Archive for the ‘Cameras’ Category
Posted on September 7, 2008 - by Patrick
Nikon D90 Video Sample
Yes, it looks good.
Far from looking “gimmicky” the video coming from the Nikon D90 looks vastly more appealing to my eye than your typical consumer video camera, and of course a large part of that is the ability to use an incredible library of lenses and their features. One of those features begging to be exploited, aperture. The other, manual focus. I see both in this video. Very cool.
Here’s where to get it:
Nikon D90 at B and H
Nikon D90 at Adorama
Nikon D90 at Amazon
Posted on September 5, 2008 - by Patrick
Impressive High ISO Crops from Canon EOS 50D Digital SLR Camera
This is ISO 1600 straight from the camera of Flickr member turbodude, who has lots of crops at high ISO here…
Obviously the DIGIC IV is doing a bang up job on ISO 1600 and 3200. Still got some banding when it goes past 6400, but this is still pre-production firmware.
I’m starting to get excited about the possibilities of the 5D replacement, and one other camera that’ll be using the DIGIC IV, the 14.7 megapixel G10.
Posted on September 5, 2008 - by Patrick
In the Flesh: Sony A900 Digital SLR
Some first glimpses of the Sony A900 out in the wild, with what looks to be a Zeiss 16-35mm lens with internal zoom.
No pop-up flash either…
So, I guess we can take this out of the rumor category now?
Posted on September 5, 2008 - by Patrick
Cat out of the Bag: Destined Evolution
{ Destined Evolution }
{ No mode dial, buttons, or flash shoe? }
Teasers for the presumed 5D replacement hitting all the Canon Sites.
One thing, though… I would find these teasers even more interesting if they weren’t silhouetted
Posted on September 4, 2008 - by Patrick
Confirmed: New Canon DSLR in September
Cnet’s tech blog, Crave, has been informed by Canon that:
it will replace a “long overdue model”…
Reading between the lines:
“Canon EOS 5D replacement for Photokina”
Posted on September 4, 2008 - by Patrick
Sony A900: About that Intelligent Preview…
If you were curious about that mention of “intelligent preview” in the specs of the A900, and found the distinction odd (why not the familiar term “live view”), then perhaps David Kilpatrick’s (Photoclubalpha.com) explanation will help shed some light for you.
I do not have all the details, but this is what Sony will offer in place of Live View - it is a sort of Polaroid pre-test on screen, with some more information or accuracy, compared to just shooting a pic and reviewing it on any DSLR. Also, I believe that it is viewed from the buffer and not stored on to the memory card. I have not seen any explanation on how or what this function does though, beyond knowing that it is intended to show accurate depth of field, check focus, and check exposure more accurately than reviewing a quick shot - and to do it fast without needing to take a saved test shot.
-David Kilpatrick (Photoclubalpha.com)
As you may or may not now, Sony has one of the best current implementations of live view on DSLRs right now, it’d be interesting if they’ve found a way to make even more useful.
Still love to get the pricing info…
Posted on September 4, 2008 - by Patrick
Sony A900 Has Arrived: Specifications and Image
{sony a900}
Just a few more days now, but Sony is already hitting the photo rags with the advertisements, this one from National Geographic.
The specifications as listed:
- 24.6 megapixel full frame Exmor CMOS sensor
- Dual BIONZ image processing engine
- Intelligent preview
- 100% viewfinder, 0.74x magnification
- 3.0″ 921k dot hybrid LCD
- 9 point center dual-cross AF (with F2.8 sensor and wide area 10 point assist)
- 5 FPS continuous shooting
- Steady Shot Inside
- No pop up flash
This answers the question of viewfinder coverage and FPS. 100% viewfinder coverage tops the 95% coverage in the D700, but the A900 lags in the FPS, 5 vs. 8, but that’s coming with a big resolution difference, and honestly if the price is right, folks will be very happy with 5 FPS (Hell, D300 shoots 6FPS).
So the biggest question remains? Price!
Posted on September 3, 2008 - by Patrick
Sony A900 Announcement September 10
We said it before, and we weren’t joking.
Sony’s camera, a new member of its “alpha” family of cameras, will be shown at a company event that is scheduled to take place in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Sony didn’t offer any other information about the camera but it’s likely to be the long-anticipated high-end camera in the alpha line-up. Earlier this year Sony said the camera will have a full-frame sensor — an image sensor the same size as a 35mm film frame — with a resolution of 24.6 megapixels and image stabilization to reduce the effects of camera shake.
Panasonic is also expected to announce new cameras in its Lumix brand of DSLRs.
Posted on September 3, 2008 - by Patrick
Canon EOS 50D with EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Image Samples
It’s a two for one.
Image samples from the new Canon EOS 50D paired with the Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS can be see here. As with the DPR 50D samples the other day, I’m pretty sure these are with pre-production firmware so keep that in mind…
I think the EF-S 18-200mm is doing an admirable job here, but like most lenses of this type you have some softness at the corners, and some Canon shooters might be apt to pass it over anyway based on the lack of USM. Lens selection on a budget always comes down to compromises, and you’ll have to pick which ones matter the most, but if convienience and versatility top your list, this might be the lens for you.
I’ll just add, these samples continue an annoying pattern with the recent spat of 50D samples of few to no high ISO shots.
Posted on September 3, 2008 - by Patrick
Nikon D700 Digital SLR Camera Review: Like a Nikon’s Greatest Hits Album
Ok, we get it, it’s a really good camera.
If you had any possible lingering doubts as to whether Nikon has managed to take the best of its 2 top of the line camera bodies, throw them in a blender, and make an additional DSLR wonder perfectly situated between them, then look no further than Photography Blog’s review of the Nikon D700. Typical of most reviews of the D700, the nitpicking centers on the mundane, and the raves are frequently paralleled with mentions of its genetic predecessors, the D300 and the D3. Witness:
In conclusion the Nikon D700 looks and handles closer to the D300 than D3, in terms of controls and layouts, whilst of course featuring the D3’s full frame capture ability, but in a lighter and smaller design. As such it comes across as a kind of ‘greatest hits’ of Nikon DSLRs.
And yes I still want one. Still trying to come with the “need” part of the equation.
You can get the full review here…
