Swarovski-coated webcam: because everything should be shiny

Vicious and Divine's Laplace webcam had it all... 2 megapixel photo and 1.3 megapixel video resolution, an integrated flash so that it could handle innumerable lighting situations, a folding mechanism that particularly suited it to mounting on laptops or flat panel monitors, plus that compact and sleek design. It was the jet-set of webcams, some might say, but it seemed to lack something -- some essential quality of life. Possibly a higher purpose? As it turns out, all it needed was to be absolutely, 100 percent covered -- bedazzled, if you dare -- in Swarovski crystals. The results are pretty... stunning. And not at all obscene. It comes in both black and clear crystal variations, and €49.99 (about $63) seems a small price to pay for something that's going to make you the envy of all of your friends -- but it seems to be available only in Europe. Your loss, rest-of-the-Earth!
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: laplace, luxury, swarovski, swarovski crystals, SwarovskiCrystals, vicious and divine, ViciousAndDivine, video chat, VideoChat, webcam, webcams ]

Nikon Coolpix P6000 reviewed, not all that cool

The kids over at Photography Blog have finally got their hands on the Nikon Coolpix P6000 that became official back in August and have pronounced it "a mixed bag." It looks good on paper at least, with a 13.5-megapixel sensor, 28mm wide angle lens and built-in Ethernet (a first for a consumer grade camera). Unfortunately, the big ticket items like on-board GPS (for geo-tagging all those coolpix you'll be taking) and NRW file format support (the new "RAW" image format developed by Microsoft and Nikon) are said to be poorly implemented and all but unusable. Even the much-ballyhooed LAN connectivity is limited to something called MyPictureTown. Hit the read link to catch the reviewer holding forth on a number of other salient points, including the camera's DSLR-like hand-grip, optical viewfinder and external flash hotshoe.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: coolpix, nikon, nikon coolpix, nikon coolpix p6000, NikonCoolpix, NikonCoolpixP6000, p6000, review ]

Canon PowerShot G10 reviewed

We've always had a soft spot for Canon's G-series of prosumer compacts, and it looks like the new G10 won't be any exception -- Photography Blog just put the boxy camera through its paces and found that it's "undoubtedly the best ever" in the line. High marks were particularly given to the new wider-angle 28-140mm lens (which suffers less barrel distortion than the G9), higher-res LCD screen, and the new exposure dial, which allows you to fine-tune exposure settings without a trip to the menus. The new 14.7 megapixel sensor didn't receive the same praise, however: ISO 400 images were quite noisy, and the 800 and 1600 settings were "virtually unusable." That's not exactly news for the G-series, but it's pretty unfortunate -- especially considering that the G10's $499 pricetag edges into low-end DSLR territory. Still, if you're looking for a compact with deep manual controls and real optics, it sounds like the G10 is worth a look -- hit the read link for the full review.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: canon, g10, powershot, powershot g10, PowershotG10, review ]

Red announcing DSMC DSLR replacement on November 13?

Ready for the tease? RED just announced an announcement. According to RED Prez, Jim Jannard, "no one has any idea how incredible this announcement will be." A stream of words, specs, and renderings, we presume, all cobbled together on November 13th with a promise to put the "RED ONE announcement to shame by comparison... the biggest, most exciting and incredible thing." So mark your calendar for November 13th -- that's the day RED DIGITAL comes clean with its Scarlet and Epic programs. We're sure Nikon and Canon will be watching to see if RED launches its DSMC (Digital Still & Motion Camera) aimed squarley at the DSLR market, or not. Even if we have to er, settle, for a 3K Scarlet or 5K Epic video cameras, those aren't bad consolation prizes, eh?
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: DSMC, eipc, red, red digital, red digital cinema, RedDigital, RedDigitalCinema, scarlet, video camera, VideoCamera ]

Casio's 8.1 megapixel W63CA with 480 x 800 pixel OLED flips out in Japan

We had a chance to gaze through the wireframe of this 8.1 megapixel Casio W63CA Exilim cellphone back in August courtesy of the FCC's finest. Now check it in high-gloss, plastic flesh. The latest Japanese super-phone squeezes 480 x 800 pixel into a 3.1-inch OLED display. Let that sink in for a second... the very same 384,000 pixels on a display smaller than the 3.8-inch LCD heralded by the Touch HD. The camera features a wide-angle lens, 9-point auto focus, face detection, anti-shake, and a YouTube video mode that records VGA video at 30fps to microSD. All this in a Japanese-only flip measuring 110 x 50 x 17.4 ~ 22-mm when it launches in early November. Color options after the break.

