Trusted Reviews has posted a review of the Pentax Optio M50.
As an entry level camera, the Pentax M50 puts in a remarkably good performance that matches that of more expensive cameras. In particular the high ISO performance is impressive.
Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
By Eric Reagan
Trusted Reviews has posted a review of the Pentax Optio M50.
As an entry level camera, the Pentax M50 puts in a remarkably good performance that matches that of more expensive cameras. In particular the high ISO performance is impressive.
By Eric Reagan
Think Camera has published a review of the Nikon Coolpix L18.
Not a camera for the enthusiast under any circumstances, the Nikon Coolpix L18 has two big things going for it. It’s really cheap and really easy.
By Eric Reagan
Nikon has been fallling a little short of Canon’s more advance featured G9, which features RAW capture – a rarity in point and shoots these days. This is no longer the case. The Nikon P6000, a follow up to the Nikon P5100, includes RAW capture along with a number of other advanced features.
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.
As a consumer I would say it is an overall good camera.
The lens of the Nikon P6000 delivers an outstanding performance. Nikon shows its true force with the excellent sharpness, over the entire focal length, in the center as well as to the edges, of this lens.
Well, as one might expect from a 13.5-megapixel camera, the P6000 produces excellent images at low ISO and acceptable quality at higher ISO settings.
The Coolpix P6000 also gets mixed reviews in terms of photo quality. Overall, exposure was accurate, though the P6000 and it’s tiny CCD tended to clip highlights here and there.
Our impression of the P6000 at first blush is that it’s a very capable camera. It handles well and manual features are in easy reach.
New Performance Series Camera Enables Users to Test the Photography World with Creative Control and “Geo-tagging” Capabilities with built-in GPS
MELVILLE, NY (Aug. 7, 2008) – Nikon Inc. today introduced its newest flagship COOLPIX compact camera, the COOLPIX P6000. Featuring 13.5 megapixels, a new, built-in global positioning system (GPS) unit, my Picturetown connectivity and the power of Nikon’s exclusive EXPEEDTM image processing concept, the P6000 offers the perfect photographic tool for photo and camera enthusiasts seeking the creative control of a D-SLR in the compact body of a COOLPIX camera.
“We are eager to see the response to the integration of the new capabilities for COOLPIX cameras, as the demands of our consumers are always a priority in product design,” said Bill Giordano, general manager marketing, COOLPIX for Nikon Inc. “The P6000 is an exciting product offering for Nikon’s COOLPIX line, as it not only provides expanded creative control for photo enthusiasts, but also empowers them with GPS functionality and my Picturetown connectivity.”
The P6000 knows where the “best shots” are taken, thanks to the integration of the new GPS unit. With the added GPS function, P6000 users will be able to record “geotags” of the location where their images are captured based on latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates. This further heightens the photographic experience, allowing users to pinpoint the location via maps available in Nikon ViewNX Software, my Picturetown, Nikon’s photo sharing and storage website, or any other software or website that recognizes GPS data.
Additionally, the P6000 makes my Picturetown connectivity for uploading and sharing photos simple and easy, thanks to added wired LAN support via a dedicated Ethernet port built into the camera. Users can upload their images and data directly from the P6000 with an Ethernet cable to the secure Picture Bank service on my Picturetown.
In line with other COOLPIX P-Series cameras, the P6000 includes intuitive controls via dedicated command and mode dials, providing easy access to shooting controls and exposure mode settings. The P6000 offers Programmed Auto [P], Shutter-priority Auto [S], Aperture-priority Auto [A] and Manual [M] modes granting users the ability to tap into the creativity of D-SLR functions while maintaining the simplicity of COOLPIX functionality. Owners can utilize two user-defined settings, a shooting menu, an efficient, tabbed menu interface, as well as customizable Function buttons to quickly switch between camera settings.
Additional shooting innovations engineered to maximize image quality and offer greater control over the final results include Nikon’s original COOLPIX Picture Control System and a new NRW* (RAW) support. The COOLPIX Picture Control System features intuitive controls that enable users to adjust their images to pre-set parameters such as Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome and apply tweaks to image sharpening, tone compensation, brightness, overall tone and saturation. Furthermore, images shot in the all-new NRW* (RAW) format can be opened and viewed in Nikon ViewNX Software (available early October 2008) for increased editing abilities.
Adding even more synergy between D-SLR cameras and compact COOLPIX cameras, the P6000 incorporates a pop-up flash, optical viewfinder for easy composition and the added bonus of system expansion with an optional convertor, Speedlights, and wireless remote control. Nikon’s new 0.76x Wide-angle Convertor WC-E76 offers users the option to utilize focal lengths as wide as 21mm (35mm format equivalent). P6000 users can also take full advantage of Nikon’s Creative Lighting System with the built-in accessory shoe that supports Nikon’s i-TTL flash control, which enables wireless control over one group of remote Speedlights including the newly announced SB-900 Speedlight.
The P6000 features a quality finish and a front panel constructed of solid Magnesium alloy, as well as a comfortable grip and well-placed controls for streamlined performance. The new P6000 camera is compatible with new high-capacity SDHC cards, and utilizes a Nikon EN-EL5 rechargeable Li-ion battery. The P6000 also comes bundled with the COOLPIX Software Suite for editing, organizing and sharing images.
The Nikon COOLPIX P6000 will be available nationwide beginning September 2008 at a MSRP of $499.95.** For more information about the P6000 and other COOLPIX cameras, please visit www.nikonusa.com.
