While I can’t hear those names without thinking of Stephen King’s entire body of work–featuring wealthy misanthrope Reginald “Pop” Merrill and his ne’er do well nephew Ace–the cameras themselves look surprisingly potent, especially for smaller model point and shoots. Why? Because they’re looking to get a leg up on the competition in terms of sheer megapixels.

Named in honor of the camera’s sensor’s co-creator, the Sigma DP1 Merrill and the DP2 Merrill will both pack in fully 46 megapixels. Well, in a sense, anyway–they won’t be using a single 46 megapixel sensor so much as they will be using three layers of 15.3 megapixels each, which does sort of add up to their breathlessly-pronounced 46 megapixels. Interestingly, the DP1 and the DP2 both seem to have much the same inner workings going on as the earlier-unleashed SD1, but they will be bumping up the LCD display from 2.5 inches all the way up to three, which isn’t exactly terrible in its own right.

The problem here, not surprisingly, is that Sigma’s keeping both DP1 and DP2′s prices under wraps for now, as well as their release date. Still though, even leaving aside the nature of the megapixel count, you’re still looking at a fairly solid piece of hardware here, with more than a little going for it. As long as they can keep the prices reasonable they might get some solid interest.

But what do you guys think here? Do the DP1 Merrill and the DP2 Merrill strike you as solid entrants into the digital camera market? Or do you figure that there’s already more than enough in the camera market, between what we’ve got currently and the smartphone camera systems, to take up any slack? Just how important is the total megapixel count, anyway? No matter what you think about this one, head on down to the comments section and tell us all about it!

Not much is known about the Samsung Galaxy Camera’s exact composition as yet, but there are suggestions out there, and the picture they’re painting at this early stage of things is very interesting in its own right. Since we already know that Samsung has a variety of mobile devices already out, and that the newest stuff includes cameras in a variety of powers and resolutions, to release a device specifically named “camera” means they’re likely to focus on the picture-taking aspect of the product.

Considering that Samsung products already packing cameras are sticking to resolutions around the eight megapixel level, a specifically-geared camera would likely up that resolution, possibly to 16 megapixel or even more. Plus, if the issue of Android gets involved, it’s entirely possible from there that internet access–whether via wi-fi or 3G, or maybe even both–would become a part of the package, and allow for constant uploading of pictures to cloud storage, or possibly just easy uploading to various sites like Facebook or YouTube.

Some have even compared the Samsung Galaxy Camera to the Polaroid SC 1630, a device that, when it made its appearance at CES a few weeks ago, was thought to be a cell phone, until it was discovered to be little more than an unusually small camera. And if Samsung does indeed launch a dedicated camera, it would allow them to keep their smartphones on the slim side without having to continually upgrade the cameras, and thus, make them larger.

It’s an impressive idea–certainly an audacious one if nothing else, especially given the recent shuttering of Kodak’s pocket camcorder and point and shoot line of cameras–but what do you guys think about this one? Figure that Samsung might be readying an unexpected line of Android-driven cameras for us to see? Or do you figure that this patent may be just a precautionary measure to keep other companies from entering the market? No matter what you think about this one, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!

Following the recent announcement of Kodak’s bankruptcy filings just about three weeks ago, they’ve gone one step farther and declared an end to their operations not only in point and shoot digital cameras, but also in pocket camcorders and digital photo frames. They’ll be shutting down the production lines (at a cost of who knows how many jobs) before July of this year.

So what will Kodak actually be doing now that they’re out of a major part of the industry? Well, word is they’ll be focusing their attentions on a combination of things, including brand licensing, enterprise services, photo labs, and, just a little surprisingly, photo printers. But if you’ve already bought a Kodak, especially recently where the warranty would still apply, then there’s no cause for alarm as Kodak intends to honor the warranties on products already purchased.

Naturally, it’s distressing to see a major name like Kodak pull out of the market. But considering how markedly the market has already changed, what with smartphone cameras rapidly proving every inch a match for both pocket camcorders and point and shoot cameras alike, it’s not too surprising. And seeing Kodak keep its photo printer line intact also seems like a smart idea, given that there will always be at least some demand for devices to get photos off of hard drives. And, at least for right now, no smartphone looks like it will pack a tiny printer to run off copies of the pics on its internal storage.

But what do you guys think about this one? The end of an era staring us in the face? Smart idea for Kodak to get out of old lines and into newer and more likely lines? No matter what you think, we always like hearing from you, so head on down to the comments section below and tell us what you think!

The promotional art–which may be just an artist’s conception, though some believe that it may be actual corporately-sanctioned promotional art–in question even provides some insight on the nature of the OMD, including that it’s about to join the ranks of the mirrorless cameras (like the Pentax K-01 mirrorless camera we’ve been following for the last couple of days), and offer up several interesting features to boot like an electronic view finder system (perhaps like that of the MicroOLED system we heard about not too far back either) that in turn allows control over a variety of functions, including the Art Filter system, color temperature, exposure levels and more.

It’s a DSLR, too, so you know that added quality and a hefty price tag will also be a part of things, as the camera itself is said to be a 16 megapixel monster with an ISO range shooting all the way up to 25,600, a five-axis image stabilization system, a super-fast autofocus system and, just to top it off, a nine frame per second burst shooting mode.

Nice enough by any stretch, and the word is that Olympus will come down from on high to announce the OM-D formally February 8th, which is just under a week away. And considering that this thing will likely be sporting at least a four figure price tag, it’s going to be tough to keep an audience for this one, I’d say, unless of course they’re professionals or folks who otherwise don’t think twice about dropping a huge pot of money on a camera.

But what do you guys think here? Will the Olympus OM-D find an audience when it emerges? Or will this new DSLR be just a flash in the pan? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and let’s talk Olympus OM-D!

Lensbaby lenses, and similar optic gear, have often included selective focus capabilities, and the new line of macro converters allows for even better control. You’ll get a set of two, one an eight mm converter, and the other a 16 mm converter. The two, in turn, can be stacked to allow for as much as a 24 mm converter to be made from the two devices, which in turn will allow for ultra-tight zooming depending on the kind of lenses and optics you’re using. You’ll be able to, at last report, get down to anywhere between zero (using the eight mm converter with a Composer, Composer Pro, and Scout with Fisheye) and 8.13 inches (using the eight mm converter with the Composer with double glass) with these in place.

Even better, for those of you who enjoy your Fisheye and Sweet 35 optics, you’ll be able to use these new macro converters with them. Our tipsters even included a photo taken with both the 16 mm converter and the Sweet 35 together, which you can find directly below.

The pair come available for $50, and you can actually find them right now out at Lensbaby’s web site. Better still, they even come with a hard carrying case so that you can actually get them to your shooting site with a minimum of risk.

They’re a bit of a niche product, granted, but for those of you out there who want to shoot some really impressive pieces and want to do so relatively inexpensively, the Lensbaby macro converters will be just the place to start looking.

But what do you guys think? Anyone out there seeing a value in a set of Lensbaby macro converters? Or are your pictures coming out just fine without them? No matter what your stance on this one, head on down to the comments section below and tell us all about it!

