NEW YORK —
The PMA Show may have moved
to the fall, but that didn’t stop camera manufacturers
from introducing a host of new spring-targeted
point-and-shoot cameras.
The latest new offerings range from advanced
models with professional-quality performance and
control, to new compact digicams with ultra-zoom
lenses. Some of the models include the following:
Canon
introduced four PowerShot point-andshoot
models: the SX230 HS, Elph 500 HS, Elph
300 HS and Elph 100 HS.
The Canon Power-
Shot SX230 HS (shipping
in March at a $350
suggested retail) features
12.1-megapixel
resolution, a Digic 4 image
processor, 14x zoom
lens (roughly equivalent
to 28-392mm), image
stabilization and a 3-inch
LCD. It will record video
in up to 1080p HD resolution,
and has a superslow-
motion feature.
Also unveiled were
three PowerShot Elph
models: the Elph 500
HS, Elph 300 HS and
Elph 100 HS.
The Elph 500 HS (available in March at a $300
suggested retail) is one of Canon’s new “highsensitivity”
models replacing the SD3500 IS and
SD4000 IS. It features a 12.1-megapixel CMOS
sensor, Digic 4 image processor, 1080p HD video
capture and a 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD. The
4.4x zoom lens (24-150mm equivalent) opens to a
bright f/2.0 aperture.
The Elph 300 HS (March, $250) replaces the
SD1400 IS and includes a 12.1-megapixel CMOS
sensor, 1080p HD video capture, a 5x optical zoom
lens (24-120mm equivalent) and a 2.7-inch LCD.
The Elph 100 HS (March, $200) replaces the
SD1300 IS and features a 12.1-megapixel CMOS
sensor, Digic 4 image processor, a 4x optical zoom
lens (28-112mm equivalent), 1080p HD video capture
and a 3-inch LCD.
Fujifilm North America
said Tuesday that its
FinePix X100 premium digital camera will begin
shipping in March.
The X100, which will ship in March with a
$1,200 suggested retail, is targeted at professional
and advanced photographers looking for a
high-performance compact camera.
Key features include a d-SLR-equivalent
12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, a Fujinon
23mm single-focal-length fixed f2 lens, a 2.8-inch
460K-dot LCD screen, and a hybrid viewfinder
that can instantly switch between optical and electronic
modes.
The camera’s ISO sensitivity ranges from 200
to 6,400 and is expandable to 100 and 12,800.
It features manual control and accepts images in
RAW format.
HD videos, which are captured in 720p resolution,
can be recorded using aperture-priority AE
to produce a soft, defocused background effect.
Nikon
unveiled eight new Coolpix compact
point-and-shoot cameras, including three models
with new super-zoom capabilities.
New super zooms include the Coolpix P500
(March, $400 suggested retail) with a 36x optical
zoom, the S9100 (March, $330) with an 18x
optical zoom, and the L120 (February, $280) with
a 21x optical zoom lens. All lenses use Nikkor advanced
optical elements.
Other models include the Coolpix P300 (March,
$330), the S6100 (March, $200), the S4100 (February,
$180), the S3100 (February, $140) and the
L24 (February, $120).
All feature Nikon’s Expeed C2 digital image processing
engine, scene auto selector, best shot selector
and smart portrait system.
The P500 offers a 36x (22.5-810mm equivalent)
Nikkor ED zoom lens, 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, advanced low-light performance, hybrid vibration
reduction (VR) stabilization, 5 fps high-speed
continuous shooting, in-camera high dynamic range
(HDR), night landscape, FullHD 1080p resolution,
and a 3-inch 921K-dot vari-angle LCD.
The S9100 features an 18x Nikkor ED zoom lens
(25-450mm 35mm equivalent), 12.1-megapixel CMOS
sensor, up to 3,200 ISO sensitivity, backlighting scene
mode with HDR, a 3-inch 921K-dot LCD, 1080p HD
video capture and hybrid VR image stabilization.
The L120 is an affordable 21x wide-angle Nikkor
zoom lens camera with 14.1-megapixel resolution, hybrid
VR image stabilization, low-light sensitivity up to
ISO 6,400 (reduced resolution), a 3-inch 921K-dot
LCD, 720p HD video recording and easy auto mode.
The new S6100, S3100 and S4100 feature a new
pet portrait mode that automatically detects the face of
a specific dog or cat to optimize exposure and focus.
The Coolpix S6100 is a pocket-sized model with a
7x optical zoom, 16-megapixel resolution and 3-inch
460k-dot touchscreen LCD.
The Coolpix L24 is an affordably priced compact
with 14-megapixel resolution, a 3.6x optical zoom,
and video recording.
The Coolpix P300 offers a 12.2-megapixel CMOS
sensor with a 4.2x f1.8 (24mm-100mm, 35mm equivalent)
Nikkor optical zoom lens, bright f/1.8 aperture
setting, 1080p/30 fps HD video recording, up to ISO
3200 sensitivity, manual control and a 3-inch, 921Kdot
LCD screen.
It has advanced night portrait mode, night landscape
mode and high dynamic range mode.
Olympus
unveiled three compact point-andshoots,
including the VG-100 ($90 suggested retail),
VR-320 ($200) and SZ-10 ($250). The VG-100 ships
this month, while the latter two will arrive at retail in
March.
The highlight of the trio is the compact Olympus
SZ-10, featuring 14-megapixel resolution, an 18x (28-
504mm equivalent) optical zoom lens and a 3-inch
460K-dot LCD. The SZ-10 will also capture HD video
in 720p resolution.
The camera includes a range of Magic Art Filters
for stills and videos, and a 3D mode that uses a pan
and sweep shooting technique.
The VR-320 will incorporate a 14-megapixel sensor,
a 3-inch LCD, 720p HD video capture, and a
12.5x optical-zoom lens.
The Olympus VG-110 is a basic 12-megapixel model
with a 4x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD and VGAquality
video capture.
Pentax
unveiled a new and improved Optio WG-1
(shipping in April at a $350 suggested retail) allweather
camera featuring waterproofing to 33 feet,
shock resistance from up to a 5-foot drop, and crush
resistance for up to 220 pounds.
Other features include a 14-megapixel sensor, an
enhanced digital microscope mode with five macro
LEDs, fast face-detection technology, smile capture,
and blink detection for portraits including a Self-
Portrait Assist mode adaptable for use with socialnetworking
uploads.
The WG-1 will include a wide-angle 5x internal optical
zoom lens (28-140mm equivalent), 720p/30 fps
HD video capture and a 2.7-inch LCD screen.
Pentax will also make a version of the WG-1 with
built-in GPS (WG-1 GPS), which will ship in April
with a $400 suggested retail.
Samsung
introduced the PL20 ($120) and ES80
($100) cameras. The PL20 will ship in March featuring
a 14-megapixel sensor, 5x optical zoom lens (27-135mm
equivalent) and 720p/24 fps HD video.
The ES80 will ship in April featuring a 12-megapixel
sensor with a 5x optical zoom lens (27-135mm
equivalent).
Sigma
introduced the DP2x 14-megapixel compact
camera with a 14-megapixel APS-C image sensor,
improved autofocus capabilities and Analog Front
End (AFE), which converts full color data through the
Foveon X3 image sensor into a digital signal. The
DP2x features a fixed 24.2mm f/2.8 lens, allows RAW
image capture and includes a True II image processor.
