Casio releases Exilim EX-H5 compact superzoom

Casio Europe has released the Exilim EX-H5 compact superzoom with 10x (24-240mm equiv.) zoom lens. The 12.1MP image stabilized camera comes with a 2.7 inch LCD, faster Exilim Engine 5.0 processor and features 720p HD video recording. The camera will be available from the end of this month at a suggested retail price of £149.99. The company has also announced the Exilim EX-FH25 superzoom, previously available in other markets, is now available in the Europe at an SRP of £399.99. Jump to: Press Release Additional images Press Release: Keep moments for eternity: The new EXILIM EX-H5 and EXILIM EX-FH25 from CASIO A compact hi-zoom model with 24 mm wide-angle and 10 x optical zoom as well as high-speed model with the new "high sensitivity CMOS sensor" and 20 x optical zoom London, 31 May 2010 — Casio Electronics Co. Ltd presents two new models in the EXILIM product family. Moving scenes at a distance or difficult lighting conditions are a barrier to taking good photos for many cameras. But the perfect moment pays no attention to ideal photo conditions. The new EXILIM models successfully meet this challenge. Whereas the EX-H5 expands the successful segment of hi-zoom cameras at CASIO, the EX-FH25 combines the high-speed technology with the new "high sensitivity CMOS sensor" for high-speed photo and film sequences in a quality never seen before. Both digital cameras can also record HD videos in a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. EXILIM EX-H5 – hi-zoom for everyone Thanks to a 24 mm wide-angle lens with 10 x optical zoom, mechanical image stabilizer using CCD shift technology and 12.1 effective megapixels, photographers are prepared for any scene with the EX-H5. It is the ideal "tag along" camera as a result of its compact casing. No matter whether at family parties, out with friends or weekend trips - the EXILIM EX-H5 will capture all the great moments of life in high quality. The EXILIM EX-H5 also has a 6.9 cm (2.7 inch) TFT colour screen and such familiar functions as Landscape, Make-up or Art Short Mode as well as the new, improved Dynamic Photo function and numerous BEST SHOT scene programs. The heart of the new digital camera is the EXILIM Engine 5.0 and this provides better quality in terms of colour brilliance, noise suppression and image editing. The camera responds to the photographer's wishes extremely quickly and offers short on/off times, optimized shutter delays and an intelligent auto focus that detects the size and contours of all the scene objects in the shortest possible time and optimizes the focus. EXILIM EX-FH25 – with the "high sensitivity CMOS sensor" for brilliant images Bad light, dusk or darkness? No problem for the EXILIM EX-FH25. With the new "high sensitivity CMOS sensor" each individual scene is recorded in outstanding brilliance and clarity. As a result of much higher light sensitivity compared to traditional sensors and the reduction of noise at the same time images are recorded with brilliant colours, strong contrasts and sharp details even in poor lighting conditions. With the 20 x optical zoom with a mechanical image stabilizer, a powerful 26 mm wide-angle lens and a resolution of 10.1 megapixels, users have complete freedom to select their scene. Wide-ranging landscapes, large-scale sights and romantic sunsets are captured just as easily as distant objects zoomed up close. Even at 20 x optical zoom, the CMOS shift image stabilization significantly reduces the risk of lack of focus from shaking. The familiar high-speed series captures special moments with up to 30 photos per second and a resolution of 9 megapixels. And those who press the shutter a little too late no longer need to get annoyed: the pre-record mode starts the recording as soon as the shutter is half pressed. With the aid of high-speed film recording with up to 1000 images per second, the EX-FH25 can capture fast movements that the human eye cannot see. The user can choose between different recording speeds. Ambitious hobby photographers who mainly want to take photos of fast scenes from nature or sport will really love this camera. The EX-FH25 offers a range of BEST SHOT modes for high-speed photo and film series. For high-speed lighting, for example, the camera takes three photos in a fraction of a second and each one has different light settings. These three photos are then automatically combined to make a perfect image. Other BEST SHOT modes are the High-speed Anti Shake that makes photos that tend to be unfocused due to hand movements clear and sharp. Whether the High-speed Night Mode for better photos in the dark and very poor lighting conditions - the risk of shaky images can be reduced, even without a tripod. The compact EXILIM EX-H5 digital camera is now available in silver, black and red. The EXILIM EX-FH25 is also available in black.

Compact Camera Group Test: SLR-like 'super zoom' cameras July 2010, Lars Rehm

It's now more than a year since we published our last superzoom group test and despite the hype surrounding mirrorless system cameras such as Micro Four Thirds or the Sony NEX, and the fact that entry level DSLRs are becoming more and more affordable, superzoom cameras are as popular with consumers as ever. It is easy to see why. The combination of a large zoom range from wideangle to super telephoto, DSLR-like ergonomics and an attractive price point guarantee that these cameras appeal to a very broad audience.

