Picture Snob

flickr Friday: Mandarin Duck

2009-02-20T13:36:00Z

What a lovely duck and reflection captured here. It's the mandarin duck, floating around at Richmond Park in London. In Oriental art, these birds are a symbol of conjugal affection and fidelity. Huh. You can see more work from law_keven at Flickr.

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8 New Coolpix Digital Cameras from Nikon

2009-02-18T11:55:00Z

That's right, eight. With prices ranging from $100 to $400, there is bound to be a model that will suit everyone. Here's a quick hit list of defining features so you can tell them apart. All are available in the fun colors and sleek designs Coolpix is known for.

Nikon Coolpix S230 ($230)
3-inch LCD touchscreen, 10-megapixels, ISO 2000, write and draw functions

Nikon Coolpix S220 ($150)
2.5-inch LCD, 12-megapixels, 3x optical zoom, "smart portrait" functions

Nikon Coolpix S630 ($280)
2.7-inch LCD, 12-megapixels, 7x optical zoom, ISO 6400, 11fps continuous shooting

Nikon Coolpix S620 ($230)
12.2-megapixels, 4x wide optical zoom, ISO 6400, scene auto-selector function

P90 ($400)
24x optical zoom super telephoto lens, 3-inch tilting LCD, 15fps continuous shooting, ISO 6400, scene auto-selector, quick retouch

L100 ($280)
10-megapixels, 3-inch LCD, 15x optical zoom, 13fps continuous shooting

L20 ($130)
3-inch LCD, 3.6x optical zoom, 5 color special effects, AA batteries

L19 ($110)
8-megapixels, 2.7-inch LCD, 3.6x optical zoom, AA batteries

Time-Lapse Photography: It Even Makes Babies Look Reasonable

2009-02-16T11:53:00Z

Check out this hilarious time-lapse piece below. And go to Photojojo for a tutorial on time-lapse and learn how to make your own time-lapse videos. Whee!

flickr Friday: Bee Mine

2009-02-13T14:32:00Z

Okay, Happy Hallmark Holiday everyone! This shot was taken in October in Austin, Texas. Kind of looks like a bleeding heart perennial but it's not the right time of year... any idea what this flower is? You can see more work from jmtimages at Flickr.

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High-Speed Digital: Casio EX-FS10 and EX-FC100

2009-02-11T13:41:00Z

Super compact and slim, these Casio digital cameras have been making waves with their high-speed burst shooting (30 shots per second) and high-speed HD movie functions. Both cameras are 9.1-megapixels but the EX-FS10 ($350)has only a 3x optical zoom and 2.5-inch LCD display, while the EX-FC100 ($400)offers a 5x optical zoom and 2.7-inch display. Run fast and have fun!

NEW! Smartparts SP24PC and SP35PC: Portable Digital Picture Viewers

2009-02-09T14:27:00Z

Available in March, Smartparts is offering two new touch-sensitive portable digital picture frames. Connect frame to computer via USB to upload images to the built-in memory and to charge the frame with power. Battery lasts about 3 hours while playing slideshow. Smartparts SP24PC will retail for $29.99 and holds 50 images and the Smartparts SP35PC will retail for $39.99 with the ability to hold 100 images.

flickr Friday: Happy Chinese New Year!

2009-02-06T12:30:00Z

Okay, the actual date of Chinese New Year was January 26 this year. It was the year of the rat and is now the year of the ox. Cheers to that. This shot is taken at celebrations in New York City last year. You can see more work from [ raymond ] at Flickr.

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Superzoom! With the Nikon P90

2009-02-05T12:25:00Z

If your zoom ain't super this year, you may as well go home. An update to the Nikon P80, the P90 ($400) offers a lens with 26mm wide-angle capability as well as 624mm telephoto. 12.1.-megapixels and an ISO up to 6400. Also, the LCD panel tilts out so you could shoot over your head and still see the shot. Available in March for $400.

January 2009 Monthly Roundup for PictureSnob

2009-02-03T13:21:00Z

This year will bring yet more innovation on the digital photography front. While more folks get in the digital picture frame game, the space to watch is digital cameras. The lines are blurred completely between cell phones, cameras and computers.
Product of the Month: Superzoom Digital Cameras
One of the interesting new products to come out of CES 2009 is the digital cameras with superzooms--up to 26x optical zooms! The Olympus SP-590UZand the Kodak Z980are the models of note. You can pre-order now with Amazon but the product isn't set to ship until spring. You can read our full post here.

