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The Viltrox AF 85mm F2.0 EVO is a new super-affordable short telephoto prime lens for Sony full-frame cameras. Read our in-depth Viltrox 85mm f/2 review to find out if it's worth the very modest £265 / $275 asking price...
The Sony ZV-E10 II is a mirrorless camera that's directly aimed at vloggers, with 4K/60p recording, a vari-angle screen, fast auto-focusing, three-capsule direction microphone, and a wealth of vlogger-friendly shooting modes. Is this a good camera for aspiring videographers and social media creators? Read our Sony ZV-E10 II review, complete with full-size photos and videos, to find out...
We've kicked off our Panasonic Lumix S9 review with sample JPEG and RAW images, product shots and more...
The X100VI is the sixth generation of Fujfilm's classic 35mm fixed lens premium compact camera series. It now has a 40 megapixel sensor, 6K video recording, in-body image stabilisation (IBIS) and brand new Reala Ace film simulation. Read our in-depth Fujifilm X100VI review now, complete with full-size sample images and videos...
The OM System TG-7 is a new flagship tough compact camera for 2023. Standout new features include in-camera timelapse movies, vertical video support, a USB Type-C port, the ability to control the camera remotely, and a special Construction scene mode. Read our OM System TG7 review to find out if this camera is tough enough for you...
The ZV-E1 is Sony's first vlogging camera to feature a 35mm full-frame sensor, offering 4K/120p recording, 12 megapixel stills, and AI-based autofocusing and stabilisation modes. Is the the ultimate camera for for videos and vlogs? Find out now in our in-depth Sony ZV-E1 review...
The Sony ZV-1 II is a second-generation compact camera designed for vlogging, with a wide-angle zoom lens, vari-angle screen, fast auto-focusing, upgraded three-capsule direction microphone, and special vlogger-friendly shooting modes. Read our in-depth Sony ZV-1 II review with full-size sample photos and videos now...
At just £490 / $480, the EOS R100 is the cheapest mirrorless camera in the Canon range, offering 24 megapixels and 4K video recording in a tiny body. Can you really buy a decent camera for such a small amount of money? Find out now by reading our in-depth review of the Canon EOS R100 APS-C mirrorless camera, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
The Lumix G9 II is the most capable Micro Four Thirds camera that Panasonic have ever released, but does that mean that you should rush out and buy one? Find out now by reading our in-depth Panasonic Lumix G9 II review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
The new Canon EOS R8 full-frame mirrorless camera integrates the image quality and autofocusing from the more expensive EOS R6 Mark II with the smaller, lighter and simpler body of the cheaper EOS RP. Is the resulting camera a resounding success or a terrible mish-mash? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon EOS R8 review...
The Canon EOS R50 is a super-compact mirrorless camera with an APS-C crop sensor that can shoot at 15fps and record 4K/30p video. Can the R50 compete with the likes of the Fujifilm X-S10, Nikon Z30 and Sony ZV-E10? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon R50 review with full-size sample photos and videos.
The Sony ZV-1F is an affordable compact camera aimed at vloggers, with 4K/30p video, a vari-angle screen, a wide-angle lens, and a wealth of vlogger-friendly shooting modes. Should you upgrade from your smartphone to the ZV1F? Read our in-depth Sony ZV-1F review to find out...
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is Samsung's new no-holds-barred flagship smartphone for 2023. Featuring a quad-camera setup with 200 megapixels and a 10x optical zoom, 8K video recording, a 5000mAH battery and 5G connectivity, is this the ultimate smartphone for keen photographers? Find out now by reading our in-depth Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos...
Finally! The new Lumix S5 II is the first ever Panasonic camera to have a phase hybrid detection AF system, answering the critics of its contrast-based DFD system. But does this powerful hybrid photo and video camera have what it takes to beat its main rivals? Find out now by reading our in-depth Panasonic Lumix S5 II review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
The EOS R6 Mark II is the successor to one of our favourite full-frame mirrorless cameras, principally adding a new 24 megapixel sensor, 40fps burst shooting and improved auto-focusing. Read our in-depth Canon EOS R6 II review now, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
OM System have just updated their enthusiast model for 2022 with the launch of the new OM-5, but is it any good? Find out now by reading our review of the OM System OM5 mirrorless camera, complete with full-size sample photos and videos...
The Canon EOS R10 is a tiny new mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor that can shoot at up to 23fps and record 4K/60p video. Can the R10 compete with the likes of the Fujifilm X-S10, Nikon Z50 and Sony A6400? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon R10 review...
Canon is back in the APS-C game with the much-anticipated launch of the EOS R7, a very capable prosumer camera with a clear focus on speed. Billed as the mirrorless successor to the much loved EOS 7D Mark II DSLR, does the new R7 have what it takes to compete against the likes of Fujifilm and Sony? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon R7 review...
The Sigma 20mm F2 DG DN is a fast, compact wide-angle prime lens for Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras. Boasting impeccable build quality, a vintage feel and modern optics, is this new lens worth the £649 / $699 asking price? Read our expert review of the Sigma 20mm F2 for Sony with full-size sample photos to find out...
The original Sony 24-70mm F2.8 lens is only 6 years old, but that hasn't stopped Sony from updating it with a brand new Mark II version. Can Sony really improve on what was already an excellent lens, and what exactly have they changed? Find out now by reading our in-depth Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II review, complete with full-size sample photos.
The RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM is an affordable ultra-wide-angle zoom lens for Canon's EOS R-series cameras. Is this a must-have lens for Canon full-frame mirrorless owners? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM review, complete with full-size sample photos...
The new OM-1 flagship is both the last ever Olympus camera and the first ever OM System camera. Confused? Well no need to worry, as we take an in-depth look at what this new Micro Four Thirds flagship has to offer in our OM System OM-1 review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos...
The much anticipated Panasonic GH6 is finally here! But what does this new flagship camera offer, and can it really improve on the best-selling GH5? We find out in our review of the Panasonic Lumix GH6 mirrorless camera, complete with sample photos, test shots, videos and more...
The Nikon Z9 is a professional level, full-frame mirrorless camera for photographers and videographers that features a 45 megapixel stacked BSI sensor, 8K/30p and 4K/120p video recording, 30fps burst shooting and a dual-grip design. Read our in-depth Nikon Z9 review complete with full-size sample photos and videos to find out just what this flagship camera is capable of...
The Canon EOS R3 is a professional full-frame mirrorless camera for sports and action photographers that features a 24 megapixel stacked BSI sensor, 6K/60p Raw and 4K/120p video recording, 30fps burst shooting, eye-control autofocusing and a dual-grip design. Read our in-depth Canon R3 review complete with full-size sample photos and videos to find out just what the all-action R3 is capable of...
The Sigma 24mm F2 DG DN is a fast yet compact wide-angle prime lens for Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras. Boasting impeccable build quality, a vintage feel and modern optics, is this new lens worth the modest £549 / $639 asking price? Read our expert review of the Sigma 24mm F2 for Sony with full-size sample photos to find out...
The Sony ZV-E10 is a new APS-C sensor mirrorless camera that's clearly targeted at videographers, with a vari-angle screen, fast auto-focusing, three-capsule direction microphone, and a wealth of vlogger-friendly shooting modes. Is this the ultimate mirrorless camera for aspiring YouTube creators? Read our in-depth Sony ZV-E10 review to find out...
The much anticipated Panasonic GH6 may be on the near-horizon, but the brand new GH5 Mark II is here right now. What does the new version offer, and can it really improve on the best-selling original? We find out in our review of the Panasonic Lumix GH5 II mirrorless camera, complete with sample photos, test shots, videos and more...
The Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN is a brand new moderate wide-angle prime lens for Sony Alpha full-frame and APS-C cameras (and L Mount cameras too). Offering a fast maximum aperture of f/1.4, excellent build quality and a raft of features, is this premium lens worth its very reasonable asking price? Read our in-depth Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG DN review to find out...
The EOS M50 Mark II is Canon's newest entry-level mirrorless camera for 2021. With 4K/25p and 1080/60p video modes, a flippy LCD screen and a number of vlogger-friendly improvements, plus a 24 megapixel APS-C sensor, 10fps burst shooting and Canon's excellent Dual Pixel AF system, could it be the perfect affordable camera for YouTubers, TikTokers and stills photographers alike? Find out now by reading our Canon EOS M50 Mark II review...
The Irix 45mm F1.4 GFX is a new "classic 35mm" lens for Fujifilm's mirrorless medium format camera system, offering one of the fastest maximum apertures of any native GFX lens. Find out how this manual-focus lens performed on the 100 megapixel GFX 100S camera by reading our Irix 45mm F1.4 lens review...
The new 100-megapixel medium-format Fuji GFX 100S is smaller, lighter and more versatile than the flagship GFX 100, and crucially, significantly cheaper too. So much so that it steps on the toes of high-end 35mm full-frame cameras like the Sony Alpha 1, Canon EOS R5 and Nikon Z7 II. Does the GFX 100S really prove that medium-format is "More than full-frame", and is it really better than the GFX 100? Find out now by reading our in-depth review, complete with a huge gallery of full-size sample images and videos...
The Sigma 24mm F3.5 DG DN is a wide-angle prime lens for Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras. Boasting impeccable build quality, a vintage feel and modern optics, is this tiny lens really worth the £479 / $549 asking price? Read our expert review of the Sigma 24mm F3.5 for Sony with full-size sample images to find out...
The Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN is a long standard or a a short telephoto prime lens for Sony's full-frame E-mount camera system. The auto-focusing Sigma 65mm F2 offers 9 aperture blades, superlative build quality, a traditional aperture ring and weatherproofing. Read our in-depth Sigma 65mm F2 DG DN review now with full-size sample images...
The Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN is a moderate wide-angle prime lens with plenty of character, offering impeccable build-quality and vintage design and handling that really helps to make it stand out from the crowd. But should you spend £549 / $639 on this 35mm lens, rather than one of the other dozen or so alternatives on the market? Read our expert review of the Sigma 35mm F2 DG DN mirrorless camera lens with full-size sample images to find out...
The Nikon Z7 II full-frame mirrorless camera is the 2020 update of the original Z7 model, principally improving the autofocusing, buffer and video and adding a second memory card slot. Are these changes enough for it to compete with its main rivals like the Sony A7R IV and the Canon EOS R5? Find out now by reading our in-depth Nikon Z7 II review, complete with full size sample photos and videos...
The Nikon Z6 II mirrorless camera is an evolutionary upgrade of the original Z6, principally improving the autofocusing, buffer and video and adding a second memory card slot. Is this enough to compete with its main rivals? Find out now by reading our in-depth Nikon Z6 II review, complete with full size sample photos and videos...
The RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM is a new professional telephoto zoom lens for Canon EOS R-series full-frame mirrorless cameras. Is this the perfect all-in-one super-telephoto zoom lens for wildlife and sports photographers? Read our Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM review now to find out...
The Canon EOS 850D is that rare thing - a new DSLR camera in 2020. In a world where mirrorless cameras rule (well, almost), can the Canon 850D still cut it? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon EOS 850D review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
The Panasonic S5 is a brand new hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera that's equally as capable at shooting both stills and video. In an ever more crowded market, does the Lumix S5 offer enough to stand out against the likes of the Sony A7 III, Canon EOS R and Nikon Z6? Read our in-depth review of the Panasonic S5 to find out, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
The EOS R5 has been the hottest full-frame camera on the block ever since Canon pre-announced it back at the start of 2020, thanks to its headline grabbing twin features of a 45 megapixel sensor and 8K video recording. We've seen it a few times since then, but now we can finally bring you our final Canon R5 review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos!
The EOS R6 is the best ever Canon mirrorless camera - there, we said it! If you want to find out why, carry on reading our in-depth Canon EOS R6 review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
The Sony ZV-1 is a new compact camera that's been built from the ground up for vlogging, with a vari-angle screen, fast auto-focusing, three-capsule direction microphone, and a wealth of vlogger-friendly shooting modes. Is this the ultimate camera for aspiring YouTube creators? Read our in-depth Sony ZV-1 review to find out...
The Nikon D6 is the 2020 update of Nikon's flagship DSLR camera for professional sports, press and nature photographers. Is this the best DSLR that Nikon have ever made? Find out by reading our in-depth Nikon D6 review, complete with full-size sample photos and videos.
Panasonic and Atomos have just announced that the Atomos Ninja V and Panasonic LUMIX S1H 5.9K RAW over HDMI combination has now been delayed due to an "unforeseen technical issue (that) has come to light in the final rounds of beta testing that needs rectification prior to shipping."
Panasonic are still releasing Version 2.0 Firmware for the Lumix S1H camera today, but it will no longer include the RAW video data output function.
The new OM-D E-M1 Mark III is a serious camera for serious photographers, designed to showcase the very best that Olympus has to offer. In the increasingly competitive high-end camera market, does it have what it takes to stand out from the crowd and attract new users as well as satisfy existing ones? Read our Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III review to find out...
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III is a new professional mirrorless camera with an exceptionally compact and lightweight design that's designed for outstanding mobility.
Coming across like a mini E-M1X, the E-M1 Mark III features a 20.4 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, the world’s best image stabilization system with 7.5 shutter speed steps of compensation, a new OLED viewfinder, the very latest Truepic IX processor, 50 megapixel Handheld High Res Shot mode and 80 Megapixel Tripod High Res Shot function, a Live ND without a filter, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, 121-point all cross-type On-chip Phase Detection AF sensor, 18 fps high-speed sequential shooting with AF/AE tracking, and Cinema 4K video recording.
The Olympus EM1 Mark III will be available from late February 2020 in black priced at £1,599.99 body only.
Different kit versions are also available, with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40 F2.8 PRO lens priced at £2,199.99 or with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100 F4.0 IS PRO lens priced at £2,499.99.
Pricing, specifications and a full list of features for the flagship Canon EOS-1D X Mark III DSLR camera have now been revealed.
The Canon 1D X Mark III will go on sale in February 2020 priced at £6,499.99 / €7,599.99 / $6,499.
Olympus have finally updated their enthusiast camera model with the launch of the new Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III, but is is any good? Find out now by reading our review of the E-M5 Mark III mirrorless camera, complete with full-size sample images and videos.
The Apple iPhone 11 is the more affordable, more sensible little brother of the flagship Pro model, sharing most of the same camera features with the exception of the Pro's telephoto lens. Read our in-depth iPhone 11 review now, complete with full-size sample images and videos...
The Canon EOS M200 is an interchangeable lens camera aimed at new photographers. The M200 offers 24.1 megapixels, 4K video recording, a 180-degree tilting LCD and a touch-screen interface. Read our in-depth Canon EOS M200 review now to find out if it's the perfect camera for beginners...
The Sigma 35mm F1.2 DG DN Art for Sony E-Mount is an incredibly fast, moderately wide-angle prime lens for full-frame Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras. Priced at a whopping £1459 / $1499 in the UK and the US, it's also the biggest and heaviest 35mm lens available for Sony shooters. Find out what we thought of the Sigma 35mm F1.2 lens in our detailed review, complete with full-size sample photos...
The Canon EOS M6 Mark II is a new mid-range mirrorless camera with a 32 megapixel APS-C sensor, 4K video recording, 14fps burst shooting, a tilting touchscreen and optional electronic viewfinder. Can it beat the likes of the Sony A6400 and Fujifilm X-T30 cameras? Find out now by reading our Canon EOS M6 Mark II review...
After a lot of rumors, the long-awaited Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III has finally been officially announced.
If you don't know already, this is an update of the popular E-M5 Mark II camera from 2015. The new Mark III version offers a 20.4 megapixel Live MOS sensor, TruePic VIII image processor, in-body 5-axis image stabilization system, weather-proofing, 121-point all cross-type on-chip phase detection autofocus system, 10fps burst shooting, 4K 30P high-definition video recording, 2.36 million-dot OLED viewfinder, and USB charging.
In the UK the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III will be available from mid November in silver or black as body only priced at £1099.99 and in different kit versions as e.g. with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40 F2.8 PRO lens at £1699.99 or with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-200 F3.5-6.3 lens at £1599.99 EUR.
Olympus are also offering pre order customers a £100 trade in and free BLS-50 battery to launch the OM-D E-M5 Mark III valid on pre orders to 15 November 2019.
In the US and Canada, the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III will be available in both black and silver in late November. The camera body only will have a suggested retail price of $1,199.99 USD and $1,499.99 CAD and the camera body with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 II lens will have a suggested retail price of $1,799.99 USD and $2,249.99 CAD.
Another year, another new flagship phone from Apple, this time introducing a new triple camera system, night mode and improved battery life. Is the iPhone 11 Pro the best smartphone that Apple have ever released, and can it beat the Android competition? Read our iPhone 11 Pro review to find out, complete with full-size sample images and videos.
The 17-28mm F2.8 Di III RXD is the second Tamron lens for Sony Alpha full-frame mirrorless cameras, joining last year's very popular 28-75mm optic. Is this the perfect partner for that lens and for cameras like the Sony A7 III? Find out now by reading our in-depth Tamron 17-28mm F2.8 review...
The Canon EOS 90D is that increasingly rare thing, a new DSLR camera. Aimed at sport and wildlife photographers, the Canon 90D uses a new 32 megapixel APS-C sensor and the latest generation DIGIC 8 processor. Read our in-depth Canon EOS 90D review to find out if a DSLR camera can still cut it in the mirrorless world of 2019...
Canon has just unveiled the first of its trinity RF F2.8L lenses, expanding the pioneering RF lens line-up for the EOS R System, with the launch of the RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM and RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM.
Both lenses will be available in September 2019 priced at £2,329.99 / €2,749.99 / $2,299.99 each.
The Olympus TG-6 is a new flagship tough compact camera for 2019. New features for this year's model include a higher-resolution rear LCD screen, a new underwater mode, more versatile macro options, and high-speed recording modes for video. Read our Olympus TG6 review to find out if this is the right tough camera for you and your family...
Canon has just launched the RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM lens, a highly versatile, compact, 10x zoom lens for the EOS R mirrorless camera system.
The Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM will be available from September 2019 priced at £899.99/€1059.99.
The Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S is a professional standard zoom lens for the Nikon Z7 and Z6 full frame mirrorless cameras. One stop faster than the already excellent 24-70mm F4 kit lens, does the new Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S version offer enough extra features and performance to justify its rather eye-watering price-tag? Find out now by reading our expert Nikon Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S review...
The Olympus Tough TG-6 is a new flagship Tough compact camera that can withstand all weather conditions, underwater use, drop shocks and crushing weights.
The Olympus TG-6 will go on sale from early July priced at £449.99.
The Canon EOS 250D / Rebel SL3 is a new entry-level DSLR aimed at people buying their first interchangeable lens camera. It improves on the previous EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 model principally by implementing 4K video recording, a better live view mode, more sophisticated auto-focusing, and longer battery life. Is this the best interchangeable lens camera for beginners? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon EOS 250D review...
