Sony has announced two new 14-megapixel Cyber-shot cameras (models DSC-W370 and DSC-W350)with a CCD image sensor that provides the novel Sweep Panorama™ feature in a slim, compact body.  Sweep Panorama mode (first introduced in Sony’s previous models) utilizes a CCD sensor to capture dramatic panoramic scenes,  shooting images continuously to capture wide landscapes or tall buildings in one easy “press and sweep” motion.

Sony also announced three cameras (models DSC-W330, DSC-W310 and DSC-S2100) that offer a new thin, stylish design with advanced features such as longer zoom and wide-angle lenses.

The HX5V camera will be available in black this March for about $350.

The  TX7 camera will be available in silver, blue and red this February for about $400.

The W370 camera will be available in silver, graphite black, green and red this March for about $230.

The W350 camera will be available in silver, black, pink and blue this January for about $200.

The W330 camera will be available in silver, black, red and blue this February for about $170.

The W310 camera will be available in silver, black and pink this March for about $150.

The S2100 camera will be available in silver, black and orange this February for about $120.

Each set also has an SD/SDHC card slot which can play back video, image and audio content, including AVCHD footage pulled directly from an HD camcorder.  Obviously there’s 1080/24p Full HD support, plus a virtual 5.1 surround sound system that uses the HDTVs stereo speakers.

YouTube streaming video and a nifty CCTV system that integrates with up to four different wireless security cameras round out the main specifications.  The two VIERA sets will land on September 15th, price to be announced.

[via Akihabara]

The new system is pretty cool because it connects via your home’s wireless network and then you can access the camera feed from anywhere you have Internet access. You can even control the camera from whenever you are with functions such as pan, zoom and tilt.

Other features are motion detection, e-mail alerts, image capture, time-lapse photography and live monitoring. When you purchase a subscription for $9.99 a month, you can get a free IP camera.

The iVIS HD S11 has a 1/2.6-inch CMOS capable of up to 8-megapixel stills, while the iVIS HF21 gets a 1/4-inch CMOS and up to 4-megapixel stills.  Each has optical stabilization, an optical zoom (10x in the HF S11; 15x in the HF21) and face-detection, together with a 2.7-inch wide-aspect LCD preview screen.

Connectivity includes USB, a proprietary AV port, headphones and microphone-input, and there’s an optional underwater kit for the HF21.  Both will go on sale in Japan come August, though there’s no word on pricing as yet.

Other specs include a 2.7-inch touchscreen with newly reworked GUI, Memory Stick PRO Duo slot for augmenting the onboard storage, Smile Shutter and Face Detection.  There’s also Sony’s BIONZ Image Processor, Carl Zeiss Vaio-Tessar lens and 10x optical zoom, plus a flash.

The Sony HDR-TG5V will begin shipping in the US come May 2009.  As with its predecessor, it won’t be a budget buy: you’re looking at around $1,000, while an optional travel kit (battery, travel charger and pouch) comes in at $100, and a wide-angle lens for $100. 

Press Release:

SONY TAKES FLIGHT WITH HD CAMCORDER DESIGNED FOR SAVVY TRAVELERS  

New Model Offers Embedded GPS, Durable Titanium Body, and Sleek Design

SAN DIEGO, April 1, 2009 – Designed for travelers who pack lightly, Sony today unveiled a new high-definition camcorder that combines powerful performance and simple operation into a sleek, portable body.

The HDR-TG5V Handycam® camcorder captures 1920×1080 high-definition video and four-megapixel photos. With a compact design, the model includes 16GB of flash memory (a portion of which is used for data management), embedded GPS, minimal buttons and a new intuitive user interface for the touch-panel LCD.

“Travelers are looking for high-quality products that focus on performance and portability,” said Kelly Davis, director of camcorder marketing at Sony Electronics. “This new model has a titanium body with a premium hard coating enhancing durability and it’s packed with high-performance features—like GPS and Smile Shutter™ technology—that deliver the best combination for your travel experiences.”

The camcorder’s built-in GPS antenna and NAVTEQ® digital maps geo-tag your videos and photos so you can document your destinations on a map. Geo-tagged content is marked by a push pin at each shot location and can be played back on the camcorder map index display on the 2.7-inch (measured diagonally) wide LCD touch panel. You can also enjoy this feature on the PC using the included Picture Motion Browser software.

