Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
The Canon 5D Mark II has not even begun to ship yet and we’re already seeing the original Canon 5D take a hit in price. Just last week, I noticed the Canon 5D + EF 24-105mm L lens was around $2700 for the kit at Amazon. Now, the original 5D combo is available for $2590. Also, the Canon 5D body is now selling for under $2k.
So, if you can’t swing a 5D Mark II, you might consider the original 5D at a substantial discount. Personally, I’m drooling over the kit’s price point right now.
Yet another forum poster (this time AVForums) has claimed to have to goods on the much rumored Nikon D3x:
Went to dinner with Nikon this week.
The Nikon D3X is due in December 08.
Again, the 24MP number was tossed out there, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given that the D3x is expected to share the Sony A900’s sensor. Also, this is the second time of late that we’ve seen the December ’08 time frame pop up.
If this is true, Nikon continues its terrible record of keeping product development news a secret . . . or maybe it’s all part of their plan? The hype surround the past several Nikon DSLRs has been huge – and, generally speaking, Nikon delivered on the hype.
For past and present D3x rumors, keep your eyes on Photography Bay’s Nikon D3x Rumors page.
Pentax has announced a price drop of its 14.6 megapixel flagship K20D. The new lower price is $999.95, which is a steal given the feature set and image quality packed into this DSLR. For more on the K20D, check out Photography Bay’s Pentax K20D Reviews and Resources.
Additionally, the waterproof Pentax Optio W60 is receiving a price cut to $299.95.
Both cameras are available for even less than these new retail prices at Amazon.com – Pentax K20D – Pentax Optio W60.
PENTAX Imaging Company has announced significant savings on its flagship, award-winning digital SLR. Beginning Sunday, October 12, 2008, the price of the PENTAX K20D digital SLR camera body has dropped to $999.95. The full-featured, 14.6 megapixel, weather-resistant DSLR features a three-step dust reduction system, the PRIME image processor, fully customizable capture and control settings, and PENTAX developed Shake Reduction that works with any of the 25 million PENTAX lenses ever manufactured. More details are available at www.pentaxslr.com.
PENTAX also reduced the price of the popular, rugged and waterproof PENTAX Optio W60 digital camera to $299.95. Lightweight and fully waterproof, the Optio W60 features 10 megapixels and a 5X zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle capability. The Optio W60 operates up to 13 feet underwater for two hours and at extreme temperatures well below freezing. More details are available at www.h20camera.com.
The new Samsung HZ1 is a new 10.2 megapixel point and shoot camera, which features a 2.7″ LCD, a 10x zoom lens at 24mm on the wide end and the ability to capture 720p HD video. The HZ1, which is the camera’s tentative name, also offers dual image stabilization, face detection, smile shot and blink detection.
After a three year life, the Canon 5D has finally been replaced. Canon has, after much anticipation and rumors, announced the Canon 5D Mark II. The 5D Mark II follows in the formidable foot steps of its predecessor with a full frame sensor, which packs in 21.1 megapixels and features sensitivity settings up to ISO 25,600.
For the full feature list and additional info, check out the press release below. For the latest news, reviews and pre-order information, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Canon 5D Mark II Reviews and Resources. [Read more…]
The Canon PowerShot G10 is the successor the popular PowerShot G9. The G10 entered the arena at a $499 retail price. It can be found at slight discounts now at the following trusted online retailers:
Buy it. It’s easy to carry and will always come in handy.
At the lowest ISO settings (80 and 100), the G10 resolves details well and shows little image noise. Color and focus accuracy are also quite good, although overexposure is sometimes a problem.
Print quality is quite excellent from the Canon G10’s images, with good color. Conservatively, the ISO 80 JPEG images look great at 16×20 inches, and are usable at 20×30 straight out of the camera; sharpening and processing from RAW can sharpen things up considerably at all ISO settings.
On the whole, however, I would recommend this camera for the amateur who wants to take some serious outdoor or posed/still shots.
First off, sensor resolution has been increased from 12.1 to 14.7 megapixels. Before anyone groans, the addition of the latest DIGIC 4 processor has made those pixels genuinely useful and image quality has been upped, even at higher ISO settings.
