Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
The Zoom H4n has been a staple of the HDSLR dual-system audio realm since the introduction of the 5D Mark II. Over the past few years though, the market has somewhat left the H4n behind with units like the Tascam DR-100mkII and Olympus LS-100 delivering better controls and a lower noise floor. [Read more…]
Photography Bay reader, Carol, just got her new D7000 camera. As a new DSLR user, she wants to know more about zooming with the camera and lens.
I just purchased a D7000 camera, and in using the various features, I noticed that I can NOT take a picture in the zoom in or out setting. Apparently this setting is used only for playback viewing? Why is that?
Here’s my response to Carol on why this is the case with DSLRs like the Nikon D7000…. [Read more…]
The new AF-S NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens has been rumored for a few weeks now, and has finally been officially unveiled. The new 18-35mm lens offers full frame coverage for FX-format DSLRs like the D600 and D800.
It features 12 elements in 8 groups and a 7-blade diaphragm. The lens has two focus modes: M/A (AF with manual override) and full manual, and features Nikon’s Silent Wave Motor. Minimum focus distance is approximately 11 inches.
The AF-S NIKKOR 18-35mm f/3.5-4.5G ED lens should be available in March at a retail price of $749.95. Check availability at B&H Photo and Amazon.com.
Olympus just launched the Stylus SP-820UZ iHS, its flagship Ultra Zoom compact camera. It features a 40x optical zoom lens (22.4-896mm equivalent) a 14MP CMOS image sensor.
The zoom is further magnified by what Olympus calls Super-Resolution Zoom, which doubles the focus distance, enabling up to 80x zoom magnification.
The SP-820UZ iHS also sports a 3-inch LCD 1080p HD video, as well as 720p video at 60fps for smooth slow motion footage.
The Olympus Stylus SP-820UZ iHS should be available in September 2012 at a retail price of $329.99. You can order the SP-820UZ here at B&H Photo.
Full specifications below. [Read more…]
Canon Rumors recently got word that a new EF 100-400 f/4-5.6L IS lens could be announced around Photokina 2012. The current 100-400mm model is getting a little long in tooth and is known as a dust sucker thanks to the push-pull zoom barrel.
The new model is rumored to carry an f/4-5.6 range – instead of the current f/4.5-5.6 aperture range. Additional rumors have included the possibility of a twist-zoom barrel instead of the current push-pull design.
I’ve been using the Zoom H4n for a couple of years or so now when shooting with HDSLRs like the 5D Mark II and 7D. Tons of other users around the world have been using it as well.
The Zoom H4n has a lot of stuff going for it – it’s compact, it’s relatively inexpensive and it provides much better sound quality than you get out of your DSLR’s internal mic. However, the Zoom H4n isn’t the only game in town. [Read more…]
Canon launched 3 new lenses today – a new standard zoom and two stabilized primes. These are all EF lenses with full-frame coverage.
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM – Priced at $2299. Available in April.
Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM – Priced at $849. Available in June.
Canon EF 28mm f/2.8 IS USM – Priced at $799. Available in June.
More details in the press release below. [Read more…]
One of the new products Olympus introduced at CES 2012 was the LS-100 audio recorder. I had the chance to sit down with the LS-100 for a few minutes during a press briefing. Check out my hands-on report below. [Read more…]
Below you will find this week’s firmware updates. Hit the manufacturer website links for more details and download instructions for the firmware.
Nikon Coolpix S6000 version 1.1 – “When the self-timer, flash mode or macro mode setting was accessed but then closed without adjusting the setting after applying exposure compensation, the exposure compensation setting was reset to 0.0. This issue has been resolved.” [Nikon Website]
Nikon Coolpix S8000 version 1.1 – “When the self-timer, flash mode or macro mode setting was accessed but then closed without adjusting the setting after applying exposure compensation, the exposure compensation setting was reset to 0.0. This issue has been resolved.” [Nikon Website]
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 version 1.1 – “added a function for recording 3D pictures. added a function for playing back 3D pictures. Improved operability of AE lock by maintaining the setting even when touch shutter function is used.” [Panasonic Website]
Pentax K-5 version 1.01 – “Increases the number of continuous shot at RAW format and High sensitivity shooting. # Improved stability for general performance such as exposure range on HyP mode.” [Pentax Website]
Zoom H4n Handy Recorder version 1.70 – “Added the function that recording level of INPUT1 and 2 can be set individually.” [Zoom Website]
For those of you interested in the HDSLR scene, there’s a new post over at Tech Tilt covering HDSLR audio setups, along with a discussion of the below video that compares multiple mics and audio sources.
Audio sources covered in the video are listed below.
Canon 7D On-Camera Audio
Rode NTG-3 + PreSonus FireStudio
Audio Technica AT8015 + PreSonus FireStudio
Get the full coverage over at Tech Tilt: HDSLR Audio: Shotgun Mic Shootout