The Liquid Image Underwater Digital VideoMask allows you to keep your hands free as you dive. It’s the world’s only dive mask that has an integrated waterproof digital video camera plus photographs at 5mp. Operates to a depth of 33 ft (10m) and eliminates the need to hand carry an underwater camera.

The Digital VideoMask is ideal for snorkeling, snuba, spearfishing, free-diving, shark cage diving and shallow scuba diving. The goggle lenses are made of tempered glass and have integrated crosshairs that help you to line up shots. Turn the Camera on, and choose a mode with the upper button. Simply press the shutter button to record pictures or videos. An LED inside the mask tells you if you are in still image or video mode. Downloading images is as easy as plugging in the mask to your PCs or Macs USB port (cable included) and pressing the power button. The bundled software (PC only) allows you to edit your content.

The built-in 16 MB memory can store approximately 27 pictures or approximately 40 seconds of video. A microSD/SDHC card slot allows you to expand memory up to 8GB for additional pictures or videos. Requires two AAA batteries (included).

Find out more at Liquid Image.

Liquid Image 5.0MP Underwater Digital VideoMask (Mid size)
Price: USD 140.73

15 suppliers – prices from USD 121.99

CMOS sensors previously found only in DSLR cameras are finding their to point-and-shoot cameras. Sony hopes CMOS point-and-shoot cameras will appeal to photographers who also want to carry a compact, high performance digital still camera. The 10.2 mega-pixel WX1 camera has a 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD Plus display and measures just 3 9/16 x 2 1/16 x 2 5/32 inches.

The Cyber-shot WX1 camera features a Sony G lens with an extraordinary wide angle 24-120mm 5x optical zoom. Sony G lenses are used in top of the line digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras and advanced pro-sumer HD Camcorders. The f/2.4 aperture lens gathers twice as much light as typical point-and-shoot camera lenses, allowing you to shoot indoors or in low light without flash with less noise.

When shooting in Program Auto Mode, selectable ISO settings include: Auto, 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and high-sensitivity 3200. The Cyber-shot WX1 can capture ten 10.2 megapixel resolution images at up to 10fps with its mechanical shutter.

Optical SteadyShot image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera shake and automatically shifts the lens to help prevent blur without sacrificing image quality.

Sweep Panorama mode lets you capture wide landscapes (185 and 256-degree). Using the high-speed “Exmor R” CMOS sensor, the cameras shoot continuously while you sweep across the scene. The BIONZ imaging processor automatically stitches the pictures together to create panoramic photos.

The Cyber-shot WX1 records HD movies in 720p high definition MPEG4 format for large-screen home movie playback. It can record up to 29 minutes (or up to 2 GB) per movie in 720p format.

The Cyber-shot WX1 is priced at $349.99 (MSRP) and is available at Amazon USA.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX1/B 10MP “Exmor R” CMOS Digital Camera with 5x Optical Steady Shot Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-inch LCD (Black)
Price: USD 249.99

25 suppliers – prices from USD 210.00

A Japanese company called Factron has released a metal iPhone case with a mount for conversion lenses. The Quattro Case for the Apple iPhone is currently only compatible with the iPhone 3G – a modified version for the iPhone 3Gs will be released later this year. The conversion lenses available include two close-up lens, a superwide converter and 2 circular fisheye lens (x0.24 and x0.33).

The case is made of aluminum alloy with a metallic gloss, polished finish and fastened with metal screws.

The case alone costs 19,600 Yen (about US$205). The lenses are available from 1,700 to 5,300 Yen (about US$20 – US$55).

Sample photos on the Factron website, show a significant amount of chromatic aberration.

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd. has announced the Xacti VPC-CA9 – Waterproof, High-Definition Dual Camera. The Xacti VPC-CA9 has earned the highest possible IEC 60529 waterproof rating (IPX8) allowing users to capture high-definition (1280×720px) 30fps video without worrying about the effects of water or snow. The Xacti VPC-CA9 is operable down to a water depth of 1.5 meters (5 feet).

