Crave

(Credit: Canon Inc.)

In the first significant improvement Canon's made in its optical stabilization technology in a few years--I think the last major update was the SuperRange OIS in its camcorders--the company announced a new Hybrid IS technology that adds angular velocity sensing to its current bag of OIS tricks. While its IS system already has a sensor to detect rotation, the new velocity sensor is intended to detect the speed of rotation and thereby compensate more precisely. (Here's a simulation of how the current lenses work, and here's a nice PDF white paper on how angular velocity sensors work, written about Epson Toyocom's gyro-sensor.)

While this is the first angular velocity supplementation in a still camera stabilization system that I can find, it sounds quite similar to the implementation of the Active Steady Shot system in Sony's latest crop of HD camcorders, which also use angular speed detection and lens shift correction.

Canon USA says it will ship a lens using the technology by the end of the year. While I think the initial roll-out will probably be in a refresh of some popular pro long lens, especially given the timing, I don't think the implementation should be very expensive or large, the two things that would preclude it from appearing in consumer lenses. And shaky-handed consumers need the OIS boost more than pros, though the latter could certainly benefit. I'm guessing there'll be an 18-55mm IS II when Canon replaces the T1i next spring.

(Credit: Optech)

I wouldn't be caught dead with this camera harness to protect my dSLR, not even if it means I have to carry a heavy bag to store my equipment in. Honestly, the first word that came to mind when I saw the Optech Stabilizer Strap was: geek.

But I have to give credit to the U.S. company for coming up with a product for those who aren't ashamed to be laughed at for looking silly. The Stabilizer Strap is made of neoprene and stretches across your torso. Just stretch the harness and slip your camera between the harness and your body and the dSLR will be secured against your abdomen. When you want to take pictures, just slip it out. Optech's Web site claims it's fast and easy.

No doubt it's a nice innovation for those who go trekking with their dSLRs. But I think my Domke bag is way cooler than this, thank you very much.

(Source: Crave Asia)

(Credit: Hammacher Schlemmer)

Whether it's because of too much caffeine or advancing age (both, most likely), it's become increasingly difficult for us to hold a steady shot these days with the usual point-and-shoot cameras. The same is true with our binoculars at the track, when we're watching yet another nag come in last and ruining the trifecta we so brilliantly calculated.

So we were initially happy to see what's billed as "the world's most powerful image-stabilizing binoculars," which has something called a "passive mechanical stabilizer" that's supposedly "designed to counteract the vibrations caused by moving air, land or sea vehicles"--not to mention the hands of a middle-aged espresso fiend. We say "initially" happy because that was before we saw the price--$1,700. That's roughly 100 times more than our best day at Golden Gate Fields, ever.

If you'd rather go for looks and save enough to wager on the last race, a pair of "Ferrari Visios" might be a better bet.

Fuji's new FinePix F50fd includes sensor-shift image stabilization and the company's second-generation face detection.

(Credit: Fujifilm)

Summer is in full swing and the season is heating up with new camera announcements. Fuji steps to the plate with five new models that follow the trend toward more megapixels and slowly growing zoom ranges, while adding to the company's set of signature features. As with the company's PMA introductions, all the new cameras will be able to store images to both xD Picture Cards and SD cards, as well as SDHC cards.

With the Finepix F50fd, Fuji is introducing a new version of the company's face-detection technology, which Fuji calls Face Detection 2.0. While the old version could deal with faces that faced different angles in the horizontal plane--such as someone turning her head from side to side--Fuji says the new version can also accommodate faces that vary in the vertical plane, such as a person laying down. The system can detect up to 10 faces at a time and will set autofocus based on the primary face, while adjusting auto-exposure, so that all the selected faces are properly exposed, if possible. Fuji says that Face Detection 2.0 should be able to detect faces even in profile--which should be interesting, since most face detection systems we've seen so far need to detect two eyes to identify a face.

Fuji's new F480 offers 8 megapixels for under $200.