The Panasonic S1 is the more sensibly specced and sensibly priced sibling of the flagship S1R full-frame mirrorless camera. It lowers the number of megapixels whilst upping the video capabilities, promising a more well-rounded camera at a more affordable price-point. Does the new Lumix S1 have what it takes to compete with the likes of the Sony A7 III, Nikon Z6 and Canon EOS R? Read our detailed Panasonic S1 review to find out...
Panasonic have enjoyed a lot of success with their Micro Four Thirds camera range, and now they've turned their attention to the full-frame market with the release of the exciting new Lumix S1R. This is a 47 megapixel full-frame mirrorless camera with 187 megapixel high resolution mode, class leading electronic viewfinder, 6-stop IBIS, and a robust weatherproof body. Read our in-depth Panasonic S1R review now to find out more about this impressive camera...
The Olympus OM-D E-M1X is a new professional mirrorless camera offering enhanced reliability and performance.
The most compact and lightweight camera system in its class, the EM1X features a 20.4 megapixel Live MOS sensor, Cinema 4K movie recording, 18fps burst shooting with AF/AE tracking, the world’s best image stabilization, a re-developed and fast autofocus system, an integrated vertical grip, and two TruePic VIII image processors allowing for high-speed responsiveness and handheld High Res Shots.
The Olympus E-M1X will be available from late February, body only, priced at £2799.99 / 2999 EUR.
In addition, Olympus are introducing the FL-700WR high-performance electronic flash and the Wireless Commander FC-WR andWireless Receiver FR-WR accessories.
Finally, Olympus have announced the development of the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO super telephoto zoom lens and the M.Zuiko Digital 2x Teleconverter MC-20. Combining both products will make handheld super telephoto shooting possible at 2000mm (35mm equivalent). Both products are scheduled to go on sale in 2020.
Sony have just announced the new A6400 APS-C mirrorless camera. Here are the key specifications of the A6400:
The Sony Alpha A6400 will ship in Europe in February 2019 priced at approximately £950 / $900 / €1050. It will also be offered as a kit with the SELP1650 lens priced at approximately £1,000 or in a kit with the SEL18135 lens priced at approximately £1,300.
Sony have also announced the new Imaging Edge mobile app for the Alpha system, and upcoming new firmware updates for the Alpha A9 (Version 5.0, March 2019), A7R III and A7 III (Version 3.0, April 2019) and the Alpha A9 again (Version 6.0, Summer 2019).
You can view some official Sony A6400 sample images here.
The Leica M10-D is a simplified version of the M10 and M10-P digital rangefinder cameras, replacing the rear LCD screen with an exposure compensation dial. Why on earth would you consider buying a digital camera without an LCD screen?! Find out now by reading our in-depth Leica M10-D review...
Sigma today announced the pricing and availability of the highly anticipated flagship Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM Sports telephoto zoom lens.
The Sony Cyber-shot HX99 is a new premium travel-zoom camera with a 30x, 24-720mm zoom lens. The HX99 also features an 18 megapixel CMOS sensor, pop-up electronic viewfinder, lens barrel control ring, flip-up LCD touchscreen, built-in wi-fi, NFC and Bluetooth, 4K video with stereo sound, Eye AF mode, 10fps continuous shooting, ISO range of 80-6400 and Raw support. Read our Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 review to find out if it's the best travel-zoom camera on the market...
The Apple iPhone XR is the cheapest of the three new iPhones released in 2018, sacrificing the telephoto lens and higher-resolution screen that the XS models offer. Read our in-depth Apple iPhone XR review to find out if it's still worth considering...
The Apple iPhone XS is the 2018 update of Apple's best ever selling phone, last year's iPhone X. Read our Apple iPhone XS review to find out what this latest version offers and if it's the right smartphone for keen photographers...
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX800 is the world's smallest camera with a 30x, 24-720mm zoom lens. The WX800 also has Fast Intelligent AF and responsive Eye AF to help capture even distant subjects beautifully, while built-in Wi-Fi/NFC makes sharing easy. There's an 18.2 million pixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, 180-degree tilting touch-panel LCD screen, BIONZ X processor, 10fps continuous shooting and 4K (3840 x 2160) video recording. The WX800 measures 101.6 mm x 58.1 mm x 35.5 mm and weighs 233g with the battery and memory card fitted.
The Sony WX800 will be available in black or white.
Update: Sony have also unveiled the Cyber-shot DSC-WX700 model in China, which appears to be identical to the WX800, except that it doesn't have a touchscreen LCD.
The EOS R is Canon's first ever full-frame mirrorless camera, joining the likes of Sony, Nikon and Panasonic. Can it beat its main rivals, and is it a real alternative to a more traditional DSLR? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon EOS R review, complete with full-size sample images, videos and more...
The LG V40 ThinQ smartphone features a total of five cameras to redefine the standard of smartphone photography. The LG V40 ThinQ features a rear camera module with three different lenses: 16MP super wide-angle, 12MP standard angle and 12MP telephoto. The front camera module features a 5MP wide-angle lens and 8MP standard angle that work in tandem to create the perfect bokeh effect with an on-screen slider to adjust the amount of background blur.
The Olympus Perspective Playground is an art exhibition with interactive and walk-in installations created by internationally renowned artists. After sixteen Playgrounds with more than 400,000 visitors across Europe, the exhibition is going to stop at Photokina this summer.
Entrance to the Olympus Perspective Playground is free of charge for all photokina visitors. All Olympus newsletter subscribers that register their Playground visit will receive free admission to the photokina.
The Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera features the Worlds fastest autofocus of 0.05sec which is functional down to -6EV, a 30 megapixel full-frame sensor, touch and drag AF with 5,655 AF positions that can be selected virtually anywhere in the frame, a magnesium alloy body, 4K video recording, truly silent shooting, and an EVF with 100% coverage and 3.69 million dots.
The Canon EOS R system has now been officially announced – “This is the first chapter of a new story”. Development of an entirely new mount, plus full-frame sensor, that has been built from the ground up. A new 54mm internal diameter lens mount with short back focus allows for greater freedom for optical design, with a 12-pin data communication system.
The EOS R is made for video, offering 4K recording with full audio control, 10-bit output over HDMI, a vari-angle screen, 12 stops of dynamic range at ISO 400, and 5-axis movie IS.
The Canon EOS R is “Our most personal camera yet” – almost every control on the camera is customisable. Adapters are an integral part of the EOS R system, with 3 new lens mount adapters allowing backwards compatibility with almost all EF lenses ever released.
There are 4 new RF lenses:
RF 50mm f/1.2L USM – fastest AF in its class
RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM – great for video, 5 stops of OIS
RF 28-70mm f/2L USM - world’s first f/2
RF 35mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM – affordable, high-quality lens
UK/Europe Pricing
The Canon EOS R is available to pre-order from 12th September 2018 and available to purchase from 9th October 2018 with the following RSPs:
• EOS R body and mount adapter - £2,349.99/ €2,729.99
• EOS R body, mount adapter and RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens - £3,269.99/ €3,819.99
• RF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens - £2,349.99/ €2,729.99
• RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens - £1,119.99/ €1,319.99
• Mount adapter EF-EOS R - £99.99/ €119.99
• Control mount ring adapter EF-EOS R - £199.99/ €239.99
Available to purchase from December 2018 with the following RSPs:
• RF 28-70mm f/2L USM lens - £3,049.99/ €3,549.99
• RF 35mm f/1.8 MACRO IS STM lens - £519.99/ €599.99
US Pricing
The Canon EOS R full-frame mirrorless camera is scheduled to be available in October 2018 for an estimated retail price of $2299* for the body only. It will also be sold as a body-and-lens kit with the new RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM lens for $3399*.
Canon is also introducing a new compact and lightweight Speedlite, the EL-100. Designed for photographers who are just beginning to use an external flash or are in need of a secondary unit, the new Speedlite delivers both soft and natural lighting reproduction. The Canon Speedlite EL-100 will be available for purchase in October 2018 for an estimated retail price of $199.99.
The new Canon PowerShot SX740 HS travel-zoom camera now offers UHD 4K video recording and 10fps burst shooting. The Canon SX740 also features a massive 40x zoom lens, 20 megapixel sensor, tilting 3-inch LCD screen, PASM shooting modes, and built-in Wi-fi/Bluetooth connectivity. Read our detailed Canon PowerShot SX740 HS review now, complete with sample photos, test shots, videos and more...
The Nikon Coolpix P1000 superzoom bridge camera features an incredible 125X optical zoom lens offering a focal range of 24-3000mm. Nikon also announced the new ML-L7 Bluetooth connected remote as another optional accessory available for the P1000.
The Nikon P1000 will have a suggested retail price of $999.95 / £999 / €1499.00 and will be available in September 2018.
Schneider-Kreuznach has just introduced two new filter ranges – the True-Net Filter, True-Streak Rainbow and True-Streak Gold filters. The True Net range is a much sought after diffusion filter. The True-Streak Rainbow filters creates a beautiful effect reminiscent of the multi-colour flares on uncoated lenses.
The Rotolight NEO 2 Explorer Kit is a portable, powerful and lightweight three-light kit for photographers and filmmakers on the go. The Rotolight NEO 2 Explorer Kit is available now for £1199.99(inc)/ $1399.99/1189.99 Euro.
LEMURO is a photography accessory designed to enable any smartphone user to capture professional images without the need to carry bulky camera equipment.
The brand new Canon EOS 4000D (also known as the Digital Rebel T100 in North America) is the cheapest ever Canon DSLR camera, clearly designed to tempt smartphone users into buying their first interchangeable lens camera. But does it cut too many corners in order to hit such an aggressive price-point? Find out by reading our in-depth Canon EOS 4000D review.
The Canon EOS 2000D / Digital Rebel T7 is a new entry-level DSLR aimed squarely at new users looking to dip their toe into the world of interchangeable lens cameras. Does the EOS 2000D offer a step-up in quality from a compact camera or smartphone, and can it take on and beat its main rival, the Nikon D3400? Find out by reading our in-depth Canon EOS 2000D / Digital Rebel T7 review...
The Canon EOS M50 is a surprisingly capable mid-range mirrorless camera, at least on paper, offering a specification list that in many ways out-does the company's flagship M5 model. Does it live up to it's full potential though? Find out by reading our Canon EOS M50 expert review...
The Benro Geared Head delivers precision movement in three axes and uses an Arca-style quick release plate. For large movements and initial set up the gearing can be dis-engaged, then re-engaged to allow the photographer to fine tune their camera position for the perfectly framed image. The head also features three built in bubble levels to ensure perfect set up. The Benro GD3WH Geared Head is priced at £200 in the UK.
The Sony A7 III is the new entry-level camera in Sony's 35mm full-frame mirrorless range. Sitting below the A9, A7R III and A7S II, the A7 II offers a lot of Sony's latest imaging technologies, including a new 24.2 megapixel Back-Illuminated Exmor R CMOS Image Sensor, ISO range of 50-204800, 15 stops of dynamic range, 4K video recording with full pixel readout, 10fps burst shooting, 5-axis 5-stop image stabilisation, 693 point auto-focus system covering 93% of the image area, Eye auto-focusing mode, a joystick for adjusting the focus point, and class-leading 710 shot battery life.
The Sony A7 III will ship in Europe in March 2018 priced at approximately £2000 / €2300 (body only) or £2200/ €2500 in a kit with the FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS lens. In the US, it will be available slightly later from April 10th priced at about $2000 US for the body and $2200 in a kit with the FE 28‑70 mm F3.5‑5.6 kit lens.
Mountainsmith have launched their latest series of adventure photography packs, designed in collaboration with world-renowned adventure photographers Andy Mann and Keith Ladzinski. The new camera pack line is composed of 6 separate products designed to protect and organize your camera equipment in the most extreme conditions.
The Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI is the world’s first flashgun equipped with Artifical Intelligent Bounce. It intelligently calculates and maneuvers the flash head position automatically to create optimum lighting for outstanding images, by using a test flash to calculate the perfect angle for natural, flattering illumination, whilst automatically moving the motorised flash head into the optimum position for perfect lighting.
Note that while it is compatible with all EOS products, the AI Bounce full-auto mode on the Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI will only work with EOS models built after 2014 - excluding EOS 2000D, EOS 4000D, 1300D, EOS M6, EOS M5 and EOS M3.
The Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI will be available in April 2018 priced at £499.99 / €599.99 / $399.99.
The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III is a small camera with a large sensor and a big price tag - is this the best pocket camera for the enthusiast? Find out by reading our in-depth Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III review...
The Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV is a super-zoom camera with a 24-600mm lens and 20 megapixel sensor that can shoot still images at an amazing 24 frames per second, complete with full-time auto-focusing. Is this the only camera that you'll ever really need? Find out by reading our detailed Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV review...
The Apple iPhone X is the most anticipated smartphone of 2017, but can its photographic capabilities really satisfy the keen photographer? Read our in-depth Apple iPhone X review to find out...
Sigma will showcase its full range of Sigma Global Vision lenses, including a brand-new addition to the line, at the upcoming PDN PhotoPlus Expo 2017 Expo held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City from 26-28 October 2017. The company will also have on hand its Sigma Cine high-speed Primes and Zooms as well as the Foveon sensor-based sd Quattro and Quattro H cameras. Last but not least, a distinguished line-up of Sigma Pro speakers will take to the Sigma stage and offer attendees a behind-the-lens look at the techniques and technology that captured some of the year’s most outstanding photographs in the areas of aviation, editorial, glamour, landscapes, travel and weddings (click through / scroll down for the schedule). PPE 2017 attendees who visit Sigma at booth 837 will have a chance to enter and win a Sigma grand giveaway – a 24-70mm F2.8 Art lens – an MSRP value of $1299.
Western Digital today announced the new G-Technology G-DRIVE Mobile SSD R-Series device, the fastest G-Technology portable SSD to date. Offering the latest-generation USB-C connectivity and transfer speeds up to 560MB/s, the G-DRIVE mobile SSD R-Series device is built using hand-picked components to withstand tough conditions in the field and provides a rugged solution you can trust. In addition, it will have an International Protection Rating of 67 (IP67) for water and dust resistance and has been tested to withstand up to a 3-metre drop on a carpeted concrete floor and 1000 lbs of pressure. The G-DRIVE mobile SSD R-Series device offers a 5-year limited warranty and will be available at select G-technology resellers around the world this year with up to 2TB capacities. The U.S. MSRP will be $699.95 for 2TB, $379.95 1TB, and $199.95 500GB, USD, respectively.
The new EOS 6D Mark II is Canon's latest 35mm full-frame DSLR camera. Positioned as a more affordable alternative to the EOS 5D Mark IV, the EOS 6D Mark II features 26.2 megapixels, latest DIGIC 7 processor, 45 point AF system and Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology. Read our expert Canon EOS 6D Mark II review now...
Today, LG officially announced their new V30 smartphone, which features two rear camera modules. One of them boasts a 16-megapixel sensor coupled to an all-glass f/1.6 lens with a diagonal angle of view of 71° (roughly equivalent to a 30mm lens on a 35mm camera), whilst the other has a 13-megapixel imager mated to an f/1.9 UWA lens with a 120° angle of view. LG’s first F1.6 lens is also the largest aperture among existing smartphone cameras, delivering 25 percent more light to the sensor compared to an F1.8 lens. The glass lens also delivers greater light-collecting ability than a plastic lens as well as better colour reproduction. The main camera is supported by Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) and Hybrid Auto Focus that combines both Laser Detection Auto Focus and Phase Detection Auto Focus. The LG V30 also offers a 6" OLED displey with an aspect ratio of 2:1 and a resolution of 2880x1440 pixels. Visitors to IFA 2017 are encouraged to stop by LG’s booth in Hall 18 of Messe Berlin to see the LG V30 for themselves.
The new EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 is Canon's smallest and lightest DSLR camera. Aimed mainly at beginners, the EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 is also an attractive proposition for experienced photographers looking for a more compact body. Find out if it can satisfy both by reading our Canon EOS 200D / Rebel SL2 review...
LG today announced that the LG Q6, part of its new Q series, will be the first smartphone to offer the FullVision display following the LG G6. LG’s Q series is the company’s latest line of mid-range smartphones boasting the essential features of LG premium phones at a competitive price. The Q6 family consists of the Q6+, Q6 and Q6α. The three variants cater to different user groups in terms of memory and storage: the Q6+ comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of built-in storage, the base Q6 delivers 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage and the most affordably-priced Q6α comes with 2GB RAM and 16GB of Flash storage. The unique 5.5-inch FHD+ FullVision display in the LG Q6 has an unusual aspect ratio of 2:1, and the smartphone’s “bezel-less” form factor maximises the screen while still preventing accidental touching of the screen when being held. The phone incorporates a 100-degree wide angle selfie camera that allows shutterbugs to include a large group of people in the shot. Meanwhile, the rear-facing camera mates a 13-megapixel imager to a "standard-angle" lens. The LG G6 will go on sale in key markets in Asia starting next month to be followed by availability in Europe, Latin America and North America onward.
Following the launch of Canon's Live for the Story advert and marketing campaign targeting a new ‘millennial’ audience last month – and for which there wasn’t a camera in sight – the photo giant is back to targeting its core users with two new DSLRs. Arriving in July are the enthusiast targeted EOS 6D Mark II, and the beginner friendly EOS 200D.
Photography Blog was at the London preview to bring you this report…
The Olympus TG-5 is a new flagship tough compact camera for 2017. Boasting a 25-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 lens with a new Anti-Fog Lens Cover Glass, the 12 megapixel backlit CMOS sensor TG-5 also offers Raw file support, a GPS sensor, manometer, compass and temperature sensor, built-in wi-fi and GPS connectivity, 4K movie recording and a 3 inch OLED screen. Read our Olympus TG-5 review to find out what this tough camera is capable of...
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm 1:1.2 PRO is the fastest standard prime lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. Is it worth the £1099 / $1199 asking price? Find out now by reading our Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 25mm 1:1.2 PRO review...
The new Canon EOS 800D / Rebel T7i DSLR camera is positioned between the cheaper EOS 1300D and more expensive EOS 77D, attempting to offer most of the same features as the 77D in a more beginner-friendly design. Find out if it succeeds by reading our expert Canon EOS 800D / Rebel T7i review...
The Canon PowerShot SX430 IS is a bridge super-zoom camera with a massive 45x zoom lens. The Canon SX430 also offers 20 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen and 720p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX430 IS review now...
