Send us your digital camera questions

Digital camera manufacturers keep coming up with new and innovative features. On the surface, these should make cameras easier to use and help you take better pictures. Face detection, for example, tries to set focus, exposure, and color balance so that faces appear sharp, well exposed and the proper color.

But is face detection really all that helpful to you? Have you seen an improvement in your photos? Did you know that when a little green box appeared around your subjects, that the camera was trying to change the exposure, focus and color balance so that that particular subject looked the best? And what if you didn't want to use this feature?

We're interested in hearing questions like these from you about every aspect of digital cameras and digital imaging, which we can answer as part of our summer photography feature that will post online in June. We'll choose the questions of interest to most people.

The questions can include not only queries about digital cameras, but also lenses, digital imaging software, printing, and camera accessories. Also, if you have any questions on how digital imaging technology works, or particular features, we'd love to hear them.

Your input will help us create upcoming content on digital cameras and related products.

PMA2008: Consumer SLRs continue to evolve

As I mentioned in my PMA preview, the SLR market continues to be very competitive, especially for consumer-targeted models. The two that caught my eye at the show this year are, not surprisingly, the Nikon D60 and the Canon Rebel XSi, both of which were announced within the past week and a half. I got to check out each up-close and personal since both camera manufacturers had them at their show booths.   (Click on the image at right for a closer look at the Rebel XSi. You'll find a clickable image of the Nikon D60 SLR further down.)

Of the two, Canon's specs appear a little beefier (although we'll reserve final judgment until we get both models into our labs for testing.) As I mentioned in a previous post on lenses, Canon now includes an image-stabilized lens in the Rebel XSi kit. (Nikon is also shipping an image-stabilized lens with the D60.)

On the camera body, Canon has bumped up the megapixels to 12.2 from 10.1 on the Rebel XTi (which is still staying in the SLR product line). Canon claims that while they've increased the number of pixels on the CMOS sensor, they’ve engineered it in such away as to keep the visual noise low.

PMA2008: A Glimpse through the Looking Glass

There are lots of SLR lenses on view here at PMA2008. I'm not sure if there is more emphasis than previous years, but from low end to high, photographers are finding lots of intriguing pieces of glass.

On the low end, one intriguing development is that both Canon and Nikon are offering image-stabilized kit lenses in their consumer-targeted SLRs. You can tell when you look at the labels: Nikon's 18-55mm lens (click on the image at right for a closer look) has a "VR" (for "Vibration Reduction") at the end of the name. Canon's 18-55mm lens has the more commonly used "IS" at the end.

The primary benefit of  image stabilization is that you can get sharper photos in low-light, which often requires a slower shutter speed that makes your shots  more susceptible to camera shake. But word from the manufacturers is that these lenses have a better construction than previous kit lenses and have been tweaked to perform better. We’ll have the final word on how good these lenses are when we get them in to our labs, but if the claims true, better kit lenses in SLR packages would be good news for camera shoppers.

PMA2008: Sony Deepens its SLR line

This morning, Sony held a press conference at which they unveiled a new high-end SLR, which will be launched by the end of 2008. The SLR, which they're referring to at the moment only as "The Flagship," will include a 24-megapixel "Exmor" CMOS image sensor. (Click on the image at right for a closer look.)

The sensor will also be a full-frame sensor. (My previous post about the Canon EOS 40D digitial SLR has more details regarding full-frame sensors in the "Sensor Size and Lens Magnification Factor" section.)

In addition, this sensor will be image stabilized using Sony's Super SteadyShot system, which resides inside the camera body itself and so should work with any lens. (Canon and Nikon incorporate image stabilization into their SLR lenses.) Additional specs and features are sketchy on this camera for the moment, but it appears that Sony's commitment to SLRs is deepening.

The company also recapped many of their new product announcements from recent months, including two new consumer-targeted SLRs, both with live-view capabilities and articulating, swiveling LCDs. The two new SLRs are the 10-megapixel alpha DSLR-A300 ($800 with kit lens) and the 14-megapixel alpha DSLR-A350 ($900 with kit lens). (Click on the images for closer looks at the A350, on the left, and at the back of the A300, lower right.)

In addition, Sony revealed that they'll be entering the digital picture frame market by announcing three new S-series photo frames: DPF-V900 ($250), DPF-V700 ($190) and DPF-D70 ($140) digital photo frame models.

—Terry Sullivan

PMA2008: A Snapshot of New Cameras

There are lots of new digital cameras here at PMA this year, although many offer just modest changes from previous models, such as slightly more megapixels or a wider LCD. Here are a few of the more interesting ones I’ve come across since I arrived in Las Vegas yesterday:

The 10-megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35 (click on the image at right for a closer look) is a sporty ultracompact that has lots of intelligence—at least according to its specs. It boasts Intelligent Exposure (to determine or adjust for exposure), Intelligent ISO (to adjust ISO depending on whether the camera senses movement), Intelligent Scene Selector (to detect lighting conditions and set the camera to the appropriate scene mode), and face detection. But the smartest thing about this point-and-shoot is that its 4x optical zoom lens has a very wide wide-angle setting: the equivalent of 25mm for a 35mm film camera. The last point-and-shoot that made a big splash with this wide a lens was Kodak's EasyShare V570. List price will be around $350. It will be available in March in silver, black and blue.

