LEDs and camera used to create ‘invisible’ Mercedes Benz

Using optical camouflage, technology experts at Mercedez Benz have figured out how to make an entire car disappear.
The researchers created the illusion that their new zero emissions F-Cell Mercedes Benz is not even there at all, the Daily Mail reported.
Taking the principle that to see through something you need to see what’s behind it, they covered the driver’s side of the car in mats of LEDs, and mounted a digital SLR camera on the opposite side of the vehicle.
The camera shoots video on the passenger side of the car and the video is displayed in real time on the driver side of the automobile.
This ingenious approach, originally pioneered by scientists at the University of Tokyo, works on the same principles of the blue screen used by TV weather forecasters and Hollywood filmmakers.
The idea also mimics the iPad 2 Halloween costume that seems to display a gaping hole in the human body.
In Mercedes’ promotional video, stupefied Muggles stare and fall about in shock as the team put the car through its paces along the highways of Hamburg and the bridges of Bavaria.
Meanwhile online, while some pessimistic YouTube users were wary, anticipating that invisible cars would no doubt lead to brutal crashes, others fantasised about bring able to park anywhere at all, without getting a ticket.

Soon, camera that uses opaque walls as 'mirrors' to peer around corn...

Researchers led by one of Indian origin have come up with a new imaging system could use opaque walls, doors or floors as ‘mirrors’ to collect information about scenes outside its line of sight.
In December, MIT Media Lab researchers caused a stir by releasing a slow-motion video of a burst of light traveling the length of a plastic bottle. But the experimental setup that enabled that video was designed for a much different application: a camera that can see around corners.
In the study, researchers have described using their system to produce recognizable 3-D images of a wooden figurine and of foam cutouts outside their camera’s line of sight.
The research could ultimately lead to imaging systems that allow emergency responders to evaluate dangerous environments or vehicle navigation systems that can negotiate blind turns, among other applications.
The principle behind the system is essentially that of the periscope. But instead of using angled mirrors to redirect light, the system uses ordinary walls, doors or floors — surfaces that aren’t generally thought of as reflective.
The system exploits a device called a femtosecond laser, which emits bursts of light so short that their duration is measured in quadrillionths of a second.
To peer into a room that’s outside its line of sight, the system might fire femtosecond bursts of laser light at the wall opposite the doorway.
The light would reflect off the wall and into the room, then bounce around and re-emerge, ultimately striking a detector that can take measurements every few picoseconds, or trillionths of a second. Because the light bursts are so short, the system can gauge how far they’ve travelled by measuring the time it takes them to reach the detector.
The system performs this procedure several times, bouncing light off several different spots on the wall, so that it enters the room at several different angles.
The detector, too, measures the returning light at different angles. By comparing the times at which returning light strikes different parts of the detector, the system can piece together a picture of the room’s geometry.
Previously, femtosecond lasers had been used to produce extremely high-speed images of biochemical processes in a laboratory setting, where the trajectories of the laser pulses were carefully controlled.
“Four years ago, when I talked to people in ultrafast optics about using femtosecond lasers for room-sized scenes, they said it was totally ridiculous,” said Ramesh Raskar, an associate professor at the MIT Media Lab, who led the new research.
Andreas Velten, a former postdoc in Raskar’s group who is now at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, fired femtosecond bursts of laser light at an opaque screen, which reflected the light onto objects suspended in front of another opaque panel standing in for the back wall of a room.
The data collected by the ultrafast sensor were processed by algorithms that Raskar and Velten developed in collaboration with Otkrist Gupta, a graduate student in Raskar’s group; Thomas Willwacher, a mathematics postdoc at Harvard University; and Ashok Veeraraghavan, an assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science at Rice University.
The 3-D images produced by the algorithms were blurry but easily recognizable.
Raskar envisions that a future version of the system could be used by emergency responders — firefighters looking for people in burning buildings or police determining whether rooms are safe to enter — or by vehicle navigation systems, which could bounce light off the ground to look around blind corners.
It could also be used with endoscopic medical devices, to produce images of previously obscure regions of the human body.

