Stuff Geeks Want

If that boy from the Mazda commercials ever gets laid off because no one’s buying cars anymore, he could probably score a gig with Nikon, which just unleashed a massive 24x zoom consumer point-and-shoot camera on the market.

The brand new Nikon Coolpix P90 features a zoom equivalent of 26mm-624mm and optical VR stabilization to keep shots looking sharp. Sure, there’s probably some distortion in the corners from a zoom that size, but who cares—this thing is impressive.

Other specs include: a 12.1-megapixel CCD, a massive 3-inch tilt LCD, motion detection that automatically adjusts the cameras settings to capture action shots, and Nikon’s Smart Portrait system that detects faces, fixes red-eye, and detects blinks.

If you’re willing to knock the capture resolution down to 3-megapixels, a couple other impressive features become available, including ISO 3200 and 6400 settings and the ability to capture 45 shots over 3 seconds (that’s 15 frames per second for those who never learned long division).

Pre-order for $399.99 from Amazon, shipping in March 2009

In high school, a decade ago now (ugh), I remember buying a Casio computer watch from onsale.com, back when that site was one of the first auction houses on the Web. This wasn’t your typical dorky square digital computer watch, this one looked like a regular round analog watch—and functioned as one—until you flipped up the face James Bond style to reveal a tiny keypad and screen.

It got me some attention, but unfortunately not much from the opposite sex (I graduated a virgin—can you believe it?).

I don’t know if it’s because that watch broke just a few months later, but I’ve always been skeptical of the Casio brand. It’s like the Radio Shack of electronics companies: huge brand recognition, but you can’t really ever name anything unique that they make. And you always feel like you’re not getting a very good deal.

But damn if Casio’s Exilim digital camera line isn’t trying to prove itself worthy to stand alongside the Sonys, Canonons, and Nikons out there.

The new EX-FC100 looks like pretty standard fare:

9 megapixels
• 5x optical zoom with image stabilization
• 2.7-inch LCD
• 720p (1280×720) movie mode
• 1000 fps capture

Wait—720p movie capture? 1000fps? HD movie mode is a rarity on point and shoots, and 1000fps is downright insane. And that’s why we want the EX-FC100: it’s the only camera that can pull that trick off.

Pre-order for $399.99 from Amazon. Shipping in March.

In case you don’t speak Nikon acronyms, let me translate the above for you: this is the last SLR lens you’ll ever buy.

With a focal range of 18-200mm, this lens is perfect for photos both close and far away. Most SLR’s ship with an 18-55mm lens, and many people add a 55-200mm lens to their kit, but with this one Nikon lens you can have the best of both worlds in one lens that you never have to change.

You also get Nikon’s Vibration Reduction, which ensures those 200mm photos turn out sharp, even if your hand’s not the steadiest.

Don’t believe it’s the best out there? Read Ken Rockwell’s glowing review. We just ordered ours, so what are you waiting for? Pick one up at Amazon for just $639 (it was over $800 a year ago).

Psst… want a free 4GB SDHC card? Too bad, ain’t gonna happen.

Want three free 4GB SDHC cards? Now you’re talking.

How’s this mistake of capitalism work? Easy. Pick up three of these quality memory cards for $19.95 each from Adorama (via Amazon).

Then grab this SanDisk rebate, which sends $60 back your way in the form of a Visa giftcard when you buy three memory cards.

What you’re left with is 12GB of flash memory that cost you -$0.15 once your gift card arrives (after 8 weeks or so).

Yes, this a no-brainer.

I’m an avid amateur photographer. And I’m a Canon guy. So if you’re a Nikon person, you can ignore this post, but if you’re looking for the best value in Prosumer Digital SLR’s, look no further than the new Canon EOS 50D:

Features include:

• 15.1 MP sensor
• HDMI output (Mini) for viewing on HDTVs
• ISO speed up to 12,800 (this is huge)
• a refined 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots)
• new DIGIC 4 Image Processor
• uses Compact Flash Type I or II memory cards
• shoot up to 6.3 fps, in bursts of up to 90 JPEGs or 16 RAW files
• Peripheral Illumination Correction
• Updated EOS Integrated Cleaning System
• It takes movies. Yes, movies from an SLR.

I’m just salivating over this camera. Seriously.

If you’re new to DLSRs, you should only consider two cameras from Canon right now: The Rebel, and this 50D. Either go cheap, or go big. The 50D is going big… and while at $1300 – $1,600, it may feel a lot more expensive, you’ll still be using the 50D in 5 or 10 years, and you’ll outgrow your old Rebel will grow old in a year old two.

And for you true newbies to DLSRs, the new Creative Auto mode will probably help you learn how to use a SLR in manual mode, or at least get a lot of the power out of the SLR that you normally wouldn’t get, if you never learn how to shoot in manual mode, and is something I’m looking foward to playing with.

Pick up a Canon EOS 50D (Body Only) or the Canon EOS 50D kit with a 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS lens. You won’t go wrong with either.

If you have the extra cash, pick up a Battery Grip and some extra batteries too. You will want them at some point.

Two features allow the Olympus Stylus 1030 SW to stand apart from all the other point-and-shoot compact digital cameras out there: Shockproof and Waterproof.

