Cameras

By Gareth February 12, 2015 Read More →

What Celebrity would you would most like a selfie with this Valentine’s Day?

As Valentine’s Day comes sweeping into the hearts of the public HTC would like focus their attention on those loving moments between couples, however they have noticed that the British public might just be wishing they could have a celebrity to cuddle this year.

The male and female celebrities Brits would most desire a Valentine’s Day selfie with are David Beckham and Jennifer Lawrence according to research carried out by leading design and technology company HTC, to promote its Desire 620 handset. Beckhams are top male heartthrobs. Unsurprisingly David Beckham topped the league of most desirable men to have a selfie with, but the main talking point is a new rival for the crown in the Beckham household with Brooklyn making an appearance on the most desired list. Brooklyn Beckham beat out competition from celebrity heart-throbs including bad boy Justin Bieber and One Direction’s Zayn Malik who came ninth and tenth respectively. Combined the Beckhams achieved a fifth (19%) of the 2000 18-30 year olds polled, indicating the father-son duo could be one of the most sought after selfie opportunities possible.

Brits prefer American women. Jennifer Lawrence’s True Pheromones may have made her the most desirable female, but the biggest surprise was that the highest placed British woman was only number four. Selfie queen Helen Flanagan, was also beaten out by Rihanna and Katy Perry, indicating that most of the UK prefer American women. The next highest ranked Brit was Kelly Brook in sixth.

The Autograph is dead. The data also shows that the autograph is dead. Over half of Brits (55%) reveal they would choose a selfie with their favourite star over anything else, while less than a quarter would want an autograph with their celebrity crush. (22%)

Blokes would also be most bold, with a third of blokes most likely to ask their celebrity crush on a date or for a kiss if they met them. (32%) Women are shyer, with only one in ten likely to do the same (11%).

Most popular celebrity selfies. Ellen DeGeneres took the most popular selfie of the last year with her shot of herself by a who’s who of Hollywood actors, topping other famous selfies of the last 12 months including Kim Kardashian’s famous ‘belfie’, Lukas Podolski’s picture of the German World Cup winning team and Cara Delevingne’s ‘ugly’ shot.

Why do we care about celebrity selfies? We check up on our favourite celebrity’s twitter feeds between two and three times a day (2.51), with nearly a third of us looking at celebrity selfies to get a glimpse into their private lives (29%) or to get a behind the scenes look at what they have been up to (31%). Over a quarter of British females also check celebrity selfies to get fashion inspiration (29%) and a fifth to get beauty tips (22%).

Celebrities are inspiring us to be more selfie obsessed than ever, with the estimated 11 million 18-30 year olds in the UK posting a total of more than one billion selfies in 2014. The average 18-30 year old in the UK is posting over 100 selfies a year with nearly half (49%) now posting at least one selfie a week to social media. To cater for the huge interest in selfies and the desire to make ourselves look our best on our social networks, HTC has now created a range of hardware and software designed specifically for the selfie generation.

The HTC Desire 620 features best-in-class camera tools with a large 5” screen and quad-core processing power. The 8MP main camera has auto focus technology to deliver crisp shots every time, and the 5MP front-facing camera features a built-in countdown mode so you’ll never miss a selfie pose again.

Face Fusion is a tool that allows you to merge your face with that of a friend or celebrity for a completely original look and Live Makeup allows you to set the desired level of skin smoothing and preview the effect in real-time before the image is captured.

Voice Selfie also removes the need for awkward hand contortions by enabling you to trigger the shutter release with a simple command. Simply say “cheese” or “smile” as soon as you’ve struck the perfect pose or trigger the video recording with “action” or “rolling” commands.

Ben Walsh, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland at HTC, said: “There were some great celebrity selfies in 2014 and it’s clear that we’re more interested than ever, with the average person checking their favourite celebrity’s social postings multiple times a day. It is also inspiring us to imitate them, so we’ve created a suite of new features in our Desire handsets which allow HTC customers to get creative with their own selfies.”

For more details on HTC’s Desire range, visit www.htc.com/uk/ The HTC Desire 620 is available in Santorini White exclusively from Three or in Tuxedo Grey on O2 or Vodafone from Carphone Warehouse. HTC EYE Experience features are also available on the following models: HTC One (M7), HTC One (M8), HTC Desire Eye, HTC One E8, HTC One mini, HTC One mini 2, HTC One max, HTC Desire 816, HTC Desire 820.