Canon PowerShot S100: Sleek and serious

This time it is even better. The follow up to the S95, Canon PowerShot S100 is a sophisticated pocket-friendly point-and-shoot digital camera that has the power advanced users and enthusiasts need to create standout images. As with other PowerShot cameras, the compact PowerShot S100 incorporates all of the advanced Canon technologies that make capturing superb photos and video as easy as pressing a button. Yet, when it’s time to get creative, the very same camera in the hands of a skilled photographer can produce stunning images that would be at home in a gallery.
As automatic or manual as you need it to be, the PowerShot S100 is, at once, a pocket camera and a serious photographic tool, impressing even demanding pros. It incorporates the Canon HS SYSTEM, now featuring the new DIGIC 5 Image Processor for enhanced image quality and amazing low-light performance. It has got a high-sensitivity of 12.1 megapixel 1/1.7-type CMOS sensor, 5x zoom lens with a focal range of 24-140 mm and fast maximum aperture of f/2.0, and a 3.0 inch LCD display with a resolution of 461K dots. It also offers a maximum ISO of 6400 at full resolution, built-in GPS, 1080p movie recording at 24fps, full range of manual shooting modes, RAW format support and 9.6fps burst shooting.
Canon S100 has a lighter and slimmer body, weighting just 198 gms. The grip in this compact camera is also good, it has a rubberised grip on the back side of the camera. Some of the additions that this camera bring include High ISO NR settings (Low, Standard, High), Sport AE Point, Wind Filter (on/off) and Power IS for movies. You can also customize the ring function button. The TFT colour LCD got a wide viewing angle.
We had taken a number of photos in a variety of settings and this camera performed great almost in all scenarios. It really impressed with its low light performance, thanks to its new CMOS sensor. The Canon S100 provides great image quality, with its longer and wider zoom than its predecessor S95. The latest inclusions of DIGIC 5 processor gives this camera an edge over its competitors.
In the video mode, one improvement you will notice is its ability to zoom in and out during video recording. In terms of video performance, the colours were sharp with a good amount of detail and the auto-focus in this camera also works pretty good at keeping up with panning and zooming. The S100’s new intelligent IS system features 7 stabilisation modes which are automatically set by the camera depending on the scene you’re shooting.
The added feature of GPS in this camera comes handy. The GPS feature options includes On/Off, and GPS Logger (On/Off). Switch GPS on and the camera warns you to monitor battery life. There is also the option to update the camera’s time from GPS. Included in the box is Map Utility software so that you can track where you’ve been. Little disappointed with its battery life, we could shoot 170-200 images in full charge.
Overall, the PowerShot S100 is a well-designed camera which gives you good image quality.
Estimated street price:R26,999

Dropcam Begins Shipping The $149 Dropcam HD WiFi Security Camera

Dropcam is back with its second and most advanced security camera. Introduced back at CES 2012, the Dropcam HD is finally ready to ship and delivered within 5-7 business days. It’s quite a good bargin, too.
Not much has changed since we first looked at the unit in early January. This model does 30 fps, night vision, two-way audio and 16x the resolution as the original Dropcam Echo. The live video is accessible through a cloud service for $9.99 a month. Dropcam also offers a DVR functionality. At $149 it’s priced very aggressively against other products with a smaller feature set.
By shipping this second product, Dropbox has officially made a dent in the startup hardware field. It takes a lot to ship a first product, but it’s even harder to stick around long enough to ship a second. As Dropbox’s CEO Greg Duffy explains in the interview with TechCrunch’s John Biggs below, don’t ship before it’s ready. It’s never too late to launch a great product.

Nikon J1 Digital Compact Camera Reviews

Ever wondered, why are all the SLR cameras come in kind of size and shape, with a long, flat back and viewfinder housing at top center? These allow you to take great pictures, of course, if you have a good eye for them, even in the hardest situations, but these are huge and clunky to many users. Why the hell, in this digital age with no film to be drawn behind a shutter, can’t cameras be smaller and of comfort design?

Now, this brings us to the Nikon 1 line. Let’s try the J1. It’s not pocket-sized, but it’s a small, flat camera with interchangeable lenses, considerably enhanced image quality than most point-and-shoot cameras, color rendition in low fluorescent light is impressive and a additional features or accessories within.

 

Pros: Very small body, with solid feel; Fast AF; No-nonsense interface. Excellent video capture and Good picture quality.

Cons: Body could be smaller for sensor size; High ISO isn’t as good as other compact system cameras; Battery life below average; Weak flash; Confusing controls.

