Kodak EasyShare M580

KODAK has introduced four new EasyShare M Series digital cameras at the 2010 International CES. The Kodak EasyShare M580 features 14MP resolution, 8x wide-angle optical zoom (28-224mm equiv.), 3.0-in. LCD screen, Smart Capture, Panorama Stitch, Face Detection, Face Recognition, and HD Video (720p @ 30fps). The Kodak EasyShare M575 features 14M resolution, 5x wide-angle optical zoom (28-140mm equiv.), 3.0-in. LCD screen, Smart Capture, Panorama Stitch, Face Detection, Face Recognition, and HD Video (720p @ 30fps). The Kodak EasyShare M550 features 12M resolution, 5x wide-angle optical zoom (28-140mm equiv.), 2.7-in. LCD screen, Smart Capture, Panorama Stitch, Face Detection, Face Recognition, and Video (640 x 480 @ 30fps). The Kodak EasyShare M530 features 12M resolution, 3x optical zoom (36-108mm equiv.), 2.7-in. LCD screen, Smart Capture, Panorama Stitch, Face Detection, Face Recognition, and Video (640 x 480 @ 30fps).

Social media is the buzzword, with easy one-button tagging of pictures to be later sent to Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, e-mail and Kodak’s own Gallery. Note that there is no Wi-Fi built into the cameras; the photos are simply tagged or marked for the appropriate social site. When you do connect camera to computer, the pictures are then automatically uploaded to the tagged site or sent to the specified email address (assuming you have already set the appropriate login settings in the EasyShare software). This potentially saves you one extra step of doing the transfer or emailing yourself. One interesting feature is that you can also tag a picture to be uploaded to the new Kodak PULSE digital frame, so family and friends can quickly see the new pictures you took.

These are point-and-shoot models, with lots of color choices, priced from US $130 to $200 MSRP beginning in April 2010.

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KODAK has introduced the PLAYSPORT Video Camera, a rugged, durable and pocket-size HD (1080p) video camera that can be used underwater at depths of 3 m (10 ft). It features a 2.0-in. LCD screen, low-light performance, can also capture HD stills at 5MP resolution (16:9), and accepts the 32GB SD memory card for up to 10 hours of HD movie recording. Available in Black (“Abyss”), Blue (“Wave Crash”) and Purple (“Adrenaline Rush”) for US $150 MSRP beginning in April 2010.

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KODAK has introduced the SLICE Touchscreen Camera, a digital camera and digital frame combo that lets you take pictures and leave them in the camera, using it as a personal photo album. You can store up to 5000 images and view them on the 3.5-in. 16:9 LCD touchscreen. It features 14MP resolution, 5x optical zoom, optical Image Stabilization, and 720p/30fps HD video capture.

A Share Button allows pictures to be tagged on camera for later uploading to Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and the KODAK Gallery. Pictures can also be tagged to email or to be sent directly to the new KODAK PULSE Digital Frame.

Available (at Best Buy and Amazon.com) in Black, Silver (“Nickel”) and Pink (“Radish”) for US $349.95 MSRP beginning in April 2010.

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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM

CANON has introduced its second generation EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens. The 70-200mm tele zoom range is popular with photographers for providing the focal length, maximum aperture and zoom power for capturing everything from studio portraits to fast-action sports.

Canon has enhanced the body structure to provide better durability and strength without a significant increase in weight, and improved optical performance by incorporating a fluorite element and a fifth UD element to help minimize secondary chromatic aberrations and produce better image quality with improved contrast and resolution through the entire zoom range.

The new lens design also features improved AF speed and has reduced the minimum focusing distance from the previous lens model’s 1.4 metres (4.6 feet) to 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) through the entire zoom range, allowing photographers to capture tighter portraiture shots in a small studio space. Also enhanced is the Image Stabilization which now allows hand holding for shutter speeds up to four steps slower than 1/focal length, a one step improvement over the previous lens model.

It retains the protective seals and fittings providing dust and water resistance for those photographers working in adverse conditions.

The new lens is compatible with Canon’s existing EF1.4X II and EF2X II Extenders as well as EF Extension Tubes and the 77mm Close-Up Lens 500D.

Scheduled to be delivered to Canadian dealers in April 2010, price to be determined.

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Canon PowerShot A3100 IS - Red

CANON has introduced four new PowerShot A Series digital cameras. The Canon PowerShot A3100 IS features 12.1MP resolution (1/2.3-in. CCD), 4x optical zoom (35-140mm equiv.), optical Image Stabilization, 2.7-in. (230k-dot) LCD screen, Smart AUTO, Scene Modes, Face Detection Self-Timer, and Movie 640 x 480 @ 30 fps. The Canon PowerShot A3000 IS features 10M resolution (1/2.3-in. CCD), 4x optical zoom (35-140mm equiv.), optical Image Stabilization, 2.7-in. (230k-dot) LCD screen, Smart AUTO, Scene Modes, Face Detection Self-Timer, and Movie 640 x 480 @ 30 fps. The Canon PowerShot A495 features 10M resolution (1/2.3-in. CCD), 3.3x optical zoom (37-122mm equiv.), 2.5-in. (115k-dot) LCD screen, Smart AUTO, Scene Modes, Face Detection Self-Timer, and Movie 640 x 480 @ 30 fps. The Canon PowerShot A490 features 10M resolution (1/2.3-in. CCD), 3.3x optical zoom (37-122mm equiv.), 2.5-in. (115k-dot) LCD screen, Smart AUTO, Scene Modes, and Movie 640 x 480 @ 30 fps.