GE or General Imaging, a newcomer last year, is back again this year with a compact for under $100. The 7-megapixel GE A735 will have a 3x optical zoom and a 2.5-inch LCD. It will also have smile detection and blink detection features, similar to Sony’s Smile Shutter feature. Not bad for a camera with a list price of $90 to $100.

There's quite a bit happening at the high-end point-and-shoot market too, a part of the market greatly affected by price drops in SLRs. Fujifilm released the FinePix S100FS (click on the image at left for a closer look), an 11-megapixel camera almost as large as an SLR. The reason for its size? It's got a 14.3x optical zoom lens (28-400mm, 35mm film equivalent). It's also got optical image stabilization, which Fujifilm says is a first for them. Other intriguing features include a menu setting (Film Simulation mode, which is where the "FS" comes from) that Fujifilm says will emulate the color of some of the company's great camera films, such as Provia and Velvia. There are many other features as well; Fujifilm says it's after the serious consumer, the "prosumer" in industry lingo, that may a camera that's like an SLR, but with a fixed lens. List price will be around $800 and it will be available in February.

—Terry Sullivan

PMA 2008 Preview: What's incoming in cameras and more

Each year, camera enthusiasts and pros wait to see what the major camera manufacturers will introduce at the annual Photo Marketing Association trade show (PMA), which will take place this year in Las Vegas from Jan. 31 through Feb. 2. And while some companies opted to unveil some products at CES, just three weeks ago, most have chosen to stick with PMA08 to introduce not only cameras, but also lenses, printers, software, and photo accessories.

Starting Wednesday, I'll be at the show, posting the latest news about cameras and related products and services to this blog.

Although I expect a few surprises at the show, some developments and trends are already evident. Here's what I expect to see, by camera type or technology:

CES 2008: Wireless innovations for portable devices

Most of the buzz about wirelessness at the Consumer Electronics Show has been generated by products and technologies that seek to liberate HDTVs and other components that are usually connected by cables. But there have also been interesting announcements in traditionally unwired product categories. Here are three examples, from cameras, music players, and cellphones respectively:

Eye-Fi SD memory card. Some newer cameras have built-in Wi-Fi connections that enable them to wirelessly upload their photos to PCs, Macs and online photo and social networking sites over a home network. Now, any camera that accepts an SD memory card can have that convenience with the $100 Eye-Fi, a 2gigabyte SD memory card with a built-in Wi-Fi radio. (Click on image at right for a closer look.)

To receive photos in this mode, your computer must be turned on and running the Eye-Fi Manager software, a simple download from www.eye-fi.com. The card and software also allow any Eye-Fi-enabled camera to upload photos directly to 17 online sites, including KODAK Gallery, Shutterfly, Wal-Mart, Snapfish, Photobucket, Facebook, Webshots, Picasa Web Albums, SmugMug, Flickr, Fotki, TypePad, VOX, dotPhoto, Phanfare and Sharpcast. Eye-Fi is available now at Amazon.com, Buy.com, Walmart.com and other retailers.

Sennheiser MX W1 wireless stereo headphones. Even wireless stereo Bluetooth headphones have wires—the ones that connect the left and right speakers. Not the MX W1. (Click on image at left for a closer look.) The two-piece MX W1 uses a new wireless technology called Kleer, which, unlike Bluetooth, permits left and right speakers to link wirelessly. The headphones' twist-to-fit design keeps them securely and comfortably in the ear. Another advantage Kleer has over Bluetooth is that it transmits lossless 16-bit, 44KHz-sampled digital audio, the same quality that is recorded on a CD. Bluetooth, on the other hand, compresses audio prior to transmission, which degrades sound quality.

The MX W1 includes a small Kleer transmitter, about the size of a matchbox, which plugs into the headphone jack of your music source. The transmitter also allows you to link a second set of MXW1 headphones to share your tunes with a friend. The MX W1 also comes with a carrying case that doubles as a charger for the earphones and transmitter, allowing you to recharge the headphones up to three times without plugging it into a wall outlet. Sennheiser says playback time on a single charge is about three to four hours. The MX W1 will be available in May 2008 for a whopping $599.

Iqua Sun bluetooth headset. In what may be a first in mobile electronics, there's now a portable device that draws on the sun for power. The Iqua Sun BHS-603 (Click on image at right for a closer look) is a solar-powered Bluetooth wireless headset that will be available later in January for $100. About two inches in length and weighing under an ounce, the headset incorporates a photovoltaic cell that Iqua claims will use any available light, indoors or out, to charge its battery. The company claims the Sun delivers up to 12 hours of talk time, depending on available light; standby time, it says, can be infinite. In case your life isn't sunny enough, the device does come with a wall charger and the option to recharge via your computer's USB port.

—Mike Gikas and Paul Reynolds

CES 2008: Casio Exilim Pro EX-F1 makes sure you get your shot

If digital cameras were baseball players, Casio's new Exilim Pro EX-F1 point-and-shoot digital camera would definitely be suspect for taking steroids, And not for the usual inflated specs: It features a modest 6 megapixels, at the low end for a consumer digicam (although still enough for most people's needs). It also has a healthy 12x optical zoom (the 35mm film equivalent of a 36-432mm zoom lens). Still, there are other cameras with 15x, and even 18x, optical zooms.

