First prize is the Canon 5D, EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM lens and PIXMA Pro9500 Printer.
Second place is a Canon 30D and EF-S 17-85 IS USM lens.
You can enter here.
[tags]canon, contest, national parks, photo[/tags]
Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
By Eric Reagan
First prize is the Canon 5D, EF 24-105 f/4 L IS USM lens and PIXMA Pro9500 Printer.
Second place is a Canon 30D and EF-S 17-85 IS USM lens.
You can enter here.
[tags]canon, contest, national parks, photo[/tags]
By Eric Reagan
UPDATE 8/27/07: A big announcement is expected from Sony on September 4th at a press conference in Italy.
UPDATE 8/26/07: The latest images of the newest Sony Alpha in the wild.
UPDATE 7/18/07: Check out the story on the new Sony blog and the latest Alpha talk here.
UPDATE 7/13/07: Some new news on both new models:
Sony was confirmed to be working on a FF-DSLR (Alpha 300) including a high-end APS-C counterpart (Alpha 200). Information released from Japan revealed that the Alpha 200 will not be much larger in size than the current model 100, confirming Sony’s acknowledgement of female users as a major DSLR growth segment in ways identical to what Olympus had long been saying.
Allegedly, the Alpha 200 will feature a 12.8 megapixel CMOS sensor derived from Sony’s technology, which means you’re very likely to get LiveView. (Read more here . . . )
UPDATE 7/12/07: There’s some good reasons why the launch of a new Sony Alpha DSLR is imminent.
UPDATE 7/6/07: The DPReview.com forums brought us some more photos of the purportedly new Sony Alpha camera. Read more about it and see the photos here.
UPDATE 7/1/07: A forum poster over at dyxum.com says that we can expect a press release from Sony on July 9:
A big press release will be sent out the 9th dealing with the new DSLR’s coming out this year from Sony. I just spoke to the East Coast Sony Rep. here at the bike shop I work at. He wouldnt give me any details, but he said he can talk about stuff after the 9th…thats all I know right now. I want my full frame chip!!!!
It’s about time! They’ve been stringing us along for long enough. Keep your eyes on this page for an official announcement.
ORIGINAL POST: Looks like Sony will be mixing it up with the big boys soon. Sony has announced a couple of new cameras in their DSLR lineup. There will be a pro version (think Nikon D2X or D3 and the Canon 1Ds Mk II or 1D Mk III) and a prosumer version (think Nikon D200 and Canon 30D or 40D). There’s some mock-up model photos over at gizmodo (more photos). DPNow has some better angles. Keep in mind though that these models are just for show and will likely be substantially different once the production models are released. [Read more…]
By Eric Reagan
News
Canon has identified and issued a formal statement as of November 1, 2007 regarding a focusing problem with the EOS 1D Mark III. More information (including the affected serial numbers) on this page.
In action for Barry Bonds’ homerun record:
Reviews
The per-pixel image quality delivered by the Canon EOS 1D Mark III is second to no Canon Digital SLR introduced to date. The most obvious improvement is in the high ISO noise department.
The focus problem is a tragic flaw worthy of Sophocles. We used the Mark III with a 24-70mm and a 70-200mm zoom. Those lenses should not challenge the 45-spot autofocus system, but the problem was bad enough to show up with it. After the firmware fix, we couldn’t reproduce the problem, but that’s really not good enough. It doesn’t prove the problem is fixed for more challenging conditions. Canon is in the difficult position of proving a negative: that the focus problem no longer exists.
The Mark III’s image quality at high ISO is very good. The image noise appears more like the effect of film grain than the imager noise of lesser consumer cameras. ISO 100 produces images that set a standard for what “noise-free” should be. Traces of noise appear at ISO 400 in shadow areas. At ISO 800, a barely-perceptible amount of noise begins to affect highlight areas.
The Canon 1D Mark III has become my new workhorse. It has all but completely replaced the Canon 5D I was previously shooting with, proving to me every time it is worth the extra weight and drop of 2 megapixels. Even though the 5D still produces superb high quality images, the 1D matches it in good light and is able to go that extra mile at high ISO settings.
Sure, the Canon EOS-1D Mark III is fast — but how is the image quality? Do you sacrifice quality for speed?
No, not at all. Image quality is Excellent from ISO 50 to 1600 and Very High at ISO 3200 and 6400 (with in-camera high ISO Noise Reduction activated.)
