Latest Samsung Digital Camera Announcements

Samsung has announced a number of new digital cameras over the last couple of weeks, including a new ultra zoom bridge camera, a new premium serious compact camera, and a new flip screen multi-view camera. Details below:

Samsung EX2F, f/1.4 3.3x optical zoom lens, tilting screen, Wi-Fi
Samsung WB100, ultra wide-angle 26x optical zoom lens ultra zoom
Samsung MV900F, 3.3inch multi-view camera with Wi-Fi

Fujifilm FinePix S2980 Budget Ultra Zoom Reviews

The Fujifilm FinePix S2980 is an update to the popular S2950, the S2980′s number one feature is undoubtedly the price – available for just £95 from Amazon UK, it features a black design that makes it look a lot like a mini Digital SLR, it’s other features are:

    14 megapixel sensor
    18x optical zoom lens
    equivalent to 28mm – 504mm
    3 inch LCD screen
    Electronic Viewfinder
    CMOS shift image stabilisation
    P/A/S/M Manual modes
    Panoramic shooting
    720p video at 30fps

The camera has a number of positive reviews on Amazon UK, including this one:

” The camera allows a complete novice to take decent photos. The instructions are not too complicated and one doesn’t feel intimidated by an avalanche of directions in how to do all the different things. It has a “point and shoot” option where the camera will automatically choose the right setting. One particularly good setting is the “panoramic” one, which takes spectacular photos. All in all, I’m very happy with the purchase and would recommend it to other beginners.”

The only negatives seem to be from people who received a camera that did not work, although once replaced they seem to be happy, as of course Amazon UK have an excellent returns service, so this shouldn’t put people off. There are also a number of positive reviews on Argos UK.

More reviews: Buy-N-Shoot – Gold Award. There is also a two part review at Big Fat Universe, with Part II here, where they say:

“In a nutshell, it’s an impressive bridge camera for the price and sports some features you might not expect while still managing not to feel like a budget camera.”

The Fujifilm FinePix S2980 is available for £95 from Amazon UK

Samsung NX1000 Review Round-up

Here’s a roundup of reviews of the Samsung NX1000 – the entry level mirrorless camera from Samsung. It features a 20.3 megapixel APS-C sensor, 7/8 fps continuous shooting, built in Wi-Fi, 3 inch screen, manual controls, RAW, Full HD video and Samsung NX m0unt. The Samsung NX1000 is available in pink, white or black for £529 with 20-50mm lens, or £599 with two lenses, the additional lens being the 16mm pancake lens.

“The camera scores highly in all areas and importantly produces great image quality whilst providing excellent Wi-Fi connectivity, whether you want to upload to social network sites, or simply backup photos. The Samsung NX1000 has a plastic body available in black or white, and combined with the 20-50mm lens makes a compact camera.” source: ePHOTOzine – 4.5/5

More Samsung NX1000 reviews: PhotographyBLOG – 4.5/5, ITProPortal (Cliff Smith) – 8/10, Pocket-Lint – 4/5, PCMag – 4/5, DigitalCameraInfo – 7/10

Latest Digital Camera Announcements

Here’s a round-up of the latest digital camera announcements over the last few weeks, as well as the latest announcements:

Pentax X-5 – the 26x optical zoom ultra zoom that looks like a Digital SLR

Canon EOS-M – Canon’s 18 megapixel APS-C sensor mirrorless camera with new EOS-M mount and 2 lenses, plus an EOS adapter. Due October the 19th and has a 3inch touchscreen – available for pre-order from Amazon UK
Canon Powershot SX500 IS – 30x optical zoom, Ultra zoom
Canon Powershot SX160 IS – 16x optical zoom

Nikon Coolpix S01 – credit card sized, small sensor, 7.3gb internal memory!
Nikon Coolpix S6400 – 12x optical zoom lens compact camera, 3inch touch screen
Nikon Coolpix S800c – Android (2.3) powered camera with Wi-Fi and GPS, allows the use of apps, games etc, pictured above, it features a 10x optical zoom lens and full HD video recording.
Nikon Coolpix P7700 – f2-4 7.1x optical zoom lens, RAW shooting, manual controls
Nikon Coolpix L610 – 14x optical zoom, 16 megapixel sensor, Full HD video
Nikon 1 J2 – Nikon’s mirrorless camera updated with new effects, colour options, a smaller lens and an optional waterproof case.

Olympus SP-820UZ – 40x optical zoom
Olympus VH-410 – 5x optical zoom lens, compact, 3inch touch screen, image stabilisation

Casio Exilim JE10 – 5x optical zoom, multiple colours
Casio Exilim N1, N10, N20 – 5x optical zoom, multiple colours / body designs
Casio Exilim ZR300 – 12.5x optical zoom, high speed shooting, shown above.

 Fujifilm FinePix F800EXR – 20x optical zoom, Wireless image transfer

Canon EOS 450D digital SLR

The digital SLR market is fiercely competitive, with the biggest sales and fattest profits in the hotly-contested consumer/entry-level area. Up until very recently Canon, the first company to break the sub-£1,000 barrier with its popular EOS 300D model in 2003, had a commanding lead in DSLR sales with a market share approaching 50 percent, following up the success of the 300D with the EOS 350D and 400D. However holding on to a lead in such a fast-moving game is as much about marketing and strategy as about making quality products, and over the past year Canon has seen its lead eaten away by its main rivals Pentax, Olympus, Sony and especially Nikon. It's not so much that the rivals are making better cameras than Canon, but more that they are offering the right products at the right prices.

 In the crucial entry-level area of the market Canon has been relying on the continued popularity of the EOS 400D, a 10.1-megapixel model launched nearly two years ago and still selling well. However the 400D costs around £400 with an 18-55mm kit lens, which is starting to look like a lot of money for an aging model.

Nikon meanwhile has launched a three-pronged assault on the entry-level sector, with the 6.1MP D40 still available at around £280, the new 10.2MP D60 at around £380 and the superb D80 at around £600. Sony is continuing to carve itself a bigger share of the market with the Alpha A200, a bit of a bargain at £270 including lens, and the A350 with its advanced live view AF system and tilting monitor at around £450. Pentax has the weather-sealed K200D at around £450 while Olympus is also after the bargain hunters with its excellent E-420 at around £360. Faced with competition like that Canon must be worried that its once dominant market position isn't looking as unassailable as it used to.

 Earlier this year Canon announced the launch of a new consumer digital SLR, the EOS 450D. It features a new 12.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, a larger 3-inch monitor with Live View mode, nine-point AF system and 3.5fps continuous shooting. What is perhaps surprising is the price, because the EOS 450D costs around £440 body only or around £500 with an 18-55mm image-stabilised lens. Canon has subsequently announced an even newer lower-spec entry-level camera, the EOS 1000D which we'll be reviewing next week, but even this model is currently around £500 on pre-order. Is Canon in danger of pricing itself out of one of its core markets?