Olympus will release the new E-520 camera later this month. It is a 10MP digital camera that comes equipped with a ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 40-150mm lens, a 2.7 inch LCD screen, and sensor-shifting image stabilization. The camera also sports Shadow Adjustment and Face Detection functions. No word on pricing so far. [Akihabara]
Microsoft will be dropping two new cams called the VX-5000 and VX-500 LifeCams. Both cams feature VGA resolution and go well with Windows Live Messenger. Microsoft is also releasing a headset called the LifeChat LX-2000. The VX-5000 will be available in June for $49.95 and the VX-500 and LX-2000 will hit shelves this month for $16.95 and $29.95. [Microsoft]
Vado Pocket Video Cam, similar to Pure Digital’s Flip Video cheapcorder. It features a YouTube friendly 640 x 480 resolution, 2GB of built-in memory, a 2-inch display, a flip-out USB connector, and two hours of battery life on a charge. The Vado Video cam is going for $100 in either silver or hot pink. [Engadget]
Some dudes at Photography BLOG have a comprehensive review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 digital camera. The camera offers a T-Mobile HotSpot service and can upload photos directly to Google’s Picasa Web Albums. The DMC-TZ5 also features a 9.1MP sensor, 10x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens, 720p movie mode, SD expansion slot, video output, red-eye correction, optical image stabilization, the Venus Engine IV and a 3.0-inch LCD monitor. Here is a verdict.
In summary the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5 is a marginally better camera than the TZ3, with improved image quality, an excellent LCD screen, useful Intelligent Auto mode for beginners, and the attraction of HD video. It’s a shame that Panasonic haven’t added any manual exposure modes, as with the recent DMC-LZ10 model, which is the only Panasonic compact camera to offer any control over aperture and shutter speed (apart from the ageing DMC-LX2). If you don’t mind sacrificing half the focal length, the 5x zoom DMC-LZ10 is an excellent alternative. But if you’re happy to accept the purely point-and-shoot nature of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ5, that unchanged combination of huge focal range and compact dimensions is still too liberating to ignore.
Samsung Korea has released the VM-HMX20 HD flash-based camcorder that features a 6.4MP CMOS sensor and electronic image stabilization. The camcorder supports a full HD and a 1080p mode with 30 fps recording capability and able to record fast motion at 300 frames per second for up to 10 seconds and then drastically slow down the playback of the recording. Samsung’s proprietary swivel hand-grip makes this video recorder to record in multiple angles, including regular and low-angle shots. The Samsung VM-HMX20 comes with a 2.7inch LCD and supports Anynet+ connection to HDTVs, which allows consumers to control the camcorder though their HDTV remote while viewing movies. The Samsung Korea VM-HMX20 HD flash-based camcorder is priced at around $900 (899,000 Korean Won). [AVING]
