Archive for the ‘Cameras’ Category
Friday, November 18th, 2011
Leica Camera sales from first half of this year (April 1 to September 30, 2011) increased by a double digit 56% compared to the corresponding period last year (April 1 to September 30, 2010).
Sales in Asia contributed to 23.7% of Leica’s global sales.
The Company’s success drivers were the Leica M9 rangefinder camera, the S2 professional system, as well as the Leica X1 compact camera.
“I am glad to witness the increase in demand for our cameras, sport optics and accessories in Asia,” said Sunil Kaul, Managing Director of Leica Camera Asia Pacific.
The Leica compact camera models V-Lux 20, V-Lux 2 and D-Lux 5 also made essential contributions to the positive overall development.
Further success drivers are the Rangemaster and Televid product lines in the Leica Sport optics product group.
Tags:binoculars, cameras, compact, DSLR, Leica, lens, optics, rangefinders
Posted in Cameras, Compact camera, DSLR, Figures, Leica, Lens, Tech news | No Comments »
Monday, November 14th, 2011
Olympus has appointed popular local actress Felicia Chin as the brand ambassador for the Olympus XZ-1, the flagship compact digital camera from the Japanese maker.
An avid user of social media, Felicia will share the photos she takes with her Olympus XZ-1 with friends and fans via her blog.
“XZ-1 gives me exactly what I want – beautiful pictures and creations that speak volumes about the world around me,” said Felicia Chin.Felicia is currently taking a break from acting to pursue her Business Studies degree at the National University of Singapore.
She has taken an 18-month break to-date, and with another year and a half to go for her studies
Felicia recently returned to local television screens with her new Mandarin drama series, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’, which made its debut on 27 September 2011, 9.00 pm.
Felicia will partner Olympus in the year-long "Felicia & XZ-1" campaign.
The year-long “Felicia Chin & XZ-1” campaign will see Felicia rooting for the fast compact digital camera via social media as well as traditional print media.
Olympus XZ-1
The XZ-1 (10-megapixel, 4x zoom) is the flagship compact digital camera from Olympus.
It offers image quality that rivals that of entry-level DSLR cameras whilst enjoying the compact form factor of digital compacts.
The Olympus XZ-1 were presented the “Best Expert Compact Camera” at the TIPA Awards 2011 and also won the prestigious Red Dot Design award 2011.
I reviewed the camera earlier this year and was deeply impressed at the speed of the fast lens (F1.8-2.5 aperture) and the image quality.
Take a look some of the photos I snapped in the photo review that I did as part of the review.
The user interface was easy to use, yet allowed fine manual control for enthusiasts and aspiring photographers. Check out the detailed review and the main specifications I’d posted earlier.
Photo review of the Olympus XZ-1
Tags:cameras, compact, Felicia Chin, Olympus, XZ-1
Posted in Cameras, Compact camera, Olympus, Photography, Photos | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
The GALAXY Note (S$998, 16GB) will be available in Singapore in November 2011, and the GALAXY Nexus (S$948) in January 2012.
Samsung and Google has jointly launched the GALAXY Nexus, the world’s first smartphone running Android 4.0 or Ice Cream Sandwich, the latest release of the Android platform.
GALAXY Nexus features a 4.65” HD Super AMOLED touch screen display with 1280×720 pixels and a 1.2 GHz dual core processor with 1GB RAM.
It also sports a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.3-megapixel front camera; and comes with 16GB or 32GB of onboard memory.
Samsung has also announced the launch of the GALAXY Note, a device that tries to combine the larger screen size of tablets with the portability of smart phones.
The 9.65mm thick GALAXY Note features the world’s first and largest 5.3” HD Super AMOLED touch screen display at WXGA (1280×800, 285ppi) resolution. It works with pen-input technology using a stylus called the S Pen.
Powered by a 1.4 GHz dual-core processor, the gadget runs on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and comes with 16GB onboard storage, with a microSD slot that supports up to 32GB.
GALAXY Note comes with an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera.
Tags:Android, Gingerbread, Google, Ice Cream Sandwich, Nexus, Note, Samsung, smartphone, tablets
Posted in Android, Cameras, Gadgets, Galaxy, Google, Launch, Phones, Prices, Samsung, Specifications, Tablets | 3 Comments »
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
The Samsung NX200 was first unveiled on September 1, 2011. It has just become available yesterday, with prices in Singapore set at S$1,099 (incl 7% GST and 18-55 mm kit lens).