All of the major camera manufacturers carry now at least one 'super zoom' in their lineup and the task of choosing between different cameras is complicated by the frequently minimal specification and design differences between them. We want to help you find the camera that is right for you and to that end we decided to look at nine of the latest models and run them through our testing procedures.

Most of the cameras in this group test offer even more zoom range than their predecessors. Both these shots were taken from the same position with the Fujifilm HS10 and represent the greatest range currently offered in a compact camera lens, 30x (24-720mm equivalent in this case).

The sensors in these cameras are considerably smaller than you will find in a DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens model. One of the advantages of a smaller sensor is that, compared to an SLR, you need a physically much smaller lens. As you can see from the cameras in this test, it's possible to fit a huge 20x, 24x or even higher zoom range into a body small enough to still be manageable. As far back as 2000 Sony and Olympus had models with 10x zooms that, though bulky (and expensive) compared to modern superzooms, were smaller and a lot less pricey than a digital SLR with lenses covering the equivalent range. And those key advantages - price and portability - have ensured that despite the arrival of the budget digital SLR and mirrorless cameras the superzoom camera has remained popular.

The latest generation of superzoom cameras incorporate such large zoom ranges that, if you were to try to match them for use on a full-frame DSLR, you'd end up with something so large and imposing you'd expect it to need a special weapons export licence. Even on these small-sensor cameras, the lenses are necessarily large enough to dominate the design of the cameras. The result is that most of these superzooms look pretty much like SLRs - a hand-grip with a large protruding tube at the front.

The race between manufacturers to maintain a competitive advantage has seen the average zoom range extend from 10x to more than double that figure. The good news is that, as well as engaging in an arms race to see who can put the largest zoom ratio sticker on the front of the camera, manufacturers have also started to expand the wide end of lens - as wide as 24mm equivalent focal length in the case of the Fuji HS10.

All ten models in this group offer zoom ranges of at least 18x, covering ranges from wide angle to super telephoto, and all feature some form of optical or mechanical image stabilization - essential when working at such extreme magnifications. Other common features include electronic viewfinders, full photographic control, HD video modes and, for the most part, they have a pretty similar design. Some of this latest generation of superzooms also feature backlit CMOS sensors instead of the more conventional CCDs.

Advantages of CMOS over CCD include lower noise levels, and - chiefly -higher frame rates in both still and video capture. However, the photodiodes on conventional CMOS sensors are typically smaller, due to their associated circuitry, leading to lower light-gathering efficiency and correspondingly higher noise. So-called 'back side illuminated CMOS' technology simply means that the sensors are more efficient at gathering light, due to the circuitry that accompanies the photodiodes being moved to the rear of the light gathering surface. This should mean greater efficiency, leading to cleaner output compared to conventional CMOS, especially in poor light at high ISO settings.

The test cameras

Panasonic was arguably the first major manufacturer to popularize the concept of SLR-like superzoom cameras with the FZ10 and FZ20 back in 2003/2004. However, nowadays virtually all main manufacturers have recognized the earning potential in this sector of the market and have at least one superzoom in their model line-up. We've selected nine of the most recent models for this test.

• Canon Powershot SX20 IS
• Casio EX-FH25
• Fujifilm FinePix HS10
• Fujifilm FinePix S2500HD
• Kodak Z981
• Nikon Coolpix P100
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38
• Pentax X90
• Samsung WB5000

Ricoh GXR P10 28-300mm VC Sample Gallery

Just posted! A quick sample gallery of 49 shots taken with the latest lens / sensor module for the Ricoh GXR system, the P10 28-300 mm F3.5-5.6 VC. Sporting a 10.7x wide-to-tele zoom and a ten megapixel 1/2.3" back-illuminated CMOS sensor, the P10 unit offers an interesting alternative to the 'travel zoom' compacts reviewed in our recent group test. We took the new unit on a flying visit to South Africa to put it through its paces. Image samples There are 49 images in the samples gallery. Please do not reproduce any of these images on a website or any newsletter / magazine without prior permission (see our copyright page). We make the originals available for private users to download to their own machines for personal examination or printing, we do so in good faith, please don't abuse it. Unless otherwise noted images taken with no particular settings at full resolution. A few (indicated by the -ACR suffix) are Adobe Camera Raw 6.1 converted DNG raw files. A reduced size image (within 1024 x 1024 bounds) is provided to be more easily viewed in your browser. As always the original untouched image is available by clicking on this reduced image.

Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm 1:4-5.6 review Andy Westlake, June 2010

The M Zuiko Digital 14-150mm F4-5.6 is Olympus's fourth lens for its Pen series cameras, and the first to venture into the telephoto region. Its 10.7x zoom ratio places it firmly in 'superzoom' territory, covering a very useful 28-300mm equivalent range, and making it ideal for general purpose 'walkaround' or travel use. (Indeed Olympus says that with it on your camera 'you will never miss a photo opportunity', perhaps begging the question as to why the company still makes other lenses.)

Like all superzooms the 14-150mm uses a complex optical formula, with 15 elements in 11 groups including 3 aspheric elements (one of which is made from ED glass) to correct aberrations. But unlike others, it's a fairly lightweight lens, tipping the scales at less than 10 ounces. It's relatively small too - Olympus boasts that the volume has been reduced by 35% compared to its analogous DSLR lens - maintaining the Pen series' emphasis on portability. The autofocus system has been designed to meet the demands of movie shooting, and employs just two lens elements for focusing which promises fast, silent AF. There's a circular aperture diaphragm to give smoothly blurred backgrounds but, in what's becoming something of a trend for the Pen line, the lens hood is an optional extra.

One feature missing, though, is built-in optical stabilization, simply because Olympus uses in-body stabilization for its Pen cameras. This means that Panasonic G-series owners won't get any form of stabilization at all with this lens, which is an important consideration for a relatively slow long zoom. This is the key distinction relative to the most obvious alternative, Panasonic's own Lumix G Vario HD 14-140mm F4-5.8 OIS; however the additional complexity of the stabilized lens results in a rather higher price. Let's see how the Olympus performs.

Headline features

• 28-300mm equivalent zoom range; F4-5.6 maximum aperture
• Compact design
• High speed internal focus system
• Micro Four Thirds mount for Olympus and Panasonic cameras

Angle of view

The pictures below illustrate the focal length range:

14mm (28mm equivalent)	150mm (300mm equivalent)

Olympus M. Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm 1:4-5.6 specifications

Price	• US: $600 • UK: £630
Date introduced	February 2010
Maximum format size	Micro Four Thirds
Focal length	14-150mm
35mm equivalent focal length	28-300mm
Diagonal Angle of view	75º - 8.2º
Maximum aperture	F4-5.6
Minimum aperture	F22
Lens Construction	• 15 elements / 11 groups • 2 ED glass elements • 3 aspherical elements (1 is ED glass)
Number of diaphragm blades	7, rounded
Minimum focus	0.5m
Maximum magnification	0.24x (0.48x 35mm equivalent)
AF motor type	Micro Motor
Focus method	Internal
Image stabilization	via camera body where available
Filter thread	• 58mm • Does not rotate on focus
Supplied accessories*	• Front and rear caps
Optional accessories	• LH-61C Lens Hood
Weight	280 g (9.9 oz)
Dimensions	63.5 mm diameter x 83 mm length (2.5 x 3.3 in)
Lens Mount	Micro Four Thirds

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

Foreword / notes

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.

To navigate this article simply use the next / previous page buttons or jump to a specific page by using the drop-down list in the navigation bar at the top of the page. You can support this site by ordering through the affiliate links shown at the bottom of each page (where available).

This article is protected by Copyright and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.

Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and

Samyang to offer 8mm, 14mm & 85mm lenses in Samsung NX mount

Samyang Optics has announced it will be making its 8mm f/3.5 fisheye, 14mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.4 manual focus lenses in the Samsung NX mount. Currently available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and Olympus four-thirds mount, the NX mount version of the lenses will start shipping from September 2010. Press Release: Samyang 8mm fish-eye, 14mm f2.8 and 85mm f1.4 lenses designed for Samsung NX system Krakow, June 2010: Samyang company, which became very popular all over Europe has informed that new lenses: Samyang 8mm f3.5 fish-eye, Samyang 14mm f2.8 and Samyang 85mm f1.4 with a mount for Samsung NX will be released to the market in late September. Samsung NX mount will extend the series of existing mounts designed for other main systems like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus 4/3 and Pentax. Apart from adjusted bayonet, optics in the products will remain the same. All those lenses will be available with manual focusing. Delta company, the general distributor of the Samyang products, shall be responsible for sales in Europe. Lenses will become available at the end of September 2010. Samyang optics is also preparing a few new products to be released this year. We cordially invite all interested photographers to our stand at upcoming Photokina show, where new products will be presented.

Pentax announces Optio W90 in orange

Pentax has announced the addition of an orange color variant of its Optio W90 rugged compact camera. It joins the exisiting color choices of Pistachio Green and black. The Shiny Orange version will be available from August 2010 at a suggested retail price of US $329.95 and £269.99 GBP.