With 16GB of embedded memory, the HDR-TG5V camcorder holds more than six hours of high definition video footage (LP mode) so it is virtually ready for capture right out of the box. You can also capture content onto Memory Stick PRO Duo™ media (sold separately) for additional recording time.

Ideal for the active explorer, a new graphical user interface helps personalize menus for easy operation and quickly sort through captured content.

Smile Shutter technology automatically snaps quality photos of traveling companions when they smile, even while recording video at the same time. To make sure your subject stays in focus, Face Detection technology recognizes and enhances faces by automatically correcting focus, exposure and color control.

In addition to a BIONZ™ Image Processor that works with an Exmor™ CMOS sensor for pristine imaging, the camera features a professional-quality Carl Zeiss® Vaio-Tessar® lens with 10X optical zoom designed specifically for compact camcorders. For added clarity and detail, a built-in flash reduces shadows and improves still images in low-light situations.

Pricing and Availability

The HDR-TG5V camcorder will ship in May for about $1,000. An optional travel kit (Sony ACC-TCH5) with a battery, travel charger and pouch will be available for about $100. There is also a wide angle conversion lens (Sony VCL-HGE07TB) accessory for about $100.

All can be purchased at Sony Style® retail stores, direct at www.sonystyle.com, at authorized dealers and military exchange bases nationwide.

The compact camcorder can also shoot fifteen 9-megapixel images per second, or 5.3-megapixel shots at 60fps, which ousts some DSLRs.  There’s also a 5x optical zoom, “premium materials” used in the construction and a fold-flat LCD display. 

JVC also include software for one-click uploads to YouTube and basic scene editing.  The JVC Everio GZ-X900 will be available in June 2009, priced at $999.95.

Press Release:

New Nine-Megapixel JVC Everio X Hybrid Camera Simultaneously Shoots Full HD Video and Digital Stills

Small, light all-in-one camera also shoots slow-motion video and high-speed stills.

LAS VEGAS, March 3, 2009 – JVC today announced a new dual-use camera that shoots high definition video and high resolution digital still images. The new hybrid Everio GZ-X900, or Everio X, is a small, light, all-in-one camera that offers the powerful shooting combination of Full HD video and nine -megapixel still photos, plus creative shooting functions such as slow motion video and high speed “motor drive” still photography.

Highlights of the new JVC Everio X include:
The camera is small enough to slip into a shirt pocket and at just 0.66 pounds is one of the lightest cameras that can shoot 1920 x 1080 Full HD AVCHD video;
Shoots nine-megapixel (no interpolation) digital stills and Full HD video with 1000 TV lines of horizontal resolution – close to the theoretical maximum horizontal resolution for 1920 x 1080 high definition video for no-compromise images;
10x slow motion shooting plays back 2.4 seconds of recorded video over 24 seconds;
Up to six nine-megapixel stills can be shot at 15 images per second – faster than what digital SLRs can achieve;
Simultaneous five-megapixel digital still shooting while recording Full HD video – photos can be shot at shutter speeds as fast as 1/4000 second without interrupting video recording;
Records video and stills to SDHC memory cards.

The new Everio X was designed for the consumer who wants to shoot high quality digital stills and HD video, but wants the convenience of a single camera. While most conventional video camcorders shoot digital stills and most digital still cameras shoot video, the secondary capabilities of these cameras don’t offer sufficient quality for many users. Everio X solves that dilemma by providing high quality stills and top quality HD video.

Unique Design
The design of Everio X is a distinct departure from other camcorders, including other Everio models. About the size of a chunky smart phone, Everio X is a slab-sided rectangle without the handgrip, protrusions or indentations found on most camcorders. The design allows plenty of flexibility in how the camera is held – from below, above, or whatever suits the situation and the user’s preference. There are top-mounted zoom and record buttons, and a second set next to the LCD screen for additional shooting flexibility. The camera is black with silver accents, with the right side featuring a textured carbon fiber-like finish to provide a secure grip and resist smudges.

Small enough to easily slip into a pocket or purse, Everio X weighs just 0.66 pounds (including the internal battery and a memory card) and measures 2.6 inches tall, 4.88 inches long and just 1.46 inches wide.