Here are the main specifications for the Samsung NX200 mirrorless interchangeable lens digital camera:
| NX200 |
Main specifications |
| Image Sensor |
20.3 Megapixels APS-C Size CMOS (23.5 x 15.7mm) |
| Lens |
Samsung Lenses for Samsung NX Mount, bundled with Standard Kit Lens: Samsung 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OIS i-Function lens |
| Image Stabilization |
Lens Shift (depends on Lens) |
| Shutter Speed |
Auto： 1/4000sec. – 30sec.
Manual: 1/4000sec. – 30sec. (1/3 EV step) |
| Exposure |
- Compensation: ±3 EV (1/3EV step)
- ISO Equivalent: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12800 (1 or 1/3EV step)
- Metering System: TTL 221(17×13) Block segment
- Metering: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot
- Metering range: EV 0 – 18 (ISO 100 · 30mm, F2)
|
| Focusing |
Contrast AF (100ms AF Speed)
- Modes: Single AF, Continuous AF, MF
- Focusing Point: Selection (1 point), Multi (Normal 15points, Close up 35points), Face Detection (max.10 faces)
|
| Shooting |
- Modes: Smart Auto 2.0, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Lens Priority, Magic, Panorama, Scene, Movie
- Scene Modes: Beauty Shot, Night, Landscape, Portrait, Children, Sports, Close-Up, Text, Sunset, Dawn, Backlight, Fireworks, Beach & Snow, Sound Picture, 3D Photo
- Smart Filter: Vignetting, Miniature, Fish Eye, Sketch, Defog, Halftone Dots, Soft Focus, Old Film 1, Old Film 2, Negative
- Magic Frame: Holiday, Old Film, Ripple, Full Moon, Old Record, Magazine, Sunny Day, Classic TV, Yesterday, Wall Art, Billboard 1, Billboard 2, Newspaper
- Picture Wizard: Standard, Vivid, Portrait, Landscape, Forest, Retro, Cool, Calm, Classic, Custom (1 – 3) / Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation, Color
- White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Fluorescent (W, N, D), Tungsten, Flash, Custom, K(Manual)
- Size (max.): JPEG 20.0M, RAW 20.0M (5472 x 3648)
- Quality: Super fine , Fine, Normal, RAW (SRW format)
|
| Drive |
- Single
- Continuous: High (Up to 11 Shots at 7fps), Low (Up to 15 Shots at 3fps) in JPEG
- Burst (5M): 10, 15, 30fps by 1 release
- Bracket (AE/WB/PW)
- Self-Timer: 2 – 30sec. (1 sec. step)
|
| Movie |
1080p/30fps Full HD Movie Recording with MP4 (H.264)
- Modes: Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual
- Quality: High Quality, Normal
- Recording time: 25mins
- Movie Editing: Still Image Capture, Time Trimming
- Smart Filter: Vignetting, Miniature, Fish Eye, Sketch, Defog, Halftone Dots, Soft Focus, Old Film 1, Old Film 2, Negative
|
| Flash |
External Flash only (Bundle with SEF8A) with 28mm wide-angle
- Modes: Smart Flash, Auto, Auto+Red-eye reduction, Fill-in,
Fill-in + Red-eye reduction, 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain, Off
- Guide number: 8 (SEF8A at ISO 100)
- Sync. Speed: Less than 1/180sec.
- Compensation: -2 – +2EV (1/2 EV step)
|
| Physical Specifications |
- Dimensions: 116.5 x 62.5 x 36.2mm (exclude projecting)
- Weight: 220.4g (without battery and card)
- Battery Life: 165min / 330shots (CIPA Standard)
|
| Additional features |
- Supersonic Dust Reduction drive
- 3.0” VGA AMOLED Screen (614,000 dots)
- Samsung External Flash available
(SEF42A, SEF20A, SEF15A: Optional)
- Hot Shoe
- Software: Intelli-Studio 3.0, Samsung RAW Converter 4. Adobe Reader
- Storage File Formats: RAW (SRW), JPEG (EXIF 2.21), DCF, DPOF 1.1, PictBridge 1.0
|
Tags:cameras, DSLR, mirrorless, NX200, Samsung
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Gadgets, Photography, Prices, Samsung, Specifications | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
First announced two months ago in September, the 20.3 megapixel camera is now available worldwide. The Samsung NX200 is priced at S$1,099 (incl 7% GST and 18-55 mm kit lens) in Singapore.
Samsung NX200 with the i-Function lens system.
The NX200 promises DSLR quality combined with compactness and the ease-of-use of a digital compact point-and-shoot. This is Samsung’s fifth NX camera in its third body design. The 20.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor is contained in an all-metal body.