Press Release:

A brilliant-orange version of the popular waterproof compact
digital camera, designed for fun-packed outdoor shooting

June 16, 2010: HOYA CORPORATION Imaging Systems Division is pleased to announce the addition of a vibrant-orange version of the popular PENTAX Optio W90 waterproof digital compact camera (launched in March 2010) to its digital compact line-up.

Named the PENTAX Optio W90 Shiny Orange, this new model was created in response to users’ enthusiastic request for an orange version — orange being a standard colour for outdoor goods. Its new orange-colour aluminium-alloy front panel features a fine hairline finish, producing a beautiful sparkle like a brilliantly radiating sun. The orange colour also allows users to easily match the model with many other outdoor goods that come in orange and other outdoor-oriented colours.

Since its launch earlier this year, the PENTAX Optio W90 has become extremely popular among active outdoor people, because of its outstanding features and specifications for use in demanding outdoor conditions.

These include a reliable construction waterproof to assure worry-free shooting at a depth of six meters, and an exceptional shockproof capability with which it can withstand a fall from a height of 1.2 meters. Its innovative Digital Microscope mode has also attracted tremendous attention not only from outdoor enthusiasts interested in nature observation, but also from the business and manufacturing worlds, which demand accurate, detailed records of tiny parts and delicate materials.

Its features in summary:

• 12 Megapixels
• Waterproof down to 6 m
• Sand and dustproof
• Shockproof to 1.5m
• 5x wide-angle zoom
• 3 LED for macro function, 1cm
• HD 720p video
• HDMI output
• 2.7’’ anti-reflection LCD screen

Latest Nikon gear to land up in space

Nikon has announced a number of its products including the Nikon D3S, D3X DSLRs and telephoto lenses will be used in the Russian segment of the International Space Station. The company says that no modifications will be made to any of the products and they will join the existing Nikon film and digital cameras/lenses used by the astronauts working in the segment. In a press release the company also mentions the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) had ordered 11 D3S bodies and 7 AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lenses for use in the Space Shuttle and ISS in 2009.

Press Release:

The latest Nikon equipment to be used in the Russian segment of the International Space Station

New orders received for Nikon D3S and D3X digital-SLR cameras as well as NIKKOR interchangeable lenses

June 14, 2010: Nikon Corporation (Michio Kariya, President) is pleased to announce that orders for one Nikon D3S and two Nikon D3X digital-SLR cameras, four interchangeable lenses including AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR, software and various accessories have been received from S.P. Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia, the general contractor of the Russian Federal Space Agency on the program operating the International Space Station(ISS). This equipment will be transported to the ISS via the Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft, to be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on June 16, 2010.

No special improvements or modifications will be made to these products. They will be the same products available to consumers, confirming the incredible reliability of the D3S, D3X and NIKKOR lenses. The new equipment will be used along with Nikon SLR cameras, such as the Nikon F5 film-SLR camera and D2X digital-SLR camera and a variety of NIKKOR lenses already used with on-board activities of Russian cosmonauts working in the Russian segment of ISS.

Nikolay Cherlenyak, director of operations for Energia's ISS program, has commented as follows regarding this order.
"The integration of Nikon photographic equipment in space exploration has a long history and goes back to the moment when there first arose the question of photographing research conducted in orbit. It was then when the first Nikon film cameras and NIKKOR lenses, notable for precision and reliability, were sent into space. They had been used even on the station "Mir". Since then, the range of photographic equipment has been frequently supplemented by new products and advanced developments of the Nikon Company. Now with the latest models of Nikon D3S and D3X digital cameras, photography in space will reach a new, previously unattainable level "

Nikon has spent many years contributing to the study of space through the development and manufacture of advanced and extremely durable cameras and interchangeable lenses. With total production exceeding 50 million, NIKKOR lenses make the most of Nikon’s optical technologies. In 2009, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) ordered eleven D3S cameras and seven AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lenses for use in recording activities aboard the Space Shuttle and International Space Station.

In addition to the extreme environment of space, Nikon also provides official observation equipment used in exploring the Antarctic. Nikon equipment contributes to observation and research of these little explored regions with durability, reliability and technical capabilities that stand up to even the most severe environments.

Primary Nikon products in the current order

• D3X
• D3S
• AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR
• AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR
• SB-900
• AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III
• AF-S Teleconverter TC-17E II
• AF-S Teleconverter TC-14E II
• Capture NX2
• Camera Control Pro 2

Nikon products already used in the ISS's Russian Segment

• D2X
• D200
• D3X
• Various NIKKOR lenses