Where the EX-F1 raises eyebrows is in its ability to take many shots rapidly, a feature referred to as burst mode, in a way that almost guarantees you won't miss a critical moment.

Most digital cameras have a burst mode, but until recently, rarely could one shoot more than 2 or 3 frames per second (fps). Professional SLRs can fire 5, 8, or even 10 fps, although sometimes you must reduce the images' size to get the faster burst. And, you generally pay through the nose for such speed.

Canon EOS 40D digital SLR: First impressions

An SLR (or Single-Lens Reflex) camera is the most complex type of digital camera on the market, providing the most options and control, while producing the highest quality images. As the SLR market has become increasingly competitive, manufacturers continue to expand the feature sets on their SLRs to make them even more powerful, more versatile, and easier to use.

This is just what Canon has done with the 10-megapixel Canon EOS 40D digital SLR (Click on image at right), which runs about $1300 (body only) or about $200 more with a 28-135mm kit zoom lens.

In Canon's product line, the EOS 40D is what you might call a step-up SLR. At first glance, it may seem that there's not much difference between the 40D and Canon’s entry-level, inexpensive ($600, body only), 10-megapixel Canon Rebel XTi. However, aside from sharing the same type of CMOS sensor and including Canon's dust-cleaning system, the cameras are very different. (Canon has two ways to help minimize dust on the sensor: a hardware-based element that the company claims shakes off dust automatically with ultrasonic vibrations, and a firmware/software feature, called Dust Delete Data. Both are used to help avoid dust spots from appearing on images due to any minuscule particles that land on the 40D's CMOS sensor.)

Related information on ConsumerReports.org:

• How to choose a digital camera
• Top-rated digital SLR cameras (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)
• Digital SLR camera Ratings (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)

 

Nikon Coolpix L15: A budget subcompact with smarts

You don't expect much in a camera that costs $150 or less, but Nikon's new 8-megapixel Coolpix L15 (Click on the image at right for a closer look.) offers quite a bit for the money. (List price is $150, but it has been offered online for as little as $128).

Major features include optical image stabilization, limited face recognition (the L15 can keep a face in focus), a 2.8-inch LCD, and in-camera red-eye removal. A feature called D-lighting can rescue dark or backlit pictures by improving brightness and detail.

Related information on ConsumerReports.org:

• Digital cameras: More fun and features for less $
• Buying Advice: How to choose a digital camera
• Ratings: Point-and-shoot digital cameras (available to subscribers only)

To see what D-lighting does, consider this shot I took with the L15 of my colleague, Terry Sullivan. (Click on the image, below left , for a closer look.) His face is brightly lit by the L15's flash, but the background isn't so well lit.

Now here's a JPG of the same image (Click on the image at right for a closer look.)  that the L15 produced when I applied its D-lighting feature. Notice how the background is brighter. (So, unfortunately, is the gray in Terry's hair, which is the price he must pay for technological progress). When you use D-lighting, the L15 preserves the original image alongside the new one.

One feature expressly for novices is Easy Auto Mode, which the user manual says is an automatic mode recommended for first time digital camera users. When I turned Easy Auto on, the camera appeared to behave the same as when the feature was turned off.

I suspect from what little the user manual says about this feature, that turning it on limits which settings are displayed in the menu displayed on the LCD and, perhaps, automatically tweaks them to reasonable values for the shooting situation. Because the user manual doesn't fully explain this feature, it's hard to know exactly what it does.

Another way the L15 tried to make things easy is by automatically setting the ISO sensitivity based on the scene mode you set and the surrounding light level. The ISO range is from 64 to 1000. However, I couldn't find a way to see what ISO the camera was actually using or a way to override it. So when it comes to ISO, using the L15 requires placing your faith in the scene modes and camera's smarts.

We haven't tested the L15 is our labs yet, but Nikon's Web site for the U.S. says that the L15 can take approximately 160 shots using alkaline AA batteries.

—Jeff Fox

Canon PowerShot G9: An SLR wannabe

Today's entry-level, point-and-shoot digital cameras do much of the "grunt work" you used to have to do yourself. Almost all include autofocus, auto exposure, and auto modes. A few can even set the camera in the appropriate scene mode for the subject you're shooting. Sony recently included a model that detects when your subject is smiling before snapping the shot. At the same time, many new cameras have fewer external dials, buttons and controls on their body, which further enhances this zeitgeist of relinquishing control.

However, there are some shutterbugs who want to take back the controls without stepping up to a bulkier digital SLR, the ultimate camera for the control freak. If you're one of them, consider the Canon PowerShot G9. It's not that you can't shoot in auto mode on this PowerShot. You can. But if you're looking to immerse yourself in options, the G9 gives you ample opportunity.

Like its predecessor, the PowerShot G7, the G9 has a 6x zoom lens, an image stabilizer, manual controls, manual focus and a hot shoe (for an external flash). But it has increased the megapixel count to 12 (from 10 megapixels) and also expanded the LCD to 3-inches while still maintaining an optical viewfinder, which many camera manufacturers are doing away with. It has lots of dials, buttons and controls that make it easy to set up your camera the way you want to.

(Since we haven't fully tested the G9 yet, it isn't in our digital camera Ratings, available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers. Its predecessor, the G7, which has been discontinued, did very well in our tests and was a CR Quick Pick, also available to subscribers. We hope to add the G9 to our Ratings soon.)