The Xacti VPC-CA9 acts as a very high-resolution camera and as a high-definition video camcorder. It retains full still photo functionality which has been improved from previous models to allow shooting of 9MP photos.

Features

• Waterproof up to 1.5 meters (5 feet)
• 9 megapixel photos and 720p high-definition video
• Hi-speed sequential shooting at 7fps
• 3D DNR noise-reducing function for clearer, more professional-looking video
• 5x optical zoom lens, aperture: F=3.5(W)-4.7(T)
• Digital zoom: 12x max. shooting, 62.5x max. playback
• 2.5” LCD monitor
• Face Chaser technology can detect up to 12 faces for photos and videos
• ISO Stiils: Auto (ISO 50 – 400), Manual (ISO 50/100/200/400/800/1600, Switching system)
• Microphone: Built-in stereo, Speaker: Built-in monaural (L+Rch mixed output)
• Internal memory: Approx. 43 mb
• SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card (up to 32GB)
• Lithium-ion battery x 1 (DB-L20 included: 720mAh)

Languages

English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Japanese, Thai, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

Price and Availability

Sanyo Xacti VPC-CA9 will be available in black, red, and green colors for US$349.99 (MSRP).

Now available at Amazon UK.

Polaroid has announced the launch of the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera, the first digital camera and instant printer combination that is portable enough to take anywhere. With the push of a button, consumers can select from among the digital photos on the camera, crop or edit them and in less than 60 seconds, print full-color, 2×3-inch prints – all with a single device.

The Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera is a full-feature digital camera with 100 percent inkless printing. It outputs 2×3-inch sticky-backed photos with or without fun borders and has the advantage of reviewing photos on a three-inch color LCD screen before printing. The camera measures 4.7-inches wide by 3-inches tall and weighs 10 ounces. Unlike traditional Polaroid instant cameras, photos from the Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera emerge fully developed.

Features

• Full-feature digital camera
• 2” x 3” borderless, sticky-back prints
• PC, Mac and PictBridge compatibility
• Smudge-proof, water-resistant, virtually tear-proof photos
• Fade-resistant, long-lasting images
• No waste – no ink cartridges
• 60-second print time
• Rechargeable lithium-ion battery

Specifications

• 3.0” bright color LCD for viewing images
• 4x digital zoom
• SD compatible for expanded memory
• View and crop image on camera before printing
• Automatic picture lighting enhancement
• In-camera red-eye removal
• Electronic self timer
• PictBridge compatible
• Size: Approx. 3.0” H X 4.7″ W X 2.0” D
• Weight: Approx. 10 oz. (without battery, memory card, and photo paper)

The Polaroid PoGo™ Instant Digital Camera uses the same ZINK Paper and ZINK Zero Ink Printing Technology from ZINK Imaging. ZINK is an ink-free printing technology which replaces ink cartridges or ribbons with ZINK Paper – a composite material that has embedded, heat-activated dye crystals. Before printing, ZINK Paper appears white like regular photo paper. Once the pictures are printed, they are immediately dry to the touch, durable and smudge and water resistant.

What’s in the box

• Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera
• Wrist strap
• Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
• 10 sheets Polaroid PoGo ZINK Photo Paper
• Carrying case
• AC adapter/charger
• USB cable

The Polaroid PoGo Instant Digital Camera will be available beginning in March 2009 at major retailers for a suggested retail price of $199. Ten-packs of ZINK Photo Paper, which can be used in both the Instant Digital Camera and the Instant Mobile Printer, retail for $4.99 and 30-packs for $12.99, and widely available at retailers in the USA and Europe.

Polaroid PoGo 5.0 MP Instant Digital Camera w/ Instant Digital Mobile Printer and Polaroid Zink media 30 Pack Photo Paper
Price: —

1 suppliers – prices from USD 279.99

Canon is celebrating the 50-year anniversary of the introduction of their first SLR – the Canonflex.

