Review based on a production Leica X1 with firmware 1.0

Note: Some of the tests in this review were carried out using firmware 0.73b (the final development version). Leica informs us that the differences between 0.73b and 1.0 relate only to 'bug fixes and performance improvements'.

If there's been one welcome development in 2009, it's the rise of relatively compact cameras with large sensors (i.e. APS-C, or the smaller Four Thirds size). For a long time Sigma seemed to be the only company willing to take a gamble on there being a genuine market for such beasts, starting with the slightly rough-and-ready DP1 (released in March last year), which was followed up by the much-improved DP2 earlier this year. But then Olympus launched its retro-styled Micro Four Thirds E-P1, Panasonic replied with the GF1, and into a sector which, if not yet exactly crowded, is at least starting to look like if can be described as 'burgeoning', there now comes the Leica X1.

The mere mention of the name 'Leica' causes certain photographers' hearts to beat just a little bit faster; this sole survivor of the once-mighty German camera industry is one of the very few genuine 'heritage' brands left. The company's long-running reputation for sheer engineering quality and optically-superb lenses is legendary - many a budding snapper has aspired to own a 'real' Leica, eventually. Unfortunately though, this quality is (inevitably) accompanied by heart-stopping prices, meaning such aspirations are often left unfulfilled for many years.

Perhaps with a mind to providing an 'entry-level' option that is more affordable and attainable, the X1 promises to make Leica's inimitable design and quality accessible to more digital shooters than ever before. It follows in the tradition of the company's premium compacts for 35mm film such as the CM, offering a fixed prime lens, analogue-style controls and premium build quality. Of course this being a Leica the lens is all - the Elmarit 24mm 1:2.8 ASPH is made up of 8 elements in 6 groups, and includes an aspheric element to minimize aberrations. It sits in front of a 12Mp CMOS APS-C (1.5x crop) sensor, giving an angle of view equivalent to a 35mm lens on full frame. Viewing is via a 2.7", 230,000 pixel LCD on the rear - there's no built-in optical finder.

The X1 has clearly been designed as an instrument for taking photographs, pure and simple, and features a pared-down, traditionalist design in service of that goal. Shutter speed and aperture are controlled by dials on the top plate, and all other major shooting settings are directly accessible from buttons on the back. This is a design that utterly rejects fripperies in the quest for uncomplicated functionality; if you're after an aquarium mode, HD movies or background music for your slide shows, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Of course the X1 is still a Leica, and so will not by any means be cheap, which means it's going to have to deliver some pretty compelling results to persuade the less-emotionally driven buyer to hand over the wallet-slimming sum of money required to own one. So let's take a close look to see what it can do, and find out whether it succeeds in this goal.

Leica X1 - Key Features

• Compact lightweight body with analogue-style control dials
• Fixed 24mm F2.8 lens (angle of view equivalent to 35mm lens on full frame)
• Program, Shutter priority, Aperture priority, Manual exposure modes
• Full range of manual controls
• 12.2 Mp APS-C CMOS sensor
• ISO 100-3200
• DNG raw format recording

Foreword / notes

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.

To navigate this article simply use the next / previous page buttons or jump to a specific page by using the drop-down list in the navigation bar at the top of the page. You can support this site by ordering through the affiliate links shown at the bottom of each page (where available).

This article is protected by Copyright and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.

Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.

The Samsung NX10’s innovative technology provides ‘best in class’ features with a large APS-Csize sensor, bright AMOLED screen and fast autofocus to give users ultimateperformance

Las Vegas, NV, January 4th, 2009: Samsung Digital Imaging Company Inc., today announced the Samsung NX10 at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas – an innovative digital camera that provides users with an interchangeable lens system and optimum image quality in a sleek, compact body. Delivering creativity without compromise, users can now be as creative as they want on the move, without having to compromise perfect images.

The NX10 incorporates a fast and decisive auto focus (AF), 14.6 MP APS-C size CMOS sensor and unique, large 3.0” AMOLED screen, allowing users to easily view their images, even in bright sunlight. Users can also record in HD movie to create the full story. Available in two colors, Noble Black and Titan Silver, the Samsung NX10 is small, light and ergonomically designed to ensure maximum portability for everyday use.

The Samsung NX10 ensures users never miss a moment, with one of the fastest AF in its class on the market. The company’s latest innovation, the new DRIMe II Pro engine and advanced AF algorithm, also provide ultra fast AF speed with the higher precision of contrast AF.