Posted in: Cameras, Editorial, Phones

By Gareth February 4, 2015 Read More →

Unboxing Revealmedia Body Camera

Gareth takes a look at the RS3-SX Body Worn Camera System from Revealmedia. This unit is typically worn by the Police to document response situations. Built for reliability and designed to be light weight the Body Worn Camera is a versatile and almost essential piece of equipment for an officer on the job.

Accurate positioning. Horizontal and vertical camera adjustment.
Front-facing screen. 2.5” screen displays footage as it is being recorded. Proven to improve outcomes.
Multi-use. Use camera on body, in car or standalone (eg. in interviews).
Secure. Files will only load and play on a computer running DEMS software; not on any other device
Wide field of view. 120º horizontal, 60º vertical
Dock and go. Automatic file uploading and battery charging via cable or docking station.
Rugged case. Designed for use on the front line – where you work.
Usage log. Encrypted log on RS3-SX. Automatically detect if a video has been tampered with.
Playback. On camera video and audio playback. Review footage in the field.
Mark evidence. Mark footage as ‘evidential’ when in record mode. Automatic filing after upload to DEMS.
Stealth mode. Enables recording without screen or lights.

RECORDING

Audio and video recording – yes
Recording resolution – Full HD
Recording speed – 30 frames per second
Field of view, horizontal – 120º
Field of view, vertical – 60º
Encoding technology, video – H264
Encoding technology, audio – MPEG-4
Recording activation switch – single slider switch; one action record
Recording capacity – >8hrs
Recording format – .mov
Date and time stamp – yes

Posted in: Cameras, Videos/Unboxings

By Phil Lain February 15, 2014 Read More →

Sony ACX-2 Case for DSC-QX10/QX100 and Xperia Z1

Having recently acquired a Sony Xperia Z1 for myself and already owning a DSC-QX10 Lens I decided to get myself a case for the Z1 which would allow me to attach the lens to the camera without the need to use the slightly chunky mount that comes with the QX10.

Sony now produce cases that will allow their two lenses to the Xperia Z, Z1 and Z Ultra in black and white finishes. The price for the Z1 is quite expensive for what is (without the lens attachment) quite a basic case at £25 from the Sony website.

http://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras-cases-covers-straps/spa-acx2

I decided to give it the case a try anyway and when I received it I was quite pleased to note that the case actually solved one of my criticisms of the Z1 and Z Ultra, namely the glass construction and slim profile make both devices very slippery.

The fit of the case onto the Z1 is, as you would expect from an official accessory, perfect and the lens attaches quickly and effortlessly. I was really impressed and decided that the Z1 with the case would be my every day device for my week long holiday overseas.

The ease of attaching the lens to the phone made this my goto camera for the whole holiday and I found that i did not take my DSLR out of the safe once on the whole trip.

The case did have one major downside however! You may have noticed that the photos of the case and camera that I have shown so far are taken from the Sony website. The reason for this is that on the second day of my trip, whilst sitting and having lunch I heard a “crack” noise from my pocket. Upon inspecting the case, two corners had broken off and there was a crack down the back of the case.

A quick web search reveled this to be a fairly common occurrence and that the normal response upon contacting Sony is to be offered a refund rather than an exchange.

I managed to baby the case through the rest of the holiday but I will not be seeking a refund and I will, in fact, be purchasing a second one.

The reason for this strange course of action is that during my research into the cracking problem, I discovered that many people have successfully removed the camera connection from the case and have attached it to an alternative case which is more durable. This is my plan as well and if I’m successful I will post up the results.

Here are some shots of the damage to the case and how the camera looks when it is attached. It is an exceptionally good idea that was let down by the execution.

Posted in: Cameras, Phones, Reviews

By Phil Lain January 31, 2014 Read More →

Sony DSC-QX10 and QX100 Firmware v2.0 is available to download from Sony Asia

Towards the end of 2013 Sony announced that a firmware for the DSC QX10 and QX100 lens cameras for use with Smartphones would be released in January. With only a few days left to meet this target, the promised update has appeared on the Sony Asia support site. At the time of writing the UK site still doesn’t show the download.