Introduced in May of 1959, the 35mm focal-plane shutter SLR camera used a high-quality, breechlock lens mount. The lens flange ring was turned to lock the lens onto the camera flange’s bayonet lugs. The lens flange and camera flange did not rub against each other like today’s lens mounts.

The camera used Super-Canomatic lenses which had a fast, fully-automatic diaphragm. A 130-degree winding trigger at the camera bottom enabled quick film advance. An external selenium exposure meter could also be attached.

The top-class 35mm camera market gradually shifted from rangefinder cameras to single-lens reflex cameras. The major reason was that SLRs could handle close-ups, photomicrography, duplication work, and other applications without being constrained by the limits of rangefinder camera lenses. When Canon introduced the Canonflex, there were already eight SLR models on the market.

The cost of the Canonflex in 1959 was 59,500 Yen (US$ 643). Quite a bit if money in those days!

Canonflex Specifications

• Type: 35mm focal-plane shutter single-lens reflex camera
• Negative Size: 24 x 36 mm
• Normal Lens: Canon R50mm f/1.8
• Lens Mount R mount: Dedicated bayonet (spigot) mount (inner dia. 48 mm) with three outer lugs
• Shutter: Two-axis, horizontal-travel focal-plane shutter with cloth curtains
• Shutter Speed: X, B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, and 1/1000 sec
• Timer: Built-in self-timer and shutter button lock
• Flash Sync: FP- and X-sync (automatic-switching sync contacts, X-sync speed of 1/55 sec)
• Viewfinder: Interchangeable eye-level pentaprism. 0.9x magnification, 92% vertical coverage, 94% horizontal coverage. Split-image rangefinder (diffraction grating)
• Exposure Meter: Aperture-reading selenium photocell coupled to the shutter speed dial. Metering range (at ISO 100) switchable between EV 10 – 19 (high) and EV 4 – 13 (low)
• Film Loading & Advance: After opening camera back, insertion onto spool. Advances with camera-bottom trigger. (130 single stroke)
• Frame Counter: Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened. 1.5x loupe provided
• Film Rewind: Collapsible crank
• Dimensions & Weight: 145 x 100 x 49 mm, 940 g (body)

Want one for your collection? Try eBay:

RARE Canonflex Model R2000 Camera 1960 With Lens NP

US $99.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 10:42:55 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

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Sony is adding high-definition movie recording to its digital camera line starting with the Cyber-shot® DSC-T500 model. The 10MP DSC-T500 features wide and full-screen 720p movie recording at 30fps in fine, standard and VGA recording modes. This resolution is three times higher than standard-definition movies. The movie function is based on the MPEG4 AVC/H.264 codec for video compression and stereo audio. Benefits of the format include high-quality video as well as small file sizes that are easy to download, upload and share.

The DSC-T500 can continuously record a video clip up to 10 minutes in length. It can hold hours of clips by expanding the camera’s capacity with a Memory Stick® media card (sold separately). Memory Stick® media is now available in capacities up to 16GB. It also features a dual photo and video capture mode. Simply press the photo button while in movie mode and capture up to three photos with no recording interruption.

Features

• 10.1-megapixel effective recording
• 5X optical zoom (2X digital/10X total zoom)
• Optical SteadyShot® image stabilization
• 3-1/2″ touchscreen LCD with anti-reflective coating
• 35mm equivalent lens focal length: 33-165mm
• highest JPEG resolution: 3648 x 2736
• high sensitivity mode (ISO 3200) for low-light shooting without flash
• face detection controls focus, exposure, and color for detailed portraits
• 16:9 widescreen high resolution photo mode
• 9 scene selection modes including Beach, Landscape, and Twilight Portrait
• stereo microphone/speaker
• 720p high-definition movie mode with audio (1280 x 720 at 30 frames per second)
• 9-point autofocus for shooting multiple or off-center subjects
• macro mode
• burst mode takes up to 100 consecutive rapid-fire photos
• variable ISO (film speed equivalent) settings
• in-camera slide show with music playback
• 4MB built-in flash memory holds 1 photo at top resolution
• high-speed USB interface
• compatible with Memory Stick® Duo and Memory Stick® PRO Duo™ media
• compatible with PictBridge-enabled printers
• Dimensions: 4″W x 2-1/2″H x 15/16″D
• weight (with battery): 6.4 oz.

