Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Canon 1D Mark IV vs. Nikon D3S – Autofocus Performance [Part 1]

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Canon 1D Mark IV vs. Nikon D3s

We all know that the Canon 1D Mark IV and Nikon D3S are geared toward sports photographers.  While the cameras have found their way into many other photography niches, at their core, these cameras are made for shooting sports.  As an action-oriented camera, nothing defines its performance more so than its autofocus speed and accuracy.

When shooting sports, we can forgive images that are a bit noisier in one camera over the other, and we can forgive a camera with lower resolution than its competitor.  What we cannot forgive, however, is out of focus images.  When shooting sports and other action, autofocus performance is a paramount concern. [Read more…]

 

Rumor Alert: Yet Another New DSLR Coming September 8th

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Just got a tip about a new DSLR that will be announced on September 8.  The source doesn’t provide a model; however, there is an indication that it will be a prosumer or low-end pro model.

This has been a rather busy season for DSLRs, particularly over the past couple of weeks.  I sure don’t see much room for too many more entry-level DSLRs; however, camera manufacturers have been pretty thin on releasing pro-grade gear so far.  I suppose that the Canon 60D fits into the prosumer category, but that’s about it.

We’re all still waiting and hoping for a number of pro and prosumer models . . . Canon 1Ds Mark IV, Sony A700 replacement, Nikon D90 or D700 replacement and pretty much anything from Pentax.  With this in mind, we could still be rather busy in the lead up to Photokina 2010.

Stay tuned for the latest.  And, if you have any additional info on upcoming gear, feel free to drop me a tip via the contact form.

Canon 60D Announced

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The Canon 60D has been officially unveiled. The new EOS 60D features an 18MP CMOS sensor, in-camera RAW processing and Full HD video capture.  The 60D is also the first DSLR from Canon that features a fully articulating LCD, which is a 3-inch LCD with a 1.04-million dot resolution.

The Canon 60D will capture 1920 x 1080 resolution video at 24p, 25p or 30p.  In 720p resolution, the 60D captures 50p or 60p frame rates. In addition to manual control for video, the 60D also includes manual audio levels in 64 steps, akin to the recent firmware updates for the 5D Mark II.

The Canon 60D should be available in September at an initial retail price of $1099 for body only, or $1399 with an included 18-135mm IS USM kit lens. Check availability on Amazon.com.

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

Canon Announces 4 New L-Series Lenses

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Along with the Canon 60D, four new L-Series lenses and two new teleconverters have been announced today.

  • Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM
  • Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6L IS USM
  • Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM
  • Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM
  • Canon Extender EF 1.4x III
  • Canon Extender EF 2x III

Additional details and images for each of the lenses are in the press release below. [Read more…]

Canon Develops 120-Megapixel APS-H CMOS Sensor

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Canon has produced yet another ridiculously high-MP APS-H sensor.   This time, it’s a 120MP CMOS sensor measuring 13,280 x 9,184 pixel.

Back in 2007, Canon had a 50MP sensor in APS-H format.  Of course, we have yet to see anything close to this megapixel count in any full frame or smaller sensor DSLR.

Of particular interest in Canon’s announcement though is that the sensor “also incorporates a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) video output capability. The sensor can output Full HD video from any approximately one-sixtieth-sized section of its total surface area.”

Can we get a rumor check on that Canon 1Ds Mark IV?

Check out the full press release below. [Read more…]

Sony A55 and A33 Announced

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The Sony A55 and A33 are two new cameras that benefit from Translucent Mirror Technology (as Sony calls it), whereby the mirror does not move during video or image capture.  This translucent mirror allows the A55 and A33 to continuously focus using the cameras’ fast “phase detection” AF sensors.

The A55 is capable of capturing up to 10 frames per second, while the A33 weighs in at 7 frames per second.  Both cameras feature Sony’s Exmor APS HD CMOS sensors – 16.2MP for the A55 and 14.2 for the A33.

The cameras also feature a 3-inch 921k dot resolution LCD and a 100% coverage electronic viewfinder at 1.1x magnification.  Because of the new translucent mirror technology, the A33 and A55 allow the use of the eye-level viewfinder while recording video – something no other DSLR has managed to do yet.  Additionally, those looking forward to the film-making potential of these new cameras will appreciate the ability to add external mics via a 3.5mm mic-in port.

Sony A55 and A33 Key Specs

  • 16.2MP (A55) and 14.2MP (A33)
  • 3″ Vari-angle LCD (921k dot resolution)
  • 100% Coverage EVF (1.15M dot resolution)
  • 1920 x 1080 at 60i Video Capture
  • ISO 100-12800
  • Auto HDR
  • Sweep Panorama
  • Built-in GPS (A55 only)
  • Memory Stick / SDXC Compatibility

The Sony A55 should be available in October at an initial retail price of $750 for body only.  Check availability on Amazon.com.

The Sony A33 should be available in September at an initial retail price of $650 for body only. Check availability on Amazon.com.

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