The rubber grip on the Canon EOS 650D DSLR camera presents a risk of allergic reaction, leading to the recall of 68,200 models.
In one of the most bizarre product recalls we've stumbled across in a while, rubber grips on some of the cameras (sold as the Rebel T4i in the US) are turning white due to the presence of zinc.
The 'zinc bis', which wasn't used in the manufacturing, appeared as the result of a chemical reaction between rubber and other materials.
Exposure to high temperatures and high humidity may also have been a factor.
The white discolouration could cause skin rashes for those with sensitive skin, according to Canon, who says the problem affects cameras sold between May 31 and June 27 this year.
Be careful, Sensitive Sallys
"The amount of zinc bis detected during our testing was minimal," says a post on Canon's US spport pages.
"It is possible for zinc bis, in the small amount found in the camera grips, to cause allergic reactions, such as a rash, when it comes in contact with skin of sensitive persons. In addition, if eyes are rubbed after contact with the substance, symptoms such as red eyes may develop.
"As a precautionary measure, thoroughly wash your hands with water if they have come in contact with a rubber grip that has turned white. If any medical symptoms develop, please consult your physician immediately."
Canon EOS D650 owners can use the support page and enter serial number in order to determine whether their camera is part of the recall.
Finding the best compact camera for your needs is never going to be easy, because the compact camera market is a very crowded place.
There are hundreds of digital compact cameras out there, with advanced, superzoom and rugged camera options all being available.
Buying Guide Best compact system camera 2012
The right choice, of course, depends on what you want from your digital camera. Maybe you're looking for a high-end compact camera or perhaps you want something more basic to help someone else get started in photography.
Whichever compact digital camera you might be looking for, we've pulled together a selection of what we believe are the best compact digital cameras on the market now.
Fuji created a stir when it announced this retro-styled compact with an 12.3 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor. The fixed 23mm f/2 lens provides a bright aperture for low light shooting and an angle of view roughly equivalent to a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera.
Its design is aimed to appeal to experienced photographers and enthusiasts, who like direct exposure control with an aperture ring, shutter-speed dial. It also sports a raw image mode and has a unique hybrid viewfinder that combines an electronic and optical finder in the same view.
Read our Fuji X100 review
Fujifilm Finepix X10
Price: £390/$600
Specs 12MP CMOS sensor, 4x f/2-2.8 optical zoom, Manual zoom ring, 1080p HD video
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Another retro-styled camera from Fujifilm, although this one is quite different to the X100. A 4x zoom lens with a bright maximum aperture of f/2-2.8 is fitted to a metal camera body containing a 1 /2.3-inch EXR CMOS sensor.
Manual controls are easily accessible and pictures can be recorded in a raw image format. Even the zoom ring is operated manually, which is unusual for a compact camera and a large bright optical viewfinder is provided for those who prefer this to using the screen for composing images.
Add in 1080p HD video recording and you have a highly specified camera that justifies the high price tag.
Read our Fuji X10 review
Canon Powershot G1 X
Price: £700/$800
Specs: Large 14.3MP CMOS sensor, 4x optical zoom, 1080p HD video, swivel LCD screen
Although the zoom range is limited when compared to other Canon G-series cameras, the trump card of the Canon G1 X is its unusually large sensor. A larger sensor has more surface area to receive light, improving image quality at high sensitivities and boosting dynamic range. Interestingly, Canon has opted to stick with the 4:3 aspect ratio, rather than 3:2 as most APS-C sensors are, even though the sensor in the G1 X is roughly the same height as APS-C format.
In order to make the most of what the sensor can offer, Canon has equipped the G1 X with the latest Digic 5 processor, which promises better control over noise at high ISO sensitivities, faster operation and smoother 1080p video recording.
The 4x zoom lens provides an angle of view equivalent to a 28-122mm lens on a 35mm camera, and the usual array of direct controls found on G-series cameras should make manual operation a pleasure.
Canon's G-series cameras have been the benchmark by which other high-end compacts are judged ever since the G1 released at the turn of the century. The G12 continues this tradition with its strong magnesium body, highly sensitive 10MP CMOS sensor, 720p video, 5x Image Stabilised zoom lens and Digic 4 image processor.
Experienced photographers will enjoy the direct exposure controls, HDR capability and raw image recording, whereas more casual photographers are catered for by a wide range of automatic scene programs and face detection.
Add to this multi-aspect shooting, and you can see why this compact camera gives interchangeable lens cameras a run for their money.
A pocketable camera with a high quality lens, equivalent to a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera, and a fast f/1.9 maximum aperture. The GR Digital IV follows in Ricoh's tradition of producing high quality compact cameras that are ideal for street photography.