The DSC-T500 camera integrates a wide (16:9), 3.5-inch (measured diagonally), transflective, touch panel LCD screen for easy navigation, framing and viewing in strong light conditions. It has a Carl Zeiss® 5x optical zoom lens with a wide field of view (33 – 165mm, 35mm equivalency). It incorporates Optical SteadyShot image stabilization and high sensitivity settings up to ISO3200 helps combat blur and facilitate flash-free shooting for natural-exposed photos. The DSC-T500 also incorporates face detection technology, an intelligent function that automatically detects up to eight faces in the camera frame and adjusts focus, exposure and flash.

What’s in the box?

• Cyber-shot® DSC-T500
• rechargeable InfoLithium® battery (NP-BD1)
• battery charger (BC-CSD)
• audio/video and USB multi-connector cables
• wrist strap
• software CD-ROM

Price and Availability

The Cyber-shot® DSC-T500 can be found at camera retailers in the USA for about $350.

Canon USA has announced a new camera in the Rebel line – the Canon EOS Rebel XS. Clearly a replacement for the EOS Rebel XTi at the bottom of Canon's dSLR line, the new camera retains the 10MP CMOS sensor and 2.5-inch LCD while using the same body as the 12MP Rebel XSi.

While positioned as an entry-level dSLR, Rebel XS incorporates a range of technologies used in Canon's professional EOS-1 series cameras, including the DIGIC III image processor, and Live View mode. Battery (BG-E5) life has been improved also.

On the downside, Canon is shifting from the nine-point AF of the XTi to seven-point AF. Canon says the change provides a significant cost savings. While autofocus performance be impacted? We get won’t know until independent testers get their hands on the camera. It’s worth noting that the camera’s primary competitor, the Nikon D60, has only three AF points.

Features

• 10.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor
• EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• 7-point wide-area AF system
• Up to 3 frames per second
• 2.5" LCD with Live View shooting
• DIGIC III image processor (12-bit)
• Compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards
• Compact and lightweight body
• Digital Photo Professional RAW processing software
• Fully compatible with all Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites

And, yes the Rebel XS uses the newer DIGIC III processing chip, however, the 12-bit processing remains from the XTi rather than going to the 14-bit processor used in the XSi.

What’s in the box?

• Rebel XS Body (Black or Silver)
• EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 IS Lens (kit only)
• Eyecup Ef
• Wide Strap EW-100DBIII
• Video Cable VC-100
• USB Interface Cable IFC-200U
• Battery Pack LP-E5
• Battery Charger LC-E5
• EOS Digital Solution Disk and Instruction Manuals
• “Great Photography is Easy” Booklet and “Do More with Macro” Booklet

Price and Availability

The Canon Rebel XS will be available in August in black or black/silver colors; each in a body-only or kit (w/ EF-S 18-55mm lens) version. The price for the body-only is $649.99 (MSRP) while the kit is priced at $699.99 (MSRP).

Canon USA has announced a new camera in the Rebel line – the Canon EOS Rebel XSi. Clearly a replacement for the very popular EOS Rebel XTi, the new camera jumps resolution to 12MP.

What else is new? Image processing now uses a 14-bit A/D converter. That means 14-bit RAW files! Also, there is new spot metering (4%). The Rebel XSi also incorporates an advanced Live View function. Storage now switches to SD/SDHC memory cards. There is a new higher capacity battery. And, numerous tweaks.