Pro Photo Home calls the Canon 1D Mk III “the best all around DSLR on the planet.” And says,
if I could have only one camera to try and cover all areas of pro photography this would be it. So, if you are a generalist, which many of us are these days, this camera is hard to beat. Read the rest . . .
Check out Cnet’s review of the Canon EOS 1D Mark III. They give the formidable new DSLR a 9.3 out of 10 (“spectacular”). C|net also gives Nikon shooters a little food for thought:
If you can afford the cost of the 1D Mark III, and are a Canon shooter who doesn’t absolutely need the higher resolution of the 16.6MP 1Ds Mark II, then this camera is a no-brainer. Nikon shooters who are reading this might even begin to second-guess their beloved brand, but with rumors flying about a possible D3, you’ll probably want to wait and see if Canon’s top competitor can match this. It’s going to be extremely difficult, though, as this is one of the best digital cameras I’ve ever used. Continue to the C|net review.
e-Fotografija Review (with lots of real world sample shots – many at ISO 6400) of the 1D Mark III:
Any way you look at it, the Canon EOS 1D MkIII is a photojournalist’s dream camera. Loads of features, intuitive settings, antidust system, liveview, and excellent image quality at high sensitivity are what make it so amazing. And it is this last thing that makes the Mk III so special.
Imaging Resource Hands on Preview of the 1D Mark III:
The Canon EOS 1D Mark III isn’t just for sports anymore. It’s a more universal camera for the vast majority of pro photographers. With the multiple improvements in the new camera, photographers will no longer need to trade off resolution, image quality, and speed against each other. The 1D Mark III now has enough of all three to satisfy a huge slice of the market in a single camera body.
Canon 1D Mark III Accessories
Canon WFT-E2A Wireless File Transmitter
Canon LC-5 Wireless Controller
SanDisk Extreme IV 4GB CompactFlash Card
PhotoBert Cheat Sheet for 1D Mark III
Canon 1D Mark III Magic Lantern Guide
Where to Buy
First off, consider going to your local camera store (and I don’t necessarily mean Wolf Camera at the mall). By going to your local camera store, you’re supporting your community and you just might build a lasting relationship with people you can rely on when you need some help or answers. 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. Additionally, purchasing your camera through these links helps support this site.
[tags]canon, 1d, mark, iii, mk, review, rating[/tags]
By Eric Reagan
Originally uploaded by *Dario*.
A rather striking photo . . . or so I think.
Shot with a 5MP Panasonic DMC-FX8 at f/2.8 and 1/50s. ISO was 80. Proving yet again, that megapixels don’t make great photos . . . composition and lighting goes so much further.
The newest Panasonic FX series will be out on August 15, 2007 – the DMC-FX100, which is a 12.2MP point and shooter.
[tags]photo of the day, photo, pics, lips, panasonic, fx8, fx100, red[/tags]
By Eric Reagan
Check out this post over at Techasaur.us for the Top 10 things you need to know about digital cameras. The first point is golden:
1) Resolution is less important than you think
There is a popular misconception that more megapixels lead to better pictures. This is not the case.
Sure, higher resolution gives you the ability to crop more aggressively or print large pictures, but only a fraction of digital photographers will benefit from this ability. If you’re a casual shooter who won’t be printing pictures larger than 8×10? or doing extensive computer editing, then a camera with 3- or 4-megapixel resolution will be sufficient.
More advanced photographers will likely appreciate the flexibility of higher resolution, but a 5+ megapixel camera is by no means necessary to create stunning pictures. Choose a camera you can understand and afford, and don’t be fooled by glitzy high-resolution specs. Read the final 9 pointers . . . .
This is great advice if you’re in the market for a new camera.
[tags]digital camera, top 10, shopping, deals, reviews, advice[/tags]
By Eric Reagan
Tired of the ISO/noise problem?
Kodak thinks that it has the solution. Check out their new image sensor technology that Kodak says “redefines digital image capture.”
There’s a little deeper explanation on the 1000 Nerds blog.
If you’ve got 10 minutes and are a photo geek, this is worth a read.
[tags]kodak, digital camera, sensor, high iso, noise, bayer pattern[/tags]
By Eric Reagan
More of Thomas Hawk’s comments here.
[tags]flickr, censorship, thomas hawk, zooomr, news[/tags]
By Eric Reagan
Father’s Day 50 short years ago
Originally uploaded by aka Kath.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dad’s out there. This photo comes from flickr user “aka Kath” and was taken in 1956. What’s the oldest photo you’ve got on flickr?
[tags]photo of the day, flickr, photo, pic, 1956, father’s day, black and white[/tags]
By Eric Reagan
Originally uploaded by CosmicDust.
