It’s the first day of the Lunar New Year today. Happy New Year to all the people from cultures that celebrate this traditional festival!
Original photo taken with Nikon 1 V1. Watercolour painting effect using Wacom Bamboo Fun graphics tablet with Corel Essentials 4.
And to all Chinese around the world, Happy Chinese New Year!
The 14-megapixel compact digital camera from Nikon goes on sale today at S$179.
Nikon COOLPIX S2600 goes on sale today at S$179.
First announced last week, the ultra-slim 19.5mm COOLPIX S2600 is the latest addition to the COOLPIX two thousand series.
The 5x NIKKOR lens goes from 26 mm wide-angle coverage (35 mm format equivalent) to 130mm.
The Nikon EXPEED C2 image processing engine reduces image processing time, while specialised functions include electronic VR image stabilisation, upgraded auto noise reduction and scene auto selector.
Decorative Black, Decorative Purple has been added to the original basic colours.The Lithium-ion rechargeable battery is light and compact, and is more eco-friendly than alkaline batteries and more energy efficient than Ni-MH batteries.
The camera comes in plain black, silver, pink, red and blue. Two new “Decorative Purple” and “Decorative Black” colours with floral patterns have also been added.
Main tech specs are listed below:
Compared to the four categories for DSLR cameras, there were seven categories for compact digital cameras.
Founded in 1991, the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) comprises 29 independent photo & imaging magazines from nine European countries plus Australia, Canada, China, USA and South Africa.
This is the 21st installment of the annual awards.
The winners for the seven compact digital camera categories are tabulated below.
| Category / Winner | TIPA citation |
|---|---|
| Best General Compact Camera
Nikon |
The Nikon COOLPIX P300 is a stylish compact camera with a remarkably powerful f/1.8 lens, starting at 24mm (35mm equivalent) with 4.2x optical zoom. High Refraction Index glass further ensures sharp images with high contrast. Combined with its powerful 12.2 Megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, this camera gives excellent image quality even in dim lighting conditions. The P300 can film in Full HD (1080p), but also in slow motion with a recording speed of up to 120fps. |
| Best Expert Compact Camera
Olympus |
The Olympus XZ-1 has one of the fastest zoom lenses in its class, the iZuiko f1.8-2.5 6.0-24mm (28-112mm equivalent angle of view in 35mm cameras.) Rather than succumb to the continuing Megapixel race, the light-reception area of each pixel of the 1/1.63-inch, 10 Megapixel CCD has been doubled. The XZ-1’s AF illuminator, Dual Image Stabilisation, Low-Light mode that automatically adjusts the ISO sensitivity up to ISO 3200 and the compact size all add up to an exciting “candid” camera that also offers advanced manual controls. |
| Best Premium Camera
Fujifilm |
Fujifilm’s FinePix X100 offers unrivalled image quality for a compact camera, thanks to its APS-C format CMOS sensor and Fujinon 23mm f/2.0 lens. The Hybrid Viewfinder uniquely combines the ‘bright frame’ window-type optical viewfinder found in high-end film cameras, and the electronic viewfinder system of fixed single lens or digital compact system cameras, offering the user ‘the best of both worlds’. Added to the package is a newly-developed EXR Processor, which combines all the latest Fujifilm image processing technology. |
| Best Compact System Camera Entry Level
Samsung |
The Samsung NX100’s new body design drastically revises the ‘DSLR look-alike’ concept found in other compact interchangeable lens cameras, and is a bold step from the company’s previous NX10/11 designs. This brings it into direct competition with other Compact System Cameras. Impressive features include a vivid 3-inch AMOLED screen, an APS-C size sensor and a line of high-tech iFunction lenses. This promising new series of optics blazes new viewing and camera control paths by allowing the user to program numerous functions right from the lens. |
| Best Compact System Camera Expert
Panasonic |
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is a true ‘hybrid’ photo and video camera, where video is no longer just an additional function. The DMC-GH2 features full HD 1920×1080, 60i (NTSC) / 50i (PAL) smooth, high quality video recording with 60p (NTSC) / 50p (PAL) output in addition to the high quality photo, a world’s first for cameras in this category. The DMC-GH2 can be operated through an intuitive touch control screen. For example, just tapping a subject on the screen will make the camera focus with a speed that rivals the best DSLR’s on the market. |
| Best Superzoom Camera
Canon |
The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS features a 12.1-Megapixel HS System with high-sensitivity CMOS sensor, and a 14x optical zoom (28-392mm equivalent) with optical image stabilisation. A 3-inch LCD screen, with 100% frame coverage, makes for easy viewing and menu control. TIPA members were impressed with features such as Full HD 1080p video with Dynamic Image Stabilizer, a new GPS function (including supplied Map Utility software) and a high-sensitivity CMOS sensor coupled with Canon’s DIGIC 4 processor that reduces noise levels even at the higher ranges (up to ISO 3200). |
| Best Rugged Compact Camera
Panasonic |
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3/FT3 is waterproof to a depth of 12m and dust-proof equivalent to the IPX8 and IP6X standard. It has an integrated GPS function, ideal for photographers who want to shoot in the great outdoors and record their exact position during that shoot. The camera has a built-in compass, altimeter and barometer to show and record altitude, barometric pressure and orientation data. The barometer also works as indicator for depth underwater. Thanks to its location awareness, the internal clock of the camera is automatically adjusted to the local time. |
The four categories for DSLRs were won by Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Pentax at this year’s TIPA awards.