Despite the compact dimensions, manual controls are easily accessible and a 3-inch LCD screen with an extremely high resolution of 1,230,000 dots has been squeezed onto the rear. Images can be shot in raw formats too.
Strangely Ricoh hasn't followed the trend of including HD video capability, the GRD IV will record video, but only at VGA resolution.
Read our Ricoh GR Digital IV review
Nikon Coolpix P310
Price: £235/$315
Specs: 16MP CMOS sensor, 4.2x zoom with a fast f/1.8 aperture, Full HD video, Optical VR
The Nikon Coolpix P310 builds on the features its popular predecessor sported with a higher resolution 16MP rear-illuminated CMOS sensor, which should enhance the camera's ability to take images in low light. Couple this with a bright f/1.8 lens and you have a formidable, pocketable camera for taking pictures in a wide range of conditions.
If tinkering with raw image files is a feature you desire, this camera may not be for you, since images can only be recorded in JPEG format. But given the bargain basement price, it still represents excellent value.
We haven't completed a full review of the camera yet, so in the meantime, read our rundown of theNikon 310's main features
Olympus XZ-1
Price: £310/$500
Specs: 10MP CCD sensor, 4x optical zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8, 720p HD video
As well as being one of the most stylish high-end compact cameras on the market, the Olympus XZ-1 sports a larger than normal CCD sensor and a 4x zoom Zuiko lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8, which both enable this camera to take excellent pictures in low light conditions.
Full manual control is possible, but also a comprehensive range of automatic exposure programs and fun art effects that can be applied to images. Add in the 720p HD video mode and the Olympus XZ-1 is well worthy of consideration.
Read our Olympus XZ-1 review
Canon PowerShot S100
Price: £360/$390
Specs: 12.1MP CMOS sensor, 5x image stabilised zoom lens with 24mm wide angle and f/2 maximum aperture, 1080p HD video
Canon's latest advanced compact raises the bar set by the S95 by including a 12.1MP high sensitivity CMOS sensor, manual control, and Full HD video.
The combination of a large 1/1.7-inch sensor with Canon's latest Digic 5 image processing chip and the bright f/2 lens delivers excellent quality at high sensitivities. The compact body also provides full manual control, with adjustments applied directly via the bezel around the lens and the ability to record raw images.
A strip of rubber on the front of the S100 gives it extra grip over the S95.
Nikon's P7100 is a close match for the Canon G12 in terms of specification, having the same size sensor with 10.1-million effective pixels and a f/2.8-5.6 7.1x zoom lens with a focal length equivalence of 35-200mm and Vibration Reduction (VR). The 3-inch 921,000 dot screen however, is a tilting unit rather than being fully articulated.
The solid-feeling body is liberally covered with buttons and dials, that give the user plenty of direct control over the most important shooting parameters.
Image quality is generally good, especially from raw files, but colours can be a little on the vivid-side.
Though it's a relative small compact camera, the Sony RX100 has a larger than average sensor. In fact its 20.2MP 1-inch CMOS device is the same physical size as the one in the Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1, which are compact system cameras.
We love the build quality of the RX100 and it provides all the controls that demanding enthusiasts expect, plus the ability to record raw files. We especially like the control ring around the 28-100mm (equivalent) f/1.8-4.9 lens that can be used to adjust a selection of features including aperture.
Our tests reveal that the RX100 performs well across the sensitivity range (ISO 125-6400) and it produces, bright punchy images that aren't excessively vibrant.
Would you pay £6,200 in the UK, or $9,700 in the US, for an APS-C DSLR that didn't offer live view or video shooting, wasn't compatible with third-party lenses and captured raw files that weren't widely supported? That was the question posed by the 46 megapixel Sigma SD1 in June 2011.
Buying GuideBest DSLR: top cameras by price and brand
We're guessing that the positive answers didn't exactly flood in, because 12 months later Sigma released a rebranded version: the SD1 Merrill. It's a rebadged version of the same camera, offering identical performance but at a new, more sensible price. Cheaper manufacturing bills mean Sigma can offer the SD1 Merrill at the much sweeter cost of £1,840/$1,900.
Fortunately, Sigma is also offering a points reward system to photographers who forked out the price of a small car for the old model.
The Sigma SD1 Merrill is named in honour of the late Richard 'Dick' Merrill (1949-2008), the engineer who developed the Foveon X3 image sensor that's at the heart of Sigma cameras.