Digital Cameras

Digital Picture Frames

Industry News

CES 2009: Superzoom and Wi-Fi, the New Digital Camera Trends

Monthly Roundup

December 2008 Monthly Roundup for PictureSnob

Tips and Tricks

Beyond Memories: New Ways to Use Your Digital Camera

flickr Friday

Flickr Friday: Ode to the Groundhog

2009-01-30T19:52:49Z

Don't forget to check for your neighborly groundhog's shadow on Monday. What is a groundhog? It's actually a woodchuck, like this baby one here. Taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT. You can see more work from eva8* at Flickr.

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NEW Digital Picture Frames from Acer

2009-01-28T20:04:39Z

From the folks who bring you snazzy LCD monitors for your PC, Acer is now entering the digital picture frame market--a logical leap, unlike some of the characters you'll find in the market. We're awaiting exact launch timing and pricing but expect to see four new digital picture frames soon--AF318, AF308, AF307 and AF207. They've all got high-end graphic engines, built-in card readers and slideshow, audio and touch screen capabilities. While there's nothing new about these features, we do welcome Acer to the market since they have a reputation for such quality displays.

Beyond Memories: New Ways to Use Your Digital Camera

2009-01-27T16:49:29Z

There are some neat ideas here from Popular Science for you digital camera users. Not only can you capture memories with your camera, but you can use it as a tool for remembering where you're parked, keeping your favorite take-out menu on hand and even as a mirror for the vanity check! (via Popular Science)

Flickr Friday: Have a Seat

2009-01-23T19:05:32Z

Spooky! This looks like something out of a set on a Tim Burton movie, no? But it's just a frozen bench at Jump Off Rock Trails in the woods of Hendersonville, NC. You can see more work from vgm8383 at Flickr.

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Floating Digital Picture Frames from Pandigital

2009-01-22T18:50:59Z

Oh there are still more tricks in the digital picture frame bag... just you wait. Check out the PanTouch Clear line of frames from Pandigital for a fresh new design. The 800x600 display "floats" in a frame of all glass. The stand on the back is also clear, so it works tabletop as well. The line also promises to be intuitive for users and can be commanded via touch icons on the glass surface of the frame. (Mind the fingerprints!) Frames should be available soon with a 7-inch model for $119 and the 8-inch model for $140. So far no press photos to share either. Arg.

Beauty Shot Mode from Samsung in the HZ10W

2009-01-21T18:46:44Z

Ah yes... as if smile detection and scene lighting wasn't enough, now we have some automated editing from Samsung. "Beauty Shot" mode will automatically correct the humans in your photo by removing blemishes, evening out skin tone and adjusting dark spots. You'll find this vanity feature in the new Samsung HZ10W, which is available this month for $300. Features are stellar: 12.2 megapixels, 10x super zoom, 24mm wide angle lens, HD video recording at 1280x720 resolution and 30 frames per second, and you can manually control the camera (shutter, aperture, focus) if you so choose, which is a rarity in compact digital cameras.

flickr Friday: New England Fishing Boat

2009-01-16T15:43:00Z

We're not sure how much post-shot tweaking went on here... but what a brilliant shot. Amazing wide angle and ceiling of the sky. Almost painterly. Shot with a Nikon D300with a Nikon 18-200 VR lensat 18mm. You can see more work from slack12 at Flickr.

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Lego Lives: Announcing New Kids Tech Line of Digital Cameras, MP3 Players and More

2009-01-14T18:34:25Z

Now if only Lincoln Logs could stay as contemporary... Lego's gone and partnered with Digital Blue to launch a kids tech line this summer. Expect to see Lego-branded digital cameras, MP3 players, video cameras and walkie talkies... with rumors of boom boxes (seems outdated?) and clock radios. Prices should range from $20 to $60 and products are geared for the 7-11 age group. Pictured here is the Bionicle digital camera. We wish you could move the Lego pieces around on these things at least, but all parts are fixed. You could attach a little Lego person to the top. That's about it for customization.