The Samsung NX10 has the heart of a DSLR embedded inside the compact frame of a digital camera, successfully integrating the APS-C size CMOS sensor with a mirrorless interchangeable lens, for a sleek, lightweight camera that users can easily take with them everywhere they go.

Consumers are not just limited to taking shots but can also tell their own stories in video format with HD movie recording (H.264 codec).

Samsung continues to extend the usage of AMOLED screens across many products, using a large 3.0” AMOLED screen in Samsung NX10. AMOLED provides easier viewing even in bright sunshine and at acute viewing angles, meaning users no longer need to shield their screen with their hand. The category leading screen also provides 10,000 times faster response rate than conventional LCDs, has a far lower power consumption and higher contrast ratio – 10,000:1 vs. 500:1.

“The new Samsung NX10 marks the start of the next generation of cameras,” said Mr. S J Park, CEO of Samsung Digital Imaging Company. “We know from our detailed research over several years that what consumers want from their cameras is evolving, which we’ve reflected in the development of the Samsung NX10. With specialist equipment open to everyone and no longer restricted solely to the professional, more and more people want to capture something creative and tell a story through their camera – but they also want something compact that they can carry round with them all day. The large sensor and the ultra fast auto focus give consumers the quality they demand as well as the compactness they want in one exceptional package.”

Mr. Park continued: “Samsung has always been quick to implement cutting edge technology and no more so when it comes to quality of images. For the first time in the market, Samsung has successfully integrated an APS-C size sensor into a compact body by eliminating the mirror box, meaning that our users can now be as creative as they want to be on the move without having to compromise on image quality.”

The Samsung NX10 also contains a range of intelligent features to put professional quality images within reach of the amateur photographer. The Samsung NX10 includes in-depth manual controls and also a Smart Auto function which automatically detects the surrounding environment of the shot and selects the right shoot mode. Its Smart Range feature also enables the user to vividly express both bright areas and dark areas in the same frame, and the Supersonic Dust Reduction system keeps those dust particles clear of the image sensor that can often impair an image. It even senses when the user brings the camera close to their face to look through the viewfinder, and puts the AMOLED screen on standby to conserve power.

London, UK, 5th January 2010 – Canon today announces the launch of the new PowerShot A495 and PowerShot A490 – a duo of affordable and user-friendly compact digital cameras designed for fun, everyday use. Replacing the popular PowerShot A480, the new models combine a subtle, soft-edged design with a genuine Canon lens and a range of intelligent automatic features – packing impressive performance into a small, lightweight body.

Available in silver (both models), red and blue (PowerShot A495 only), both new models offer a 10.0 Megapixel sensor and genuine Canon 3.3x optical zoom lens, producing large, detailed images. Smart Auto mode takes care of picture settings automatically, and a bright, vivid 6.2cm (2.5”) LCD display makes it simple to frame, capture and share images.

Smart Auto – simply point and shoot
Effortless shooting is guaranteed by Smart Auto with Scene Detection Technology, which automatically recognises shooting conditions and applies the optimum picture settings required to get the perfect shot. The PowerShot A495 automatically detects up to 18 different shooting scenes, while PowerShot A490 can detect up to 13 – producing great results whether shooting on a sunny day, capturing a subject at a close range, or at night. Taking care of all picture settings so the user doesn’t have to, Smart Auto makes photography easier than ever.

i-Contrast technology detects difficult lighting conditions – ensuring that light or darker areas are captured in detail in the final image – while Smart Flash Exposure automatically adjusts flash levels to suit both the subject and conditions. In daylight, for example, Smart Flash Exposure will detect and eliminate shadows on a face caused by bright sunlight, automatically engaging the flash to ensure everyone looks their best.

Advanced Face Detection Technology – multiple faces, multiple uses
Face Detection Technology makes it easy to get perfect group shots, recognising multiple faces and making sure everyone is well-exposed, natural and in focus. Red-eye Correction also detects and removes any red-eye in images after the shot has been taken, making friends and family look great at all times. A clever FaceSelf-Timer feature, available on the PowerShot A495, simplifies group shots by waiting until an additional face enters the frame before the shot is taken two seconds later – ensuring everyone can be part of the picture.

Simple, creative shooting – even in low light
Higher performance in dark situations is now achieved thanks to a new Low Light mode, which automatically sets the ISO at a reduced resolution to capture images in dark conditions. Motion Detection Technology also works to prevent blur when capturing moving subjects, allowing the most inexperienced user to get great, blur free images with ease.