[Via: Impress ] [Tag: 8 megapixel, 8.1 megapixel, 8.1Megapixel, 8Megapixel, breaking news, BreakingNews, casio, clamshell, exilim, japan, oled, w63ca, youtube ]

Canon's EOS 5D Mark II displays multiple LP-E6 battery capacities

You may think you know everything there is to know about Canon's marvelous EOS 5D Mark II, but have you heard of this tidbit? Hailed as the first DSLR to "manage" multiple batteries, this here camera includes technology to read up to six separate LP-E6 batteries and display data about them right on the rear LCD. The LP-E6 cell includes an embedded microchip with a unique 8-character serial number; after it's installed once and "registered" in your EOS 5D Mark II body, the camera then displays each cell's serial number, the last time it was charged, the number of shots taken since the last charge, its remaining capacity in 1% increments and its recharge performance. It's a small inclusion, sure, but for pros who go 18+ hours on a single set, we can imagine this coming in handy when trying to select which battery to use on the next excursion.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: 5d, 5d mark ii, 5dMarkIi, battery, battery pack, BatteryPack, canon, dslr, energy, EOS 5D Mark II, Eos5dMarkIi, LP-E6 ]

Nikon D90's 720p movie mode gets critiqued

While being the first DSLR to shoot HD video sounds mighty excellent on paper, it's not worth much if the execution isn't there, right? The general consensus was that Nikon's D90 was a stellar DSLR, but the 720p movie mode was simply a so-so cherry on top. The gurus over at CamcorderInfo decided to take things one step further and actually write up an in-depth review on the movie mode alone. The long and short of it is this: the D90's movie mode simply can't produce the same results as a dedicated HD camcorder, and while it was "often able to produce impressive results (especially in moderately low light)," the unfortunate "wobble effect" really put a damper on things. In essence, the aforementioned problem causes objects to look like Jell-o when the user pans quickly from left to right, and the only real way to avoid it is to utilize a tripod or slow down your pans -- neither of which are terribly convenient. Critics did find quite a bit to praise, and they certainly appreciated the inclusion in an otherwise amazing camera, but it's still far from being ideal in all scenarios.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: 720p, d90, DSLR, nikon, review, reviewed, video ]

Sony's A900 reviewed: 'Highly recommended' but with caveats

Most consumers won't be able to get their hands on Sony's new 24+ megapixel A900 for at least another week or so, but dpreview has already had its way with one, putting this full-frame body through its paces in a typically exhaustive review. Overall findings are much the same as the site's earlier impressions, with the main knocks being slow (but accurate) focus speed and noticeable noise when shooting at anything greater than ISO 400, making the camera's ISO 6400 mode borderline useless. However, the hefty, 850g magnesium alloy body is "incredibly solid" and its bevy of features, including 5fps burst shooting and HDMI output, make it a solid value, too. Overall the A900 sounds quite good, though far from perfect, so unless you already have a closet full of compatible lenses you might just want to wait a month and see how Canon's EOS 5D Mark II fares when run through the same ringer. If nothing else it'll be $300 cheaper.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: a900, alpha a900, AlphaA900, full-frame, sony, sony a900, sony alpha a900, SonyA900, SonyAlphaA900 ]

Carl Zeiss combines spotting scope, digital camera with the PhotoScope 85 T* FL

Esteemed lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss is breaking new ground by releasing the PhotoScope 85 T* FL, a spotting scope that also serves as a seven megapixel digital camera -- just in case "super-zoom" wasn't enough for you. With 15 - 45x magnification, a focal length of 600 - 1800 mm, a flip-out OLED display, and an IR remote for vibration-free release, it's great for birdwatchers but perhaps even better for the paparazzi. Look for it in Spring or Summer 2009 if you're planning to profit off the next Amy Winehouse meltdown.
[Via: PhotographyBLOG ] [Tag: birdwatching, camera, carl zeiss, carlzeiss, digital camera, hunting, oled, paparazzi, photo, photography, photoscope, photoscope 85, photoscope 85 t fl, spotting scope ]

Nissan readies pilot for road-cam / slip-hazard alert services

Way back in 2005, we got wind of a Bluetooth-based telematics systems for cars dubbed Carwings. Now, Nissan is gearing up to launch two safety pilots which will rely on -- you guessed it -- Carwings HDD navigation systems. First up is the slip-hazard alert, which marries data from the ITS (Intelligent Transport System) and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) in order to warn drivers of slippery road conditions. In addition to that, the recently concocted road-cam service can "enhance the effectiveness of the alert service by offering drivers a visual image" of surroundings. The company will make the slip-hazard alert and the new road-cam service available to all Carwings customers (in Japan) beginning next month, with the latter hitting first (in November) and the former second (in December). Oh, and did we mention the upgrades will be completely gratis? Because they will be.
[Via: Wired ] [Tag: abs, automaker, carwings, hazard, nissan, pilot, road cam, road-cam, RoadCam, safety, slip, test ]