Sony's Smile Shutter Seizes the Moment

Many cameras now offer face detection technology, a feature that tries to set the focus, exposure, and color balance so that faces appear sharp, well exposed, and the proper color.

Now several new Sony Cyber-shot point-and-shoots come with something extra, a new feature called Smile Shutter mode, that fires the camera when it recognizes a smile. To see how well this works, we bought one of the new cameras, the Cyber-shot DSC-T70 (Click on the image at right for a closer look), and tested Smile Shutter in our labs. We'll be posting our findings by Thanksgiving, on ConsumerReports.org. Check back and see if Smile Shutter made us grin or grimace.

[Nov. 22, 2007 UPDATE: We've completed further testing of the Smile Shutter function of the Sony DSC-T70 digital camera. You can freely access our "claim check" report on ConsumerReports.org by clicking here on this link. —Ed. ]

Be sure to also check out our newly updated digital camera Ratings (for subscribers only) of the latest point-and-shoot digital cameras. Find out which will make your favorite shutterbug smile this holiday season.

—Terry Sulllivan

Wal-Mart Black Friday Ads Lack Last Year’s Fireworks

After weeks of speculation, Wal-Mart unveiled its Black Friday ad early this morning, and while it isn’t short on great buys—including, for example, a sub-$800 42-inch 1080p LCD and a sub-$1,400 50-inch 720p plasma—it seemed to lack the punch of last year’s promotion, which triggered severe price drops on a highly rated Panasonic 42-inch plasma HDTV.

This year, TV promotions are centered largely on models from Polaroid, a secondary brand whose models haven’t done particularly well in CR’s HDTV Ratings. For example, as part of a Friday-only, 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. doorbuster sale, Wal-Mart is offering a 42-inch 1080p Polaroid LCD TV for $798, while a 32-inch 720p Polaroid LCD TV is priced at $448. Other TV deals good only during that time include a $448 26-inch Polaroid LCD TV/DVD combo, and a $198 Emerson LCD TV.

For those looking a set from a major brand, Wal-Mart has a 50-inch Philips 720p plasma for $1,397, a $1,196 46-inch 720p LCD model from RCA, a 37-inch Sanyo LCD TV for $847, and a 32-inch Samsung LCD set for $796. While we don’t know the specific models, Samsung has consistently been one of the top-rated LCD brands, and Philips’ plasma models have typically been very good. LCD models from RCA and Sanyo haven’t done quite as well, although both have been solid performers that are often good values.

Other electronics sale items include:

• a $198 Panasonic DVD camcorder
• a $145 Magnavox DVD recorder
• a $30 Magnavox upconverting DVD player
• a $50 8-inch portable DVD player from an unspecified brand
• a $129 Garmin StreetPilot c330 portable GPS
• a $199 8.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix S51 digital camera
• a $149 Polaroid 8-megapixel camera and 6-inch digital photo frame bundle
• a $50 8-inch digital photo frame from Venturer
• a $119 HP digital camera (5megapixel) and printer bundle
• a $398 Compaq Presario desktop PC with 1GB of memory and a 17-inch monitor
• and a choice of either a 15.4-inch AMD Turion-powered notebook PC or an Athlon-powered desktop PC with a 19-inch widescreen monitor—both from Dell—for $598.

In addition to these advertised specials, Wal-Mart says it will have “secret” in-store specials for both Friday and Saturday, which will be revealed on the walmart.com website on Thanksgiving day. The chain’s Black Friday specials are good only while supplies last, and a disclaimer mentions that brands could vary by store.

—James K. Willcox

Digital photo frames, portable GPS join TVs as Black Friday doorbusters

TV deals on Black Friday generally garner the most attention, but the latest Black Friday ads on sites such as www.gottadeal.com and www.theblackfriday.com show that digital photo frames and handheld GPS devices are also being singled out for star treatment.

The best deals we’ve seen—so-called “doorbuster specials”—generally occur in the early-morning hours (typically starting at 5:00 or 6:00 a.m.) and last for several hours. The sale items are generally offered in limited quantities, which could be as few as 10 per store. Make sure you read the fine print in the ads to see if there’s a chance you can actually get one of these deals, especially if you’re not one of the apparently large number of people willing to camp out overnight to ensure a good place in line.

That said, here are some of the latest Black Friday leaks we’ve seen. It’s quite possible that these and other stores will add more late-breaking deals and web-only specials as we get closer to the Black Friday period.

Target
Target is closed on Thanksgiving, but it’s holding a two-day sale starting bright and early Friday morning and continuing on Saturday. Among the deals being offered: a 37-inch Olevia LCD TV (237T) for $549, a 22-inch Westinghouse flat-panel LCD computer monitor (LCM22W3) for $167, and a 19-inch TruTech widescreen LCD TV (PLV31199S1) with a built-in DVD player and PC inputs for $199.

Other deals include an Audiovox kitchen LCD TV with integrated DVD player for $199, an Audiovox portable DVD player with a 10-inch flip-down screen for $84, Magellan’s Maestro 3100 auto GPS system for $149, and a Magnavox 5-disc DVD home theater system with USB for $79. Also on sale is a TruTech 7-inch digital photo frame for $49, a Polaroid video camcorder for $69, and Kodak’s 8-megapixel MD853 digital camera for $89.

The store opens at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, and 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.

