Samsung Camera's unit has rolled out another new product. The Samsung S850 has an 8.0 mega-pixel image sensor, 5x optical zoom lens, and shutter speeds that reach up to an effective 1/2000. Some of the features of the Samsung's latest camera are designed to help the user to cope with difficult shooting situations. The higher shutter speed will help against blurring photos, the portrait feature will allow the camera to focus on the object you're looking to shoot, and screen splits will allow you to combine multiple images in one single file. Movie mode (to capture video) is available in four modes from 320x240 to 800x592.

The Samsung S850 contains 20 megabytes and can be expanded to 4 Gigs. The camera comes with a USB 2.0 cable, and CD-ROM containing Samsung's Digimax Master software. The product will be released in Spring and will retail at an affordable $249.

Samsung Electronics has announced at least 5 new digital cameras at CES 2007 including the flagship model of its prosumer S-Series, the Samsung S1050, a "chart topper in both resolution, quality and style."

The camera boasts of a 10.1 megapixel image sensor, 5x optical zoom and a 3-inch LCD, higher than most standard digital cameras of late. It also supports shutter speeds of up to 1/2000 sec and ISO of up to 1600.

Other features include image stabilization, Wise shot (camera will take two consecutive pictures in rapid succession with different settings and will allow you to choose the best one), a dedicated effects button, and various shooting modes (Children, Backlight and Portrait). Video capture isn't that spectacular with only VGA resolution at 20fps.

One great feature however is its versatile options for powering the device. The S1050 runs on AA alkaline batteries or an optional Ni-MH rechargeable battery. It would be best to purchase the optional battery and then carry along a set of alkaline batteries as backup.

The S1050 has 45MB of Internal memory and can accept Secure Digital (SD) cards of up to 4GB.

This digital camera will hit stores in spring of 2007 and will retail for $349. Samsung says they will make it available in silver or black.

Another new digicam to pop up from the trusty stables of Samsung is the Samsung S630. The S630 is a six megapixel camera and is ideal for the casual shooter who like their photography fun and uncomplicated. It is for this reason, that Samsung has kept straightforward when it comes to the interface.

The Samsung S630 is ideal for first time digital shooters and one needn't waste unnecessary time thinking about multiple settings. The on board ASR image stabilization system helps to reduce camera shake and image blur during longer exposures.The camera is also capable of detecting environmental light conditions through the CCD and adjust the brightness of the LCD display for optimal image viewing.

The S630 has been outfitted with a 2.5” LCD display and has an internal memory of 20MB. It accepts Secure Digital (SD) flash memory cards up to 4 gigabytes (includes SD, MMC and SDHC) and the Movie mode is capable of recording footage one of four resolutions, from 320x240 to 800x600, at up to 30 frames per second in AVI (MPEG-4) format.

The camera includes a microphone and one can attach a 10-second voice memo to a image and also indulge in voice recording up to one-hour. The Samsung S630 comes with the Digimax Master software (compatible with Windows 98/2000/ME/XP and Macintosh OS X 9.2 through 10.4) and includes a whole array of Scene Modes. No word on pricing or availability.

The Samsung L73 is the latest digital camera on the block and boasts of a comprehensive feature set! The L73 is a pocket-sized point and shoot featuring a 7 mega pixel image sensor and a precision 3x optical zoom lens. For enhanced performance, Samsung has also incorporated Smart Touch technology which uses two sets of pressure sensitive buttons to quickly access the camera’s controls.

The L73 is outfitted with a 2.5” TFT LCD screen and is housed in a black or silver finish. Samsung has also thrown in their proprietary Intelligent Face Recognition Technology, which is known to "detects the subject’s face, automatically adjusts auto focus and auto exposure to ensure better composition and image quality in portraits, and other shots featuring people."

For combatting the dreaded camera shake, the L73 sports the Samsung’s proprietary ASR image stabilization system which reduces image blur during longer exposures. The Wise Shot feature also kicks in and can take two consecutive pictures in rapid succession - one with ASR image stabilization enabled, and one with the flash.