Features

• 12.2 million effective pixels
• 22.2 x 14.8 mm CMOS Sensor
• AF sensor (9-point cross-type)
• 1.6x Field of View
• Viewfinder with 0.87x mag. and 95% coverage
• 3-inch (230,000 pixels) Rear LCD
• 100-1600 ISO, Auto 100-400
• DIGIC III Processor
• 30 – 1/4000 sec Shutter
• 3.5 fps up to 53 JPEG or 6 RAW
• EF or EF-S Lens Mount
• RAW or JPEG File Format
• Supports SD/SDHC Cards
• Plastic Body with Stainless Steel Chassis
• Lithium-Ion LP-E5 Battery
• Dimensions 129 x 98 x 62 mm
• Weight 475 gm

One of the most noticeable differences between the EOS Rebel XSi and its predecessor is the inclusion of a large 3-inch rear LCD screen. It’s got the same number of pixels as the LCD on the EOS Rebel XTi which means the actual resolution is lower. Yet, it is clear and easily readable.

New in the Rebel line of DSLRs is Canon’s ‘Auto Lighting Optimizer’. This feature processes photos after they’ve been taken to try to correct contrast and brightness to optimize the image.

The EOS Rebel XSi incorporates a new battery. The new, larger LP-E5 Li-ion battery has a capacity of 1080mAh, rather than 720mAh found in the standard BP-511. This change was necessary due to the greater power demands from the live view mode.

The dust reduction system is the same as in the EOS Rebel XTi.

Price and Availability

The EOS Rebel XSi will be available in April in silver/black and all black colors for US$799 (MSRP for body-only) and US$899 (MSRP for the kit).

Panasonic has introduced the LUMIX DMC-LS80, an 8.1MP compact camera with a newly developed LUMIX DC VARIO 3x lens system. The entry level DMC-LS80 digital camera sports a compact design and is powered by AA batteries (alkaline or rechargeable).

The DMC-LS80 continues on the success of Panasonic’s 2007 line of LUMIX digital cameras, by including two advanced anti-blur technologies, Intelligent ISO and MEGA O.I.S. Also, brought over from 2007 is Intelligent LCD technology, which means the brightness of the LCD automatically adjusts as the ambient light level changes.

Main Features

MEGA O.I.S: Gyrosensors detect hand-shake and an Optical Image Stabilizer (O.I.S.) lens system shifts to compensate, preventing hand-shake from creating a blurry image and instead, providing a clear and crisp photo.

Intelligent ISO: With this feature, the digital camera can determine if the photo subject is moving and change ISO setting and shutter speed accordingly, thus enabling a blur-free photo.

Auto Macro: The LS80 automatically switches to the Macro setting when in close proximity to the photo subject, ideal for those extreme close-up shots.

Quick AF: With the Quick AF (Auto Focus) system, the LS80 will focus on the photo subject without the user needing to press the shutter button, producing the fastest shutter speed by minimizing the AF time.

Other Features

Venus Engine III Processor: High-quality, high-performance image processing with the Venus Engine III. Shutter release time lag is as short as 0.005 second¹. In the consecutive shooting mode, it is possible to shoot at 2.5 frames per second in full resolution²; and in High-Speed Burst shooting mode³, the LS80 fires off an incredible 5.5 shots per second. Also, with unlimited consecutive shooting, the user can shoot photos continuously until the SD Memory Card is full ⁴.

High Definition Compatible: The LUMIX LS80 is able to take 1920×1080 pixel photos, ideal for viewing on wide-screen (16:9) High Definition televisions (compatible with all Panasonic VIERA line of Plasma and LCD HDTVs).

Video Recording: In addition to recording standard VGA (640 x 480), the DMC-LS80 can also record WVGA (848 x 480) motion pictures at 30 frames per second (fitting a wide-screen HDTV perfectly).

Price and Availability

The Panasonic DMC-LS80 will be available in black, silver, and pink colors in March for a price of $149.95 (MSRP).