Throwable camera ball takes stellar panoramic images

Who hasn’t seen an amazing photo, like the one below, and wanted to be able to do it for themselves? It can now be possible using one of the most clever gizmos we’ve seen in some time: the “throwable panoramic camera”. Developed by the Computer Graphics Group in Berlin, it allows a user to take 36o degree pictures just by tossing it in the air.

How it works is simple, inside the ball are 36 mobile phone cameras, all set to go off at precisely the same time when the ball senses that it is at the height of a toss.  As it detects that it is starting to fall (using an accelerometer), it fires all of it’s cameras, putting image data to storage. Then, using a custom application, users can put together some pretty stunning images.  Check out this one of a beautiful mountain scene:

The idea is an awesome one for sure, almost like a portable Google Streetview cam for specific applications. Imagine being at a concert or sporting event with a large group of people that you want to capture, a user could get some pretty cool images that way!

This green beauty is an awesome little invention that has every geek in the world is asking, “How much and where can I get it?” Right now, the answer is nowhere since it is in development, but something this cool is bound to picked up by a manufacturer somewhere.  There is no word on how the ball handles being dropped from height, nor what the storage capacity is, but with the padding that it comes with,  assume can take some light abuse.

Photogs out there will recognize how much easier this invention would make creating panoramic shots.  Right now, a photographer would have to move a camera into many different locations, wasting precious time and effort. Being able to take one in seconds instead of hours has obvious advantages!

Check out the official video below:

Small Cameras, Big Zoom

These eight compact superzoom digital cameras can get you close to the action—and they'll slide right into your back pocket.

It used to be that if you wanted a long zoom lens, you had to tote a bulky camera. No longer: More and more manufacturers are packing serious zoom factor into cameras that you can carry in your back pocket. With all the options to choose from, though, there are a few things you should consider when you're looking for the right superzoom camera.

When it comes to lenses, it's not just the degree of optical zoom (12x or 14x, for example) you should look at. Focal length is a better indicator of how close to your subject the lens can actually take you. For example, Samsung boasts 15x optical zoom in its $350 HZ35W. But the focal length of the lens only reaches to 360mm. The $350 Canon PowerShot SX210 IS, on the other hand, has a 14x lens, but focal length is much longer at 392mm.

Since these models have slightly larger bodies than standard compact point-and-shoot cameras, there's room for extra goodies inside. But you need to decide which extra features you need—and you want to pay for. Take HD video, for one: All of the cameras here are capable of recording high-definition video, but only a few capture 1080p (1,920 by 1080) footage. The others record smaller-size videos (720p), but can ocassionaly have higher frame-rates (up to 60 per second).

A few of these cameras integrate GPS for geotagging your photos. Models like the Casio Exilim EX-H20G, Canon PowerShot SX230 HS, Samsung HZ35W, Fujifilm FinePix F500EXR, and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V all include GPS. When you view your photos from those cameras in a program that supports geotagging, like Google's Picasa, they'll be plotted on a map with location information, and you'll also see the direction in which each photo was taken. The DSC-HX5V also has some innovative in-camera software for reducing image noise, and a cool feature called iSweep Panorama that lets you swipe the camera up, down, left or right, while it fires multiple images and then stitches them together in a few seconds.


It's not all about fancy features, though. The FujiFilm FinePix F80EXR ($300) is the least expensive model here, and its best feature is the ability to pump out impressive photos. For some, that's the most important feature of all.

Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

$349.99 list
The Canon PowerShot SX210 is a no-nonsense camera that packs a long 14x optical-zoom lens into a small body. But this camera doesn't excel in low light, and images show some color fringing.

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

$349.99 list

The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS is a top choice if you want a long zoom lens, plus bonus features like GPS, in a camera that can fit in your pocket. 

Casio Exilim EX-H20G

$349.99 list
If you're an avid traveler, you'll like the sharp photos, 10x zoom lens, and integrated GPS the Casio Exilim EX-H20G offers, but if you don't need to geotag your photos, you can get better performance for the price. 

FujiFilm FinePix F80EXR

$299.99 list
The pocket-size Fujifilm FinePix F80EXR gives you enough zoom to get close to the action, and it takes some pretty impressive photos, but the user interface on this camera needs a serious overhaul. 

Fujifilm FinePix F550EXR

$349.95 list
Fujifilm's FinePix F550EXR is a feature-rich compact camera, and even adds a few controls and goodies for photo enthusiasts—but its image quality is subpar, especially for the $350 price. 