And as is generally the case with a fairly major new product announcement, we’ve got specs. Pentax is telling us that the K-01 offers up the world’s thinnest interchangeable lens, though it will work just fine–if a little awkwardly–with the original lineup of K-series lenses. Meanwhile, the resulting 40mm lens can offer aperture settings to f/1.8, and not only will you get a 16.28 megapixel CMOS sensor, you’ll also get a three inch LCD display, shake and dust reduction systems, a six frames per second boost mode for still photography and 1080p video in your choice of 30, 25, or 24 frames per second as well as an ISO range starting at 100 and going clear up to 25,600. Plus, that video will get a boost from an instant start button and a built-in stereo microphone.

Best of all, it comes in an aluminum casing so that it’s surprisingly lightweight, and it does indeed come in your choice of three colors: the understated black and white, and a yellow for those feeling a bit saucy. Prepare to shell out big, though, as the K-01 will set you back fully $750 for just the camera, or $900 with the 40mm lens included.

It may not look like that impressive of a piece of hardware, but what’s quite certain about this is that it’s priced like an impressive piece of hardware and it certainly has no lack of features. The only question will be if you want to shell out a full grand on this kind of hardware, which might make sense if you take a lot of pictures, especially professionally.

So what do you guys think about this one? Is Pentax wildly overestimating the market with the K-01? Or do they have the right idea and are offering up just what the people want? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and let’s talk Pentax K-01!

The rumored device, the K-01, is a mirrorless camera said to offer up 16 megapixel resolution, just like the K-5, but also add on Pentax’s own KAF mount, a three inch LCD display, onboard pop-up flash, and full HD video support with external microphone input. It will provide all these features at a rumored weight of just 1.2 pounds, with the battery, and come in your choice of three different colors. It will also offer up a set of three new lenses, including the kit lens, a 40mm f/2.8. Early pictures circulating around the device also suggest a fair possibility that an HDR toggle will make an appearance as well.

Many have previously held the belief that–as far as digital cameras go, anyway–if it comes in a variety of colors, it’s not a good camera. I personally don’t hold to that one, myself, having seen several fine point and shoots that come in different colors, but the belief is still there. And in this case, we might well find out just what this one has to offer.

A Pentax product announcement is reported to be taking place tomorrow, and some are thinking that the K-01 might make its debut at said appearance, though that’s not a done deal as yet. Still though, it’s got plenty of camera buffs out there wondering just what Pentax has up its sleeve, and I’m certainly on that list myself. What has me especially curious is what Pentax has in mind to take on the wide array of smartphone cameras out there, which are rapidly emerging as a power to be reckoned with, especially given that they come with plenty of other features that regular point and shoots just can’t offer.

But what do you guys think here? Will Pentax be bringing out its mirrorless K-01 tomorrow? Will we see something completely different? Or will this announcement prove to be more mere speculation in the crazy world of tech? No matter what your stance on this, head on down to the comments section and fill us in!

The MicroOLED EVF was originally geared toward military and medical applications–so seeing it on our shelves may take a little while and cost pretty big once it gets there–and frankly, it shows. Allowing for as much as  a 5.4 megapixel monochrome display (at a resolution of an almost frightening 2560 x 2048), or if you want the full 16 million color display, you can have it at 1.3 megapixels, the whole thing fits into a display that measures just .61 inches diagonal, which would allow it to fit in most any camera you care to name. But it only gets better from there, as it will also put up a contrast ratio of up to 100,000 to 1, and do so while consuming a meager .2 watts of power.

Sadly, the complete picture on this one is as yet not present–we don’t know just when MicroOLED’s impressive new viewfinder will start rolling out, on what models we’ll be able to find it, or what this wonderful new addition will do to price tags, but we do know that this is a solid piece of hardware that will likely be welcomed by anyone who wishes we could stop using optical viewfinders.

In general, I’m in favor of most anything that improves the camera experience, and that’s been something that’s sorely needed since the rise of smartphones with cameras sufficiently powerful to make even Rolling Stone photographers happy about them. Though it does need to be done without putting a whole lot of extra burden on the consumers’ wallet, something that’s been taking quite a beating of late.

So what do you guys think? Looking forward to finding MicroOLED EVF devices on your camera of choice? No matter what you think about these, hit the comments section below and tell us what’s on your mind!

The Pentax Optio VS20 is a 16 megapixel camera that fits easily into the palm of your hand. It’s also got an accelerometer, such that when you move from holding the camera in portrait mode to landscape mode, the shot follows suit. It’s also got a pair of shutter releases, a zoom lever for easier adjustments, a three inch LCD display, a variety of picture modes–even the fish-eye shot mode–and an independent video button that will let you shoot in 1280 x 720. And in case you were wondering, at last report, you’ll be able to shoot the video in fish-eye shot mode too.

The Pentax Optio VS20 will hit shelves starting next month, and you’ll be able to get hands on it for $250, so if you’re looking for a highly portable option in photos and video for not a whole lot of cash, you might do well here. After all, I’ve never seen a phone offer up a 16 megapixel camera, at least not yet, and not alongside the three inch display and the kind of resolution this one’s talking about.

Still, considering that you can get websurfing and phone calls for not much less and a drop in photo resolution, many may prefer to stay away from the Pentax Optio VS20 and instead stick to their smartphone.

But what do you guys think about this one? Figure the Pentax Optio VS20 can compete with the wide variety of small cameras and smartphones out there? Or do you figure Pentax’s newest model will find itself behind the eight ball in rapid fashion? No matter what you think about this one, head on down to the comments section and tell us about it!

Basically, Sony’s managed to create an even smaller CMOS sensor for their digital cameras, and since Sony, at last report, now makes the cameras for the iPhone, it’s not out of line to think that this improved CMOS sensor will manage to make its way to the iPhone eventually, though not necessarily with the latest version expected to hit later this year.

The sensor itself, meanwhile, manages to offer up the capability for better image quality with large-scale signal processing, and do so in a smaller overall package. Plus, it will do so at higher speeds, and do all this while consuming less juice from the battery. This in turn can allow for two things: one, improved overall battery life because the camera is sucking less juice, or two, a reduced battery size necessary to operate the device, thus allowing for even more space savings. Admittedly, I’m not sure Apple would ever trade off battery life for size, but it’s a possibility.

The camera on the iPhone 4S was likely to be a tough act to follow, but a further slimmed down version would certainly do the job. Of course, it will remain to be seen if Sony’s latest camera systems make it into the next iPhone, but I can certainly see it happening, especially as iPhone refreshes are big events and should have improvements to match.

But what do you guys think about this one? Figure that the next iPhone will get a little extra slimming down from Sony’s new line of CMOS sensors? Or will this development have to wait for next year’s iPhone to actually make it into play? No matter what you think about this one, head on down to the comments section and let’s talk iPhone cameras!

Instagram has quickly grown to become one of the more popular camera and photo-sharing applications for iOS devices. Aside from the filters and features, the community around Instagram has made it into a sought-after application for both users and platform owners. The service had been rumored to be within acquisition sights by several social networks.

Instagram’s CEO and co-founder Kevin Systrom has long promised to release an app for Android, but this has not yet materialized. Sources say that Instagram’s release on Windows Phone 7 might even come ahead of the Android version. Fast Company cites sources that hinted Microsoft’s WP7 team was likely to be working closely with Instagram.

With Instagram currently having about 15 million users, is there sense in expanding to a platform that only has a minority smartphone market share? Perhaps Microsoft’s tight control over Windows Phone 7 specs and user experience elements makes it an ideal candidate for porting apps like Instagram. In contrast, Android fragmentation results in the use of the platform on a variety of devices. Some devices would run on slow processors with limited memory, which might severely impede the Instagram user experience.