The now mandatory Movie Mode is also seen on the L73 and the camera is capable of recording footage one of four resolutions, from 320x240 to 800x600, at up to 30 frames per second in AVI (MPEG-4) format. Those interested in high-speed photography should be happy to know that the L73 has shutter speeds of up to 1/2000 sec. The camera includes a built-in microphone which allows a 10-second voice memo to be attached to any still image and the on board Motion Timer can take a self timed picture.

The Samsung L73 comes bundled with applications like; Samsung’s Digimax Master software (compatible with Windows 98/2000/ME/XP and Macintosh OS X 9.2 through 10.4), and has an internal memory of 19 megabytes. No word on pricing or availability.

Kodak exhibited their new KODAK EASYSHARE V1003 Zoom Digital Camera at the 2007 CES which promises both fun and functionality. Tired of the same old boring digicams? Then perk up as the V1003 will be available in funky colors like; pink bliss, red shimmer, cosmic blue, mystic purple, golden dream, white glaze, silver essence, slate gray and java black.

The Kodak V1003 is equipped with a 10 megapixel sensor, which ain't surprising since we live in a Pixel Crazy World! This one is ideal for both the casual shooter and for those who like to be involved in their photography. The V1003 has a whole gamut of manual controls and has a max ISO Mode of 1600.

One also comes across a bright 2.5-inch (6.4 cm) color LCD screen and a nifty feature called “Maintain Settings”. Via this function, one can store their preferred settings like flash, white balance, ISO and resolution between uses. Through the on board Favorites feature, favorite images are stores on the camera for instant viewing.

The KODAK EASYSHARE V1003 uses KODAK PERFECT TOUCH Technology which helps to bring out shadow details and also has an anti-blur mode which acts as an image-stabilization. Like any self-respecting Point And Shoot, this one too has a Movie Mode which is able to capture VGA video (640 x 480) with sound at 30 fps and includes trimming and tagging for easy editing and searching.

The V1003 includes 22 scene modes, including simple on-camera stitching for dynamic panorama shots and tools like; blurry picture alert, digital red-eye reduction and picture cropping for consistently better shots. The KODAK EASYSHARE V1003 Camera will retail for US $249.95 (MSRP) beginning in March.

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Fujifilm has just announced the FinePix F40fd is an compact 8.3 megapixel digital camera that's packed with tons of features.

Aimed at both beginners and semi-professionals this camera comes with Fujifilm's Face Detection Technology which can focus on up to 10 faces no matter where they are in the frame. During playback you can also auto-zoom in to each face to make sure everyone was looking their best (with their eyes open and best smiles).

The camera runs on Fujifilm's Real Photo Processor II, comes equipped with a Super CCD HR VI, and also works well in low lighting situations and can take shots up to ISO 2000.

It is also the first in a line of cameras by Fujifilm that features an xD/SD compatible slot. Previous Fujifilm cameras supported only xD Picture cards, the F40fd is the first to also support Secure Digital (SD) cards.

Other features include 3x optical zoom, VGA (640x480) movie capture, 14 pre-programmed scene modes, IR image transfer, a 2.5 inch LCD, PictBridge direct printing support and a rechargeable Li-ion battery that can take up to 300 shots on a single charge.

The device is set for a March 2007 release and will retail for a very affordable $299.

Meet the latest entrant in the Pentax Digicam Family. The Pentax Optio E30 is yet another point and shoot to grace us with its presence and you can catch a glimpse of the E30 at the upcoming CES 2007!

The Optio E30 is a 7.1 megapixel digital camera and features a 3X optical zoom lens (36-108mm lens in 35mm format) with a 4X digital zoom for a maximum of 12X magnification. As you can see from the picture, the digicam looks pretty much like the Standard Optio E Series and one comes across an all metallic silver housing.

The digicam is outfitted with a 2.4 LCD and draws it juice from AA batteries. The Optio E30 claims to have a power-saving design which translates to 200 photos from one set of alkaline batteries or 760 shots on a set of lithium AA batteries.

The camera supports new SDHC memory cards in addition to conventional SD memory cards and the on board movie mode can capture footage at 640 x 480 pixels. Other feature include; PictBridge, DPOF functions, Exif Print, and PRINT Image Matching II compatibility,Green mode which automatically sets the exposure, sensitivity, white balance etc and compatibility with ImageLink printing system.