Samsung NX200 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera
For high speed capture, the NX200 achieves 100ms Advanced AF speed, fast boot and seven frames per second continuous shooting. Its ISO ranges from 100 to 12,800 (in seven stops) for low light shooting or to help freeze action shots. The NX200 records 1920×1080/30p (H.264) HD movie recording and Stereo Sound.
The NX200 is fully compatible with Samsung’s range of nine i-Function lenses, which allows toggling between shutter speed, aperture, exposure value (EV), white balance (WB), and ISO quickly and easily through the button and ring on the lens.
With the upgraded i-Function 2.0 on the NX200, it can control six different Smart Filters and the intelli-Zoom function from the lens whilst in Lens Priority Mode. New lenses for the i-Function system include 18-200mm (S$1,099), 16mm (S$499), 60mm and 85mm focal lengths.
Samsung NX200, with 20.3 megapixels, APS-C CMOS sensor, 1920x1080/30p (H.264) HD movie recording, and 3.0” VGA AMOLED display.
Images captured can be viewed on the 3.0” VGA AMOLED display of the NX200. The camera’s Smart Panel also offers intuitive control thanks to hot keys that enable users to switch to key functions without the need to scroll through confusing menus to get to the desired shot.
A new Panorama function allows users to take lengthened shots of large objects or turn the image into a 3D scene, bringing the object to life. A Sound Picture function allows a snippet of sound to be recorded together with a still snapshot.
The main specifications for the Samsung NX200 can be found here.
Tags:cameras, DSLR, mirrorless, NX200, Samsung
Posted in Cameras, DSLR, Gadgets, Launch, Photography, Prices, Samsung, Specifications | 1 Comment »
Saturday, October 22nd, 2011
The Leica store at Raffles Hotel is hosting the first photography exhibition in Singapore by Taiwanese rockstar Wu Bai (伍佰). 14 black-and-white photos taken in Taiwan are on display for the 42-day exhibition based on the theme “More Earth”.
Wu Bai launching his first photo exhibition in Singapore from Oct 22 - Dec 2.
Wu Bai (吳俊霖 Wu Jun Ling) is best known for his powerful live shows and rock ballads, Wu Bai composes and writes his own tunes, mostly inspired from his own life experiences. Some of the hits written by the multi award-winning musician include 浪人情歌 (Wanderer’s Love Song) and 挪威的森林 (Norwegian Woods).
Wu Bai says he enjoys hitting the streets of the countries he visits to get the feel of real life.
Another avenue of expression for the talented Mandarin rock artiste is his photography. He has published two photo books in 2007 and 2009.
“More Earth” will be open to the public from today until December 2, 2011. Open daily from 10 am till 8 pm, admission is free.
Wu Bai personally launched the exhibition yesterday and spoke in depth for more than half an hour about his passion for photography, despite a bad throat.
He shared that black-and-white photography is his style of choice, even though he started out with colour photography. He had discovered the sensuous touch of black-and-white photography after he viewed some photos of snow scenes that he had taken, and was taken with the almost black-and-white look of those photos.
Wu Bai shares some of the photos he took in Singapore on his iPad.
The photos for “More Earth” were selected based on his concern with how human development and construction is rapidly encroaching on nature, with greens and natural waterways superseded by concrete and steel structures, many of which were not even really necessary.
| Date |
22 Oct – 2 Dec, 2011 |
| Time |
10 am to 8 pm |
| Venue |
Leica store,
Raffles Hotel |
| Address |
Raffles Hotel Arcade
#01-18 |
The photos for the exhibition were taken using his Leica M6 and M7 with the 28mm f/2 M Summicron lens.
Plans to bring the exhibition to other countries in South East Asia are underway.
Tags:Leica, photography, photos, rock, Wu Bai
Posted in Cameras, Compact camera, Events, Gadgets, iPad, Launch, Leica, Music, Photography, Photos, Tablets | No Comments »
Friday, October 21st, 2011
The Leica store at Raffles Hotel in Singapore celebrated its first anniversary today with the a new compact camera and a photo exhibition.
The Leica store at Raffles Hotel Arcade in Singapore celebrates its first anniversary.
The Leica store in the Raffles Hotel Arcade (#01-18) first opened its doors on October 10th last year.
Special edition Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium compact digital camera.
As part of its first anniversary celebrations, it has launched the Special Edition of hte Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium compact digital camera.
It also launched the first photography exhibition in Singapore by Taiwanese rock singer Wu Bai (伍佰).
The compact camera has an elegant silver-grey Titanium look, and sports a 10.1-megapixel, 1/1.63” CCD sensor that records 720 pixel HD video.
Wu Bai talks about his passion for photography.
Focal range is from 24 to 90 mm (35mm equivalent).