CES 2009: Superzoom and Wi-Fi, the New Digital Camera Trends

2009-01-12T18:09:35Z

With no rest for the weary technology consumer, last week the industry's event CES 2009 took place in Las Vegas with thousands of companies debuting their latest consumer electronics innovations that promise to hit the market this year. So what's up with digital cameras?
With most point-and-shoots are offering 10- to 14-megapixels, the megapixel wars are over and cameras are being differentiated by new features like superzoom and wi-fi. The most super of the zooms comes from Olympus in the SP-590UZ ($450 available in March) with an incredible 26x optical zoom at a focal length of 26-676mm. Kodak's launching the Z980($400 available in spring) with a 24x optical zoom at a focal length of 26-624mm. The key to success here? An excellent image stabilization feature.
On the wi-fi front Sony has the most interesting offering with the DSC-G3($500 available now). The camera is the first to feature a built-in web browser and can upload stills and video. So whether you're in a hotspot or at home on your wireless network, not only can you load photos to sites like Shutterfly and YouTube, you can use your camera to display any photos or videos already on the sites.

flickr Friday: Where Wolf?

2009-01-09T11:58:00Z

This is one of those shots noted for great content. There's really nothing to say, best left open to interpretation. Giddy up! You can see more work from Alaina B at Flickr.

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December 2008 Monthly Roundup for PictureSnob

2009-01-06T12:26:00Z

Well we survived an odd December with shortened shopping time, storms, soft economics and whatever other unique things happened to you, Picture Snob reader. Mostly we rounded up some good shopping information for you--from kids digital cameras and ink jet printers to camera phones and certain digital picture frames.
Product of the Month: GiiNii GN-711W Wedge Digital Picture Frame
We like this innovative design from GiiNii. Just remember it's a desktop frame, this wedge won't work well on the wall at all! It's got a 7-inch screen, all the usual basic functions (no wireless) and you'll find it intuitive to use. Amazon's got it for $80and you can read our full post here.

Camera Phones

Mobile Photos: The Top 5-megapixel Camera Phones

Digital Cameras

Digital Picture Frames

Monthly Roundup

November 2008 Monthly Roundup for PictureSnob

Photo Printers

flickr Friday

flickr Friday: Snow Dole

2009-01-02T14:40:21Z

Happy New Year folks! Look at all these unemployed snowmen. Sigh. Make sure you support this population by making a snowman at every opportunity. Photo from the Sapporo Winter Festival in Japan. Taken with a Canon EOS 30D. You can see more work from Christopher Chan at Flickr.

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Epson Artisan 700: Hands On Review

2008-12-31T15:22:14Z

Take a cyber-stroll over to Boy Genius Report to get a hands-on look at the Epson Artisan 700. We've touted its merits already but think this is a great review if you want more nitty gritty. And if you are one of those folks who loathes actually going to a store to touch the precious object before you buy it online. It's on sale at Amazon for $143. Happy printing!

Kodak EasyShare W820: Custom Mats, Wi-Fi and Touch Border

2008-12-29T15:36:45Z

The Kodak EasyShare digital frames are probably our favorite populist choice for digital picture frames. While there are a number of other great options out there, the Kodak features and ease of use will please the most people most of the time. Perhaps the best starting point is the Kodak EasyShare W820 ($169 Amazon). Put your cyberpants on and visit PC Magazine for an in-depth review. Here are some quick stats:

- 8-inch screen (available in 10-inch also) with 4:3 ratio
- Touch Border controls
- Wireless (a must-have) + easy integration with photo sites and sharing
- Plays video and MP3
- 2 memory card slots

flickr Friday: It's a Small World After All

2008-12-26T11:54:00Z

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you Picture Snob readers! It's been a big year in this little world and perhaps time to step back and be thankful for what we have and worry less about what we want. This is one of many incredible snow castles featured at the Sapporo Winter Festival in Japan. Taken with a Nikon D80. You can see more work from enggul at Flickr.

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Olympus Stylus SW 1050 AKA Olympus Stylus Tough Cameras

2008-12-24T11:12:00Z

Just so this isn't lost in the shuffle--Olympus rebranded its line of tough cameras (shockproof, waterproof, freezeproof, crushproof) so the name will be changing. No longer the SW Series, but now "Stylus Tough." We covered these cameras earlier and are big fans. If you're an outdoorsman (or chick), busy mom at the mercy of spills and drops, a clumsy fool or you just want a tough camera, definitely take a gander at these. Amazon's got a great selection at $229.

