Think Camera have reviewed the Canon G9, a 12.1 megapixel update of the G7 compact camera, with a 6x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen and the return of RAW mode.

“If you compare it with a good 12 megapixel DSLR, it comes up short, but that’s like criticising a Mini for not being a Mercedes. The point is, it’s good enough to stand scrutiny against the best DSLR. As for the rest of the compact world, it’s bettered by none and matched by only a handful. In other words, this is the one pro camera you can afford.”

Website: Think Camera - Canon G9 Review

Website: Read our Canon G9 Review

Canon UK is offering up to £50 cashback on selected Powershot cameras. There is £50 off the PowerShot A650 IS, £30 off the PowerShot A720 IS A590 IS, and A580, and £20 off the PowerShot A560. This special Easter promotion runs from 20th March 2008 until 31st March 2008.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 is a new 10 megapixel camera with 5x, 25mm wide-angle lens. The FX500 features touch-screen operation on a large 3 inch LCD screen, plus Intelligent Auto mode, HD motion picture recording and HD component output, and slideshows complete with music. Auto focus tracking is a new mode on the Panasonic FX500, tracking the subject even if it moves after the AF is set. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 will be available in silver and black for $399.95 in May 2008.

The Pentax V20 is a new 8 megapixel camera with a 5x zoom lens and 3 inch LCD screen. The V20 includes all of the must-have technologies for 2008 - face detection, smile capture and blink detection are all present and correct. Additional features include Auto-tracking AF for continuously focusing on a moving subject, 52MB of built-in memory, and an Auto-Macro mode that allows close-up photography as near as 4 inches (10 cm) without changing the normal focusing mode. The Pentax V20 will ship in May 2008 for US $279.95.

The new Rolleiflex MiniDigi AF5.0 is a 3 inch, fully functional replica of the classic twin-reflex camera. The new MiniDigi AF 5.0 has been given some significant performance upgrades, including a 5MP image file, auto focus (between 10CM and infinity), and a clear 1.1 inch TFT screen. The original replica MiniDigi was first introduced in 2006. The Rolleiflex MiniDigi AF5.0 will be available through specialty retailers for $399.

TrustedReviews have reviewed the new Samsung NV15, a 10 megapixel digital camera with a refined Smart Touch User Interface, up to ISO 3200 and faster Advanced Shake Reduction system.

“Like most of the cameras in Samsung’s NV range, the NV15 has distinctive style, first class build quality, good handling, exceptional performance and an interesting range of features at a very reasonable price. The Smart Touch control system is something you’ll either love or hate, and the USB charging is a very useful addition. Unfortunately it also suffers from rather poor image quality, with significant levels of noise at all ISO settings. The 8MP NV8 is a better camera.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Samsung NV15 Review

Megapixel.net have reviewed the Olympus mju 790 SW, a new shockproof, waterproof digital camera.

“Outdoor photos captured with this Olympus model were sharp and had good color fidelity. Although its handling of dynamic range in shots—the shift between dark and light areas—wasn’t perfect in every frame captured even with its shadow adjustment features turned on, more often than not, it produced photos worth printing when shooting in situations that were challenging to a digital camera’s contrast rendering capabilities.”

Website: Megapixel.net - Olympus mju 790 SW Review

The new Canon Digital IXUS 970 IS is a 10 megapixel camera which features a 5x optical zoom lens and enhanced optical Image Stabilizer. The Digital IXUS 970 IS (called the Powershot SD890 IS in the USA) also features Motion Detection to help reduce blur, and Face Detection with Face Select & Track and White Balance adjustment. “With its 5x zoom, the Digital IXUS 970 IS brings a new level of performance to Canon’s leading design brand,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “Once again Canon is using its optical expertise to deliver powerful compact cameras in effortless style.” The Canon Powershot SD890 IS will cost $399.99. The Canon Digital IXUS 970 IS is available from early April 2008, priced at £299.00 / €449.00 RRP inc. VAT.

The new Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS and Digital IXUS 85 IS are 10 megapixel cameras with 3x zoom lenses. Both models feature Canon’s lens-shift type optical Image Stabilizer, enhanced auto focus performance for low-light shooting and to help reduce blur. The syling of the two models is different - the Digital IXUS 90 IS (called the PowerShot SD790 IS in the USA) is solid and chiselled, whilst the Digital IXUS 85 IS (called the PowerShot SD770 IS in the USA) apparently “reflects a glimmering, understated elegance”. “The design versatility of Digital IXUS is clearly demonstrated by these two new models,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “These are cameras that enable users to express their individuality, both in the model they choose, and the images they make.” The Canon PowerShot SD790 IS will cost $349.99 and the SD770 IS $299.99. The Canon Digital IXUS 90 IS is available from late March priced at £259.00 / €379.00 RRP inc. VAT. The Canon Digital IXUS 85 IS is available from late March priced at £239.00 / €349.00 RRP inc. VAT.

Imaging Resource have reviewed the Nikon S510, the world’s smallest digital camera with optical vibration reduction.

“With one of those classic compact camera designs married to a very well organized menu system, it’s easy to make friends with the Coolpix S510. While test images were soft and exhibited some highlight flaring, they also showed very little chromatic aberration. And our gallery shots, sharp if not the sharpest we’ve seen, had natural color and control of highlight detail. It’s a fun take-anywhere camera that requires almost no thought to enjoy, but you should think twice if you expect to enlarge your images bigger than 8x10.”

Website: Imaging Resource - Nikon S510 Review

The GE E1235 is a new 12 megapixel digital camera with a 2.7 inch LCD screen, 3x zoom and ISO 3200 sensitivity. Other standout features include blink detection, smile detection, in-camera panorama stitching, face detection and image stabilization. Available in either deep red or silver, the E1235 will be available from March 14 through multichannel retailer HSN at the special introductory price of $199.95.