The new Canon PowerShot SX730 HS travel-zoom camera offers a massive 40x zoom lens in a slim and compact body. The Canon SX730 also features a 20 megapixel sensor, tilting 3-inch LCD screen, PASM shooting modes, built-in wi-fi/NFC/Bluetooth connectivity and Full HD 60p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX730 HS review now...
HTC today unveiled the HTC U11, the world’s first smartphone featuring squeeze interaction. With a simple squeeze, HTC Edge Sense lets you easily engage with your phone in an intuitive way, helping you more naturally enjoy things like taking photos or launching any of your favorite apps. The phone’s liquid glass surface is uses Optical Spectrum Hybrid Deposition. By layering highly-refractive precious minerals across the phone’s back cover, the company has created vivid new colours that transform light with every movement you make. The HTC 11's camera has earned a DxOMark Mobile score of 90, making it the highest-rated smartphone camera they've ever tested. The main camera unit features a 12-megapixel, 1/2.55"-type sensor and an f/1.75 lens with multi-axis optical image stabilisation. "We improved our camera and video for a more dynamic exposure range with HDR Boost without the lag, new white balance enhancement, a major reduction in noise, and excellent detail preservation," the company says. "HDR Boost offers clearer, more balanced pictures by taking multiple shots that measure the darkest shadows and brightest highlights without any slowdown." The HTC U11 incorporates the new UltraSpeed AutoFocus, so you can enjoy significantly faster focus speeds. The new front camera now combines16 megapixels of resolution and the company's UltraPixel light sensitivity for brilliant selfies day or night. It also utilises the same HDR Boost and noise reduction technologies as the main camera. The HTC U11, available in Amazing Silver, Sapphire Blue, Brilliant Black, Ice White, and Solar Red, and will be available worldwide from May 2017 onward.
The new Canon EOS 77D DSLR slots in between the cheaper EOS 800D and more expensive EOS 80D, attempting to blend together the best of both cameras. Find out if it succeeds by reading our expert Canon EOS 77D digital SLR review...
The Canon EOS M6 is a new compact system camera that offers 24.2 megapixels, 9fps continuous shooting, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, full HD 60p high-definition video with 5-axis in-body electronic image stabilisation, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the EOS M6 include a tilting 3-inch LCD screen, ISO range of 100-25600, and wi-fi, Bluetooth and NFC connectivity. Read our in-depth Canon EOS M6 review now...
The Irix 15mm f/2.4 is a super-wide-angle prime lens for Nikon, Pentax and Canon full-frame DSLR camera, offering a 115-degree angle of view. Designed in Switzerland and manufactured in Korea, is this manual focus lens from a brand new manufacturer worth a look? Read our expert Irix 15mm f/2.4 review to find out...
The Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 is a new affordable lens for shooting portraits. Read our in-depth Sony FE 85mm f/1.8 review to find out if it's worth the modest £600 / $600 asking price...
The Sony A9 is a new full-frame mirrorless camera that can shoot 24 megapixel images at 20fps. The Sony A9 interchangeable lens camera will start shipping from June 2017 priced at approximately £4,500 / $4,500.
Capture One Pro 10 is the newest version of Phase One's software program for professional photographers. Is it only suitable for expert users, or a wider audience, and how does it compare to the like of Adobe Lightroom? Read our in-depth Capture One Pro 10 Review to find out...
Hasselblad will be exhibiting its product line-up, including the new Hasselblad X1D (pictured), at The Photography Show taking place from 18-21 March 2017 at the NEC in Birmingham. The new Hasselblad H6D will also have pride of place on the stand, including the top-of-the-range H6D-100c, the 100-megapixel version of the latest H series generation. The company will also be hosting a series of seminars, presented by various Hasselblad ambassadors, Hasselblad Masters and other friends of the brand; including the legendary Clive Arrowsmith, H6D ambassador, Tom Oldham, and Hasselblad Master, John Paul Evans. Click through / scroll down for the detailed schedule.
The Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II is a truly pocketable compact camera with a large 1-inch image sensor and 3x zoom lens. The G9 X Mark II also offers continuous shooting speed of 8.2fps in raw shooting mode, built-in wi-fi, NFC and now Bluetooth connectivity, 1080p HD video at 60fps with stereo sound, a 3 inch touchscreen LCD, and a full range of manual shooting modes. Read the World's first online Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II review now...
The LG G6 is a new smartphone with a 5.7-inch QHD+ (2,880x1,440-pixel resolution, 2:1 aspect ratio) FullVision display, dust- and waterproof construction and dual rear cameras. There's a wide-angle camera-lens module with a 30mm (eq.) f/1.8 lens and optical image stabilisation, and an ultra-wide module with an 11mm (eq.) f/2.4 lens. Each module features a 13.megapixel sensor. Additionally, the phone has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera with an 18mm (eq.) f/2.2 lens. The G6 provides a Square Camera function which divides the 2:1 ratio display into two identical squares. The LG G6 can also take perfectly square photos in 1:1 ratio, ideal for Instagram, Snapchat and other social media apps. Users can also choose other ratios, such as 4:3, 16:9 and 2:1. Users can also take pictures in 1:1 ratio in one window, while checking, editing and uploading pictures in another window immediately after shooting. What’s more, users can create animated GIFs by combining between 2 and 100 photos from the gallery. Pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.
Lexar today announced the new 256GB capacity Lexar Professional 1000x microSDXC UHS-II (U3) memory card. Designed for sports camcorders, tablets, and smartphones, the Professional 1000x microSDXC UHS-II card has read transfer speeds up to 150MB per second and write speeds up to 90MB/s. The 256GB capacity card is also verified to be compatible with GoPro cameras, and comes with a microSD UHS-II USB 3.0 reader (pictured). The new card capacity will be available in Q1 of 2017 with an MSRP of £357.99.
DxO has announced a major update to its DxO ONE camera app, introducing what it calls "the World’s first pro-level multi-camera solution for Facebook Live." When combined with full Wi-Fi remote control, the DxO ONE will operate as a remote broadcast camera, giving users the ability to experiment with camera compositions and placements that are impossible to achieve with the iPhone’s built-in cameras alone. The DxO ONE Facebook Live solution provides a sophisticated set of controls, including an elegant multi-camera source panel, that lets users preview all three camera views at once — DxO ONE, iPhone front and back — so they can recompose the shot, adjust the lighting, or prepare their subject before going live with any camera view. The audio feed can be sourced from the DxO ONE’s internal microphone, the iPhone’s microphone, or set to automatically switch between the two as users cut between cameras. “Because it’s so incredibly compact, the DxO ONE has been my go-to camera for pro-quality video whenever and wherever I need it most,” said Nathan Yamniak, Film Director. “Now with the addition of a multi-camera broadcast control panel, and deep support for Facebook Live, it has become for me and my clients the ultimate pro-quality live broadcasting solution.” Available to all DxO ONE users free of charge, the update is expected to be available in early 2017 via the iTunes App Store.
Capable of shooting at 18fps with focus tracking, the new Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark II is a blisteringly fast professional compact system camera. Read our in-dpeth Olympus O-MD E-M1 Mark II review to find out if this speed demon can really deliver the goods...
Olympus have announced the recommended retail price of their flagship OM-D E-M1 Mark II camera. Equippedwith a 20.4-megapixel sensor, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark IIreaches sequential speeds of 18fps with continuous auto focus enabled, and 60fps in S-AF mode. A completely new on-chip, phase-detection AF system offers 121 all cross-type AF points and a high-speed algorithm powered by the new TruePic VIII AF processor. With an EVF that offers a response rate of barely 6ms and a smooth frame rate of 120 fps, it’s easy to keep up with fast-moving subjects. Additionally, the innovative Pro Capture shooting mode on the OM-D E-M1 Mark II exploits the virtual elimination of shutter lag by recording up to 14 sequential frames before the shutter release is fully pressed. The redesigned 5-axis image stabiliser now offers a6.5-stop advantage when paired with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm1:4.0 IS PRO lens. In addition to capturing 20-megapixel stills, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II can record 4K movies at 24fps and 30fps and a bit rate of 102Mbps/237Mbps. The camera body will be available from December, priced at £1849.99/$1,999.95. A kit including the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II and the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm 1:2.8 PRO lens will be available for £2399.99.
The long-awaited Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR has now arrived, improving on its predecessor, the incredibly popular 5D Mark III, in almost every way. Does the new 5D Mark IV offer enough to justify the £3629 / $3499 asking price? Read our Canon EOS 5D Mark IV review to find out...
Olympus has announced the development of the OM-D E-M1 Mark II compact system camera, which promises to "set new benchmarks in speed and mobility." The new flagship comes equipped with a 20.4-megapixel sensor and reaches sequential speeds of 18fps with continuous auto focus enabled, and 60fps in S-AF mode. A completely new on-chip, phase-detection AF system offers 121 all cross-type AF points and a high-speed algorithm powered by the new TruePic VIII AF processor. With an EVF that offers a response rate of barely 6ms and a smooth frame rate of 120 fps, it’s easy to keep up with fast-moving subjects. Additionally, the innovative Pro Capture shooting mode on the OM-D E-M1 Mark II exploits the virtual elimination of shutter lag by recording up to 14 sequential frames before the shutter release is fully pressed. The redesigned 5-axis image stabiliser now offers a frankly incredible 6.5-stop advantage when paired with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-100mm1:4.0 IS PRO lens. In addition to capturing 20-megapixel stills, the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II can record 4K movies at 24fps and 30fps and a bit rate of 102Mbps/237Mbps. The new battery lasts nearly 40% longer than that of the original OM-D E-M1, whilst the charging time of 2 hours is roughly twice as quick as on the previous model.
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 30mm 1:3.5 Macro is a new macro lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1.25:1 and a close-focus point of 9.5cm. Another crucial feature for would-be nature specialists is the lens’ near-silent focus mechanism and lightweight design, which in tests improved AF response by 20-30% compared to conventional macro lenses. Available immediately, the M.Zuiko Digital ED 30mm 1:3.5 Macro is priced at £249.99/€299.00.
The HTC 10 is a new flagship Android smartphone with a 12 UltraPixel sensor, OIS in both its front and back cameras, bright f/1.8 lens, 24-bit Hi-Res audio recording, RAW file support and 4K video recording. Read our HTC 10 review to find out if it's the best smartphone for avid photographers...
Sun-Striper's new Rotaball camera straps are now available to purchase. Each of the seven Rotaball models has a Rotaball Connector and a Blokker, a newly developed pin that blocks the connector at the camera to prevent the camera from being unscrewed by anyone not authorised to do so. A stainless steel mono-multi ball bearing allows the camera to pivot freely and without obstruction. The rubber washer with its Snakeskin structure provides the safest connection to the strap. Rotaball straps can bear loads of up to five kilograms in camera and lens weight. A steel cable is invisibly woven into five of the RotaballL models (PRO, TRAVELER, DPH, TPH and BPS). This safety tool protects your gear from theft caused by cutting, burning or melting the straps. All Steel-Wire-Protected Sniper-Straps come with a €1,000 insurance policy, valid for one year from the day of purchase.
The Sony RX10 III is a new premium super-zoom camera featuring a 28-600mm lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.8-4, a 20.1 megapixel 1.0-type CMOS sensor, 4K video recording, wi-fi and NFC connectivity, support for the Raw format and full manual controls. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III review now...
The Camera Lift Strap is an innovative camera strap that reduces the neck and back strain caused by the weight of your camera. "Our camera strap design clasps right onto to your backpack handle and keeps the weight of your camera distributed along the shoulders, one of the strongest parts of the human body," the company says. "It has the capacity to carry the heaviest of camera equipment with ultimate comfort, so you can experience the weightlessness of your camera like never before!" The Camera Lift Strap is available exclusively on Kickstarter in leather (red and black) or canvas (Midnight Blue, Fire Brick, Light Steel Blue, and Burnt Orange) versions.
The Canon EOS M10 is an entry-level compact system camera that offers 18 megapixels, 1080p high-definition videos, simple controls and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the EOS M10 include a tilting 3-inch LCD screen, ISO range of 100-25,600, wi-fi and NFC connectivity, and a built-in flash. Is Canon's new mirrorless model perfectly suited to its beginner target audience? Read our Canon EOS M10 review to find out...
The Microsoft Lumia 950 is a new Windows 10 smartphone with a 20 megapixel sensor, 5.2-inch screen, a 26mm fixed lens with fast f/1.9 aperture, Raw shooting mode, and 4Kp video recording at 30fps with stereo sound. Read our in-depth Microsoft Lumia 950 review now...
The Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS is the longest reaching E-mount lens for the Sony Alpha full-frame compact system camera range. Read our Sony FE 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 G OSS review to find out if this lens is an essential purchase for Sony Alpha full-frame owners...
Photography Blog attended yesterday's global launch of the Hasselblad X1D at the Gothenburg Museum of Art. As one of the first people outside of Hasselblad to actually get their hands on the X1D, here are my initial thoughts...
The Sigma MC-11 Canon Mount EF Adapter promises to provide seamless compatibility between Sony FE and APS-C cameras and Sigma Canon EOS mount and Sigma mount lenses. We've tested the Sigma MC-II with the latest Sony A7R II camera and a range of Sigma and Canon EF lenses to find out if that promise holds true...
Sun-Sniper have expanded their Sniper-Strap system with 7 new Rotaball camera straps. Each of the seven ROTABALL models now has a ROTABALL CONNECTOR and a BLOKKER. The stainless steel mono-multi ball bearing (a large ball turning in 32 small balls) allows the camera to pivot freely and without obstruction. The rubber washer with its SNAKESKIN structure provides the safest connection to the strap. And even more security is ensured by the BLOKKER: a newly developed pin that blocks the connector at the camera to prevent the camera from being unscrewed by anyone not authorized to do so. ROTABALL straps can bear loads of up to five kilos in camera and lens weight. "Our camera straps of course also pass tougher tests, e.g. applying loads up to 80 kg. But then we cannot guarantee the stability of the camera bodies," explains Peter Geller, owner and CEO of SUN-SNIPER. "When performing the stress test, we focused particularly on the fact that the weight of the camera multiplies significantly due to the up-and-down motion caused by running, even with the SHOCK ABSORBER providing compensation."
The Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F017) is the third version of Tamron's classic macro lens. Read our Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD (Model F017) review to find out if this is the best one yet...
The new Canon EOS 80D DSLR camera refines the innovative Dual-Pixel CMOS AF system of its predecessor whilst upgrading the processor, sensor, auto-focusing and metering systems. Read our in-depth Canon EOS 80D review to find out if it can still compete in 2016...
Olympus have unveiled a new rugged action camera that adds tracking data to help improve your performance. The new Olympus TG-Tracker has a 1/2.3"-type 7.2-megapixel imager capable to record 4K footage, a detachable grip, a 14mm (eq.) f/2 ultra-wide-angle lens, 5-axis image stabilisation and a 1.5" flip-out LCD monitor. It is shockproof to a height of 2.1 metres, crushproof to a weight of 100kg, dustproof, freezeproof down to -10°C and waterproof down to a depth of 30 metres. Underwater, the camera automatically adjusts white balance and other settings, and there is an up to 60-lumen spotlight for shooting when it would otherwise be too dark. And unlike products with regular geotagging, the TG-Tracker can sense acceleration, altitude or depth and temperature as well as direction of movement – in addition to latitude and longitude. This gives extreme sports enthusiasts a much fuller picture of where they were, what was happening and how they were performing at the moment any given image was captured. The Olympus Tough TG-Tracker will become available next month, priced at £279.99/$349.99/€349.00.
The new Fujifilm X-E2S is a subtly improved version of the two-year-old X-E2 compact system camera, principally offering a better auto-focusing system, an electronic shutter and a clever Auto mode. Does it still offer enough to compete in 2016? Read our Fujifilm X-E2S review to find out...
Sigma Corporation of America has announced the immediate availability of its new Global Vision MC-11 Lens Mount Converter. Retailing for an MSRP of $249, the new MC-11 gives Sony E-mount camera users access to 15 high-performance Sigma Canon Mount (EF) and Sigma Mount (SA) Global Vision lenses. The converter features an internal control data system that automatically optimizes performance of AF drive, aperture control and other critical lens functions such as brightness and correct transverse chromatic aberration, distortion and more. The integrated flocking helps prevent internal reflections and reduction in lens performance, whilst the built-in MC-11 LED display lets users know if the attached Sigma lens is compatible and if it needs to be updated. The Sigma lens can be updated from a workstation or laptop using the Sigma Optimization Pro software and Sigma USB Dock.
The EOS 1300D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T6 in North America) is Canon's new DSLR camera for beginners. The Canon 1300D / Rebel T6 offers built-in wi-fi connectivity, an 18 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen, 1080p movies, 63-zone metering, and a 9-point auto-focus system. Read the World's first Canon EOS 1300D / Rebel T6 review now...
The XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR is a super-telephoto zoom lens for Fujifilm X-series compact system cameras. Offering a focal range of 152-609mm in 35mm terms, 5 stops of built-in image stabilisation, weather-proofing, fast and quiet auto-focusing and an aperture ring, is the new Fujifilm 100-400mm lens the perfect choice for wildlife and sports photographers? Read our Fujifilm XF 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR review to find out...
The Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN C is a fast standard prime lens for Sony E-mount and Micro Four Thirds cameras. Retailing for £299 / $339, read our in-depth Sigma 30mm F1.4 DC DN C review to find out if it's worth the modest investment...
Olympus has announced the European availability of the new Olympus TG-870 rugged camera. First unveiled in January, the Olympus Tough TG-870 is a premium all-weather compact with a 21-105mm equivalent lens,180-degree tilting 920,000-dot LCD screen, customisable front button, built-in Wi-Fi, next-generation GPS and 13 Art Filters. The camera is waterproof to depths of 50 feet (15 m), freezeproof to 14℉ (-10℃), shockproof from 7 feet (2.1 m), crushproof to 220 pounds (100 kg) of force and dustproof. The customisable button on the front of the camera can be programmed for several functions, including shutter release, video recording, monitor boost, LED assist and Super Macro Mode. The Olympus Tough TG-870 will come to Europe in April, carrying a recommended retail price of £249.99/€299.00. A free 6-month warranty extension is available if you sign up online for MyOlympus membership.
Blackmagic Design has announced that te Blackmagic URSA Mini 4.6K and the Blackmagic Micro Cinema Camera have commenced shipping and that the specifications of the two cameras have been changed. Due to problems with the cameras' global shutters, the company has decided to ship both of the cameras without the global shutter feature. The URSA Mini 4.6K is the high-dynamic-range model for high-end digital film work, featuring a DR of 15 stops and is now available for $4,995 for the EF-mount version and $5,495 for the PL edition. The Micro Cinema Camera has a built-in expansion port that provides access to many of the camera’s unique functions via radio model aircraft remote controls and other common remote control solutions.
