Seoul, South Korea - South Korean researchers have designed an optical lens that can produce wide angle images without any distortion.

Overheating batteries can cause units to catch fire

HP is recalling over 675,000 of its Photosmart R707 digital cameras from around the world because of potential safety issues.

A great-looking six-megapixel camera with an iPod-esque touch control

For something sold as an ultra-compact camera, Canon’s six-megapixel, 3x optical zoom 'style cam' still manages to shoehorn a large 3in LCD into its minimal dimensions.

TOKYO - Canon Inc. said it would stop developing film cameras, joining a growing number of high-tech firms pulling out of the sector as digital cameras take over.

"The situation is very difficult for new (film-based) cameras," Canon president Tsuneji Uchida told Jiji Press in an interview.

A long optical zoom and a good macro mode in a reasonably priced digital compact camera

Ricoh's Caplio R4 looks suspiciously similar to many of its predecessors, particularly the R3.

In fact, the R4's case is almost exactly the same as its younger sibling, and the only significant change appears to be an increase in the number of megapixels the camera can handle - from five to six.
 

Banish blurred photos with Nikon’s Vibration Reduction technology

Fed up with red eyeballs and bleached out faces when using camera flash?

The obvious solution is to turn off the flash and boost the sensitivity of the camera sensor to cope, or a slower shutter speed to let in more light.

A compact camera with a huge optical zoom range

We were recently impressed with the Kodak EasyShare V570, which combines two lenses to give the effect of a 5x optical zoom.

With the launch of the 6.1 megapixel V610 Kodak has raised its game further.

TOKYO — Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., and Sony Corp. have jointly proposed specifications for high definition (HD) video cameras named the AVCHD format, which enables consumers to shoot and record HD video images using 8-cm DVD recordable discs. 
 
The AVCHD format is an HD digital video camera format for recording 1080i and 720p signals onto 8-cm DVD media.

The National Geographic is to launch a competition aimed at amateur photographers.
 
The "Morning, Noon and Night " competition, which begins on 15 May when the website goes live, is sponsored by Fujifilm.

The Future of Pro Digital Photography

Film has its good points, yes. But there’s no resisting the ascendence of digital among pro photographers. 

By Dustin Driver, Apple Press Release

Film is portable, durable, versatile. But its arcane chemistry is going out of style. Magazines, ad agencies and newspapers want their photographers to go digital — it’s cleaner, faster, cheaper. Digitizing a photographer, however, is no easy task. The pros have tinkered with film for ages and they know how to get a great shot. They know how a perfect print is coaxed from a piece of photo paper. Digital is different. There are no chemicals, darkrooms or negatives. Contact sheets are composed on computers, not cut and pasted on paper.

Logitech Launches QuickCam

Logitech has launched the Logitech QuickCam Chat webcam, a starter kit, that allows users to add live video and audio features to online communications.

Source: Techtree News

The QuickCam Chat webcam includes both a headset and a camera enabling instant face-to-face communication. The Logitech QuickCam Chat webcam is priced at $29.95 and has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels.

Kodak Unveils New Cameras

Kodak has launched three new models adding to its Easyshare C-Series point and shoot range of digital cameras.

Source: Techtree News

The C360, C330 and C310 models have been launched, along with the Kodak Easyshare Printer Dock Series 3 and Kodak Easyshare Software.

The C360 camera has a pocket-sized camera design and a two-inch LCD display.

Rolling Camera Eyeballs Danger

Police and military are testing a tough new surveillance device shaped like a ball. If there's any hint of danger, the camera can be rolled in to take a peek before officers go in.

By Abby Christopher. Wired News

Imagine being on a SWAT team charged with disarming violent crooks in a meth lab, and knowing that every year, more than 50,000 law enforcement officers are assaulted.

It might be comforting to begin your raid by sending in an Eye Ball R1, a remote-controlled, spherical camera about the size of a baseball that can give its users a 360-degree look at the device's surroundings.

Digital camera market peaked too soon

Rapid growth of digital camera industry will slow in coming years, as manufacturers push too aggressively, report says.

By Richard Shim, CNET News.com

The digital camera industry has reached maturity early, and the heady growth rates will slow, according to a report.

Shipments will be strong in the next couple years but will slow and then dip over the long term, research firm IDC forecast in a report Thursday.

 

Kyocera kills Contax cameras

Japanese electronics conglomerate Kyocera announced Tuesday that it was ditching its Contax line of cameras, one of the oldest and most respected brands in photography.