1000 TV Lines of Full HD and Nine-Megapixel Stills
A 10.3-megapixel CMOS sensor is at the heart of the camera’s superior image quality. The high quality nine-megapixel digital still photos the camera shoots correlate directly to the un-interpolated performance of this 1/2.33-inch CMOS sensor. For the first time ever, it is also the source of 1920 x 1080/60i Full HD AVCHD format video. The camera records at a stunning 1000 TV lines of horizontal resolution – close to the theoretical maximum of 1920 x 1080 Full HD.

JVC’s new proprietary optical image stabilization (OIS) technology applies camera shake compensation optically at the Everio X lens entrance to ensure effectiveness throughout the zoom range and allow high quality shooting without a tripod. Everio X also uses a new KONICA MINOLTA HD LENS with a 5X optical zoom.

Further contributing to the camera’s high image quality is JVC’s HD Gigabrid Premium image processing engine. In addition, face detection technology assures accurate focus and exposure, and HDMI™ V.1.3 with x.v.Color™ provides increased color accuracy when connected to HDTV displays.

10x Slow Motion Shooting, High-Speed Motor Drive Stills
Slow motion video recording is a key Everio X feature. The camera’s high-speed recording function shoots ultra-slow motion video. Any one of three speeds – 120 frames per second (fps), 300fps and 600fps – can be selected; the faster the recording speed, the slower the playback motion. With this function, approximately four-second bursts of video are recorded that are then played back over a period of up to 24 seconds, a maximum of 20 times longer than normal speed.

Recording speed Image size Recording time Playback time
600fps 640 x 72 pixels Approx. 2.4 sec. Approx. 24 sec. (10x)
300fps 480 x 116 pixels Approx. 4 sec. Approx. 20 sec. (5x)
120fps 480 x 270 pixels Approx. 8sec. Approx. 16 sec. (2x)

In the still mode, Everio X offers high-speed shooting, similar to the motor drive function found in some mechanical still cameras. As many as six nine-megapixel photos can be shot at up to 15 images per second, a speed that surpasses what’s offered by typical nine-megapixel DSLR cameras. Everio X also allows shooting of 1920 x 1080/60i Full HD video and fully 5.3 megapixel stills at the same time — a unique advantage of this all-in-one camera. While recording video, photos can be shot at shutter speeds as fast as 1/4000 second without interrupting video recording.

5 Mega simultaneous still mode Shooting speed Maximum limit
High speed 60 images / sec. 11 images
Medium speed 11 images / sec. 11 images
Low speed 4 images / sec. No limit

Global Sharing
With the worldwide explosion of interest in video sharing, Everio X offers easy solutions for distribution. A One Touch Export function provided by bundled software for Windows® makes it easy to export videos into iTunes® for playback on an iPod® or iPhone®. And the One Touch Upload function, when used with the included software for Windows, simplifies uploading videos to YouTube™.

The DVD Creation function makes it easy to transfer video to a disc for archiving or sharing. Create a disc directly from the camera using the JVC Everio CU-VD50 burner/player or CU-VD3 burner SHARE STATION. Other direct storage solutions include third party external hard disk drives from LaCie and Seagate, and an external Blu-ray Disc Burner from LaCie.

The Everio GZ-X900 will be available in June at a nationally advertised value of $999.95.

The AVCD Lite video feature increases recoding capacity in HD 720p format and boosts Dolby Stereo high quality audio. Unlike most digicams at its size, both units have a built-in stereo microphone, as feature in a dedicate camcorder, but most impressive of all features is its noise reduction feature to block out background wind buzz and enabling audio sampling at 48khz.

The Panasonic ZS3 boosts 12.1MP image sensor, 3-inch LCD screen, Optical Image Stabilizer, advanced Face Recognition and a 12x optical zoom lens of 25-300mm (35mm equiv.). Its superior optics features a high-quality LEICA DC VARIO ELMAR series zoom lens, constructed from 2 ED lenses, 2 aspherical lenses with 3 aspherical surfaces and a total of 10 optics elements in 8 groups design. Panasonic also packs a step-down ZS1 a smaller 10Mp image sensor, smaller LCD at 2.7-inch, similar big lens but only capable of capturing motion video up to 848×480 resolution without the AVCD Lite video feature.