Kmart
Kmart’s Black Friday deals actually kick off on Thanksgiving Day. The store will be offering a 32-inch Olevia LCD TV (no model number specified) for $420, a 20-inch Sylvania LCD TV for $135, and a 20-inch Sylvania combination LCD TV/DVD/VCR for $250. Kmart is also advertising a 27-inch RCA TV model for $230, which appears to be a standard-def CRT model. Another blast from the past is a JVC VHS-C camcorder for $120.

Other items of note: Magellan’s Maestro 3100 GPS for $130 ($19 less than at Target), a $40 Nextar digital photo frame, an 8-megapixel Polaroid digital camera (A801) for $80, and Microsoft’s Zune MP3 players for $150 (4GB model and $200 (8GB model). The Zune players come with a $20 Kmart gift card.

The store’s hours on Thanksgiving are 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Some specials are available only on Thursday.

H.H. Gregg
Befitting its status as a consumer electronics dealer, H.H. Gregg’s Black Friday circular is chock-full of CE specials. We counted 14 TV deals, including some on major brands such as Hitachi, JVC, Mitsubishi, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Most ads don’t specify model numbers. Among the Friday-only specials: a Hitachi 50-inch plasma for $1,000 and a $600 37-inch 720p LCD set from an unspecified brand. There will be a total of 500 company-wide of each sale item, and prices are good only while supplies last (no rain checks).

The chain is closed on Thanksgiving but kicks off Friday morning with a 5:00 a.m. opening. Advertised doorbuster specials include a 19-inch LCD TV for $189, a $45 7-inch digital photo frame, a Jensen portable GPS for $100, a $10 progressive-scan DVD player from GPX, and a $150 DVD camcorder from Samsung. There will be limited quantities of each per store.

Less dramatic savings will be offered on major-brand TVs. For example, a 37-inch Sony Bravia will be priced at $800, while different 46-inch Sony Bravia 1080p LCDs will carry price tags of $1,040 and $1,600. Toshiba is well represented in the circular, with a 52-inch 1080p Regza LCD priced at $2,200, a 42-inch 1080p Regza for $1,250, and a pair of 32-inch Regza models, with different features, for $700 and $800. A 50-inch 720p Toshiba DLP rear-projection HDTV will sell for $900.

Other notable TV deals include:
• 42-inch JVC 720p LCD for $900
• 47-inch 1080p JVC for $1,500
• 52-inch 1080p Mitsubishi LCD TV for $2,400
• 65-inch 1080p Mitsubishi rear-projection DLP for $1,700
• 73-inch 1080p Mitsubishi rear-projection DLP for $2,500
• 50-inch 720p Panasonic plasma for $1,400
• 50-inch 1080p Samsung plasma for $2,400
• 58-inch 1080p Samsung plasma for $3,360
• and a 52-inch Sharp Aquos with 120Hz technology for $2,800.

Several other retailers have announced Black Friday specials. Costco, for example, will have a 26-inch Magnavox LCD/DVD HDTV combo for $500 and a 42-inch Magnavox 1080p LCD HDTV for $1,000. The store is also lopping $300 off the price of Sharp’s 46-inch 1080p Aquos LCD HDTV. OfficeMax will have a dual-core Acer Aspire PC—with 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and a 20-inch widescreen LCD monitor—for $600. Also on tap are an $80 8.5-inch digital photo frame from Mustek, an $80 6.2-megapixel Kodak digital camera (C613), a $100 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-Shot digital camera with a free printer, and a $100 Mio DigiWalker C220 GPS. The chain will have a 24-inch Soyo widescreen LCD monitor for $250. Even auto supply chain Pep Boys is getting into the act, with a $40 7-inch digital photo frame, Mio’s DigiWalker portable GPS for $80, and the TomTom One GPS for $140.

We’ll keep you updated on more Black Friday deals as they’re announced.

—James K. Willcox

Hot car gadgets

Our Consumer Reports colleagues who cover Cars have been attending the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas these past few days. From the miles and miles of displays of aftermarket automotive gear, they've reported on many things, including:

• The Mio DigiWalker C720T—a portable GPS with a built-in 2-megapixel digital camera. (The C720T, click on the image at right, arrived too late to be included in our most recent test and Ratings of portable GPS units on ConsumerReports.org.)


• A $600 add-on "safety system" that warns drivers when they're about to rear-end someone—say, from driving while being distracted by all the gadgets in their cars.


• Slacker Radio—a portable device that is a cross between terrestrial radio, satellite radio, and an MP3 player.

So, check out the Consumer Reports Cars blog. It's not just for car fanatics and automotive "gear heads."

—Paul Eng

Halloween “Black Friday” Ad Leaks Portend Some Scary Holiday Electronics Deals

Although it’s not quite November, it already appears that this year’s Black Friday shopping holiday will once again hold some great deals for those willing to brave early-morning hours and the sharpened elbows of fellow bargain shoppers. Those that do should be rewarded with special holiday prices on HDTVs, high-def DVD players, and portable electronics including MP3 players and digital cameras.

A number of Black Friday websites, such as gottadeal.com, dealtaker.com and bfads.net, have already started posting Black Friday retail ads. But one circular that will be hard to find early this year will be Wal-Mart’s. That’s because the company--which last year set the Black Friday pace with a deep price cut on a popular 42-inch Panasonic plasma--has preemptively threatened legal action against any site that post its ads before November 19th. We’ll be keeping track of how well that threat works.