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The Fuji FinePix IS-1 Infrared Digital Camera may not be suited for common folks unless you are a CSI buff, but this nine MegaPixel Fujifilm DSLR is ideal for law enforcement, medical/dental and science fields and is actually a follow-up model to the FinePix S3 Pro UVIR D-SLR.

Thanks to its infra-red capabilities, the Fuji FinePix IS-1 can capture evidence which is not seen by the human eye and functions in both the visible and infrared light spectrums. The biggest selling point is no doubt its live preview feature and an "articulating LCD" which further simplifies previewing, capturing and reviewing photos.

The Fuji FinePix IS-1 is equipped with a built in 10.7x, 28-300mm optical zoom system and features a nine MegaPixel Fujifilm Super CCD sensor and ISO 80-1600 (in case of capturing a visible light image) capabilities. The on board proprietary Real Photo Technology captures images in infra red light (approximately 400nm –900nm) and the Picture Stabilization technology makes for sharper images.

The infra-red camera comes bundled with the Fujifilm Hyper Utility Software HS-V2 version 3 which also supports RAW and helps in side-by side image comparison via the metadata analysis tool which helps in examining images of blood stains, documents or other forms of evidence. The Fuji FinePix IS-1 will be available from February for $899.

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Well, whaddaya know? The almighty FCC seems mighty pleased with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S650 and DSC-S700 digital cameras. The DSC-S700 comes with a pleasing 2.4" 480x240 pixels display while the lesser version has to be content with a 2.0" one.

Apparently both cameras deliver 7-megapixel resolution images. As with any FCC approved device, we get only the blurry images and no info on pricing or when it'll hit the streets.

Voigtlaender, a well known German Brand in photography has unveiled its new 7.0 MegaPixel digital camera in Vitolux XM 7.0. Some of the highlights of the camera include a 3x optical zoom with a focal length of 37.5 - 112.5mm (equiv. 35 mm format camera), and an extra large 3.0-inch LCD display. Sporting a relatively compact 3.78- x 2.32- x 0.79-inch silver casing, it includes 32MB of internal storage, SD slot and MPEG4 movie mode.

On the connectivity side, it features USB allowing you to connect one of these to your Desktop or a Laptop PC and also has DC-in and AV out (NTSC / PAL-friendly). It includes some of the most common features found in digital cameras today, like white balance, PictBridge and also video mode. Shutter speeds range from 1- 1000th of a second and it runs on Lithium Ion battery. It is available at a whopping suggested price of €299, which is slightly higher considering the fact it hasn't got anything extraordinary to offer in the feature list.

Features

Some of its major features include a Nikon DX Format CCD image censor with 6.1 effective megapixel image sensor backed up by Nikon's Image Processing engine.

3D Color Matrix Metering II provides exposure control in tough low light situations by assessing and comparing each scene with a built-in database of over 30,000 possible real-world lighting scenarios. Auto White Balance is also included.

A new retouch menu offers image editing on the camera itself and without need for a computer including adjusting lighting, red-eye correction, cropping, reducing file size for sending via email, and a host of other image and filter effects.

Fast

The D40 takes only 0.18 seconds to power up, and can capture 100 continuous shots a 2.5 frames per second. Images are immediately stored, processed and displayed on its 2.5-inch LCD display. It also supports hi-speed data transfer via USB 2.

Flexible

The Nikon D40 like all Nikon digital SLR cameras can handle a variety of interchangeable lenses. The D40 comes with the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3/5-5.6G ED II (included lens depends on region).

The D40 makes a great choice for first time digital SLR users as it provides a balance between size, features, and ease of use. Retail price for this camera (which comes in black and silver) is $599 (kit) but we're still not sure when we can expect to see it at retail stores. Stay tuned.

Via Press Release

Apple unveiled the latest version of its professional photo management application, Aperture 1.5. Designed to work with RAW images from professional grade digital SLRs and other cameras, Aperture 1.5 comes with a host of newly designed features.

