Photo Club

Samsung has introduced two new point-and-shoots, the TL34HD and TL9. The 14.7-megapixel TL34HD features a 3.6x Schneider zoom lens with a 28mm wide angle (35mm equivalent), and a 3-inch, 460,000-dot touchscreen LCD. That model replaces Samsung’s NV24HD, and implements a new version of the Smart Touch interface that distinguished the NV series. Smart Touch 2.0 employs two sets of pressure-sensitive buttons located along the edges of the LCD to provide access to controls. Running a finger over a row of buttons lets you activate and navigate menus, or adjust settings with virtual sliders. The TL34HD also has an improved image processing engine. The 10-megapixel TL9 offers a 2.7-inch LCD, an internal 5x zoom lens, and the ability to play MP3s and videos. It has a 2.5mm headphone port, as well as an external speaker with SRS 3D acoustic technology. Both cameras offer a Dual Image Stabilization mode that combines optical and digital image stabilization.

Among the notable features that the cameras share are 13 automatic scene modes, face-detection autofocus and autoexposure, and a new Recycle Bin function that restores deleted photos. The two TL models also offer Smile Shot and Blink Detection modes, which respectively automatically snap a photo when someone smiles and alert the photographer when someone blinks. The TL34HD offers a shutter speed range of 1/1500 to 15 seconds and a light-sensitivity range of ISO 80 to ISO 3200, or ISO 4800 at a reduced 3-megapixel resolution. The TL9 has a shutter speed range of 1/2000 to 15 seconds and a light-sensitivity range of ISO 80 to ISO 1600. It also distinguishes itself with an unusual feature: two analog gauges that display remaining memory and battery life.

While both new cameras can capture 640×480 video with sound at a smooth 30fps, the TL34HD also offers a 720p, 30fps high-definition mode that saves footage in the H.264 format, and the TL9 has an MPEG-4 video mode that shoots 800×592-pixel MPEG-4 footage at 20fps. The cameras allow video capture to be paused and resumed during a single clip, and enable the optical zoom to function during video capture. Samsung sells an HDMI Consumer Electronics Control cradle that is compatible with the TL34HD for displaying hi-def video on an HDTV. When it’s connected to a Samsung HDTV, users can navigate the TL34HD’s menus with the TV’s remote.

The $329.95 TL34HD and the $279.95 TL9 will be available in September 2008.

Panasonic has introduced a new 9.1-megapixel compact camera with built-in WiFi connectivity. The Lumix DMC-TZ50 offers an optically stabilized f/3.3-4.9, 28mm-280mm (35mm equivalent) 10x Leica DC Vario-Elmar zoom lens; a 460,000-dot, 3-inch LCD that automatically adapts its brightness as ambient light levels change; and 802.11b/g wireless connectivity for connecting to home wireless networks and T-Mobile HotSpots. The camera interface provides tools for uploading photos directly to Google Picasa Web Albums, and for browsing online albums. The TZ50 also incorporates Panasonic’s new Venus Engine IV image-processing engine, which the company says enables better noise reduction, improved image stabilization, and reduced shutter lag.

While the TZ50 does not include manual or priority exposure modes, it provides 23 scene modes and a range of advanced automatic functions. Its shutter-speed range runs from 1/2000 to 60 seconds, and it has a top light-sensitivity setting of ISO 6400. The TZ50′s advanced features include autobracketing, a live histogram, spot metering, and white balance fine-tuning. There’s also a generous selection of autofocus modes, from 1-point and spot to 9-point. The camera’s Advanced Intelligent Auto mode deploys a battery of automatic tools to open up dark shadow areas, activate continuous autofocus, boost the ISO and shutter speed as necessary to keep images sharp, eliminate redeye and activate face detection when appropriate. It also evaluates scenes to automatically set the camera to Scenery, Portrait, Macro, Night Portrait, or Night Scenery mode.

Click photo for more images of the Fujifilm Finepix Z10fd.

Fujifilm has introduced an ultracompact 7.2-megapixel snapshot camera. The FinePix Z10fd is being marketed to 13- to 26-year-olds with a combination of stylish design and photo-sharing features. It features an f/3.7-4.2, 38mm-110mm (35mm camera equivalent), 3x non-extending zoom lens and a 150,000-pixel, 2.5-inch LCD with antiglare coating.

With 14 scene modes and few manual adjustments, the Z10fd is built for automatic operation. It has a shutter speed range of 1/1000 and 3 seconds, and a top light sensitivity setting of ISO 1600.

Among this camera’s notable automatic features are face-detection, IrSimple connectivity for transferring images wirelessly to compatible devices, and a Dual Shot Mode that takes two images in quick succession, one with and one without the flash, then allows the photographer to save the best one.

Fuji has also implemented its new automatic redeye removal feature in this model. It works with the camera’s face-detection mode by evaluating every face detected in a shot and automatically removing redeye when it’s found. The Z10fd also offers Fuji’s i-Flash flash metering system to adjust flash intensity and reduce blown-out areas in flash photos.