Digital Camera News and Reviews

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2

Photography Blog has tested the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2 (also known as Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 in some parts of the world) compact digital camera. This is a rugged compact camera that can handle depths down to 10m and survives falls from 2m. The camera also feature a massive 14 megapixels and almost 5x optical zoom.

Some key features for the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2 / TS2:
-14 megapixel image sensor
-2.7″ LCD screen
-4.6x optical zoom lens (28 – 128mm)
-Freezeproof to 14° F (-10 °C)
-Waterproof to 33 feet (10m)
-Shockproof from a height of up to 10 feet (2m)
-Sonic Speed auto-focus system

Photography Blog ends up giving the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2 a “Recommended” 4 out 5 stars rating. The camera from Panasonic scores highest on features while scoring a little lower on image quality and value for money. Overall this rugged camera seems like a real challenger to the Olympus TOUGH camera series.
Read the full review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2 camera here.

Kodak EasyShare M381

CNET UK has tested the Kodak EasyShare M381 compact digital camera. This camera from Kodak features 12.4 megapixels and 5x optical zoom lens. The camera comes at a very nice price so it will be interesting to see how the image quality is.

Some key features for the Kodak EasyShare M381:
-12.4 megapixel image sensor
-5x optical zoom lens (35-175mm)
-3″ LCD screen
-Uses SD/SDHC memory cards
-Smart Capture
-ISO sensitivity up to 1600

CNET UK ends up giving the Kodak EasyShare M381 an average 6.0 out of 10 points rating. The reviewer likes the photo quality up to ISO 200 and that the camera is easy to use. There are some downsides like no optical image stabilization, narrow lens and poor photo quality from ISO 400. Overall this budget camera from Kodak seems like it could have been worked on a bit more, but it should work good for small pictures like pictures used for the web.
Read the full review of the Kodak EasyShare M381 digital camera here.

Kodak SLICE

Kodak has announced a new compact digital camera with a large touchscreen. The camera is called Kodak SLICE and also features 14 megapixels and 5x optical zoom.

Some key features for the Kodak SLICE camera:
-3.5″ 16:9 LCD touchscreen
-14 megapixel image sensor
-5x optical zoom lens
-Capture HD video with 720p/30fps quality
-Optical image stabilization
-Share Button for easy upload to Facebook, KODAK Gallery, Flickr, YouTube sites and e-mail

The Kodak SLICE will be available in April 2010 and cost about $350.

Press release:
KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera Lets You Share and Relive Moments Instantly

New Digital Camera Boasts Sleek Exterior with Thousands of KODAK Moments Inside

Rochester, NY, Jan. 6 — Eastman Kodak Company today announced the latest addition to its consumer digital product portfolio, designed to make it easier than ever for people to share pictures with family and friends anytime, anywhere. The KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera lets consumers carry a personal photo album worth sharing and reliving at all times. With a sleek and intuitive 3.5-inch touchscreen, and the KODAK SLICE Search Feature, consumers can find the pictures they want from up to 5,000 that can be stored on internal memory. Then, they can easily share those pictures right from the back of the camera.

“Kodak knows that consumers want the ability to share life’s memories at a moment’s notice, whether it’s pictures that evoke a tear or just the funny everyday moments,” said John Blake, General Manager, Digital Capture and Devices and Vice President, Kodak. “The power of sharing and reliving life’s moments drove the development of our new SLICE Camera. It provides instant access to all of your KODAK Moments, and it’s right at your fingertips.”

Store, Sort and Share with the SLICE Camera
With the ability to store up to 5,000 pictures in HD resolution, the SLICE Camera’s onboard KODAK SLICE Search Feature and Face Recognition allow consumers to sort through thousands of pictures by person, place, date, or occasion in order to locate and share a collection of treasured moments.

The touchscreen and Share Button allow consumers to tag pictures directly on the camera for effortless uploading to popular sharing sites including Facebook, KODAK Gallery, Flickr, and YouTube. Pictures can also be tagged to email or to send directly to the new KODAK PULSE Digital Frame.

KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera features include:

Intuitive 3.5-inch, 16:9 LCD touchscreen with anti-reflective coating

KODAK SLICE Search Feature and Face Recognition to easily sort, locate and share pictures

Share Button for easy upload to Facebook, KODAK Gallery, Flickr, YouTube sites and e-mail

Store up to 5,000 pictures in HD resolution

Stunning image quality with a 14MP CCD sensor and 5X SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH Lens

Built-in optical image stabilization

720p/30fps HD video capture

Kodak’s exclusive Smart Capture feature, which analyzes scenes and automatically adjusts camera settings to deliver beautiful pictures more often

Compatible with PC or APPLE iLife Software

Li-Ion rechargeable battery included

The KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera will be available in black, nickel and radish for US $349.95 MSRP beginning in April 2010. Best Buy will initially be the exclusive retailer for in-store sales. The KODAK SLICE Touchscreen Camera will also be sold online at Amazon.com and Kodak.com.