The PowerShot A495 features two new, simple scene modes that give users the ability to instantly add further creativity to their shots. Poster Effect reduces the number of colours for an older, poster-style look from photos without the need for a computer. Super Vivid mode injects new life into subjects lacking vibrancy – adding a higher level of saturation to images to provide a dramatic, enriched effect.

Go beyond stills – shoot and share video with ease
In addition to high-quality images, both the PowerShot A495 and the PowerShot A490 are able to capture video at VGA resolution with sound. Both also feature a YouTube™ upload function in the supplied software package – providing the capacity to log-in and upload directly from the camera to the Internet via a computer. This enables video to be shared online for friends to see within minutes of being captured.

Each of the new PowerShots are compatible with SDHC and SDXC memory cards – with SDXC offering storage capacity of up to 2TB, allowing users to shoot thousands of images on a single card. Both models are powered by AA batteries, providing users with flexibility to keep plenty of power in reserve.

CANON iMAGE GATEWAY – share your stories
Owners of the new PowerShot A495 and PowerShot A490 are entitled to free membership of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, an online facility for sharing photos and video. Users can take advantage of up to 2GB of personal storage capacity, creating enough room for hundreds of high-quality images. Mobile browsing is also supported, making it easy for friends and family to view photos on the move.

Canon PowerShot A495 & A490 specifications

Additional images

Sony’s new DSLR is a versatile all-round choice for step‑up photographers

• 14.2 effective megapixels Exmor™ CMOS sensor
• Up to 7 fps continuous shooting
• Manual Focus Check Live View
• Auto HDR
• 1,050 shot battery stamina (CIPA measurement)
• SteadyShot INSIDE

The newest addition to the α family of DSLR cameras teams flawless imaging with generous creative options.

Powerful yet brilliantly easy to use, the DSLR-A450 is a perfect all-rounder when you’re ready to take your passion for great pictures to a more advanced level. Ideal for active shooters moving up to their next DSLR, it’s at home in any shooting situation, from relaxed portraits to fast-moving sports action.

Inside the α450 is a high-resolution 14.2 (approx.) effective megapixel Exmor™ CMOS sensor. It’s teamed with the powerful BIONZ processor to deliver highly detailed, ultra-low noise images. Sensitivity extends right up to ISO 12800, allowing you to capture beautifully natural handheld images in low light without flash.

With a generous 95% field of view, the bright optical viewfinder makes framing and composition a pleasure. As an extra refinement, Manual Focus Check Live View previews clear, bright full-resolution images on the 6.7cm (2.7”) Clear Photo LCD screen. With selectable 7x/14x on-screen image enlargement it’s ideal for confirming pin-sharp focus with portraits, still life, macro and architectural scenes.

The powerful BIONZ image processor enables high-speed continuous shooting at up to 5 fps (maximum – approx. figure). In Speed Priority mode (with AF and AE set at start of burst) this increases to an amazing 7 fps (maximum – actual speed depends on shooting conditions and media card). It’s more than enough to catch sports and fast-moving action with ease.

Creative options are enhanced with Auto HDR mode that accommodates bright highlights and dark shadow details in a single frame. Two successive frames shot handheld at different exposure values are merged automatically by the camera. The result is a detail-packed High Dynamic Range image – with no need for a PC image editor and specialists skills. In addition to fully automatic operation, the exposure difference between frames can be manually set up to 3EV, in 0.5EV increments.

Featured right across the DSLR line-up by Sony, SteadyShot INSIDE™ offers up to 4 steps of anti-shake correction with the full range of 30 α lenses and two teleconvertors, as well as compatible A-mount optics by Konica-Minolta.

The α450 also offers the most impressive shooting stamina of any DSLR camera by Sony to date. The high-capacity battery allows up to 1,050 shots between charges* - plenty for a busy weekend’s sightseeing.

Slots for Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and SD/SDHC memory cards (sold separately) are offered to suit users’ personal shooting preferences.

Connect the α450 to any HD Ready TV for a breathtaking big-screen view of your photos. PhotoTV HD optimises still image reproduction on compatible BRAVIA™ models, while BRAVIA™ Sync allows control of slideshow and other camera playback functions using your TV remote.

Supplied software includes Image Data Converter SR; Image Data Lightbox SR; and PMB (Picture Motion Browser) for easy image management. The α450 is also compatible with the wide range of high-quality DSLR accessories by Sony, including flashes, carry cases, batteries and chargers, GPS and more.

