camcorder can record up to 4 hours of footage using an 8GB memory card, 8 hours using a 16GB memory card, and up to 16 hours using a 32GB card.

The MX20 features a powerful, world-renowned Schneider lens with 34x optical zoom and Samsung’s improved Hyper Digital Image Stabilization, which compensates for the images caused by hand-shaking for sharper footage.

The MX20 features a unique shooting mode that allows users to select a resolution and format that’s ideal for uploading videos to an iPod or YouTube. Unlike other camcorders, users can easily import the video to iTunes and play it on iPod or other personal media players supporting H.264 without having to transcode the files. By selecting the Web & Mobile mode, the camcorder’s resolution is automatically adjusted to 640×480 (H.264 / AAC / MP4) and optimized for use on iPod or YouTube.

The camcorder offers Samsung’s exclusive swivel hand-grip which effortlessly adjusts for regular and those hard-to-reach low angle shots. It also has an advanced 2.7 inch screen LCD which helps users frame their subjects and review footage even under strong sunlight.

The Samsung MX20, offered in black, white, red and blue will be available in September.

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Olympus unveiled five new digicams last Monday, namely the 1050SW, 1040, Sp-570 UZ, FE-360 and FE-370. We’ve already featured the 1050SW and the 1040 so let’s focus our attention to the last three cams we listed.

The Sp-570 UZ looks like a small DSLR and has a shadow adjustment technology while the FE-360 and FE-370 both feature 8-megapixel sensors. Price of the the Sp-570 is at $400. The Olympus FE cameras, on the hand, will cost $150 and $200.

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Nikon Europe announces another great step forward in its mid-class DX-format D-SLR range: the Nikon D90. As the world’s first mid-class D-SLR with movie function which offers truly cinematic results, stunning image quality and innovative high-performance features inherited from Nikon’s new-generation DX-format flagship D300, the D90 opens new doors for photography enthusiasts of any level. And with 12.3 megapixels, the newly-designed DX-format CMOS image sensor and Nikon’s proprietary EXPEED image processing concept, the Nikon D90 is a quality-guarantee. Advanced features such as Live View, Scene Recognition, Active D-Lighting, Picture Control and an ISO sensitivity range of 200-3200, allows creativity in almost any setting.

Specifications

Finder: Pentaprism, 96% coverage, 0.94x magnification with 50mm lens, 19.5 mm eyepoint. Settable 16-frame grid. Still a crappy, small finder compared to any film or FX camera: remember, the 96% coverage is of a frame only 0.65x the size of FX.

AF: 11 points. Multi-CAM 1000 AF module. Annoying AF assist illuminator.

Light Meter: 420 segment RGB Color Matrix with face detection. Center-weighted and spot for old-timers, too.

Depth-of-field Preview: Yes.

Shutter: 1/4,000 ~ 30 seconds and Bulb. Full, half and third stops.

Shutter Death: Tested to 100,000 cycles during design, Nikon doesn’t share how many of them passed or failed that test. No big deal, Nikon’s warrantees have never had a mileage (shutter count) limitation.

Fastest Shutter Speed with Flash (sync speed): 1/200. No mention of the trick FP mode.

Built-in flash: 18mm lens coverage, Guide Number 17/56 (ISO 200, m/ft.), 12/40 (ISO 100). i-TTL flash control: works as commander controlling up to two groups of remote flashes.

Flash Compatibility: i-TTL (SB-400, SB-600, SB-800, SB-900 and R1C1).

Sensor: 12.3 MP CMOS DX (15.8 x 23.6 mm). Sensor cleaner.

ISO: 100-6,400. ISO 200 ~ 3,200 come up the usual way, while ISO 100 is ‘cyrpted as “Lo 1″ and ISO 6,400 as “Hi 1.”

Still Image Sizes: 4,288 x 2,848 (L), 3,216 x 2,136 (M) and 2,144 x 1,424 (S).

Still Image Formats: JPG, NEF, or both.

Motion Picture Formats: 1,280×720p/24, motion JPG .AVI for great frame-to-frame editing. Also 640×424 and 320 x 216 pixels. No word yet about variable frame rates, 23.98, genlock or variable shutter angles, probably not.

Longest Movie Scene: Not specified.

Storage: SD and SDHC cards.

Video out: Also HDMI.

LCD: 3,” 640 x 480.

Power: Standard EN-EL3e battery (D80, D200, D300, D700, etc.). Rated 850 shots with 50% flash.

