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What's New 
August 27
Hands-on Preview posted for Nikon D90!
The Nikon D80's exceptional sales record perhaps gave Nikon a little extra time to spend cooking up their vision of the ultimate prosumer DSLR. The result is the Nikon D90, incorporating AE and AF technology from the D3/D700/D300 line, while kicking both resolution and performance up a couple of notches from the D80. With a 12.3 megapixel sensor, the Nikon D90 offers only a modest increase in resolution over its predecessor, but that modest increase is likely to be viewed by many users as a welcome tradeoff in light of the D90's doubling of maximum ISO over that of the earlier model. (The Nikon D90's normal ISO range runs from 200 to 3,200, and can be extended to 100 - 6,400 at the user's option.) Another essential upgrade on the Nikon D90 is the move to a high resolution 3-inch LCD screen. The 920,000-pixel display has a 170-degree viewing angle and appears to be every bit as nice as the new screens found on the D3 and D300. It makes checking focus and using Live view mode that much more pleasant. Ah yes, Live View: The Nikon D90 brings this feature to Nikon's consumer camera lineup for the first time (well, arguably at the prosumer rather than the pure consumer end of the scale), but it also adds an entirely new feature, never seen before in a DSLR: The Nikon D90 can record movies at 24 frames/second (the standard in the motion-picture world), and pixel resolutions of 1280x720 (16:9), 640x424 (3:2), and 320x216 (3:2). Read our Nikon D90 Hands-On Preview for an in-depth look at this new camera's exceptional feature set!
UPDATE, 20:15 EDT: First Nikon D90 test shots posted! We've started testing a production-level Nikon D90 digital SLR camera, and wanted to let you see the first shots out of the lab without delay. Click on the Nikon D90 Samples tab and you'll see a full suite of our Still Life, Multi Target and Viewfinder test shots. Stay tuned for more test shots in the coming days!
UPDATE, 08/28/08: We've added more Nikon D90 test shots, including our low-light, flash and macro series. Click on the Samples tab to view!
August 15
Review posted for Sony Cyber-shot W300!
While Sony's slim T-series digital cameras get all the attention, the W-Series continues to delight, with great features at a mid-range price. The Cyber-shot W300 is Sony's new flagship W-Series digital camera, as you can tell at glance. The Sony W300's scratch-resistant titanium shell is among the coolest looking Sony digital cameras, and you won't be disappointed by the pictures it takes either. The Cyber-shot W300's 13.6-megapixel sensor sets a new standard in high ISO detail and color for Sony. The Sony W300's image quality really impressed, capturing detail and color at higher ISOs than Sony typically has achieved. The selectable noise reduction may have something to do with that, but it was such a dramatic difference, there's got to be more to the story. The only gripe we had was its timid 3x zoom. Click here for the Sony Cyber-shot W300 review for the whole story.
August 13
Review posted for Nikon D700!
With a design and features that will attract a wide array of photographers, the Nikon D700 is the first full-frame digital SLR camera to break the $3,000 barrier at its introduction. Based on the popular Nikon D300, the Nikon D700's controls are poised for quick activation, with commonly used functions out in plain sight, rather than buried in a menu. The Nikon D700's full-frame sensor is essentially identical to the Nikon D3's, so image quality is superb, and high-ISO performance is unprecedented, ranging from 100 to 25,600. A large, high-resolution LCD screen serves up images that are sharper than normal, and menus likewise appear razor-sharp. Special features adorn the Nikon D700, including a 51-point autofocus system, Active D-Lighting image processing, Lateral chromatic aberration correction, Vignette control, and AF Fine-tune capability; all making the camera extremely adaptable. Nikon's latest offering is a great digital SLR camera to build a system around. Click here for our review of the full-frame Nikon D700.
Review posted for Canon A590 IS!