Neither Instagram nor Microsoft would comment on the matter, though. But as Fast Company opines, it would make sense for Microsoft to bring in killer apps that would help improve the Windows Phone 7 userbase. Would cool apps like Instagram convince Android or iPhone users to switch to the critically-acclaimed but commercially panned WP7 platform?

The features on the Canon EOS C300 are still pretty much the same as they ever were, as it will be capable of shooting video in full 4K resolution, as well as your choice of EF or PL mounts–you’ll have to choose one or the other, they’re not interchangeable–as well as a variety of available lenses to work with this thing and themselves provide a variety of ranges and capabilities. You’ll also get an 8.29 megapixel CMOS sensor for still shooting, a four inch rotating LCD display (that itself shows at 1.23 megapixels), and a pair of CompactFlash memory card slots.

Now, a word about pricing. Originally we’d heard that Canon was looking to drop this sucker on us for right around $20,000. But you’ll be happy to hear that a substantial discount has taken place, and now you’ll be able to lay hands on one of these yourself for a comparatively meager $15,999, which is still a lot of money even with a 20 percent discount tossed in. The various lenses for this one have also gone up for preorder, and you’ll be astonished to note that, here, the lenses actually cost almost three times as much as the camera itself does, with no lens coming in at under $40,000. However, for those who can only scrape together the 16 grand, no worries, as you’ll reportedly be able to use your current Canon DSLR lenses with this one just fine.

It’s going to be hard for anyone but the truly rich or the professional out there to justify that kind of price tag, but considering you’ll get resolution that can’t be topped by Blu-ray, well, it’s probably worth the price. But what do you guys think about this one? Too much price tag, not enough camera? Or is there a value here, just not for most regular people? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!

It may not be the most flattering product name out there, but the Ego from Liquid Image, geared toward extreme sports enthusiasts and people who love making YouTube videos involving their personal center of gravity inverting several times over the space of a few seconds, packs a pretty impressive array of features.

The camera is water resistant, so you can take it whitewater rafting with something like confidence (though scuba diving with it, sadly, will be right out), and while you’re cruising down the river, you’ll be able to shoot video in 1080p at 30 frames per second, though if you’re okay with 720p resolution you’ll be able to shoot at an impressive 60 frames per second. It’s got a two inch LCD display, with two control buttons and onboard wi-fi, meaning that, if you’re in an area with a wi-fi connection, you’ll be able to upload your video from the camera directly to your other wi-fi connected equipment of choice. It even offers up 32 gigs of microSD memory to give you quite a bit of storage.

You’ll be able to pick this one up this June for the plenty reasonable price of $149, so if you’re looking for a way to record your own crazy antics, this might be the one to do it.

Oddly, though, the camera makes no mention of shock- or dust-proofing or the like, unusual for a camera so clearly meant to go most anywhere, but still, at those prices you’ll likely get your money’s worth.

But what do you guys think on this one? Figure that the Liquid Image Ego camera will make a big splash with the extreme? Or are there already other options, like GoPro’s Hero line, that do the job better than this one? No matter what you think, head on down to the comments sections and let’s talk Ego!

CES 2012 is over, and with this being Microsoft’s last year of keynoting the event, there is question whether such trade shows are relevant at all. But with the record-breaking attendance this year, organizers say that consumer trade shows are still very much relevant, and are still a great place for vendors to showcase their wares, and for buyers to check out the latest in tech.

This year, the LG 55EM9600 OLED TV got the best of show award, in particular for having a definite model number and release date. The wrap-up also included a list of notable hardware, including the upcoming Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone 7 handset, Asus Memo 370T tablet, and the HP Envy 14 Spectre, among other gadgets and technologies. Here’s a summary of the awardees.

• People’s Voice: Razer Project Fiona
• Cameras: Fujifilm X-Pro1
• Car Tech: QNX Car 2 Mobile Apps platform
• Cellphones: Nokia Lumia 900
• Emerging Tech: MakerBot Replicator
• Home Theater: Simple.TV
• PCs: HP Envy 14 Spectre
• Software and apps: BlueStacks for Windows 8
• Networking: D-Link Amplifi HD Media Router 3000
• Tablets: Asus Memo 370T
• TVs: LG 55EM9600 OLED TV

LG’s upcoming OLED TV also got the best of TVs award, aside from topping the show’s awards. The TV set will be released by Q3 2012, and promises absolute blacks, ultra-fast refresh rates and great viewing angles.

Meanwhile, Microsoft won’t be keynoting at next year’s CES, so it will be a big question which company and which technology will be the highlight of the 2013 CES. Microsoft believes that it doesn’t make sense to make product launches and announcements outside of its own product development cycle. Will other companies think the same, too? We’ll have to watch out for next year’s event.

GE’s X600 camera will offer up a 14.4 megapixel sensor to start things off, which is pretty good in its own right. But things only get better when they bring in the 25x optical zoom, a 2.7 inch LCD display to check out your handiwork on the fly, the ability to record video in 1080p resolution, and the exciting addition of HDR capability which will let you mash up fully six frames into one new and impressive piece of photography.

That alone might get your attention, but things only get better when the price tag comes into play: you’ll be able to get your hands on one of these for a meager $199.99, which, as digital cameras go, is near the bottom of the pricing lists.

That’s good enough for most anyone, I’d say, but if you’re still looking at that price tag and feeling the potential impact on your budget, then fear not, as the folks at GE actually has several other cameras waiting in the wings. Though these cameras represent mostly incremental upgrades, and certainly nothing as powerful as the X600, but the other models–the E1410SW, the C1440W, the G100, and the X550 by name–are reportedly not disappointments in their own right, and considering that the most expensive of that lineup will be priced at $159.99, it’s pretty hard to be disappointing.

You’ll be seeing these starting this spring, so if you’re looking for a new camera but don’t want to just use the one on your phone (or conversely don’t actually have one on your phone to use) then you’ll likely have plenty consider with GE.

So what do you guys think about this? Like the thought of what GE has to offer with its new X600? Considering one of the lower-priced models instead? No matter what your stance on this one, we definitely want to hear from you, so head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think of GE’s new camera lineup!

The inTouch is the most interesting device of the three, as it will give your regular HDTV Smart TV powers. Instead of paying full price for a brand new Smart TV, you could purchase the inTouch, hook it up to your “dumb” HDTV, and access various smart features including Skype video chatting with HD video support, YouTube, Google News, Weather apps and web browsing. Sure, the inTouch will not bring your HDTV full-fledged Smart TV attributes, but it will still pack a bunch of useful features. In addition to Wi-Fi support and a 720p HD webcam, the inTouch comes with a remote control that features a full QWERTY keyboard. The inTouch will be launched in March 2012 and it will cost $199.99.

The SmartCam is a Wi-Fi IP camera that can be used to monitor your home or any other area, as long as it’s linked to an active Internet connection. The SmartCams records 640×480 videos at 30 frames per second and can record videos up to 15 feet away in low-light conditions using invisible infrared LEDs. The camera can be setup to record video when motion and/or noise is detected and upload the resulting clip to a YouTube channel. Users will also be able to register on a special Samsung site, samsungsmartcam.com to access live footage from their SmartCam camera. The Wi-Fi IP camera will set you back $149 in March when it launches.