The DSLR-A450 digital SLR camera by Sony is available from the beginning of February 2010.

* when using optical viewfinder (CIPA measurement)

Sony DSLR-A450 specifications

Suggested selling price (With 18-55mm lens)	$TBC $TBC
Body material	Plastic exterior
Sensor	• 23.4 x 15.6 mm APS-C Type CMOS Exmor Sensor • RGB Color Filter Array • Built-in fixed low-pass filter • 14.6 million total pixels • 14.2 million effective pixels
Image sizes *	3:2 • 4592 x 3056 (L) • 3344 x 2224 (M) • 2288 x 1520 (S) 16:9 • 4592 x 2576 (L) • 3344 x 1872 (M) • 2288 x 1280 (S)
File qualities / formats	• RAW (.ARW) • RAW + JPEG Fine • RAW + JPEG Standard • JPEG Fine • JPEG Standard
Dust reduction	• Charge protection coating on low-pass filter • Sensor-shift dust reduction mechanism
Lenses	• Sony Alpha lenses (also compatible with Minolta and Konica -Minolta AF lenses)
FOV crop	1.5x
SteadyShot INSIDE	• CCD-Shift 'SteadyShot Inside' system • Claimed equivalent to 2.5 – 3.5 steps in shutter speed
Auto Focus	• TTL CCD line sensors (9-points,with center cross sensor) • EV 0 to 18 (ISO 100) detection range • Predictive focus, Focus Lock
AF area selection	• Wide AF area • Spot AF area (center) • Focus area selection (any of 9)
Focus modes	• Single-shot AF • Continuous AF • Automatic AF • Manual focus
AF assist illuminator	• Yes (using built in flash) • Range approx 1m - 5m
Eye-start AF	Yes, selectable from menu
Shooting modes	• Programmed AE (Auto, Flash off, P) • Aperture priority AE • Shutter priority AE • Manual • Scene Selection
Scene modes	• Portrait • Landscape • Macro • Sports • Sunset • Night view/portrait
Sensitivity	• Auto (ISO 200-1600) • Manual ISO 200- ISO 12800 in 1 EV steps
Metering modes	• Multi-segment (40 segment Honeycomb pattern) • Center-weighted • Spot
Metering range	• TTL metering • 40-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC • EV 2 to 20 (Multi-segment / Center-weighted) • EV 4 to 20 (Spot metering) (at ISO 100 with F1.4 lens)
AE Lock	• AEL button (customizable, hold or single-press) • Half-press shutter release
AE Bracketing	• Single or continuous bracketing • 3 frames • 0.3 or 0.7 EV steps
Exposure compen.	• -2.0 to +2.0 EV • 0.3 EV steps
Shutter	Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane Shutter
Shutter Speed	• 30 to 1/4000 sec • Bulb
Flash X-sync	• 1/160 sec
Aperture values	Depends on lens, 0.3 EV steps
DOF preview	No
White balance	• Auto • Daylight • Shade • Cloudy • Incandescent • Fluorescent • Flash • Color temperature/filter (2500 - 9900 K) • Manual (Custom)
White balance fine tuning	• Auto (none) • Preset WB: -3 to +3 • Fluorescent WB: -1 to +2 • Color temperature WB: G9 to M9 (Magenta to Green)
White balance bracketing	• 3 images from 1 exposure • Hi / Lo level selectable
Dynamic range optimizer	• Off • D-Range Optimizer (Auto, Lv 1-5) • Auto HDR (Auto, Ajustable up to 3 EV betwwen 1.0-3.0 EV in 0.5 EV steps)
Color space	• sRGB • Adobe RGB
Color modes	• Standard • Vivid • Portrait • Landscape • Sunset • B&W
Image parameters	• Contrast (-3 to +3) • Sharpness (-3 to +3)) • Saturation (-3 to +3)
Noise reduction	• Long exposure for exposures longer than 1 second • High ISO NR at ISO 1600 or higher • User controllable: On / Off
Viewfinder	• Eye-level fixed optical glass pentamirror • Spherical Acute Matte focusing screen • Magnification approx. 0.83x • 95% frame coverage • Dioptric adjustment (-3.0 to +1.0) • Eye-relief 19 mm from eyepiece, 15 mm from frame • Eyepiece cup removable • Viewfinder info bar
Live view (MF Check Live View)	• Live View with CMOS sensor Exmor • Metering varies according to shooting mode • 100% frame coverage • Display: Real-time image adjustment display (White balance, Sunset/ B&W of Creative Style, Exposure Compensation) • Zoom (x7.0/x14.0), Grid line display
LCD monitor *	• 6.7cm (2.7") TFT Clear Photo LCD • 230,400 dots • Auto Brightness Control (auto setting in 2 steps) • Manual settting in 5 steps
Flash	• Built-in pop-up flash (manual release) • Metering: ADI, Pre-flash TTL, Manual flash control • Guide number 12 (ISO 100/m) • Angle of coverage 18 mm • Flash sync 1/160 sec
Flash modes	• Off • Auto • Fill Flash • Rear Sync • Slow sync • Wireless/High Speed Sync. (with External flashes listed below)
Flash Bracketing	3 exposures in 0.3 and 0.7 EV steps
Flash compensation	-2.0 to +2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps
External flash (optional)	• Sony HVL-F58AM • Sony HVL-F56AM • Sony HVL-F42AM • Sony HVL-F36AM
Drive modes	• Single-frame • Continuous • Speed-Priority • Self-timer (10 or 2 sec)
Continuous shooting	• Approx 5 fps max • Speed- Priority: 7 fps max • RAW: Up to 14 frames • RAW+JPEG: Up to 7 frames • JPEG (Fine): 32 frames • JPEG (Standard): 116 frames
Self-timer	• 10 sec • 2 sec
Orientation sensor	Yes, for shooting, playback and control panel display
Connectivity	• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed (mass storage, Multi-LUN or PTP) • DC-IN • Remote terminal
Remote control	• Wired: with optional RM-S1AM or RM-L1AM
Video out	• AV (Selectable NTSC or PAL) • HDMI • 'PhotoTV' HD settings applied with BRAVIA.
Storage	• SD/ SDHC • Memory Stick Pro Duo / Pro HG Duo • Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Power	• NP-FM500H Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (1650 mAh) • Battery charger included • Optional AC adapter • Batter life Approx 1050 shots (CIPA standard)
Vertical grip	• Yes (model tbc)
Dimensions	137 x 104 x 81mm (5.5 x 4.2 x 3.2 in)
Weight (body)	520 g (1.1lb)