Rather than being a 'true' 46MP sensor, it's made up of three layers that each contain around 15.4 million pixels that are embedded in silicon. This design takes advantage of the fact that red, green, and blue light penetrates silicon to different depths.
This means that the SD1's sensor captures full colour at every point in the image, rather than just red green or blue as with a standard Bayer pattern sensor. It's this sensor, and its implications for picture quality, that's the big draw of the Sigma SD1.
It needs to be, because otherwise the feature set is a little on the light side. There are no intelligent auto or scene mode frills here - it's Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual mode all the way.
Four options are provided for metering: Evaluative, Centre-Weighted, Centre Area (which only takes the region covered by the nine central AF points into account) and Spot.
Sigma SD1 Merrill at a glance Sensor: 46 million effective pixel Foveon X3 (23.5mmx15.7mm) CMOS ISO range: ISO 100-6400 LCD screen: 3-inch, 460,000-dot TFT Dimensions: 145.5mm x 113.5mm x 80mm, 700g (body only)
The Sigma SD1 Merrill features an 11-point AF system. Each of these AF points can be selected manually using one of the control dials while looking through the viewfinder, or by using the four-way controller when viewing the AF point display on the rear LCD.
Focusing can be set to Single AF, Continuous AF (incorporating Predicative AF) and Manual. So far, so familiar.
Drive mode features a typical array of settings, too. Continuous Shooting mode is disappointing, rated at just five frames per second for a maximum of seven frames. This figure applies across the board for high resolution files, whether you're shooting JPEG, raw or raw+JPEG files.
Buying GuideEssential camera accessories
In addition to single-frame and continuous drive settings, two self-timer options and Auto Bracketing, the Sigma SD1 Merrill's dedicated mirror lock-up function is worth noting. Select this and the camera flips the mirror out of the way when the shutter release button is fully depressed.
A picture can then be taken by simply half-pressing the shutter release again, meaning you're less likely to jerk the camera and screw up the sharpness you're trying to preserve with mirror lock-up in the first place - a nice touch.
Alternatively, the camera can automatically take a picture either two or 10 seconds after the mirror's been moved.
Photokina only takes location the moment extremely two decades, so pleasure is mounting as 2012 appears to be a promising 12 months for very substantially just about every camera manufacturer. Let us take a look at the most hotly anticipated package we're anticipating to see at Photokina 2012.
Canon mirrorless digicam
UPDATE: This was one of the hottest suggestions for Photokina, but Canon defeat the rumour mongers to it and following several years of speculation and anticipation, the organization introduced the Canon EOS M past 30 days. With an APS- C dimensions sensor, the exact very same as that found in the EOS 650D DSLR, Photokina is however very likely to be the first true opportunity for punters to get their palms on the business's 1st compact system digital camera.
Several feel that now that Canon has lastly offers into the mirrorless temptation, 2012- thirteen could be the year that CSCs genuinely get off.
Sony total - frame SLT
There have been hints and rumours of a Sony full - body camera that utilizes the firm's translucent mirror know-how for ages now and it seems that it could eventually see the gentle of day at Photokina.
Commonly rumoured to be named the Sony a99, some count on the DSLT digicam to be declared through the summertime. Even if which is correct, it's most likely that Photokina - in September - will present the community its initial actual possibility to get their hands on it.
Suspected to characteristic at least 24 million pixels, the digicam will be the world's 1st entire - body digicam to have an electronic viewfinder, and will sit as the flagship model of the business's present lineup of Alpha DSLTs.
Nikon entry- degree total - body DSLR
Shopping for Information Finest DSLR: leading cameras by selling price and brand
An additional camera rumour that has started to decide on up speed in the previous couple months is the Nikon D600, supposedly an " reasonably priced " complete - body digicam to sit next to the not too long ago released D800.
Considered to have a 24 million pixel sensor, it truly is also been rumoured to feature 39 autofocus details, AF face detection and a weather -sealed physique. That deal with detection AF rumour is likely to relate to the digicam in Stay Look at style when distinction detection autofocusing is used. Or it maybe it really is in addition to the face detection metering system that we have seen with the Nikon D4 and D800 in reflex mode ?
Most likely eager to steal the march on Canon's 5D Mark III, which the D800 currently beats value - prudent, it truly is probable that a D600 would be even more cost-effective.
Nikon compact system cameras
Immediately after asserting the Nikon 1 J1 and V1 final 12 months, the organization has enjoyed wonderful achievement with the J1, which has been the quantity 1 offering compact system digital camera at different things.
Rumours have proposed that a J2 will be swapping the J1 at some stage in August, whilst it truly is considered that the V1 might be discontinued without substitution.
