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GigaPan Epic 100 hands-on and review

Manthos Tzorbatzakis manthos@photosnews.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

You're already well aware of what GigaPan's wild camera robot is capable of when its in masterly hands, but have you ever wondered if such a device is practical for folks who don't have excellent seats for events such as Presidential inaugurations or the Arirang Mass Games? We've been toying around with an Epic 100 for the past week and change, and now that we've had a moment to upload a few of our own panoramas, we figured we'd toss our two pennies into the ring. Eager to know if this gigapixel image creator is really worth its avoirdupois in cold, hard cash? Head on past the break to find out.

Casio Exilim EX-FC100 Digital Camera Review

Manthos Tzorbatzakis manthos@photosnews.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Casio set new standards in camera performance with the release of the EX-F1 Pro. The bridge camera managed to take 60 photographs in one second making it the fastest commercial camera available. They followed this up with the FH-20 which wasn't as fast but could record at 9Mp which is 3Mp more than the first offering.
Now Casio have expanded the range of super fast cameras with a small, smart compact type that records at 30fps (frames per second) but also gives you HD video, a 5x optical zoom and 9Mp resolution.
It's a busy camera with buttons and switches all over the place which includes the dedicated continuous shooting button on the top plate while on the back is the video record button for all those YouTube nuts out there. Read the whole review here. You can buy the camera here

Sony announces new Cyber-shot W180 and W190

Manthos Tzorbatzakis manthos@photosnews.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Sony Europe introduces two new Cyber-Shot digital cameras in the W-Series. The Cyber-Shot W180 and W190 are entry level cameras with 10.1 resp. 12.1 megapixel resolution and a 3x optical zoom lens, featuring easy to use convenient shooting functions, a Smile Shutter function to automatically capture smiling portraits, SteadyShot and seven Scene Selection modes. The new Cyber-shot W180 and W190 compact digital cameras are available from July in a choice of three colors: silver, black and red... reat the whole article here

Abuse photos: New US bid to block release

Manthos Tzorbatzakis manthos@photosnews.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

The US government has asked a court to stop the release of images of alleged detainee abuse but denies a press report that the photos depict rape and torture.
Yesterday a report in The Daily Telegraph claimed that at least one photo shows an American soldier raping a female prisoner at Abu Ghraib jail in Iraq.
President Obama's government has since asked a federal appeals court to halt the release of the images, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The US administration believes that the images could incite violence in Pakistan, as well as in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the US government has again insisted that the images have been investigated, though officials are vague about what the photographs actually show.
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said: 'I have not seen all of the photographs, but I can tell you, as the Department of Defense can, that what is depicted in the [Daily Telegraph] article, and what is depicted in the photographs, are not the same thing.'
Earlier this month, President Obama outlined the reasons for his decision not to release the images.
Obama accepted that abuse of detainees was 'unacceptable' but said that releasing the images would 'further inflame anti-American opinion and put our troops in greater danger'. via amateurphotographer.co.uk

Nikon: Job cuts will not hit cameras

Manthos Tzorbatzakis manthos@photosnews.com — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:00:00 MDT

Nikon's plan to cut 1,000 jobs worldwide will have no direct impact on the firm's imaging division, a company spokeswoman has said.
Earlier this week Nikon Japan announced the cutbacks as part of a plan to restructure its Precision Equipment business, which makes semiconductors.
Asked to clarify the position regarding its imaging division, a UK spokeswoman told Amateur Photographer: 'As the cuts have been made within a separate arm of the business, we are not really in a position to comment as there is no direct impact on imaging at this time.' via amateurphotographer.co.uk

Panasonic 7-14mm f/4 ASPH LUMIX G VARIO review