IFA consumer electronics show 2009 Digital cameras at IFA 2009

Digital cameras at IFA 2009

Europe's largest photography show, Photokina, is held every alternate year in Cologne, Germany. As 2009 is one of the 'off' years, the IFA booths are riddled with all the latest camera wizardry - such as twin-screened cameras from Samsung, 3D cameras from Fujifilm, and cameras with built-in projectors from Nikon.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ38 has a rich pedigree. Its family tree includes the FZ18 and the FZ28 - both fully reviewed in our digital camera test.

The Panasonic FZ18 has the same x18 zoom of its predecessors and it houses a 12.1Mp sensor.

It can render high-definition video, and has Panasonic’s latest face-recognition technology. Panasonic has told us that the new Power O.I.S (optical image stabiliser) which this camera has, is superior to the Mega O.I.S featured on the earlier versions.

Image stabilisation is key to reducing blur caused due to camera movement. Blurred images can be very disappointing and the unfortunate effect is particularly prevalent when using slow shutter speeds and a powerful zoom. We pay close attention to the effect that image stabilisation technology has on photographs in our lab tests, so we’ll be looking out for this feature when get round to fully lab testing this camera.

Nikon S1000pj

The Nikon S1000pj is both a digital camera and a projector - see our Nikon S1000pj video above.

It can project images onto any surface, but white walls in dark conditions are most suitable. The idea is that you can take a shot and then share it with friends by projecting it on to a wall. Nikon claims that the production can be between five and 40 inches - although this will depend largely on the room's ambient light.

The image can be projected at a range of sizes – depending on the distance the Nikon S1000pj is from the wall – and there’s a slider button on the top of the camera for adjusting the sharpness of the projection. In our hands-on test, we found that the optimum distance was around 15 inches, and even then the projection quality wasn’t fantastic.

It's due to launch in September for around £400, so we hope that Nikon use the opportunity at IFA to show it off so we can try it out.

For almost 300 digital camera reviews, check out our digital camera report.

The Nikon S1000pj has a 12Mp sensor and a 5x zoom, and if you can’t project images onto a wall, you can always review the shots that you’ve taken on the 2.7-inch LCD.

Panasonic GF1

The GF1 is Panasonic’s third micro four-thirds camera, following in the path of the Lumix G1 and the Lumix GH1. This new model looks more like the Olympus E-P1 MFT camera than the previous two micro four thids cameras from Panasonic, the Panasonic G1 and the Panasonic GH1.

Like the Panasonic GH1, the Panasonic GF1 features an high-definition video mode; however the resolution of only 720p and unlike the GH1, there’s no option for connecting an external microphone. Panasonic says that it's 35% smaller than the G1 and 26% lighter.

Watch our exclusive Panasonic GF1 video above

The camera has a 12.1Mp sensor and a built-in flash, but like the Olympus EP-1 micro four-thirds, it doesn’t have a viewfinder. Instead, photos are framed on the 3-inch LCD – although a live viewfinder can be mounted to the hot shoe adaptor.

It’s an attractive camera and feels comfortable in the hand – more so than the hard-edged EP-1. It’s light, and more compact than the G1 and the GH1 – particularly when accompanied with the newly announced 20mm pancake lens.

Sony Alpha 500 and Sony Alpha 550

These Sony Alpha digital SLR cameras feature 12.3 and 14.2Mp sensors respectively. They are due to be launched in October this year, but have been on show alongside their heavyweight stable mate, the Alpha 850, at IFA 2009.

The 500 and the 550 both feature Sony’s high dynamic range technology – a similar technology to that we’ve seen on the recently announced Nikon D3000 and even some high-end compacts such as the Ricoh CX1.

High dynamic range photos capture detail from both shadows and highlights of a scene, resulting in a more detailed image. It works by taking identical images with different exposures of the same scene, then layering the images over one another.

Read Which? digital photo-editing software reviews

Sony says that the Alpha 500 and the Alpha 550 take two shots at different settings in quick succession. The Sony Alpha then layers the images automatically, and uses algorithms to realign the shots in case the camera has moved between shots.

Sony Alpha 850

The Sony Alpha 850 is a full-frame camera, meaning that the sensor size is equal to that of traditional 35mm film frames. The larger sensor results in more light being let through the lens. We found that the resulting images of full-frame DSLRs are stunning, and the cameras are built with professionals in mind so are usually protected by a solid casing and packed customisable functions.

While the cost of the Alpha 850 won’t be known until nearer its November launch date, expect it to be upwards of £2,000.

Fujifilm Finepix W1 and V1

The Fujifilm Finepix W1 digital camera features two 10Mp sensors enabling the camera to take 3D images - and you can see our exclusive FinePix W1 video below.

We found that the resulting 3D images were good, but the novelty could wear off – luckily, the Fujifilm FinePix W1 features a range of 2D photography options as well.

Two sensors on the FinePix W1 means that the 2D photo options are more involved than normal. Both sensors can be used simultaneously to take two slightly different shots - one shot may be in colour, while the other is in black and white for example. Alternatively, different ISO speeds can be used with each lens, which can result in two very different images – particularly when shooting fast-moving objects.

To view the 3D video or 3D photos taken with the FinePix W1, you’ll have to review your images or clips on either the 2.8-inch LCD or the Fujifilm V1 digital photo frame, which is available to buy separately.

The 3D images can be printed, but you’ll need to use a special lab in Tokyo - and each photo costs around £5 per print. More localised printing services may bring down the printing costs in the future.

Samsung digital cameras

Samsung has a whole host of its latest digital cameras (pictured above) on display at the IFA show, including the Samsung WB1000, Samsung WB500, Samsung WB5000, Samsung ST1000 and the Samsung ST550.

The ST digital cameras in particular have been drawing a lot of attention at the show, thanks to Samsung showcasing a range of innovative features. Check out our video look at the ST550 and the ST1000, below.

The Samsung ST550 digital camera has a front-facing LCD screen, allowing the camera’s subject to see how he or she will appear in the frame.

We found that the secondary screen is great for composing self portraits, and the Samsung ST550 digital camera has smile detection so it can take a picture without the need to depress the shutter release.

The Samsung ST1000 is all about connectivity, however. It features DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance), which allows pictures to be wirelessly shown on DLNA-compatible TVs and laptops.

It tags each picture with the town or city’s name where it was taken using the in-built GPS. This is a particularly fun feature when pictures are added to a Picasa account, when they can then be viewed in galleries on Google Maps.

The Samsung ST1000 includes Wi-Fi access, so photos can be uploaded to Picasa or Facebook. The camera is also Bluetooth-enabled, so pictures can be transferred to mobile phones.

More in-depth first look reviews of these models can be found in our digital camera report and see also our report on choosing and buying the best digital camera.

Sony Party-Shot

The Sony Party-Shot is a fascinating device.

It's a cradle that supports your Sony Cybershot DSC-TX1 and DSC-WX1 cameras, but it's far more than just a glorified tripod.

The Party-Shot twists, tilts and turns, framing and taking shots without any input required from you. Using face detection technology the camera automatically adjusts various exposure settings to get the best out of the shots.

Sony has confirmed that the Party-Shot will be shown off at IFA, and we'll be making a bee-line to Sony's booth in order to try the device out, and share our verdict with you.