Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Zacuto DSLR Gunstock Shooter Gorilla Kits

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Zacuto Tactical Shooter

As you are probably aware, video is a big trend in the professional photography realm right now.  Nikon, Canon and Pentax are all producing DSLRs that can record very high quality video.  Many photographers are taking this convergence of technology as an opportunity to expand their creative horizons.  And, whether you like it or not, video in DSLRs is here to stay.

For those of you wanting to get the most out of your DSLR’s video recording capabilities, you need to treat it a little more like a proper video camera.  That means, you need to keep it stable and be able to obtain critical focus.  Certainly, a tripod or monopod is a good way to do that.  But what if you want to be a little more mobile?  There are plenty of solutions for that as well.

Zacuto was one of the first manufacturers to offer a dedicated mobile video solution for DSLR owners.  Zacuto’s selection of DSLR video kits have grown to include more entry-level kits.  I got a chance to check out some of the more affordable Gunstock Shooter Gorilla Kits at Imaging USA this week and have to say that they are pretty impressive. [Read more…]

 

Canon Wireless Transfer Units for 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II and 7D

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Yesterday, Canon introduced Wireless File Transmitter units for 3 of its DSLRs – the 1D Mark IV, 5D Mark II and 7D.

The Canon 1D Mark IV will use the WFT-E2 II A unit.

The Canon 5D Mark II will use the WFT-E4 II A unit.

The Canon 7D will use the WFT-E5A.

All models offer 802.11a/b/g connectivity, FTP mode for transfer even remotely over the Internet, camera linking for firing up to 11 cameras simultaneously, and several other features.

The E4 II A and E5A is currently available at an initial retail price of $699.99.

The E2 II A should be available in the first quarter of 2010 at a yet to be announced price.

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

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II Lens

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Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II Lens

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens is an update to the former 70-200mm f/2.8 IS lens, one of Canon’s most popular professional lenses.  In the updated lens, the internal elements have been redesigned and a flourite and fifth UD element have been incorporated to the lens.  According to Canon, a new autofocusing algorithm should increase AF acquisition speed.  Additionally, the minimum focus distance has been reduced to under 4 feet.  Finally, the Image Stabilization system has been upgraded to a claimed shake-correction of 4-stops, which is a 1-stop improvement over the previous model.

The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II lens comes with a tripod collar, lens hood and pouch.  It should be available in April 2010.  Canon has yet to disclose the initial retail price; however, I would speculate the price to be around $2000 or more given Canon’s recent trend of increasing prices.

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

Sony A450

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Sony A450

The Sony A450, introduced as part of Sony’s CES 2010 offerings, is another sub-$1000 DSLR that is situated near the A500 and A550 cameras in terms of feature set.  The Sony A450 is equipped with a 14.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, presumably the same one as the A550. Unlike the A500 and A550 though, the A450 does not include a fast Live View display with a tilting LCD.

The Sony A450 is a somewhat peculiar introduction in the Alpha lineup.  The camera is essentially a Sony A550 (read PB’s A550 review) without the tilting LCD and fast Live View, which are arguably the best features on the A550.  However, for those of you who hate Live View and wiggly LCDs, the A450 may be right down your alley.

The other great feature in the spotlight from the A500 and A550 is Auto HDR, which seamlessly blends exposures in-camera to create an expanded dynamic range in your JPEG files straight out of the camera.  Thankfully, that’s one killer feature that the A450 ended up with.

[Read more…]

Top Photo Gear of 2009

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At the end of every year, a lot of people reflect back and give their opinions as to what was the camera or other product of the year.  I decided to take a look in the statistics I receive from Amazon.com to see the products that were hot with Photography Bay readers last year.  Below you’ll find a list of the cameras, lenses and more that were the most popular items among PB readers in 2009.  [Read more…]

Canon 1D Mark IV Availability

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It looks like the Canon 1D Mark IV has commenced shipping in the US and Canada.  I’ve seen several user reports of folks taking delivery across the photo forums and blogosphere.  Rob Galbraith has posted the same news today as well.

Some of the biggest camera retailers have yet to update their stock status for the 1D Mark IV, which suggests that the shipments are still rolling out.

You can continue to check availability at the following trusted retailers:

B&H Photo

Amazon

Adorama

Stay tuned over the next few days, as we should see the stock continue to update at US retailers.

Sony A850 and A900 Review

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Sony A850 and A900

The Sony A850 and A900 are full frame cameras that pack in 24.6-megapixels on that big sensor.  The cameras appear at the top-end of the Alpha system line up.  At first blush, the A850 appears almost identical to the pricier Sony A900.  After delving deeper into the A850, you’ll discover that there’s really not a whole lot of difference between it and the A900.

Because of the similarities between these two cameras and the fact that I reviewed them simultaneous, I decided to publish one review for both cameras rather than than two separate reviews with only minor changes in the text. [Read more…]

PocketWizard MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver ControlTL Firmware Version 5.0 for Canon

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PocketWizard FlexTT5 Transceiver

PocketWizard has updated the firmware for the Canon version of the MiniTT1 Transmitter and FlexTT5 Transceiver.

The new firmware adds several new capabilities to the wireless system.  Two of the big ones are Rear Curtain Sync and Pre-Flash Boost:

“PocketWizard’s rear curtain sync allows the photographer to set the shutter speed at which rear curtain sync automatically engages while optimizing the timing of rear curtain sync to fire at the absolute end of the shutter opening. Pre-Flash Boost provides enhanced E-TTL performance when using flash diffusers, doing bounce flash, or at ranges just beyond the normal E-TTL capabilities. By increasing the pre-flash power, PocketWizard has offset the loss of light in these challenging E-TTL situations.” –PocketWizard

The new firmware also adds automatic camera detection, which allows the system to determine appropriate sync speed for High Speed Sync mode.  Compatibility for the Canon 7D has been added, along with compatibility for the Metz 58 AF-1.

Additional details about the updated firmware are available in a PDF file from PocketWizard, which can be viewed here.

Download info for the firmware can be found here.