The 12-megapixel mju Tough-3000 is the latest addition to Olympus’ line of ruggedised, water-, shock- and freezeproof cameras, featuring an HD movie function, Magic Filters and - at long last - SD card support. Waterproof to 3m, shockproof to 1.5m, and freezeproof to -10°C, the Olympus mju Tough-3000 boasts a 3.6x wide optical zoom, image stabilisation, 1GB of internal storage, an SD card slot - something new for Olympus -, an HDMI port and a USB charger. Thanks to Olympus’ new [ib] software, you can quickly locate those particular events, people and locations tagged using GPS, Face Detection, or the date. Besides all that, the µ TOUGH-3000’s In-Camera Manual is on hand whenever you need help or some tricks. The rugged Olympus mju Tough-3000 will be available in Oxide Red, Turquoise Blue, Hot Pink and Emerald Green from March 2010, at a price of $230.

Canon UK has just launched the new Legria HF R series – a collection of stylish and lightweight Full High Definition camcorders that make it fun and easy to share videos. The complete series is equipped with Canon’s HD Camera System, featuring an HD CMOS sensor, 20x optical zoom, Canon HD Video Lens and advanced DIGIC DV III processing. New Smart Auto technology is also included. First introduced in Canon’s digital compact cameras, Smart Auto has now been optimised for HD camcorders. Canon’s unique Instant AF technology complements Smart Auto with the ultra-fast focusing required for the best HD movies. Face Detection Technology ensures friends and family always look their best, automatically identifying up to 35 faces and ensuring they are in focus and well exposed. All models also feature Pre REC mode, which cleverly captures the three seconds prior to the moment you press Record. The Legria HF R16 (pictured) and R18 feature a new built-in HD-to-SD conversion tool, which combines with an Easy Web Upload feature to enable online sharing. Support for Eye-Fi connected functions means users can also upload their converted SD video clips direct from the camcorder at a wireless hotspot, without the need for a computer. Both models also feature Relay Recording, which prevents interruptions in filming caused by full storage. Relay Recording automatically switches to memory cards when internal storage (8GB on the R16, 32GB on the R18) becomes full, making sure that the camcorder keeps rolling as long as the action does. The Legria HF R106 shoots solely to SDHC cards. All three models are expected to be available from March 2010. Pricing is to be confirmed.

Note: The Legria line is called Vixia in the US.

Canon UK has announced the launch of the new LEGRIA HF M series – a selection of compact, easy-to-use, Full HD digital video cameras, comprising the Canon Legria HF M31 (pictured), M36 and M306 models. These camcorders feature a 3.3-megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor, 18x Advanced Zoom Canon HD Video Lens, DIGIC DV III processor and touch control via a newly developed touchscreen LCD.  Advanced Face Detection Technology identifies up to 35 faces at once, whilst Canon’s Instant AF technology provides the high-speed, pin-point auto-focus required for HD. Steady pictures are delivered by Canon’s Dynamic Optical Image Stabiliser technology. At maximum zoom, users can utilise the new Powered Optical Image Stabiliser mode, which greatly improves image stability when focusing on distant subjects. The Legria HF M31 and Legria HF M36 feature an in-camcorder HD-to-SD conversion tool, which combines with an Easy Web Upload feature to allow clips to be transferred to YouTube with the minimum of effort. Support for Eye-Fi connected functions means users can also upload their converted SD video clips direct from the camcorder at a wireless hotspot, without the need for a computer. The Canon Legria HF M31 has 32GB of internal storage plus an SDHC card slot, the M36 has 8GB of internal memory and can also record to a memory card. Both models feature Relay Recording, which automatically switches recording to the memory card when internal memory is full. The M306 model shoots solely to SDHC cards. All of these camcorders shall be available from March, prices to be confirmed.

Note: The Legria line is called Vixia in the US.