New features for the version 2.0 update are:

ISO Setting added
Movie Recording size changed: MP4 1440 x 1080(30p) to MP4 1920 x 1080(30p)
Shutter Speed Priority Shooting mode added (DSC-QX100 only)

I updated my QX10 yesterday and the time taken to connect to my Nexus 5 has reduced drastically and the connection itself seems to be much more stable. These were two issues that I highlighted in my review and once I have had a chance to play with the the camera with the new firmware some more I will update the review with my new thoughts.

The update was painless and all of the steps required are clearly explained in the updater software. It seems that the existing firmware on the lenses is a mix of v1 and v0.1 so it looks like some units were sold with an earlier release and no update was offered.

If you’d like to grab the update now, try these links.

http://www.sony-asia.com/support/product/dsc-qx100

http://www.sony-asia.com/support/product/DSC-QX10

Posted in: Cameras, News
Tags: DSC-QX10, Sony

By Matt December 11, 2013 Read More →

Getting the Most Out of Your DSLR Camera: 7 Tips

A DSLR camera is so much more than a point-and-shoot tool to take nice family pictures. With a few basics tips and a lot of practice, you can create artistic-studio quality work that you will be proud to share with family and friends. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your purchase.

Start with the Basics

Read your manual; it’s a time investment you won’t regret. The great thing about the user manual is everything you read can be applied right away. If the thought of reading the whole thing at once intimidates you, start with a chapter at a time, and experiment with what you learn. Remember to thoroughly clean the camera lens before each photo session.

Posted in: Cameras, Editorial
Tags: DSLR

By Phil Lain November 30, 2013 Read More →

Sony Cybershot DSC-QX10 Review

The Sony DSC-QX10 and DSC-QX100 lens cameras for use with smartphones seem to have polarized opinions in the press with regard to their usefulness with some critics claiming that they are products that are looking for a purpose. Here we will be reviewing the base model DSC-QX10 camera using both Apple and Android smartphones.

If you haven’t already seen Matt’s unboxing and hands-on video, please take a few minutes to get an idea of what the Sony QX10 is all about.

Unboxing and Setup Video

The 10 Second review:

Device: Sony Cyber-shot QX10
Price: RRP £180. Available from £135 from various on-line retailers.
Summary: An add on camera for iOS and Android devices.
Best of: Picture Quality, focus speed, 10x Optical zoom.
Worst of: Occasional connection slowdowns. Currently not fully compatible with Android 4.4.
Buy it now from: Amazon UK
Also consider: Stand alone compact camera

What’s in the box?

Sony Cyber-shot QX10 Lens
Rear cover to attach lens to phone
Battery
MicroUSB sync/charge cable
Wriststrap
Instruction Manual

Sony Cybershot DSC-QX10 Review Specifications

Sensor	18MP, 1/2.3in BSI CMOS
Lens	10x optical zoom, 25-250mm in equivalent terms
LCD	n/a
File Formats	JPEG, MPEG 4
Shutter Speeds	4 – 1/1600 sec
Exposure Modes	Auto, i-Auto, Program
Metering System	Multi
ISO Range	100-3200
White Balance	auto
Flash Modes	n/a
Memory Card	microSD, micro SDHC, micro SDXC
Connectivity	USB 2, Wi-fi, NFC
Power	Li-ion rechargeable
Dimensions	62 x 62 x 33 mm
Weight	105g
Video	1440 x 1080 @ 30fps

General

I think that it is probably worth starting off by saying what the QX10 is and what is does and doesn’t do. Put simply the QX10 is a compact camera that is missing a screen or viewfinder and most of the controls. The reason that these normally important features are missing is that you can access them by using your smartphone!

The QX10 incorporates WiFi into it and by connecting the two devices together. On an iPhone it is simply the case of switching the camera on and going to the WiFi settings on the phone and pairing them. On a Android phone with NFC it is even more simple. Just touch the two devices together and the paring process starts. Once that is done The Sony Play Memories App can be downloaded form either The Apple App Store or Google Play and off you go.

Whatever the lens sees is shown (almost) immediately on your smartphone screen. The reason that I said almost is that there occasions when it seems to go a little laggy but generally it is fast and stutter free.

