Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Pentax K-5 II Hands-On Review

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Pentax K5 II

I haven’t really used a K-mount camera that much since my old Ricoh KR-5 Super II that I used religiously a couple decades ago as my first SLR camera.  As a result, my exposure to Pentax gear is generally limited to what I see at trade shows.  Stepping aside . . . ain’t it a bit ironic that Ricoh now owns Pentax when it previously used Pentax’s K-mount to make K1000 clones like the KR-5 Super II?

Ricoh KR-5 Super II

With that nostalgia out of the way, I took a closer look at the new Pentax K-5 II and K-5 IIs at the Pentax booth at PhotoPlus 2012.  At first blush, I love the way the camera feels in the hand, along with a very intuitive control and menu scheme.   [Read more…]

 

Pentax Q10 Meets 560mm Lens for a 3080mm Telephoto Monster

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Pentax Q Big Lens

Here’s an interesting pair that I came across at the Pentax booth at PhotoPlus 2012.  That’s the Pentax Q10 paired to the K-mount Pentax DA 560mm F5.6 ED lens via the Adapter Q.  The odd combo results in a roughly 3080mm reach compared to a full frame camera, which is due to the small 1/2.3″ sensor found inside the Pentax Q10.

Drift HD Ghost Action Cam with 2-Way Remote

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Drift HD Ghost

The Drift HD Ghost is a new action cam that features a wearable on/off remote control with LEDs displaying mode in use, continuous loop video recording, built-in WiFi and an integrated 2-inch Gorilla Glass LCD screen.

Drift HD Ghost

The camera captures 1080p HD video at 25/30fps and up to 60fps at 720p. It will accept microSDHC cards up to 32GB. The remote includes a wrist strap and allows you to see when you are and aren’t recording.  The built-in WiFi allows the Drift HD Ghost to connect to upcoming iOS and Android apps, which will stream video from the camera to your device.

The Drift HD Ghost retails for $399 and is available here at B&H Photo.

Drift HD Ghost

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

Adobe Lightroom 4.3 and Camera Raw 7.3 Release Candidates Now Available

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Adobe Lightroom 4.3 and Camera Raw 7.3 Release Candidates Now Available

Adobe just announced release candidates for Lightroom 4.3 and Camera Raw 7.3, which are now available in Adobe Labs.  Lightroom 4.3 and Camera Raw 7.3 offer support for the following cameras:

Additionally, Lightroom 4.3 Release Candidate includes support for HiDPI displays within the Develop Module.

* Denotes Full support.  Preliminary support for this camera was available in Lightroom 4.2 and Camera Raw 7.2.

Remember, these are release candidates, which means they’ve been pretty well tested and Adobe thinks they are ready for full release; however, it’s recommended that you keep production work to prior versions until the official releases drop.  Expect those to come soon though.  Release candidates mean that the final versions are just around the corner.

Switronix Introduces Power Cable for Nikon DSLRs

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Switronix has a new power cable for Nikon DSLRs that provides access to hours of runtime from any V-mount or 3-Stud battery. The Switronix XP-DSLR-EL15 power cable is compatible with all Nikon DSLRs that accept the Nikon EN-EL15 battery (like the Nikon D800 or D600).

The cables feature a regulated 9.2v battery paddle and an inline female P-Tap connector for 12vdc, housed in an enclosure. The XP-DSLR-EL15 also includes both red and green LED indication to display status of battery power.

Switronix power cables have been available for Canon DSLRs and other cinema cameras for quite some time and have proven popular for extending shoot time in video projects.  For more details on the new Switronix XP-DSLR-EL15, check out Switronix’s website.  It should be available soon at B&H Photo and other retailers.

Tamron 90mm f/2.8 DI VC Macro & 70-200mm f/2.8 DI VC Lenses Priced, Available This Month

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70-200mm f/2.8 SP Di VC USD Zoom Lens

Tamron has put a price tag and availability date on its new 90mm Macro and 70-200mm zoom lenses.

The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 DI VC Macro lens will be available in Canon mount starting November 30 for $849.  Nikon and Sony mounts to follow thereafter.  Pre-order options are at the links below.

Likewise, the Tamron 70-200mm f/2.8 DI VC lens will also be available on November 30 for $1499 with Nikon and Sony versions to follow.  Pre-order options are at the links below.