The Polaroid Snap is a 10-megapixel instant digital camera which prints out photos onto 2"x3" ZINK paper. A digital copy is also saved onto a microSD card, and you can shoot new images even while the Polaroid Snap is printing. Read our Polaroid Snap review to find out it's fun or a flop...
The new Olympus PEN-F is a new premium compact system camera boasting a gorgeous retro design and some pro-level features, including a new 20 megapixel sensor, 5-axis image stabilisation, 10fps burst shooting, vari-angle 3-inch LCD touchscreen, 4K time-lapse movies, an electronic shutter and built-in wi-fi. Priced at £999 / $1199 body-only, is the PEN-F all style and no substance? Read our in-depth Olympus PEN-F review to find out...
The Fujifilm X70 is a brand new premium compact camera with a large APS-C 16 megapixel sensor, fast 28mm lens, 180-degree tilting LCD touchscreen, built-in wi-fi and a 60p movie mode. Read our Fujifilm X70 review, complete with full-size sample JPEG and raw images, videos and more...
The Olympus PEN-F is the most powerful ever PEN and one of the most beautiful system cameras Olympus has ever produced. The PEN-F inherits much state-of-the-art optical technology from Olympus’ larger, high-end OM-D camera family, including its world’s best 5-axis Image Stabilisation system (worth some 5 EV stops when shooting at low ISO), a 50-Megapixel high resolution shot capability, and a built-in electronic viewfinder with a real-time preview of settings adjustments.
The Olympus PEN-F is available in black or silver from end- February 2016. PEN-F body only £999.99, PEN-F and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 14-42mm 1-3.5-5.6 EZ Pancake lens kit £1099.99, PEN-F and M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 17mm 1:1.8 lens kit £1199.99.
The new Fujifilm X-Pro2 is an exciting flagship premium compact system camera. The weather-proof X-Pro2 offers a brand new 24 megapixel sensor that's claimed to rival full-frame DSLRs, an improved hybrid viewfinder, faster processor and AF system, and a host of other improvements. Read our Fujifilm X-Pro2 review to find out if it can live up to its early promise...
Olympus have revealed the suggested retail price and availability of their pro-grade 600mm equivalent Micro Four Thirds prime. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm 1:4.0 IS PRO lens, whose development was first announced at photokina 2014, is claimed to have the World's most powerful 6-step image stabilisation system (in combination with the matching Olympus camera models), and boasts the shortest focusing distance for telemacro photography in its class (1.4m). When mounted to an OM-D E-M1 or E-M5 Mark II, it achieves autofocus speeds of less than 300 milliseconds, while the dust-, freeze- and splashproof build makes this an ideal choice for nature and outdoor sports photographers. The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 300mm 1:4.0 IS PRO will be available in black from early March 2016 for £2199.99/€2799.00/$2499.99.
The Epson SureColor SC-P400 is a brand new A3+ / 13-inch high-gloss photo printer. The 7-colour Epson SureColor SC-P400 printer uses Epson's latest UltraChrome HiGloss 2 pigment inks and features Wi-Fi, USB and Ethernet connectivity. Read our expert review of the Epson SureColor SC-P400 now...
The Canon PowerShot SX530 HS is a bridge super-zoom camera with a massive 50x zoom lens. The Canon SX530 also offers 16 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen, full manual controls and 1080p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX530 HS review now...
The Olympus TG-4 is a new flagship water, freeze, shock and dust proof compact camera for 2015. Boasting a 25-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 lens, the 16 megapixel TG-4 also offers Raw file support, built-in wi-fi and GPS connectivity, 1080p HD movies, a 4x zoom lens and a 3 inch OLED screen. Read our Olympus TG-4 review to find out what this tough camera is capable of...
The Canon IXUS 275 HS (also known as the PowerShot ELPH 350 HS) is a stylish point-and-shoot compact camera that offers a 20 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 12x wide-angle zoom lens, full 1080p HD movie recording, 3 inch LCD screen and built-in wi-fi and NFC connectivity. Read our Canon IXUS 275 HS / PowerShot ELPH 350 HS review to find out if it's worth £129.99 / $209.99...
The new Olympus OM-D E-M10 II is a new entry-level mirrorless camera with some pro-level features - 5-axis image stabilisation, 8.5fps burst shooting, 4K time-lapse movies, electronic shutter - housed in a small, lightweight and stylish body. Is this the best compact system camera under £550 / $650? Read our in-depth Olympus OM-D E-M10 II review to find out...
The Canon EOS 760D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T6s in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts 24 megapixels, top panel LCD and rear panel control wheel, a 19-point autofocus system, Wi-Fi connectivity with NFC pairing and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 760D / T6s include burst shooting at 5fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's latest Digic 6 processor. Is the Canon EOS 760D / T6i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
Fujifilm and Nikon are planning to examine the compatibility of their digital cameras and applications with Windows 10. Specifically, Fuji are testing their X series cameras and all FinePix models launched since 2010, plus a suite of computer programs including MyFinePix Studio, PC AutoSave, the Tethered Capture Plug-in for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, Tethered Shooting Software HS-V5 for Windows, and RAW FILE CONVERTER EX 2.0 powered by SILKYPIX. Nikon are planning to check the compatibility of 13 software applications and codecs (see below).
Ahead of our full review, here are 99 sample images, both JPEG and Raw, taken with the new Sony A7R II compact system camera. We've included the full ISO range from 50-102,400 (indoor and outdoor test scenes), and 71 additional samples taken with five different lenses - the Zeiss Batis 25mm f/2, Sony FE 28mm f/2, Sony FE 35mm f/2.8, Sony FE 55mm f/1.8, and Sony FE 90mm f/2.8 Macro. Many thanks to <a href="http://www.hireacamera.com/">Hireacamera</a> for providing the 25mm, 28mm and 90mm lenses - they're definitely worth checking out if you want to hire or rent camera kit in the UK.
The AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II is a brand new premium standard zoom lens for DX-format DSLRs. Does the AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II offer enough to justify its $1069.95 / £869.99 / €1179.00 price-tag? Read our in-depth AF-S DX Nikkor 16-80mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II lens review to find out...
The Canon EOS 5DS R DSLR boasts a massive 50 megapixel sensor with a low-pass cancellation filter to maximise the sharpness of the camera's sensor. Does the brand new Canon 5DS R offer the best image quality from a DSLR? Read our detailed Canon EOS 5DS R review to find out...
The Canon PowerShot G3 X is a prosumer super-zoom camera with a 1-inch image sensor and 25x zoom lens. The G3 X also offers built-in wi-fi/NFC connectivity, 1080p HD video at 60fps with stereo sound, a 3.2 inch tilting touchscreen LCD, lens control ring, RAW files and a full range of manual shooting modes. Read our Canon PowerShot G3 X review to find out if this is the best superzoom camera that money can buy...
The Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS is a new super-zoom lens for Sony's Alpha full-frame compact system cameras. The dust- and moisture-resistant Sony FE 24-240mm offers a 10x zoom range, optical image stabilisation and a complex lens construction. Read our Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS review to find out if one lens really can do it all...
The Canon EOS 750D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T6i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts 24 megapixels, 19-point autofocus system, Wi-Fi connectivity with NFC pairing and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 750D / T6i include burst shooting at 5fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's latest Digic 6 processor. Is the Canon EOS 750D / T6i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
We've just tested the new 50-megapixel Canon EOS 5Ds with Canon's best standard zoom lens, the EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens. Here are 56 JPEG and 56 Raw images taken with a final production version of the Canon EOS 5Ds DSLR camera with the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens.
Want to see what the highest-resolution DSLR camera is capable of with the sharpest lens in the world? You're in luck, as we've just tested the new 50-megapixel Canon EOS 5Ds with the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 lens in the studio and on location. Here are 25 JPEG (Fine Detail picture style) and 25 Raw images taken with a final production version of the Canon EOS 5Ds DSLR camera with the Zeiss Otus 85mm f/1.4 lens. As always with our sample images, they're straight out of the camera with no post-processing...
Photography Blog recently sat down with Canon UK’s Product Intelligence Professional David Parry to hear more about the features of the new Canon PowerShot G3 X camera, due out in mid July.
The EOS 5Ds DSLR camera has finally arrived, boasting a massive 50 megapixel sensor and proven design. Does the brand new Canon 5Ds offer high enough image quality to justify its £2999 / $3699 asking price? Read our detailed Canon EOS 5Ds review with full-size JPEG, Raw and video samples to find out...
Last night we took the new 50-megapixel Canon EOS 5Ds with the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens to the financial City of London district to test out the 5Ds's long exposure capabilities. Here are 55 JPEG and 20 Raw images taken with a final production version of the Canon EOS 5Ds DSLR camera with the Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens.
We've been testing the new 50-megapixel Canon EOS 5Ds with the highly-regarded Sigma 24mm, 35mm and 50mm f/1.4 Art prime lenses today. Here are 93 JPEG and 20 Raw images taken with a final production version of the Canon EOS 5Ds DSLR camera with the Sigma 24mm, 35mm and 50mm Art Lenses.
Ahead of our full review, here are 91 JPEG and 20 Raw images taken with a final production version of the new Canon EOS 5Ds DSLR camera, running v1.01 firmware. The Canon EOS 5Ds is a 35mm full-frame digital SLR camera with a 50.6 megapixel sensor.
The Canon EOS M3 is a new compact system camera that offers 24 megapixel resolution, full 1080p high-definition videos, a faster auto-focusing system, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the EOS M3 include a tilting 3-inch LCD screen, ISO range of 100-12,800, wi-fi and NFC connectivity, and a built-in flash. Is Canon's new mirrorless model finally a real contender? Read our Canon EOS M3 review to find out...
The Fujifilm X-T10 is a new mid-range compact system camera that inherits most of the key features of the flagship X-T1 model. Does the X-T10 cut too many corners to hit its aggressive £499 / $799 price-tag, or does it offer a compelling blend of features, performance and price? Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-T10 review to find out...
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm Fisheye f:1.8 PRO is the World’s first fisheye lens with a maximum aperture of f/1.8. The optical construction features 17 lens elements in 15 groups to diminish peripheral chromatic and comatic aberration (including 1 aspherical, 3 Super ED, 2 ED, 1 Super HR and 2 HR elements). The super-large aperture and the cutting-edge thin ZERO coating ensure photographers top-notch optical performance in any conditions, especially in low light. The 2.5-cm minimum focusing distance (measured from end of the lens) and maximum magnification of x0.2 make it a logical choice for nature photographers with a passion for quirky perspectives and eye-catching bokeh. For underwater specialists, it likewise opens up exciting new opportunities – it’s compatible with a range of accessories via the new underwater lens port PPO-EP02. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 8mm Fisheye 1:1.8 PRO is priced at £799.99 and available at all major UK retailers from June 2015.
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm 1:2.8 PRO is a new professional-grade ultra-wide zoom for the Micro Four Thirds system. It weighs just over half as much as equivalent f:2.8 aperture rivals, and features 14 elements in 11 groups. Like the other lenses in the M.Zuiko PRO family, this 14-28mm equivalent zoom is fully weatherproof – thanks to 11 separate seals – and lets you get just 7.5cm from your subject (measured from the end of the lens), which is about 20% closer than equivalent rivals. It’s also packed with practical PRO features, such as the manual focus clutch that lets you instantly switch from AF to MF by pulling the focus ring toward the camera body. There’s also an L-Fn button on the base of the lens that lets you make changes in an instant with your thumb. The M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm 1:2.8 PRO is priced at £999.99, and available at all major UK retailers from June 2015.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Limited Edition is a new compact system camera that pays homage to the titanium-clad Olympus OM-3Ti film SLR released in 1994. The beautifully redesigned E-M5 Mark II will be available in a distinctively retro, titanium-tinted body that evokes the golden age of the original Olympus OM series, a period that laid the foundations for the flagship Olympus Micro Four Thirds cameras of today. In addition to the titanium colour, the Limited Edition differs from the regular model with a special OM-D-branded leather strap, an owner’s card bearing a quote from the legendary OM designer, Yoshihisa Maitani, and a premium-stitched leather case for the card. A number between one and 7,000 will appear on the other side of the card, as only 7,000 of these cameras are due to be made. The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II Limited Edition will be available from June 2015 priced at £999.99. A kit with the all-round zoom M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm 1:4.0-5.6 II lens will also be available for £1349.99.
The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II is an affordable telephoto lens for DX-format cameras, offering a versatile zoom range in a lightweight, retractable package complete with vibration reduction. Is this new lens the perfect partner to your 18-55mm kit zoom? Find out by reading our Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II review...
The Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD is a new ultra-wide-angle lens for full-frame DSLR owners. Can it compete with similar lenses from Canon and Nikon? Read our in-depth Tamron SP 15-30mm F/2.8 Di VC USD review to find out...
The Canon PowerShot SX610 HS is a new travel-zoom camera with an 18x zoom lens. The Canon SX610 offers 20 megapixels, a high-resolution 3-inch LCD screen, built-in wi-fi and NFC connectivity, and 1080p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX610 HS review...
The Panasonic LUMIX G MACRO 30mm f/2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. is a new macro lens for the Micro Four Thirds system of interchangeable lens cameras. Offering an effective focal range of 60mm in 35mm terms, the Panasonic 35mm lens offers 1:1 magnification and built-in image stabilisation, yet it's small enough to fit in your hand and only weighs 180g. Read our Panasonic LUMIX G MACRO 30mm f/2.8 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. review to find out if it's worth adding to your lens collection.
The 16-megapixel Stylus Tough TG-4 is Olympus's new flagship underwater camera offering raw image capture, GPS, WiFi and a 25-100mm equivalent f/2.0-4.9 lens. Shockproof to a height of 2.1 metres, crushproof to a weight of 100kg, freezeproof down to -10°C, dustproof and waterproof to a depth of 15m without a special underwater housing; the Olympus Tough TG-4 comes with an advanced, four-mode Variable Macro system that covers a 29-cm range – starting at 30 cm from the subject and zooming in to just 1 cm away. The four modes are Microscope, Microscope Control, Focus Bracketing and Focus Stacking. New to Microscope Mode is the slow-sync flash, which enhances contrasts and prevents potential over-exposure when you’re very close to the subject. Divers will also appreciate the new Underwater HDR feature, the built-in manometer, as well as the glove-friendly and customisable mode dial. The Olympus Stylus Tough TG-4 is available from May, priced at £349.99/$379.99.
Lensbaby today announced the Velvet 56, a new 56mm lens with a maximum reproduction ratio of 1:2 and maximum aperture of f/1.6. According to the company this lens "delivers a velvety, glowing, ethereal look at brighter apertures, and beautifully sharp but subtly unique images as you stop down." Velvet 56 enables photographers to move seamlessly from shooting an environmental portrait to capturing details in a subject's clothing or jewelry. Nature and macro photographers will also find it highly usable thanks to its excellent close-up capabilities. Boasting an all-metal construction, the Lensbaby Velvet 56 will be available in two colours, black and silver. As seen in the photo above, the silver edition features a clear-anodised finish with engraved aperture and focus markings. Velvet 56 retails for $499.95 (black variant) and $599.95 (silver edition). The lenses will be available in Canon, Nikon, Sony A and Pentax mounts beginning13th April at lensbaby.com, B&H, Adorama, and from select specialty photo stores worldwide. Mirrorless mounts including Micro 4/3rds, Sony E, Samsung NX and Fuji X will be available in early May. Click through / scroll down for a gallery of web-resolution sample images taken by Caroline Jensen, Pauline Putt, Rachel Schomsky and Victoria Hederer Bell.
The Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR is a fast professional standard zoom lens for Fujifilm X-series compact system cameras. Offering a focal range of 24-84mm in 35mm terms, a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, weather-sealing, 0.06 second auto-focusing and an aperture ring, is the Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 the perfect partner for the X-T1 camera? Read our Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR review to find out...
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II is a new 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera that boasts the World’s most powerful 5-axis image stabilisation system to date. The improved IS promises blur-free photographs at shutter speeds up to 5 full stops slower than usual, and works with movies as well as stills. New OM-D Movie Mode offers multiple video frame rates and Full HD video at bit rates of up to 77 Mbps, and focusing during video capture is child's play via the 3-inch touch-sensitive, vari-angle LCD screen. A special advantage of Olympus’ ultra-precise 5-axis stabilisation system is the potential to capture extremely high-resolution still images that exceed the normal capacity of its sensor. By moving the imager between each shot and merging eight single exposures into one, the E-M5 Mark II delivers a 40-Megapixel photo whose resolution rivals that of the highest-resolution full-frame dSLRs. Other interesting new features include on-demand in-camera keystone compensation that allows for correcting converging verticals in Live View without the need for a shift lens or post-processing; and slightly redesigned controls that make it easier to operate the camera at high speed. Built-in WiFi means you can remote control the camwea from a smartphone, then share and geotag the images on social media using Olympus OI.Share. The latest addition to Olympus’ OM-D line-up goes on sale in late February 2015 and costs £899.99/$1,099.99 for the body only. UK and Ireland customers who order the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II before March 1st can benefit from a five-and-half year warranty worth £100 plus a messenger bag worth £130.
The Photography Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham from 21 -24 March, has annoounced its lineup of speakers for the show's Super Stage theatre. Over four days, the Super Stage will host a diverse group of photographers including Tom Stoddart, Martin Parr, Mary Ellen Mark, Tim Flach, Simon Norfolk, Susan Meiselas, Michael Kenna, Lynsey Addario and Don McCullin. Click through / read on for more information.
The Canon PowerShot SX710 HS is a premium travel-zoom camera with a 30x zoom lens in a slim and compact body. The Canon SX710 also offers 20 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen, PASM shooting modes, built-in wi-fi/NFC and Full HD 60p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX710 HS review to find out if it's the right travel camera for you...
The new Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD lens is already on sale in Japan, and Photography Blog reader Wesley Schlarb has kindly provided us with some sample images from this exciting full-frame ultra-wide-angle lens, as well as his first impressions of using it. All of the sample images are NEF Raw files taken with the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD mounted on a Nikon D610 DSLR.
The Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports is a new professional telephoto zoom lens for full-frame DSLR cameras. Offering a bigger zoom ratio and cheaper price than comparable lenses from Nikon and Canon, is this third-party lens worth considering? Read our Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports review to find out...
The Fujifilm XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR is a new professional telephoto zoom lens for Fujifilm X-series compact system cameras. Offering a classic focal range of 76-213mm in 35mm terms, 5 stops of built-in image stabilisation, weather-proofing, fast and quiet auto-focusing and an aperture ring, is the new 50-140mm f/2.8 lens a worthy addition to the XF family? Read our in-depth Fujifilm XF 50-140mm F2.8 R LM OIS WR review to find out...