Price and Availability: The Nikon J1 shipped in the US market from October 2011. The J1 is sold in three different kit versions, all of which include a 10-30mm zoom lens. The single-lens kit has suggested retail pricing of around US$650. Two twin-lens kits, which add either a 10mm prime lens or a 30-110mm zoom lens, are each available for about US$900. The Nikon J1 is sold in a variety of body/lens color choices that let the fashion-conscious match their own personal style. Body and zoom lens color choices include black, silver, white, red, and pink, while the prime lens is available in all of these except pink.

Basic Specifications:

• Resolution: 10.10 Megapixels
• Kit Lens: 3.00x zoom 10-30mm (27-81mm eq.)
• Viewfinder: LCD
• LCD Size: 3.0 inch
• ISO: 100-6400
• Shutter: 30-1/16000
• Max Aperture: 3.5
• Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.4 x 1.2 in. (106 x 61 x 30 mm)
• Weight: 14.0 oz (396 g) includes batteries, kit lens
• Availability: Oct-11

12 Megapixel Digital Cameras Prices

In earlier phase when digital cameras were only 2 or 3 MP’s, each megapixel mattered if you were making bigger prints. There was little observable difference between cameras with apparently different ratings. For instance, a 3 MP camera pretty much looks the same as a 6 MP camera, even when blown up to 12 x 18″ (30x50cm)!

Sharpness depends more on your photographic skill than the number of megapixels, because most people’s careless technique or subject motion blurs the image more than the width of a microscopic pixel. Color and quality are far more important theoretically. Some lower resolution digital cameras made better images than some higher resolution ones.

12 Megapixels Cameras:

Resolution of 12 megapixel cameras pictures at 4200-pixels-by-2800-pixels pictures taken with the cameras print out in sizes up to 16-inches-by-24-inches with a clear resolution. 12 megapixels cameras are use for the pros, its detail needs to be managed and changed, enlarged, cropped and turned into the kind of work you see in National Geographic kind of channels.

Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ7

Panasonic introduced the Lumix DMC-TZ7 as the most up-to-date member of its commended TZ series. With 10.1-megapixel, a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens and 12x optical zoom, the Lumix TZ7 (in the USA known as Lumix ZS3) is a valuable addition to a series of digital cameras that have won worldwide popularity for packing powerful zoom lenses into compact bodies. The Panasonic Lumix TZ7 is a powerhouse performer with massive adaptability.

• The Panasonic DMC-TZ7 is the world’s first digital camera that records motion image in AVCHD Lite.
• Panasonic’s brainy Auto mode function makes it easy to get sharp and clear photos iA mode is also available in Movie Mode this consist of Face Recognition, which “remembers” faces from previous shots.
• Have the benefit of images and movies on the 3″ LCD screen by just inserting the SDHC/SD memory card from the camera in the VIERA Image Viewer (built-in SDHC/SD Memory Card slot) on a VIERA HDTV to start playback. The Lumix TZ7 features a 3-inch, high resolution 460,000-dot Intelligent LCD with a wide viewing angle, improving visibility during recording & playback.
• The Panasonic Lumix TZ7 digital camera features a premium quality of Leica DC Vario Elmar 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens with a 12x optical zoom. A lens like this, with a range from 25mm to 300mm in 35mm film. The Extra Optical Zoom function that extends zoom power to 21.4x (at 3-megapixel resolution) by using the center part of the large CCD to bring subjects even closer without fading the image quality.
• The Lumix DMC-TZ7 has a 12-megapixel CCD and shoots with up to 10-megapixel resolution. This is because the CCD on the Panasonic Lumix TZ7 is multi-aspect that can reproduce images shot with the lens so you can always capture vibrant, richly expressive shots with a wide viewpoint.
• Available functions in motion image recording mode the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7 also provides a Color mode and carries over 17 different scene modes from photo scene modes in movie recording. In AVCHD Lite recording, you can select from three levels of motion image quality: SH (17 Mbps), H (13 Mbps) and L (9 Mbps).
• Panasonic DMC-TZ7 Quick AF system makes focusing easy keep focus on the theme while the camera is in recording mode even before pressing the shutter button halfway. This improves the result out of a shutter chance because the focus is always near the subject and AF time is minimized.
• Panasonic Lumix functions continue to evolve. Thanks to a rich variety of 27 scene modes for still image and 17 for motion image (Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self portrait, Scenery, Low light, Food, Party, Candle light, Sunset, Beach, Snow, Aerial, High Sensitivity, Pin hole, Film grain and Underwater), capturing attractive videos is effortless with the DMC-TZ7. With the new Macro Zoom function.
• The latest version of the exciting bundled software PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition allows you to view, edit and archive your captured contents with greater ease and fun. Still and motion images can be transferred to the PC via a USB cable for screening and archiving on the PC with the PHOTOfunSTUDIO 3.0 HD Edition installed.
• The Panasonic Lumix DMC TZ7 camera will be available in silver, blue of about Rs. 24990.00

Sony CyberShot DSC W510

Among the new Sony cameras CyberShot DSC-W510 contain SteadyShot image stabilization that reduces blur, iAuto mode that mechanically optimizes camera settings plus Face Detection and Smile Shutter technology, making it easy and affordable to get the best shot.

