compacts

Sony guts HX5V 10x megazoom, results in H55

Yay. Another compact megazoom on the market. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V impressed us at CES 2010 with its 10x zoom, wide-angle Sony G lens, backside-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor, built-in GPS, and 1080p movie capture with a stereo mic--all inside a compact, pocketable body. The H55 is its less capable linemate.

Basically, most of the good stuff has been taken out except for the lens and its body with 3-inch LCD. The H55 features a 14-megapixel CCD, a 720p movie mode with mono sound, optical image stabilization with Sony's Active Mode for smoother video while walking, and a version … Read more

Gah! Nissan Juke unveiled ahead of schedule

Update: We've added new info about the Juke's European drivetrain and interior photography.

Just one day after we showed a teaser image of the upcoming Nissan Juke, the automaker has released unobscured photos of the compact crossover. And boy, is it ugly unique!

Everything from the belt line up is as we expected, very Nissan Leaf-esque. However, from there on down, things get a bit dicey. Below the swept back headlamps are a second pair of large round auxiliary lights and a third pair of small fog lights. Fortunately, the rear end is more attractive, with its L-shaped … Read more

Canon rolls out four PowerShots for spring

Canon's PowerShots are my go-to cameras for best photo quality. However, when it comes to cutting-edge features or shooting options, the company tends to lag behind much of the competition. I'm still on the fence about whether this is a bad thing, but regardless, Monday it announced four PowerShots, three of them refreshes of older models as well as the new SD3500 IS. Judging by the specs, my opinion holds true.

Overall, the updated models don't appear all that different from the prior models; just some minor improvements to features, boosts in resolution (hooray, more 14-megapixel compacts), a couple new photo effects, and Eye-Fi support. The SD3500 looks good for those who like touch-screen interfaces, but otherwise it doesn't seem to break new ground for the category.

Lastly, it looks like Canon is steering clear of optical viewfinders, so if you need an ultracompact camera with one, I suggest you pick up an SD780 IS or SD1200 IS while they're still around; the SD1400 IS and SD1300 IS will replace them, respectively.

PowerShot SX210 IS 14 megapixels 14x 28mm-equivalent wide-angle lens 3-inch LCD HD video (720p) with stereo sound HDMI output Optical image stabilization Dynamic mode reducing camera shake while recording movies New Fisheye and Miniature effects Eye-Fi support SD/SDHC memory cards Lithium ion rechargeable battery Choice of black, purple, and gold $349.99, March 2010… Read more

Compact food processor flips for easy storage

Available space on the kitchen counter is a rarity. Aside from making room for all the gadgets and appliances, we are somehow supposed to find the space to, you know, occasionally actually prepare a meal. The invention of the kitchen cupboard is the best thing that ever happened to the kitchen counter, but if maneuvering in or about cabinetry is a hassle, chances are it won't happen--and delivery or a frozen pizza will.

Easy access to a food processor is often the first step to creating a great home a meal. As prep tools go, they can't be … Read more

Ricoh 10x compact a little different than the rest

It's been a few months since we've heard anything from Ricoh. That product, the GXR, was very original compared with what the company has announced Wednesday, the CX3. However, that's not to say it's not worth checking out.

The CX3 is a compact megazoom using a 10.7x 28-300mm-equivalent lens, a 10-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, 720p HD movie mode, and a 3-inch 920K-dot LCD. The camera does many of the new shooting options available thanks to the BSI CMOS sensors including high-speed burst shooting at 5fps at full resolution and improved dynamic range and low-light … Read more

Nikon refreshes Coolpix S-series models adding HD movie capture

Ho hum, ho hum. Another day closer to PMA 2010 and another bunch of camera announcements. This crop from Nikon fills in the company's "S is for style" line. I've listed out the few specs Nikon managed to scribble into its press release. I've marked the upsell features on the cameras so you can see just what $50 more is getting you. The most impressive thing with these, though, is that Nikon finally managed to put a 720p HD movie mode into three of the four models. Enjoy.

Coolpix S3000

12 megapixels 4x wide-angle Zoom-NIKKOR … Read more

The Volkswagen NCC concept debuts at Detroit auto show

In continuation of my current video blog-post series concerning concept vehicles making their debuts a month ago at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, today I present a short but sweet video about Volkswagen's most recent foray into the e-car genre. And here it is, making its debut at the 2010 NAIAS is the VW New Compact Coupe concept as on display at the Cobo Arena in Detroit this last January.

The new Volkswagen NCC is reportedly a production-ready hybrid car that utilizes both traditional fuel energy as well as emerging electronic technology to propel this vehicle. … Read more

Fujifilm enhances its EXR compact megazoom

The FinePix F70EXR was a decent enough compact megazoom, but wasn't without its issues. Fujifilm's refreshed it for spring, adding extra features and enhancing what was already there.

At less than an inch thick, the F80EXR is packing a 27mm-equivalent wide-angle lens with a 10x zoom, which is still pretty amazing, and on back is a 3-inch LCD. The resolution has been bumped up to 12 megapixels; that's good because the EXR modes for improved dynamic range and lower noise at higher ISOs require the resolution to be halved. Also improved is the camera's movie mode … Read more

Fujifilm redesigns its J-series point-and-shoots

With four models priced from $129.95 to $249.95, there's a lot of upselling going on with Fujifilm's latest J-series cameras. The ultracompacts have some common features, though, such as all-metal bodies, the company's Tracking Auto Focus system, face detection, and the capability to capture video at 720p HD quality.

The JV100 is basically an entry-level ultracompact with a rechargeable battery, which is all that separates it from the manufacturer's AV100. Likewise, the JX250 is separated from the AX200 by a rechargeable battery and a 14-megapixel sensor.

If the JX250's 5x zoom lens isn't enough, you can step up to the 10x zoom lens on the 12-megapixel FinePix JZ300 and 14-megapixel JZ500. Other than resolution, the JZ500 gets Pet Detection (the camera can detect and prioritize focus on cats and dogs) and Face Recognition, which lets you attach basic information to a photo of a person's face for prioritizing focus when you take pictures of that person later as well as for tagging for easier organization.

FinePix JV100

12 megapixels Fujinon 3x optical zoom 2.7-inch LCD HD (720p) movie capture Digital image stabilization Smile and Blink Detection Choice of black or blue $129.95, February 2010 FinePix JX250 Upsell: 14 megapixels Upsell: Fujinon 28mm-equivalent lens with 5x optical zoom 2.7-inch LCD HD (720p) movie capture Digital image stabilization Smile and Blink Detection Black only $159.95, April 2010… Read more