The new silver edition of the Fujfilm X-T1 adds a more durable coating, ultra-fast electronic shutter, Natural Live View function, and a Classic Chrome film simulation mode to one of the year's most popular mirrorless cameras. Read our Fujifilm X-T1 Graphite Silver review to find out if this new edition is another hit for Fujifilm...
The long-awaited Canon EOS 7D Mark II DSLR has finally arrived, boasting improvements to virtually every aspect of its popular predecessor, the 5-year-old 7D. Can an APS-C sensor DSLR camera still compete in the fast-changing photography market? Read our detailed Canon EOS 7D Mark II review to find out...
Ahead of our full review, here are 51 sample images taken with the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lens, mounted on a Canon EOS 7D Mark II. The Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM is a moderately wide pancake prime lens for DSLRs with APS-C sized sensors, offering a 35mm equivalent focal range of 38.4mm.
The Apple iPhone 6 Plus is the largest ever version of the most popular flagship smartphones of all time. Find out what it has to offer photographers by reading our Apple iPhone 6 Plus review, complete with full-size sample photos, test shots, videos and more...
The Vario Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS is a premium wide-angle zoom lens for Sony's 35mm full-frame E-mount camera system. The FE 16-35mm offers a constant F4 maximum aperture, 7-blade aperture, dust and moisture resistance, built-in image stabilisation and a unique T* surface coating. Is the Sony FE 16-35mm the natural wide-angle partner for your A7/A7R/A7S camera? Read our Sony Vario Tessar T* FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS review to find out...
Fireside is a smart system for your home that makes enjoying all your photos and videos as easy as taking them. The system consists of an intelligent curation and delivery service, and SmartFrame, a new generation digital picture frame that connects to users’ iOS/Android devices and the cloud to seamlessly integrate their curated content into everyday life. The Fireside app effortlessly brings all of a family’s photos and videos together to a private, secure place in the cloud, and makes them searchable. Then, Fireside’s cloud service uses contextual computing and machine learning to automatically curate and organise libraries of thousands of photos, showing families the content they actually want to see, the company says. Starting at $399 and available in both black and white, Fireside is launching on Kickstarter today.
The new Fujifilm X100T is the third generation of Fujfilm's wildly popular 35mm f/2 fixed lens compact camera. Building on the success of last year's X100S, the new X100T focuses on making the handling and operation even better than before. Have Fujifilm succeeded in the tricky task of making an already brilliant camera even better? Read our in-depth Fujifilm X100T review to find out...
The new Canon PowerShot SX60 HS super-zoom camera has an astonishing 65x lens with a massive focal range of 21-1365mm. The Canon SX60 HS also offers a 16 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 3 inch vari-angle LCD screen, electronic viewfinder, full manual controls, RAW format support, 6.4fps burst shooting, built-in wi-fi and NFC connectivity, and full 1080p HD movies. Read our detailed Canon PowerShot SX60 HS review to find out if it's the ultimate do-it-all camera...
The Canon PowerShot G7 X is a prosumer compact camera with a 1-inch image sensor and fast 4.2x zoom lens. The G7 X also offers built-in wi-fi/NFC connectivity, 1080p HD video at 60fps with stereo sound, a 3 inch tilting touchscreen LCD, lens control ring, RAW files and a full range of manual shooting modes. Read our Canon PowerShot G7 X review to find out if it can beat the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 III...
The Samsung S 16-50mm f/2-2.8 ED OIS is a new premium standard zoom lens for Samsung's NX system of interchangeable lens cameras. Offering an effective focal range of 24-75mm in 35mm terms, the Samsung 16-50mm lens boasts a fast constant aperture of f/2.0, fast and quiet auto-focusing, quality construction and weather sealing. Read our in-depth Samsung S 16-50mm f/2-2.8 ED OIS review, complete with 54 sample images, to find out if it's a must-have lens for Samsung photographers...
Ahead of our full review, here are 62 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with the new Canon PowerShot SX60 HS super-zoom camera, including the full ISO range. The Canon SX60 HS is a 16 megapixel compact camera with a 65x zoom lens, equivalent to an astonishing focal range of 21-1365mm!
The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is a new ultra-wide zoom lens for EOS cameras with APS-C sensors. Attractively priced at £299 / $299, is it too cheap for its own good, or is it a logical addition to your camera kit? We've tested the EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM on the EOS 1200D to find out...
A number of Canon Cinema EOS digital cameras and lenses have been selected by IMAX Corporation for a mission to capture 4K footage in space. The IMAX production team picked Canon EOS C500 EF digital cinema cameras, Canon EOS 1D-C digital SLR cameras, and a selection of Canon Cinema Zoom and Prime lenses for the project.The cameras and lenses left Earth Saturday on a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The equipment will arrive at the International Space Station, where astronauts will capture 4K content for the upcoming new 3D film, tentatively titled 'A Perfect Planet.' A Perfect Planet will be shot over the course of the next year with multiple crews of astronauts conducting principal photography. The film is tentatively set for release in early 2016.
The Canon PowerShot SX520 HS is a bridge super-zoom camera with a 42x zoom lens. The Canon SX520 also offers 16 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen, full manual controls and 1080p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX520 HS review now...
The Olympus Tough TG-3 is a new water, freeze, shock and dust proof compact camera for 2014. Boasting a fast f2.0 aperture high-speed lens, the 16 megapixel TG-3 also offers built-in wi-fi and GPS connectivity, 1080p HD movies, a 4x zoom lens and a 3 inch OLED screen. Read our Olympus Tough TG-3 review to find out what this all-action camera is capable of...
The Canon PowerShot D30 is an action compact camera that's waterproof to an impressive 25m, as well as being dust, freeze and shock proof. The Canon D30 also offers12 megapixels, a 5x zoom, 1080p HD video, built-in GPS and a 3-inch screen. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot D30 review now...
The new Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 is half travel-zoom camera, half smartphone. Using the latest Android 4.3 operating system, the Galaxy Camera 2 also offers wi-fi and NFC connectivity along with a 16 megapixel sensor and 21x zoom lens. Read our Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 review, complete with full-size sample images and video...
The Canon IXUS 265 HS (also known as the PowerShot ELPH 340 HS) is a stylish point-and-shoot compact camera that offers a 16 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 12x wide-angle zoom lens, full 1080p HD movie recording, 3 inch LCD screen and built-in wi-fi and NFC connectivity. Read our in-depth Canon IXUS 265 HS review to find out if this tiny camera is worth its £189.99 / $199.99 price-tag...
The Canon PowerShot SX700 HS is a new premium travel-zoom camera with a 30x zoom lens in a slim and compact body. The Canon SX700 also offers 16 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen, PASM shooting modes, built-in wi-fi/NFC and Full HD 60p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX700 HS review to find out if it's the right compact camera for you...
The Canon PowerShot SX600 HS is a new travel-zoom camera with an 18x zoom lens in a slim and compact body. The Canon SX600 also offers 16 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen, built-in wi-fi and 1080p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX600 HS review to find out if it's the right camera for you...
The M.ZUIKO Digital 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro is a new fast standard zoom lens from Olympus for the Micro Four Thirds system. Offering a 24-80mm focal length, constant f/2.8 maximum aperture, fast and near-silent focusing, and a manual focus clutch, read our in-depth Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro review to find out if it's the perfect partner for the flagship OM-D E-M1 camera.
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II is a serious compact camera with a large 1.5-inch image sensor and fast 5x zoom lens. The G1 X Mk II also offers built-in wi-fi/NFC connectivity, 1080p HD video at 30fps with stereo sound, a 3 inch tilting touchscreen LCD, dual lens control rings, RAW files and a full range of manual shooting modes. Read our Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II review to find out if it's worth the £799 / €949 / $799.99 asking price...
Here are 90 sample JPEG photos taken with the new Sony A6000 compact system camera, including the full ISO range. UPDATE 17th April 2014: Ahead of our full review, we've now added 57 more sample images that were taken using a full production version of the Sony A6000 camera.
The Canon EOS 1200D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T5 in North America) is a new DSLR camera for beginners. The Canon 1200D / T5 offers an 18 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen, 1080p movies, 63-zone metering, and 9-point auto-focus system. Available body only from £349 and with a zoom lens from £449 / $549, read our Canon EOS 1200D / T5 review to find out if this brand new budget DSLR is a bargain or not...
Sweden-based Marcel Pabst has become one of the first photographers to test shoot the brand new Hasselblad H5D-50C medium-format camera. For the session Marcel decided to invest in a new spacesuit for his five year old son Elmer and explain to him that the two of them were going on a mission to discover a new planet and shoot a few pictures. “I got myself set up and I tested a couple of smoke grenades to see how that might look – as part of a plan to create a mystical feel and look to the images," Marcel says. "Then I tried a shot at ISO 400 – a ploy I just would never have attempted with my old Hasselblad camera. It was then it really struck me how ‘super good’ the 50c really was.”
Ahead of our full review, here are 71 sample images and a 1080i movie taken with the new Nikon Coolpix P600 compact camera. The Nikon Coolpix P600 is a superzoom camera featuring a massive 60x zoom lens equivalent to 24-1440mm.
The Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD is an affordable ultra-zoom lens for full-frame and APS-C Canon, Nikon and Sony DSLR cameras. Read our in-depth Tamron SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD to find out if it's really a bargain or not...
Corel has released VideoStudio Pro X7 and VideoStudio Ultimate X7. The new version adds an updated creative library, new touch-friendly instant movie creator and 64-bit architecture, and features faster 4K support, enhanced one-step sharing, motion tracking, HTML5 authoring, a new favourite filters list and a wide variety of creative editing tools. Suggested retail pricing of VideoStudio Pro X7 is $79.99 / €69.99/ £59.99. VideoStudio Ultimate X7 is available for $99.99 / € 89.99/ £79.99
The Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS is an affordable telephoto zoom lens for Fujifilm X-series compact system cameras. Offering a focal range of 76-350mm in 35mm terms, built-in image stabilisation, a compact and lightweight design, and fast and quiet auto-focusing, is the Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS a worthy addition to your X-system kit? Read our Fujifilm XC 50-230mm F4.5-6.7 OIS review to find out...
The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II is the newest standard kit lens for DX-format DSLRs. Offering a retractable design, 4-stop vibration reduction and a Silent Wave Motor, does the AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II offer good enough image quality to keep its place on your DSLR? Read our in-depth AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR II lens review to find out...
Ahead of our full review, here are 54 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with the new Nikon D3300 DSLR camera, including the full ISO range. The Nikon D3300 is an entry-level 24 megapixel APS-C DSLR camera. We're testing the D3300 with the new AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5–5.6G VR II retractable zoom lens.
The Fujifilm X-T1 is a brand new compact system camera that looks, feels and performs very much like a classic DSLR that''s been shrunk in the wash. Is this the best X-series camera that Fujifilm have released, and can it compete with the likes of the Sony A7/A7R and Olympus OM-D E-M1, not to mention DSLRs from Canon and Nikon? Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-T1 review to find out...
The new Fujifilm FinePix S8500 super-zoom camera boasts a 46x zoom lens, 16 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen, an electronic viewfinder and 1080p movies at 60fps, all for under £200. Does the Fujifilm S8500 cut too many corners though? Find out by reading our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix S8500 review...
The new Fujifilm X-E2 is a faster, more full-featured version of last year's X-E1 compact system camera, promising better image quality too. Can this gorgeous retro-styled model improve on one of our favourite cameras of 2012? Read our Fujifilm X-E2 review to find out...
The Canon PowerShot SX510 HS is a small super-zoom camera with a 30x zoom lens. The Canon SX510 also offers 12 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen, wi-fi and GPS connectivity, full manual controls and 1080p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX510 HS review now...
The Olympus O-MD E-M1 is a new professional compact system camera. Targeting its DSLR rivals, Olympus are promoting the E-M1 as a smaller and more capable camera. Read our expert Olympus E-M1 review to find out if it really can beat the competition...
The Canon PowerShot SX170 IS is an affordable travel-zoom compact camera. For less than £150 / $200, the Canon SX170 offers a 16x optical zoom lens, 16 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen and 720p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX170 IS review now...
The Nikon Coolpix S02 is a tiny point-and-shoot compact camera designed to complement your smartphone. Featuring a 3x zoom lens, 13 megapixels, 2.7 inch touch-screen LCD and 1080p HD movies, is the Nikon S02 too small for its own good? Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix S02 review to find out...
Canon U.S.A. and two-time Academy Award winner Ron Howard have officially launched the “Project Imaginat10n” Film Festival. Following yesterday's premiere of ten short films at Lincoln Center in New York City, screenings will be held in Los Angeles, CA hosted by Bryce Dallas Howard, the first graduating director of Canon’s Project Imagin8ion as well as in Brooklyn, NY hosted by James Murphy, a celebrity director for Project Imaginat10n. Yahoo Screen will continue celebrating the Film Festival from today through the end of the year where consumers can view each of the 10 films including "...And She Was My Eve” by Jamie Foxx, Celebrity Director, “Out of the Blue” by Eva Longoria, Celebrity Director, “A Dream of Flying” by Georgina Chapman, Celebrity Director, “Little Duck” by James Murphy, Celebrity Director, “Evermore” by Biz Stone, Celebrity Director, “Dominus” by Arrius Sorbonne, Winning Director, “Chucked” by Jared Nelson, Winning Director, “Here and Now” by Julian Higgins, Winning Director, “A Day in the Country” by Kálmán Apple, Winning Director and “Filter” by Ronnie Allman, Winning Director.
The Canon PowerShot G16 is a premium compact camera aimed at the serious enthusiast. The new Canon G16 principally adds wi-fi connectivity, a faster processor and some new shooting modes to last year's G15 model. Is this enough for the Canon G-series to remain competitive in an increasingly crowded market? Read our Canon PowerShot G16 review to find out...
Here are 50 sample JPEG photos taken with the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1 compact system camera, including the full ISO range. These sample images were taken at a press event held by Panasonic UK at The Hospital, Covent Garden, London.
The Canon PowerShot S120 is a new compact camera for enthusiasts. Featuring a 5x zoom lens with a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, ISO range of 80-12,800, 12.1fps burst shooting, RAW support, full manual controls, built-in wi-fi connectivity, touchscreen interface and 1080p video at 60fps, the Canon S120 is a slim and stylish camera that you can easily fit in a trouser pocket. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot S120 review now to find out if it's the best premium compact camera...
Ahead of our full review, here are 49 sample JPEG images and a full 1080p HD movie taken with the new Nikon Coolpix P7800 compact camera. The Nikon Coolpix P7800 is a premium compact featuring a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, 7.1x optical zoom, a 921,000-dot electronic viewfinder, 3” RGBW LCD vari-angle monitor, 8fps continuous shooting speed, and second-generation Vibration Reduction.
The Canon PowerShot SX270 HS is a new travel-zoom camera for 2013, offering a 20x zoom lens and a 12 megapixel back-illuminated image sensor. Other key features of the Canon SX270 include a 3 inch LCD screen, full 1080p HD movies with stereo sound, fast 14fps burst shooting, and a full range of manual and automated exposure modes. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX270 HS in-depth review now...
SanDisk today announced the availability of the 256GB SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash memory card. The card delivers minimum sustained write speeds of 65MB/s, optimized to capture 4K and Full HD video. The 256GB SanDisk Extreme Pro CompactFlash card has transfer speeds of up to 160MB/s, and delivers fast shot speeds of up to 140MB/s for fast action and continuous burst mode shots. The cards are durability tested, include RTV silicone coating inside for added protection against shock and vibration, and perform in extreme temperatures from -13 °F to +185 °F. All this goodness comes at a price, though: the recommended retail price of the 256GB card is an eye-watering $1809.99.
Serif has just launched PhotoStack, an all-in-one photo organiser, editor and library. Designed with speed and simplicity in mind, PhotoStack will help budding photographers quickly and easily enhance, sort and share their entire photo collection, the company promises. Users can import thousands of photos from their camera, smartphone or tablet straight into PhotoStack and organise them in seconds. Once uploaded, photos can be tagged, rated or grouped into photo stacks – a feature which makes it easier for users to find their favourite version of any photo. With just a few simple clicks, users can take care of imperfections, such as red-eye, spots and blemishes, and even erase unwanted background objects. There are also dedicated tools to recolour and sharpen images, plus features for cropping, cloning and straightening pictures. Once editing is complete, users can see their entire collection in the library and use simple drag and drop tools to quickly create bespoke photo albums. PhotoStack is compatible with Windows 8/7/Vista/XP and is optimised for 64-bit operating systems. It retails at £49.99 and is available directly from Serif.
The new Canon EOS 70D is not just another DSLR camera, thanks to its innovative Dual-Pixel CMOS AF system. This new technology aims to deliver much better Live View and Movie shooting than any other DSLR on the market. Read our in-depth Canon EOS 70D review to find out if it delivers on its promise...
In the second of a new series of interviews with professional photographers, Luke Chapman reveals what has inspired him during his career.
The Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM is a moderate wide-angle pancake lens for the new EF-M compact camera system. Offering a "classic" focal range of 35mm in 35mm terms, is the EF-M 22m prime lens worth its modest asking price? Read our in-depth Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM review to find out...
Panasonic has received EISA awards for its Lumix DMC-GH3 compact system camera and the new version of its Lumix G Vario 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 Asph. / Power O.I.S.lens. Established in 1982, the European Imaging Sound Association (EISA) is a multimedia association that tests consumer electronic products. The Lumix GH3 won the ‘European Photo-Video Camera 2013-2014’ award for its versatility as a high class still and video camera, while the updated Lumix G Vario 14-140mm lens was named the ‘European Compact System Zoom Lens 2013-2014.'
Elpical Software has released Organic Imaging 2.0, which delivers support for raw image files and comes with an improved user interface. Organic Imaging is a hotfolder-based application that will route a wide variety of image types from a predefined input folder to the processed Folder. "Extensive, automatic individual image analysis insures that every image receives precisely the exposure, sharpness, skintones, natural greens, blues, and anything else it needs," the company says. "Utilising the same technology installed in the world's most famous publishing houses, Organic Imaging is suited for photographers and prosumers who process quantities of images, need high quality results, and require rapid throughput." Photographers can download the software and process the first 250 images at no cost. Subsequent images are processed for 10 cents each (for up to 5000 corrected images per month).
Panasonic has announced a collaboration with Ian Berry and Thomas Dworzak, two members of Magnum Photos, to put the new Panasonic GX7 compact system camera to the test. "“The prospect of walking around with a camera like this and just a pocketful of lenses is just extraordinary," said Ian Berry, who used the new GX7 to capture images in Rome. "It has an incredible dynamic range. It holds up the highlights brilliantly when I assume they would have been lost but also holds up the shadows, so you can work with this extreme contrast." Another project saw Thomas Dworzak sent to Tbilisi, Georgia, where he was assigned to visually record its rich culture of people, movement and colour from new angles and found the GX7’s silent shutter function perfect for street photography. Ian and Thomas will be at Berlin’s IFA International show (6th-11th September) to officially reveal their images and give presentations about their experiences.