Size: 5.2 x 4.1 x 3.0 in. (132 x 103 x 77 mm).

Weight: 1 lb. 6 oz. (620 g), stripped naked like abandoned cars in the Bronx (no battery, no card, no lens, no cap, no strap and no monitor cover).

Included (can vary by area, especially if you order from any store in Brooklyn):

EN-EL3e battery

MH-18a charger

DK-5 eyepiece cap

DK-21 Rubber Eyecup

UC-E4 USB cable,

EG-D2 AV cable,

AN-DC1 Strap

BM-10 LCD Monitor Cover

Body Cap

BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover (don’t you love these Japanese designations; the shoe cover is BS!)

Software CD

Nikon ViewNX browsing and editing software, which also does raw (NEF) image adjustments and conversions. This is good; Nikon View is one of the very few decent pieces of software from Nikon.

Announced: 27 August 2008.

Available: Late September 2008.

Price: $999 USA (€ 899), add $300 for 18-105mm kit lens.

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Canon’s two latest models from its budget-friendly A-Series digital cameras are definitely something to look forward to when they are released sometime in September. These cameras are the PowerShot A1000 IS and PowerShot A2000 IS. Finally, Canon has decided to do away with the bulky and heavy form factor of its old A-Series cameras and decided to make their new generation slimmer, lighter and more compact. Canon has even throw in a very powerful feature which is the ultra-zoom optical range.

Features common to both the A1000 IS and A2000 IS are their 10-megapixel resolution sensor and the presence of the DIGIC III Image Processor plus the A1000 IS gets a 4x optical zoom while the A2000 IS gets a higher 6x optical zoom. Both models are also equipped with an optical image stabilization lens and high ISO Auto sensitivity.

For other features, we are looking at a 2.5-inch LCD for the A1000 IS and 3-inch LCD for the A2000 IS. The digital cameras also feature an optical viewer, face detection, Easy Mode and Easy Playback modes, print/share button for direct printing and downloading, ID Photo Print and Movie Print as well, motion detection automatic red eye correction.

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Canon’s range of PowerShot cameras cater to both entry level and mid-range models, and the PowerShot SX110 IS falls under the latter category which will oust the SX100 IS. Some of the features and specifications are :-

* 9 megapixel resolution
* 10x optical zoom with optical Image Stabilizer
* 3” LCD display
* Face Detection technology
* Motion Detection technology
* Easy Mode
* Full manual control.
* SD/SDHC/MMC memory card slot

You will be able to pick up Canon PowerShot SX110IS at the end of this month for $299.99 in the US, while those in Europe will have to wait until September, paying a much more expensive €309.

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Panasonic Korea launched its new digital camera ‘Lumix DMC-FZ28′ featuring a 27mm wide-angle Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens with an 18x optical zoom.

The super-powerful 18x zoom lens makes it easy to pull in subjects from far away or to take dramatic close-ups. The 27mm wide-angle feature is ideal for both broad landscapes and tight indoor shots, letting photographers capture a wider view.

The FZ28 also boasts 10.1-megapixel resolution and adds a number of enhanced features that boost user fun and convenience, represented by an advanced iA (Intelligent Auto) mode. For image processing, the FZ28 features the high-speed, high-performance, Venus Engine IV. In high sensitivity mode, the FZ28 can capture stunning photos with sensitivity up to ISO 6400 in extremely low lit situations.

In addition to capturing beautiful still images, the FZ28 makes it easy to shoot high-definition 1280 x 720p motion images at 30 fps with outstanding detail. The FZ28 features a large, 2.7-inch Intelligent LCD with 230,000-dot resolution.

Suggested price is between 500,000(KRW) and 600,000(KRW).

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Panasonic Korea launched its new digital camera ‘Lumix DMC-FX180′ equipped with a 14.7M CCD sensor with 3.6x optical zoom and 7.7x digital zoom lens.

Adopting a 230,000-pixel 2.7-inch LCD screen with wide viewing angle, the FX180 support up to ISO 6400 and other advanced functions including Intelligent Auto mode, AF Tracking, Intelligent Exposure, Intelligent Scene select, Face Detection, MEGA-O.I.S. and Intelligent ISO.

In addition to capturing beautiful still images, the FX180 makes it easy to shoot high-definition 1280 x 720p motion images at 24 fps. It comes with a built-in 50MB memory and SD/SDHC card slot.

Suggested price is below 500,000(KRW).

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