Just as with the XZ-2, a function can be selected for each shooting mode and assigned to the control ring.
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Google has also overhauled the photo experience and added Photo Sphere -- a 360-degree panoramic shooting mode that captures everything around you.
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By simply selecting 3D Photo from the shooting mode, pressing the shutter button and sliding the camera horizontally, a 3D photo is created.
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To ensure consistency, we set all of the smartphones to auto shooting mode, with our trusted senior mobile editor Myriam Joire behind the wheel.
As the result, the photographer is assured of outstanding creative freedom to choose the most appropriate shooting mode for a particular scene or subject without delay.
In addition, the camera's Handheld Night Scene shooting mode helps the photographer capture blur-free nighttime images by taking multiple images at once and blending them into a single composite picture.
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The X-5 features the PENTAX-original Auto Picture mode, which automatically assesses the subject's conditions and selects the most appropriate shooting mode from 16 distinctive shooting options, including Landscape, Portrait, Candlelight and Pet.
ENGADGET: Pentax intros X-5 superzoom camera with 26x lens, tiltable LCD
Additionally, Superior Auto shooting mode has been improved to recognize and optimize settings in an even wider range of shooting situations including very low-light scenes and instances where a subject is in fast motion.
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In addition, depending on the situation, it is possible to capture up to 5 frames per second and up to 14 images per sequence in continuous shooting mode in Medium and Low image quality mode.
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The PENTAX Q10's high speed continuous shooting mode allows the photographer to capture up to five images (in JPEG recording format) in a single sequence, at a maximum speed of approximately five images per second.
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The 808 was quite dark in normal shooting mode (seen below), but performed better with the ISO bumped to 1600, which we opted not to include considering that not all of the cameras offered this feature.
Other differences between the FZ30 and FZ50 include the addition of SDHC card support, a TTL Flash hot-shoe, 16:9 shooting mode, and the so-called Venus Engine III image processor, but the elimination of TIFF file support and several thousand pixels from the 2.0-inch LCD.
The X-5 lets the user quickly and effortlessly select the desired shooting mode - from a total of 10 modes including the hands-off Auto Picture, Scene, Program, Manual, Landscape, and Handheld Night Snap - with a single turn of the mode dial, without having to access the on-screen menu.
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Taking HD video to the next level, the COOLPIX P7700 is capable of intelligent autofocus while recording in any mode as well as optical zoom when shooting in Auto mode.
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These features are particularly useful for getting up close with a Super-Resolution Zoom of up to 48x zoom magnification at full resolution, capturing a series of images of a fast-moving subject with high-speed sequential shooting, or in Telephoto Macro mode when users are shooting the rich detail of small subjects like insects from inches away.
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We particularly enjoyed the primary and secondary mode dials, which allow for simple and fast switching between shooting modes and relevant mode settings.
When shooting in Live View mode, the Hybrid CMOS AF system enables speedy and accurate autofocus for photos and video.
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This innovative function automatically selects the best scene mode to match shooting conditions.
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Other 3D shooting options include 3D Sweep Panorama mode and Sweep Multi Angle.
Add more dimension to your photographs by shooting dynamic 3D photos in any mode from macro to landscape, and even under water.
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While Nikon pioneered HD video in a D-SLR, Nikon is now introducing another industry first to enrich the user experience: The D3100 is the first D-SLR to implement full time AF for D-Movie video shooting and while in Live View mode.
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Other new and noteworthy features include versatile and fun shooting modes such as Best Moment Capture Mode and the new Live Image Control that lets a user preview their creative vision, pre-capture.
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Superior Auto mode recognizes a wide range of shooting situations, adjusting exposure and other settings for high-quality images with low noise and high dynamic range.
The Nikon 1 V2 also includes an Advance Movie Mode that allows for the simultaneous shooting of 1080p Full HD video and high-resolution stills of the same subject or scene.
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There's also a new version of the FlipShare software, which features an automatic Magic Movie mode that'll trim and edit before shooting your video to Facebook, YouTube and MySpace.
For beginners with Digital Single Lens Mirrorless cameras, iA (Intelligent Auto) mode supports capturing images with a variety of shooting-assist functions including AF Tracking, Intelligent D-range Control, Intelligent Scene Selector, Face Recognition and Intelligent ISO Control.
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Beauty Mode makes skin appear more smooth and beautiful when shooting, and the Makeup function allows users to apply full makeup after shooting images.
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And, well, we can't express our disappointment enough here -- not only does a mode dial simplify the process of selecting your primary shooting preference, it also serves to provide confirmation of your current pick, letting you know that you're in manual before you fire off a half dozen now-useless frames.
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The Low Light Shot mode automatically selects the camera's best setting when shooting in low light conditions.
Capture HD video using Auto, Manual, Aperture-priority or Custom Movie Mode and enjoy several creative options also available for still shooting, including COOLPIX Picture Control and noise reduction while flexibly adjusting ISO sensitivity, shutter speed and white balance.
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