Casio Unveils Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2007Click photo to see more shots of the Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200.
Casio has introduced an ultracompact 12.1-megapixel camera with both manual controls and a raft of advanced automatic functions. The Casio Exilim Zoom EX-Z1200 offers an f/2.8-5.4, 37mm-111mm (35mm equivalent) 3x zoom lens; CCD-shift image stabilization, and a widescreen 230,400-pixel, 2.8-inch LCD. It uses Casio’s Exilim Engine 2.0 image processor to support features such as motion analysis, tracking autofocus, and face detection. According to Casio, the motion analysis technology analyzes the velocity and vector of moving subjects, and automatically sets the ISO and shutter speed to capture a sharp image.
While the Z1200 is loaded with automatic options, including 34 Best Shot shooting modes, it also offers manual and priority exposure control, with shutter-speed options ranging from 1/2000 to 30 seconds. The top light-sensitivity setting available is ISO 1600. There’s also spot and center-weighted metering, spot and manual focus, manual white balance, and a neutral-density filter setting.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC T100 is an 8 megapixel digital camera with a strong emphasis on style. With an internal, 5x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen and High Definition connectivity, all housed in a slim body less than 1/2 inch thick, the Sony T100 is positioned as the camera to be seen with this summer. But is the Sony Cyber-shot DSC T100 a great all-round package, or simply a matter of style over substance? Read our latest review to find out. 
CNET has a review of the Fujifilm FinePix S5 Pro and writes, ” Image quality was impressive, but the S5 Pro’s resolving power just can’t match the Nikon D200. Colors are generally accurate, and the automatic white balance does a respectable job of neutralizing colors in most normal lighting situations. Studio shooters should note that, as one would expect, our unusually warm tungsten hot lights confounded the S5 Pro’s auto white balance. We don’t hold that against it, however, since this is the case with many cameras. However, if you have tungsten lights that are near the 3,200K color-temperature range as ours are, you’ll need to use the tungsten or manual settings, both of which did an effective job of neutralizing colors with those unusual lights. The S5 Pro does an outstanding job of keeping noise under control. Our test images were nearly noise-free all the way out to ISO 400.”
A recent survey (see the next story below) concluded that most of us take photos in order to share them, with email by far the most popular method. Social networking websites are also becoming more important, think sites like MySpace, Flickr and FaceBook, whilst printing is still growing, but not as quickly. The survey also idenitified some interesting age distinctions, with under-25’s eager to share, over 45’s more concerned with the storage and preservation of their memories, and 25-44 year olds a mixture of the two. I want to find out how PhotographyBLOG readers predominantly share their photos. Are you an avid Flickr or online Gallery user? Do you prefer a physical print? Or do you find yourself viewing most photos on a computer monitor? And have you found any cool new services or ways of sharing your photos? Shout out now… 
Luminous Landscape has a review of the Canon 1D MKIII and writes, “Let’s cut to the chase. In my initial evaluation I judge the MKIII to have between a one stop and two stop advantage over any Canon camera to date in terms of high ISO noise. And at the risk of starting a barroom brawl, previous Canon cameras have been as good as if not arguable better than any other manufacturer’s DSLRs when it comes to low noise at high ISO. One can also quibble as to whether the Canon 5D has been the best yet (my opinion), but there will be no argument that with the MKIII Canon has now exceeded what has come before, and has set a new benchmark for low noise.”