Another great shot from the strobist gang. Click on the photo to learn more about how this fascinating shot was achieved!
Shot with a Canon 300D (Digital Rebel).
[tags]strobist, photo of the day, high speed flash, photo, pic, photography[/tags]
By Eric Reagan
In this post you will find several reviews, tests and other resources for the Canon S5 IS. I’ll be updating this post as I come upon new material, so check back often. You can purchase the Canon S5 IS as these reliable sellers: Amazon.com and B&H Photo.
PowerShot S5 IS Digital Camera Features:
Movie Action and MovieSnap
The PowerShot S5 IS camera features four movie modes with Canon’s Face Detection AF and AE. Similar to its still mode role, Face Detection AF focuses on the faces in the movie scene while Face Detection AE measures and accounts for the brightness of the faces when it is evaluating the appropriate overall scene exposure. What’s more, the one-touch “modeless movie” feature makes the decision to capture movies virtually instantaneous by engaging the movie function at the press of a dedicated button, without first switching to a shooting mode.
For even greater flexibility, The S5 IS camera’s MovieSnap feature enables users to capture high-resolution eight-megapixel still images at any point during the movie. This “best of both worlds” solution transforms the family photographer into the family videographer, and preserves moving memories and milestones in their original action format while making key moments a snap to view in frames, photo albums and easy-to-share in emails.
Rugged, Reliable and Ready-To-Go
The feel is unmistakably one of reliability. Canon’s new PowerShot S5 IS digital camera ergonomic grip fits firmly into the hand and the ready-for-action rubberized grip cover offers a substantial sense of reassurance. From its fast shutter-speed capabilities – up to1/3200 sec. – to the new accessory Hot-Shoe that accommodates a variety of Canon EX-series Speedlite flashes, the PowerShot S5 IS digital camera is a technological bridge between Canon’s advanced point and shoot compact digital cameras and its entry-level digital SLR cameras. For those seeking still greater optical capabilities, Canon offers an optional 1.5x teleconverter, a .75x wide converter and a close-up lens.
What’s in the Box?
Despite its rich repertoire of photo features, the PowerShot S5 IS digital camera measures a mere 4.6 inches long, 3.15 inches high and 3.06 inches wide and tips the scales at less than 16 ounces. In stores beginning in early July 2007, the PowerShot S5 IS digital camera kit includes four AA alkaline batteries, a 32MB SD memory card, a USB interface cable, a stereo AV cable for audio/video output, and a full suite of Canon’s latest software applications. The PowerShot S5 IS digital camera carries an estimated selling price of $499.99.
Reviews
Canon’s PowerShot S5 IS remains one of the best super-zoom digital cameras on the market. It sports a decent 12x range with optical stabilisation, a useful flip-out and twist screen, a decent degree of manual control and impressively, a flash hotshoe. Some will also prefer its use of AA batteries over proprietary and expensive Lithium Ion battery packs.
The Canon PowerShot S5 IS has a lot to offer with its image-stabilized 12x optical zoom lens and well-rounded feature set that provides more than enough sophistication and manual options for advanced amateurs and prosumers, while providing less experienced photographers a solid set of familiar options like Auto, Program AE, and Scene modes.
The Canon Powershot S5 IS is a feature rich super zoom digital camera. In terms of controls and settings it has the edge over all its rivals. Picture quality is very good overall and outstanding in places.
The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is unquestionably the most versatile digital camera on the market, with a powerful high quality zoom lens, superb image stabilisation, class-leading performance and what may be the best AF system on the market. It has a huge range of features, including a video mode with full zoom lens and stereo audio. It is slightly let down by the small sensor and its inherent noise problems, but it is still an outstanding camera by any standard.
Ultimately the Canon PowerShot S5 IS is something of a jack-of-all-trades – perhaps even a Swiss Army knife of a camera (though it doesn’t play MP3s), and there’s certainly more of a focus on shooting movies than many enthusiast cameras, with stereo sound (Wave format) offered, a long play option, and a nicely smooth and quiet zoom action thanks to that Ultrasonic Motor (USM).
The Canon PowerShot S5 IS combines a few aged components with some new technology and upgrades. The 8-megapixel ultra-zoom digital camera has a 12x optical zoom lens that has made several appearances on previous S-series models. The 12x lens used to be considered long, but is now one of the shorter lenses on an ultra-zoom camera. Newer cameras have 15x and 18x lenses – and are less expensive.