With flexible photo management options, you can virtually store images anywhere you like. Now, Aperture comes with integrated XMP metadata import and an advanced color adjustment tool. What's more, you can now seamlessly add important metadata to your images, including copyright, credit and captions.

Look for RAW image support for over 50 camera models from Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and others. Aperture 1.5 is compatible with all members of the Mac family, including the Mac mini and Mac Pro.

Priced at US $299, Apple Aperture 1.5 is now available.

No, this is not any other digital camera by any stretch of your imagination. It looks like one, but it is a camera with a microscope function. Aven iLoupe has come out with a wonderful concept that's gonna delight people who are looking for a microscope that boasts of a camera function as well.

The device does not have any microscope built-in, but features interchangeable lenses capable of achieving lens magnifications from 60x up to 150x. Meaning, you can zoom in on bacteria in the petri dish from 60x up to a massive 150x. The company says it is targeting forensics investigators and others who have in-the-field needs, as well as those who need to examine fabrics, components, and even skin up close. No word on the pricing and availability as yet.

Via Mobilemag

The new RR730 Digital Camera is a very compact little device. It is only 3.5 x 2.4 x 1 inch number that has a lot of features for something of its size.

First of all, you should know that it has 7.1 Megapixels, which gives the user the best of details and the most vibrant of colors. You can enlarge your photos to A4 size (21 cm x 30 cm) with no loss of detail. Its optical 3x zoom is about to give the best close-up shots, but an additional zoom makes it up to 12x zoom.

On the back of the camera is a bright 2.5 inch LCD monitor that allows viewing of your latest material. The camera is also USB connectable and has video output functionality, so it can see your photos from your TV or laptop. All this comes with 32 MB of storage space, so you should have plenty of space for your pictures. If 32 MB isn’t enough, then simply purchase an SD Memory Card for even more space.

The camera also has a macro mode that can capture excellent details of life. You can capture the intricate beauty of a small object from as little as a few inches away.

You can also use the Select Movie mode to create video footage with a resolution of 320 x 240. You have the option of selecting Scene modes (Auto, Program, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, and Night) to capture incredible shots. Each one is designed for special shots. For example, the Night mode is designed to clear shots with minimal light, and the Sports mode is designed for fast-moving objects.

The Ricoh Caplio RR730 is slated to hit the market later this year with a price of $248 USD. The camera is not rechargeable, and relies on its power from 2 AA batteries.

Another new digital camera from Fuji for the outdoorsy types: check out the FujiFilm FinePix BIGJOB HD-3W camera with a neat waterproof/dustproof design and big 3" preview LCD. The HD-3W offers 3x optical zoom.

The HD-3W, offering all of 6 megapixels in image resolution, is equipped with a 28mm~84mm wide-angle lens for a bigger picture. High sensitivity up to ISO 1600 is supported on this baby. Geared for rough weather, the camera comes with a rubber grip.

On-board, Fuji has fit in approximately 27MB of memory - which means as many as 67 images at 1280x960 pixel resolution can be stored on the camera. As is the norm with Fuji, this camera takes in xD Picture Cards.

You can also shoot videos at VGA (640x480 pixels) resolution at 30 frames-per-second with mono-aural sound. Measuring 128.3mm x 80.5mm x 45mm, the camera weighs in at 390g excluding battery and memory card. Not exactly light-weight.

No word on pricing yet, but the Fuji BIGJOB HD-3W digital camera will be out in January 2007.

Say hello to the new FinePix Z5fd slim digital camera from FujiFilm, incorporating face detection feature and high sensitivities of up to ISO 1600 for low-light photography. This 6.3 megapixel camera from Fuji is enhanced with Image Intelligence processing software for optimal face detection.

The face detection technology made an appearance with the FinePix S6000fd, but it was anything but slim. But with the Z5fd, you can have a slim one in your pocket. It also comes with i-flash, the intelligent flash system from Fuji. The camera features a 2.5" preview LCD.

The camera can also be configured to take two pictures in quick succession, one without flash and one with i-flash. Another interesting feature on the Z5fd is the inclusion of IrSimple, a high-speed infrared communication facility that lets you upload photos from the camera onto a compatible cell phone - and then send it as an MMS or upload it to your favorite photo site.

