Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Archives for 2008

Canon EOS 1000D Review at Camera Labs

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Camera Labs has published a review of the new Canon EOS 1000D (aka Digital Rebel XS). The EOS 1000D takes over for the EOS 400D (aka Rebel XTi) at the bottom rung of Canon’s DSLR lineup. It features a 10.1 megapixel sensor.

There’s certainly some very strong competition you should also weigh-up, but by delivering all the features budget DSLR buyers look for, the 1000D / XS looks set to be another best-seller for Canon.

For the latest news, reviews and more, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel XS Reviews and Resources.

 

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300 Reviews

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Sony has packed a mind-boggling 13.6 megapixels into a tiny CCD image sensor in the DSC-W300, which features a Carl Zeiss 3x optical zoom, up to ISO 6400 and a 5 frames per second burst mode. Below you will find links to several sites that have published reviews of the Sony Cybershot W300.

Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-300 Reviews

PhotographyBLOG

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300 is the latest top-of-the-range addition to Sony’s extensive line-up of W-series digital cameras. The W300 boasts a headline grabbing 13.6 megapixel resolution, scratch-resistant titanium coating and Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with stabilized, 3x optical zoom. On the back there’s a large 2.7-inch Clear Photo LCD screen with 230,000 dots, and the DSC-W300 has a range of automatic modes to make life easier, including Smile Shutter, improved Face Detection, D-Range Optimiser and Intelligent Scene Recognition. Finally, there’s a HD Output connection that’s compatible with a PhotoTV HD BRAVIA television, great for showing off your winning shots. The Sony W300 is currently available for around £250 / $350.

Imaging Resource

The W300 is Sony’s best W-Series digicam, bringing a titanium shell, a 13.6-megapixel sensor, ISO 6,400, high speed burst mode, and real color mode in addition to the other innovations introduced to the W-Series this year.

DC Views

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300 is bound to be attractive to a broad range of consumers. It can be used by the novice who requires a fully automatic camera, while more experienced users will appreciate the options of manual control over exposure and other settings.

Steve’s Digicams

With a street price of US$349 or less, it offers a good value if you’re one who wants all the latest technologies, stuffed in the tiniest of packages.

Luminous Landscape

How come nobody is talking about how astonishingly good this little camera is? Image quality is really fine up to ISO 400 on Super A3 sized prints, or even larger. Quite remarkable.

Where to Buy the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W300

If you’re buying online, I recommend sticking with Amazon, B&H Photo or Adorama. These three vendors are reliable, trustworthy and generally have the best (legitimate) prices.

Canon EOS 1000D / Digital Rebel XS Review at Steve’s Digicams

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Steve’s Digicams has published a review of the new Canon EOS 1000D (aka Digital Rebel XS). The EOS 1000D takes over for the EOS 400D (aka Rebel XTi) at the bottom rung of Canon’s DSLR lineup. It features a 10.1 megapixel sensor.

Canon has put together yet another awesome Digital SLR for the beginner to intermediate user. The combination of easy of use and versatility make this a very appealing model in the “entry-level” category.

For the latest news, reviews and more, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel XS Reviews and Resources.

A Zoom Lens For Your iPhone

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If you have an iPhone 3G and aren’t satisfied with its photography abilities, there’s now something of a solution on the market. Brando, primarily a company catering to mobile needs, is selling a zoom lens for the iPhone. They’re calling it a phone telescope, saying that it’s capable of 6x zoom, although more precise specifications don’t seem to be available.

Brando’s selling the lenses for $19.00. It’s approximately six inches long and is mounted to a crystal case that your iPhone slides into. Despite Brando’s name for the device, it does not appar to telescope.

Despite the fact that other cell phones have the same camera quandries as the iPhone, I don’t think we’ll be seeing lenses for other phones.

Canon 50D Rumor Update

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We are still very much in “rumor” mode with regard to the Canon 50D; however, another DPR forum member claims to have solid second-hand info.  [Ed. – Name redacted by request], a photographer for the [Ed. – Organization redacted by request] and fervent Canon 1D Mark III user, says that his dealer has tipped him off to the existence and coming release of the Canon 50D.

[Ed. – Name redacted by request] stuck his name and reputation out on the line and defended his take on the info and his source in several follow up posts, which is why it carries a little more weight with me than the usual banter you see in some forum posts.  Of course, we’ll just have to wait and see if the info turns out to be legit, but it seems to confirm a trend anyway.

On to the details…

The dealer was apparently at a Canon event in Hawaii, to which event I’ve been seeing many references lately.  Purportedly, the Canon 50D will be released in the coming days prior to Photokina 2008.

This bit of info pegs the Canon 50D at 15 megapixels, instead of the previously rumored 12 megapixels.  Additionally, the “dealer” confirmed the 50D would be weather sealed, which is quasi-consistent with prior rumors.

Finally, the dealer also said “he couldn’t remember if it was 5-6fps like 40D or maybe as high as 8fps.”  While this seems like an odd fact to mix up, the prior rumors had stated the specs were 6-8fps, depending on the grip.  I think this makes the spec a little easier to jumble up.  So again, another point for consistency here. [via DPR]

While I remain quite skeptical over a 40D replacement coming along while it is just a year old, the rumors are mounting and, as they say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire (either that or a steaming turd).  Stay tuned.

For the latest news and rumors on the Canon 50D, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon 50D page.

Nikon D700 Review by Scott Kelby

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Scott Kelby has posted his “field report” review of the Nikon D700.

The D700 just takes a better looking photograph than the D300 (and really, that’s what it’s all about-all the rest is really just bells and whistles). The new sensor, the autofocus, the low noise-it all adds up to photos that just beat the D300 (with the D700 you get D3 quality photos, which the D300, good as it is, just can’t deliver).

For the latest Nikon D700 news and reviews, be sure to visit Photography Bay’s Nikon D700 Reviews and Resources.

Lightroom 2 Review at PhotographyBLOG

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PhotographyBLOG has posted a review of Adobe Lightroom 2.

Adobe have been aggressively developing Lightroom, their digital photography workflow software, since it was first announced back in January 2006. Version 2 features a host of notable improvements – dual-monitor support, non-destructive localised image correction, streamlined search capabilities, support for 64-bit operating systems, and a number of other additions. Lightroom 2 is priced at £175 / $299 for new users, with an upgrade price of £69 / $99. Jon Canfield takes a look to see if Lightroom 2 is the best one-stop photography solution yet…

Canon PowerShot SD890 IS Review at DC Resource

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DC Resource has posted a review of the Canon PowerShot SD890 IS.  The new SD890 IS features a 10 megapixel sensor, a 2.5? LCD panel and a 5x optical zoom (a 35mm equivalent of 37-185mm). The SD890 IS also features a macro mode that allows close focusing at a distance of less than one inch.

Canon’s PowerShot SD890 IS Digital ELPH is a good choice for those who want a little extra zoom power from a compact camera. It offers very good photo quality (in good light), a 5X zoom lens, optical image stabilization, good performance, and plenty of point-and-shoot features — all in a stylish package.