So far, in fact, Black Friday ad postings have been spotty. One exception is Sears, whose Black Friday specials are now widely available on Black Friday websites. Many of the deals are “opening specials” that are available only from 5:00 a.m. until noon, and which can require both instant and mail-in savings. Among the Sears highlights we found:

• a 42-inch LG plasma (42PC5D) for $900
• a Samsung 50-inch plasma (HPT5044) for $1,400, and a 46-inch 1080p LCD (LN-T4665F) for $2,000
• a 46-inch Sharp Aquos LCD (LC-46D43U)for $1,000
• a Sony W-series 40-inch 1080p LCD (KDL-40W3000) for $2,000, and a 46-inch Bravia LCD for $1,500(unspecified model number)
• a 42-inch Sylvania 1080p LCD (LC420SSR) for $900
• a 42-inch Toshiba 1080p LCD (42HL167) for $1,250
• and a V32-inch Vizo LCD (VXLHDTV32) for $599

Also noteworthy is Toshiba’s HD-A3 HD DVD player fort $170. Other Black Friday specials at Sears include a Philips upconverting DVD player for $30, a $10 DVD player from Coby, a Zenith DVD/VHS combi player for $40, $200 DVD camcorders from Panasonic and Samsung, and numerous deals on digital cameras.

ACE hardware also has a few CE doorbusters, including an unnamed 7-inch digital photo frame for $50, and a 7-inch portable DVD player for $60. Macy’s ad shows a $60 Haier-brand 7-inch portable DVD player, and a $20 Haier progressive-scan DVD player, plus three Pandigital-brand digital photo frames, with 6-, 8- and 9.2-inch displays, for $70, $150 and $180, respectively.

Stay tuned to our blogs for regular updates on Black Friday deals and specials--and feel free to chime in with some of your own!

—James K. Willcox

Point-and-shoot Digital Cameras Focus on Features Instead of Megapixels

Although some camera manufacturers have continued increasing megapixel counts in their latest point-and-shoot digital cameras, most at the PhotoPlus Expo held in New York City last week were been promoting a number of other features, some of them quite useful.

Two of Sony’s 8-megapixel subcompacts, the 3x optical zoom Cyber-shot DSC-T70 and the 5x optical zoom Cyber-shot DSC-T200 (Click image at right for a larger view), were generating lots of grins (as well as a few grimaces) on the show floor. The reason? Both cameras have a Smile Shutter mode that takes face detection technology one step further by shooting a photo of the subject when he or she smiles.

Related information

• Official PhotoPlus Expo Web site
• Consumer Reports' Buying Advice: How to choose a digital camera
• Ratings: Point-and-shoots (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)

Step-up SLRs Heat up the Market at PhotoPlus Expo

In the past several years we've seen dramatic drops in prices for SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras priced under $1,000, a category the industry refers to as entry-level. In part, manufacturers are cutting prices to meet increased demand for SLRs by consumers frustrated with the limitations of point-and-shoot cameras (those with built-in lenses), including low picture quality when shooting without a flash in low light, and frustratingly long next-shot delay and shutter lag.

However, this price drop has been accompanied by an expansion of the market for cameras priced $1,300 to $1,800 (not including lens), a group commonly known as step-up or mid-range SLRs. Several new models in this class, which appeal to serious non-professional photographers, were introduced in the past few months and on view at this year's PhotoPlus Expo, taking place in New York City from October 18 through October 20.

What do you get for $1,300 and up? In general, more sophisticated focusing and metering systems and bodies that manufacturers claim have been better hardened against the elements (more-watertight battery compartments, for example). Plus you get some features that have been common on point-and-shoot cameras but rare on SLRs, such as 2.5-inch and larger LCDs and live-view shooting, which lets you use the LCD to compose shots.

Related information

• Official PhotoPlus Expo Web site
• Consumer Reports' Buying Advice: How to choose a digital camera
• Ratings: Digital SLR lenses (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)

New recommended SLRs: Lighter, Smaller, Easier to Use

Among digital cameras, SLRs have always held top honors for offering the best quality photos. They’ve also generally been the heaviest and largest. Recently, though, camera manufacturers have begun producing SLRs designed to appeal to people accustomed to the conveniences of a compact camera.

Take our latest pack of SLR Quick Picks. There’s the 6-megapixel Nikon D40 ($600), which we’ve long recommended, and its brandmate, the 10-megapixel Nikon D40x ($800, seen at right), which we’ve added to our list along with the 10-megapixel Olympus Evolt E-410 ($800). Where most digital SLRs weighed in at 2 pounds or more as recently as a year ago, all these cameras weigh less than 20 ounces and are exceedingly compact. They won’t fit into a pocket or purse, but they’re certainly portable and won’t give you a backache--although weight and bulk will, of course, vary with the lens you’re using.

In addition to being compact and lightweight, all are very easy to use, with very good image quality, pop-up flashes (as well as a hot shoe, for attaching a more powerful external strobe) and excellent battery life.