Here are 55 sample JPEG photos taken with the new Panasonic Lumix GX7 compact system camera. These photos were taken on a Panasonic GX7 running pre-production firmware at a press event held at Longleat Safari Park, United Kingdom. We've included the full ISO range from 200-25,600.
The Fujifilm X-M1 is a new compact system camera that's designed to expand the appeal of the X-system. The retro-styled X-M1 offers the same image sensor and lens mount as the more expensive X-Pro1 and X-E1 cameras in a smaller, lighter body. The X-M1 has a built-in flash, new 16-50mm kit lens, wi-fi connectivity, tilting LCD screen and of course a more affordable price tag. Read our Fujifilm X-M1 review to find out if it succeeds in bringing Fujifilm's mirrorless range to the masses...
The M.ZUIKO Digital 75mm f/1.8 is a telephoto portrait lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. Offering a 150mm focal length, fast and near-silent focusing and a bright maximum aperture of f/1.8, this tele-photo lens is perfect for portraits, high-speed indoor sports and stage shooting in low light. Read our Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital 75mm f/1.8 review with full-size sample images...
The Canon EOS 700D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T5i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts 18 megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 700D / T5i include burst shooting at 5fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 5 processor. Is the Canon EOS 700D / T5i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
The Canon EOS 100D (called the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 in North America) is the smallest and lightest DSLR in the World. The tiny new Canon 100D / SL1 boasts 18-megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 100D / SL1 include burst shooting at 4fps, a 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 5 processor. Is the Canon EOS 100D / SL1 just too small for its own good? Read our expert review to find out...
The Canon PowerShot SX280 HS is a new travel-zoom camera for 2013, offering a 20x zoom lens and a 12 megapixel back-illuminated image sensor. Other key features of the Canon SX280 include built-in GPS and wi-fi connectivity, a 3 inch LCD screen, full 1080p HD movies with stereo sound, fast 14fps burst shooting, and a full range of manual and automated exposure modes. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX280 HS in-depth review now...
Tamron USA is celebrating National Photo Month this May with its first Tamron Photo Scavenger Hunt. Participants will creatively photograph 14 clues and set-up an exhibit at MyPhotoExhibits.com by 31 May 2013. Tamron will pick the best overall exhibit based on image quality and creative interpretation of the clues. The winner will receive the award-winning Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD zoom lens. This contest is only open to adult residents of the USA. Click through / read on for the rules, including a list of the 14 clues.
Canon U.S.A. has announced the 2013 “Project Imaginat10n” Film Contest, which will provide the public with a unique opportunity to showcase their cinematography skills. Helmed by Ron Howard and Bryce Dallas Howard, filmmakers of all skill levels will each have the chance to embark on the same creative exercise as five celebrity directors – Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, Biz Stone, Georgina Chapman and James Murphy – all of whom are directing short films inspired from ten Project Imaginat10n winning photographs. Selecting from the same pool of 91 winning photos, the challenge is to create a short film inspired by ten crowdsourced photos and based on ten storytelling themes: Character, Mood, Goal, Backstory, Setting, Obstacle, Relationship, The Unknown, Time and Discovery. Submissions will begin on 4th June at the website below.
We had the oppotunity to try out the new Sony HX50 camera on the 38th floor of the iconic Gherkin building in central London. The HX50 is billed as "the world's smallest compact camera with a 30x optical zoom lens". Here are 42 sample JPEG photos taken with a pre-production version of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50 compact camera, including the full ISO range from 80-12,800. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50 is a premium compact camera with a 20.4 megapixel Exmor R sensor, 30x zoom lens (24-720mm), multi-interface accessory hotshoe, manual exposure modes, built-in wi-fi and Full 50p HD movie recording.
The Canon IXUS 255 HS (also known as the PowerShot ELPH 330 HS) is a small and stylish new point-and-shoot compact camera. The IXUS 255 HS' stand-out features include a 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 10x wide-angle zoom lens, full 1080p HD movie recording, 3 inch LCD screen and built-in wi-fi connectivity. Read our in-depth Canon IXUS 255 HS review to find out if this tiny camera is worth the £199.99 / $229.99 price-tag.
The Olympus Tough TG-2 is a new water, freeze, shock and dust proof compact camera for 2013. Boasting a fast f2.0 aperture high-speed lens, the TG-2 also offers full 1080p HD movies, a 4x zoom lens and a 3 inch OLED screen. Read our Olympus Tough TG-2 review to find out if it's still one of our favourite all-weather cameras...
Ahead of our full review, here are 38 sample JPEG photos taken with the new Nikon Coolpix P520 compact camera. The Nikon Coolpix P520 is an 18 megapixel bridge style compact camera with a vari-angle 3.2-inch 921k-dot display, full manual control over the shooting settings, and a massive 42x, 24-1000mm f/3-5.6 zoom lens.
The Pentax K-5 IIs DSLR camera features a faster auto-focus system, better LCD screen and a lower price-tag than the original K-5 model, and dispenses with the anti-aliasing filter of the slightly cheaper K-5 II model that was introduced at the same time. Read our Pentax K-5 IIs review to discover if this new DSLR can compete with the competition from Nikon, Canon and Sony.
Ahead of our full review, here are 46 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with the new Nokia Lumia 920 smartphone. The Nokia Lumia 920 has an 8.7 megapixel backside-illuminated sensor, fast f/2.0 Carl Zeiss lens with optical image stabilization, a 4.5-inch WXGA screen, and offers Auto focus, Geotagging and a built-in flash.
The Olympus Tough TG-1 is a tough water, freeze, shock and dust proof compact camera with an f2.0 aperture high-speed lens. The TG-1 also offers 1080p HD movies, a 4x zoom lens and a 3 inch OLED screen. Read our Olympus Tough TG-1 review to find out if it's the toughest camera on the block...
Ahead of our full review, here are 50 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p HD movie taken with the new Fujifilm Finepix X20 compact camera. There's also a complete ISO sequence from 100 to 12,800 so that you can see exactly what the new 12 megapixel 2/3-inch X-Trans CMOS II sensor is capable of.
Ahead of our full review, here are 74 sample JPEG and 9 RAW photos taken with the new Nikon D7100 DSLR camera with the 18-105mm kit lens and the 70-200mm f/2.8 telephoto lens. We've included an ISO sequence from 100 to 25,600 so that you can see exactly what the new 24.1 megapixel sensor is capable of.
The new Fujifilm X100S promises to be a faster version of 2011's hit camera, the X100, with the S clearly standing for Speed. The X100S also incorporates a new 16 megapixel sensor with the optical low-pass filter removed, some clever manual focusing aids, a better electronic viewfinder and the same gorgeous retro styling and handling of the original model. Does it live up to its potential, or is it too little, too late? Read our expert Fujifilm X100S review to find out...
The Canon IXUS 140 (also known as the PowerShot ELPH 130 IS) is a stylish new point-and-shoot compact camera that won't break the bank. Stand-out features include a 16 megapixel sensor, built-in wi-fi connectivity, a 3 inch LCD screen, 8x wide-angle zoom lens and a metal body. Read our in-depth Canon IXUS 140 review to find out if it offers a winning combination of style and substance...
With Spring just around the corner, now is a good time to add a macro lens to your camera-bag - enter stage left the Nikon AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G, a 1:1 macro lens that won't break the bank. Read our Nikon 40mm macro lens review to find out if it's an essential purchase for Nikon DSLR users.
The Fujifilm FinePix XP60 is a tough water, freeze, shock and dust proof 16 megapixel compact camera. The XP60 also offers 1080i HD movies, a 5x zoom lens and a 2.7 inch LCD screen. Read our expert Fujifilm FinePix XP60 review to find out if this is the right camera for all your family.
Ahead of our full review, here are 38 sample JPEG photos taken with the brand new Pentax MX-1 compact camera, including the full ISO range from 100-25,600. The Pentax MX-1 is a retro-styled advanced compact camera with a fast f/1.8 lens, 12 megapixel 1/1.7-inch type back-illuminated CMOS sensor, and a high-resolution tilting 3-inch LCD screen. The MX-1 is available now for £399 / $499.
The Fujifilm FinePix SL240 is an affordable new super-zoom camera sporting a 24x zoom lens. The SL240 also features a 14 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen, 720p movies, and an attractive street price of under £150. Read our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix SL240 review now...
The Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is a new professional standard zoom lens. Boasting built-in image stabilisation, macro capabilities and fast and quite auto-focusing, the EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is a lighter and more affordable alternative to the faster EF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM. Read our in-depth Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM review complete with full-size sample images.
The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a new moderate wide-angle prime lens. Boasting built-in image stabilisation and fast and quite auto-focusing, the plastic-bodied EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a more affordable alternative to Canon's professional wide-angle primes. Read our in-depth Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM review complete with full-size sample images.
The Canon EOS 6D is a new full-frame DSLR with a much more affordable price-tag than the 5D Mark III and a few tricks up its sleeve that its bigger brother doesn't offer. At over £1000 / $1000 cheaper than the 5D Mark II, have Canon cut too many corners for the 6D to be a real contender? Read our in-depth Canon EOS 6D review to find out...
Lexar has unveiled its first Class 10 256GB SDXC UHS-I memory card with a 600x speed rating. Following in the footsteps of the Lexar Professional 400x SDXC UHS-I card announced just before Photokina 2012, the Lexar Professional 256GB 600x SDXC memory card offers a 90MB per second minimum guaranteed read transfer speed to give photographers and videographers the ability to capture extended lengths of Full HD and 3D video and high-quality images. “Small capacity cards are not efficient for shooting a lot of HD and 3D video. Constantly having to change cards eats away at time spent behind the camera, and also means I’ll have to spend more time transferring the content from each card to my computer,” said Lexar Elite Photographer David Honl. “Lexar cards help improve my workflow by giving me the mix of capacity and performance that allows me to shoot longer and spend less time transferring my videos and images.” The 256GB Lexar Professional 600x SDXC UHS-I card will be available later this month with an MSRP of £743.99 from leading retail and e-tail outlets worldwide.
The BenQ GH700 is a super-zoom camera on a budget, offering a 21x zoom lens, full HD1080p video and a 3-inch LCD screen. How does the GH700 compare to its main bridge camera rivals? Read our BenQ GH700 review to find out...
The BenQ G1 is a serious compact camera at a wallet-friendly price, offering a fast f/1.8 lens, full HD video and a tilting high-resolution LCD screen. BenQ aren't very well-known for their digital cameras, so how does the new G1 compare with the well-established competition? Read our BenQ G1 review to find out...
The Canon EOS M is a new compact system camera that boasts 18 megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the EOS M include a 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, and a flash hotshoe. Is Canon's new mirrorless model a real contender? Read our Canon EOS M review to find out...
The Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD is a fast telephoto zoom lens for Nikon, Sony and Canon full-frame DSLR shooters. Offering built-in image stabilisation, the compact Tamron 70-200mm lens has a constant aperture of f/2.8 throughout the range. Read our Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di VC USD review to find out if it's the best fast telephoto zoom for full frame users.
The Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD is an updated version of Tamron's classic macro lens. Now offering built-in image stabilisation and a revised optical design, the Tamron 90mm VC is actually more expensive than the Canon and Nikon equivalents. Read our Tamron SP 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 VC USD review to find out if it can justify its cost...
Issue 22 of Landscape Photography Magazine is now available to download. This edition includes a guide to light painting, a review of the book “The Landscape Photography Workshop” by David Hay, a test of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, and much more. Do note that the full contents of Landscape Photography Magazine are available to subscribers only.
The Canon PowerShot S110 is a new compact camera that offers an extensive list of advanced features - ISO range of 80-12800, RAW support, full manual controls, built-in wi-fi, touchscreen interface and 1080p video - all in a slim and stylish body that you can easily fit in a trouser pocket. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot S110 review now to find out if this is the best premium compact.
Nikon Europe has posted an announcement on the compatibility of its software products with Microsoft’s new Windows 8 operating system. The company intends to test Windows versions of ViewNX 2, Capture NX 2, Camera Control Pro 2, Short Movie Creator, Nikon Message Center 2, Wireless Transmitter Utility and Thumbnail Selector as well as its NEF and NRW codecs, PC-PJ Transfer and GP-N100 Utility, IPTC Preset Manager and Nik Software’s Color Efex Pro 3.0 for compatibility with the new OS. However, there’s a number of applications for which the company does not plan to provide Windows 8 compatibility. Among these are Nikon Scan, PictureProject, myPicturetown Utility, and more - click through / read on for the complete list. Also note that the company will not provide compatibility with products utilising a serial or SCSI interface (including a number of old Nikon Coolscan models).
The Pentax K-5 II is a new DSLR camera that features a faster auto-focus system, better LCD screen and a much lower price-tag than the original K-5 model. Read our Pentax K-5 II review to discover if this new DSLR can compete with the competition from Nikon, Canon and Sony.
The Canon PowerShot G15 is a serious camera aimed at the advanced amateur or pro looking for a carry-everywhere compact. Building on the success of previous G-series models, for 2012 the G15 principally adds a 12 megapixel CMOS sensor, faster 5x zoom lens, bigger and higher-resolution LCD screen, 10fps burst shooting and full 1080p HD video. £549 / €649 / $499.99 is an awful lot of money for a compact with a small image sensor - read our in-depth Canon PowerShot G15 review to find out if it's worth it.
The Fujifilm X-E1 is a new premium compact system camera. The retro, rangefinder-styled X-E1 offers the same image sensor and lens mount as the flagship X-Pro in a smaller, lighter body, with a new electronic viewfinder, built-in flash, 18-55m kit lens and more affordable price tag. Read our Fujifilm X-E1 review to find out if it's a viable alternative to the X-Pro1...
Luke Chapman, founder of the Official London Photography Tours, explains how to create the zoom blur effect.
The Nikon Coolpix S800c is half compact camera, half smartphone, based upon Android, the world's most popular mobile platform. Featuring a 10x, 25-250mm lens and a 16 megapixel CCD sensor, the S800c also offers a 3.5 inch touch-screen OLED display, 1080p HD movies and wi-fi connectivity. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix S800c review now to see if it really can replace your smartphone...
The Canon PowerShot SX500 IS is a pocket-friendly super-zoom camera with a remarkable 30x zoom lens. The Canon SX500 also offers 16 megapixels, a 3-inch LCD screen, full manual controls and 720p HD movies. Read our expert Canon PowerShot SX500 IS review to find out if it's the right camera for you.
The Board of Trustees of the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund announced that Brooklyn, New York photographer Peter van Agtmael is the recipient of the prestigious 2012 W. Eugene Smith Grant for Humanistic Photography for Disco Night September 11, an American view of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The project earned Mr. van Agtmael a $30,000 grant to continue focussing on these wars, subjects that otherwise would be difficult to finance.
The Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD is a 15x ultra-zoom lens for Nikon and Canon APS-C DSLR shooters. Crucially offering built-in image stabilisation, the Tamron 18-270mm offers an effective focal range of 28-420mm, replacing at least three lenses in your camera bag. Read our Tamron AF 18-270mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC PZD review to find out if it's too much of a compromise or not...
Following controversial claims made by Nikon Australia regarding the suitability of the Nikon D4 and D800 to professional television programme-making, The PhoBlographer contacted the European Broadcasting Union and Andy Quested, the Head of Technology for BBC HD and 3D. Originally, the Australian My Nikon Life website had claimed that “both models have become the first DSLR cameras to pass the very elaborate European Broadcasting Union (EBU) test, commonly referred to as the BBC Test.” After the Wolfcrow blog pointed out that the D800 had basically failed the test, Nikon Australia changed the text of its article to focus solely on the D4. However, in his reply to The PhoBlographer, Andy Quested starkly concluded that “neither camera is acceptable for HD programmes for any of the UK broadcasters,” citing “sparse” sound facilities, “coloured spatial aliasing”, “very limited controls… in video mode” and sub-par [video] resolution as the main reasons. On a more positive note, Mr Quested praised the D4’s low noise levels and wide dynamic range as potential assets to videographers, but these apparently weren’t enough to change his overall verdict.
The Canon PowerShot SX50 HS super-zoom camera has an astonishing 50x lens with a massive focal range of 24-1200mm. The Canon SX50 HS also offers a 12 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, 2.8 inch vari-angle LCD screen, electronic viewfinder, full manual controls, RAW format support, 10fps burst shooting and full 1080p HD movies. Read our detailed Canon PowerShot SX50 HS review complete with full-size JPEG, RAW and video samples to discover if it's the only camera you'll ever need...
Here are 70 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie with 72Mbps in ALL-I taken with the new Panasonic GH3 compact system camera, including the full ISO range of 125-25600. The Panasonic GH3 is a weatherproof 16.05-megapixel mirrorless camera with advanced video capabilities, a 3-inch tilting OLED touch-screen, 1,744K OLED viewfinder and built-in wi-fi connectivity. We used a pre-production version of the camera with the new 14-35mm and 35-100mm f/2.8 lenses for a couple of hours at London Zoo - at Panasonic's request the sample JPEG images have been resized to 5 megapixels.
Ahead of our full review, here are 70 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with the new Canon PowerShot SX50 HS super-zoom camera, including the full ISO range of 80-6400. The Canon SX50 HS has an incredible 50x zoom lens (24-1200mm equivalent), making it the world's biggest super-zoom camera in terms of focal range.
The brand new Canon PowerShot SX160 IS is one of the more affordable travel-zoom cameras on the market. For less than £150 / $200, the Canon SX160 offers a 16x optical zoom lens, 16 megapixel sensor, 3 inch LCD screen and 720p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX160 IS review to find out if this is the right travel zoom camera for you.
The Canon PowerShot D20 is an all-action compact camera that's water, dust, freeze and shock proof. The new Canon D20 is a distinctively designed 12 megapixel camera with a 5x zoom, 1080p HD video, built-in GPS and a 3-inch screen. Read our detailed Canon PowerShot D20 review now...
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 is a new mid-range travel-zoom compact camera with built-in wi-fi connectivity. The Panasonic SZ5 also offers 14 megapixels, a 10x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen and 720p HD movies. Read our Panasonic DMC-SZ5 review now...
Ahead of our full review, here are 39 sample JPEG photos, 9 Raw images and a 1080p movie taken with a full production version of the new Nikon D600 DSLR camera. UPDATE: We've added 14 more JPEG images taken with the Nikkor AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lens. The Nikon D600 is a 24.3 megapixel full-frame DSLR with an ISO range of 50-25600, full HD (1080p) movies, a 3.2-inch 921k-dot LCD monitor and 5.5fps continuous shooting.
The Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm F2.8 is a new premium telephoto zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds system of interchangeable lens cameras. Offering an effective focal range of 70-200mm in 35mm terms, the Panasonic 35-100mm lens boasts a fast constant aperture of f/2.8, fast and quiet auto-focusing, quality construction and weather sealing. Read the World's first Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm F2.8 review, complete with full-size sample images, to find out if it deserves a place in every Micro Four Thirds photographer's camera-bag.
The Olympus E-PL5 PEN Lite and the Olympus E-PM2 PEN Mini are two new compact system cameras featuring the same sixteen-megapixel “Live MOS” sensor as the flagship Olympus OM-D E-M5. The new sensor teams up with another O-MD component – the TruePic VI image processor – to power FAST AF, which makes the autofocus on the new PEN duo comparable to the E-M5. Compared to its predecessor the E-PL3, the Olympus E-PL5 PEN Lite (pictured above) offers a more flexible rear display with touchscreen functionality, while the PEN Mini remains the smallest compact system camera in Olympus’ line-up. Both the PEN Lite and Mini are available from late October with an M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 IIR lens. Bundled with a Flash Air memory card, the new Lite costs £599, the new Mini £499, and for £99 more there will be a double-zoom kit including a 40-150mm telezoom, PEN case and SD card.
The Nikon D600 is a new full-frame digital SLR camera featuring a 24.3-megapixel FX format sensor, newly developed Multi-CAM4800 39-point AF system, 14-bit analogue-to-digital conversion.and a glass prism optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage. Compatible with lenses up to f/8 combined open aperture and sensitive down to -1 EV, the new AF system enables users to take well-focussed shots even in challenging light conditions. Weighing in at 760 grams without a battery, the Nikon D600 also boasts the title of the smallest FX format DSLR camera Nikon has ever crafted. Other highlights include a shutter unit designed for 150,000 actuations, an ISO range of 100–6400, extendable up to 25,600 and down to 50; dual SD card slots with SDXC and UHS-I support; a dual-axis virtual horizon; in camera HDR exposure blending; and a Multi-area D-Movie mode offering Full HD video capture at a variety of frame rates and the ability to output an uncompressed live video stream at 1080p to external recorders.
The Nikon D600 body will be available from 18 September 2012 for £1955.99 / €2385.99 / $2,099.95. It will also be sold in a kit with the 24-85mm lens for £2443.99 / €2981.99 / $2,699.95.
The optional WU-1b Mobile Adapter is a wireless mobile adapter that allows images to be transferred directly to any smartphone or tablet, and enables the camera to be controlled remotely via the smart device. This will be available on September 18 for £64.99 / €79.00 / $59.95.
The Canon EOS 650D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T4i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts 18-megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 650D / T4i include burst shooting at 5fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 5 processor. Is the Canon EOS 650D / T4i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
Ilford has announced a major new creative photography project with the Chrome-Camera, a room-sized camera based at the Ilford site in Marly, Switzerland. The finished camera will measure 6m in length, 2.5m in height and 2.5m in width and features a lens specially sourced by German photographer Heino Heimann from Italy. The Chrome-Camera will be used to create prints using direct exposure on Ilfochrome (formerly known as Cibachrome) media, which produces images using a dye destruction positive-to-positive process. “My two great passions in photography are to use my art to push boundaries and to educate the younger generations,” Heimann says. “Therefore the Chrome-Camera project is a fantastic opportunity for me.”
The Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD is a fast standard zoom lens for Nikon and Canon full-frame DSLR shooters. Crucially offering built-in image stabilisation, something that the Big Two don't offer, the Tamron 24-70mm is also weather-sealed and cheaper. Read our Tamron SP 24-70mm F/2.8 Di VC USD review to find out if it's the best standard zoom for full-frame users.
The Pentax K-30 is that most unfashionable thing - a mid-range DSLR camera. But don't run away just yet - it's also the most affordable weather-sealed DSLR on the market, with a long list of desirable features to boot. Read our expert Pentax K-30 review to discover if the DSLR is still alive and kicking in 2012...
We directly compare the Olympus OM-D E-M5 compact system camera and the Nikon D7000 DSLR in our first ever head to head review.
The new Canon IXUS 510 HS is a stylish and well-appointed compact camera. Also known as the ELPH 530 HS, the Canon IXUS 510 HS offers a wide-angle 12x zoom, 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 3.2 inch LCD touchscreen, built-in wi-fi and full 1080p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon IXUS 510 HS review complete with full-size sample images and video.
Ahead of our full review, here are 65 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 compact camera, including the full ISO range. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 is a premium compact camera with a 24-90mm equivalent f/1.4-2.3 lens, 10 megapixel 1/1.7-type MOS sensor, ISO range of 80-12,800 and full 1080p movie recording.
The Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM is a new wide-angle prime lens. Boasting built-in image stabilisation and fast and quite auto-focusing, the EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM is a more affordable but still very capable alternative to Canon's professional wide-angle primes. Read our in-depth Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM review complete with full-size sample images.
The Samsung NX1000 is a new wallet-friendly mirrorless camera aimed at beginners upgrading from a simpler compact. Featuring a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-12,800, a 3-inch AMOLED screen, 8fps continuous shooting and Wi-fi connectivity, read our in-depth Samsung NX200 review to discover if this is the best budget compact system camera.
Ahead of our full review, here are 56 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with the new Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 compact camera, including the full ISO range. The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is a 20-megapixel compact with a fast 3.6x zoom lens, large “1.0-type” image sensor, 10fps burst shooting and full 1080p movie recording.
The Samsung NX200 is a new mirrorless compact system camera that aims for the middle ground between the more DSLR-like NX20 and consumer-oriented NX1000 models. Featuring a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-12,800, a 3-inch AMOLED screen, 8fps continuous shooting and new Wi-fi connectivity, read our in-depth Samsung NX200 review to discover if this is the right camera for you.
Canon today announced three Photo All-In-One printers – the PIXMA MG4220 Wireless, PIXMA MG3220 Wireless and PIXMA MG2220. Each new printer uses the FastFront feature for easy changing of ink and paper from the front of the printer and can also produce borderless edge-to-edge 4x6-inch photos in approximately 44 seconds at a maximum colour resolution of 4800x2400 dpi. A new feature for these affordable printers is My Image Garden software combining various tools to help consumers organise memorable photos and create new photo projects. There is also a new Facebook application, Print Your Days, allowing users to easily access and customize their photos stored on the social networking site. The estimated selling price is $129.99 for the MG4220, $79.99 for the MG3220 and $69.99 for the PIXMA MG2220.
The Fujifilm FinePix Z1000EXR is a stylish new compact camera, sporting a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 16 megapixels, 1080p HD video, wi-fi connectivity and a 5x optical zoom lens. Read our detailed Fujifilm FinePix Z1000EXR review to find out if it's all style and no substance...
The FinePix F660EXR is an affordable travel-zoom camera from Fujifilm, sporting a 15x lens with a versatile focal range of 24-360mm. The 16 megapixel F660 EXR also features a fast auto-focus system, full 1080p movies, high-resolution 3 inch LCD screen and 8fps continuous shooting. Read our in-depth Fujifilm FinePix F660EXR review.
Here are 38 sample JPEG photos taken with a full production version of the new Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm F1.8 lens, mounted on an OM-D EM-5 body. The Olympus M.ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 75mm F1.8 is a new telephoto portrait lens for the Micro Four thirds system, retailing for £799.
Here are 42 sample JPEG photos taken with a full production version of the new Olympus Tough TG-1 camera. The Olympus Tough TG-1 is a 12 megapixel waterproof, shockproof, freezeproof and crushproof compact camera with a fast f2.0 lens. You can also attach waterproof fisheye and telephoto converters to the TG-1 using an optional adapter - we've got some sample images taken with those too in our gallery.
The NX20 is the new flagship model in Samsung's compact system camera range. The Samsung NX20 features a DSLR-like design, 3-inch swivelling AMOLED screen, high-res electronic viewfinder, 1080p video recording, built-in wi-fi connectivity and a large APS-C CMOS sensor with 20.3 megapixels. Read our in-depth Samsung NX20 review, complete with 40 JPEG and 20 RAW samples.
One of the UK's leading landscape and travel photographers, David Noton, explores the difference between taking and making a photograph.
The Nikon D800E is a 36 megapixel full-frame sensor DSLR with the anti-aliasing filter removed, which should result in higher resolution, sharper images compared to the regular D800. The D800E also offers 1080p HD video, a 3.2-inch LCD screen and a viewfinder with 100% coverage. Read our in-depth Nikon D800E review to find out if you should choose it instead of the D800.
With the recent advent of 3D televisions, it's perhaps inevitable that digital cameras will follow the 3D trend. Enter stage left the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1, which has not one but two lenses to create 3D photos and video. Is it worth paying the extra to join the 3D revolution? Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1 review to find out.
The Canon IXUS 240 HS (also known as the PowerShot ELPH 320 HS) is a slim and stylish new point-and-shoot compact camera. The stand-out features include a 16 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor, full 1080p HD movie recording, 3.2 inch touch LCD screen, 24mm wide-angle lens and built-in wi-fi connectivity. Read our in-depth Canon IXUS 240 HS review to find out if this tiny camera is worth the £279 / €319 / $280 outlay.
The Canon PowerShot SX240 HS is a brand new travel-zoom camera for 2012, offering a massive 20x zoom lens and a 12 megapixel back-illuminated image sensor. Other key features of the Canon SX240 include a 3 inch LCD screen, full 1080p HD movies with stereo sound, fast 10.3fps burst shooting, and a full range of manual and automated exposure modes. Read our expert Canon PowerShot SX240 HS review complete with sample photos, test shots, videos and more.
The Nikon D800 is one of the hottest DSLR cameras for 2012. Featuring a remarkable 36 megapixel full-frame sensor, the D800 also offers 1080p HD video, a 3.2-inch LCD screen and a viewfinder with 100% coverage. Read our in-depth Nikon D800 review to find out if it's worth the £2499.00 / $2,999.95 cost of admission.
The Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH is a new premium standard zoom lens for the Micro Four Thirds system of interchangeable lens cameras. Offering an effective focal range of 24-70mm in 35mm terms, the Panasonic 12-35mm lens boasts a fast constant aperture of F2.8, fast and quiet auto-focusing, quality construction and weather sealing. Read our in-depth Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm F2.8 ASPH review, complete with 60 sample images, to find out if it's a must-have lens for Micro Four Thirds photographers.
Redrock Micro has launched a new family of Redrock-designed follow focus units. The new microFollowFocus family is the third generation offering from Redrock Micro that delivers new levels of performance, a unique “back-to-new performance” adjustable gearbox, and a range of products that can match any budget or feature needs. “It’s great to see Redrock pushing the envelope to create new products that makes my job easier,” says award-winning director, cinematographer and photographer Vincent Laforet. “The quality of the microFollowFocus is top notch, and the new hard stops and illuminated marking disk gets me the shots I need with ease and saves me much-needed time.” All microFollowFocus products are available immediately from Redrock themselves and from authorized Redrock Micro resellers worldwide. The microFollowFocus introductory price is $595.
The Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN is an affordable standard lens for Micro Four Thirds and Sony E-Mount users. Officially retailing for £169.99 / $280, find out if this lens is an essential addition to your mirrorless system in our expert Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN review.
Ahead of our full review, here are 43 sample JPEG photos and a 1080p movie taken with a full production version of the new Nikon Coolpix S9300 travel-zoom compact camera. The Nikon S9300 is a 16 megapixel compact camera with an 18x optical zoom lens, full 1080p HD movie recording, and built-in GPS.
The Canon PowerShot SX260 HS is a brand new travel-zoom camera for 2012, offering a massive 20x zoom lens and a 12 megapixel back-illuminated image sensor. Other key features of the Canon SX260 include built-in GPS, a 3 inch LCD screen, full 1080p HD movies with stereo sound, fast 10.3fps burst shooting, and a full range of manual and automated exposure modes. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX260 HS in-depth review.
The long-awaited Canon EOS 5D Mark III DSLR has finally arrived, boasting improvements to virtually every aspect of its popular predecessor, the breakthrough 5D Mark II. It's cost has also increased significantly, so does the new 5D Mark III offer enough to justify the £2999 / $3499 asking price? Read our detailed Canon EOS 5D Mark III review to find out.
Independent developer Ken Tidwell has released D3S DSLR 2.0 for iOS, another in his series of Min-U Guides to Nikon DSLRs. The opening screen of the Min-U (minimum menu) Guide consists of seven main chapter headings, each including a replica of the icon used on the D3S for that menu. The six Menu chapters include: Playback (modify playback settings and manage photos an movies), Shooting (configure D3S shooting options), Custom Settings (fine-tune camera settings to your liking), Setup (basic camera configuration), Retouch (create trimmed or retouched copies of existing images), and My Menu (your custom menu and options). The seventh chapter, [More], contains miscellaneous info. All new under the hood. D3S DSLR is rebuilt for iOS 5.1, now with iPad SplitView providing enhanced navigation. The app is still a universal binary, and displays in the highest, native resolution on every iOS device. D3S DSLR 2.0 is available on iTunes for $4.99.
The Fujifilm X-Pro1 is a new premium compact system camera. Building on the popularity of the X100, the retro, rangefinder-styled X-Pro1 offers a brand new sensor that's claimed to rival full-frame DSLRs, an improved hybrid viewfinder, and a new X lens mount with three prime lenses available on launch. Read our Fujifilm X-Pro1 review to find out if it can emulate the runaway success of the X100...
Here are 30 JPEG and 20 RAW photos taken with the new Olympus E-M5 compact system camera. Unlike our earlier samples, these photos were taken on an E-M5 with final production firmware, so we've been able to provide full-size JPEG and RAW files. They were shot indoors around the Olympus stand at the Focus on Imaging show, hardly the most photogenic of locations, so don't be too critical of the rather mundane subject matter.
Ahead of our full review, here are 68 sample JPEG photos taken with the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ25 compact camera. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ25 is a travel zoom compact camera with a large 12.1-megapixel sensor and a 16x, 24-384mm equivalent zoom lens.
Ahead of our full review, here are 76 sample JPEG photos taken with the new Olympus TG-820 compact camera. The Olympus TG-820 is an all-action compact camera with a 12-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and a 5x, 28-140mm equivalent zoom lens.
The new Canon IXUS 500 HS adds a long zoom lens to the style-conscious IXUS range of compact cameras. Also known as the ELPH 520 HS, the Canon IXUS 500 HS boasts a wide-angle 12x zoom, 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 3 inch LCD screen and full 1080p HD movies. Is this the right travel-zoom camera for you? Find out in our in-depth Canon IXUS 500 HS review, complete with full-size sample images and video.
The AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G is a fast mid-range telephoto prime lens for Nikon full-frame DSLRs. With a maximum aperture of f/1.8 and an iris diaphragm with seven rounded blades, the AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G should be able to create excellent bokeh effects. Read our in-depth Nikon AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8G review.
The Canon PowerShot G1 X is a serious compact camera with a large 1.5-inch image sensor. Building on previous G-series models, the G1 X also offers a 4x, 28-112mm zoom lens, 1080p HD video with stereo sound, 3 inch vari-angle screen, optical viewfinder and manual controls. £699 / €799 / $799.99 is a lot of money to pay for a fixed-lens compact camera - read our Canon PowerShot G1 X review to find out if it's worth it.
The AF-S DX Nikkor 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR is an affordable telephoto lens for Nikon DX-format DSLR users. Read our Nikkor 55-300mm review to find out if it's worth the modest investment.
The Nikon D800 is a new 36.3 megapixel FX-format professional D-SLR. The D800 delivers unprecedented levels of detail and tonal range, with the sensor providing a 12-channel readout with 14-bit A/D conversion and high signal-to-noise ratio. The Nikon D800 offers an ISO range of 50-25600, EXPEED 3 image-processing engine, Full HD (1080p) movies, external stereo microphone input, 51-point auto-focusing, 4fps continuous shooting in FX-format (6fps in DX-format), 921k-dot LCD monitor, an optical viewfinder with approximately 100% frame coverage and 0.7x magnification, USB 3.0 data transfer and high-speed CF (UDMA 7) and SD (SDXC and UHS-1) dual card slots.
The new Nikon D800E DSLR incorporates an optical filter with the anti-aliasing properties removed in order to produce the sharpest images possible. Aside from the optical filter, all functions and features are the same as on the regular D800.
The Nikon D800 costs £2399.99 / €2829 / $2999.95 and will be available in late March. The D800E costs £2689.99 / €3171 / $3299.95 and will be available in mid-April. The MB-D12 battery grip provides 6 fps continuous shooting speed in DX-format and costs £379.99 / €448.
The Panasonic FX80 is a twelve-megapixel compact camera with a high-quality, Leica branded 24-120mm equivalent lens and Mega Optical Image Stabiliser. Comprising of 6 elements in 5 groups with 3 aspherical lens elements with 5 aspherical surfaces, the lens unit in the Lumix FX80 has a maximum aperture of f/2.5 at the wide end (but only f/6.4 at full telephoto). The 3” touchscreen offers “touch AF” and “touch shutter” functionality, while the 12.1-megapixel CCD with 2-channel signal output structure boasts high signal transfer speeds for the operations that require high performance and speed such as Full HD video recording and high-speed continuous shooting. Additional features that add more fun include the Creative Control mode that offers a selection of artistic filter effects when recording images; Expressive, Retro, High Dynamic, Sepia, Dynamic Monochrome, High Key, Low Key, Miniature Effect, Toy Effect and Soft Focus. These filters can be applied even after images were shot with the Creative Retouch function.
The Nikon Coolpix S4150 is a new point-and-shoot compact camera, featuring a 5x, 26-130mm lens and a 14 megapixel CCD sensor. The S4150 also offers a 3 inch touch-screen LCD, 720p HD movies and a range of special effects. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix S4150 review now.
One of the UK's leading landscape and travel photographers, David Noton, looks back at the photographs that got away...
The CX6 is the latest travel-zoom camera from Ricoh based around a 10.7x 28-300mm lens. New features for the 2012 model include an even faster hybrid auto-focus system, aperture and shutter priority modes, higher-resolution LCD screen and a 3fps burst mode with auto-focus. Read our expert Ricoh CX6 review to find out if it can keep up with the travel-zoom competition.