There are good digital cameras and cheap digital cameras - the trick is getting both in the same package. The Canon
PowerShot A590 IS is one digital camera that delivers a lot of capability and good photos at a low price. We also like the fact that Canon A590IS is well-suited to both novices and advanced users. Total beginners can put it in "Easy" mode and snap away, but a full range of features (including full manual exposure control) will satisfy more advanced users. The Canon
PowerShot A590 IS offers 4x optical zoom, an excellent range of exposure modes and options, and is very user-friendly. Face and Motion Detection ensure good-looking portraits, even of moving subjects, and an intelligent selection of preset Scene modes offer great exposure flexibility. The Canon A590IS has a bright 2.5-inch LCD display, but also features a real-image optical viewfinder to help conserve battery power. Not a perfect camera by any means, but a heck of a buy at its current ~$150 street price. Click here to read our Canon A590IS review for all the details!
August 6
Review posted for Olympus 1030SW!
Olympus's shockproof, waterproof, crushproof, and freeze proof digital camera line got two significant upgrades in the Stylus 1030SW: a new, 28-105mm wide-angle zoom, and a 10.1-megapixel sensor. The Olympus Stylus 1030SW is still the ruggedness leader of the digicam, working at depths of up to 33 feet without an underwater housing, and the built-in manometer will record the heights and depths you've reached for bragging rights. The big question is whether the new lens and sensor improve the Olympus 1030SW's image quality over past offerings. Read our Olympus Stylus 1030SW review for more details.
August 4
Canon Rebel XS First Shots posted!
Canon's new entry-level DSLR, the Canon XS delivers a lot of capability for its low price, and excellent image quality. Check out our Canon XS Review for a look at a full set of test shots, showing what the new model can do! (We'll post a full review of the XS soon, but wanted to get its test images out to our readers asap first.)
July 31
Review posted for 
Fujifilm FinePix
Z20fd!
Colorfully outfitted with a vibrant selection of body styles, the 10-megapixel
Fujifilm FinePix
Z20fd is pocketable and fun, with a 3x optical zoom lens and a healthy selection
of shooting modes. The camera's point-and-shoot design welcomes any experience
level and offers a short learning curve. In addition to standard Auto and Program
AE exposure modes, the Fujifilm
FinePix Z20fd also offers a 16 preset Scene modes, Face Detection technology, and creative movie capture and editing modes, even a Blog mode. Directly aimed at GenZ, the Fujifilm FinePix Z20fd is definitely one of the more colorful options on the market. Read our Fujifilm FinePix Z20fd review for more details.
July 29
Review posted for 
Fujifilm
FinePix S100FS!
You can tell the Fujifilm S100FS is no ordinary long zoom digital camera the minute you take it out of the box. It has the build of a digital SLR, slightly bigger in fact than the Canon Rebel XSi. It operates like a digital SLR, too, with a manual zoom ring and buttons instead of menu items to get to oft-used items. But the Fujifilm S100FS is not a digital SLR. The 28-400mm lens is not interchangeable, and you compose your shots via the tilting LCD or electronic viewfinder. The Fujifilm S100FS has a movie mode just like a consumer digital camera, and its 11.1-megapixel sensor captures excellent detail. Its big lens has a very good Macro mode and great overall performance, but we were disappointed by the pronounced chromatic aberration that mars an otherwise impressive digital camera. Still, the camera's wide and long zoom offers the ability to bring only the camera along on your next trip, making the Fujifilm S100FS an intriguing hybrid. Click here to read our Fujifilm S100FS review for the whole story.
July 24
Review posted for 
Panasonic
TZ5!
With a solid feel and a 10x zoom in a relatively slim, pocketable digital camera, its no wonder the Panasonic TZ-line is so popular. The Panasonic TZ5 is about the same physically as its predecessor, but the more efficient grip makes its impressive heft easier to manage. Optical image stabilization gives the 28-280mm lens a little more crispness indoors and in low light, and the Panasonic TZ5's new 9.1-megapixel sensor serves up slightly smoother images. Though they couldn't make the Panasonic TZ5's 3-inch LCD any bigger, they managed to pack in twice the number of pixels, raising resolution from 230,000 pixels to 460,000, great for viewing photos or videos. Click here for our review of the Panasonic TZ5 digital camera.
