HP introduced today the Photosmart M525 Digital Camera. Projected for an April 2006 release, this 6 megapixel camera is a midrange consumer solution. Featuring 3X optical zoom, HP’s new design gallery, and well placed buttons this camera is positioned to be a favorite for the casual photographer.

Overview
Get impressive 6-megapixel photos with the easy-to-use HP Photosmart M525 Digital Camera. This digital camera has 21x total zoom - 3x optical, 7x digital - and features the latest generation of HP Real Life technologies. With a new feature called HP Design Gallery, users can easily take brilliant digital photos. Intuitive button design allows for quick, one-handed shots, in addition to one-button ordering, printing and sharing of photos with Photosmart Express. (1)
Key Features and Benefits
• 6-megapixels for impressive resolution for beautiful prints and enlargements up to poster-size
• HP Precision 3x optical lens and 7x digital zoom for 21x total zoom
• 1.7-inch image display, intuitive button layout and overall compact stylish design allow for easy one-handed shots
• 16 MB internal memory allows users to store photos in the camera
• On-camera button to easily order and share photos on Snapfish using HP Photosmart Express (1)
• Extra storage capacity available with optional SD card (2)
• HP Photosmart Software is a complete, easy-to-use software solution for editing, organizing, printing and sharing digital photos
Additional Features
• HP Real Life technologies help take the guesswork out of digital photography and make it easy to produce great photos that are crisp, realistic and true-to-life. HP Real Life technologies include:
o NEW: HP Design Gallery adds artistic effects and borders right in the camera
o In-camera red-eye removal to remove red-eye while images are still in the camera
• HP Photosmart Express makes sharing, printing and saving digital photos easy – users simply take a photo and select its destination right on the back of the camera – up to 34 destinations, including e-mail addresses, online albums, printers and Snapfish
o When the digital camera is later connected to a computer or the optional camera dock, (2) the selected photos are automatically printed and/or e-mailed without burdening the recipient with large file attachments
o E-mail recipients see thumbnails of the images right in the body of their e-mail message, as well as a link to the web page where they can very easily view, print and save the photos, and upload them to online albums
• Optional HP Photosmart 6221 Digital Camera Dock lets users easily save, view, print and share photos on a PC, Snapfish and TV, and recharge in-camera batteries. Add wireless capabilities by purchasing the HP Photosmart 6222 Wireless Dock Base to share your photos via a wireless home network. (2)
Technical Specifications
• 6-megapixel resolution
• 3x optical zoom, 7x digital zoom
• Dimensions/Weight
o 95mm (w) x 31mm (h) x 62mm (d)
o 139 grams without battery
• Support/Connectivity
o USB Connectivity
o USB-compatible PC with Microsoft Windows® XP, x64, 2000, Me, 98SE, or 98, Intel® Pentium® II, Celeron® or compatible CPU, Internet Explorer 5.01SP2 or later
o USB-compatible Macintosh computer with Mac OS v10.2.8, v10.3, v10.4
• HP offers a comprehensive support package for the HP Photosmart M525 Digital Camera that includes 90-days of phone support as well as real-time chat and email support beyond the warranty as part of its HP Total Care portfolio of services.
Pricing and Availability
Estimated U.S. street price is TBD
Expected to be available for purchase April 2006 in North America.

Outstanding deal from Onsale.com on the Nikon S1 with a free Kingston 256 MB SD available now for $274.99.

5.1 Megapixels; 3x Optical Zoom-Nikkor; 2.5-inch LCD; 16 Scene Modes; Exclusive In-Camera Red-Eye Fix; D-Lighting; ED Glass; Face Priority AF; Slim design.

Sony, known in the digital camera world for their proprietary memory sticks, has introduced a new compact flash memory product. From Lets Go Digital

Sony compactFlash Type II media : Sony Europe’s Recording Media & Energy (RME) division today announced the launch of its first 5GB CompactFlash Type II media, under the new Compactvaul brand. The new Compactvaul provides the latest addition to Sony’s removable media range, enabling storage of up to 1600 images or four hours of MPEG 4 recording. The one-inch hard disk drive boasts a native transfer rate of up to 96.7Mbps, which is further maximized when the Compactvaul is used in conjunction with future Cybercapture enabled products, providing even faster recording of images and higher quality of videos, in what is termed AV mode. The 5GB Compactvaul will be available from November 2005.

This is a fantastic product if they can hit the right price point for the professional photographer.

The rest of the world will be able to purchase the Canon IXY Digital Wireless Camera in the next few months. The IXY will have a 5 megapixel 3x Zoom camera will have WiFi built into it, is the another Canon camera to have this feature. The Coolpix P1 and P2 both have this feature already.

The camera will have the ability to transfer pictures and images to a personal computer as the pictures are taken. You also will have the ability to remotely control the camera from the computer.

PC World reports that you will also be able to print from the camera.

Wireless printing will also be possible via a printer adapter that will ship bundled with the camera. The camera and adapter will come preprogrammed to work together so users will be spared the tedious task of setting up the Wi-Fi link between the two devices. A printer with USB port and PictBridge is required for the wireless printing function to work. PictBridge is a standard that allows devices like cameras to control printers.

The retail list price of the Ixy will be $433 in Japan.  

Lets Go Digital has a review of the new Ricoh GR, 8 Megapixel digital camera shoots at 28mm normally, which is great for those looking for wide angle shots such as realtors, and with a 21mm with a conversion lens. As Lets Go Digital says, “..Ricoh has developed a unique high quality digital camera. A product that will find it’s way to the GR series fan or the enthusiastic photographer looking for a compact, classy styled wide angle digital camera. There might be a crowd out there not appreciating the concept, but for the real enthusiastic photographer or hobbyist the Ricoh GR Digital is a wannahave by all means.. Enjoy reading the preview of Ricoh’s top model, a digital version of the well-known GR camera series Ricoh GR Digital.

This camera is a great camera for capturing large groups. It does not take up a lot of space, but when you want to catch Kate Moss at a Scientology service amongst the Tom Cruise and the rest of their followers, this is a great little camera to capture the crowd.

Lets recognize the obvious, I am a guy. I like guy cameras, and yes, design for technology products are typically aimed at the guys. But it looks like Sony has something going with their T7 camera. This camera can come in red, champagne gold, silver, and black. Combining it with a design that is both sleek and unique, you have a camera that looks as if it could come out of Paris Hilton’s purse, or Martha Stewart’s jacket pocket as she walks the aisles of KMART looking over her new line.

For the gadget geek, it is not a bad camera. A Carl Zeiss lens, 5 megabyte resolution, and a easy to see 2.5 inch LCD, you have a camera that should take a great picture. The only glaring weakness is that it requires the Sony Memory Stick. I am not a big fan of proprietary memory, but if this does not bother you, and you consider yourself a fashionista, this is a great looking and fine shooting camera.

 Hat Tip Shiny Shiny