Out of the box, with no special accessory, the Stylus 1030 SW can endure drops of up to 6.6-feet and can go as deeps as 33-feet underwater. It’s also freeze-proof (to 14° F) and can withstand up to 220 pounds of pressure—so go ahead and eat that extra slice of pizza with the camera in your back pocket.

The Stylus 1030 SW is as much brains as it is brawn, too, with a 3.6x wide-angle zoom lens, 2.7-inch LCD, and 10-megapixel sensor.

Pick one up for as little as $316 from Amazon in black, silver, or green.

We’ve told you about the Flip and the Vado from Creative, but you may not have heard about the new HD pocket sized video camera from Kodak.

The Zi6 is sure to make a huge splash when it hits store shelves in October, for two reasons:

1. It captures video at 720p and 60 frames per second. Yes, it’s a real HD quality video camera that truly fits in your pocket (dimensions are 2.5 × 4.5 × 0.9 in.) unlike the Canon TX1 that “fits” in your pocket, but is a little bulky, to be honest (though we’re pretty sure it takes slightly better quality photos than the Zi6 will).

2. It only costs $179.99. That’s right… well under $200 for an HD quality video camera. You really can’t beat that.

PC users will get some software from Kodak that will let them edit and upload their video direct to Youtube, while Mac users will love that the video comes is captured in standard h.264 video format, meaning you can just dump it into iMovie, and away you go. It’ll also take still photos, so you don’t have to carry three camera’s with you just to capture all your shots and video.

It also supports up to 32GB SDHC memory cards, meaning you can expand it to capture hours of video, versus the lower time limits on the all-in-one Flip or Vado.

The Kodak Zi6 is powered by “AA” batteries, so you should never run out of power, and it comes with two rechargable AA’s and a wall charger. If you find yourself out of power, just grab two more Duracell AA batteries at a local store, and you’re back in business.

I can’t wait for this thing to hit the shelves.

Pre-order it on Amazon.com for $179.99 right now, and be one of the first to own it when it ships.

Oh, and pick up some big SDHC memory cards while you’re at it:

Try a 32GB SDHC memory card from PNY for around $130 or get these excellent 16GB SDHC memory cards from Transcend for around $60

(And yes, the HC part of the SDHC designation is important. It’s what makes the cards work for video at these large sizes… they’re faster than standard SD memory cards, so keep that in mind if you’re shopping at Fry’s or something and think you see a ‘good deal’.)

A-Data’s new Speedy SD Duo flash memory card is making some waves with its multi-purpose design that takes a regular Secure Digital (SD) flash memory card and adds a built-in USB port.

On balance, the design is really just a variation of SanDisk’s Ultra II SD Plus, which also sports a built-in USB connector but has what amounts to an attached cap for that connector instead of a removable one, like the A-Data Duo.

Still, we dig the design and welcome more competitors in this space, as its bound to only drive prices down (these dual-use SD cards command a premium of around 50% compared with regular SD cards).

A-Data’s site has woefully little information about the Speedy SD Duo, and lists capacities at only 1GB and 2GB. But GizFever is selling the following: 2GB for $28.99, 4GB for $42.99, and 8GB for $106.99 (prices include shipping).

Depending on where you shop, those prices are about the same as the SanDisk Ultra II SD Plus for the 2GB and 4GB, and more expensive for the 8GB.

We like the integrated USB cap design more and the SanDisk name generally stands for higher quality than A-Data, but to each their own.

There’s a ton of moderately priced, pocket sized digital cameras on the market. So many, in fact, that picking out your point-and-shoot is probably more daunting than actually learning how to use the thing.

We’re big fans of Canon’s PowerShot Digital Elph series, which are consistently well constructed, pack good performance, and have the best user interface among this class of cameras.

Canon’s PowerShot SD870 IS is particularly attractive, primarily because it offers something few competitors do: a built-in wide-angle lens.

The 28-105mm range means you won’t have to be as far away from your subjects to fit everything into the frame, which for most people probably happens more often than the need for an ultra long zoom. Still, the 3.8x optical zoom makes the SD870 IS plenty capable of snapping subjects from afar, and the optical image stabilization means those long-distance shots have a good chance of coming out clear.

Other great features:

• 8-megapixel CCD
• 3-inch LCD
• 15-1/1600 sec. shutter speed
• DiG!C III processor
• Face detection auto-focus

Another great thing about the SD870 IS is that it’s not part of Canon’s latest line-up of cameras, which means you can save big money without sacrificing much performance (and it’s still the best Elph with a 28mm lens). Amazon stocks the silver version for $247 and the black one for $261. Both prices are roughly $200 less than what the SD870 retailed for it when it first came out last year.

You need more than a waterproof disposable camera to capture real memories underwater, you need something like the SL325 ReefMaster Mini Pro Set from the underwater camera experts at SeaLife.

The set matches the 6-megapixel waterproof ReefMaster Mini with the SL960 external flash, an essential piece of gear to capture the true colors of the sea.

Also included is a deluxe soft case to keep everything together.

The ReefMaster Mini Pro Set sells for $449.95 from Amazon, or pick it up for the same price from LeisurePro and get a free 1GB SD card and 130 free digital prints.

Feel like you need something a little beefier? Check out SeaLife’s DC800 Pro Set (available $799.95), which includes a better 8-megapixel camera and an upgraded flash.