Founded in 1991, the Technical Image Press Association (TIPA) comprises 29 independent photo & imaging magazines from nine European countries plus Australia, Canada, China, USA and South Africa.
This is the 21st installment of the annual awards.
Out of 40 categories of photo and imaging products for this year’s TIPA awards, four were for DSLRs. The winners for the four DSLR categories are tabulated below.
| Category / Winner | TIPA citation |
|---|---|
| Best DSLR Entry Level 
Canon |
The EOS 600D continues the legacy of easy operation and high functionality. TIPA members were very impressed with the features such as the 18.0 Megapixel CMOS image sensor, full HD video recording, Live View shooting, Wireless flash photography and a Vari-angle 3-inch LCD monitor. Offering 3.7 frames-per-second shooting rate, a top 1/4000 second shutter speed and up to 6400 ISO sensitivity (plus 12,800 H), the camera allows for the full DSLR experience with ease of operation that makes for a great first camera for those seeking to ‘step up’ from compact cameras. |
| Best DSLR Advanced 
Nikon |
The Nikon D7000 impressed us as the definition of a state-of-the-art DX-format DSLR (APS-C size) with a 16.2 MP CMOS sensor, six frames-per-second framing rate for up to 100 shots and full 1080p HD movies with full-time AF. With twin SD card slots, a 100% viewfinder and bright 3-inch LCD for Live View operation, the camera is extremely versatile in the field. The magnesium alloy top and rear covers, special weather and dust seals plus 150,000 cycle-rated shutter system give it a pro feel. |
| Best DSLR Expert 
Olympus |
For a very reasonable price, the Olympus E-5 provides benefits that rival those found in some professional SLRs: complete weather-sealing, comprehensive functions, excellent responsiveness, 100% viewfinder, good noise control, dual CF/SD slots, built-in image stabilisation, all in a rugged magnesium-alloy body. Add to this Olympus’ Dust Reduction System, which has proven to be among the most effective solutions in the market. The 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, combined with the ‘TruePic V+’ image engine produces images that rival competitors with substantially higher pixel counts. |
| Best DSLR Professional 
PENTAX |
TIPA members appreciated the design, build and feature specs of this 40 Megapixel medium format digital camera. The magnesium alloy body is fully weather-sealed, making it a great choice for outdoor and location photographers, plus the all-glass trapezoid pentaprism finder makes for a dazzling capture experience. Perhaps most impressive is lens compatibility, which encompasses both the new D FA autofocus lenses as well as older 645 lenses. |
Sony may control about 15 percent of the global market for single-lens-reflex cameras by the end of March, Masashi Imamura, president of the Personal Imaging & Sound Business Group told Bloomberg in an interview in Tokyo yesterday.
Interchangeable lens cameras is the fastest growing segment of digital imaging devices last year. Sales of SLR cameras increased 30% in the past year, more than twice the 13% growth by compact cameras, according to the Camera & Imaging Products Association, a Tokyo-based industry group.
In a report from research company IDC in April last year, leading the race was Canon which sold 45% of the world’s SLR cameras, followed by Nikon which sold 34%. Sony was in third place, accounting for 11% of the 9.77 million units sold in 2009. In the previous four years that it has been in the segment, Sony has garnered about 10% of the market share.
It bought the high-end camera business of Konica Minolta Holdings in 2006 when Konica ended its 130-year-old camera business to focus on printers.
Sony, which also manufactures the Cyber-shot compact cameras, has been aggressively introducing new models in its pursuit to grab market share from the two leaders.
The maker of alpha-series DSLR cameras introduced its NEX cameras (NEX-3 and NEX-5) in June 2010. These cameras feature the large sensors of traditional DSLRs, do away with the use of the reflex mirror and optical viewfinder, while allowing the camera lens to be changeable.
Like the Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras from Olympus and Panasonic, the NEX cameras offer the image quality of traditional DSLRs, the flexibility of using different lens for different shooting situations, yet enjoy a reduced bulk.
Sony also launched a slew of new models in its existing Alpha line in September. These include the SLT A55 and A33, which replace the traditional reflex mirror between the lens and the sensor with a stationary translucent mirror. This also makes the camera smaller and improves the auto-focus performance of the camera.