(Credit: Fujifilm)

The least expensive of the new batch is the FinePix F480, expected to hit stores in September for about $180. It will include an 8MP CCD sensor, a 2.7-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD screen, a 4X optical, 28-112mm equivalent, f/2.8-5.6 zoom lens, and sensitivity of up to ISO 800. A total of 13 scene modes are available to help with out-of-the-ordinary shooting conditions. And though the camera doesn't include mechanical or optical image stabilization, Fuji does include its misleadingly named Picture Stabilization mode, which boosts the ISO as needed to keep the shutter speed fast enough to avoid blur, caused by either shaky hands or subject movement.

Stepping up in price, we come to the FinePix A920, which is also expected in September for about $200. It will include a 9-megapixel Super CCD sensor, a 2.7-inch LCD, a 4x optical zoom (Fuji hasn't yet stated the 35mm focal length equivalents), and sensitivity up to ISO 800. Like all Fuji A-series cameras, this model will run on a pair of AA batteries. Again, Fuji includes its Picture Stabilization instead of mechanical or optical image stabilization. The A920 will also have 16 scene modes, as well as IrSimple for image transfer.

The FinePix A920 checks in with 9 megapixels and a 4X optical zoom lens.

(Credit: Fujifilm)

Pausing in the price ladder is the FinePix Z10fd, which should also cost about $200 and ship in September. Fuji says that it will be targeting buyers in their teens and early twenties with this slim, 7-megapixel camera. While those young'uns will have to settle for a 3X optical, 38-100mm equivalent, f/3.7-4.2 zoom lens, a 2.5-inch, 150,000-pixel LCD, and first-generation face detection instead of the company's updated version, the Z10fd will provide sensitivity of up to ISO 1,600. Again, it features the Picture Stabilization mode instead of physical stabilization. It will, however, be available in a choice of five colors--Midnight Black, Wave Blue, Wasabi Green, Hot Pink, and Sunset Orange. It'll also sport 14 scene modes, a new slide show mode that lets you add music to your photo sharing exploits, automatic red eye removal, and IrSimple.

The FinePix S8000fd boasts a long yet wide 18X optical zoom lens.

(Credit: Fujifilm)

At the $300 price level, and also shipping in September, Fuji offers the FinePix F50fd. It will boast a 12-megapixel Super CCD sensor, a 3X optical 35-105mm f/2.8-5.1 zoom lens, and a 2.7-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD. Sensitivity ranges up to ISO 1,600 at full resolution, or you can reach ISO 3,200 by stepping down to 6 megapixels, or ISO 6,400 at 3 megapixels. Advanced photographers will appreciate the camera's manual exposure controls and all-metal chassis. Less experienced shooters can rely on the 15 scene modes. Everyone should benefit from what Fuji is calling Dual Image Stabilization, which combines the Picture Stabilization ISO boost with sensor-shifting mechanical image stabilization. It also has Fuji's i-Flash automatic flash compensation, Face Detection 2.0, and a special portrait mode.

Topping the price list we find the FinePix S8000fd, slated for September shipment for about $400. This superzoom EVF includes a 8-megapixel Super CCD sensor, a 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD, and an 18X optical, 27-486mm, f/2.8-4.5 zoom lens. Sensitivity will reach ISO 1,600 at full resolution, while offering ISO 3,200 and ISO 6,400 at 4 megapixels. Geared toward more experienced photographers, the camera includes manual exposure controls with 10 available apertures from f/2.8 up to f/8 in third-EV increments, but still includes more than a dozen scene modes. Like the F50fd, the S8000fd includes Dual Image Stabilization, i-Flash, and automatic red-eye removal, but includes Fuji's first-generation Face Detection instead of the newer version. The S8000fd will run on four AA batteries.

Kodak's Z1275 with 2.5-inch LCD screen

(Credit: Eastman Kodak)

In addition to its new M series of budget compact cameras, Kodak announced an ultrazoom compact and a high-megapixel compact for its Z series line of digital cameras on Tuesday.

Both cameras, set to be available this August for about $249, have Kodak's digital-image stabilization feature to assist with camera shake.

Kodak's Z1275 offers an impressive 12 megapixels for $249. (In this price range, 10 megapixels is on the better side of average.)

