When you’re trying to get that perfect shot, mother nature doesn’t always agree with you. There could be rain, dust, and all sorts of other camera-destroying elements. If you’re in the market for a mid-range DSLR that can handle rugged environments, the new Pentax K-30 is a compact, lightweight option.

The key selling point here is the weather resistant body, being able to withstand less than ideal weather, as well as dust and cold. “Every seam, every button, every hinge has been weather sealed for adventure-proof creative photography,” says Pentax Senior Manager of Sales and Marketing John Carlson. “Whether enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking in the Rocky Mountains or on vacation cruising along the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls, photographers can stop worry about weather conditions and start focusing on capturing the perfect shot.”

You get a 16MP APS-C sized CMOS sensor, 1080p full HD video recording at 30fps, 6fps burst rate, up to 1/6000s shutter, dual electronic dials, SAFOX IXi+ autofocus module, and an ISO range of 100 to 12800, which can be further expanded to ISO 25600 with a custom function. The optical viewfinder offers 100% field of view and you get Advanced Live View too. Power can come by way of the included lithium-ion battery or with four AA batteries via the optional D-BH109 adapter.

Expect the Pentax K-30 to sell for $849.99 (body only) and $899.95 (including DA L 18-55mm lens) this July.

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Samsung is known for incorporating new technology into their cameras and they have just introduced three new cameras into the company’s NX Series of compact, mirrorless, interchangeable lens cameras – the NX1000, NX20 and NX210. Unlike other large sensor cameras which might require you to use an Eye-Fi memory card for getting online, the new NX models are coming with built-in Wi-Fi.

Coming equipped with Samsung’s own 20.3 megapixel APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 mm) CMOS sensor, all the models feature ISO100 – 12800 sensitivity, one button upload to social networking sites, in-camera editing, 2D and 3D Panorama modes, the i-Function system which will allow you to control parameters at the lens, and are compatible with the full range of nine lenses.

The cameras will wirelessly link to a Samsung smartphone via the SMART technology and you can use the handset as a remote viewfinder, and the Samsung Mobile Link will allow you to enjoy the shots you have taken on internet enabled TVs or tablets. The models also feature Full HD 1080p H.264 video recording, and also offer an unusual 1920 x 810 pixel resolution setting.

Among the three new cameras, the above pictured NX1000 has the best resolution display at 921,000 dots on a 3-inch TFT LCD panel. Its 1030mAh battery promises 320 shots between charges and it will be available in black, white or pink in June, but no hints on the price tag. And no built-in flash, but you can attach external lighting.

The NX20 has a DSLR-like body and features an SVGA-resolution electronic viewfinder and a 3-inch, 614,000 dot AMOLED swivel display. It also comes with a fast 1/8000 shutter speed, a pop-up flash, and will allow you to take 360 stills between charges all thanks to its 1300mAh rechargeable battery. If interested, you can pick one up next month for $1,099.99.

The NX210 is also coming next month and it will take the place of the NX200. Featuring the same AMOLED display as the NX 20, the NX210 is coming with 8 fps continuous shooting. No built-in flash for this one as well, but external units can be attached. Similar to the NX1000, the NX210 has a 1030mAh battery for taking 320 stills in between charges. The camera comes with a price tag of $899.99.

So, which one has caught your eye?

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Your smartphone allows you to stay in touch with your family and friends, take photos and videos, play with thousands of apps, and do a lot more, and in the future, it might also give you the power of x-ray vision. Yes, you read that right. A new imager chip, designed by the researchers at UT Dallas, could turn your handset into a portable x-ray vision device that can see through walls, wood and other objects.

The research involves tapping into the terahertz band of the electromagnetic spectrum, their plan is to integrate terahertz receivers with the chips made using CMOS technology which form a part of many consumer electronic devices out there.

According to Dr. Kenneth O, professor of electrical engineering at UT Dallas, “CMOS is affordable and can be used to make lots of chips. The combination of CMOS and terahertz means you could put this chip and receiver on the back of a cellphone, turning it into a device carried in your pocket that can see through objects”.

The possibilities will be endless if the CMOS terahertz system is perfected and implemented. It can be put to use in hospitals as any doctor can utilize it to perform a quick x-ray on the patient, so there won’t be any need to stand in queue to get into the radiology department. It could be used by contractors for taking a peek at the insides of walls or it could even be used to check for counterfeit money.

And you don’t have to worry about whether someone would take a look at what’s under your clothes with their smartphones (or be happy thinking you can do that) as the researchers are focused on developing the system for use in the range of less than four inches.

So, anyone want to be superman?

[Image Source]

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Some companies just go ahead and make their rugged products as hideous as possible. Is it because they have a belief that those who look for rugged gadgets do not care about looks? But we are glad that Sony knows the importance of a thing of beauty. Their new DSC-TX20 rugged compact camera boasts all kinds of ‘-resistant’ prefixes, yet features an elegant and innovative design.

The DSC-TX20 is part of the company’s new Cyber-shot line-up which will be offering an updated “Exmor R” CMOS sensor with higher pixel count, improved Optical image stabilization, better low light performance, enhanced AF speeds (approximately 0.13 second during the day and 0.25 seconds at night), and more.

The DSC-TX20 is tough but Sony appears to have spent some quality time while designing it. The new camera comes in several dual-color versions and two of the models (green/silver and orange/gray) feature a nice texture as you can see below.

The slim camera is waterproof (up to 5m), dustproof, freeze-proof (up to 14⁰F) and shockproof (up to 1.5m). It comes equipped with a 16 MP “Exmor R” CMOS sensor, a 25mm equivalent lens with 4x optical zoom, and a 3 inch LCD touchscreen. You will also get 8x virtual zoom via the “Clear Image Zoom” technology and it will allow you to shoot full HD movies.

The camera’s “Dual-Record” feature will allow you to capture 12 MP stills while shooting video. In case that feature sounds familiar to you, HTC’s new One X and One S that we saw yesterday come with a similar capability.

The DSC-TX20 will be available in orange, green, black, blue and pink color versions in May with a price tag of approximately $330.

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