Priced at SS$1,595, the camera comes bundled with the full version of Photoshop Lightroom, which is worth some S$400 on its own.
The standard Leica D-Lux 5 retails at S$1,200.
Wu Bai’s exhibition of 14 black-and-white photos is themed “More Earth” and features photos of the environment that he took in Taiwan.
The exhibition will begin tomorrow and last till December 2, 2011.
It will be open daily from 10 am to 8 pm, admission free.
Tags:Leica, photography, photos, rock, Wu Bai
Posted in Cameras, Compact camera, Events, Exhibition, Gadgets, Launch, Leica, Music, Photography, Photos, Prices, Specifications | No Comments »
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
Tags:microSD, SanDisk, SD, SDHC, SDXC, SSD, USB
Posted in Accessories, Cameras, Desktops, Events, Gadgets, Launch, Notebooks, Phones, Prices, SanDisk, Specifications, storage drive, Tablets | 2 Comments »
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011
The MV800 features a 3.0-inch wide flip-out touch display and is available in Black, White and Red at S$499.
MultiView MV800, the new compact digital camera from Samsung.
The flip-out touch screen of Samsung’s new ultra slim compact digital camera enables photographers to snap shots from difficult angles and awkward positions.
Such situations include snapping high-angle shots over the crowd to capture a street performance, and dramatic low-angle shots at ground level. The display can also be folded back to frame the shot when taking self-portraits. The screen can be tilted up or down for framing snapshots prior to taking them.
The MV800 pairs a Schneider-Kreuznach lens with a 16.1 megapixel CCD sensor. The 5x zoom Lens ranges goes from a wide angle of 26 mm (35mm equivalent focal length) to a maximum of 130 mm.
Schneider-Kreuznach lens with 5x zoom from 26 to 130 mm (35mm equiv)
The Live Panorama function enables easy photography of large groups by simply holding down the shutter button, and previewing the entire scene that has been captured on the LCD screen. By connecting the MV800 to a 3D HDTV, images and panoramic shots can be viewed in 3D.
The MV800 has a recording time of up to twice as long as the standard MPEG4. The zoom noise reduction technology promises to record only the sound of the subject and not the whirring of the zoom.
The Smart Touch 3.0 with Wallpaper user interface allows users to drag and scroll through menu options to launch features, instead of using traditional clumsy buttons on the camera’s body.
In-camera creative software features
16.1 megapixels and a 3.0-inch wide flip-out touch display.
The Magic Frame feature includes 12 fun background templates for snapshots, as well as the ability to customise their backgrounds. A Picture-in-Picture function also allows users to insert and combine one image with another.
The Smart Filter function has a selection of 14 artistic effects, including the newly added Water Paint for a stylish watercolour finish or the Cartoon capability that transforms any photo into a fun animated film format. Funny Face allows you to bend, stretch and manipulate portraits by tapping and dragging to radically distort facial characteristics for a good laugh.
Tags:cameras, MultiView MV800, Samsung
Posted in Cameras, Compact camera, Gadgets, Launch, Prices, Samsung, Specifications | 1 Comment »
Thursday, September 1st, 2011
Olympus will be at Booth 8205 on Level 4 in Hall 404 during COMEX 2011. Head for promotional discounts and bundles especially limited sets of the Pen E-PL1, which has been reduced from S$998 to S$498 plus free gifts worth S$320.
The star promotion from Olympus for COMEX 2011 is the PEN E-PL1. Launched in February 2010, OLYMPUS E-PL1 is an entry-level model, equipped with a new Live Guide interface which makes it easy for users to get the results they want even if they have little previous experience with photography.
Key features include the Live Guide user interface for easy, intuitive adjustment of brightness, hue, background defocusing, and other image parameters; dedicated Movie mode button for seamless access to movie shooting at any time; go-anywhere portability in a light, compact body with built-in flash and image stabilization; offered in white, champagne gold, and black; and six Art Filters, including new Gentle Sepia, for enhanced photographic creativity.
The normal pricing for the E-PL1 14-42mm Lens Kit is at S$998 (with GST), which includes the body (in White, Champagne Gold, and Black), an M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14–42mm F3.5–5.6 lens (Silver) and an 8 GB SD card.
The COMEX 2011 offer at S$498 includes an additional 8 GB SD Card, an E-PL1 Skin, a camera bag, a screen protector, a card reader, 3 months local extended warranty and free E-Workshop.
Tags:accessories, cameras, COMEX 2011, DSLR, Olympus
Posted in Accessories, Cameras, Compact camera, DSLR, Events, Gadgets, Olympus, Prices, Specifications | 1 Comment »
