Ricoh’s GX200, G600 and HX200 cameras
Ricoh's new GX200 camera has a wide-angle lens that is designed for capturing landscape shots. The camera has 12 megapixel resolution and 3X zoom, and includes a special ‘level’ option – a kind of digital spirit-level – that helps you to make sure you’re holding the camera level when you take your wide-angle shots. And, in addition to its standard preset shooting settings, the GX200 also allows you to create and save three settings of your own. The camera costs 349.99, or for 399.99 you can get it with a special adjustable viewfinder that helps you frame shots properly when the camera is held at an angle.
Another new camera from Ricoh is the 12 megapixel HX200. It boasts a new image processing engine called Smooth Imaging Engine III which offers better noise reduction for clearer pictures. The HX200 also features a 2.7in LCD, a wide-angle optical zoom lens at 24-72mm, and 5 shot continuous RAW mode shooting. It costs 349.99.
Designed for rugged outdoorsy types, the new G600 digital camera from Ricoh is so tough that it’s passed tests set by the US Department of Defense. As well as surviving the DoD’s drop tests to prove its shock-resistance, the G600 is also designed to keep dirt away from the lens and is water-resistant to ‘JIS Grade 7’. It’s got a 10-megapixel lens and 5x optical zoom, so you can zoom in on far-away hilltops as you hike across the Andes. There’s also a 1cm macro option for taking close-up shots of outdoor creepy crawlies and stuff. It costs 349.99.
Fujifilm FinePix Z200fd camera
Fujifilm claims that its new FinePix Z200fd is the ‘perfect social camera’. Many digital cameras now include ‘face detection’ technology that allow them to automatically focus on people’s faces within a scene, but the new FinePix Z200fd improves this technology by being able to count the number of faces in a scene and set its timer option so that it only takes a photo when everyone is ready. If you want to take a photo of yourself with one or more friends you can set up the camera and it will wait until you’ve moved in front of the camera and joined the group before taking the shot.
It’s also got a Cheek to Cheek setting for intimate portraits, which allows it to detect when two faces are right next to each other before shooting. Another useful feature is the special flash option that takes two versions of a photo in rapid succession – one with flash and one without – so that you can compare the two photos and choose the one you like best. Finally the Z200fd has 10 megapixel resolution and 5X zoom, and will cost about 200 when it is released at the end of August.
Olympus E-520 digital SLR camera
The new E-520 from Olympus is an attempt to combine the quality of digital-SLR photography with the convenience of a compact camera. The E-520 is a 10 megapixel digital-SLR that measures just 13.6cm wide, 9cm high and 7cm thick with its standard lens. Advanced users can adjust all the settings manually, but less experienced users can choose from 32 preset modes designed for a variety of different shooting conditions, such as landscapes, night-time photography, sports, and even underwater photography (using Olympus’ range of add-on accessories). You can buy it with a standard lens for 529, and there are additional Zoom Lens kits for 629.99 and 759.99.
Nikon D700 digital SLR camera
Nikon has released details of its new D700 digital SLR camera. The camera slots into Nikon’s lineup between the D300 and D3, and shares many features with those cameras, including its 12.1Mp CMOS image sensor and the Expeed image-processing system.
The camera sports a 12.1-megapixel FX-format CMOS sensor with a sensing area of 36.0 x 23.9 mm and a sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 6400 which can be expanded to ISO 25,600 and decreased to ISO 100.
Continuous shooting is offered at up to 5 frames per second (and up to 8 fps with the optional Multi-Power Battery Pack). It also features Nikon's exclusive 51-point AF system.
According to Nikon, startup time is approximately 0.12 second, and a shutter release time lag is 40 ms – both equivalent to the flagship Nikon D3.
The D700 bundled with rechargeable battery, charger and Nikon Software suite. Priced at 1,999.99, the D700 will be available from July from www.nikon.co.uk.
More detailed information is available here.
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