Steve’s DigiCam is has review of the new Canon Powershot SD30. This looks to be a compact camera full of high performance features.

The PowerShot SD30 Digital ELPH incorporates a great measure of functional beauty and sense of lightness, thanks to the adoption of the latest design techniques and new color variations. The PowerShot SD30 includes a full range of high-performance features, including a 5.0 Megapixel CCD, a retractable 2.4x optical zoom lens (35mm film equivalent: 38-90mm) and 4.0x digital zoom. The SD30 also features Canon’s exclusive DIGIC II image processor, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 connectivity, and an easy-to-read 1.8-inch LCD screen, which is larger than their predecessors. It comes with a new Camera Station, the CS-DC1, which lets you easily charge the camera’s battery. It also enables video output, image transfer to a PC and direct printing, via the supplied wireless remote control.

The PowerShot SD30 Digital ELPH cameras feature an impressive 16 shooting modes, including Auto, Camera M (manual), Macro, Portrait, Landscape, Night Snapshot, My Colors, seven Special Scene modes (Kids and Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks and Underwater ), Stitch Assist and Movie. While in movie mode, the PowerShot SD30 Digital ELPH offers three movie modes: Standard, My Colors and Compact.

Sony admits that some of its Digital8 Handycam DCR-TRV250s made before March 2004 have a serious viewing malfunction.

“It has recently come to our attention that a limited number of products … that incorporate a certain type of image sensor device (CCD) may exhibit the following,” it says on its web site.

“When the product is used in camera mode, the LCD panel and/or electronic viewfinder exhibits either a distorted image or no image at all.

“We have determined that this only occurs in a limited number of devices, but may be accelerated if they are exposed to hot and humid environments.”

Sony says until October 2, 2007, it’ll repair, free of charge, faulty cameras with the problem which, it says, is caused by the image sensor device.

It’ll also cover shipping and handling costs, it says.

If you’re affected, contact the Sony Customer Information Services Center at 1-866-703-7669.

Hat Tip _Scott

Tom’s Hardware shows us the new cool feature of the Sony DSC-N1.”Sony preps a new tweak for its Cybershot digital still camera series. The DSC-N1 comes with a “Free Spot Focus,” which lets users focus on objects with a simple tap on the LCD screen. The camera will also integrate enough internal memory to house a photo album with up to 500 pictures.

While the photo album is an interesting feature, we would expect more consumers to be more drawn to the touch sensitive 3.0-inch LCD screen that powers many of the user menus and functions. The screen also helps in focusing and in addition to auto focus, the Cybershot N1 has a unique “Free Spot Focus” that lets users tap on the LCD screen to make the camera focus on an object. “

Olympus has announced the SP-700 camera today. It has a huge 3 inch LCD, 3X optical zoom, and a 6 megapixel sensor. This compact model has many of the features that a recreational photographer is looking for.

Press Release

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DPreview has a review of the Olympus E-500 EVOLT:

The E-500 EVOLT was announced on 26th September 2005, almost exactly a year after the E-300 which was the first affordable Four Thirds System digital SLR. The E-500 features an eight megapixel Kodak 4/3 Type CCD sensor, a Four Thirds System lens mount and a more traditional pentaprism viewfinder. Appearance wise the E-500 looks more like a traditional film SLR than the long and flat E-300 with its sideways swinging mirror and viewfinder setup. Improvements over the E-300 include an all new metering system, a larger 2.5″ LCD monitor, better control layout and other firmware delivered improvements.

Read the rest of the review at DPreview.

Sony introduces the new DSC-N1, an 8 megapixel ultra-compact camera that has a huge 3 inch LCD touch screen, Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar lens, and a battery that can shoot 270 shots on a single charge. The camera is expected to be priced at $500 online and will be available mid November for the Christmas season.

The Sony Press Release:

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