New features include Low-Light, Super Vivid, and Poster Effect scene modes; Smart FE; and the ability to upload video to YouTube.

Starting this year, all new Canon compact digital cameras will support the high-spec SDXC memory cards with a maximum storage capacity of two terabytes (TB) in SDA standard.

These are point-and-shoot models, with lots of color choices, priced from CAD $130 to $200 MSRP beginning late February 2010.

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CANON CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW PIXMA WIRELESS OFFICE ALL-IN-ONE PRINTERS AND A SINGLE FUNCTION PHOTO PRINTER

New products further build Canon’s commitment to providing quality and easy-to-use products to help improve workflow

MISSISSAUGA, ON, January 5, 2010 – Wouldn’t it be great to be outside, sitting on the deck, watching the birds fly by while drafting a business proposal rather than be stuck at a desk, bound by printer wires? Canon Canada Inc., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the latest additions to the PIXMA Wireless1 Office All-in-One (AIO) series, the perfect remedy to ensure the view is not obstructed by a window shade. With added features ranging from sleek, stylish designs to improved functionality, these new models would be a great addition to any home office or expanding business looking to upgrade their equipment.

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CANON CANADA INTRODUCES A POWERFUL NEW LINEUP OF VIXIA CAMCORDERS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF EVERY USER

The New VIXIA Line Offers Advanced Touch Screen and Tracking Technologies Putting Ease-of-Use at Your Fingertips

MISSISSAUGA, ON, January 5, 2010 – Canon Canada Inc., a leader in digital imaging technology, today announced an exciting new line of nine VIXIA High Definition flash memory camcorders. The 2010 high-definition lineup includes Canon’s flagship VIXIA HF S-series, the compact VIXIA HF M-series and a new entry-level VIXIA HF R-series. Some new features enhancing Canon’s 2010 lineup include a new EasyTouch LCD Panel with an advanced tracking feature helping keep any subject – such as people, pets, or cars – in focus and properly exposed, even in a busy scene. Canon’s new VIXIA lineup also includes an enhancement to its image stabilization system and an all-new HD-to-SD Downconversion feature allowing video to be easily uploaded to the web or burned onto DVDs. Select 2010 VIXIA camcorders are compatible with Eye-fi SD Memory Cards, allowing for wireless uploading of video content to a computer or favorite video sharing site via the Eye-fi card’s wireless capabilities.

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Samsung NX10

Samsung has launched the first salvo in what will certainly be the big camera “war” in 2010: the first Digital Interchangeable Lens (“mirrorless DSLR”) camera with an APS-C sized image sensor.

[Panasonic was the first with the G1, followed by Olympus with the E-P1, and again by Panasonic with its GF1. All DIL cameras however use the Four Thirds System image sensor that is slightly smaller than the APS-C sensor. The Leica X1 has an APS-C sensor but the lens is not interchangeable.]

The Samsung NX10 features 14.6MP resolution (on an APS-C CMOS sensor), a 3.0-in. AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) screen (614k-dot), VGA EVF (921k-dot), Smart AUTO, PASM, Scene modes, Smart [Dynamic] Range, Supersonic Dust Reduction, and HD movie. The NX10 promises ultra fast AF speed with a high precision contrast AF [apparently a match to Panasonic's GF1]. Image Stabilization is lens based.

The Samsung NX 18-55mm (27-83mm equiv.) F/3.5-5.6 OIS lens will be sold as a kit lens. A 55-200mm (75-300mm equiv.) OIS tele zoom and 30mm (45mm equiv.) F2 pancake prime (no IS) are also available. The mount is a new Samsung NX mount, with an adaptor for the Pentax K mount to be available later.

Dimensions: 123 x 87 x 39.8 mm / 4.8” x 3.4” x 1.6” (excluding the projecting parts of the camera)
Weight: 353g / .78 lbs (without battery and card)

Here is how the Samsung NX10 compares against the other DSLRs and DILs as far as dimensions and weight are concerned:

As you can see, that’s quite small, just slightly larger than the Olympus E-P1 / Panasonic GF1. By designing a viewfinder “hump,” Samsung has chosen the conservative design route (like what Panasonic did with the G1/GH1) so that the NX10 looks more like a dimunitive DSLR rather than the brand new category it is supposed to be.

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