Canon UK has launched the new Legria FS300 series of lightweight and easy-to-use Standard Definition digital video cameras, comprising the Canon Legria FS36, FS37 and FS306 (pictured) models. These camcorders weigh just 225 grams each, but benefit from a number of advanced imaging features, including a genuine Canon Video Lens and DIGIC DV II processor. In order to reduce the effects of camera shake, especially at the far end of each model’s 41x Advanced Zoom, a new Dynamic Image Stabiliser makes the image smoother and more enjoyable to watch. The new series features Dual Flash Memory. In the Legria FS37 and Legria FS36, 16GB or 8GB of internal flash memory is combined with a card slot supporting SDHC memory cards. The Legria FS306 includes an SDHC card slot without additional internal memory. All three camcorders will be available from March, prices to be determined later.

The Liquid Image Summit Series is allegedly the world’s first snow goggle with an integrated digital camera. The hands-free unit has a wide-angle lens, a 5-megapixel (2560 x 1920) camera mode and a video mode that records D1 video (720x480) at a rate up to 30 frames per second with audio. The Summit Series Snow Camera Goggle is easy to operate. There is a button for On/Off/Mode and another button for the shutter. To record a photo or a video, simply turn on the camera, choose the mode, then press the shutter button. LED lights inside the goggle indicate the mode to the user. Large side buttons along the right side of the frame allow for greater dexterity while wearing gloves. The internal memory has 16 MB NAND Flash but there is a microSD card slot too. The Liquid Image Summit Series Snow Camera operates on an internal rechargeable Lithium Battery. The estimated retail price is $149, availability is slated for late summer.

Website: Liquid Image

Advanced Media (Ritek USA) has added a high speed 600x MLC based CompactFlash Card to their Lightning Series line in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB capacities. Ridata CompactFlash® card 600X is non-volatile memory with error correction embedded. The controller inside supports UDMA Mode up to Mode 6 and the power consumption is 3.3V/5V with automatic power management. The internal testing resulted in a 94MB per second Read and a 92MB per second Write for the 600X 16GB Ridata CompactFlash® card. The Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is 1 million power hours, endurance levels of 100,000 times, and durability measurements of 10,000 insertion and removal cycles. The Ridata Compact Flash Card family, including 600X MLC, 300X SLC, and 150X SLC with data lock write protection switch, is available through selected retailers, Ridata distributors, and at various online outlets. A complete listing of locations may be found on the Advanced Media Ritek USA website.

Website: Ritek USA

Lexar Media has announced improvements to the Professional line of CompactFlash (CF) and Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) memory cards. Lexar has increased the capacity of Professional 300x CF cards to 32GB (see picture above), and Professional 233x CF cards are now available in 16GB and 32GB capacities. In addition, the Lexar Professional 133x SDHC card has achieved a Class 10 speed rating. This means it now provides a minimum sustained write speed capability of 133x (20MB per second) for shooting higher-resolution images and large-sized, high-definition video files with SDHC-enabled devices. Additionally, the Lexar Professional 133x SDHC card significantly improves camera performance and image transfer speeds from card to computer. All Professional line cards include a limited lifetime warranty and free downloadable copy of Image Rescue 4, the latest version of Lexar’s award-winning image recovery software.

Kodak invites consumers to unlock the photos and documents stored in their iPhones with its new Kodak ESP 7250 All-in-One Printer. Compatible with the Apple iPhone, iPod Touch (second generation) and some - though not all - Blackberry smartphones, the Kodak ESP 7250 features easy-to-use wireless capabilities, an intuitive control panel and the lowest total ink replacement cost in the industry, according to Kodak.  The ESP 7250 can print documents and photos directly from Wi-Fi enabled Blackberry smartphones or iPhone/iPod Touch devices through the new Kodak Pic Flick application. Apart from its wireless capabilities, the Kodak ESP 7250 features a built-in duplexer, intelligent paper sensor and auto-engaging photo trays saving time and money, and a 2.4” LCD screen as well as a number of memory card slots. Available in April 2010, the Kodak ESP 7250 retails for $199.99 U.S. MSRP.

