Posts in Digital Cameras

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Sony's foray into the CompactFlash market

Damian Koh | Feb 01, 2007

Not content with just Memory Sticks, Sony has announced its intention to enter the CompactFlash media card market.

Editors' note:

Sony Electronics Asia Pacific has officially announced its CompactFlash cards available in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities. The cards with 66x transfer speeds read and write at a minimum rate of 10MB and 9MB, respectively, while the faster 133x media has a minimum 20MB read/write speed. The flash media is expected in Asia, including Singapore, from May.

Sony's latest foray is set to complement the company's first digital SLR--the Alpha 100. "With the addition of CompactFlash cards to its product range, Sony widens the choice for users of dSLR cameras, such as the new Sony Alpha 100 model, that are looking for fast and reliable recording media from a leading brand" said Renaud Isnard from Sony Europe's Network Media division in a press release statement.

As to whether this is a sign that Sony's second dSLR will soon be announced, or whether the Japanese conglomerate will shoot itself in its own foot with a premium pricing strategy is anyone's guess.

On a separate note, but still on memory cards, Fujifilm has adopted the Secure Digital format in its latest lineup of FinePixes. For more information, check out our CES coverage.

Filed under: Digital Cameras
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Panasonic cameras receive overhaul treatment

Damian Koh | Feb 01, 2007

Apart from its optical image stabilizer and Leica glasses, which are about all that's similar, Panasonic is introducing a plethora of new Lumix shooters in time for Spring shoppers and ahead of the PMA (the annual photo imaging event) crowd in March.

The new Lumix cameras are broadly classified into the megazoom, ultracompact and budget categories. Photographers who crave for extended long focal range would fancy the 12x optical zoom FZ8 (replacing the FZ7), TZ2 and TZ3. The latter two have a 10x optical reach with 28mm angle lenses (replacing the TZ1) in a slightly more compact body.

In terms of size, the FX30, FX10 and FX12 ultracompacts go easier on the pocket, but are not without bells and whistles. Panasonic claims the FX30 as the world's slimmest 28mm wide-angle lens camera at just 22mm thick, while the FX10 and FX12 feature 6- and 7-megapixel resolution, respectively, with 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD screens.

Not everyone can afford a shiny new, top-of-the-line shooter and Panasonic isn't all that heartless with its budget LZ and LS series. These cameras don't skim on features and, like the rest of the Lumix lineup, are equipped with the company's optical image stabilization technology and Venus III image processor.

According to Panasonic Singapore, these shooters will be available in Singapore between February and April, but if you have US friends, these are what they can look out for:

In February
FX30 - US$350
FZ8 - US$350
LS70 - S$150
LZ6 - US$180
LZ7 - US$200
FX10 - US$200
FX12 - US$220

In March
TZ3 - US$350