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Sony Electronics unveiled its new DSC-P150 Cybershot digital camera on Midweek, a 7-megapixel model that can fit in a pocket.

The new camera also can be used underwater with a special kit. To facilitate playback of images stored on the camera, Sony will also ship a docking station that can play dorsum images while the device is charging.

Meanwhile, Panasonic also announced three of its own digital cameras aimed more at the mainstream. Ranging from three to five megapizels, the DMC-FZ3 (3-Megapixel), DMC-FZ15 (four-Megapixel) and DMC-FZ20 (5-Megapixel) cameras volition send in "tardily summertime", according to the company.

Past now, the digital camera has moved from a geek toy to a more mainstream accompaniment, even being included in cellular phones. In response to the demands for meaty cameras, Sony'southward Cybershot features a slim form cistron. At present, for the starting time fourth dimension, Sony squeezed in 7-Mpixel resolution into the small-scale form cistron.

The DSC-P150 will be avilable in September for less than $500, according to Sony. The P150 has also been empowered with Sony's own recently introduced Existent Imaging Processo circuitry that ensures fast beginning-up and shot-to-shot times, and puts extra speed and performance backside automatic features such every bit auto focus and auto exposure.

Sony CyberShot DSC-P150 front

"Not only does the Cyber-shot P150 photographic camera offer tremendous value, it takes incredibly bright and lifelike digital photos, capturing color and detail previously unavailable in such a compact camera," said Greg Young, general manager for Sony Electronics' digital yet photographic camera marketing, in a argument.

Sony CyberShot DSC-P150 rear

The Cyber-shot P150 features a Carl Zeiss Vario Tessar 3X optical zoom lens. Digital-zoom specifications were not provided by Sony.

The camera can have upward to 310 shots per charge on the included lithium-ion bombardment. The P150 uses a 32-Mbyte removable Retentivity Stick wink menu for storing images. The camera includes a 1.eight-inch LCD.

With the optional Cyber-shot Marine Pack (MPK-PHB), the Cyber-shot P150 can get an underwater camera with water resistance to a depth of up to 132 anxiety, with the option of using telephoto lenses. The $fourscore Cybershot Station CSS-PHA camera accessory, available now for about $fourscore, can output images on a TV while the photographic camera is charging. The cybershot P150 besides includes a dedicated infrared remote that tin can be used to control the playback or facilitate press on a PictBridge-enabled device.

Meanwhile, Panasonic besides introdcued three new entrants in its line of digital cameras, part of its "Lumix" family unit.

All iii camera include a 12X optical zoom through a Leica DC VARIO-ELMARIT lens, with F2.8 brightness throughout the entire zoom range.
Panasonic's MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer automatically detects and optically compensates for manus movement by shifting internal lens elements.

Panasonic Lumix digital camera

"Photographers, particularly those who shoot sports, wild fauna or live performances, know that it's difficult to get sharp images if they are using a long lens on a handheld photographic camera. The zoom accentuates every piffling movement of the mitt," commented Monica Helmer, marketing manager for Panasonic, in a statement. "We've incorporated the technology we adult for our camcorders to create Panasonic'southward MEGA Optical Image Stabilizer, a truthful optical epitome stabilizer that uses the full capacity of the photographic camera's CCD to compensate for hand jitter."

These cameras also characteristic an extra-depression dispersion (ED) lens to minimize colour aberration (color bleeding). Panasonic has as well improved its innovative Venus Engine LSI, the "brain" of the photographic camera that converts the optical information into digital information. The new Venus 2 Engine LSI handles all epitome processing functions simultaneously, from displaying the image on the LCD to writing data to the memory card as soon as the CCD captures the image signal.

All iii cameras also include a host of sophisticated features such as MEGA BURST sequent shooting manner, existent-time histogram, auto bracketing, color viewfinder and other modes, Panasonic said.