Settings for the camera can be adjusted using the app. These include the photo or video mode, the photograph resolution, the image size that is automatically transferred to the phone and the sounds that the camera makes. It is a very simple app and for the most part performs very well. One current downside to the Play Memories app is that it currently does not support Android 4.4 KitKat. As I have a Nexus 5 as my personal device this did cause a few moments of head scratching but I discovered that Camera360 has recently been updated to connect to the QX10 although video mode is not supported.

What is it like to use and does it really serve a purpose?

I am quite a keen (if not very good) photographer and I am generally not keen on using the cameras on phones to record anything other than quick photos for social media sites. I’ve usually got a camera of some kind available whenever I am out and about and often with a collection of lenses in a bag. I very often take a shot with my camera and then a second with a phone to share straight away.

With the QX10 these issues suddenly disappeared! I was able to keep the QX10 in one pocket and my phone in another and when I wanted to grab a shot, there was a simple less than 10 second process to switch on, attach to phone and open the app to get the shot. You can also use the lens in one hand and the phone in another to get shots that you normally would find hard to frame.

The QX10 has a thread for a tripod so it can be set up in a location and remotely controlled and viewed which might be useful if you like to do wildlife photography.

I would not try to claim that this camera could ever replace a DSLR, m4/3 or Sony NEX camera but it allows another option when choosing the kit that you need. I would happily take it out on its own though and know that the shots that I brought back would be excellent!

I found the QX10 to be a really fun camera to shoot with and a couple of my photographer friends who tried it out agreed and have ordered their own.

As a video camera the QX10 is very capable and is able to capture 1440x1080p video at 30 frames per second. Matt recently used it to record the unboxing of the Sony Xperia Z Ultra recently.

Why not have a look at the video and see what you think? Sony Xperia Z Ultra unboxing and hands-on

Here are a few sample shots taken with the Sony Cybershot DSC-QX10

All shots are straight from the camera memory card and were taken hand-held.

: Great Colour Reproduction

: Macro Mode, object amost touching the lens!

: 1x Zoom

: 20x Zoom

: Nice Depth Of Field

: Night Time

Conclusion

The Sony DSC-QX10 was the 1^st device in a long time that has truly amazed me! The slightly laggy response from the viewfinder was forgotten every time I used the camera. I would say that if you are considering the QX10 or that if you are curious about it, you would probably enjoy it as much as I do. If you think that it’s a silly idea then you should try one out – I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Posted in: Cameras, Phones, Reviews
Tags: Cybershot, Featured, Sony

By Matt November 10, 2013 Read More →

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 unboxing and setup video

The quality and pixel count of cameras built in to smartphones is improving all the time but there are always compromises to be made when you’re cramming a sensor and optics in to a package small enough to fit in to a smartphone where anything over about 10mm is considered too ‘fat’.

There have been obvious leaps forward particularly with the Nokia Lumia 1020 and the Ultrapixel sensor on the HTC One but even though these cameras are good there’s still no beating the optics and sensors in ‘proper’ digital cameras.

So enter the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10, a lens camera system from Sony. Sony have taken the G Lens and ExmorR CMOS sensor from one of their digital cameras and put them in to a package that’s the same size as the lens itself. The result is a camera with 10x zoom and 18.2MP sensor in a package that looks like it’s just a small-ish lens.

The idea here is that you can use this “lens camera” with your existing Android or iOS smartphone to give you a really good camera experience, far better than you could expect from the built-on camera and with a 10x zoom and optical image stabiliser to boot.

You connect your phone to the QX10 via WiFi direct and then use Playmemories Mobile app as the interface and viewfinder for the camera.

I decided to get a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX10 because the camera on the Nexus 5 isn’t great… However, word of warning, the Playmemories App, which is essential to using the QX10, doesn’t work on the Nexus 5, presumably doesn’t support Android OS 4.4 yet!

Posted in: Cameras, Phones, Videos/Unboxings
Tags: Cyber-shot, Sony

By Matt November 5, 2013 Read More →

Top 3 compact cameras for outdoor adventures

When you want to capture your outdoor adventures on film, a compact action camera is ideal. Small and light enough to not be a burden in your backpack, yet robust enough to cope with the toughest conditions, these pieces of kit are a must for any photographer on the go. Here are our top three picks:

1. Olympus TOUGH TG-820

This camera is crushproof to 100kg, waterproof to 10m, shockproof to 2m and freezeproof to -10 degrees C, so you can take snaps on any outdoor adventure in confidence. No matter what your environment or activity, the Olympus TOUGH TG-820 is prepared to join you.