Solid, beautiful digital files, even as the Canon RAW format has been incorporated into the most popular photo editing software.
Each day I became more and more enamored with the quality and accessibility of this little camera.
If you are serious about photography and would like a camera with SLR features, but without the bulk then take a very close look at this camera.
The Canon PowerShot G10 is a very capable fixed-lens camera that does just about everything right.
The G10 is a camera you don’t want to put down once you have picked it up. It encourages users to take pictures, and turn the dials: to experiment and have fun.
Somehow Canon has managed to extract not only superior JPEG resolution from the G10’s image files – but also provided raw files that rate higher in Photo Review’s Imatest test than many of the DSLR cameras we’ve tested this year.
The G10 is the best compact digital camera I’ve ever used. The gotcha words are “digital” and “compact.” Maddeningly, like all other compact (non-interchangable lens) cameras, the G10 still takes too darn long to adjust or change anything.
Luminous Landscape (G10 vs. P6000 Comparison)
The net of this comparison is that while the Nikon P6000 is a fine little camera, it finds itself in the unfortunate position of being released at the same time as the Canon G10, which it would appear is an attempt by Canon to produce a full-featured pocket camera with the highest quality that they are capable of.
The Canon PowerShot G10 is a solid enthusiast digital camera for those who want something compact to complement a dSLR.
The G10 is undoubtedly the best ever Canon G-Series camera, and is a serious alternative to both an entry-level DSLR and other similar compacts (most notably the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 and the Nikon Coolpix P6000).
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., September 17, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the newest addition to its top-of-the line PowerShot G-series digital cameras. The PowerShot G10 digital camera offers serious amateur shooters and professional photographers several essential ingredients for a flagship model, including Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor, 28mm Optical Image Stabilized lens and RAW mode. This trilogy of style, performance and image quality is an ideal professional complement for anyone seeking the photo quality of a DSLR, combined with the convenient size of a point-and-shoot.
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., September 17, 2008 – Canon U.S.A., a leader in digital imaging, today announced the newest addition to its top-of-the line PowerShot G-series digital cameras. The PowerShot G10 digital camera offers serious amateur shooters and professional photographers several essential ingredients for a flagship model, including Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor, 28mm Optical Image Stabilized lens and RAW mode. This trilogy of style, performance and image quality is an ideal professional complement for anyone seeking the photo quality of a DSLR, combined with the convenient size of a point-and-shoot.
As the successor model to the popular PowerShot G9 digital camera, the PowerShot G10 digital camera is loaded with Canon’s latest technologies, including a long-anticipated 28 mm wide-angle lens with 5x optical zoom, 14.7 megapixels and 3.0-inch Pure Color LCD II screen.
“With exquisite image quality, the latest image processor and advanced functionality, the Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera brings an elevated level of performance and usability to the PowerShot line,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “By enhancing key technologies in this camera, including our proprietary DIGIC 4 image processor, Canon has merged the functions typically found in a DSLR with a smaller body form to provide affordable and portable options to photo enthusiasts of all types.”
Control Options
The controller wheel is equipped with a dedicated Exposure Compensation Dial, which allows quick and intuitive adjustment of exposure compensation and the “My Menu” function for registering five user-selected options from the shooting menu, as well as 26 shooting modes. Additionally, the Custom Mode better allows the user to record two types of shooting parameter settings, thus offering the ability to arrange their most often used settings on their LCD display. A host of accessory options are offered, including the remote switch, Macro Ring Lite and Macro Twin Lite (when used with an additional attachment, available in January 2009). Now consumers can utilize similar accessories found in the Canon EOS line, therefore expanding a user’s ability to customize.
Canon DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor
The newly upgraded DIGIC 4 image processor, a proprietary technology, accounts for the camera’s higher performance levels, including significantly improved signal processing speed and higher image quality.
One of the most important new features made possible by the DIGIC 4 image processor is Servo AF, which is a form of continuous focus tracking for moving subjects. By pressing the shutter button half-way, the camera can track subject movement up to the instant of exposure, resulting in sharper photographs. Additionally, the processor’s high ISO speed noise reduction processing has improved substantially to enable consumers to shoot high-quality images, even in extremely dark situations without the use of a flash. The new Intelligent Contrast Correction function automatically improves image quality in high-contrast shooting situations.