London, UK, 5th January 2010 – Canon today launches the PowerShot A3100 IS and PowerShot A3000 IS, two new digital cameras that are compact, great looking and extremely easy to use. Packed with a range of clever and user-friendly features, the new models make photography more enjoyable than ever, helping users get great shots with the minimum of effort.

With genuine Canon lens technology and DIGIC III processing, the PowerShot A3100 IS and PowerShot A3000 IS offer excellent performance and great value. Both sport a new, slim and lightweight body with an attractive exterior design, combining stand-out looks with a range of intelligent technologies. The PowerShot A3100 IS is available in a selection of bright, attractive colours, offering a choice of blue, red and silver variants, while the PowerShot A3000 IS comes in silver with a subtle black trim. The new models will succeed the current PowerShot A1100 IS, and mark a true step forward for the PowerShot A series line.

Canon quality – both inside and out
The PowerShot A3100 IS features a 12.1 Megapixel imaging sensor, while the lower-cost PowerShot A3000 IS offers 10.0 Megapixels of resolution. Equipped with DIGIC III processing, a 4x optical zoom lens and integrated optical Image Stabilizer, both provide rich, detailed and blur-free images. A bright, 6.7cm (2.7") high resolution LCD screen offers crisp playback, enabling users to frame and review images in pin-sharp clarity.

Both new models also make it easy to capture the perfect shot, thanks to the intelligent Smart Auto mode. Smart Auto with Scene Detection Technology recognises up to 18 different scenes and automatically applies the optimum settings required to capture the best picture.

Smart Auto also in­cludes i-Contrast technology, which analyses images to deliver perfect exposure, adding brightness and detail to darker sections without blowing out correctly-exposed areas. Additionally, Canon’s Easy mode provides super-simple settings for beginners, deactivating most of the buttons and removing icons from the screen for straightforward point-and-shoot photography.

Smart Flash Exposure improves natural and ambient lighting in every shot, intelligently adjusting flash exposure to suit the subject and the shooting conditions. In daylight, for example, Smart Flash Exposure will detect and eliminate harsh facial shadows created when light reaches people at an angle, automatically engaging the flash to brighten up any poorly lit features. Flash power is also controlled during macro shooting, preventing over exposure and retaining image detail of subjects shot from a very short distance.