C|net is one of the first sites to post a review of the S5 IS. They gave it a 7.4 out of 10 (“very good”):
There was a lot to like about the Canon PowerShot S3 IS, and much of it remains in this year’s PowerShot S5 IS, including Canon’s veteran optical image-stabilization technology, excellent metering and focusing systems, the signature flip-and-twist LCD display, and a hefty set of manual and semimanual controls. The S5 IS bumps up to 8 megapixels from the S3’s 6-megapixel sensor, increases the LCD size from 2 to 2.5 inches, and adds trendy bonus features like face-detection autofocus/autoexposure, maximum sensitivity of ISO 1600, and an ISO-shift mode that lets you jack up the setting with a button press when the camera tells you the shutter speed is too slow. We can thank the upgrade to a Digic III processor for many of the new capabilities. Read the rest of C|net’s review . . . .
Popular Photography now has up a Buyer’s Guide page for the S5 IS with a section for users to submit their review scores.
DC Resource has a thorough review up now:
While not perfect, the Canon PowerShot S5 IS is still one of the best ultra zooms on the market. It offers a nice blend of photo quality, performance, and features that appeal to both beginners and enthusiasts. I can recommend the S5 to just about anyone interested in an ultra zoom camera. If you’re a PowerShot S3 owner wondering if you should upgrade, I would only say “yes” if you need the hot shoe and longer movie recording times. Otherwise, stick with what you have! (Read more at dcresource.com)
You can read a short review of the S5 IS over at DPexpert.com.au:
The Canon S5 IS is one of the best of the pseudo SLR super zooms. The lens is outstanding and the company has kept the pixel count to 8 million. That’s about a million more than we consider ideal and images are a bit noisy at ISO speeds above 200, but not so much so that the picture is degraded. This is a good all-purpose camera with a standout macro ability. (Read more. . . )
DP Interface has a thorough review up:
The Canon PowerShot S5 IS is a worthy successor to last year’s S3 and it is arguably the flagship Canon PowerShot (though some may disagree) since it has an overall better feature set than the G7. There are some negatives about the S5 highlighted above but which camera is entirely perfect? Overall, I have no problem giving my recommendation and thumbs up to the Canon PowerShot S5 IS for those who want a very good ultra-zoom camera which has almost every feature you need, at a reasonable price too. If a capable all-in-one (good still image mode and impressive movie mode) camera is what you need, the S5 IS is absolutely it. (Read more. . .)
Digital Camera Review has posted a review of the Canon S5 IS and notes the following:
This is a capable and versatile camera, with good shutter and focus performance, great image and color quality and a lens that can range from modest wide angle to long telephoto. The auto and shooting mode options are supplemented by a full set of manual controls, and the camera will provide a fine imaging tool to the novice who never ventures past “auto”; serve as an excellent learning platform for someone contemplating the move to a DSLR and all that entails, or capably produce high quality images for an advanced shooter who doesn’t need or want to be constrained by the bulk of a DSLR. The smaller physical size of the sensor guarantees that noise performance won’t match a DSLR once ISO values start to rise, and the 0.9 fps continuous shooting speed is a bit of a disappointment for a camera that does so many other things so well. But these are truly minor annoyances given the overall excellence of the S5 IS.
Photo Review (Australia) gives the Canon S5 IS an overall score in their review of 8.5 out of 10 (which is really more of an overview of the features) and writes:
Features common to the S5 IS and its predecessor include the 12x optical zoom lens and lens-shift Optical Image Stabiliser (IS) technology as well as the digital zoom magnification ratio. The sensor sizes in both cameras are also the same, which means the photosites in the new model are slightly smaller. This presents a challenge for the image processor at high ISO settings. Interestingly, the shutter speed range is also identical for both cameras. The supplied lens cap is also unchanged and is still too easy to dislodge accidentally.
DPReview.com finally has a thorough (as expected) review up of the Canon S5 IS.
. . . let’s get one thing straight; the S5 IS is a great camera, one we really enjoyed using, and one that produces decent output shot after shot thanks to a responsive focus system, accurate exposure, vibrant (but natural) color and a decent image stabilization system. Although the results don’t bear close ‘pixel level’ scrutiny, for the typical user wanting to produce prints at standard sizes (say up to 5×7 inches) there’s very little to complain about, and the more you use it the more you learn how to tailor the settings to get the best output. It also offers class-leading movie quality, if that’s important to you.
[tags]canon, s5, is, s5is, review, comparison, s3, digital camera, zoom, superzoom, deals, cheap, price[/tags]