Specifications:

• 26mm equivalent lens with 4x optical zoom
• Capture breathtaking images in Sweep Panorama mode
• SteadyShot image stabilization reduces blur
• 12.1-megapixel 2.7-inch LCD screen for easy viewing
• Panorama pictures mode, utilizes a CCD sensor to capture dramatic panoramic scenes. The Sony CyberShot W510 camera shoots images incessantly to capture wide landscapes or tall buildings in one easy “press and sweep” motion. Images are automatically stitched together to create one astonishing panoramic photo.
• The spot, “In-Camera Guide” is accessible from the menu button on the Sony W510 digital camera and allows users to easily search by purpose or keyword for functions they seek.
• Pictures in high quality Intelligent Auto (iAUTO) mode automatically adjusts exposure and other camera settings for finest results in a wide range of shooting situations.
• Photos upload memory to your favorite sharing sites on the web with a few mouse clicks. PMB Portable software inside the camera lets you select and transfer photos and video clips to any web-connected PC
• Enhanced Face Detection automatically adjusts camera settings for clear, crisp results with natural skin tones. Smile Shutter fires the shutter automatically when your subject smiles capture beautiful, smiling portraits of friends and family without fuss to capture those happy moments.
• Wide angle Lens lets you pack more into the picture without having to stand further back from the subject. Like landscapes, architectural shots, interiors and even family scenes can produce disappointing results when a scene gets cut off at the edges.
• The Sony CyberShot DSC-W510 camera will be available in silver, black, pink and red of about Rs.6990.00.

Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR

The FinePix F200EXR is designed to be perfect camera for the photographic aficionado. It utilizes brand new, ground-breaking technology to create a unique level of image quality from a consumer level compact.

Features:

• Brand NEW Super CCD EXR 12 megapixel switchable sensor
• 5x (28-140mm) wide-angle optical zoom lens
• Dual image stabilization
• 3” clear view LCD screen
• Ultra high sensitivity in low light (ISO 6400 at 12MP resolution & 12800 at 3MP resolution)
• Full manual controls (aperture & shutter priority)
• EXR Auto (Portrait, Night, Macro, Landscape. Night portrait & Backlit portrait)
• Film recreation mode (Standard, Vivid, Soft, Black & White, Sepia)
• Full Photo HD output
• A Super CCD capable of registering excellent levels of detail when switched to its high resolution mode,
• Prepared with flexible photographic sensor by the demand for higher pixel counts, yet conscious that high concentrations of pixels on small sensors can produce diminishing quality returns, Fujifilm engineers had a drastic rethink about sensor technology.
• The Fuji FinePix F200EXR offers 3 modes in one sensor:
  • High Resolution mode, which organize all twelve million pixels
  • High Sensitivity and Low Noise mode, which caps 2 adjoining pixels together to produce 6 million large photo-diodes.
  • Wide Dynamic Range mode, which captures different experience with two sets of six million pixels,
  • Photographic versatility is extended yet further with the addition of six Film Simulation modes. Producing beautiful images is something which is in the very DNA of Fujifilm, and Fujifilm engineers are determined to leverage the considerable strengths gained through years of perfecting film to making the best sensor possible
  • Images captured by the Fujifilm FinePix F200 EXR look breathtaking when displayed on an HDTV. With standard HD cameras, HD-out means pictures can be displayed in the correct aspect ratio in excellent resolution.
  • The Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR will be available in silver & black of about Rs. 20,999.

Olympus T-110 Digital Camera:

The Olympus T-110 is a compact digital camera that merges small form factors with slim, stylish designs and extremely easy operation. Olympus compact camera automatically identify 4 different types of scenes (Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene & Portrait, Macro) and adjusts the digital camera settings accordingly.