Some also advise that Nikon will use Photokina to reveal a " professional " CSC, quite possibly in a bid to contend more carefully with the APS- C sensored Canon EOS M. If this is the case, it looks likely that Nikon will opt for to use a bigger sensor than individuals observed in the 1 collection.
Olympus PEN lineup refresh
Some of the most thrilling compact technique camera innovation above the previou s number of months has occur from Olympus, which unveiled the OM-D back again at the CES trade exhibit in January.
It really is suspected that the Olympus PEN lineup will once once again be refreshed at this year's Photokina, using on board opinions from consumers and possible customers of the present types.
Apparently amazed by the uptake of the Olympus PEN E-PL3, and the comparative muted response to the Olympus PEN E-PM1, it is really been recommended that the new lineup will make it a lot much easier to place the big difference involving all the various cameras.
Though some have named for a PEN digital camera with a developed -in electronic viewfinder, it's well worth pointing out that in phrases of size and weight, the Olympus OM-D is rather significantly specifically tha t.
Leica M10
Photokina appears to be to be the probably occasion for historic German digital camera producer Leica to announce the M10, the stick to -up to the £5,000/$ seven,000 Leica M9, the world's smallest complete - body interchangeable lens digicam.
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The business has already teased us this calendar year with the Leica M Monochrom, a digicam based mostly on the M9 but featuring a black and white-only sensor.
Panasonic GH3
Panasonic isn't rea lly generally shy of releasing speedy updates for its G sequence of cameras, as we observed with the Panasonic GF5 announcement just ten months immediately after the GF3 designed its debut.
Nonetheless, the Panasonic GH2 has been about for pretty much two many years, making it ripe for up grade in Panasonic's conditions. It was also advised that a G5 will be generating its debut this calendar year, but rumours suggested that a summer season announcement date was more likely.
UPDATE: The rumours of a summer time G5 announcement have been indeed appropriate, as July noticed the digicam make its debut. Not a substitute for the G3, the G5 involves a number of fascinating new characteristics these types of as TouchPad AF. Read our Panasonic G5 overview for a lot more details.
Fuji X Pro2
We've read definitely no rumours that a new Fuji X Pro body will be introduced as soon as Photokina &ndash the Fuji X Pro1 was only unveiled in Janua ry. However, the firm has stated it is committed to generating additional bodies with the X Pro mount, perhaps suggesting a much more reasonably priced edition could be on the cards.
It truly is also not unheard of for makers to promptly carry out upgrades to a entirely new line of cameras - it's one thing we noticed with the Olympus PEN E-P2, which adopted much less than a yr soon after the primary Olympus PEN E-P1.
Canon G13
UPDATE: The latest rumours suggest that Canon will expose a new Powershot G13 in August, just before Photokina. It has also been advised that the S100 will also be changed or upgraded.
After the Canon PowerShot S95 was superseded by the Canon S100 back in October 2011, numerous predicted the Canon G12 to be replaced at the e xact same time. Instead, the corporation stayed silent for a couple months in advance of revealing the Canon G1 X as an addition, not a substitution for the G12.
More recent top quality compact cameras, such as Nikon's P7100 and the Olympus XZ- one are rough levels of competition for the G12, not to point out Fuji's X100. As a pretty costly proposition, the G1 X isn't going to cater to the G12's current market, which could most likely be ripe for an up grade.
Panasonic LX6 / LX7
UPDATE: Panasonic introduced the LX7 at its Digital Imaging Seminar in July. Even with many predictions, it does not characteristic a large just one -inch sensor, like the Sony RX100. Go through our Arms on: Panasonic LX7 critique for far more specifics.
The rumour mill suggested for a lengthy time that the Panasonic LX5 would be getting an update in 2012.
Panasonic's LX series proved really well-known with the LX3, but the corporation admitted tha t product sales of the LX5 could have been superior. Not too long ago, Sony's RX100 premium compact digicam with a 1 -inch sensor looks to have affreux down the gauntlet for top quality pocketable cameras, so it appeared very likely that other brand names would be keen to comply with match.
As for the title of the digital camera, there was some debate over whether it would be a Panasonic LX6 or a Panasonic LX7. The company skipped the amount 4, which is thought of to be an unlucky number in Japan. 6, is thought of unlucky in China, even though firms are usually recognized for skipping quantities if an update has taken a whilst to emerge.
We will be updating this web page routinely on the months top up to Photokina 2012, so refer back again to see the most current informati on on just about every of these rumoured cameras, as nicely as any other individuals that occur to gentle in advance of September.
In the meantime, continue to be tuned for any new announcements as they transpire.