The Z1275 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen and will stitch together photos for one panoramic, a fun feature to have on board. It also has 64MB of internal memory in addition to an SDHC/SD/MMC card slot.

Kodak's ZD710

(Credit: Eastman Kodak)

For what it's worth, Kodak claims that this camera has an ISO sensitivity of up to 1,600, with a 3,200 boost, depending on which mode you are shooting in and the size of the photo.

The ZD710, as the name and body suggests, is the obvious predecessor to the Kodak Z710 as it also has a 10x optical-zoom lens that offers the 38mm to 380mm (35mm equivalent) range.

Unlike the Z710, however, which we at CNET complained had no optical image stabilization and an ISO of only 400 with an 800 boost, the new ZD710 does have Kodak's digital-image stabilization and offers an ISO up to 1,600.

While digital-image stabilization is not the same as optical-image stabilization, it's a start.

Kodak's ZD710 with 2-inch LCD screen

(Credit: Eastman Kodak)

The ZD710 also comes with the typical SDHC/SD/MMC memory card slot, scene modes, color modes, video capability and shooting modes for partial manual control typical of a camera in this class.

As is the problem on many of these cameras caught between the compact and dSLR worlds, the ZD710 has only a 2-inch LCD screen in order to fit in a control wheel.

The updated Bose in-ear headphones

(Credit: Bose)

Last week, Bose indicated that it was revisiting the "stability issue" of its recently released in-ear headphones. At a media event today at its New York City Columbus Circle store, the company filled in the blanks on the somewhat vague invitation it issued last week--and the result is good news for any existing or prospective owner of the headphones.

Bose will be releasing an updated version of the in-ear headphones starting next week (March 15). Physically, the "new" headphones are identical to the existing models, except for the addition of a zebra-like black-and-white color scheme on the headphone cabling (the earbuds themselves remain black). But the new version will include improved interchangeable ear tips (small, medium, and large), which Bose has redesigned to offer a better, more-snug fit in the ears of the wearer.

Bose auditioned the new headphones at its Manhattan store

(Credit: CNET Networks)

But the upgrades don't stop there. Later this year, Bose plans to offer two more accessories for the in-ears: A wire clip and a neck lanyard. Using either the clip or the lanyard provides additional support for the headphones during physical activity, such as jogging or working out in the gym--in other words, your waist-mounted audio player will tug at the clip or the lanyard rather than on the earbuds themselves. Combined with the improved ear tips, that should mean far fewer instances of the headphones popping out of place.

Consumers who've already purchased the in-ear headphones will be able to get all three so-called stability upgrades at no charge. Starting March 16, owners can order the new accessories on the company's Web site (www.bose.com/enhance) or by calling 800-819-7032. Bose says the ear tips will be sent out by the end of March, followed by the clip and lanyard by the end of June. (By that time, the clip and lanyard will also be included in the box with updated in-ear models as they're shipped.)

In the past, CNET's found plenty of Bose products to be very good to excellent, some that were merely good but not great, and others about which we're decidedly less enthusiastic. Indeed, the first iteration of the in-ear headphones fell into the final category (though users liked it considerably more), but we'll be re-evaluating them as soon as we've spent some time with the improved ear tips and the clip and lanyard (once they become available). Whether or not the rating changes substantially, however, is almost beside the point--Bose deserves kudos for offering these product improvements to existing customers free of charge.

This falls under our definition of a feel-good item, but probably not in the way you might think. It has nothing to do with tugging heartstrings; it just makes us feel good because it's evidence that we're not the only clueless people in the world.

(Credit: Dream Internet)

You'd think that tripods would be among the easier photographic accessories to use, yet some of us are still confounded by them. Finally, there's something that even we can handle: the "Camera Stabilising Bag" (that's "stabilising" with an "s," not a "z," because its British). No screws, levers or tricky angles here--just plop your camera into the nylon sack, which U.K. retailer Boys Stuff cheerily suggests you can fill with "sand, dirt, rice--anything!"

Sure, you could probably get the same thing out of a burlap sack, but that might slightly tarnish your carefully cultivated image as the next Avedon. Besides, it's still better than the uber-dorky "Quik Pod."