Face Detection Technology makes it easy to take pictures of friends, tracking faces and providing correct exposure and focus for the best results. Face Select & Track allows one face to be given priority over others in a group if required, while Red-Eye Correction identifies and corrects red eyes, making sure everyone looks their best. The smart FaceSelf-Timer feature allows the photographer to be included in group photos, only taking the shot when an extra face has entered the frame.

Creative shooting with minimum effort
A range of creative shooting features includes the new Low Light mode, which provides improved performance in challenging lighting conditions at 2.0 Megapixel resolution. The new Super Vivid mode injects new life into subjects, adding colour to images to provide a dramatic, enriched effect. The cameras also feature the new Poster Effect mode, which reduces the number of colours to create retro-looking, poster-style images.

The PowerShot A3100 IS makes it easy to navigate menus, with on-screen Hints & Tips providing simple explanations of camera functions for superb ease-of-use.

In addition to high-quality images, both the PowerShot A3100 IS and the PowerShot A3000 IS capture video at VGA resolution with sound, offering users the ability to go beyond stills. Both models feature comprehensive software packages, including an integrated YouTube™ upload function, for sharing videos online quickly and easily.

For the first time in a PowerShot A series model, the new models both feature Lithium-ion battery packs. Lightweight and rechargeable, Lithium-ion battery packs are slim and easier to carry, and provide the convenience of being able to be charged on demand. Both cameras are also compatible with SDHC and SDXC storage cards, offering up to 2TB (SDXC only) of convenient and reliable memory that users can take anywhere.

CANON iMAGE GATEWAY – share your stories
Owners of the new PowerShot A3100 IS and PowerShot A3000 IS are entitled to free
membership of CANON iMAGE GATEWAY, an online facility for sharing photos and video. Users can take advantage of up to 2GB of personal storage capacity, creating enough room for hundreds of high-quality images. Mobile browsing is also supported, making it easy for friends and family to view photos on the move.

Canon PowerShot A3100 IS & A3000 IS specifications

Additional images

Sealife DC600 digital camera is a camera that you can use both under water and above water. Sealife DC600 digital camera can be use up to 200 feet under the water. When it out of its housing it is very small and light so you can take it anywhere.

Sealife-DC600

Sealife DC600 comes with features a 6.1 megapixel-2848 x 2136pixel, 10MB onboard, and a SD Card slot. Focal length is 5.5 to 16.5 millimeters, or 32 to 96mm in the old 35mm film camera parlance. Movies record at full 30 frame per second speed at 640 x 480 pixel format and the camera records sound with movies, even underwater. Sensitivity is limited. It’s automatic, or can be set to 64, 100 or 200 ISO.

Sealife DC600 normal focus range goes from a foot to infinity. A macro range let’s you get as close as a couple of inches. There is a self-timer, exposure compensation, and a 4X digital zoom on top of the 3X optical zoom. The built-in flash has four modes: automatic, on, off, and red-eye reduction.

Olympus Prosumer E-30 DSLR Offering an 11 point autofocus system. In what appears to be a leak, first details concerning a new four-thirds, prosumer DSLR camera from Olympus – referred to as the Olympus E-30 – have surfaced on the net and, whilst the details leaked can in no way be deemed as offering a particularly detailed insight into the E-30’s full capabilities they do, at least, offer a tantalising insight into aDSLR that, interestingly, Olympus curiously never actually mentioned directly at this years Photokina event (though they did hint that they were working on a prototype which, one could assume, now transpires to be the E-30).

Olympus Prosumer E-30 DSLR

Of the few details that have surfaced, the 12.3 megapixel Olympus E-30 is billed as offering an 11 point autofocus system similar to that featured on the somewhat more lofty E-3, image stabilisation applied to the sensor as well as the E-30’s lens, ISO sensitivities ranging between ISO100 – ISO3200, burst shooting of up to 5 frames per second (up to a total of 12 RAW captures or up to memory capacity if shooting in JPEG file format) and a swivelling ‘Live’ LCD screen
and, if the report is to be believed, will initially ship as either a body only for around $1299 with an upgraded 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 Zuiko lens being released in sync with the E-30’s availability which will set your back an additional $600.

Again, we should stress that these initial details concerning the E-30 are yet to be confirmed officially by Olympus and, interestingly, Crave’s page – duly credited as the source – has since been removed, but, if the leak rings true, the E-30 is billed as shipping sometime in January ’09.