Related information:

• Consumer Reports' Buying Advice: How to choose a digital camera
• Ratings: Digital SLR lenses (available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)
• Review: Sony Alpha DSLR-A100 camera

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-G1: A failure to communicate

Earlier this year, Sony announced its first wireless (Wi-Fi) digital point-and-shoot camera, the 6-megapixel Cyber-shot DSC-G1.(Click on image at right for an enlarged view.) Although not the first company to have a wireless camera--Canon, Nikon and Kodak had all introduced earlier such models--Sony received quite a bit of attention, particularly since the G1 also featured a 3.5-inch LCD, the largest available on a point-and-shoot camera at the time, plus 2 gigabytes of on-board storage, the most we’d seen on a digital camera.

However, when we recently tested its wireless capabilities, we were surprised to find that, unlike all other wireless cameras, it can't wirelessly transfer image files to a computer’s hard drive--presumably a major reason for buying a Wi-Fi camera. It also couldn't wirelessly print photos, as some wireless cameras can.

Related information:

• How to choose a digital camera
• Consumer Reports' digital camera Ratings (for ConsumerReports.org subscribers only)
• Product Focus: Casio Exilim EX-V7 7-megapixel camera

What the G1 can do is easily and wirelessly transfer image files to other G1 cameras. It can also send them to DLNA-compatible devices, essentially TVs and computers, for viewing only. In order to view images on such devices, though, you need a version of media player software (such as Sony's VAIO Media software or Acer Arcade Deluxe) that isn't bundled with the G1.

iPhone, the camera phone

Despite its high price tag and innovations such as its touch screen, Apple's iPhone doesn't break new ground in all features and functions. Sometimes it's merely competent--as with its built-in camera, which is fine but nothing special.

The iPhone's camera does have a 2-megapixel (MP) sensor. That's more than most camera phones (at least in the U.S.), which are limited to no more than 1 MP of resolution. But other phones, such the Samsung SCH-a990, Sony Ericsson K790a, and Nokia N95, offer 3 to 5 MP.

But resolution is only one ingredient of image quality. The iPhone's camera yielded photos that were comparable in overall quality to those from our tests of those high-res cameraphones. Which is to say images were better than those from most cameraphones we've tested but fell short of those from a typical digital camera.

The iPhone's dynamic range (which is the difference between, or ratio of, the lightest and darkest elements of a displayed image) was especially good, with minimal visual noise in the resulting images. Also images taken in low light were passable, which they aren't from all cellphones. On the other hand, color balance was only fair, with many daylight shots bearing a bluish tinge.

Digital cameras and Death Valley

PMA07, one of the biggest trade shows for the digital camera and imaging industry, ended recently. And Consumer Reports' Tech Editor, Jeff Fox, blogged daily from the show floor in Las Vegas to keep us up-to-date with developments and news of new cameras. (You can find his — and our all our PMA show-related posts — by clicking on this link.)

But for a different take on what happened at PMA (and in nearby Death Valley), Helen Popkin and I are joined in this 20-minute podcast by Senior Project Leader Kerry Allen and his team. Kerry, Artur Pietruch and Maria Grimaldi are the Consumer Reports technicians who test all of the digital cameras that we buy and report on for the magazine and Web site. But more than just "lab rats," they're also pro photographers who really know how to put a camera through its paces — in real world situations. (More on that below.)

You can listen to the podcast while you're reading this blog, or you can download the 9.6-megabyte file (ElecPod-0704.mp3) to your computer and/or MP3 player by right-clicking on this link.

In the first half of this podcast, Kerry and Artur reflect on some of the big news from PMA. Most notable were the Olympus 18X "super zoom" camera and those that had "facial recognition" features. But we also discuss how cameras (including digital SLRs) are becoming more "idiot-proof," smaller and more "stylish."

In the second half of the show (at just about 10-minutes into the podcast), we get to what Kerry calls "the highlight" of their trip out to Las Vegas — an excursion out to nearby Death Valley. Their purpose: To test digital cameras with a new feature — GPS, or Global Positioning System. 

As we mentioned in our last podcast, these cameras can capture images as well as actual map coordinates from space-based GPS satellites, typically used for navigation. Maria and Artur explain in this segment of the podcast how such location data can be used with Web sites such as Google Earth. You can see screen shots of what Maria was talking about during the podcast below:

 

(Click on each image for a more detailed look.)

As you can see, this kind of capability would be really handy if you want to share your pictures with others, so they can see — and be envious of — where you've been on vacation. Or as Artur and Helen mentioned, it's also a good high-tech way to help you remember where exactly you were for that once-in-a-lifetime moment.

But how well did they work? Kerry gave us some hints in the podcast, but a full report on these cameras will be in Consumer Reports magazine and on the Web site soon.

In the meantime, Kerry, Artur, and Maria were more than happy to close the podcast by sharing with us some of the pictures they took during their 10 hours in Death Valley. We've posted thumbnails of some of them here. To see them in all their glory, click on them for the full-size version. (BUT be warned: Each image is at least 2.5-megabytes in size, so you'll need a fast Net connection.)

The image on the right (a 2.7-megabyte file) is one of the four photos that were taken using a camera with GPS. By clicking on the first thumbnail image on the left above, you can see that this hollow shell of a building is located about 5-kilometers west of the junction of Nevada's state route 374 and U.S. Interstate 95.

In the full-size version, you'll see photo details the erosion of the building's bricks even though there's not a lot of light. Speaking of which, how about that sky as a backdrop, huh? Marvelous!

I love this image that Kerry took on the left. Take note of the subtle shades of colors of the sand dunes in the foreground. And that black "blotch" on the right? If you download the larger version (Warning: It's an 8.5+ megabyte file!), you'll see that it's a bird.

