Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

The Panasonic DMC-ZS7 is a 12.1-megapixel point and shoot camera with a 12x zoom lens and optical image stabilization.  The ZS7 also features built-in GPS that embeds photos and videos with longitude and latitude details.

The ZS7 is compatible with new SDXC cards and provides HD video recording in AVCHD Lite format.  The ZS7 also boasts a new Sonic Speed AF system for fast AF acquisition and a quick shutter response time.

No word on pricing or availability yet.  Check availability on Amazon.com.

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

 

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Reviews and Resources

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Panasonic DMC-TS2

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 is a 14.1MP point and shoot camera that is freezeproof, waterproof, shockproof and deathproof.  It is capable of recording AVCHD Lite video and is compatible with SDXC cards.  It also has a 2.7-inch LCD with a 230k dot resolution and optical image stabilization.

No word on price or availability yet. Check availability of Amazon.com.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2 Reviews

Digital Camera Review

[Read more…]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR3

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Panasonic DMC-ZR3

The Panasonic DMC-ZR3 is a 14.1MP point and shoot camera with an 8x optical zoom with optical image stabilization and the ability to capture HD video in the AVCHD format.  The ZR3 features a “super fast” AF acquisition time and is a compatible with the new SDXC memory card format.

No word on pricing or availability yet. Check availability on Amazon.com.

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

Think Tank Photo Hydrophobia 70-200 Rain Cover

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Think Tank Photo Hydrophobia 70-200 Rain Cover

Think Tank Photo has released the Hydrophobia 70-200 rain cover for DSLRs with smaller lenses attached than the previously released 300-600 version. The new Hydrophobia 70-200 comes in two models, one with the flash tower and one without the flash tower.

The version with the flash tower runs $145, while the one without the flash tower is $139.

The Hydrophobia 70-200 is one of the items that Photography Bay readers can purchase and qualify for a free bag from Think Tank Photo.  Essentially, spend $50 or more on gear from Think Tank Photo, and during checkout, their system will automatically let you select a free camera bag (e.g., Lens Changer 50) along with your order.  Go to Think Tank Photo using this link and follow the on-screen instructions to get a free bag.

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

Tamron Announces First Photo Contest of Its 2010 Dusk Till Dawn Series

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Tamron Dusk Till Dawn

This year, Tamron is holding four photo contests centered around the Dusk till Dawn theme.  Today, Tamron announced the first contest with entries due March 31, 2010, which gives contestants the chance to win their choice of one of the following four lenses:

Tamron SP AF60mm F2 Di-II 1:1 Macro

Tamron SP AF10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di-II

Tamron SP AF17-50mm F/2.8 Di-II VC

Tamron AF18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC

You can enter on Tamron’s website.

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

Canon Patent Application Shows Sensor-Based Image Stabilization

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Canon Sensor Stabilization

In addition to the dual image viewfinder system in the recently-published Canon patent applications, the Canon applications also reveal a mechanism for sensor-based image stabilization in a DSLR.  Again, the application numbers are 12/495,813 and 12/495,814, and were each filed on July 1, 2009 and published by the USPTO on January 7, 2010.

The relevant description in the patent notes the following:

“The camera performs an image capturing operation.  In this state, an image stabilization mechanism, which is connected to the stabilization control circuit, can shift and rotate the image sensor in a predetermined direction to cancel the blur of an image.  Thus, the image stabilization mechanism can prevent the image from shifting undesirably and lowering the resolution.” – USPTO App. No. 12/495,813 at ¶ [0049]

Again, these patent applications specifically deal with the functionality of a dual image viewfinder system.  This portion of the patent claims was mentioned almost in passing and does not appear to be a material part of these patent applications.

Given Canon’s past marketing claims concerning the superiority of lens-based stabilization systems, however, I found this mention in Canon’s patent worth noting separately.

As I have said before though, this does not necessarily mean that Canon is producing a camera with a sensor-based stabilization system.

For more reading on these patent applications, see the previous post: Canon DSLR Dual Image Viewfinder

Canon DSLR Dual Image Viewfinder

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Canon DSLR Dual Viewfinder

A pair of recently published Canon patents reveal a new viewfinder system for Canon DSLRs that will allow photographers to “chimp” their shots without ever taking their eye off the viewfinder.  The patent applications filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) under application numbers 12/495,813 and 12/495,814 were each filed on July 1, 2009 and published by the USPTO on January 7, 2010.

The essence of the technology claimed under the patents is an advanced viewfinder system that uses a small backlit LCD or OLED inside of the finder to project previously captured images onto a mirror in the pentaprism, which in turn, is reflected toward the eye of the photographer.  As a result, the photographer sees two images in the viewfinder – the live optical image and the previously-captured image from the LCD.

The purpose of this invention, as stated in the patent, is to help the photographer be more efficient by keeping his or her eye in the viewfinder and not having to pull away from the action in order to check exposure, white balance, focus and so on. [Read more…]