It’s certainly possible to drop a few Benjamins on a compact digital camera, loaded with unnecessary features, but when it’s time to just take pictures, simplicity is king. That’s why the Canon PowerShot A480 is getting positive reviews despite its lack of frills and decidedly unstylish design. PCWorld says the A480 is “dead-simple,” while Photography blog calls it a “cheap, well-made, straight-forward compact camera.” It’s a 10-megapixel point-and-shoot with 3.3x optical zoom and a 2.5-inch LCD screen. The DIGIC III image processor offers face detection, motion detection and red-eye correction, along with 15 shooting modes, and that’s about it. A few different colors are available, but you’re not impressing anyone. Amazon’s got it for $105. [via Thaindian News]
Going the complete opposite way of the mini projector trend, JVC announced that it will soon ship a 370-pound projector. Obviously, the D-ILA 3 8K and 4K aren’t about dinky pictures, beaming out 35-megapixel pictures, in resolutions of up to 8192 x 4320. They also feature brightness of 10,000 lumens, a 5,500:1 contrast ratio. These monstrosities use a 3,000 W bulb and a special fiber optic interface, though there’s also HDMI connections on board. But what would you use it with? Perhaps JVC’s 4K camera, which is in the prototype stage now. A 1.25-inch CMOS sensor allows for resolutions of 3840 x 2160and 60 frames per second in RAW mode. The camera head also has a fiber optic interface, which sends the signal to a remote 4K2K signal processor. No word on pricing, which is to say it probably won’t be cheap. [via Electronista]
Your camera’s panorama function has its place, but when you’re ready for the real deal, there’s the Gigapan Epic 100. The previous Gigapan model was designed for digital cameras, but the latest version accommodates DSLRs, making it a worthy tool for the professional or budding amateur photographer. More than just an automatic swiveling utility, the Gigapan bases its movement on the camera lens’ angle-of-view. It also requires calibration and reminds you to set white balance and exposure, ensuring a smooth transition between each frame. Everything gets when you get back to a computer. At $450, the Gigapan Epic 100 isn’t for everyone, but if you live by the beach or some other breathtaking spot that justifies sweeping landscape photos, it might be worth the investment. [via Wired]
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Inevitably, old technology is replaced by something newer and better, but bargain-hunters know this is the perfect time to strike. Canon’s discontinued PowerShot SD1100, which carries a suggested retail price of $179.99, is on sale at Staples’ brick-and-mortar stores for $129.99. If you can dig up one of those “$25 off purchases of $100 or greater” coupons, more power to you. The SD1100 is an 8-megapixel camera with 3x optical zoom and a 2.5-inch LCD screen. Other features include face detection, optical image stabilization and a print/share button. It’s not clear whether the sale includes all of the SD1100’s color options or just the ugliest pastels that no one wanted before, but it’s worth looking into if you need a small digicam. For more info, look below:
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If you’re in the “Alpha” stage (har har!) of high-end photography, Sony’s preparing to launch a few new DSLRs to help out. These entry-level cams come in a smaller size than their predecessors and now include HDMI out. There’s also Bravia control, allowing owners of Bravia TVs to remotely flip through their images during big screen viewing. For newbies, a “handbook” teaches the basics. The details were leaked from Sony’s Russian Web site, so there’s no extensive breakdown of each model yet, but we at least know the a380 shoots in 14.2 megapixels. Presumably the a230 and a330 have slightly smaller pixel counts. Unfortunately, there are no signs of video. Price and release date? Nyet! [Photoclub Alpha via Engadget]
Pure Digital Flip Ultra Series F260 for $69.99 – Mother’s Day is coming, and only the most tech-averse moms wouldn’t want a pocket camcorder to play around with on vacations and day trips. Woot’s daily deal for April 29 is the Flip Ultra Series F260 for $69.99, plus $5 shipping. The camcorder gets its name from the USB dongle that flips out for easy transfer. It records 60 minutes of video and comes in fiave colors. Condition is listed as “recertified.” The same camera goes for $150 on Flip’s Web site, so act fast if you want to practically steal this nice gift. If you’ve still got cold feet, check out the resources below to see if the Flip is right for you, or your mother:
[$69.99 at Woot]
That indie nosebone + stalefish you’ve been working on is no good if you can’t save it for posterity. But who would actually want to record that video for you? Luckily, VholdR has the solution with its ContourHD helmet cam, apparently the world’s first wearable HD camera. Just strap it on to the safety helmet for your extreme sport of choice, and you’ve got 720p video at 30 frames per second or WVGA (858 x 480) at 60 frames per second. Mounts are included for goggles or flat surfaces, and dual lasers help set up the proper angle. The lens swivels 192 degrees and has a 135-degree viewing angle. For storage, there’s a 2 GB microSD card included, with a 2 GB card included. Pre-orders are open now for $280, shipping May 15 — just in time for skateboarding season. [VholdR via Engadget]
So you bought an expensive DSLR with high definition video capabilities, but you can’t get over the inherent shakiness of your hands or the mediocre camera microphone. Redrock Micro would like you to slap a rig on it, Hollywood style. The camera attachments include bigger viewing screens and stainless steel rods for gripping. My personal favorite model includes a shoulder mount and a cage for strapping a shotgun microphone to your dome, because nothing says “professional” like a Frankensteinian camera set-up that’s physically attached to the head. Seriously, though, the ability to do a proper film shoot with a DSLR’s lens variety would be pretty cool, though you’d have to pack a lot of SD cards to get the job done. Pricing starts at $195 and goes all the way up to $2,445 for the proper cinema bundle. [Redrock Micro via Dvice]
Presently, recording a 3D image is somewhat of a chore, requiring the connection of at least two 2D cameras — and what artiste can be bothered with that? Panasonic’s working on an answer with the industry’s first dedicated 3D HD camera. In prototype now, the camera uses two lenses to records separate channels of video on Panasonic’s proprietary P2 card, one for each eye. The result is an easier process for filmmakers, thus encouraging more 3D movie production. Smart move for Panasonic, as it’s working hard on the consumer side as well. You may recall that at CES, the company revealed that its 3D plasma home theater is coming to the US and Japan. Now all they need is for the concept itself to take off. [via Press Release and Engadget HD]