Finally, we have a second Wi-Fi IP camera that can be used to monitor your baby’s activity. The camera works just like the SmartCam, and parents will be able to watch their babies online by accessing the same Samsung website. The camera offers two-way talking, video recording support and features non-visible infrared LEDs that let it record video even at night while your baby is asleep. Just like the SmartCam, the baby camera will cost $149 next March and both cameras will come with free iOS and Android applications.

So let’s start with pricing and availability dates for the new beast professional photographers will be interested in buying later this year. The D4 has a suggested retail price of $5999.95 and it will hit stores in late February. Add to that the new Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G lens that’s coming in March and you’ll have to fork an additional $499.95 for the D4.

Let’s move on to specs and features for the new camera, which are the most important thing to consider when thinking about spending so much cash on a new shooter. With the D4, Nikon is focuses on quality and speed, characteristics that photographers are certainly looking for when taking pictures or capturing videos during their daily activities. In other words the D4 is a machine geared towards professionals, so if you’re an amateur photographer looking for a new DSLR camera you may want to save yourself the trouble, and the cash, and go for a cheaper alternative.

Professionals will appreciate the D4’s new 16.2-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor, the 91,000-pixel 3D color matrix meter, the 100 to 204,000 ISO (that’s not a typo), the 0.012 seconds it takes to shoot an image, the advanced multi-cam 3500 AF autofocus system based on Nikon’s 51-point AF system, the dual card slots optimized for UDMA-7 Compact Flash cards and XQD memory cards, the new EXPEED 3 image processing engine, the full HD 1,080p video recording support and the new ergonomic buttons that will help them customize their shots even faster. In other words the D4 looks like a true piece of modern art, and that’s coming from an amateur photographers that usually plays with entry-level cameras. But the D4 is definitely something else. In fact here are the detailed specs and features as described by Nikon:

• Full HD video recording – Users have the choice of various resolutions and frame rates, including 1080p 30/24fps and 60 fps at 720p. By utilizing the B-Frame data compression method, users can record H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC format video with unmatched integrity for up to 20 minutes per clip. This format also allows for more accurate video data to be transferred requiring less memory capacity. The sensor reads image data at astoundingly fast rates, which results in less instances of rolling shutter distortion.
• Full manual control of exposure – Shutter speed, aperture and ISO can be changed while recording to adapt to lighting and alter depth of field for professional cinematic results that help realize a creative vision.
• Uncompressed output: simultaneous Live View – By using the camera’s HDMI port instead of the CF or XQD card, users can stream an uncompressed full HD signal directly out of the camera. This footage can be ported into an LCD display or appropriate external recording device or routed through a monitor and then to the recording device, eliminating the need for multiple connections.
• Audio recording for professionals – The Nikon D4 features a stereo headphone jack for accurate monitoring of audio levels while recording. Output can be adjusted in up to 30 steps for precise audio adjustment. The D4 offers high-fidelity audio recording control with audio levels that can be set and monitored on the camera’s LCD screen. The microphone connected via the stereo mic jack can also be adjusted with up to 20 steps of sensitivity for accurate sound reproduction.
• Multi-area Mode Full HD Video: FX/DX, and 2.7x crop mode at 1080p video modes – Whether shooting for depth of field in FX format mode, or looking for the extra 1.5X telephoto benefits of DX mode, the high resolution sensor of the D4 allows videographers to retain full 1080P HD resolution no matter what mode they choose. With the 2.7x crop, users can experience ultra-telephoto benefits in full HD resolution all at 16:9 aspect ratio.
• Simultaneous live view output without display / simultaneous monitor – Shooters have the option to send the display signal directly to an attached monitor via the HDMI port. This signal can be viewed on the camera’s LCD screen and external monitor simultaneously. Additionally, the image data display can be cleared from the screen, to remove distracting data or when feeding a live signal.
• Full-time AF – In addition to manual focus, four modes are available, including normal, wide area, face detection and subject tracking, which uses fast contrast detect AF to accurately focus while recording video and in live view.
• New LCD screen – The large high resolution 3.2-inch LCD screen is 921K dots, and includes auto brightness adjustment. Users can also zoom in up to 46x to check critical HD focus.
• Time lapse shooting – This new feature combines a selected frame rate and “shooting interval” in a dedicated time lapse photography menu. Playback can be achieved with a wide variety of speeds from 24x to 36,000x while producing a fully finished movie file output for faster multimedia workflows.
• Remote shutter operation – Using dedicated Movie Custom Settings, recording can be set to be engaged by the shutter release button -users can now use a variety of remote accessories to trigger video recording.
• NIKKOR lens compatibility – The highest caliber optics are vital to creating HD images and Nikon is the world leader in optics manufacturing with a legacy spanning more than 75 years. Nikon has a vast NIKKOR lens system, with more than 50 lenses with a variety of focal lengths and features, including VR II vibration reduction.

So, are you ready to charge $6,500 on your credit card this spring for the D4 and the new Nikkor lens?

The Samsung DV300F is offering up a pair of LCD monitors, one in the rear for standard viewfinding and the like, but one in the front as well geared toward helping you frame your self portraits, because let’s face it, a lot of people find themselves needing to take their own pictures. How do you think my horrendous mug got into the TFTS Team page anyway? And the interesting thing about that front-mounted display is that it’s designed to “blend in” with the front of the camera, so that when the display is off, you’ll have a hard time telling that it’s even there.

What’s more, you’ll also get a 16 megapixel image sensor, a 5x optical zoom, a 25mm wide-angle lens, 720p video shooting capability (and that at 30 frames per second to boot) as well as the Magic Frame option (you can shoot one picture, then insert a second shot into that same picture) and Funny Face shooting (which in turn allows you to take all those shots of your friends and instead put extra expressions over them–if anyone ever manages to install a function where you can put the Laughing Man pic from Ghost In The Shell over your face I’ll buy one), and one more nifty feature.

The Samsung DV300F even manages to include wi-fi built right in, so uploading your pictures to most any social networking site becomes a snap. And best of all, you can get hands on one of these for $199, so it shouldn’t be a budget-breaker. They’ll be hitting stores in March, and chances are they’ll make an appearance at next week’s CES event.

So what do you guys think about the Samsung DV300F? Think it’s one you’ll want to pick up yourself? Or is it one that will end up swamped by camera phones? No matter what you think, the comments section is waiting for you below!

The folks over at The Verge managed to lay hands on a photo of what is said to be the Nikon D4, and even went so far as to put it up alongside a pic of the D3S just to back things up. And indeed, based on these shots, the D4 is looking a whole lot like its predecessor. But if the spec list that we’ve already heard about holds true, it won’t matter how the thing looks because people will probably be falling all over themselves to lay hands on it, especially the professionals.

The earlier specs we’d heard on the D4 have this set to offer up a 16.2 megapixel sensor, an 11 frame per second burst mode, support for CompactFlash XOD memory cards, an Ethernet port, a variety of tweaks to the autofocus system and, just to top things off, an ISO range between 100 and 204,800, thanks to a user-selectable expansion option that provides double the maximum ISO built in.

The question that remains, of course, is just how much these will cost. Hopefully we’ll get some more information out of these little wonders once they make landfall at the CES show in just a few days here, but if the specs hold and they look like that, they’ll be pretty impressive indeed.