Kerry says that bird was the only living thing (aside from his fellow humans from the tour bus) he saw out there. (Umm, hence the name "Death Valley," Kerry?)

On the right is another great photo captured by our crew while out desert trekking. I'm not sure how that railroad caboose car on the right got to where it was in the middle of the Death Valley desert. (And there are no obvious train tracks around.) But its faded red color is a nice visual contrast to the bleak scrub brush around it.

If you download the full version (4.2 MB), you'll see the photo has good depth of field, meaning there's good range of focus. You can read the lettering on the caboose (and almost the sign near its door) as well as the sign on the foreground.

Our last photo shows just how impressive a digital SLR camera can be in the right hands. Open up the larger, nearly 8.5-megabyte version of the image on the left and you'll see there's a good amount of detail captured, despite the lack of light from a setting desert sun.

And as we mentioned in the podcast, this image was printed out on a 13- by 19-inch sheet of photo paper that just looked absolutely stunning to me and Helen.

If you're interested in knowing more about these photos — how they were composed, what settings to use, what resolution, etc. — drop us note using the "Comment" link below. Or, you can check out our  Web site for photography tips for winter and summer settings. (Please note, the summer photography guide is available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.)

We hope you enjoyed the podcast. As always, if there's a topic you'd like to hear our experts discuss, of if you have suggestions or questions, leave us a note below or send us an e-mail: podcaster "at" cro.consumer.org.

If you want to find and listen to all our previous podcasts on Electronics, click on this link.

— Paul Eng

PMA07 Roundup: Products that caught our eye

In this final report from PMA07, here are some briefs on a few notable products that caught the attention of our market analysts. While none of these are revolutionary, they do illustrate continuing trends and new directions in digital imaging products. 

Canon PowerShot TX1 - High definition video 

This 7-megapixel camera looks more like a camcorder than a digital camcorder. That’s appropriate, because it is the first digital camera we’ve seen that can record high-definition video (1280 x 720 at 30 frames per second). A component output lets you play videos directly to an HDTV. You can use its 10x zoom and optical image stabilizer while recording video (as well as while shooting stills). The 1.8-inch LCD flips out and tilts at various angles. A Canon representative told me that it can shoot video segments up to about 13 or 14 minutes each; the specs say it can record video files up to 4 GB in size. 

Fujifilm FinePix A900 – More megapixels for less 

At $199, this is the cheapest 9-megapixel point-and-shoot we’ve seen. Why you’d want that much resolution in a camera this size (it can’t have as large an image sensor as SLRs do) is not immediately obvious. But if you want it, you got it. A graphical user interface helps explain shooting modes and settings. The A900 should be available in late April. 

Olympus and Nikon - Smaller, lighter SLRs 

Cameras makers have begun catering to people who want and SLR, but don’t want something big and heavy. The Canon Rebel XTi and Nikon D40 had already established this market. 

At PMA07, we saw a new entrant from Nikon, the D40x, which is identical to the D40, but costing $799 and offering 10-megapixels instead of 6. 

We also saw the Olympus Evolt E-410, shown above on the right (with its larger sibling, the E-510): 

The E-410, which will be available in May, costs $699 and offers 10-megapixels. The E-510 has the same resolution, but offers sensor-shift image stabilization. It costs $799 and will be available in June. Both offer a live-view LCD.

New cameras save face

If there’s a champion buzzword at PMA07, it’s probably “face detection.” Point-and-shoots from most major manufacturers now include this feature (sometimes calling it “face recognition”), with the promise of better portraits and family shots. The basic premise is that, for many photos, the human face is the subject of primary interest and should be well-focused, well-lit, and color balanced even at the expense of other subjects in the shot. (Landscape-only photographers: You can safely skip the rest of this posting).

That makes sense, because so many photos are shots of friends and family. How often have you reviewed a photo after the opportunity to reshoot it has passed, only to find the faces were out of focus, underexposed (as in the photo above), or off-color? Probably too often.

If you’re well versed in photographic technique, you know how to avoid such flaws: Using a camera’s manual exposure mode (that’s what the little “M” on the dial stands for) and metering on a face, for example, can avoid underexposing it when there’s strong backlight. Focusing on a face that’s not initially in the center of the frame, then locking that focus while you recompose, can avoid shooting it out of focus. Some cameras even let you change the focus point to someplace off center, so you don’t have to lock and recompose.

But let’s face it: Most people have neither the time nor interest to master such techniques. If you’re one of those people, face detection can fix the faces in your shots for you.

To find out more about the technology, I met with representatives of Fotonation, a company that supplies face detection technology to camera makers such as Samsung and Pentax. Fotonation won an innovative product award at this year’s show for technology that can track up 9 face simultaneously on a mobile phone. As of the show, no mobile phone manufacturers had announced the addition of this technology to their products, but I would certainly expect some announcements soon.

Here’s an example of a camera with Fotnation’s technology recognizing multiple faces:

 

As the Fotonation people explained, there are two main ways a camera with face detection technology can work with faces in a photo.

Face detection is the ability to detect that one or more faces are present somewhere within the image. The presence of the face is often indicated by framing it on the LCD with a small square. That alone is valuable, even if the software doesn’t “know” exactly where the face is within the frame, because if there