It doesn’t sacrifice photography specifications in favour of durability, either. The 12-megapixel camera has a 5x optical zoom, can record in 1080p, and even has a 3D photo shooting mode. Trusted Reviews says: “If you’re on the lookout for a bombproof compact then the TG-820 is definitely worth putting on your shortlist.”

You can order the camera online through Jessops, which offers free next-day delivery or the option to collect from store in as little as 30 minutes. The Olympus TOUGH TG-820 comes with a two-year guarantee, and accessories including memory cards and cases are available.

2. Fuji FinePix XP200

This Fuji camera is almost as robust as the Olympus compact: it is waterproof to 15m, shockproof to 2m, freezeproof to -10 degrees C and dustproof, too. The body of the FinePix XP200 also boasts ribbed rubberised grips, which can be handy while on the go.

Again, the photography specifications are impressive, with the effective number of megapixels at 16.4 million and the option for full HD recording. Even the LCD screen is built for the great outdoors, with an anti-reflective coating allowing you to frame effectively even in bright light.

We also love the wireless capabilities, which enable you to view snaps on your smartphone using the FUJIFILM app, or transfer images straight to your PC over Wi-Fi. The selection of filters also mean there’s no need to go through an editing program for an artistic look.

3. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30

The smallest and lightest of the bunch, weighing in at a mere 125g and measuring just 96.4 x 59.3 x 15.4mm, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 is great for slotting in your pocket. The Carl Zeiss lens captures 18.2 effective megapixels, and boasts a 5x optical zoom.

It’s great for those with limited photography skills, with the Intelligent Auto feature recognising scenes and adjusting settings automatically, and Superior Auto technology combatting blur, so you get the best shots without the effort. Find out more here.

Posted in: Cameras, Editorial

By Matt September 18, 2013 Read More →

Superzoom lenses: growing with time

What are we referring to when we use the phrase superzoom? What we’re talking about are photographic zoom lenses, manufactured for use with a 35mm camera and featuring an unconventionally large focal length – typically more than 5×. Superzoom lenses have improved significantly over time, with models now on the market boasting over 15× abilities, but they weren’t always so gargantuan.

Posted in: Cameras, Editorial
Tags: cameras, lenses

By James Richardson November 24, 2011 Read More →

O2 teams up with House of Fraser

O2 has announced its first bespoke targeted marketing campaign for House of Fraser, a leading UK premium department store group, encapsulating a range of O2 services. This is the first time that O2 has combined and integrated different services to deliver a mobile campaign that is part of House of Fraser’s wider marketing mix for their Christmas activity. A portfolio of O2 Media services, including Priority Moments and real time location reach have been combined with O2 Wifi to deliver personalised targeting for O2 customers around the House of Fraser brand, which is focused on delivering an innovative consumer experience.
One element of the campaign will see 11 House of Fraser stores across the UK offering all their customers free O2 Wifi. Customers will benefit from full access to the internet, while House of Fraser will gain aggregated rich customer insights and data. Already above the line, as part of O2’s own advertising campaign to support it Priority Moments service, House of Fraser will also offer O2 Priority Moments customers a £15 gift voucher when they spend £40, until the end of January 2012.
The bespoke O2 service has been designed to offer House of Fraser a comprehensive marketing solution in the run up to the vital Christmas period that not only drives footfall, brand awareness and loyalty but also increases incremental sales and drives purchase decisions around specific offers and promotions.
Alongside this, O2 Media’s real time location services will be used to direct consumers into House of Fraser stores by offering a range of promotional activities. O2 Media will also be sending out rich media messages, such as pictures and videos of in-store fashion shows and products. Further messages will be sent to consumers directing them to House of Fraser’s own department store app, the latest development in their multi channel offer, which also provides information on deals, offers and planned in-store activities.

Posted in: Cameras

Cameras

What Celebrity would you would most like a selfie with this Valentine’s Day?

Unboxing Revealmedia Body Camera

Sony ACX-2 Case for DSC-QX10/QX100 and Xperia Z1

Sony DSC-QX10 and QX100 Firmware v2.0 is available to download from Sony Asia