TrustedReviews have reviewed the 15x zoom Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H9 digital camera.

“Sony’s DSC-H9 has some interesting features, including an impressive zoom range, manual exposure options, night shooting and a big tilting monitor, and it is competitively priced, but it lack the versatility of some rival cameras. It is also lacking in final image quality, with unexpected optical problems as well as overpowered noise reduction. Not a bad camera, but there are better alternatives available.”

TrustedReviews - Sony Cyber Shot DSC-H9 Review

Olympus Europe have unveiled a limited edition version of the Olympus Mju 1020 compact camera. 5,000 limited edition white Mju 1020s will be available, each one with three uniquely-styled skins by internationally-acclaimed artist Matei Apostolescu. “The opportunity to design these camera skins was an interesting prospect for me. With photography being an exciting art form in its own right and a major component of today’s digital art, I was fascinated by the idea of designing pieces where the ‘canvas’ would ultimately be an instrument that can be used to create art itself”, explains Apostolescu. The Olympus Mju 1020 is a 10 megapixel camera with a 7x optical zoom. The new Limited Edition Olympus Mju 1020 is available now.

Ricoh have released the fourth firmware update, v1.18, for the Ricoh GX100 digital camera.

1. Modified the following phenomenon.
With the M mode (manual exposure mode), even if you press the Fn button (to set closer to the appropriate exposure automatically), it will not set closer to the appropriate exposure with the following conditions;
• Fn button assignment : AE lock
• ISO sensitivity setting : AUTO-HI
• Shutter speed to be an appropriate exposure : 1/30 or slower
2. Improved the flash control in a dark place.
3. Make a change to a JPEG file that created with a RAW format file to add black borders to the top and bottom of the JPEG image, in case that you set the [RAW/JPEG setting] to [N640], and the [Pic Quality/Size] setting to [RAW 3:2] at the same time.

Website: Ricoh GX100 1.18 Firmware Update

The Casio EX-Z9 is a new 8.1 megapixel digital camera with a 3x zoom lens, 2.6-inch wide LCD and 23 scene modes. “Whether you are taking snap shots of your family at the park or your friends at a concert, this high-quality digital camera is sure to satisfy all of your photographic wants and needs,” said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “Casio’s innovative YouTube Capture Mode allows videos to be recorded and uploaded directly to YouTube in as few as 3 steps, making the EX-Z9 perfect for online video enthusiasts.” Available in March, the Casio EX-Z9 will be offered in pink, black, silver and orange for $159.99.

HP have reportedly narrowed down the choice of who will manufacture their next-generation of digital cameras to three companies. The website EMSNow say that Flextronics, Lite-on and Altek have made it through to the second round of negotiations, with a decision being made in the second quarter of this year. Interestingly Flextronics already make cameras for Kodak, Altek is a long-standing camera partner of HPs, and Lite-On have no history whatsoever of digital camera manufacture.

Website: EMSNow - 3 digital camera makers to Vie for HP’s brand license

TrustedReviews have reviewed the Casio EX-Z1080 digital camera, which features a special YouTube scene mode, high ISO 6400 sensitivity and 10.1 megapixels.

“I’ve criticised some previous Casio cameras for overall picture quality, but here too the Z1080 scores high marks. The lens performs much better than some previous models, with excellent edge-to-edge sharpness with virtually no chromatic aberration. There is some barrel distortion at wide angle, but no distortion at the telephoto end. In the highest quality setting the Z1080 records JPEG files that average around 4.8MB, larger than average for a 10MP compact and consequently much less compressed, prodicing more fine detail with fewer artefacts.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Casio EX-Z1080 Review

The highly-anticipated Sigma DP1 compact camera (pictured) hasn’t even started shipping yet, but that hasn’t stopped Sigma from unveiling plans for the SD2 and SD3 successors. In an article in last week’s UK-based Amateur Photographer magazine, Sigma’s founder Michihiro Yamaki revealed that not one but two new Sigma compact cameras will be unveiled by the end of 2008. No concrete details were revealed about the possible specification. Yamaki also said in the PMA interview that the SD15 DSLR camera will be shown at the Photokina trade show in September 2008, featuring the same image processor as the DP1.

The Sigma DP1 is available for pre-order now at Amazon for $800.

Website: Amateur Photographer

TrustedReviews have tested the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5 are the first models in a new range of stylish, easy to use cameras. Both the FS20 and FS5 offer a 4x, 30-120mm lens and 10.1 megapixel, 1/2.33-inch sensor.

“Images are pretty good for a Panasonic, usually notable for their high noise levels - especially on higher resolution models. Lower ISOs are fine, and even ISO 800 is relatively clan. By ISO 1600 though the noise reduction system turns the images a little mushy. They’re usable but detail gets lost as the NR attempts to hide any image grain.”

Website: TrustedReviews - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS5 Review

DCResource have reviewed the Nikon Coolpix S51 camera, which features a distinctive wave-surface design and a 8.1 megapixel sensor.

“The Nikon Coolpix S51 is a fairly average ultra-compact camera that doesn’t particularly stand out in any one area. The biggest thing going for it is probably in the value department. For under $200, you get an 8 Megapixel camera, 3X zoom, image stabilization, and a huge LCD. Photo quality is decent, though there’s certainly room for improvement. My biggest issues with the S51 relate to performance: it’s sluggish in almost every area, and battery life is the worst in its class. I’m not a huge fan of its ergonomics, either. The Coolpix S51 is worth a look, but I’d recommend spending a little more on a better performing camera instead.”

Website: DCResource - Nikon Coolpix S51 Review