* COOLPIX Picture Control NRW (RAW) files can only be processed in-camera. NRW (RAW) files are compatible for use in-camera, with ViewNX (Windows version only, available early October 2008) or with WIC-based applications. Capture NX, Capture NX2 and NEF files are not compatible with NRW (RAW) images.
** Estimated selling price listed is only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.
By Eric Reagan
Below are some of the best photography links from other sites that I came across this week. Enjoy!
Man Arrested For Unlawful Photography – TriCities.com – In this nearly unbelievable story, we learn that a man was arrested in Tennessee when he took a photo of a police officer with his iPhone. He was actually charged with, no joke, “Unlawful Photography”. The arrested man, Scott Conover, recounts the incident, “He [the sherriff’s deputy] says you took a picture of me. It’s illegal to take a picture of a law enforcement officer.”
Photoshop Action Pack – 90 Automator Actions – Photoshop Support – The Photoshop Action Pack features a collection of 90 Automator Actions that allow you to script nearly all of Photoshop’s functionality from within Apple’s Automator (i.e., Mac users only).
Nine Reasons to Manually Focus When Taking Pictures – DIY Photography – Yeah, autofocus rocks; however, there are times when manual focus works better or it’s the only real option. Expand your horizons and learn when to turn the focus ring on your own.
5 Tips on Shooting Stock – HyperPhocal – With everyone and their brother trying to make a buck or two on stock photography, here’s 5 simple tips to help give you the leg up on point and shooters.
Canon Rebates Expire Saturday, July 19 – Photography Bay – If you’re going to get that new lens, 5D, or 40D, you’d better order ASAP or you’re going to miss out on some significant savings.
And, finally, here’s the only reader request for the week.
Dear Nikon – It’s a blog where users can leave their feedback to Nikon – unofficially, of course.
If you want your photography-related site on Free Links Friday, just drop a comment or an email asking nicely. Leave a link and a short description of what your site or particular post is about. Spammers need not apply.
Digital Foci’s Photo Safe II photo viewer offers a way to store the photos you take on the road without bringing a laptop along. The Photo Safe II is available in two versions, 80 GB and 160 GB. Just pop in your memory card — it reads all popular card formats — and copy your your photos.
The Photo Safe II copies all file formats (including RAW images and videos) and keeps them in their original file structure and under their original file name. The photo viewer doesn’t make any changes while copying your photo files. The device can also funtion as an external hard drive.
By Eric Reagan
Nikon Rumors has received word from a reader that Nikon will be holding a press conference on September 3rd, which would add up to the pre-Photokina announcement that we’ve all been expecting.
Anyone else received an invite from Nikon?
More:
Gary Crutchley took his kids to the park. They were sliding down an inflatable slide and he decided to take a few pictures as reminders of a fun family outing. But a woman standing in line demanded that he stop taking pictures because her children were on the slide. Another adult accused him of taking pictures of children to post to the internet.
Crutchley had only taken pictures of his own children. He found two policemen that confirmed to the crowd he had done nothing wrong.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Crutchley asked: “What is the world coming to when anybody seen with a camera is assumed to be doing things that they should not?”
By Eric Reagan
Thom Hogan has piped up on bythom.com with some thoughts and possible insider info on the coming Nikon D3x and D90 cameras. Word is that a D3x with the rumored 24+ megapixels should be announced around Photokina in September. The D80 replacement (the D90) may creep out past Photokina (perhaps PMA 2009).
I received a message out of Japan that the high-resolution camera is in the D3 body. I trust that message more than my guess, though please note that having one (usually good) source does not mean something is verified. . . . It seems that a D80 replacement should also be in that set of announcements, which should come just before Photokina, but we just haven’t seen any of the kinds of leaks and rumors we have with previous consumer bodies out of Thailand, so maybe the D80 replacement is going to be later than Photokina.
I don’t have any insider info myself; however, my money is on a for sure showing of the D3x (or whatever they call it) at Photokina. I’m also starting to wonder whether or not Nikon will replace the Nikon D80 at all. I’m beginning to think that they’ll let the D40/D60 line handle the entry-level consumer and let the D70/D80 line die off.
KoffeeWare, the makers of free photo sharing software KoffeePhoto, have created an extension to their software that will back up photos online. The backup service is a premium option — it’s priced at $59.99 per year. KoffeePhoto handles the whole process, from recognizing a digital camera when you connect it to your computer to uploading your backups to your online account.
KoffeePhoto’s backup service is for photos only. It may seem counterintuitive to have a backup plan dedicated only to photos, but KoffeePhoto thinks it’s the right way to go. From their press release:
Numerous online storage and backup solutions exist, some are dedicated to photo storage, others provide general purpose storage. At KoffeeWare, we think that online storage benefits from being application specific. In fact, storage is only part of the story.
KoffeePhoto handles the whole photo process, from the connection to the digital camera to sharing including organizing and backuping. More, using KoffeePhoto, you may add pictures to your account without even running your own computer. Storing and backuping being completely embedded into the system, KoffeePhoto combines great ease of use and peace of mind.
It’s hard to dislike automatic backup options — there isn’t a photographer in existence who backs up work often enough when forced to do it manually.
By Eric Reagan
The Canon Rebel XS is available for pre-order on Amazon.com for $699.99. Click here for the product page.
For the latest news, reviews and more, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon Rebel XS Reviews and Resources.