Nikon Coolpix S9100
 
$329.95 direct
The speedy-shooting Nikon S9100 delivers a big 18x optical zoom lens and a high-res LCD in a small, pocket-size package at a great price. 

Samsung HZ35W

$349.95 list
Samsung packs a lot of fun features and a 15x zoom lens into its HZ35W, but noisy images hold this pocket camera back. 

 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V
 
$349.99 direct
While you can get more zoom in a same-size camera from competitors, Sony makes up for it with a wealth of innovative features and clever in-camera software in the Cyber-shot DSC-HX5V. 

Find the Right Pocket Camera

Deciding to buy a point-and-shoot camera is the simple part, but with hundreds of models to choose from, selecting the best one for your needs and budget is no easy feat. Following our seven rules will help bring your perfect camera into focus.

Rule #1: Do your research. Read lots of reviews, and don't buy based on name brand alone.

Big-name manufacturers like Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Panasonic have all produced top-notch compact cameras, but that doesn't mean they don't slip a lemon or two into their lineups every now and then. Even when a major manufacturer partners with another key industry player, such as Sony with prestigious lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss, or Panasonic with Leica, you can't be assured that you'll always get a top-notch camera. So read the reviews before settling on a particular model—the brand of camera you end up choosing might surprise you.

Rule #2: Megapixels mean less than sensor size.

Higher megapixel count doesn't necessarily mean better pictures, it just means larger images. You'd be hard-pressed to find a recent-model camera for sale today with a resolution of less than 8 megapixels, and that's enough to print up to 11-by-17-inch images. If you're just making 4-by-6-inch prints or viewing your pictures online, megapixel count means even less. A better indicator of photo quality is the size of the camera's image sensor. Here, bigger is definitely better. Image sensors range in size from 25mm² (surface area) for inexpensive point-and-shoot cameras, all the way up to 1,977mm² for high-end D-SLRs. Our Editors' Choice high-end pocket camera, the Canon PowerShot S95 looks like a run-of-the-mill pocket camera, but in its tiny body it houses an image sensor that's roughly twice as large as most cameras its size.

Rule #3: Pay attention to must-have features.

Image stabilization, which helps reduce the blur that can come from shaky hands, is an important feature to have. If a camera has digital image stabilization, that's fine, but it should have optical or sensor-shift stabilization as well. Virtually all modern cameras include face-detection technology, which finds and focuses on faces in the frame and improves the image's overall composition and quality by optimizing the color and white balance. Just make sure you turn it on before you shoot portraits or group photos. Optical zoom specs are also important, especially if you plan on taking a lot of landscape photos. The benefits of optical zoom are obvious: The higher the zoom level, the closer you can get to your subject. In this class you're likely to get a 3x or a 5x zoom lens, but we've seen compact models that offer up to 10x. And if you're willing to carry a slightly larger camera, a superzoom camera can provide up to 18x, like the still-pocketable Nikon Coolpix S9100. Now, more about the size of your compact camera...

Rule #4: Size matters, but not for everyone.

One of the major benefits of a point-and-shoot camera is its small size, but thinner cameras are typically more expensive and sometimes sacrifice features. Unless you plan to keep your camera in a jeans pocket, there's no need to spend a premium on a super-slim camera. With a larger camera, it will still fit in a jacket pocket, but you'll likely get a bigger LCD, a longer zoom lens, and easier-to-manipulate controls, especially if you have larger hands and fingers.

Rule #5: Don't overlook the display.

Pretty much all pocket cameras have abandoned traditional viewfinders in favor of LCDs for framing your shots. So it's important to focus on getting the best LCD you can find. For point-and-shoot cameras, LCD sizes start at 2.5 inches and go all the way up to 3.5 inches, but there aren't many 3.5-inchers out there, and the ones we've seen are typically on the expensive side. Currently, the sweet spot for screen size is 2.7 or 3 inches. Resolution on the LCD is measured in dots—the higher the number of dots, the more detail you'll see, and the resolution is independent of the display's physical size. A decent camera LCD should have at least 230,000 dots. On the top end, the $500 Olympus XZ-1 offers an incredibly sharp 3-inch display packed with 610k dots—it's also OLED, rather than standard LCD, which means higher image contrast and less motion blur as images move across the screen.