muvee, a pioneer and leader in home movie-making software and services, has announced a Netbook version of muvee Reveal will be previewed at CES, starting tomorrow.  muvee Reveal Netbook edition was created specifically to enhance Netbooks from being primarily a secondary machine for mobile computing, entertainment and communication, to a portable personal media creation and sharing device, the company says. The muvee Reveal Netbook edition software enables users to take videos and photos from their cameras via the SD card reader, their Flips or even from online sources like Facebook and shwup. Then, in three steps, muvee Reveal automatically creates a professional-looking home movie synced to the beat of the music that can be shared on social networks like Youtube and Facebook or uploaded to a private group album at shwup.com. “An NVIDIA ION processor transforms a netbook into a fully-capable, small notebook,” said Michael Steele, General Manager, NVIDIA Visual Consumer Solutions. “By using the graphics processor to handle the video, muvee Reveal Netbook Edition provides a great multimedia and entertainment experience on ION-based netbooks.” muvee Reveal Netbook edition is expected to be released 1 March 2010.

Kodak has announced four new EasyShare M series digital compact cameras and two new chargers. The new Kodak EasyShare M580 (pictured) is the flagship of the range, featuring 14 megapixels of resolution and an 8x optical zoom that spans a focal range of 28-224mm in 35mm terms. Next up is the Kodak M575, another 14-megapixel model with a 5x zoom lens. Both of these cameras have 3” LCD screens and both can capture HD video. The M580 even has an HDMI connector. There are two 12-megapixel models in the M range too, the M550 and the M530. These come with 2.7” LCDs. The M550 features a 5x zoom lens, while the M530 makes do with 3x optical zoom. The M580 and the M575 are expected to hit the shelves in April, priced at £179.99/$199.95 and £169.99/$179.95 respectively. The M550 should be available by March, at an MSRP of £139.99/$149.95, while the M530 will reatil for £119.99/$129.95 beginning in February 2010. Kodak has also announced two new battery chargers, including the K7700 which features fast one-hour charging for many Kodak digital cameras, and the K450 which is a C-Series AA battery charger that comes bundled with two high performance AA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries.

Kodak has quietly introduced a new superzoom camera, the Kodak EasyShare Z981, featuring a 26x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon zoom. The Kodak Z981 appeared in Kodak’s online store without much fanfare, and can also be pre-ordered from Amazon for $329.95. Apart from the 26x zoom lens that spans a focal range of 26-676mm in 35mm equivalency, the other main ingredient of the Z981 is a new, 14-megapixel imager. In most other respects, the Kodak Z981 is not really different from its predecessor the Z980. Just like that camera, the Z981 has a 3” rear screen, can shoot 720p HD video, features Kodak’s exclusive Smart Capture technology, and comes bundled with a detachable vertical grip. It also retains its forebear’s ability to capture raw image data, though Kodak warns that raw image editing is not supported on Mac OS. The flash hot shoe of the Z980 is, apparently, gone. Kodak claims a shutter lag of less than 0.2 seconds foir the Z981, though this is probably without focusing time. Like camera that preceded it, the Kodak EasyShare Z981 runs on AA batteries and comes bundled with four pre-charged Kodak Ni-MH rechargeables.

Via 1001 Noisy Cameras

Kodak today unveiled a new touchscreen-enabled digital photo frame, called Kodak Pulse. The new Kodak Pulse Digital Frame is equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity and a personal e-mail address so consumers can easily send pictures wirelessly to the frame from a computer, from Facebook and Kodak Gallery sites, or from any device that has email capability. The frame automatically refreshes when consumers, or their family and friends, add new pictures to their Kodak Gallery or Facebook albums. The 7-inch touch-sensitive screen has a resolution of 800x600 pixels and features LED backlighting. The Kodak Pulse digital photo frame will be available for £109.99/$129.99 beginning in April 2010.