By David Becker, CNET News.com

Zeiss Ikon, the German company founded by lensmaker Carl Zeiss, began making Contax 35mm cameras in the 1930s, quickly establishing the brand as the main competition against high-end camera maker Leica.

Nikon Readies New Digital SLRs

A manual for one model, the D50, was accidentally made available on the company's Web site.

By Paul Kallender, IDG News Service

Nikon is planning to release a new range of digital SLR cameras, including a model called the D50, the company says.

Word of the D50's impending launch first emerged when it was discovered that a copy of the user's manual for the camera had recently been uploaded in error onto one of the company's Web sites.

Preview: Kodak EasyShare One

A camera with a 3" swivel screen, 4 Megapixels and Wi-Fi? - Kodak's EasyShare One.

By Jørgen Sundgot, InfoSync World

I assume you've noticed how every handset maker under the sun seems to have gained a particular fondness for integrating multi-megapixel cameras into their products recently? In fact, this trend has gone so far as to cause several debates over whether digital cameras as standalone devices for consumers will even survive.

Kodak isn't having any of it, though, and is fighting back with the EasyShare One, which boasts optional Wi-Fi connectivity.

Photos Richer in 144 Megapixels

Most consumers are already overjoyed with the photo quality of an 8-megapixel camera.

By Alison Strahan, Wired.com

But when it comes to the high resolution images a 144-megapixel camera brings, they can prepare to be astounded.

New York photographer Tom Watson and his business partner, Rob Howard, make a living by creating large-format digital photographs. They believe the technology they are using is "pushing the limits of location photography."

Nikon unveils Coolpix S1 ultra compact digital camera

Melville (NY) - Nikon expands its digital camera product family with a stylish 5.1 megapixel ultra compact model with a 3x zoom Nikkor ED lens and a 2.5-inch LCD screen.

By Wolfgang Gruener, Tom's Hardware Guide

The new Coolpix S1 builds on a trend that was pioneered by ultra compact cameras such as the Canon Powershot S400/500 series and most recently was boosted by credit card sized cameras such as the Sony Cybershot DSC-T1. The new S1 shaves off a few millimeters of the DSC-T1's dimensions and represents Nikon's smallest digital camera to date (3.5 x 2.3 x 0.8 inches).

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M1

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M1 is a solid digital camera, with good capabilities and features that make shooting both stills and video enjoyable.

By Terry Sullivan, PC Magazine

In fall 2004, we got our hands on a pre-production model of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-M1, an intriguing new hybrid device that takes both stills and videos. But since the unit we looked at was preproduction, we had to reserve judgment on image quality and performance.

Now that we've had a chance to run a production unit through our tests, we have a clearer picture (pun intended).

Preview: Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T7

CeBIT 2005 - Introducing the Sony's oh-so-small-and-sexy Cyber-shot DSC-T7 digital camera

By Jørgen Sundgot, InfoSync World

Following hot on the heels of the DSC-T33, which only offered minor changes over its predecessor, the DSC-T3, which again improved marginally on the DSC-T1, the DSC-T7 doesn't bring any surprises in the feature department. Just as you'd expect, though, it's - surprise, surprise - smaller.

Canon bumps EOS Digital Rebel to 8 MP with XT edition

Less is more with Canon's new EOS Digital Rebel XT SLR camera, smaller than its predecessor yet with more features and 8 Megapixel resolution.

By Jørgen Sundgot, InfoSync World

A little more than a year after the camera maker introduced its acclaimed Digital Rebel EOS, Canon is now about to ship the successor to the popular camera's successor, the EOS Digital Rebel XT.

Nikon Coolpix 5900, 7600, 7900 cameras make debut

Two 7 Megapixel cameras and one 5 Megapixel are on the slate as Nikon rolls out new models in its Coolpix series: meet the 5900, 7600 and 7900.

By Jørgen Sundgot, InfoSync World

Adding to its already comprehensive line-up of Coolpix compact digital cameras, Nikon has introduced the 5900, 7600 and 7900 models. All three cameras share 3x optical zoom, however where the 5900 offers 5.1 Megapixel resolution the 7600 and 7900 offer 7.1 Megapixels; also, the cameras come with different display sizes.

Samsung: 5MP Camera Phone in 2005

Samsung is ramping up its efforts of convergence between consumer electronics devices and mobile phones, announcing an ambitious plan to unveil a 5-megapixel camera phone before the end of the year.

By Nate Mook, BetaNews

Although camera phones are currently far more limited -- and often more expensive -- than standard digital cameras, Samsung says mobile handsets will account for 75 percent of digital cameras sold this year. The company says it will offer photo capabilities on over half its U.S. handsets in 2005.