Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Canon 50D Rumor Archive

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Canon has not varied in its release schedule for the Rebel series and 10D-40D series DSLRs.  Like clockwork, Canon has released a new one every 18 months . . . until this Summer when Canon announced the Rebel XS, which added another “level” of camera to its DSLR lineup.

Previously, the old Rebel model had become the step-down model in Canon’s entry-level lineup after a new camera was introduced.  Canon now clearly has a two-tier entry-level lineup with the Rebel XS and Rebel XSi.

Even though I’ve seen a few rumors for a while now, I have not posted any to Photography Bay because I generally considered it wishful thinking.  I fully expected the Canon 50D to arrive at PMA 2009, which would be 18 months after the Fall 2007 release of the Canon 40D, which has been taking some serious drops in price lately.

I am beginning to think there may be something to the rumors now.  Here’s one of the most recent rumors on the 50D specs:

  • 12.2 Megapixel APS-C sensor
  • Single Digic III Processor
  • ISO 100-3200 (High 6400)
  • 6-8 fps depending on grip
  • 3″ High Resolution OLED LCD
  • Will accept EF and EF-S Lenses
  • 11 point AF
  • 35 Zone metering
  • Viewfinder: 100 percent coverage .95 magnification
  • Pop up flash
  • New Lithium Ion Battery
  • Weather sealing slightly better than 40D

[via DPR]

Perhaps Canon is feeling pressure from Nikon with the successful entry of the D300 and D700.  While the 40D is still a stellar camera, it’s beginning to show its age when stacked up against Nikon, Sony and Pentax’s latest offerings.

Granted, some are calling BS on these specs.  Others say they’re real.  Either way, we’ll know in a few weeks.

Stay tuned to Photography Bay and our Photokina 2008 coverage for more.

 

Photoree: Bookmarking Reaches Images

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You have StumbleUpon for websites and Last.fm for music, but the choices for bookmarking and recommending photos are much slimmer. Photoree is an opportunity to see thousands of photographs — to see what images other photographers are creating.

The system is very simple: just like with other recommendation sites, you create a profile and note a few photos that you like from the Photoree colection. From there, Photoree recommends photos that match your taste. You can browse through photos, create your own personal collection and even use the Creative Commons images that you find through the site.

Photoree has also simplified sharing photos. While there are quite a few sites dedicated to sharing photos you’ve taken with your friends and family, there are few options for passing along a photo someone else took but that you enjoy. Your options are pretty much limited to pasty an unwieldy URL into an email. Photoree offers options for sharing photos easily with your contacts.

Nikon D90 Best Buy Leak

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After showing up in Circuit City’s inventory, it didn’t take long for an industrious Best Buy employee to capture this screenshot of the Nikon D90 in Best Buy’s inventory. It appears to offer the same specs and pricing revealed by the Circuit City leak a couple days ago. [via endgadget]

For the latest news and rumors on the Nikon D90, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Nikon D90 page.

Shutterfly’s New Share Sites

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Shutterfly has added to its photo sharing and printing services by launching Share Sites. Share Sites provides users with a personalized web site to share photos with friends and family — a virtual photo album.

Share Sites offers up better designs than similar sites have offered in the past, as well as a very simple user interface. Someone with very little online experience can navigate these photo albums, if not create one themselves. With Share Sites, Shutterfly is not precisely competing with Flickr or Photobucket. Instead, their efforts compete with Kodak and Snapfish.

Despite the ease of use, Share Sites does have some potential for more advanced users — especially those who often work with clients, friends and family who aren’t up to speed with online photo options.

ColorRight Review – Custom White Balance Gets Easy

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I must admit. I’m one of those guys that shoots in RAW and only uses the Auto White Balance (AWB) setting. When my DSLR misses the white balance of a scene, I “simply” make adjustments in post processing. Boy did I have it all wrong – until the folks at ColorRight said I had to give their product a try.

What is ColorRight?

ColorRight is a tool for properly setting custom white balance on your DSLR. It looks much like a lens filter with a dark ring and partially see-through hole inside the filter glass. Placing the ColorRight tool over the end of your DSLR and taking a sample shot gives your DSLR an accurate reading of the temperature of the light in your scene. All subsequent shots taken with your DSLR under those lighting conditions will have an accurate white balance. [Read more…]

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Review at PhotographyBLOG

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PhotographyBLOG has posted a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3.

Today we bring you the World’s first online review of the highly-anticipated Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 compact camera. The LX3 is primarily targeted at the serious photographer looking for a backup to their DSLR, or maybe even as their main camera. A full range of creative shooting modes, RAW mode, fast and wide f/2.0, 24mm lens, high-res 3 inch LCD screen and an ISO range of 80-3200 are all present and correct. Panasonic haven’t forgotten the novice user either, with a wealth of scene modes and the highly effective Intelligent Auto mode on offer if you just want to point-and-shoot. Retailing at £399 / $499, the LX3 is a premium camera that comes with a premium price-tag – Mark Goldstein find out if it’s worth investing in.

Fujifilm FinePix S2000HD

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Valhalla, NY, August 12, 2008 – FUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. today announced the first model in its digital camera line-up to offer full High-Definition compatibility — the FinePix S2000HD.

Sporting a 10-MegaPixel 1/2.3″ CCD, a powerful 15x wide-angle optical zoom (27.6mm-414mm equivalent) and an extra large 2.7″ wide-view LCD, the FinePix S2000HD is perfect for advanced amateur photographers who want an affordable, step-up digital camera that will still fit in the palm of their hand. [Read more…]

Fujifilm FinePix F60fd

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Valhalla, NY, August 12, 2008 – FUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. today introduced the FinePix F60fd, a versatile, compact digital camera that makes it easier than ever for consumers to take great pictures in any conditions. As the latest addition to Fujifilm’s award-winning F-Series lineup, the FinePix F60fd, like the FinePix F50fd before it, combines intuitive use with the most advanced features and technology available, enabling photographers of all levels to capture the moment as their eye sees it. [Read more…]

Fujifilm FinePix J150W, J120, J110W, J100

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Valhalla, NY, August 12, 2008 – Fujifilm U.S.A. Inc. today announced the third model in its recently released J-series digital camera line, the FinePix J150w. As with its J-series predecessors, the FinePix J150w is designed for consumers seeking an affordable digital camera without sacrificing features or style.

Available in a handsome matte black or stylish brushed silver and housed in a compact metal chassis just 22.6 mm thick, the FinePix J150w conveniently fits into a handbag or pocket for quick accessibility. It incorporates a 10-MegaPixel CCD sensor, an extra-large 3.0″ LCD and 5x wide-angle optical zoom lens (28mm-140mm equivalent on 35mm camera) from world-renowned lens brand, Fujinon, that easily captures large groups or distant subjects. [Read more…]

Nikon D90 Confirmed, Priced at $1299.95 With 18-105mm VR Kit Lens

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Nikon Rumors received a tip from a reader that Circuit City already has the Nikon D90 listed in its inventory system.  The tipsters stated the following:

I have some D90 info. I work for Circuit City. While checking our DSLR inventory I noticed that the Nikon D90 with an 18-105mm VR lens was listed as an active SKU in our system. The price came up at $1299.99. I started a ticket and it was actually letting me special order the camera. The Web ID for the camera is NIK D90KIT18105VR. I don’t know if this will stay in the system but anyone should be able to special order a D90 from a Circuit City store using that SKU if it doesn’t change.

For the latest news and rumors on the Nikon D90, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Nikon D90 page.