Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Firmware Friday: Sony NEX-3, NEX-5, Canon SX130, Rebel XS

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Camera Firmware Update

Below you will find this week’s firmware updates.  Hit the manufacturer website links for more details and download instructions for the firmware.

Canon Rebel XS / 1000D version 1.0.7 – “Fixes a rare phenomenon in which “Cannot create folder” is displayed on the camera’s LCD monitor, after which shooting is no longer possible with the SD card in your camera.” [Canon Website]

Canon SX130 IS version 1.0.1.0 – “Fixes a phenomenon in which the audio and video get recorded out of sync when shooting movies with the image quality set to high definition (1280×720 pixels).” [Canon Website]

Sony NEX-3 / Sony NEX-5 version 03 – “Autofocus is now supported when using the NEX-5/NEX-3 with 14 lenses from the full range of A-mount optics by Sony and Carl Zeiss that includes telephotos, primes and zooms. Aperture settings can be maintained during HD movie recording, and system menu operation has been streamlined alongside other usability improvements. Registered NEX-5/NEX-3 owners will be advised of the free update via email.” [Sony Website]

 

Nikon D7000 Available Very Soon

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Nikon Rumors got a tip and photo evidence that the new Nikon D7000 is sitting in Best Buy stock rooms everywhere, but they won’t sell them to you just yet.

Word is that Best Buy will start selling them on October 17 or 18 (my money’s on the 17th because that’s when Best Buy starts it new ads for each week).

BB D7000

BestBuy.com lists October 17-22 as arrival dates for pre-orders, as seen in the screenshot above.

B&H Photo, Adorama and Amazon also have the Nikon D7000 listed, with some offering pre-orders, but no dates for availability yet.  Check those pages out below.

Nikon D7000 (body only)

Nikon D7000 (w/ 18-105mm lens)

Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Officially Priced and Available

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Sigma has officially announced pricing for its new 85mm f/1.4 EX DG HSM lens.  The lens can be found at a street price of $899, which is far less than the fictional retail price of $1400 assigned by Sigma.

According to Sigma’s press release, the lens should be available immediately. You check on stock status for the new lens on B&H Photo, Adorama and Amazon.com.

Canon Cross Media Station

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At the Canon Expo in Paris, Canon’s new Cross Media Station prototype made an appearance.   The Canon Cross Media Station serves two key functions:

  1. It transmits data from your Canon camera/camcorder without the need to remove your memory card.
  2. It inductively charges the camera’s battery without the need to remove the battery from the camera.

Essentially, the Canon Cross Media Station appears to be a Powermat meets Eye-Fi device.  Check out the video below for a hands-on demo from Trusted Reviews. [Read more…]

Aperture Clock Widget for Android

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While Apple clearly has a big thing going for its iPhone and photographers tend to love the phone, plenty of photographers have Android-based phones as well.  Clay Cuckoo Software just launched an Aperture Clock Widget that Android-toting photographers are bound to love.

The Aperture Clock Widget shows aperture values (f/2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11) on the clock face instead of hours.  Additionally, as the time changes the aperture blades on the clock face will open and close accordingly.

[Appbrain]

Panasonic G2 Review

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The Panasonic G2 is one of the many Micro Four Thirds system cameras available now.  As you may know, Micro Four Thirds cameras don’t have a mirror like traditional DSLRs.  Instead, the G2 and other Micro Four Thirds cameras utilize a live view system where the composition is displayed on the camera’s rear LCD panel.  With the G2, you also have the option of viewing an electronic viewfinder (EVF) in a manner similar to traditional optical viewfinders.

The Panasonic G2 is the big brother of the previously reviewed Panasonic G10.  The upgrades are mild in most instances, but could the difference maker for some shoppers.  The G2 offers the same 12.1MP found in the G10, as well as HD movie capture.  However, the G2 features a tilt/swivel LCD and improved video capture modes put the G2 well ahead of the G10.

To see how the G2 stacks up, read on. [Read more…]

Lensbaby Scout with Fisheye

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The Lensbaby Scout is a new manual focus lens that doesn’t bend like other Lensbaby lenses.  The new Scout, however, will accept all of Lensbaby’s optic swap modules, and comes with the fisheye module.  The Lensbaby Scout with Fisheye provides unique optical lens flare possibilities, along with extreme close focusing.

The Lensbaby Scout with Fisheye carries an initial retail price of $249.95 and is available in Canon, Nikon, Olympus 4/3, Pentax and Sony mounting options.  You can find the Lensbaby Scout at B&H Photo, Amazon and Adorama.

More details below. [Read more…]

Pentax 645D Officially Announced for US

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Pentax 645D

Pentax USA has finally made it official.  The 40-megapixel Pentax 645D medium format camera will arrive in the US in December 2010.  The camera will be priced at $9999.95 initially.  A 55mm f/2.8 lens will also be available for $1199.95.

Both B&H Photo and Adorama are expected to carry the camera.  However, tt is not listed on either site at the time of this post.

More details in the press release below. [Read more…]