Gadgetell | Tech News, Reviews, and Interesting Things

Samsung Camera recently refreshed their camera lineup by unveiling six new camera models at CES last month.

• S1050 (pictured) – With a 10.1 mega-pixel sensor,5x optical zoom lens, and shutter speeds that reach up to 1/2000 sec, users can take advantage of the S1050’s speed and resolution in any situation. From picturesque landscapes to fast sports action, the S1050 does it all.


• S850 – With an 8.0 mega-pixel sensor, a 5x optical zoom lens, and a host of advanced capabilities, the S850 presents the ideal camera for photographers seeking a compact, full-featured digital camera at a reasonable price.


• S730 – The 7 mega-pixel S730 offers user-friendly operation in a powerful point-and-shoot camera. The S730 combines Samsung’s image processing technology and quality optics with a straightforward, uncluttered user interface and a stylish design.


• S630 – The 6 mega-pixel point-and-shoot camera is compact and offers Samsung’s quality optics and image processing technology in a user-friendly design.


• L700 – Loaded with 7 mega-pixels, a 3x optical zoom lens, bright 2.5” LCD display, and a robust suite of advanced video and editing features, the L700 offers a well-rounded mix of features all in a compact, stylish, metal body.


• L73 – This pocket-sized point-and-shoot camera packs a punch. With 7 mega-pixels and a precision 3x optical zoom lens, the L73 presents the ideal tool for photographers needing a compact camera they can take anywhere without compromising features, image quality, or ease of use. The L73 boasts many of the features typically found on cameras costing twice as much.

Read [Samsung Camera]

If you’re a photography enthusiast, professional, or just looking for a hip new camera to impress the ladies, meet the Fujifilm’s new Finepix IS-1.  The IS-1 is actually an infrared camera, based on the S9100 model from Fujifilm.

Most cameras require the use of a special infrared lens to filter the shot properly - but not the IS-1.  The only issue I can see is that if you don’t need the camera for infrared full-time (scientist, dentist, police, etc) then you’re going to need to get an infrared-cut filter to reverse it to take a “normal” shot.  The IS-1 ships in February for $899.

Read [LivingRoom]

All right, you have had time to get accustomed and offer feedback on the new design. We have come down from our birthday/redesign high and are ready for giveaway number three. We are switching it up this time from in home products (Altec Lancing’s iPod dock and the Helios streaming media player) to the Panasonic DMC-TZ1 - a product made for on the go.

The Panasonic DMC-TZ1 is a 5.0 megapixel digital camera with a unheard of 10x optical zoom. It takes 16:9 (as well as standard images) on a 2.5” LCD screen that look great on your plasma even when shooting in low-light.

To enter: All you have to do is leave a comment, any comment. This post will close Friday (the 17th), and then we will pick the winner at random, assuming you don’t cheat, as well as post a new giveaway!

The rules…

The Rules:

• You may only enter this contest one time


• You can only win once during the extent of the “v2 giveaway” contest, but can enter each one


• The winner will be sent a notice via email and has 72 hours to reply with their mailing address to claim their prize—make sure you use a valid email address
• You will be shipped your prize as soon as we get it into the mail, but don’t worry it’s coming

Good luck!

In line with today’s materialistic culture, Radica has released its new product - the Digi Makeover Interactive Make-up Kit. Need a present for a pre-teen girl but unsure of what to buy? No need to brainstorm, this is just the right gift for all those fashion crazy girls. The electronic device features an interactive touch pad and digital camera that plugs directly into a TV. Your teen will be able to take her own picture and try out new hairstyles (and colors), makeup, clothes and accessories. She can even add makeup and jewelry and then save her new looks for future use. The device even has a photo booth mode to show off her latest creations.

Hopefully, the device will curb the dreaded “mom I have nothing to wear” and the “why am i so ugly” conversations. How you ask? Easy. Simply, pull out the Digi-Makeover kit, scroll to her collection of outfits/looks (which I expect will be quite enormous) and suggest she use one of the existing ones. One can only pray that this method works.

Interested? You can buy it at Wal-Mart for just under $60.

Read [Radica] Via [ShinyShiny]

Have you always wanted to try out digital photography, but did not know where to start?

Olympus has two new ultra-compact cameras under its Fun & Easy (FE) series that it recommends for first-time camera owners. The first is the 6.0 megapixel FE-170 ($167) that comes with 3x optical zoom and a large 2.5in LCD screen.

It has “one button, one function” design and a mode dial, which eliminates the fuss of having to navigate through potentially confusing menus. The FE-170 comes with 10 scene modes for capturing sports, self-portraits, night shots and fireworks scenes, among others. It also has a “super-macro” setting that makes shooting close-up photos a snap for beginners.

On the higher end is the 6.0 megapixel Olympus FE-190 ($250), which is a slender ultra-compact measuring just 18.5mm thick. Like FE-170, it also has a 3x optical zoom, 2.5in LCD screen, mode dial and scene modes.

In addition, both cameras feature digital image stabilization, which provides fast shutter speeds with high ISO – so beginners with shaky hands can still take a good shot.

Read [Olympus] http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06082301olyfe170180.asp">Via [DPreview]

Continuing to offer the weatherproof Stylus line of cameras, Olympus has added a top of the line 10 megapixel camera.  With it’s high shutter speed (as low as 1/1000th second) and high ISO rating (up to 6400), the camera can take extra sharp pictures with no blur, even with some camera movement.  The Digital Stabilization feature allows you to edit out blurs that show up in the picture.  The Stylus 1000 has a 2.5 inch LCD screen for previewing pictures, with a 3x optical and 5x digital zoom resulting in a 15x total zoom.  The camera has 28.5 MB internal memory, which can be expanded using the company’s trademarked xD-Picture Card up to 2GB.

The camera measures 3.8” x 2.2” x 0.89” and weighs in at 4.9 oz without the battery or media card.  This small camera with tons of extras sells for a suggested retail price of $399.99.

Via [Gizmodo]
Read [Olympus]

Another strong Pentax camera is ready to join their Optio S line up.  The S series is a slim-line digital camera full of state of the art features.  The S7 is raising up to 7 megapixels, and will introduce their “Face Recognition AF & AE”.  This function isn’t what it sounds like, but it still adds a lot to the camera.  Pentax says it “simplifies portrait-taking by automatically detecting the position of the subject’s face and adjusting the focus and exposure based on the detected position.”

The Optio S7 has a 3X optical zoom, a 2.5 inch LCD monitor and 23 MB of internal memory.  The camera also has a MPEG-4 DivX Movie Mode and will accept both SD memory cards and SDHC cards, up to 4GB.  The camera will go on the open market in September 2006, with a price under $300.

Read [Press Release]

Fighting the shakes is a huge problem for the average photographer.  For years, camcorders have been able to correct this problem, and digital cameras are catching up.  Pentax’s new K100D digital SLR camera includes the company’s shake reduction technology that will help you take blur-free shots.  According to E-Gear, the technology works by using a free-floating image sensor that operates by an electromagnetically controlled system.  The 6.1 megapixel K100D includes a 2.5 inch LCD, 12x zoom, and will be available in August for under $700.

Via [E-Gear]

View the product page of the Pentax K100D.