Available in silver, raspberry red and chocolate brown, the Fuji FinePix Z5fd will be available early December 2006. It supports the xD Picture Card. Software shipped with the camera includes the FinePixViewer 5.3 (which, unfortunately, is available only for Windows). No word on pricing yet.

Fuji seems to be in a nostalgic mode. The company recently unveiled the new Klasse W compact film (that's right, not digital) camera featuring a 28mm F2.8 lens that matches an SLR camera in image quality.

Made of aluminum alloy, the Klasse W, true to its name, is available in a classy design. The first generation Klasse cameras, unveiled way back in 2001, featured a 38mm F2.6 lens and was a hit with amateur and pro photographers alike.

With shutter speeds up to 1/500 seconds and multilayer electron beam coating on the lens surface, you can expect some high quality images even in unfavorable conditions (for example with backlight).

Available in limited quantity (just 8,000 of 'em!) starting December 1, 2006, the Fuji Klasse W carries a price tag of ¥95,000 (US $808).

Casio upped the ante with the announcement of two new cameras in its popular Exilim series of digital cameras. The Casio Exilim EX-Z6 is a 6-megapixel camera featuring a nice 2.5" preview LCD screen. The EX-Z6 offers 3x optical zoom - somewhat of a standard in entry-level cameras - and is expected to have anti-shake DSP capabilities as well.

The second Exilim is the EX-Z7, offering images at 7-megapixel resolutions. Like the Z6, it offers 3x optical zoom and a 2.5" preview LCD.

There's no clear info on when the two cameras will be unleashed into the markets, so check back later. For more, read Casio EX-Z7 and Casio EX-Z6.

Major Pink Alert! All you macho guys can hide in your corner as we have an other gadget on the block for all the Pink Loyalists! The Polaroid i639M Digital Camera is now available in 3 shades of Pink for the pink connoisseurs ( Pink, Light Pink and Magenta). Jokes apart the camera is actually for a good cause and is part of Polaroid;s initiative to raise Breast Cancer Awareness.

When it comes to the features, the Polaroid i639M has all the standard specs! One comes across a 6 megapixel resolution, 2.4" inch LCD, 3x optical zoom and a Video recording Mode. The camera has an internal memory of 16 MB and is also PictBridge compatible. Voice recording is possible and so is still image compression in JPEG.

The Pink Polaroid i639M Digital Camera comes bundled with: Skin ,2 "AA" batteries, USB cable, TV cable, Wrist strap and ArcSoft® software on CD-ROM.As of now there is no word on pricing or availability but for more info visit the Product Page:

Via Chipchick

Photo Etc. Online unveiled the new Digital Camera Pod CP-5, a multi-purpose unit that can be mounted to a soft drink bottle with diameter from 28.5mm to 30.5mm, or to any flat surface of 3/8" thickness or less - like a car window, for example.

Suitable for compact and lightweight digital cameras (don't try to fix your bulky DSLRs with their fancy lenses, guys!), remember to use a filled bottle the camera doesn't topple.

Small enough to carry with you anywhere in your camera bag, the Digital Camera Pod will help you avoid blurry shots the next time you are on vacation. Priced at US $7.99, the CP-5 is available from the manufacturer's website.

Those who always gave BenQ digicams a miss on grounds of non-happening designs, are in for a surprise. The good folks at BenQ launched not one but two stylish cameras which can hold its own against the Sony’s of the world.First there is the sleek brushed aluminum BenQ E720 with features a 7 megepixel resolution, 2.5 inch LTPS display and 3x Optical Zoom Lens. However those who like their stuff to be ‘unique and special’ should check out the BenQ X720 which is the world’s slimmest 7MP Camera and has specs like 7 megepixel resolution, 2.5 inch display, 3x Optical Zoom Lens and S.S.F (Super Shake-Free) system. No Word on pricing or availability.

Read – BenQ E720 and BenQ X720

Nikon has roped in Zac Posen of House of Z, LLC to craft an exclusive limited edition Zac Posen Coolpix camera accessory for style-conscious digital camera users.