Mobile Photos: The Top 5-megapixel Camera Phones

2008-12-23T14:31:23Z

Camera phones today can really carry some megapixels, and this inevitable merge of personal devices means we just might one day have one device that acts as phone, camera, computer, GPS--you name it. At any rate, we wanted to call out 5 top camera phones--now you just need a digital frame you can email them to! (via PC Magazine)
Motorola MotoZINE ZN5
$346 (Amazon) / $200-350 (direct)
Fast shutter, good resolution, little distortion, Xenon flash. T-Mobile only.
Nokia N82
$200 (Amazon) / $549-750 (list)
Carl Zeiss lens, autofocus, Xenon flash. Available unlocked in USA only to work with AT&T or T-Mobile SIM cards.
Nokia N95 8GB
$450 (Amazon) / $750 (list)
Builds on the N82 with 8GB internal storage, GPS and media player. Dual-slider design for N-Gage gaming and multimedia playback. Available unlocked in USA only to work with AT&T or T-Mobile SIM cards.
Samsung Behold SGH-T919
$150-400 (Amazon) / $199-399 (direct)
Autofocus, touch screen, works well with T-Mobile's 3G data network. T-Mobile only.
Samsung Omnia SCH-i910
$250-600 (Amazon) / $250-497 (list)
Autofocus, 8GB internal storage, minimal shutter lag (0.3 second), captures 640x480 video. Based around Windows Mobile 6.1. Verizon Wireless only.

flickr Friday: Ice Bud

2008-12-19T11:54:00Z

In honor of the ice that ravaged parts of New England a week ago, we find this bud in ice. Not the beer, but a lilac bud. Sigh. Beautiful and dangerous. Taken with a Fujifilm FinePix S700. You can see more work from Allie's.Dad at Flickr.

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The Gift of Touch: 2 Great Touch Screen Digital Cameras

2008-12-17T11:46:00Z

You either love a touch screen or hate it, let's face it. There's something nice about being able to tap an icon with your fingertip to change a setting quickly or to be able to select focus area, zoom in or flip through shots. On the con side, interfaces can be slow and you're sucking wind on your battery with every touch. If you go the tactile path, consider these two cameras below.
Sony Cybershot DSC-T700 ($360)
3.5-inch LCD, 10-megapixels, 4X optical zoom, image stabilization.
Nikon Coolpix S60 ($257)
3.5-inch LCD, 10-megapixels, 5X optical zoom, image stabilization.

Star Wars Digital Camera: Fueling the Obsession of American 8-year-olds

2008-12-15T15:13:48Z

You have to hand it to Hans, Yoda and the Wookie... no flash in the pan are they! Even a decade after the rerelease of the original films and the new flicks, Star Wars enthusiasm is still strong as ever. If you're hunting down a purple light saber for the Lego folks, try eBay, but if you're just looking for some regular object covered in Star Wars goo, check out this digital camera from Sakar. Comes with 3 changeable faceplates. It's a little hard to get a hold of--Amazonseems to be out of stock and Toys R Us has it for $19.99. Photo editing software included--can do fun stuff like put your kid's head on Yoda's body and make storybooks with templates. Camera holds 93 photos but has no options for memory cards.

SmartParts SPX8WF Wireless Digital Picture Frame: It's Fun, Folks

2008-12-11T15:41:00Z

If you're looking for a well-rounded wireless digital frame and don't have a government bail out to help you buy it, well, you're in luck. SmartParts is a brand oft overlooked simple because it's not as well known as the likes of Kodak, Philips and Sony. Beware that this frame isn't for beginners... a person willing to delve into some of the wireless features will appreciate it most. Anyone needing something more basic we'd encourage toward a Kodak EasyShare, for example. Here are the stats below. Amazon's got the SmartParts SPX8WF for $140and you can find a great hands-on review from CrunchGear:

- 8-inch LCD monitor with 800x600 resolution
- Wireless connectivity for emailing photos, coordinating files with local computers
- Compatibility with Microsoft's "FrameIt"
- Supports most memory cards and USB connections