Olympus Prosumer E-30 DSLR specification :
Price $1299.99 (body only)
Dimensions 5.6 in/141.5 mm (W) x 4.23 in/107.5mm (H) x
2.95 in/75 mm (D), 23.1 oz/655g
Resolution 12.3-megapixels
Processor TruePic III+ Image Processor
Sensor size/type Four Thirds, 17.3 mm (H) x 13.0 mm (V)
Kit Lens No
Viewfinder 98% field of view, 1.02x magnification .
LCD 230,000 pixel, 2.7 inch articulated LCD
Live View Manual focus
Autofocus: High speed imager AF, Phase-difference detection AF
Shutter Speed 60 – 1/8000 sec, bulb up to 30 minutes
Burst Speed 1-5 frames per second
Autofocus TTL phase-difference detection system, 11 points Compensation ±5 EV in 1/3, 1/2, 1 EV steps
Noise Reduction High ISO (three levels), Long Exposure
ISO range ISO 100-3200 in 1/3 or 1 EV
Flash Retractable flash, GN=18 @ISO200
Media Format JPEG, RAW Still: JPEG
Movie Mode No
Media Type CF (UDMA compatible), xD
Connections Proprietary USB, DC in

The Canon PowerShot G11 tops the company’s G-series of enthusiast-targeted models and follows on from last year’s G10 , the ‘ultimate compact’. Updated November 30 2009.It claims to be a fully featured camera that delivers excellent image quality, but should you choosethe Canon PowerShot G11 over a digital SLR, given that the price tag is almost as high?

Canon Powershot G11

Specification-wise, the first thing to note is that the Canon PowerShot G11 has a lower megapixel count than its predecessor (10.1Mp rather than 14.7Mp). It also has a smaller LCD screen at the rear for composing and reviewing shots: 2.8in rather than 3in. But while the headline image capture capability has been reduced, Canon has upped the ante elsewhere – most notably inthe Canon PowerShot G11’s greater sensitivity to light.

It supports a manually selectable setting of ISO 3,200, which can be boosted to 12,800 (at 2.5Mp) should you need to shoot in near darkness. And reducing the size of the screen enables Canon to givethe Canon PowerShot G11 a tilt-and-swivel LCD for shooting at awkward angles.

Like Canon’s digital SLRs, the Canon PowerShot G11 feels substantial and almost tank-like when gripped in the palm. There are also plenty of rangefinder-like top-plate dials for adjustment, plus a gently sloping grip to the front. This feature isn’t wholly successful: we didn’t know where to place our thumb at the rear when shooting handheld.

Still, hit the on/off button just behind the shutter release button and the Canon PowerShot G11 powers up in a second or so. Its image-stabilised 5x optical zoom lens extends from almost flush to the body to a maximum 28mm wide-angle setting, with 140mm available at the telephoto end. Although the lens isn’t swappable, the broader-than-average focal range makes for a wealth of creative possibilities.

With the ability to shoot up to ISO 12,800, the Canon PowerShot G11 promises much in the way of image quality. We found that sticking to the user selectable settings (up to ISO 3,200) reaps far better results. Indeed, shots taken at ISO 3,200 matched those at the lower ISO 800 from rivals for noise (visible grain). juggles speed, features, output quality, and design well enough to be a worthy choice for most small offices or small workgroups. The only people it is likely to disappoint are those who need sophisticated color imaging.

The MFC-9450CDN ($650 as of April 6, 2009) performed capably in our speed tests. Brother claims that the unit can print both black-and-white text and color images as fast as 21 pages per minute–and it came close to that mark for text (20.4 ppm), with perfect-looking output. But its color graphics performance was much slower 4.9 ppm, and print quality was underwhelming: On plain paper, our test photos looked washed-out and blurry; and on special paper with optimized settings, the colors still had a yellow cast and exhibited moiré patterns. Scans and copies were sometimes a bit too dark but overall they looked good.

The level of color quality will be adequate for many office users; but if you’re more exacting, you should consider the Xerox Phaser 6128MFP, which handled photos better and costs slightly less than brother’s color laser MFP. The MFC-9450CDN has a lot to offer, though we also noticed a few quirks. Among its pluses are an automatic duplexer and a USB/PictBridge port. Augmenting the unit’s 35-sheet automatic document feeder (ADF) for scan and copy input, you get a 250-sheet main input tray and a 50-sheet multipurpose tray. An optional 500-sheet paper tray lists for $250. On the control panel, buttons for fax, scan, and copy functions are not grouped–but everything is clearly labeled, so the arrangement is more annoying than confusing.

