What's New in Digital Cameras

What's New - March 2010

March 30

Review posted for Canon PowerShot SX20 IS!
Canon's latest super zoom, the PowerShot SX20 is mostly an incremental improvement over last year's model, including a higher resolution 12-megapixel sensor and a 720p HD movie mode. What hasn't changed is the Canon SX20's extreme image-stabilized 20x zoom that ranges from 28-560mm equivalent, a 2.5-inch articulating LCD, and stereo recording. In our testing, we were particularly impressed with the Canon SX20's flash, which has a greater range than most long zoom digital cameras, and recycles faster, too. Handling the Canon SX20 digital camera was at times a little odd, but printed image quality was pretty good. Click here for our review of the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS digital camera.

March 26

Express Review posted for Casio EXILIM EX-G1!
The Casio EX-G1 challenges typical waterproof digital cameras, offering futuristic lines and a slim profile that practically beg you to charge off on an adventure. Its 12-megapixel sensor, 3x zoom, and 2.5-inch LCD meet all the basic requirements, and the Casio EX-G1's rugged build makes it waterproof, dustproof, shockproof, and freezeproof, able to handle just about all you can throw at it. Image quality is similar to most of the waterproof digital cameras we reviewed last year, with a few compromises here and there, but overall the Casio EX-G1 turns out good quality prints. Click here for more on the Casio EX-G1 digital camera.

March 24

Express Review posted for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX5!
Most waterproof digital cameras go out of their way to look big and tough, leaving those who also want style to choose one or the other, or both. Now you can have a slim stylish digital camera that's also tough: the Sony Cyber-shot TX5. As handsome as other Sony T-series digital cameras, the Sony TX5 is different: you can splash it, dunk it, swim with it, drop it, freeze it, and even get it dirty, and the Sony TX5 will take it, and keep on taking pictures. The Sony TX5 is very slim, and its touchscreen interface is fast and well-designed. Most impressive is that Sony maintained the image quality in a camera that's not only small, but rugged. Click here for our Sony TX5 review.

March 19

First test shots posted for Canon T2i!
We've just received a production-level unit of the much anticipated Canon T2i digital SLR camera, and have posted our first set of test shots from it straight from the lab. The Canon EOS Rebel T2i takes the reins from the company's existing T1i model as the flagship digital SLR of its consumer-oriented EOS Rebel camera series. Sporting an 18-megapixel sensor similar to the Canon 7D, the Canon Rebel T2i digital SLR doesn't shoot as fast as its big brother, but its frame rate is slightly increased over the T1i, from 3.4 to 3.7 frames per second despite the resolution increase. A new 3:2 ratio LCD also changes the dimensions of the new digital camera, which now has 1.04 million dots of resolution. The Canon T2i's ISO ranges from 100 to 6,400, with a special high ISO option of 12,800. Movie mode also has expanded ability, covering 1080p recording at 24, 25, and 30 fps, rather than the T1i's more limited 20 fps. Manual video exposure is also available, as is an external mic input jack. Read our Canon T2i Preview for more, and visit the Canon T2i Samples page for all the test images we've shot so far, including links to select .CR2 RAW files. Stay tuned for more Canon T2i test shots from the lab in the coming days!

March 18

Review posted for Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V!
With a 10-megapixel back-illuminated sensor, a 10x zoom, a built-in GPS, and a very clever way of capturing stable images in low light, the Sony HX5V is another pocket long-zoom digital camera worthy of consideration. The Sony HX5V is one of the few digital cameras on the market to include Sony's Handheld Twilight mode, which takes six rapid images and combines them to form one low-light shot that's usually better than what other cameras can get at high ISO in the same light. The Sony HX5V's 10x zoom ranges from 25-250mm, offering a good wide-angle to solid telephoto range. Its unique grip provides a good hold while not protruding from the body, allowing the HX5V to slip easily into most pockets. The Sony HX5V also serves as a competent HD video camera, recording at up to 1080i at 60 fields per second, in addition to recording stereo audio. Click here for our review of the Sony HX5V digital camera.

March 12

Review posted for Panasonic Lumix ZS7!
One of the more popular digital camera categories to emerge over the past few years was pioneered by the Panasonic ZS7's predecessors: a pocket digital camera with a surprisingly long zoom. The Panasonic ZS7 continues to impress, with a 12.1-megapixel sensor and a 12x optical zoom, a high-res 3-inch LCD, full PASM exposure modes, and a new GPS feature to help jog your memory of where you were when you took all those vacation shots. Capable of 720p HD video as well, the Panasonic ZS7 is indeed an excellent travel companion for stills and video, and its 25-300mm equivalent zoom range gives ample coverage for subjects ranging from landscapes to closeups, or just about everything you see. Read our review for more on the Panasonic Lumix ZS7 digital camera.

March 9

Full Review posted for Pentax K-x!
The Pentax Kx really surprised us with its long list of impressive features, especially considering its low price. In addition to its 12.4-megapixel sensor with image stabilization, its 2.7-inch LCD, Live View, and 11-point AF system, the Pentax Kx features 720p HD movie mode at up to 24 frames per second, and the Kx can shoot stills at a category-leading 4.6 frames per second. The Pentax Kx also has the fastest shutter speed at this price, going up to 1/6,000 second, and its top ISO setting exceeds the Pentax K-7, with a maximum of 12,800. Many of the K7's special features made it into this tight little digital camera, including HDR modes and digital filters that allow you to quickly adjust how your images look. Pentax also used a different sensor in the Kx, which not only delivers higher ISO settings, but better quality at those settings, turning out quite usable 8x10 shots at ISO 6,400! As an added bonus, the Pentax Kx is available in several colors. Click here for more on the surprising Pentax Kx digital SLR camera.

March 4

First test shots posted for Olympus E-PL1!
We've just received a production-level Olympus E-PL1, and have posted our first set of test shots from it straight from the lab. The Olympus PEN E-PL1 retains much of the feature set of its predecessors, the E-P1 and E-P2, but with rather more modern styling. Compared to its siblings, the Olympus PL1 adds one much-requested feature - a built-in popup flash strobe. It also leaves out some functionality to save cost, using a slightly smaller 2.7-inch LCD display, and dropping the rear-panel sub-dial and certain other features as well. Read our Olympus E-PL1 hands-on preview for more, and visit the Olympus E-PL1 Samples page for all the test images we've shot so far, including links to select .ORF RAW files. Stay tuned for more Olympus E-PL1 test shots from the lab in the coming days!