But what do you guys think here? Figure that the looks of the D4 aren’t anywhere near as important as what’s under the hood? Or do you think that this looks too much like its predecessor to really be taken seriously? No matter what you think, the comments section awaits for you to weigh in directly below!

Basically, for the year 2011, according to research done by the firm NPD, about 27 percent of all photos were shot on smartphones. Meanwhile, 44 percent of all photos were shot with stand-alone cameras, and the rest shot by a combination of webcams, camcorders, tablets, and regular cell phones. You might wonder where I got the dramatic headline that smartphone cameras are taking over the market based on those numbers, but add in the previous year’s figures and it makes much more sense. See, in 2010, the percentage of stand-alone digital cameras shooting pictures was 52 percent. That’s an eight percent drop over one year. Smartphones, meanwhile, were at 17 percent in 2010, representing a ten percent increase.

It only gets worse for the digital camera market as the digital camera market lost 17 percent of its sales this year over last, and dropped 18 percent of its revenue. So basically, not only were fewer pictures taken with digital cameras, fewer of them were sold, and less money was made on them.

Sure, the figures are a bit skewed here; we’re talking about pictures taken, after all, and it may be that more pictures are taken on smartphones because of the sheer convenience of it. On a smartphone you can not only shoot photos, but you can upload them or email them right from the same device (plus chances are you’re carrying your phone already), so you’re more likely to take a photo with your phone than you are to take your digital camera with you where ever you happen to go.

Still though, that loss of revenue and sales is something that can’t be so easily dismissed, nor the growing popularity of phones like the iPhone 4S with a widely-recognized camera function. But what do you guys think here? Have you left your digital camera behind in favor of your smartphone? Or are you still snapping shots with your favorite digital camera? No matter what your stance on this one, we welcome hearing from you in the comments section below!

The M. Zuiko Digital lens from Olympus is Olympus‘ first Micro Four Thirds lens to offer up motorized zoom, according to reports, thus giving you a very smooth focus capability.It’s a 12-50 mm f / 3.5-6.3 lens, which will, essentially, give you roughly the same thing as a 24-100mm lens on a 35 mm camera. That will, in turn, give you a wide angle or as much as 4.2x zoom, which is really rather good for a standard camera. But you may wonder why smooth zoom capabilities are so vital on a digital camera, and the answer–at least based on what the folks at Olympus are saying–is simple: video.

Olympus wanted this lens to offer up a great video experience, letting the motorized zoom control your focus quietly and quickly so as not to interfere with video recording. Many still cameras also offer video as a side feature, which provides added value, but a quiet, smooth zoom is very important to video shooting, thus making this a good idea. Even better, Olympus is also offering a macro shooting mode (so you can take those great really close up pictures of everyday objects), a zoom override button to disable autofocus as necessary, and both dust and splash (kind of a really light water resistance) proofing to give you the best shots you can get in most conditions.

And if you want one of these to augment your current camera, you’ll be able to pick one up at the end of January for around $640. Pricey, I know, but for that kind of shooting capability you may want to get in on that.

But what do you guys think? Think the Olympus M. Zuiko is going to give your shooter the kind of extra utility it needs? Or is this one an overpriced extra you really don’t need? No matter what you think, the comments section is waiting for you below, so head on down and fill us in!

Reports emerged recently for the Nikon D4, suggesting that this substantial piece of hardware will offer up a 16.2 megapixel sensor, as well as a burst mode that can shoot in 11 frames per second. It’s also set to offer up an ISO range between 100 and up to 204,800 once an expansion option is fully activated. What’s more, it will even offer CompactFlash XOD memory card support, an Ethernet port to dump and upload your photos in rapid fashion without need of intermediaries, and a set of tweaks–the content of which is as yet unknown–to the autofocus system.

Admittedly, that does sound a bit pie-in-the-sky, especially that ISO range, which sounds like they threw in everything but the kitchen sink, and that itself might well be available with purchase of new lenses later. And while this is somewhat speculative, we’ll likely be getting full word fairly soon, especially as the 2012 CES show is now only a few weeks away.

There’s also no word as yet on pricing, though considering the laundry list of specs and features, I figure this will be priced like a full bells and whistles sort of camera. But then, if you wanted something that was going to blow a smartphone camera out of the water–even the iPhone 4S’s surprisingly impressive eight megapixel wonder–then you’ll likely have it right here.

So what do you guys think? Figure that the Nikon D4 might look like this when it finally hits shelves? Or is this just too impressive to be true? No matter what you think, we welcome your thoughts down in the comments section below!

The Leica V-Lux 3 camera packs in a 12.1 megapixel sensor, a 24x optical zoom, 1080p video recording capability, 12 fps photo shooting (and if you drop the resolution down to 3.5 megapixels, you can shoot up to 60 fps), an ISO range of 100 to 3200, a macro mode that will let you shoot at ultra close-range (down to 1 cm in some cases), an adjustable 3 inch LCD display, a stereo microphone, 70 megs of onboard memory (with support for SD, SDHC, and even the large-capacity SDXC memory cards), USB 2.0 port, mini HDMI port, an analog AV output system and a microphone with remote jack. And of course, Leica’s also got its magnificent DC Vario-Elmarit lens on tap to give you from a 25 mm wide angle to a 600 mm super-telephoto shot all in one package.

While we do know that you’ll be able to pick these up starting in January 2012, we don’t yet know just how much you’ll have to spend to get hands on one. Likely, it will be pretty expensive, as these are some very high-end specs as far as cameras go (a 24x optical zoom is not something you see every day, and I haven’t even heard of a macro mode getting included on a camera in a good long time now), but there’s no denying that you’ll get a whole lot out of this particular camera for the money you’ll likely shell out to get it.

So what do you guys think about this one? Do you like the kind of capability that the Leica V-Lux 3 is looking to offer up for you? Or do you think that this is a lot more of a specialist tool than you’ll ever find yourself needing to use, or even wanting to try? No matter what you think, the comments section is waiting for you below, and we always love hearing from you, so head on down and tell us what you think of the Leica V-Lux 3!

It’s being called the world’s thinnest smartphone camera with optical image stabilization (which by itself is no mean feat; seems like normally with smartphone cameras you get digital image stabilization if that) as well as 12.1 megapixel still shooting capability and 1080p video capability.It goes by the mouthful name of the RJ63YC100 camera, and the total package itself measures only a mere 11 by 11 by 5.47 millimeters (or .433 by .433 by .215 in inches, if you favor the imperial) total, which puts it into very small spaces.

And it’s a good thing, because these are specifically geared to go into smartphones, or more appropriately, a pair of them geared for the Japanese market. They’ll be landing in the Sharp Aquos Phone SH-01D, which sees its release tomorrow via NTT DoCoMo, and the Sharp Aquos Phone 102SH, which will hit Softbank at an undisclosed but later date. These are both also set to feature 4.5 inch glasses-free 3D displays showing at 720 x 1280 resolution and water resistance, though oddly, neither will offer LTE connectivity.

Considering that quite a few people were pretty enthused over the eight megapixel camera that the iPhone 4S offered, it’s enough to make you wonder what the iPhone 5 will pack when it emerges late next year as some have projected previously. We’ve got phones with 12 megapixel cameras in play on them now, thanks to these, so where will Apple’s go? Considering Sharp is already working with Apple on displays, it’s not out of line to suggest they may get in on the camera, too.