Kodak is also introducing a case for the SLICE Camera, which was designed in a competition among accessories students at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City. The final case design was chosen by celebrated designer Steve Madden and FIT faculty.

*Colors and availability may vary by region

About Kodak
As the world’s foremost imaging innovator, Kodak helps consumers, businesses, and creative professionals unleash the power of pictures and printing to enrich their lives.

To learn more, visit http://www.kodak.com and follow our blogs and more at http://www.kodak.com/go/followus.

More than 75 million people worldwide manage, share and create photo gifts online at KODAK Gallery — join for free today at www.kodakgallery.com.

© Kodak, 2010. KODAK and SLICE are trademarks of Kodak. SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH is a trademark of Jos. Schneider Optische Werke GmbH used under license by Kodak.

GE E1486TW

General Imaging has announced four new compact digital cameras. They are called GE E1486TW, E1480W, A1255 and A1455.

The top models GE E1486TW and E1480W in the Power Series features 14 megapixels, 3″ LCD screen, 8x optical zoom (28-224mm), optical image stabilization and the ability to record HD movies. One major difference between the two cameras is that the E1486TW have a touchscreen. The two cameras will cost about $180 and $150, and will be available on the marked during the spring of 2010.

The other two models, A1255 and A1455, is a part of the Smart Series and comes with 5x optical zoom and 2.7″ LCD screen. The GE A1255 will have a 12 megapixel image sensor while the GE 1455 will have a 14 megapixel version. The cameras will cost about $90 and $100, and will come on the marked during the spring of 2010.

Press release:
General Imaging Offering ‘MORE’ With New GE Digital Cameras

Feature-rich, technically advanced point-and-shoot cameras from GE are sure to impress everyday and serious photographers alike

LAS VEGAS /PRNewswire/—DIGITAL EXPERIENCE AT CES – Whether your New Year’s resolution is to take better pictures or capture more memories, General Imaging, the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE digital cameras, will unveil four new cameras today that make either resolution easy.

For focused photographers looking for more power and performance at an affordable price, the GE E1486TW and E1480W are the latest additions to the Power Series. Both the E1486TW and E1480W are loaded with highly-coveted features, including the ability to film high-definition movies, 14-megapixel resolution for incredible clarity, an amazing 8X optical zoom that’s unprecedented at this price point, and a large 3-inch LCD screen. At only .83 inches thick, the cameras offer one of the slimmest 8X optical zoom performance in the market. Both the E1486TW and E1480W offer innovative OIS image stabilization technology that ensures crisp, clear photos every time, while a 28-mm angle glass lens provides the flexibility to go wide when needed. In addition, the E1486TW offers an innovative touch screen control, putting the control at your fingertips. A simple swipe of your finger lets you scroll through recent shots and swipe the screen to zoom photos. The E1486TW and E1480W are attractively priced with suggested retail prices (SRPs) of $179.99 and $149.99, respectively. They will ship this spring, and are available in black, red and silver among other colors.

The GE line continues to build upon the legacy of the Smart Series, by introducing two new stylish cameras with intuitive features that make beautiful photography simple, easy to use and at a smart value. The GE A1255 and GE A1455 each offer 5X optical zoom to get you closer to your subjects and a 2.7-inch LCD screen to easily preview your shots. The GE A1255 is a robust camera that features 12 megapixels of resolution, for a SRP of $89.99. For the everyday photographer who seeks even greater high-resolution detail, the GE A1455 offers 14 megapixels of resolution for crystal clear enlargements at an SRP of $99.99. Both cameras will ship this spring, and are available in a variety of colors including black, silver and red.

“Our customers continue to be impressed with the performance and trusted name of our GE digital cameras. We’re confident that the new Power and Smart Series will continue to provide that same level of consumer confidence with the latest features and value for virtually every photographer,” says Paul Meyhoefer, General Imaging’s vice president of Marketing and Product Planning. “No other camera offers 8X optical zoom and touch screen controls in such a slim design like our E1486TW. And our Smart Series rounds out the offering with some of the best feature combinations in its price category.”

Advanced features are standard in all 2010 GE digital cameras including Pan-Capture Panorama for seamless, wide-angle shots; Auto Scene Detection for sharp, vibrant pictures in virtually any setting; Blink, Smile and Face Detection to showcase the best of the people you’re photographing; Image Stabilization for high quality, sharp images; and In-Camera Red-Eye Removal.

About General Imaging

Based in Torrance, Calif., General Imaging is the worldwide exclusive licensee for GE branded digital cameras. Unveiling its first cameras in March 2007, General Imaging has set a new precedent for high-quality, feature-rich cameras that offer excellent value.

For more information about the Smart Series and Power Series and the entire line of GE brand digital cameras, please visit http://www.ge.com/digitalcameras/US.