• The new Olympus digital camera uses a SD or SDHC flash memory card to store the data on. The Olympus T-110 camera runs on a LI-80B Lithium Ion battery that needs to be charged via a battery charger. It is also possible to choose for USB charging.
• The back of the Olympus T-110 digital camera shows a 2.7-inch LCD display. The Olympus compact camera needs a standard optical viewfinder.
• The Magic Filter, you can choose from four different effects (Pop art, Drawing, Pin hole, Fish eye) that make photography more electrifying
• As well as still images at 12 Megapixel resolution the Olympus T-110 compact camera can also capture standard movies at VGA (640 x 480 pixels) resolution.
• For shooting fancy portraits the camera supports Face Detection AF with which the camera detects and focuses on human faces automatically.
• Help Guide that displays easy-to-understand explanations about camera modes and other functions to help users make the best selection.
• The Olympus T-110 will be available in silver of about Rs. 5,999.

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS:

Replacing the popular PowerShot SX120 IS, this new camera model offers a mass of intellectual features to make it easier to confine important moments in both high-quality still images and High Definition movies. With its compact design, spontaneous controls and long zoom lens, this is the perfect camera for those who want an easy-to-use, take-anywhere digital camera.

Features:

• 12x, wide-angle (28mm) lens with IS
• 12.1 MP CCD
• Smart Auto and Easy modes detect 28 scene types
• 7.5 cm (3.0″) LCD
• HD movies
• Smart Shutter with Wink Self-Timer
• Shooting modes include Miniature Effect movie
• Hints & Tips
• Full Manual control
• i-Contrast
• 12.1 Megapixel sensor for large, comprehensive prints, and DIGIC 4 image processing, The 12x optical zoom ranges from wide angle (28mm) to telephoto (336mm), making the camera equally ideal for wide-angle group shots and taking on sightseeing trips.
• The large, 7.5cm (3.0”) LCD screen, with a 230k dot resolution and optional on-screen Hints & Tips. A wide viewing angle also enables shooting from awkward angles, as well as sharing the results with groups of friends immediately after the picture is taken.
• Supports 720p HD video with stereo sound, new SDXC memory cards, enabling up to 2TB of video and full-resolution stills to be stored without needing to change card.
• Servo AF and AE automatically adjusts focus and exposure when tracking a moving subject, while Smart Shutter with Face Detection technology, controlling the shutter with a wink & Blink detection of the subjects has their eyes closed, allowing a better image to be shot.
• Miniature Effect is available in both movie and still image capture, mimicking the effects of a tilt-shift lens to give subjects a model-like profile. Fish-eye Effect replicates the distortion of a fish-eye lens, adding a new angle to portrait and landscape shots. Super Vivid boosts color dispersion, while Poster
• Share photos via Canon iMAGE Gateway and video up to 2GB of personal storage capacity is available, Mobile browsing is also supported.
• The Canon SX130 IS will be available in Black of about Rs. 12,995

Nikon Coolpix S5100:

• With 5x optical zoom and a range of 28-140 mm (35mm equivalent), joined to a CCD image sensor with an effective resolution of 12.2 Megapixels, the Nikon S5100 fits nicely in between them.
• The new EXPEED 2 processor camera, with video and a better performance of the high ISOs.
• ViewNX 2 is now delivered with all Nikon cameras, compact as well as DSLR, and guarantees a user-friendly method of image editing and management. The creative proletarian photographer can live it up with this software.
• It is a camera that you can carry in your pocket just like your cell phone and use at any time to capture a favorite moment. The wide angle zoom with a light tele of 140mm makes it possible to shoot all-round.
• The 5x optical zoom is supported by a built-in optical image stabilizer (VR), also automatically detects if the camera is on a tripod or hand-held. Such detection optimizes the camera settings.
• The Nikon Coolpix S5100 will be available in Pink, Red, Purple & Black of about Rs. 10000.

Digital Harinezumi 3.0 Mini Camera (video)

A new updates Digital Harinezumi 3.0 mini camera has been released this week. Which provides you with an alternative method of capturing creative photographs. The Digital Harinezumi 3.0 is equipped with a 3 megapixel sensor providing 1048 x 1536 resolution images, and the ability to capture video recordings at up to 30fps. Watch the video after the jump to see it in action.

Digital Harinezumi 3.0 has been designed to add a wide variety of digital enhancements to your images, such as monochrome, vivid colour, together with a number of different ageing effects.
As well as new modes for overexposure effects, as well as extreme noise modes achieved using the aggressive 3.5x digital zoom. The Digital Harinezumi 3.0 is now available to purchase online from Japan for around $188 or ¥15,750.