Canon PowerShot G11 Specification :
Recommended price
• $499
• €589
• £569

Sensor
• 1/1.7″ Type CCD
• 10 million effective pixels
Image sizes
• 3648 x 2736
• 3648 x 2048
• 2816 x 2112
• 2272 x 1704
• 1600 x 1200
• 640 x 480
• 320 x 240
Movie clips
• 640 x 480 @ 30fps
• 320 x 240 @ 30fps
Maximum clip length
Up to 4GB or 1 hour
File formats
• Still: JPEG (Exif v2.2), RAW
• Movie: MOV [H.264 + Linear PCM (monaural)]
Lens
• 28-140mm (35mm equiv)
• f = 6.1 – 30.5 mm
• 5x optical zoom
• F2.8-4.5
• Construction: 11 elements in 9 groups (1 double-sided aspherical element)
Image stabilization Yes (Lens-Shift)
Conversion lenses Yes
Digital zoom up to 4x
Focus
• Auto focus :TTL
- Face Detection / 9-point AiAF
- 1-point AF (center or Face Select and Track)
- Fixed centre or Face Select and Track
• Manual focus

AF modes
• Single
• Continuous
• Servo AF/AE
AF lock Yes (on/off selectable)
AF assist lamp Yes
Focus distance Closest focus distance 1 cm
Metering
• Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame)
• Center-weighted average
• Spot (center or linked to Face Detection)
ISO sensitivity
• Auto
• ISO 80
• ISO 100
• ISO 200
• ISO 400
• ISO 800
• ISO 1600
• ISO 3200
AE lock Yes
Exposure compensation +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments
Shutter speed
• Auto (1 – 1/4000 sec)
• 15-1/4000 sec

Modes
• Auto
• Program AE
• Shutter Priority AE
• Aperture Priority AE
• Manual
• Custom (2 modes)
• Special Scene
• Stitch Assist
• Low Light
• Quick Shot
• Movie

Scene modes
• Portrait
• Landscape
• Night Scene
• Sports
• Night Snapshot
• Kids & Pets
• Indoor
• Sunset
• Foliage
• Snow
• Beach
• Fireworks
• Aquarium
• Underwater
• Color Accent
• Color Swap
• Stitch Assist

White balance
• Auto (including Face Detection WB)
• Daylight
• Cloudy
• Tungsten
• Fluorescent
• Fluorescent H
• Flash
• Custom1
• Custom2
• Underwater
• White Balance Correction
Self timer
• 2 or 10 sec
• Custom or FaceSelf Timer
Continuous shooting
• Approx. 1.1 shots/sec.
• AF: Approx. 0.7 shots/sec.
• LV: Approx. 0.8 shots/sec. (until memory card becomes full)
Image parameters My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color)
Flash
• Auto, Flash On, Flash Off, Slow Sync, Red-eye reduction
• Slow Sync Speed : Fastest speed 1/2000 sec
• +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments
• Face Detection FE compensation
• Safety FE
• Flash exposure lock
• Manual Power Adjustment
• Second Curtain Sync
• Range (Auto ISO):50cm – 7.0m (wide) / 4.0m (tele)
External Flash E-TTL with EX series Speedlites, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX, Canon High Power Flash HF-DC1
Viewfinder Real-image zoom, Optical Viewfinder
LCD monitor
• 2.8 inch Vari-angle PureColor II VA (TFT)
• 461,000 pixels
• 100% coverage
• Adjustable
Connectivity
• USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
• HDMI mini connector
• AV out (PAL / NTSC switchable)
Print compliance PictBridge
Storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus
Power Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-7L
Weight (no batt) 355 g
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 48 mm

Although there are a few digital cameras out there that have integrated WiFi, Samsung makes sure to raise the bar high enough to make it a category standard. The Samsung CL80 is seen on the company’s official website (although briefly) without a formal press release, but its features have enticed potential owners.

Samsung-CL80

This camera is packed with a 14-megapixel sensor with 7x optical zoom, optical image stabilizer, a 3.7-inch AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display with haptic feedback, a 720p movie mode, microSD card slot, and USB 2.0 connectivity. Meanwhile, its Instant Upload feature lets users upload their images to different social networking sites like Facebook, Flickr, Photobox, and Picasa, without having to connect to a computer (as long as a WiFi hotspot is available). Users can also shoot video clips using the CL80 and upload it on YouTube via WiFi.