The Genuine Canon Face Detection technology has evolved even further, thanks to DIGIC 4. Improved features include the ability to recognize human faces at most angles. Another innovation is the Face Detection Self-Timer, which automatically takes a photo two seconds after a new face enters the scene.
Availability and Pricing
Scheduled to be available in October, the PowerShot G10 digital camera will have an estimated selling price of $499.99*. Kit contents will include a battery, charger, neck strap, USB and A/V interface cables, Canon Digital Solutions Software CD, and a 1-year Canon U.S.A., Inc. limited warranty.
Nikon currently operates with two sensor formats in its DSLRs, DX and FX. Practically speaking, the FX format is the same size as the old 35mm film frame. The DX is smaller, which results in a “crop factor” of 1.5x when compared to the 35mm “full frame.” Thus, a 50mm lens appears to have the focal length of a 75mm lens on a DX camera. The Nikon D3 and D700 are FX format cameras. All other Nikon DSLRs use a DX format sensor.
Recent rumblings and some pretty convincing evidence suggests that Nikon may have something bigger in store for us, much bigger. [Read more…]
UPDATED: The Sony A900 has been officially unveiled. See Photography Bay’s Sony A900 Announcement and Sony A900 Reviews and Resources for more info.
This is the first advertisement that I’ve seen for the Sony A900. It appears to be legit and coming from a Danish photography magazine. [via DPR]
It looks like there are bubbles in the ad featured with the A900, which are reminiscent of the Sony Foam City shoot in Miami earlier this year for images like.no.other. Perhaps Sony is extending the mileage of Foam City to the A900 as well.
[Update: Here’s Ad # 2 leaked:]
The text in the ad reads as follows:
The new a900 has arrived. A new height in the “a” revolution is now within reach. Engineered with the exclusive 24.6 Mega Pixel Full Frame Exmor CMOS sensor, an industry breakthrough from Sony, this powerhouse integrates only the best imaging technologies from the world’s leading image sensor manufacturer. A work of art for the truly discerning individual.
24.6 Mega Pixel Full Frame Exmor CMOS Sensor – Dual BIONZ Image Processing Engine – Intelligent Preview – 100% Viewfinder, 0.74x Magnification – 3.0”, 921K-out Hybrid LCD – 9-point Centre Dual-cross AF (with f2.8 sensor and wide-area 10-point assist) – 5 fps Continuous Shooting – SteadyShot INSIDE
[via xitek]
Also, Sony appears to have confirmed with some sources that there will be a new DSLR launched on September 10th. [via PC World] It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that will be the day for the A900.
Expect to see lots more A900 coverage as we approach Photokina 2008.
For more on the Sony A900 flagship DSLR, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Sony A900 page.
A tipster, who wishes to keep his identity confidential, passed along that he recently received word from Sony that the Sony A900 will be announced worldwide on September 9th. That’s next Tuesday folks.
While it may seem like we’re all over the place on announcement dates, I feel pretty good about this info, as opposed to yesterday’s rumor of a 9/3 announcement. He emailed me directly with the info, which he says comes directly from Sony. Additionally, he’s provided solid info in the past. I will honor his request to remain confidential, but I thought you should know why I feel good about his info.
Expect to see lots more A900 coverage as we approach Photokina 2008.
For more on the Sony A900 flagship DSLR, stay tuned to Photography Bay’s Sony A900 page.
As with the Tamron 10-24mm the 90mm f/2.8 Macro has been updated to include a built-in motor for the Nikon mount in order to accommodate the Nikon D40, D40x and D60, which do not have an AF motor in the body of the camera.
Tamron Co., Ltd (Mr. Morio Ono, President) has successfully renewed the existing SP AF90mm F/2.8 for Nikon and is now pleased to announce the availability of the lens with a built-in AF motor for Nikon. (The lens is already available in mounts for Canon, Pentax and Sony.) [Read more…]