Kodak today introduced the waterproof Kodak Playsport full-HD video camera. The pocket-sized Kodak Playsport is waterproof down to a depth of 3m, and features built-in software and USB cable output so users can edit and easily share with family and friends through sites such as YouTube and Facebook. 1080p full-HD videos are captured at a frame rate of 30fps, with electronic image stabilisation. The Kodak Playsport can also capture still photographs at a resolution of 5 megapixels and an aspect ratio of 16:9. Framing and playback are via a 2” colour LCD screen, featuring an LCD Glare Shield. Pictures and clips are recorded on SD/SDHC cards. The Kodak Playsport comes bundled with an HDMI cable, and will be available for £129.99/$149.95 MSRP beginning in April 2010 at major retailers as well as Kodak.com.

Kodak have just announced their first touchscreen camera, the fourteen-megapixel Kodak Slice. The new Kodak Slice features a 3.5” LCD touchscreen with anti-reflective coating, a Schneider-Kreuznach-branded 5x optical zoom lens, 720p video recording, optical image stabilisation, face recognition and a Share Button that lets you tag pictures directly on the camera for easy uploading to sharing sites including Facebook, Kodak Gallery, Flickr, and YouTube. The Kodak Slice Touchscreen Camera will be available in black, nickel and radish for US $349.95 MSRP beginning in April 2010. Best Buy will initially be the exclusive retailer for in-store sales. The Kodak Slice Touchscreen Camera will also be sold online at Amazon.com and Kodak.com. The UK price is £299.99 (RRP).

Google has officially announced its Nexus One smartphone, which has a large touch-sensitive screen and a 5-megapixel camera on board. The slim phone, which was unveiled at Google’s Mountain view headquarters, runs Google’s own Android operating system. The Nexus One handset, which features a 3.7” AMOLED display with 800x480 pixels, microSD card compatibility and a 5-megapixel auto focus camera with a LED flash, will be sold via Google’s website. The unlocked version costs $530. As to the camera part, it has a fixed focal-length lens that can focus down to 6cm, provides the user with an opportunity to geotag their photos using information from the built-in AGPS receiver, and can also shoot movies at a resolution of 720x480 pixels and a frame rate of at least 20fps.

Canon today introduced the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens. Built for the professional, the body structure of the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens has been enhanced to provide better durability and strength without a significant increase in weight, the manufacturer claims. Canon has improved optical performance on the new EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens by redesigning the internal elements, incorporating a fluorite element and a fifth UD element. The use of the fluorite element and five UD elements helps to minimise secondary chromatic aberrations and produce better image quality with improved contrast and resolution through the entire zoom range. Along with its redesigned optical elements, the new lens design features improved AF speed due to a new focusing algorithm and Canon has reduced the minimum focusing distance to 3.9 feet (1.2 metres) through the entire zoom range. The enhanced magnesium alloy barrel design of the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens features added strength with a minimal 20-gram increase in weight compared with the previous model (1490g vs. 1470g) and retains Canon’s protective seals and fittings providing dust and water resistance for those photographers working in adverse conditions. Other noticeable improvements include a wider focusing ring, and sleeker design by reducing the thickness of any protruding elements such as the switch panel. The new lens is scheduled to be delivered to dealers in April, price to be determined.

Canon today launched the PowerShot A3100 IS and PowerShot A3000 IS, two new digital compact cameras whose main claim to fame is ease of use. Both sport a new, slim and lightweight body with an attractive exterior design. The PowerShot A3100 IS is available in a selection of bright, attractive colours, offering a choice of blue, red and silver variants, while the PowerShot A3000 IS comes in silver with a subtle black trim. The PowerShot A3100 IS features a 12.1 Megapixel imaging sensor, while the lower-cost PowerShot A3000 IS offers 10.0 Megapixels of resolution. Both are equipped with the manufacturer’s DIGIC III processor and a 4x zoom lens featuring optical image stabilisation. Both come with Canon’s Smart Auto mode on board. Smart Auto with Scene Detection Technology recognises up to 18 different scenes and automatically applies the optimum settings required to capture the best picture. It also includes i-Contrast technology, which analyses images to deliver perfect tonality, adding brightness and detail to darker sections without blowing out correctly-exposed areas. The PowerShot A3100 IS makes it easy to navigate menus, with on-screen Hints & Tips providing simple explanations of camera functions, and both cameras run on Lithium-ion battery packs rather than the usual NiMH cells. Compatible with SDHC and SDXC memory cards, both cameras will be available from February 2010. The PowerShot A3000 IS is exclusively on sale at Argos.

