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Olympus again set the benchmark in the megazoom compact camera with its 30x optical zoom SP-800UZ announced today.
Olympus SP-800UZ
This time, however, FujiFilm has anticipated the move — or is it the other way around? — and come up with its own megazoomer, the FinePix HS10, also with a 30x optical zoom, giving Olympus a good run for their err… lens!
Olympus hogged the megazoom pole position for a year since January 2009 with the release of the 26x optical zoom SP-590UZ and continued to enjoy being the leader in terms of zoom reach until the release of Kodak’s 26x optical zoomer, the Z981, last month.
But the 26x optical zoom did not stay there long. Today, a history is created with two cameras reaching the 30x barrier, something unthinkable just a couple of years ago.
So which one is better? The SP-800UZ or the FinePix HS10? If first look on paper is anything to go by, it seems the HS10 is the clear favourite of the two. Of course the HS10’s price is higher at US$499 compared to the SP-800UZ’s US$349.
FujiFilm FinePix HS10
In terms of experience, however, Olympus has a much longer history in the superzoom lens segment.
But the recent advancements in FujiFilm’s imaging technology may prove to be more than matching Olympus’ experience in the megazoom compact sector. Here is a brief comparison between the SP-800UZ and the FinePix HS10.
Olympus SP800UZ vs FujiFilm FinePix HS10
| Olympus SP800UZ | FujiFilm FinePix HS10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 1/2.3" CCD | 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS |
| 14 megapixels | 10.3 megapixels | |
| Lens | 30x optical zoom (28 - 840mm) | Fujinon 30x optical zoom (24-720mm) |
| f/2.8 - f/5.6 | f/2.8 - f/5.6 | |
| Digital zoom | Yes, up to 5x | Yes, up to 2x |
| Movie | HD 720p, 640 x 480 at 30 or 15fps, 320 x 240 at 15fps, MPEG 4 | 1920 x 1080 (Full HD), 1280 x 720 (HD), 640 x 480, 320 x 240 (all at 30fps) with stereo sound |
| Image Sizes | 14MP (4,288 x 3216) 12MP (3,968 x 2,976) 5MP (2,560 x 1,920) 3MP (2,048 x 1,536) 2MP (1,600 x 1,200) 1MP (1,280 x 960) VGA (640 x 480) 16:9 (3,968 x 2,232) | 3648 x 2736 (10M), 3648 x 2432 (3:2), 3648 x 2056 (16:9), 2592 x 1944, 2592 x 1728 (3:2t), 2592 x 1440 (16:9), 2048 x 1536, 2048x1360 (3:2), 1920 x 1080 (16:9) |
| Image stabilisation | Yes, sensor shift and digital image stabilisation | Yes, sensor shift |
| Sensitivity | ISO 64 - 3200, 6400 (at 3M), 10000 (at 3M) | ISO 100 - 6400 |
| Self timer | 2 or 12 seconds | 2 or 10 sec |
| LCD | 3.0" at 230,000 megapixels | 3.0" at 230,000 megapixels |
| Shutter speed | 1/2 - 1/2000 sec (up to 4 scec in Night Scene mode) | 1/4 - 1/1400 sec |
| RAW | N/A | Yes |
| Art Filters | Pop Art, Pin Hole, Fish-Eye, Drawing | N/A |
| Price | USD349.95 | USD499.95 |
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DPReview is reviewing its rating system, making it more comprehensive and doing away with its “one or two-word” rating such as “Recommended” or “Highly Recommended” at the end of a review.
Simon Johnson says DPReview will now rate a camera based on 11 criteria and provide an overall score in percentage point.
The 11 criteria — which somehow brings to mind the 11-area autofocusing system in DSLRs 
— are build quality, ergonomics and handling, features, metering and focus accuracy, image quality (RAW), image quality (JPEG), low light/high ISO performance, viewfinder/screen, performance (speed), movie/video mode, and value.
“The system we’re using to the produce the new ratings is hardly rocket science: we’re simply combining every bit of quantitative data (spec, test results) and subjective scores for all the unmeasurable aspects into a giant spreadsheet that applies predefined weights to every score/metric to produce the scores you see,” he said.
The new rating will take effect in DPReview’s next review.
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Dive Photo Guide has launched its free underwater digital photography tutorial, covering topics on just about anything under the water on how to take better underwater photographs.
You can start learning the basic of underwater photography and then move on to more advance ones. The topics covered in basic underwater photography are:
- Introduction to Underwater Photography
- Top 10 Basic Principles of Underwater Photography
- Principles of Light Underwater
- Shooting in Auto Mode
- Taking Control of Your Images with Manual Settings
- Camera Settings for Macro & Wide Angle
- Underwater Camera Maintenance.
Apart from the basic techniques, readers are also able to get insights into more advanced techniques like:
- Wide Angle Underwater Photography
- Macro Underwater Photography
- Underwater Photography Lighting Guide
- Composition Guide
- Mastering Digital Workflow & Editing
- Creative Techniques
- Underwater Super Macro Photography
- Surfing Photography
According to a press release issued by PRWEB, the tutorials are written by professional underwater photographer Jason Heller and DivePhotoGuide.com editor Matt Weiss, along with contributions from several world renowned professional and award winning underwater photographers, such as National Geographic photographer David Doubilet, Martin Edge, and Alex Mustard.
Each tutorial includes beautiful underwater photos and equipment set-up shots that illustrate each technique.
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If you think cameras above 12x optical zoom are bulky, take a look at Samsung’s new superzoomer, the 12.2-megapixel HZ35W, announced today.
It has a 15x optical zoom Schneider KREUZNACH lens in probably the world’s slimmest camera body. The lens starts at a wide 24mm and ends at a useful 360mm.
Samsung HZ35W
The HZ35W looks to be like an ideal travel camera, featuring HD video capability at 720p at 30fps in H.264 format, image stabilation, a three-inch AMOLED screen and GPS capability.
Other features include digital filter namely Miniature, Vignetting and Fisheye Effect; Manual control as well as the usual Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Program and Auto.
Samsung has also announced the HZ30W, also a 15 optical zoom camera but minus some of the features that the HZ35W has. Samsung’s press release here.
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The year 2010 started with a bang, didn’t it? Except for Nikon, almost everybody has announced their compact cameras. Some impressive, some not so. Some stand out for being alone, others for being in competition with several others.
Kodak EasyShare Z981 is a camera that stands out for being alone. At the time this entry is written, the Z981 is the only super telephoto compact camera announced so far this year.
Kodak Easyshare Z981
It’s a 14-megapixel camera with Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens with 26x optical zoom (26–676 mm) and a fast f/2.8–f/5.0.
The only other camera with this zoom range is Olympus SP 595UZ announced a year ago.
It remains to be seen where this segment of the market is heading this year but judging from the recent trend of camera announcement, it looks like camera makers are not too interested in it, preferring instead the shorter zoom range segment.
Further information on the Z981 can be obtained here.
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