Source: Pichaus : Technabob

Panasonic HDC-HS900

Panasonic HDC-SD900 RRP incl GST: $1,899
Contact: panasonic.co.nz
AT A GLANCE

• 3.5-inch touchscreen and electronic viewfinder
• 220GB hard drive, SD card slot
• 1080/50p recording (AVCHD)
• 12x optical zoom

Massive onboard storage, but heavy - good for tripod-based recording of lengthy events.

This mini-review appeared in our February 2012 Home Entertainment roundup.

The HDC-HS900 is a high-end DV camera from Panasonic, with the rare distinction of recording at up to 1080/50p. This means 50 full frames per second – not the 25 you’ll find in most models shooting at 1080/50i or 1080/25p. Smoother motion is the main benefit there, and it shows.

For the top-shelf price, you get both a 3.5-inch LCD screen and a pop-out electronic viewfinder. Recording controls are well designed, and you can zoom either with the traditional rocker-switch atop the camera, or with a ‘manual’ ring around the lens for extra precision.

Storage is an internal 220GB hard drive – this pushes up the weight compared to solid-state competitors, but provides an amazing 19 hours recording at top-quality, and 95 hours at the lowest-quality (still HD). An SD card slot provides additional storage.

Audio is recorded in 5.1-channel surround sound via onboard microphones – quality is good, though the surround effect is reasonably subtle.

With an optional lens adapter, stereoscopic 3D recording is possible.

For those with a serious interest in 3D recording, Panasonic’s HDC-SDT750 offers the same functionality out of
the box.


Thank You : pcworld.co.nz

Review: Nikon AW100

Nikon AW100 RRP incl GST: $525
Contact: www.nikon.co.nz
AT A GLANCE

• Great for underwater shots
• Has some difficulty with dynamic range
• Very simple point and shoot

Tough as old boots, but the camera struggles in some more normal situations.

The Nikon AW100 is a fairly straightforward point-and-shoot camera, with the distinction of being waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof. It also features a GPS with inbuilt maps so that you can geotag photos.

It has a distinctive look, with shiny metallic front (ours was a lovely burnt orange shade) and polycarbonate plastic surround.

The controls are quite basic – it uses four rocker switches – three two-way rockers to adjust zoom, switch from shooting mode to playback mode, and access menu or delete. In addition, a four-way rocker handles menu navigation, flash, timer, macro mode and exposure compensation.

There’s full auto mode or scene selection mode, but no manual, program, aperture or shutter priority modes. It also shoots video in 1080P at 30fps, with an HDMI output to play back directly to a TV.

The three-inch, 460k-pixel LCD screen is excellent for composing photos on, and I found it straightforward to use the menu system and select the best scene mode. Camera handling in general was excellent, and it’s extremely fast at both switching on and autofocusing – it’s one of the fastest I’ve seen recently.

We took a set of calibration photographs, as well as taking it out and about to get some action shots, landscape, still life and human interest. The camera is 16-megapixel, making it one of the more high-resolution cameras we’ve seen aimed at beginner photographers.

Our calibration images were of moderate sharpness, good for a compact camera of this point-and-shoot type. We found that it handled low light well, although the flash triggers quite readily and you may end up, as I did, turning the flash off to get best results in most indoor situations. When we zoomed right into pixel-level for indoor shots, there is a little fringing around bright colours, but it won’t be noticeable for most uses, such as Facebook or full screen view.

The fringing was more of an issue when it came to bright colours in bright lighting situations, particularly when using one of the selectable scenes. Our still life flower shots (macro) had halos of colour around them that suggests an issue with colour interpolation. Surprisingly, anything green came out fine, but oranges, yellows and reds posed issues. We also discovered a slight softening effect to a couple of our landscape scene shots that were in bright lighting. Action shots worked well, though, and if you leave the camera in full auto, rather than scene, it handles almost anything except for situations of high dynamic contrast. In those cases, whites blow out, though it handles details in the darker regions well.

And what about the special features? The battery cover has a solid lock, and the housing mechanism means that there’s no chance for water to get in underneath the rocker dials to the workings beneath. We attempted some underwater shots and dropped it repeatedly from 1m to test how it handled shocks, with no ill effects, but we would have liked a lens cover for additional protection.