And that’s the question I pose for you guys. Will developments like Sharp’s 12 megapixel smartphone shooter cause the rest of the industry to up their counts, starting a smaller-scale megapixel war like the larger digital cameras saw a couple years back? Or will this just be a Japan-only anomaly that doesn’t make it to the wider smartphone market? No matter what you think, we want to hear from you, so head on down to the comments section below and tell us what you think!

Ricoh’s newest system is set to bring in a 24-85mm zoom lens, and matches that up to a 16 megapixel APS-C sensor, giving it capability on par with many current DSLR cameras, and an f / 3.5-5.5 aperture. The GXR in general uses a series of modules, called “camera units”, in a bid to provide a variety of capability levels depending  on your needs at the time. Some earlier units have offered up big APS-C sensors and prime lenses, as well as smaller sensors and longer range zooms, but this unit splits the difference and puts up a pretty nice sensor size and a hefty zoom to boot.

Current word suggests that this one will be coming out in early 2012–some reports even suggest that January 20th is the target launch date, though that will remain to be seen–and should be pretty popular among Ricoh users, maybe even pulling in some users from other camera systems. After all, it’s a pretty solid sort of “jack of all trades” unit, handling both solid pixel count and a good range in one unit. You may not get the range you’ll get with some, or the pixels of others, but if you’re on a budget and looking to split the difference, then this might be exactly what you’re out to get your hands on.

There’s no word yet about pricing on this one, though I expect it to be pretty substantial to say the least. The question of the day, of course, is if you’ll be interested in this one. Any Ricoh users out there thinking that the GXR’s zoom module may be just what you’re after? Or do you think you can do better elsewhere? Maybe you don’t even see the DSLR as being sufficiently useful for you in the face of smartphone cameras and the like. But no matter what you think, we want to hear from you, and the comments section below is just the place to do that!

The Photojojo Lens Dial Case is, pretty much, what it sounds like on the box.It’s an aluminum case that offers up three different lenses on a dial that allow you to turn the wheel and thus lay the lens of your choice right in front of the camera lens. You’ll have your choice of a 0.33x fisheye lens, a 0.7x wide angle lens, all the way up to a 1.5x telephoto lens. It even offers up two tripod mounts so you can keep the shot steady in either portrait or landscape mode.

Sure, if you take a lot of photos with your iPhone 4S (or even your iPhone 4–the Photojojo Lens Dial Case will work with that device too), you’ll likely find this one pretty useful. It may pretty much destroy the whole “carry it in your pocket” sort of approach, but still, no doubt smartphone shutterbugs will find the variety of options here extra welcome. Indeed, the iPhone 4S camera was already pretty potent, and giving it a series of extra tools only improves an already bright picture.

And if you want one of these yourself, the word is that they’re currently out and selling for a whopping $249, which is, in some cases, actually more than the cost of an iPhone 4S itself. This is something of an unusual distinction, but again, all those extra options sure can’t hurt.

So what do you guys think about this one? Does the Photojojo Lens Dial Case look like something you’d want to wrap around your iPhone 4S, or iPhone 4? Or do you think that dropping $249 on three lenses and a case is a waste of enough money to buy you a second phone? No matter what you think about this one, we definitely want to hear from you! The comments section below is the perfect place to tell us what you think.

Over the weekend, Nikon’s upcoming D800 got a preview, with leaked images being discovered by NikonRumors.com. The rumored specs, so far, include the following:

• Size will be smaller than the current Nikon D700
• Sensor will be full-frame
• Resolution is at 36 megapixels or 7,360 x 4,912 pixels as confirmed by EXIF data
• Dual memory card slots, supporting SDHC and CF cards
• Slightly larger display than the D700, which is a bit larger than 3 inches in diagonal
• “Excellent” video quality at 1080p resolution HD video capture and 30 frames per second; better than the Nikon D3s
• Autofocus engine identical to the D700 and D3
• USB 3.0
• ISO range from 100 to  6,400 LO and 50 to 25,600 HI-2
• Expeed 3 processor
• 100% viewfinder coverage

With these resolutions, the Nikon D800 will trump even medium-format cameras in image size and detail, although of course you will need to match this with good-quality glass. NikonRumors earlier reported that Nikon is likely to release a new consumer-oriented DX lens series in time for launch of the D800.

The D800 has other rumored, although unconfirmed specs, including 4 fps continuous shooting, 6 fps continuous shooting with DX lens and add-on battery pack, wireless/PCM sound recorder and 200,000 cycle shutter durability. The D800 is estimated to retail at 300,000 yen or about $3,900. No specific launch date has been disclosed. Nikon may launch the D800 before year-end, although it’s likely to ship by early 2012.

It’s called the Philips Vital Sign Camera app, and, when used in conjunction with an iPad 2, can be used to detect changes in a person’s vital signs by tracking the difference in skin coloration, as well as the rising and falling of your chest. It can track your heart rate and your breathing rate by the methods listed previously, and as it turns out, it’s not even that tough to do. You’ll need to sit a well-lit area, according to reports, and make sure your face and chest are appropriately centered (there will even be some nice colored rectangle guides to show you exactly how to set yourself up so that the camera can pick up the necessary differences and run them through the software.

Naturally, this isn’t a substitute for an actual doctor, but if you’re starting to feel something unusual going on, you may be able to spot, right away, whether you’re suddenly having an elevated pulse rate or your breathing is suddenly getting shallow or labored, and having that kind of information on hand when first responders show up with an ambulance may be especially helpful. Plus, if this is the kind of thing that can be done with an iPad 2 camera, I can’t help but wonder what could be done with the much more impressive iPhone 4S camera, or what will happen when the iPad 3 (or possibly just the slightly retooled iPad that may hit ahead of it) arrives with likely augmentations.

The best part is, the Philips Vital Sign Camera app costs a mere dollar to download, so you too can start monitoring your basic vitals from your iPad 2 at a moment’s notice on the very cheap.

So what do you guys think about this? Start of an exciting new era of tablet computing as medical device? Or is this just a minor curiosity that will likely be overlooked? No matter what you think about this one, we definitely want to hear from you, and the comments section below is waiting for you!

Based on the pictures released so far, it looks like Fujifilm’s upcoming ILC will offer up a chassis design, as well as some familiar layout style on the button setup (if it looks a lot like an X100 to you, you’re very much not alone, as others have mentioned previously), as well as what looks like a nice sized LCD display on the back. Some have speculated about a hybrid viewfinder, dedicated shutter and exposure compensation dial, though how much of that will make it into the version we can pick up in stores is, as yet, unclear.

Indeed, not so long back, Fujifilm did announce some plans to bring an interchangeable lens camera, or ILC, to shelves starting next year, geared toward offering up better resolution and noise performance than many of the current crop of DSLR systems packing 35mm sensors. And if what we’re looking at here is indeed that intended design, it actually represents a significant advancement in camera systems, because we’d be essentially seeing a full-frame sensor system mounted onto a comparatively compact frame.

And it’s this kind of thing that might, at least somewhat, help save the digital camera concept from the growing smartphone population. Sure, for most people, snapping shots of them and their friends doing something goofy for no clear reason, a smartphone camera may do the job, especially one that’s been proven as advanced as the iPhone 4S camera. But not even that can hold out for long in terms of photo quality against a full DSLR, and something like this may make them more accessible.

