Archive for the ‘2008 PMA’ Category
Posted on February 1, 2008 - by Patrick
Sony A900 gets more official
24.8 megapixels and full frame
Gee, I go to NYC for a couple of days and all hell breaks loose. It seems like only a couple of days ago I said something about how the Sony sensor announcement might anticipate an A900 announcement at PMA, and lo and behold what do I come home to find?
As it turns out Sony says the A900 (technically not named the A900 just yet) is coming, albeit later this year, which I’ll assume means Photokina. It will be using the sensor announced just recently which will be called “Exmor”, which was checking in at 24.8 megapixels with full frame. In addition the camera will obviously be featuring Super Steady Shot, and appears to be sporting a 3 inch LCD, although it seems unclear as to whether it will have Live View (the prototype on display at PMA doesn’t look like it has the flip out LCD found on the A300 and A350), but I’d say it’s a very safe bet that it will.
No question, this is a big camera. Getting that monster sensor in there with SSS and presumably live view pretty much demanded it. It has a removable grip, so haters of the included grip found on canikons will be pleased. From what I can tell it has a programmable mode dial, and a fat top plate LCD which is, well a necessity on a flagship level camera.
There’s still a lot of questions that need to be answered, but at least we’re getting a lot closer to camera that is really going to put alot of pressure on the Canon 5d successor, which is where I think Sony intends to position the A900 in the camera market. Also as I said before, watch for the Nikon D3x announcement featuring the same sensor…I’ll bet we something before Photokina.
Later we’ll get up to date on some other exciting things, like who in their right mind is going to buy an A300 when you could get the A350? Also, we’re excited about the Sigma DP1 (please let the reviews be good!)
Posted on January 29, 2008 - by Patrick
Sony A350, A300, on sonystyle.com (again, but different)
This is the A350, but play with the url and you can get A300 pics as well, but uhmmm… we really don’t see a bit of difference. Also, check out the image on the LCD, as there’s a little forum discussion on what may be happening with the live view’s AF system here.
Posted on January 25, 2008 - by Patrick
Reality Check: My hopes for a Canon 5D replacement appear to be dashed.
With Canon’s announcement Wednesday of it’s new camera and lens lineup, it would appear very unlikely that I’ll be getting a chance to see a replacement for the EOS 5D. While I suppose there is a tiny shred of hope that Canon might say something at the actual PMA, their history would indicated this unlikely.
This leaves me in the terrible predicament of not knowing what camera I would buy now if I were to somehow come into a windfall of oh, say….$2500 cash. Seriously though my current camera roadmap leads me to a Nikon D300 purchase in about 6 months or so. And while it appears that the D300 might very well be all the camera I’ll ever need, especially if reviews like this are to be believed, I’m still not a 100% happy about it…
Posted on January 23, 2008 - by Patrick
From the forums:While waiting for Sony A900, Sony Website Reveals A300, A350
Spotted by alert DPR forum member “wilf”, this screen grab from Sony Style Taiwan would seem to reveal to product names not currently in the Sony DSLR lineup, the A300 and A350. While there have been several rumors of a A300, this is the first I’ve heard of the A350. Sadly, no mention of the A900.
Posted on January 23, 2008 - by Patrick
In Depth Review: Pentax K20D
The aforementioned codiac2600 (pentaxforums.com member and previously under NDA) has posted his very thorough analysis of what’s great and not so great about the K20D…
Posted on January 23, 2008 - by Patrick
More on Pentax K20D and K200D: Real Pictures and actual Specifications from the German Pentax Site
First legitimate look at the Pentax K20D. Full Specs and Info after the break…
Posted on January 23, 2008 - by Patrick
2008 PMA: Does Sony Product List for PMA Hint at a Possible A900?
DPR forum member and PMA member caught an interesting detail on Sony’s inventory sheet for the PMA show. Take a look at the last line there of this excerpt from Sony’s list:
# Photo/Digital Retail Products - Accessory Merchandise - Lenses, Adapters, Converters, Caps, Hoods
# Photo/Digital Retail Products - Accessory Merchandise - Tripods, Heads and Monopods
# Photo/Digital Retail Products - Cameras - Digital Still Cameras - Consumer
# Photo/Digital Retail Products - Cameras - Digital Still Cameras - Professional
Yes, this could easily be the A700, but technically that really isn’t a pro-level camera, and we know that Sony considers the A900 to be their pro build camera. We’ll keep our fingers crossed on this one.
Posted on January 22, 2008 - by Patrick
Pentax K20D Image Quality: “best images I’ve seen from an APS-C camera period”
According to DPR forum member (and pentaxforums.com member too, if I’m not mistaken) codiac2600, the image quality on a wide range of photos shown to him by another presumed beta-tester are the: “best images I’ve seen from an APS-C camera period…”. He added:
in terms of sharpness, rendering, IQ, whitebalance, noise levels, ect. I would put my stake deeper than before that Pentax has something to trump the competition and it’s not just whizbang features
The Pentax K20D announcement is literally around the corner and it appears that it may indeed be the “bomb”.
Follow the thread here.
Posted on January 21, 2008 - by Patrick
Pentax K20D First Impressions: “This is the best camera on the market today in the mid to upper mid price range”
If you wondering what it’s like to shoot and handle the new Pentax K20D, run, don’t walk to the pentaxforums.com post My Day with the K..D courtesy beta-tester benjikan. Benjikan is obviously under NDA, but still lets manages to give some of his first impressions, and they sound very, very good.
swims comfortably in the waters of the Canon 1D mk lll and Nikon D300
Briefly, it’s in a different class than the Canon 40D and Nikon D90, great color, excellent noise management, very quiet, running firmware version .39… check it out here.
Posted on January 21, 2008 - by Patrick
2008 PMA:Canon 7D to be announced Jan. 24 with 450D/Rebel XTi replacement
There may not be a 5D Mark II announcement but if Robert Westin is to be believed, Canon will announce new products in a pre-PMA release on Jan. 24, 2008. Expected cameras to be announced are the Canon 5D replacement, possibly to be called the 7D, and a 450D/Rebel XTi replacement. It is very possible that a Canon 7D may not be a full fledged 5D replacement, but more along the lines of a 14/16 megapixel full frame sensor in a Canon 40D type body, with a 5D Mark II coming later in the year. Insiders at Canon have already openly speculated on an affordable “5D-like” replacement, and a theoretical 7D would certainly fit the bill.