Casio EX-FH20 high-speed cam on sale now for $600

We were sort of hoping import pricing was skewing high when we first caught wind of Casio's new EX-FH20 high-speed cam, but it looks like this 27 percent smaller version of the EX-F1 will still set you back -- official US pricing is $600. Specs are still hot for the money, though: 9.1 megapixels, 20x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD, 40fps burst shooting (at 7.1 megapixels), 1000fps high-speed low-res movie mode, and a 30fps 720p movie mode. Should be in stores now -- hopefully we'll see that price drift downward soon.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: casio, ex-fh20, high speed camera, HighSpeedCamera ]

Hitachi demonstrates wireless HD camcorder transfer at CEATEC

If you're still in disbelief that wireless HD is finally catching on, here's yet another demonstration that just may sway you into being a believer. Hitachi demonstrated a wireless HD camcorder setup at CEATEC in Japan, which saw a hacked up handycam get fitted with a protruding wireless card and stream high-def content to a nearby TV via DLNA (got all that?). Obviously, there's no telling when or if the company will clean the application up and bring it to retail, but in all seriousness, we have our doubts about the value proposition here.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: camcorder, CEATEC, CEATEC 2008, Ceatec2008, DLNA, Hitachi, prototype, wifi, wireless, wireless camcorder, wireless hd, WirelessCamcorder, WirelessHd, wlan ]

Samsung's NV24HD 10.2 megapixel shooter reviewed, deemed passable

At first glance, there were definitely some things we liked about Samsung's 10.2 megapixel NV24HD: the UI's touch-sensitive buttons (as opposed to a crowded touchscreen), the 2.5-inch AMOLED display looks great (even in direct sunlight) and the camera shoots generous 720p, 30fps video. Now the folks at PC Magazine have had a chance to give the thing a more in-depth going over, and for the most part they seem to think the camera isn't half bad. They say the $349 point-and-shoot works well enough in perfect conditions (outdoors on a sunny day), but cite "weak indoor shots," heavier than average barrel distortion on the telephoto lens, and a bit of pincushion distortion on the wide angle lens as reasons you might want to give this camera a pass. If you're still interested, you can expect the usual features: face detection, image stabilization and scene settings, and an optional cradle ($79.99) offers and HDMI connection to your HDTV (plus a tiny remote). Interested? Sure you are! Hit the read link for the complete review and sexy, sexy slideshow.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: AMOLED, hd, hdmi, hi-def, NV24HD, review, Samsung ]

Digital Foci ships new Image Moments 6 digiframe

Given that Digital Foci's IMT-062 was getting a bit long in the tooth, we'd say it's about time a suitable successor hit the streets. The IMT-063, or "The Executive" as its known around the office, is the outfit's very latest Image Moments 6 digiframe, which features a 5.7-inch 640 x 480 display, LED backlighting, a two-tone chrome finish, 450MB of internal storage space, support for a multitude of card formats and USB 2.0 connectivity. Better still, the frame will also play back audio and video files, and the auto-rotate orientation sensor will keep your curious youngsters occupied for hours. Look for this one to leave the shipping dock next week for $149.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: digiframe, DIGITAL FOCI, image moments 6, ImageMoments6, IMT-063, now available, now shipping, NowAvailable, NowShipping, ship, shipping, ships ]

Sony Ericsson patent app takes the tedium out of zooming your camera

It's a beautiful autumn day, and you're out in the wooded path beyond the railroad tracks just taking it all in and killing some time. Hey, what's that? Why, it's the cutest bunny rabbit you've ever seen! Time to pull out that 8-megapixel C905 and... oh, this sucks, you actually have to press a button to zoom in and out! Screw this noise -- you're a visionary photographer, not a manual laborer. Happily, Sony Ericsson feels your pain, and a new patent application reveals that they're hard at work on a system to control your cameraphone's zoom level simply by moving it back and forth. Just get the phone closer to the subject, and boom, welcome to telephoto city, population one. We're still totally cool with the old-fashioned way of capturing Pulitzer-winning shots, but we're happy that someone's thinking of this type of stuff so we don't have to -- that'd be work.
[Via: Unwired View ] [Tag: camera, ericsson, patent, sony, sony ericsson, SonyEricsson ]

Canon EOS 50D begins filtering out, gets previewed

Official word says Canon's EOS 50D DSLR isn't shipping until October 6th, but we've found a number of pre-orderers that would beg to disagree. Take enthusiast Roland Lim for example, who has acquired a production unit and ran it through a series of basic, but entirely relevant tests. He's admittedly leaving the "comprehensive technical review" to someone else, but his laundry list of impressions is quite stout. We're told that the body is "essentially the same as the 40D," with the buttons, dials and LCD in exactly the same spots. In the end, he attempts to answer the all-important "should I upgrade?" question; thanks to this one being a mere evolutionary advancement of the 40D, he didn't think it was all that compelling unless you were still rocking some seriously old kit. Hit the read link for the writeup and a plethora of sample shots to see if you agree.
[Via: Engadget ] [Tag: 50D, available, canon, DSLR, EOS 50D, Eos50d, impressions, now available, now shipping, NowAvailable, NowShipping, preview, ship, ships ]