But what do you guys think here? Interested in getting hands on a Fujifilm ILC when they make their eventual appearance? Or do you think that digital cameras in general are largely doomed technology? No matter what you think, we want to hear from you down in the comments section below.

Basically, what Biscotti’s out to do is establish what amounts to a whole new standard for video conferencing, as Biscotti boxes only talk to other Biscotti boxes, as well as any device that happens to be running Google Talk. They’ve got a fairly simple setup here, with a set-top box to connect to your television’s (or cable box’s, where applicable) HDMI connection. Then you just place your calls and away you go, chatting to your television as though someone were in the room with you, only this doesn’t actually make you crazy because there really is someone else on the other end.

You’ll get a set of extra features here too, including auto-answer capability and HDMI-CEC control capability, making this a relatively simple setup and making things a lot simpler with the relatives, especially grandmas and grandpas who’d likely love to see the grandkids, but making the trek out to see them is a steadily more difficult prospect. Word is that the menus are nice and intuitive too, so that’s one hassle no one will have to undertake.

Here’s the best part: the setup runs just $199, and requires no subscription or anything like that past the internet feed required to run the things. And they’re available right now, so you can ship them out to family members you’d really rather only see through a monitor instead of spending a day with them in the same room.

It sounds like a pretty good idea to me: a low-cost, easy to use basic alternative to a variety of video conferencing items out there. This may well be the best thing we’ve seen in terms of a potential new standard, but what do you guys think about them? Figure you could do better saving your money and spending a day with your family members instead? Think there’s a better video conferencing tool out there? No matter what you think about this product, we want to hear from you, so head on down to the comments section and tell us what’s on your mind!

Panorama mode is one of the main highlights of the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich release, as demonstrated by Google and Samsung folks at the ICS launch event in Hong Kong a few weeks back. But even as Android is only introducing this feature as a highlight, Apple apparently has a panorama mode already built into iOS 5.

Macrumors shares how an iOS developer has enabled a hidden panorama mode from within iOS 5′s settings. The hidden panorama mode, once activated, can stitch individual shots taken from left to right. This can reportedly be enabled by setting “EnableFirebreak” to YES under com.apple.mobileslideshow.plist. iOS hackers have already submitted a Cydia application that enables this setting, for users unwilling to delve deep into their iOS device files to enable the setting.

As such, this only works on jailbroken iPhones for now, although with the panorama capability actually being an internal iOS feature, developers wonder why it did not make it to the final production release of iOS 5. Maybe Apple had been considerate to third-party devleopers when they were planning to integrate the panorama feature in the iOS Camera app. Still, Apple introduced a handful of features to the iOS 5 camera, especially with the iPhone 4S’ quick startup and quick camera refresh. iOS 5 also includes pinch and zoom gestures, volume control shutter button functionality and basic editing.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 is a 16.01 megapixel monster that offers up the proprietary Venus Engine for image processing, as well as a three inch touch screen and full 1080p HD video recording capability. It’s also got a .09 second autofocus, 12800 ISO, a built-in flash, support for an external viewfinder (it’s strictly optional, though, so it’s really no problem if you’d rather not have one on hand), a dust removal system to keep the lens clear of obstructions, integrated level and a battery life that tops its predecessor, the Lumix G3, by a full 11 percent.

It’s even got a redesigned grip as well as a redesigned casing, so you’ll get a little better action here in terms of both aesthetics and ease of use to boot, as this also includes a set of customization options to let you access your most commonly used features in rapid fashion. It also works with the current lineup of micro four-thirds lenses.

These are set to land in stores mid-December, so if you were hoping for a new camera for Thanksgiving, sadly, you’ll be out of luck on this one, but it will be out in time for Christmas. You’ll have your choice of black or silver casings, and you’ll be paying $699.99 for either model. If you want to step up to full kit mode–one such kit, the DMC-GX1-X, will offer the GX Vario PZ lens–you’ll be paying more, of course, up to $949.99.

Sounds like a pretty formidable chunk of hardware indeed, but the question is, would you be interested in one of these? Or is this a whole lot more camera than you could ever conceivably use? No matter what your stance on the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1, you can head on down to the comments section below and tell us what you think!

The Swann Freestyle HD will offer up 1080p video recording capability at 30 fps, complete with stereo audio and a 3x digital zoom. It’s also got a wireless remote and a detachable 1.5 inch LCD viewfinder so you can see just what the camera sees, as well as a USB port, an HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a battery rechargeable by USB that gives you 2.5 hours of recording time on a single charge. You’ll also be able to shoot still pictures at eight megapixel resolution, easily on par with most current smartphones.

You’d likely figure something like this is geared toward the adventurer, and you’d be quite right. See, the Swann Freestyle HD offers up all those features, and then puts them all in a casing that’s waterproof (and yes, that’s waterproof, not just water-resistant) to a depth of fully 65 feet.

Naturally, a camera that can shoot video at 65 feet under the water isn’t going to be cheap, but you’ll likely be surprised at the price tag on this little wonder, as it’ll be coming your way at $279, and if you’re interested in one of these, you’ll be able to pick one up at Best Buy, Tiger Direct, and a variety of other retailers as well.

So what do you guys think about the Swann Freestyle HD? Look like the kind of camera that could compliment your various adventures? Or does it look like way too much price tag for a camera that’s far too niche to be useful to most people? Either way, we want to hear from you, so head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!

The Canon EOS C300 Digital Cinema Camera will bring either an EF or PL mount (I say “either” here because you’ll get an EF mount with one version and a PL mount with a second version), as well as full 1080p video capture capability, slots for two CF cards, and HD-SDI output. The CMOS sensor in this thing can shoot greens in 1920 x 2160, and reds and blues alike in 1920 x 1080, and combines to form a pixel size that is “larger than that for conventional professional camcorders”, and this from the CEO of Canon, reportedly.

But that’s just where it starts, as you’ll also get a variety of different lenses involved with this one based on your needs at the time. You’ll have two lenses in 14.5-60mm, two in 30-300mm, and three EF prime lenses. The end result of all this is that you’ll not only get accurate color correction, but you’ll also get top notch skin tone replication. Considering most of your subjects will probably have human skin, this is a valuable tool.

And valuable it is, as the C300 Digital Cinema Camera will set you back a whopping $20,000 when it hits stores. But don’t worry–you’ll have plenty of time to save up for it as it’s not actually going to hit until 2012.

So what do you guys think on this one? Does the C300 Digital Cinema Camera look like something you’d want to get your hands on if you had that kind of money to spare? Or can you think of a whole lot of better uses for that kind of cash than to drop it on a camera? Either way, we want to hear from you, and the comments section below is a great place to do it!

The HD Hero 2 is a head-mounted camera that looks to offer up a lens twice as sharp as the previous, shooting 11 megapixel still photos (it even offers a burst shooting mode that can shoot ten of them in the space of one second), and even includes a time lapse feature to capture stills at various rates from half-seconds to one a minute. It won’t be a slouch in the video department either, with your choice of 127 or 90 degree fields of view and resolutions available from 1080p clear down to VGA resolution. Why would you want to shoot in VGA resolution, you wonder? Because if you do, you open up the frame rate all the way to 120 frames per second. Shooting in 960p, meanwhile, will get you 48 frames per second. And as a further bonus, the HD Hero 2 is compatible with all previously released Hero accessories. It even comes in your choice of three bundles depending on what extras you want, like the Outdoor version with head strap and pivot arm, the Surf edition with a floating backdoor and surfboard mounts, and the Motorsports edition with suction cup mount and pivot arm.