The TS1, on the other hand, is a rugged version of Lumix with shockproof, waterproof and dustproof digital camera, built to withstand water to a depth of 10 feet, falls from up to 5 feet while operating in freezing cool temperature of -10 degrees Celsius. The rugged Lumix offers most of the advance features like the ZS3, including the same image sensor of 12.1MP, but a smaller 2.7-inch LCD screen and a 4.6x Leica DC Vario-Elmar optical zoom lens at 28-128mm (35mm Equiv).

Both will be available from April at the suggested retail of $399.

DMC-ZS3

• Sensor – 10.1 megapixel (effective), 1/2.33″ CCD (ZS3); 10.1 megapixel (effective), 1/2.5″ CCD (ZS1)
• Lens/Zoom – 12x (25-300mm) Leica DC Vario-Elmar, f/3.3-6.3
• LCD/Viewfinder – 3.0″, 460K-dot TFT LCD (ZS3); 2.7″, 230K-dot TFT LCD (ZS1)
• Sensitivity – ISO 80-1600 (High Sensitivity mode to ISO 6400)
• Shutter Speed – 8-1/2000 seconds
• Shooting Modes – Intelligent Auto, Normal Picture, My Scene 1, My Scene 2, Scene, Clipboard, Motion Picture
• Scene Presets – Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby 1, Baby 2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Hi-Speed Burst (Image Priority / Speed Priority), Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial photo, Pinhole, Film Grain, Underwater
• White Balance Settings – Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, User Set
• Metering Modes – Intelligent Multi, Center-Weighted, Spot
• Focus Modes Face, AF Tracking, Multi, One Point High Speed, One Point
• Drive Modes – Normal, Burst, Self Timer
• Flash Modes – Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
• Self Timer Settings- 10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off
• Memory Formats – SD, SDHC
• Internal Memory- 40 MB
• File Formats – JPEG, AVCHD Lite (ZS3), Motion JPEG
• Max. Image Size – 3648×2736
• Max. Video Size- 1280×720, 30 fps (ZS3); 848×480, 30 fps (ZS1)
• Zoom During Video – Yes
• Battery – Rechargeable 895 mAh lithium-ion
• Connections – USB 2.0, AV output, HDMI, DC input
• Additional Features – Mega O.I.S., iA Intelligent Auto mode, Intelligent ISO, Venus Engine HD processing, AF Tracking, face detection, Face Recognition, Intelligent Exposure

DMC- TS1

• Sensor- 12.1 megapixel (effective), 1/2.33″ CCD
• Lens/Zoom – 4.6x (28-128mm) Leica DC Vario-Elmar, f/3.3-5.9
• LCD/Viewfinder – 2.7″, 230K-dot TFT LCD
• Sensitivity – ISO 80-1600 (High Sensitivity mode to ISO 6400)
• Shutter Speed – 8-1/2000 seconds
• Shooting Modes – Intelligent Auto, Normal Picture, Scene, Beach and Surf, Snow, Sports, Clipboard, Motion Picture
• Scene Presets – Portrait, Soft Skin, Transform, Self-Portrait, Scenery, Panorama Assist, Sports, Night Portrait, Night Scenery, Food, Party, Candle Light, Baby 1, Baby 2, Pet, Sunset, High Sensitivity, Hi-Speed Burst (Image Priority / Speed Priority), Flash Burst, Starry Sky, Fireworks, Beach, Snow, Aerial photo, Pinhole, Film Grain, Underwater
  White Balance Settings -Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Shade, Halogen, User Set
• Metering Modes – Intelligent Multi
• Focus Modes Face, AF Tracking, Multi, One Point, One Point High Speed
• Drive Modes – Normal, Burst, Self Timer
• Flash Modes – Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced Off
• Self Timer Settings- 10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off
• Memory Formats – SD, SDHC
• Internal Memory- 40 MB
• File Formats – JPEG, Motion JPEG, AVCHD Lite
• Max. Image Size – 4000×3000
• Max. Video Size- 1280×720, 30 fps
• Zoom During Video – Not Specified
• Battery – Rechargeable 940 mAh lithium-ion, 350 shots
• Connections – USB 2.0, AV output, DC input
• Additional Features – Mega O.I.S., iA Intelligent Auto mode, Intelligent ISO, Venus Engine HD processing, AF Tracking, face detection, Face Recognition, Intelligent Exposure

[via dpreview, DMC-FT1, DMC-TZ-ZS3]

[via imageresources]