July 23
Full Review posted for 
Canon
Rebel XSi!
While many companies tout the capabilities of their big, expensive professional cameras, Canon's flagship is a Rebel. The Rebel XSi showcases many new technologies, currently besting the semi-pro camera in the line in several areas. Its 12.2 megapixel sensor exceeds the resolution of the EOS 40D, the new Live View mode uses phase-detect and contrast-detect autofocus modes, and the Rebel XSi's kit bundle comes with a good quality image-stabilized lens. The Canon XSi's redesigned body is simple and handsome, and the grip has a little more room for medium-sized hands. The real story is in the Canon Rebel XSi's image quality, and there's plenty to tell. Click here for our full review of the Canon Rebel XSi.
July 15
First Shots posted for 
Nikon
D700!
We've started testing the Nikon D700 full-frame digital SLR production camera, and wanted to let you see the first shots out of the lab without delay. Click on the Nikon D700 Samples tab and you'll see a full suite of Still Life shots, and a subset of our Multi Target shots. Click again on the Nikon D700 Gallery subtab and see a few shots taken today with this impressive full-frame digital SLR. I also shot a high-speed sequence with the MB-D10 battery grip with the theoretical eight fps top speed, and an ISO series. We'll have more of both lab and gallery shots tomorrow (weather permitting for the latter), so stay tuned!
UPDATE, 7/17/08: We've added our low light, flash range and viewfinder accuracy series, as well as more of our Multi Target and Still Life lab shots. Click here to see our Nikon D700 Hands-on Preview, and click here to go directly to the Nikon D700 Samples tab.
July 3
First Shots posted for 
Olympus
E-520!
We've posted First Shots for the Olympus E-520 digital SLR camera, an updated version of the company's popular E-510 model. Olympus E520 improvements include enhanced in-body image stabilization, a larger 2.7-inch LCD with better contrast, additional Live View AF modes, face detection, wireless flash support and shadow adjustment technology. Click here for our Olympus E-520 preview page, and then click on the Samples tab for all the images we've shot so far, including some RAW files. Stay tuned for more Olympus E-520 test images in the coming days!
July 1
Hands-on Preview posted for Nikon D700!
Nikon now has a full-frame digital SLR for pros, semi-pros, and well-heeled enthusiasts: the Nikon D700. With an expected pricetag of about US$3,000 body-only, the Nikon D700 is based around a Nikon FX format (36.0 x 23.9mm / 35mm frame-sized) CMOS image sensor with 12.1 effective megapixel resolution, as seen in the company's previous Nikon D3 model. Much of the feature-set also hails from the D3, but in a body more reminiscent of the Nikon D300. We were priviledged to spend a little time with a prerelease version of the Nikon D700. Read our Hands-on Preview for more.
UPDATE, 7/02/08: Added Nikon D700 menu screen-shots in the Operation Modes & Menus subtab.
June 24
Review posted for 
Fujifilm FinePix F100fd!
Finding a pocket digital camera with high resolution isn't hard these days, but finding one that will output a 13x19-inch print from an ISO 400 shot, like the Fujifilm FinePix F100fd can, is something. With a 12-megapixel sensor, a quality 28-140mm zoom lens, and several wide Dynamic Range options, the Fujifilm F100fd has quite a lot to recommend it. The FinePix F100fd has one of the most advanced Face Detection features we've ever seen, capable of detecting faces from all angles, including from the side, and even upside down. Scene modes, Dual Image Stabilization, and adjustable Dynamic Range options make the Fujifilm FinePix F100fd versatile, while its automatic options are perfect for novices. But it's mostly the high resolution for outdoor shots that lead us to recommend the Fujifilm F100fd. Click here to read our review of the Fujifilm FinePix F100fd for more.
June 19
Review posted for 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50!