You’ll be able to pick one of these up for $299, and with a new one out, the prices on the old have dropped considerably. You can get the HD Hero for $200, and the 960 will hit for $150.

A pretty good deal, I’d say, and a great opportunity to land a sweet Christmas present for that outdoorsman in your life. But what do you guys think of this? Are you looking to the HD Hero line for your holiday shopping? Or are you thinking you can do better elsewhere? No matter what you thoughts, the comments section is waiting below, so head on down and fill us in!

It’s been a good while since we last heard much of anything out of DXG, and the DXG-5F9V should prove worth the wait. It’s got 3D capabilities, for when you want to shoot in full-bore 3D. Though if you’d rather keep Thanksgiving dinner strictly a 2D affair, you’ll have that option, and in super-sharp 1080p, to boot.  Plus, you’ll also get a three inch autostereoscopic LCD display for watching that 3D video, 128 megs of onboard memory (with support for 32 gig flash cards, which you’re almost certainly going to need), five megapixel still shooting capability, a variety of shooting modes and an HDMI output so you can put what you shoot directly up onto a larger screen.

The whole setup looks at least passable, and things only get better when you consider that the price tag on a DXG-5F9V is a relatively small $299. They’re available right now out at DXG’s online store, so if you’re looking for a new camcorder you may want to have a look here.

Of course, the value of a 3D camcorder is, at best, subjective, so even at a reasonably solid price like $299, you still may not have a whole lot of interest in it. But still, there will no doubt be plenty of amateur filmmakers dying to get in on the 3D video experience for a price that fits into most peoples’ budgets.

What do you guys think here? Figure the DXG-5F9V is a camcorder worth getting to know better? Or do you figure that the 3D video experience is a gimmick whose time grows shorter with each passing day? Either way, the comments section is waiting for you, so head on down and tell us what you think!

The iPhone 4S camera, which has been the recipient of some serious design upgrades, now offers not only eight megapixel still picture capability, but a widened aperture, a fifth lens, and full HD shooting capability at 30 frames per second. Pretty nice in its own right, especially for a camera built into the back of a smartphone, but what we’re dealing with here is the image stabilization function.

Just watching the video, which we’ve got embedded below, shows how incredibly different the performance is between iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S video shooting. Oh, and for those of you wondering about all that light flickering when they go to check out the florescent lights, reports suggest that that’s only happening because the footage was shot in Europe.

Considering that the iPhone 4S has only just gone on sale today (pretty much everything we’ve been talking about up until now has been in terms of preorders), this footage emerges at a pretty good time. In fact, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if footage like this tips some people over to buying an iPhone 4S where previously they had no plan to do so.  Indeed, photography buffs should be pretty interested by these results, and I can’t help but wonder if this new style camera with image stabilization will find its way into the iPad 3 when it finally makes its appearance.

But what do you guys think? Like the results the new camera is putting up for us? Or do you think you’re just fine with an iPhone 4 and a tripod? Either way, the comments section is waiting, so head on down and tell us what you think!

While wood is commonly agreed as awesome in a lot of functions, generally wood doesn’t appear very often in the construction of cameras. But the Sigma SD1 Wood Edition is going to offer up the kinds of features you’d expect from a camera like this, like a 46 megapixel image sensor (though I believe that’s still across three sensors, so it’s actually more like a 15.3 megapixel camera), a TRUE II image processor, ISO sensitivity between 100 and 6400, and a three inch LCD display as well as a variety of mountable hardware options and editing software options. At last report, most everything in the standard SD1 will be on hand in the SD1 Wood Edition.

But now, what makes the Wood Edition the Wood Edition is the outer casing. Formerly magnesium, it’s now Amboyna Burl, which is a kind of tree commonly found in Southeast Asia, that’s surprisingly rare and used often in decoration purposes. At last report, each case takes 60 hours to complete, and considering the sheer amount of woodworking going into one of these, I believe it. Due to the sheer complexity and resultant drain on resources to make these, there will only be ten of them produced.

And how much will one of these rare limited-edition wood cameras set you back? A whopping $13,750, that’s how much.

There’s no denying that the thing looks absolutely breathtaking, and the pictures it takes are likely every inch as breathtaking, but considering that breathtaking price, they may not have an easy time selling off the ten of those. So what do you guys think? Is a camera worth a car when it looks and shoots as sharp as the Sigma SD1 Wood Edition does? Head on down to the comments section and tell us what you think!

The stills in question, shot by a couple of Google engineers and uploaded to Google+, have “Galaxy Nexus” listed in the section denoting what camera the pictures were taken on. You can actually see as much in the pic above. But since Google+ automatically resizes images to three megapixels, it’s impossible to really get an idea of the quality that we’re dealing with.

The phone itself, meanwhile, is still delayed until November 3rd, at last report, though that comes from a Verizon employee rather than official word, so take it with the necessary amount of salt. And if you take the EXIF data literally, the earlier reports from our own Robert Nelson get some extra bolstering as the EXIF data lists the camera as the “Galaxy Nexus”, suggesting that, at least for Verizon, the “Prime” is getting pulled.  It may well prove to be this way across the release spectrum, but considering we have those earlier reports, this may just be for Verizon’s naming after all.

By way of recap, the Galaxy Nexus is still set to offer up an eight megapixel camera that can shoot video in full HD, as well as a 4.65 inch Super AMOLED HD display showing at 1280 x 720 resolution, along with a gig of RAM, 32 gigs of storage, and a dual-core Cortex A9 processor running at a reasonably fast 1.2 GHz.

It’s good to know that bits like this are leaking out–it suggests that the actual release isn’t too far off. And indeed, it’s not too far off at all, according to all the last known reports. But what do you guys think here? Are you looking to get your hands on a Galaxy Nexus, even if it’s not necessarily called that by the time it comes out? Or do you already have your eyes on an iPhone 4S, or some other device? Whatever your buying plans are, we want to hear about them, so hit the comments section below and tell us what your weapon of choice is.

At the recently concluded Adobe MAX conference in Los Angeles, Adobe has demonstrated — among other things — an upcoming feature in its flagship Photoshop software that can fix blurred photos in a single process. Executives from the company demonstrated how the software can fix a blurred photo in just a few clicks. In a matter of seconds, photos are retouched and rendered as perfect, as if it wasn’t taken by the so-called shaky cam.

Adobe says the process involves a set of advanced algorithms that can calculate the movement of the camera, along with computing a few other environmental factors (lighting, etc.) based on the time the image was taken. The Unblur feature will then do its magic and render a sharper, unblurred image.

Adobe says this will be useful when fixing photos taken from mobile cameras, such as those found on smartphones and tablets. These are notoriously slow in terms of shutter speed and image processing, and often have poor optics. Adobe’s work on unblurring photos has another benefit. While photographic images can be unblurred, this feature also has the capability to reveal more data, in the case of text-based images, such as scanned documents or photographs of text.

Adobe has not disclosed official release dates for its unblurring tool, although judging from the reactions from the MAX attendees, this will be one feature that photographers and casual photo editing buffs will be looking forward to. As for us in the technology media, this tool will probably be useful in unblurring those spycam shots of upcoming gadgets and devices. Check out the video below.