Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
Official Canon Teaser
With Photokina 2014 just around the corner, the rumor mill is running full steam now. The latest rumors point to several new DSLR products due from Canon in early September just ahead of Photokina.
We’ve hear so much about a Canon 7D Mark II lately, and it continues to be in the rumor mill. Likewise, a replacement lens for the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS lens is also expected. [Read more…]
Zack Arias is back again with another nail-meets-head analysis of our world or photography today. This time around, he’s addressing the incessant argument of APS-C vs. full frame cameras.
Zack is a huge proponent of Fuji’s new X-Series cameras and lenses. Lately, he’s been all about the X-T1, which has received nothing but rave reviews since it was released.
Fuji, in general, has been knocking it out of the park with its entire APS-C line of X-Series cameras. And, it seems like each one is getting better. Expect to see more from Fuji at Photokina in September.
Likewise, there are plenty of solid APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras from Sony, Panasonic, Olympus and so on. If APS-C floats your boat, then by all means climb aboard. I think Zack’s overall points are well made. It really boils down to what tool works for you and your needs.
I am frequently asked about recommendations for cameras by a variety of users. Just in the past month in one-on-one conversations, I’ve recommended Sony APS-C and full frame, Canon’s 6D and 70D, Panasonic GH4, GoPro and Sony RX100 models to different people based on their skill levels and intended uses.
What’s your take on the APS-C vs. Full Frame argument?
Apple has updated its MacBook Pro Retina line with new processors and more memory. The new models received faster versions of Intel Haswell processors and entry-level models had their RAM doubled.
All 13″ models now feature 8GB RAM in the standard configuration, while all 15″ models now start with 16GB RAM. Additionally, the high-end 15″ model is now priced $100 less for the standard configuration at $2499.
The 13″ model can be configured with up to a dual-core 3.0GHz Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.5GHz, while the 15″ model can be configured with up to a quad-core 2.8GHz Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.0GHz.
Check out all the new models here at B&H Photo.
Canon SX520 HS
Canon has released a pair of new budget superzoom cameras, the PowerShot SX520 HS and PowerShot SX400 IS.
The SX520 HS features a 16MP CMOS sensor, while the SX400 IS sports a lower-caliber 16MP CCD sensor. Both cameras have a massive optical zoom range – with the SX520 HS coming out on top at 24-1008mm equivalent zoom range. [Read more…]
B&H just got a fresh shipment of the new Nikon D810 and has the camera in stock now. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
The problem with mounting a GoPro to a DJI Phantom or other drone is that the vibration of the propellers creates a terrible jello effect in the footage. This is the main reason that gimbals have become such a popular accessory for drones. But gimbals are expensive.
Two grad students from USC were searching for a cheaper way to reduce the jello effect in their footage from their Phantom-mounted GoPro. After months of failure in testing several aftermarket products, they finally built their own mount with household items for less than $10.
They discovered that they had to dampen the attachment between the GoPro and the Phantom, which is something that none of the attachments on the market allowed. In the end, they used a pair of sponges and some semi-rigid wires to connect a mount that was constructed from a plastic lid.
The results are impressive and resemble the look of an expensive gimbal when viewing the output footage. You can see a full walkthrough, along with sample footage, in the video above.
VSN Mobil has announced a new 360° action camera with a unique camera that allows it to capture 1080 x 6480 resolution video, which is comparable to three full 1080p images laid side-to-side. [Read more…]
Blackmagic has announced a firmware update for the Production Camera 4K to version 1.9. It includes new “heads up display” on screen metering that provides histogram, peak audio meters and recording time remaining.
These features will be added to the Blackmagic Cinema Camera and Pocket Cinema Camera in a future update. You can download the update here on Blackmagic’s website.
Manfrotto has announced its new SYMPLA 2.0 HDSLR shoulder rig. The new video rig is lighter than the previous version and features improved ergonomics. It is also designed to be compatible with the widest range of HDSLR and cinema camera systems. [Read more…]
The Digital Photography Book, Part 5: Photo Recipes is a new book from Scott Kelby, which picks up where book 4 left off and delivers an entire book based on “photo recipes.”
Scott breaks each spread into four segments: (1) he explains exactly what you’re seeing behind the scenes, (2) he lists all of his camera settings, and lens and lighting info—it’s all there, (3) he gives you his thought process, so you learn exactly why he does it this way, and (4) he shares all the post-processing in Lightroom or Photoshop that goes on after the shoot.
The Digital Photography Book, Part 5: Photo Recipes retails for $24.99; however, it is currently available for $17.66 on Amazon.com.
It is also available for $16.78 as a Kindle ebook.