With a 15x zoom and a tilting 3-inch LCD screen, it's remarkable that Sony kept the Cyber-shot H50 as small as they did. They managed to shoehorn a lot more than that into the Sony H50, including a competent night shot mode, a comprehensive slideshow mode, and easy access to functions like bracketing, all accessible without having to dig into the menus. The Sony H50's 31-465mm equivalent lens includes Super SteadyShot image stabilization, essential for long zooms, and it uses super low-dispersion glass elements for higher image quality, according to Sony. The tilting LCD screen is excellent for getting shots with a different perspective, and the advanced sports mode takes advantage of the Sony H50's 1/4,000-second shutter speed. Click here to see our review of the Sony Cyber-shot H50 for the whole story.
June 13
Review posted for 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX35!
The Panasonic FX35 is a handsome compact digital camera with a lot of intelligence built in. Intriguing features include an Intelligent Auto mode that combines all of that intelligence into one mode so you don't have to remember what to enable when. The Panasonic FX35's 4x, 25-100mm Leica zoom gives you more wide angle than most digital cameras at any size, let alone pocket cameras, and its Mega Optical Image Stabilization will help handhold shots in fairly low light. See our review of the Panasonic FX35 for more.
June 10
Full Review posted for 
Nikon D60!
Though it's quite similar to the Nikon D40x, that's only one more reason to give the Nikon D60 a Dave's Pick - it more than upholds the D40/D40x tradition. The Nikon D60's 10.2-megapixel image sensor turns out great quality images, made better by the new optically stabilized 18-55mm VR kit lens. Like its predecessors, the Nikon D60 is so easy and fun to use, it's almost immediately become one of the most popular SLRs on the market. Its soft shutter sound speaks quality, and its simple control interface doesn't intimidate. At the same time, sophisticated users will fine plenty of picture-taking control. A sophisticated dust reduction system inside the Nikon D60 further impresses, by blasting a jet of air at the sensor with every shutter release, making it more likely that dust won't plague your images. Read our Nikon D60 review, for more on this great camera: A near-ideal model for those making the move to their first SLR - Or for more advanced users looking for an attractively-priced second body with great image quality.
June 6
Printer Review: 
HP Photosmart C8180 All-in-One!
With wireless connectivity and a touchscreen when you're feeling friendly, the C8180 can make a print from just about anything. The HP C8180 is the company's top of the line all-in-one device, mating a 9600-dpi scanner capable of both reflective and transparency scanning with a printer that also includes CD/DVD burning and label printing with LightScribe. But it also wins the Ms. Congeniality Award for its touchscreen interface, card reader and its connectivity options: Hi-Speed USB, PictBridge, Wireless G and Bluetooth. We liked it so much, we kept "testing" it for months. Read our HP Photosmart C8180 review for the full story.
June 3
Review posted for 
Olympus E-420!
Olympus's second pass at the super-small digital SLR, the E-420, gets a lot more features, with a new hybrid Live View autofocus system that includes contrast detection, a new daylight-viewable LCD, and even Face Detection technology. The Olympus E-420 is still their smallest and lightest SLR, yet they managed to increase its frame rate to 3.5 frames per second. The Olympus E-420 is still a 10-megapixel digital camera, but its high ISO performance is improved, and the company claims that its dynamic range is also better. The the standard kit comes with a good quality, compact 14-42mm zoom lens, but a separate kit includes a new, very small 25mm f/2.8 "pancake" lens, equivalent to a 50mm lens, making the already small E-420 even smaller -- almost pocketable. It's certainly more jacket-pocketable than any other SLR on the market. We ran the Olympus E-420 through its paces, click here for our review of this very small digital SLR camera.
Software Review posted for 
Nikon Capture NX 2!
Nikon has revamped Capture NX, its image editing software, to make it about as easy (and fun) as it can get to make either global or local corrections to your favorite images. By extending U Point editing technology to masking, you can now apply 26 different adjustments to any part of an image. But the company didn't stop there. The new NX 2 includes a retouching tool that can easily erase blemishes and dust with just a stroke of the mouse. Add configurable workspaces that are multi-monitor aware and you've got a little more flow to your workflow. Read our Nikon Capture NX 2 review for the full story.
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