Overall, while this is a camera of limited flexibility, and with some weaknesses in shooting capabilities, it’s also a great little starter camera for someone wanting a gadget that can survive the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune (or a school backpack).

Thank You : http://pcworld.co.nz/

Sony’s Next-Gen Camera Sensor Could Allow Apple To Make Thinner iPhones

Sony, which designs camera modules used by Apple in iPhone 4S has announced the next generation smaller CMOS image sensor, which could allow for even sleeker iPhone models in the coming years. The all new CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor introduced by Sony is backside illuminated module, which enables better photo quality in more small size. The CMOS layers pixel section comprising of backside illuminated structure pixels onto chips consisting circuit section for signal processing. Advantages of this sensor include large scale signal processing circuits needed for better functionality and higher image quality are built in; higher image quality of pixel section by adopting manufacturing processes specialized for better image quality, lower power consumption and faster speeds by adopting lead processes for circuit section and small image sensor chip size.

Besides, the entrance of Sony in iPhone camera supply chain was long-established by Chipworks and iFixit, who disassembles iPhone 4S and did X-ray cross-section of eight-megapixel camera found on iPhone 4S.

Thank You : techsoft.org

Sony Alpha A57 Focuses on the DSLR Sweet Spot

Thank You : techsoft.org

Priced for competing with Nikon D5100 and Canon EOS Rebel T3i, the translucent mirror A57 of Sony will provide impressive video options and will shoot quickly. The company has revealed its newest translucent mirror DSLR-style camera that will replace Alpha SLT-A55. The APS-C sensored, 16-megapixel Alpha A57 is designed and engineered for competing with two famous midrange DSLR models, Nikon D5100 and Canon EOS Rebel T3i. As compared to pellicle/translucent mirror DSLR and conventional DSLR cameras like Canon Pellix from ’60s, this SLT system uses fixed internal reflex mirror for driving continuous phase detection autofocus system instead of optical viewfinder.

The Alpha A57 offers full manual exposure controls in two modes, offering auto exposure adjustments and continuous phase detection autofocus, while shooting in both video mode and burst mode. Its price, video options and fast burst mode all add up for creating an enticing camera option for budget minded videographers and sports shooters. Due in April, it has body based image stabilization and will be available for the price of $800 as a kit with 18-55mm zoom lens and $700 for body only.

Review: Canon HF M40

The Legria HF M40 is the entry point to Canon’s ‘Powerful’ range of Legria DV cameras – the company’s top consumer camcorders.


Truly a representative of the solid-stage age, the Legria offers 16GB of onboard flash memory for up to 6 hours of ‘long play’ recording, or 1 hour 25 minutes at top-quality 1080p. Additional storage is provided by dual SD card slots – using these instead of the onboard memory provides the fastest way of transferring video around, as the camera is limited to USB 2.0 for transfers.

At the highest quality settings, recorded video looks brilliant. Colours are true, and the combination of optical image stabilisation and fast autofocus keep the visuals crisp and clear. Sound quality is much better than you’d find in a pocket-camera or smartphone, and both an external microphone input and accessory shoe allow for an optional directional or surround-sound mic to further improve the recorded audio.

Downsides? The included 890mAh battery is woefully undersized, both in capacity and physically. It leaves a gaping hole in the back of the camera, a constant reminder that the optional, full-sized battery would be a good investment.

Panasonic HDC-HS900

The HDC-HS900 is a high-end DV camera from Panasonic, with the rare distinction of recording at up to 1080/50p. This means 50 full frames per second – not the 25 you’ll find in most models shooting at 1080/50i or 1080/25p. Smoother motion is the main benefit there, and it shows.

For the top-shelf price, you get both a 3.5-inch LCD screen and a pop-out electronic viewfinder. Recording controls are well designed, and you can zoom either with the traditional rocker-switch atop the camera, or with a ‘manual’ ring around the lens for extra precision.

Storage is an internal 220GB hard drive – this pushes up the weight compared to solid-state competitors, but provides an amazing 19 hours recording at top-quality, and 95 hours at the lowest-quality (still HD). An SD card slot provides additional storage.

Audio is recorded in 5.1-channel surround sound via onboard microphones – quality is good, though the surround effect is reasonably subtle.

With an optional lens adapter, stereoscopic 3D recording is possible.

For those with a serious interest in 3D recording, Panasonic’s HDC-SDT750 offers the same functionality out of
the box.