Carrying the look and feel of vintage camera cases, the Coolpix camera accessory is made of luxurious Italian leathers. The design is inspired by Zac Posen's current Fall 2006 clothing and handbag collection, and are complete with his signature Z rivets.

Exclusive to Nikon Coolpix users, this limited time accessory will be available starting October 13, 2006.

They were in your bathroom, and now they are planning to enter into your goodie bag. Braun unveiled a slew of digital cameras including the new Braun D800, a compact camera equipped with a largish 2.4" preview LCD.

The Braun D800 comes with a 6.2 megapixel image sensor, but can interpolate to give you images at 8MP resolution. The lens offers 3x optical zoom. It looks like Braun is targeting first-timers with this digital camera - how else can you explain the lack of decent features on this baby?

On-board, you get 32MB of flash, and it is expandable using an SD/MMC card. Voice recorder and self timer functionalities are available on the D800, but apart from that, don't expect too much. Oh, and you can record videos with audio.

No word on the pricing availability yet, or when it will hit US shores.

Canon’s newest camera, the IXUS i7, is literally changing the face of digital cameras. The 7.1 Megapixel CCD camera has a 2.4x optical zoom and 1.8 inch LCD Screen. The metal-clad camera is designed for compact use, like a pocket or small bag. It also comes in four different colors including steel gray, denim blue, dark brown, and sizzling pink.

Canon’s Face Detection AF/AE system is connected to the Digital IXUS i7 zoom in order to make people’s faces be clearer than ever with its Auto Focus and Auto Exposure. This process can automatically detect the faces of nine subjects within a frame and adjusts for a clearer, sharper picture. The camera automatically fills in the flash for strong backlighting by adjusting the exposure on the individual faces. This makes the camera ideal for parties and group photos.

Another feature is the Safety Zoom, designed to give maximum zoom magnification in shooting smaller size image without the reduced image quality. It also features 17 different shooting modes, as well as special scenes and movie modes.

Image management is handled with a special program called My Category, a method of cataloguing the shots by people, scenery, or event. These categories can be customized, but they also can be automatic, depending on the shooting mode and face detection activation. Also, the one-touch direct printing is easily managed with the camera’s Print/Share button that also acts as the shutter release. The Intelligent Orientation Sensor can automatically rotate any vertically shot photo and adjust them for the correct playback on LCD, TV, or PC.

The IXUS i7 also comes complete with a docking station that is useful as a base for printing out images. It can also use image transfer technology to beam straight into your television. The included remote control also gives you more power to select an image, or create a slideshow.

The Canon IXUS i7 should be available in October 2006, at about $470 USD.

Hasselblad has the pleasure of being the first company to introduce the world’s first 48mm, full frame Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. The Hasselblad H3D totally raises the standard of digital photography to a new level with its pioneered system of communication between the lens and the capture unit. This enables precise excellence in a new level of sharpness and resolution.

This is a camera designed for the serious professional photographer. It is available in two models: one has a 22 Megapixel sensor, and the other a 39 Megapixel sensor. The 22 Megapixel gives file sizes of 4080 x 5400 pixels with 66MB average per average pic, and is capable of storing 66 images in its 2GB CF card. The 39 Megapixel also has a 2GB flash card, but can store 49 images at 5412 x 7212 pixels with 117MB per average pic.

The Hasselblad H3D uses the concept of full frame to achieve a unique level of image composition and control. The image sensors are at 48 x 36, the largest available, surpassing even the largest 35mm camera sensors. All this works together to insure that pixel-generated images are sharp, crisp, and well-lit.

The view finder uses V System technology in order to give the photographer the flexibility to choose between eye-level or waist-level viewfinders. In addition to this, the Hasselblad H3D also has Instant Approval Architecture (IAA) that is designed to simply the image selection process.

Other features include the ultra-focus, digital APO correction, as well as the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution. It also includes a compact 28 mm lens that was developed specifically for this camera. Camera capture rate is about 2 seconds, with an OLED 2.2 inch color display.

The Hasselblad is designed to connect to a PC via FireWire 800, and supports Mac OS X as well as Windows NT, 2000, and XP. So far there is no word on an exact price, but it should be around $30,000-40,000.