Display contrast is important too; LCDs that are too bright without equally high contrast will make images appear washed out, and they might also be difficult to see in direct sunlight. Touch screens are making their way onto more and more compact cameras, but before you go that route, make sure the on-screen controls are easy to use. And beware: Touch-screen cameras are notorious power hogs. If long battery life is important to you, skip the touch screen. If you can, it's always best to get your (eyes and) hands on the camera to check out the screen and the controls before you buy it. A camera like the Canon PowerShot Elph 300 HS is very solid overall, but its tiny buttons could make it challenging to operate if you have large fingers.

Rule #6: Go for HD Video.

In addition to still images, almost all of today's point-and-shoot cameras can capture standard-definition video (640 by 480 at 30 frames per second). Models that shoot high-definition video are starting to become commonplace and affordable, with prices starting as low as $150. The resolution and frame rate of the HD video recorded by low-end or midrange point-and-shoot cameras is typically 1,280 by 720 pixels at 30 progressive frames per second (720p30). For most casual users, this is sufficient, especially if you're just sharing your footage on Facebook, YouTube, or other online services. You can find several pocket cameras that capture video in full 1080p HD, but it's a high-end feature that will likely cost you a little more. The $400 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 gives you the option to record in 1080p at various bitrates. Also, if you want to watch your captured videos (or even view a still-image slideshow) on your HDTV, consider a camera with an integrated HDMI connector.

Rule #7: Save a bundle on a great camera—from last year.

While camera innovation often advances at a similar pace to that of computers and cell phones, those products become obsolete at a much faster clip. If a camera took great pictures last year, it will take great pictures now. You might not get some of the cutting-edge features you'd get with a brand-new model, but you can save a lot. Some of our favorite cameras from last year, such as the Editors' Choice Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 and the Canon PowerShot SX210 are still widely available, but they're selling for as much as $100 below their original list prices.

The 10 Best Digital Cameras

The problem with buying a digital camera is not only that there are hundreds of models for sale at any given point in time, but you also need to figure out which type of camera is right for you. The good news is that we review lots of cameras—and these 10 are among the best we've tested.

Do you want a small camera that requires minimal effort, but takes great pictures? A pocket point and shoot is probably your best bet. Need to get close to the action without carrying a huge camera with a big lens? A compact superzoom model is likely for you. Or do you want a lightning-fast shooter that lets you swap out lenses and play with settings? Then you want a D-SLR or a compact interchangeable-lens camera. Plan on shooting on the beach or the slopes? You need a ruggedized waterproof model.

We picked winners from the cameras we've reviewed in each of the five aforementioned categories to make up our top 10. Remember, though, the digital camera market is a robust one; manufacturers release new products throughout the year, and we're continually testing and reviewing cameras. Before you buy, be sure to hit our Digital Cameras Product Guide for the latest reviews. But for now, here are 10 of our favorite digital cameras.

Canon PowerShot S95
If you must have a camera that fits in your pocket, the Canon PowerShot S95 is the best compact model you can buy.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T110 
Sony's good-looking, compact Cyber-shot DSC-T110 delivers great photos and a solid touch-screen experience at a bargain price.

Nikon D3100
Nikon's D3100 is an excellent entry-level digital SLR, and is currently the only D-SLR to offer continuous autofocus during video recording for a true camcorder-like video-capture experience.

Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
The Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 is the only digital SLR that can deliver beautiful images and blazing fast autofocus whether you're framing your shots with the optical viewfinder, or with the LCD in Live View mode. Video-capture options are a bit limited, though.

Sony Alpha NEX-3
Stellar performance, a killer design, and a low price make the pocket-size Sony Alpha NEX-3 the compact interchangeable-lens camera to beat.

Olympus E-PL2 
The Olympus E-PL2 is the least-expensive compact interchangeable-lens camera you can buy. And while it offers very good image quality, some same-price cameras use even larger image sensors and deliver better low-light performance.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 might be the best Micro Four Thirds camera on the market, but it's not the best compact interchangeable-lens camera you can buy.

Nikon Coolpix S9100
The speedy-shooting Nikon S9100 delivers a big 18x optical zoom lens and a high-res LCD in a small, pocket-size package at a great price.

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS
The Canon PowerShot SX230 HS is a top choice if you want a long zoom lens, plus bonus features like GPS, in a camera that can fit in your pocket.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Images from the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 are on the soft side, but its tough build and innovative feature set make this pocket camera our favorite rugged outdoor shooter.