As an experiment, I embarked on a Photowalk with my three digital cameras to discover which would be the most useful, and in which circumstances.

The cameras are, from left to right:

1. Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ8 — a DSLR
2. Advent MP8 — a compact.
3. Panasonic SDR S7 — an SD camcorder.

So, two still cams and a movie camera.

The walk was around the centre of Exeter, including the Quay, the High Street and the river bank, plus a number of tourist sites around the city.

Conclusion
As expected, I used the movie camera the most. There was just too much movement and activity for static shots.

However, when confronted with a fine view, the DSLR came out and a staged shot was taken. Even so, these were all hand-held. Pulling out my tripod would have involved too much effort and made me too conspicuous.

Where a fairly static scene was involved, but with something interesting going on, I reached automatically for the compact.

So, predictably the ratio was 3:2:1 for video, DSLR, compact.

Does that tell me anything about my usage and preferences? Probably not, except that I’ll make sure I carry the videocam everywhere from now on.

Nikon has just announced its new Coolpix P80 with 18x zoom. Although described as a compact camera, it looks and feels like a small DSLR.

Nikon’s new Coolpix P80 with 18x zoom

Here’s part of the press release :

MELVILLE, NY (April 10, 2008) Nikon Inc. is pleased to announce the COOLPIX P80, a high-performance compact camera built to satisfy the needs of camera enthusiasts and family photographers alike. The P80 harmoniously integrates a 10.1 megapixel CCD image sensor with Nikon’s innovative EXPEED digital image processing concept and an 18x optical Zoom-NIKKOR lens designed with the compact and comfortable styling of the Nikon COOLPIX brand.

The COOLPIX P80 addresses a need from consumers for an ultra-zoom compact camera that offers unrivaled Nikon performance and clarity, said Bill Giordano, General Manager, Marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. Nikon is proud to continue delivering the highest quality imaging products for photo enthusiasts and aspiring photographers with a broad range of creative control options and superior imaging ability.”

At around $400, this looks a very interesting addition to the legendary Nikon range.

Sony has just released what it calls the world’s first full high-definition camcorder, the HDR-TG1.

The new Sony HDR-TG1 HD camcorder

The official press release claims :

SAN DIEGO, Apr. 2, 2008. The new pocket-sized Sony HDR-TG1 Handycam camcorder’s weighty high-definition capability will appeal to vacationers who prefer to “travel light.”

This diminutive camcorder weighs in at only ten ounces. It has an ultra-portable body measuring just 1.3-inches wide by 4.7-inches tall by 2.5-inches deep.

It is a full-featured camcorder that can record 1920 x 1080 HD video and 4-megapixel digital photos directly to Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo or PRO Duo Mark2 media cards. Its size and full recording capability makes it the world’s smallest full HD camcorder.

Oddly, I’ve been looking for something like this for quite a while. It will be good to see the reviews when they start appearing.

“It ships with a supplied 4GB PRO Duo Mark2 media card so it’s ready to go straight out of the box and you don’t have to make space in your travel bag for extra discs or tapes.”

Kelly Davis, director of camcorder marketing at Sony Electronics, says, “Sony was the first to introduce a travel-sized camcorder with 8 mm technology in the 1980’s, and it revolutionized the travel and electronics industries. This new model is a great example of our expertise in miniaturization, as well as advanced imaging technologies with features like face detection.”

Sounds irresistible. So how much will it cost?

The company says, “The HDR-TG1 camcorder will ship with supplied accessories in May for about $900. There is also an optional travel kit (Sony ACC-TCH5) that includes a battery, travel charger and pouch for about $100. Plus, there is a custom-fit case (Sony LCM-TGA) with brushed metal accents available as an accessory for about $50.”

Yesterday, Sony (Europe) launched the titanium-coated Cybershot W300. Its spec is as follows :

* 13.6 effective megapixels for superb picture quality
* Scratch-resistant titanium coating
* BIONZ processor powers Smile Shutter, improved Face Detection and D-Range Optimiser
* Intelligent Scene Recognition
* Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with 3x optical zoom
* Extremely High Sensitivity ISO 6400 and Super SteadyShot image stabilisation for clearer low-light shots
* 2.7-inch (230k dot) Clear Photo LCD
* HD Output compatible with PhotoTV HD BRAVIA television

A press release claims :

“Weybridge, 25th February 2008 - It’s the toughest, most technically advanced Cyber-shot W Series camera yet. The slim, beautifully-styled W300 features a scratch resistant titanium coating that’s around five times tougher than anodised aluminium. Inside the pristine exterior, it’s crammed with latest-generation Sony technology to help everyone take better pictures.

“An extremely high resolution of 13.6 effective megapixels assures detail-packed enlargements to A3 size and beyond. Optical performance is further assured by the top-quality Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with 3x optical zoom.

“The W300 excels at capturing crisp, clear images in low light conditions where other cameras struggle. Maximum sensitivity is boosted to an incredible ISO 6400. Teamed with Sony’s original Clear RAW Noise Reduction and Super Steady Shot image stabilisation, this lets the W300 produce excellent results without a tripod in dimly-lit twilight scenes.”

Looks like an extremely useful piece of kit for some specialist operations, and for users who carelessly leave their cameras lying around on floors.