Canon today announced the new PowerShot A495 and PowerShot A490 – a duo of affordable and user-friendly compact digital cameras. Available in silver (both models), red and blue (PowerShot A495 only), both new models offer a 10-megapixel sensor and 3.3x optical zoom lens. Canon’s Smart Auto mode automatically recognises shooting conditions and applies the optimum picture settings required to get the perfect shot. The PowerShot A495 automatically detects up to 18 different shooting scenes, while PowerShot A490 can detect up to 13. The manufacturer’s i-Contrast technology is also on board, detecting difficult lighting conditions and ensuring that lighter and darker areas are captured in equal detail in the final image. Each of the new PowerShots are compatible with SDHC and SDXC memory cards – with SDXC offering storage capacity of up to 2TB, allowing users to shoot thousands of images on a single card. Like the previous PowerShots but unlike the new A3000 IS and A3100 IS models, the A490 and the A495 are powered by AA batteries. Both new PowerShots will be available from February 2010, but the A490 will be exclusive to Argos.

Canon today launched the new LEGRIA HF S series – a set of premium, Full High Definition (HD) camcorders designed for cinematographers and amateur video enthusiasts. Features of the LEGRIA HF S series camcorders include an 8 Megapixel Full HD CMOS sensor, Canon HD Video Lens (10x optical zoom) and DIGIC DV III image processing. In addition, all models can record sharp, smooth, detailed AVCHD footage at up to 24Mbps. Steady shots at maximum zoom can be achieved thanks to a new Powered Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS). Activated manually, it works in tandem with Canon’s existing Dynamic Optical Image Stabilizer system for additional shake reduction. LEGRIA HF S series models also feature a new six-blade hexagonal diaphragm, providing a more pleasant bokeh effect in video or stills where shallow depth of field is used. The new LEGRIA HF S series models feature a 922,000-dot Touch-screen LCD measuring 8.8cm (3.5”). New Touch Focus, Touch Exposure and Touch Tracking features allow users to quickly and simply control their shots. The unique gesture-based interface also provides sliding controls, offering an alternative way to manually adjust settings such as aperture, shutter speed or exposure. The LEGRIA HF S20, S21 (pictured) and S200 willl be available from April 2010. Prices are to be confirmed.

Note: The LEGRIA line is called VIXIA in the US.

Sony has just unveiled its latest digital SLR camera, the 14.2-megapixel Sony A450. Unlike the existing A550 model, the Sony A450 has only one Live View mode, delivered off the main sensor. Sony calls this solution Manual Focus Check Live View, which neatly sums up its purpose. Gone is the secondary-sensor Live View solution employed in most other Sony digital SLRs, which allowed photographers to use the same fast phase-detect AF sensors as when using the optical viewfinder. The SteadyShot INSIDE anti shake mechanism has been retained, however, and the Sony A450 does boast a few powerful features such as continuous shooting at up to 7 frames per second (fps), an Auto HDR mode that allows you to take two frames with different exposures in rapid succession and have the camera merge them into a single photograph, and a head-turning battery life of 1,050 images per charge (when not using Live View). The Sony A450 has dual memory card slots for Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo and SD(HC) media. With a sensitivity range extending from ISO 200 to ISO 12,800, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A450 will be available from the beginning of February 2010. Pricing is to be confirmed, but we expect the A450 to be a budget model.