Lexar today introduced new Lexar Professional 600x and 400x SDHC and SDXC UHS-I memory cards, including the industry’s first 128GB SDXC UHS-I card. The cards include the latest version of Image Rescue 4 software to help with the recovery of lost or deleted photo and video files. The Lexar Professional 600x UHS-I cards are offered in capacities of 16GB (£69.99), 32GB (£119.99), and 64GB (£229.99), and the new Lexar Professional 400x UHS-I cards are available in capacities of 8GB (£34.99), 16GB (£47.99), 32GB (£79.99), 64GB (£179.99), and 128GB (£299.99). The 16GB and 32GB Professional 600x UHS-I cards and the 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB Professional 400x UHS-I cards will be available in February, while the 64GB 600x UHS-I card and the 128GB 400x UHS-I memory card will be available in March.
Lexar today announced the industry’s first 1000x CompactFlash memory card. The UDMA-7 compliant Lexar Professional 1000x CompactFlash card will be available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB capacities, and supports the VPG-20 specification, meaning the card has been tested and guaranteed for professional video capture streams at up to 20MB per second.
The Sony NEX-7 is a new compact system camera with a long list of photographer-friendly features. Offering a 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, 1080p HD movies, high-res 3 inch tilting screen, 10fps burst shooting, built-in electronic viewfinder and pop-up flash, the NEX-7 seems to be on paper at least a very exciting proposition. Read our full Sony NEX-7 review, complete with sample JPEGs, RAW files, and movies, to find out if this is the ultimate compact system camera...
The AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is a standard zoom lens that can be used with cropped DX Nikon DSLR cameras. Originally launched alongside the D90 and now bundled with the D7000 and D5100 DSLRs, read our Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Review to find out if it makes the ideal first lens.
The D-Lux 5 Titianium is a special edition of Leica's pocket camera for professionals. Featuring a fast 3.8x zoom lens, large 10 megapixel sensor and full manual controls, does the D-Lux 5 offer enough to justify its high price-tag? Read our in-depth Leica D-Lux 5 review with sample JPEG, RAW and video files.
The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12mm f/2 is a new wide-angle lens from Olympus for the Micro Four Thirds system. Offering a 24mm focal length, fast and near-silent focusing and a bright maximum aperture of f/2, this all-metal lens makes the perfect wide-angle partner for the E-P3. Read our in-depth Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12mm f/2 review.
The new USB-IF Audio/Video Device Class Specification supports the transfer of A/V data over USB to a wide variety of A/V devices, including cell phones, cameras, pico projectors, webcams, large HD displays and TVs. “The USB-IF is thrilled to have added the USB Audio/Visual Device Class Definition to its robust set of specifications,” said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President & COO. “This addition further establishes USB as an all-inclusive, comprehensive solution for manufacturers and consumers, while maintaining the affordability and ease-of-use that have made USB so successful.”
The new Canon PowerShot SX150 IS is one of the most affordable travel-zoom cameras around. For less than £200 / $250, the Canon SX150 offers a 12x optical zoom lens, 14 megapixels, 3 inch LCD screen and 720p movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX150 IS review to find out if this is the travel zoom camera for you.
In the first of a three part ‘Winter Photography’ series by the <a href="http://www.lightandland.co.uk">Light & Land</a> team, tour leader and Landscape Photographer of the Year winner Antony Spencer talks us through the challenges of capturing the spectacular Aurora Borealis...
The Samsung NX200 is a new mirrorless compact system camera that aims for the middle ground between the DSLR-like NX10/11 and consumer-oriented NX100 models, designed to appeal to beginners and prosumers alike. Sporting a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-12,800, a 3-inch AMOLED screen and 7fps continuous shooting, the NX200 certainly seems to have what it takes to challenge the ever-expanding number of competitors. Read our expert Samsung NX200 review to find out if it can deliver on its promise...
The Canon PowerShot S100 compact camera is a new compact camera that offers an extensive DSLR-like list of features - ISO range of 80-6400, RAW support, full manual controls, customisable interface and 1080p video - all in a slim and stylish body that you can easily fit in a trouser pocket. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot S100 review now to find out if this is the only compact that you need...
Tamron USA’s Mom-to-Mom Project is a series of photo exhibitions that feature technical tips and artistic inspiration from image-making moms. The exhibits, which focus on a new theme each month, are designed to encourage other moms to experiment with their cameras, lenses, and accessories to hone their own photographic skills. Visitors are encouraged to contribute their own photography comments and concepts. “We designed the Mom-to-Mom exhibits to serve as a fun, interactive venue where moms brainstorm with and glean ideas from other mom photographers to boost their confidence when creating their own family memories,” says Tamron Chief Marketing Officer Stacie Errera. The inaugural exhibition for November 2011 features the photographers’ favorite way to get their kids to smile. Upcoming themes scheduled through the end of 2012 include holiday card photos, youth sports, multigenerational portraits, and special event photography such as birthdays and back-to-school imagery.
Ahead of our full review, here are 70 sample JPEG photos and a full HD 1080p movie taken with the new Fujifilm Finepix F600EXR compact camera.
We recently spent an afternoon shooting with the new Panasonic GX1 compact system camera ahead of today's launch. There are 69 sample JPEG photos and a Full HD 1080i movie. We used three lenses with the GX1 - the 14-42mm X kit lens, 25mm F1.4 prime and the 45-175mm X telephoto zoom. Please note that these samples were taken with a pre-production version of the GX1 and may not be indicative of the final shipping camera. There's also an ISO sequence from 100 to 12800 so that you can see exactly what the 16 megapixel sensor is capable of.
We sat down with Barney Sykes, Panasonic UK Product Manager for Lumix G, and Michiharu Uematsu, Panasonic Japan’s Advanced Planning Manager for Products Planning Group, to discuss the new Panasonic GX1 compact system camera.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS18 (also known as the DMC-FH5) is an ultra-slim compact camera with a 4x zoom lens. The 16 megapixel FS18 / FH5 also offers 720p HD movies, a 2.7 inch LCD screen and Panasonic's clever Intelligent Auto mode. Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS18 review to find out if it makes a great pocket camera for beginners.
The Nikon 1 V1 is a new compact system camera with a 10-megapixel CMOS sensor and a high-resolution integrated electronic viewfinder. Featuring a 13,2x8,8mm imager with a “crop factor” of approximately 2.7, the Nikon 1 V1 weighs in at 383 grams including battery and memory card. The new Nikon 1 V1 also boasts an ultra-fast AF system as well as pre- and post-capture modes that help you avoid missed moments. The Nikon 1 V1 will be available in a kit with the new 10-30mm zoom for $899.95 / £829.99 / €962.00, starting mid-October.
The Nikon 1 J1 is an even smaller camera with a built-in flash, but no electronic viewfinder or Multi-Accessory Port. Both the Nikon 1 J1 and its lenses come in a variety of matching stylish colors, including white, pink, red, silver and black. The Nikon J1 offers the same core features as the more expensive V1 at a more affordable $649.95 / £549.99 / €638.00 with the 10-30mm zoom lens.
Along with the new cameras comes a new range of lenses and accessories, designed specifically for the Nikon 1 system. The lenses include a 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6, 30-110mm f/3.8 -5.6, 10mm f/2.8 and 10-100mm f4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM, with future 1 NIKKOR lenses already in development. The Nikon 1 range of optional system accessories includes a SB-N5 Speedlight flash, GP-N100 GPS unit, and FT-1 mount adapter for attaching any NIKKOR DSLR lens (all AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR lenses are compatible with the Nikon 1 autofocus system).
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS22 (also known as the DMC-FH7) is a new touch-screen compact camera with a 4x zoom lens. Costing less than £169 / $179, the 16 megapixel FS22 / FH7 is aimed at the beginner end of the market, yet still offers some advanced features including 720p HD movies, Sonic Speed Auto-focus, and Panasonic's clever Intelligent Auto mode. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS22 review now.
Nik Software has just announced its Color Efex Pro 4 filter suite offering up to 55 different filter effects, stackable filter combinations and visual presets. New effects include Detail Extractor, Vintage Film Efex, and Image Borders. The release also includes a new History Browser, improvements to imaging algorithms, greater performance, and enhanced usability. Color Efex Pro 4 will be available directly from Nik Software in October 2011. The Color Efex Pro 4 Complete Edition contains all 55 filters with a suggested retail price of $199.95. The Color Efex Pro 4 Select Edition contains 26 filters with an SRP of $99.95.
In Part 2 of our Going Pro series, some of the UK's leading photographers reveal how they became professional photographers.
The brand new Lumix DMC-FZ150 is Panasonic's flagship super-zoom compact camera for 2011. Key highlights of the FZ150 include a 24x zoom lens, full 1080p HD movies, high-resolution 3 inch LCD, faster auto-focusing and burst shooting, and a sensible 12 megapixel MOS image sensor. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150 review to find out if it can challenge the other super zoom contenders...
We had a brief opportunity to try out the new Pentax Q camera yesterday. Here are 72 sample JPEG photos, 27 RAW images, and a Full HD movie taken with the tiny new Pentax Q interchangeable lens camera. There's also a full ISO range from 125 to 6400 so that you can see exactly what the Pentax Q's 12 megapixel 1/2.3" back-illuminated CMOS sensor is capable of.
Panasonic have just introduced the DMC-FZ48 / DMC-FZ47 super-zoom camera, successor to the FZ45 model and cheaper alternative to the range-topping FZ100. Key highlights of the FZ48 / FZ47 include a 24x zoom, higher-resolution 3 inch LCD, full 1080i HD movies, faster auto-focusing and burst shooting, and a 12 megapixel CCD sensor. Read the World's first Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ48 / FZ47 review now.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7 is a new mid-range compact camera with a wealth of advanced features. The WX7 offers a 5x zoom lens, 16 megapixel Exmor R CMOS sensor, Full HD movie recording and even 3D photos. With a street price of less than £200, read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX7 review to find out if it can live up to its full promise.
The Fujifilm FinePix Z900EXR is a brand new, ultra-fashionable compact camera, sporting a massive 3.5 inch touchscreen LCD, 16 megapixel EXR sensor and a 5x optical zoom lens. Read our expert Fujifilm FinePix Z900EXR review to find out if it's the perfect fusion of style and substance.
The Leica V-LUX 30 is a brand new premium travel-zoom camera. The Leica V-LUX 30 packs a 14 megapixel Live MOS sensor, 16x wide-angle zoom lens, GPS tracking, 3 inch touchscreen LCD, full 1080i HD movies with stereo sound, 3D photo mode and even manual controls into its pocketable body. Available in black with that famous Leica red dot for £550 / $750, read our Leica V-LUX 30 review to find out if this is the best travel-zoom camera that money can buy.
The Samsung SH100 is an affordable compact camera offering built-in Wi-fi for easy connectivity to a variety of devices. The SH100 also has a 14 megapixel sensor, 3 inch touch-screen LCD, wide-angle 5x zoom lens and 720p movie recording. Read our Samsung SH100 review to find out if this is the right compact for you...
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS37 (also known as the DMC-FH27) is a new touch-screen compact camera with an appealingly versatile 8x zoom lens. Costing £199 / $229, the FS37 / FH27 is aimed at the beginner end of the market, yet still offers some advanced features including 720p HD movies and Panasonic's reliable intelligent Auto mode. Read our expert Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS37 review now.
Leaf today announced that its latest release of Leaf Capture software delivers a newly designed touch screen GUI (Graphic User Interface). Designed with the needs of professional photographers in mind, it offers improved workflow processes and quicker access to important tools through its new menu. The new Leaf GUI’s outdoor theme also makes exterior shooting much easier by improving visibility in high glare and reflection situations. The new Leaf GUI is available for all models in the Leaf Aptus-II series.
Renowned aerial photographer Jason Hawkes takes to the skies armed only with a Nokia N8 camera phone...
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 is a tiny compact system camera that still manages to offer a built-in viewfinder and a free-angle LCD screen. Other key features of the brand new G3 include a new 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor, intuitive touchscreen control system, almost instant auto-focus system, 1080i AVCHD movies with stereo sound, 4fps burst shooting and a range of creative effects. Read the World's first Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 review now...
Ahead of today's launch of the Lumix G3, we sat down with Panasonic to discuss the new camera and their plans for the future. Read our in-depth 33 question, 5,000+ word insight into Panasonic and the G3...
The Canon IXUS 115 HS (also known as the PowerShot ELPH 100 HS) is an affordable compact camera sporting some great features. These include a back-illuminated 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, full 1080p HD movie recording, a 28mm wide-angle lens with a fast maximum aperture of F/2.8 and a top ISO speed of 3200, all for under £200 / $200. Read our in-depth Canon IXUS 115 HS review to find out if it's a real bargain...
The new Canon PowerShot A3300 IS camera is firmly aimed at photography beginners. Offering a wealth of auto modes, 16 megapixel sensor, 5x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen and an attractive price tag of less than £150 / $180, the A3300 IS looks like the perfect family camera. Read our Canon PowerShot A3300 IS review to find out if that's the case...
The NX11 is the third model in Samsung's compact system camera range, adding compatibility with the innovative iFunction, which allows you to change key camera settings using the focus ring on the lens. The Samsung NX11 also features a DSLR-like design, 3 inch AMOLED screen, electronic viewfinder, 720p video and a large APS-C CMOS sensor with 14.6 megapixels. Read our in-depth Samsung NX11 review, complete with 40 JPEG and 15 RAW samples.
The AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 G ED VR is a new standard zoom lens that can be used with both full-frame FX and cropped DX Nikon DSLR cameras. Featuring a constant maximum aperture of f/4 at all focal lengths, the Nikon 24-120mm lens costs almost twice as much as its variable-aperture predecessor, the 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED. Read our full Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR Review to find out if it's worth paying the extra...
The new Canon IXUS 220 HS is a stylish compact camera that offers an ultra-wide 5x zoom, full 1080p HD movies and a back-illuminated 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor in a sleek stainless steel body. Retailing for £199.00 / €239.00 / $249.99, read our Canon IXUS 220 HSreview to find out if it offers the perfect balance of form, function and affordability.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX77 camera relies almost exclusively on its clever touchscreen technologies for operation, sporting a massive 3.5 inch LCD screen. Also on offer are a bright f/2.4, 5x zoom lens, 12.1 megapixel CCD sensor, and 1080p HD video. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX77 review complete with sample images and video.
The new Canon IXUS 310 HS / PowerShot ELPH 500 HS is an impressive compact camera, on paper at least. It offers the usual IXUS style, a 3.2 inch touchscreen LCD, 12 megapixel back-illuminated sensor, fast f/2.0, wide-angle 4.4x lens, and full 1080p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon IXUS 310 HS review to find out if it can live up to its eye-catching headline specifications.
The Canon EOS 1100D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T3 in North America) is a new entry-level DSLR camera with some advanced features. Replacing the ageing 1000D / XS model, the new Canon 1100D / T3 offers a 12 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch LCD screen, 720p movies, 63-zone metering, and 9-point auto-focus system. Available body only from £419 and in a range of kits from £459 / $599, read our Canon EOS 1100D / T3 review to find out if this budget DSLR is a bargain or one to avoid.
The Canon EOS 600D (called the Canon EOS Rebel T3i in North America) is a new DSLR camera that boasts a class-leading 18-megapixels and full 1080p high-definition videos. Other key features of the 600D / T3i include continuous shooting at 3.7fps, a vari-angle 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-12800, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 4 processor. Is the Canon EOS 600D / T3i the best mid-range digital SLR camera on the market? Read our expert review to find out...
The Fujifilm FinePix X100 camera is already one of the surprise hits of 2011, and it hasn't even hit the shops in any great numbers yet. That hasn't stopped us from taking our usual in-depth look at the gorgeously retro X100, with its large APS-C sensor, 35mm fixed focal length lens, and truly innovative hybrid viewfinder. Read our Fujifilm FinePix X100 review to find out if you really should order one now...
The Canon PowerShot SX220 HS is the latest travel-zoom camera to hit the market, offering a 14x zoom lens and a sensible 12 megapixel back-illuminated image sensor. Other key features of the Canon SX220 include a 3 inch LCD screen, full 1080p HD movies with stereo sound, a range of hand-holding modes for beginners, and full manual controls for more experienced users. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX220 HS in-depth review to find out if this is the only camera that you need.
Panasonic has launched ‘A City Exposed’ campaign, which showcases five new galleries of photographs and a short film, taken with the GF2. The campaign presents a diverse collection of creative snapshots by up-and-coming photographer Will Cooper Mitchell, all of which are focused around a day in the life of one City - London. Speaking about his experience with the Lumix GF2, Will comments ‘My usual pro set up is great but the GF2 has freed me up and allowed me to be the photographer who always has a camera in his pocket and never misses a good opportunity – well, almost never!”
Another busy 6 months has passed in the digital photography world, and right on cue, the Ricoh CX5 appears as the replacement for the already out-of-date CX4 compact camera. New features include a faster hybrid auto-focus system Super Resolution technology, three scene modes, and Eye-Fi card support. The CX5 retains the 10.7x lens, 720p HD movies, 3 inch screen, and 10 megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor of its predecessor. Read the World's first Ricoh CX5 review to find out if it can keep up with the travel-zoom competition.
The new Casio EX-H20G is the latest travel-zoom camera to offer built-in GPS, tracking and logging the location of your photos even without a satellite signal. Other key features of the Casio H20G include 14 megapixels, a 3 inch screen, 720p HD video and 600-shot battery life. Read our Casio EX-H20G review to find out if it can beat the Panasonic TZ10 and Samsung WB650...
The brand new Olympus E-PL2 is the second PEN camera aimed directly at the compact owner looking to upgrade to a more capable, but still portable and relatively inexpensive, camera. Key improvements over the year-old E-PL1 model include a larger LCD screen, faster auto-focusing, and a new kit lens. Read our expert Olympus E-PL2 review to find out if it hits the mark.
Phase One has announced its new IQ series digital camera backs, including the 80-megapixel Phase One IQ180. The imager inside the IQ180 measures 53.7x40.4mm, which is so close to the dimensions of the classic 645 format film frame that Phase One terms it a “full-frame” sensor. The IQ180 is also the first product of its kind to feature a USB3 connection, facilitating faster image transfers in the future. For untethered shooting, the IQ180 digital back’s new memory card interface is so fast that it eliminates buffering delays, supporting continuous shooting - at 0.7fps - until a card is full. The IQ180 digital back features a newly designed 3.2-inch retina type, multi-touch screen with 1.15 million pixels, described as “the highest-resolution and largest display of any SLR type camera available today.” Phase One also introduced the IQ160 and IQ140 digital backs, which offer resolutions of 60.5 and 40 megapixes respectively.
The Olympus E-5 is a new semi-professional DSLR camera. Built to withstand the elements, the 12 megapixel E-5 has a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, 3-inch articulated LCD screen, top sensitivity of ISO 6400 and a new range of Art Filters. Read our expert Olympus E-5 review to find out if it can compete with the likes of the Canon EOS 60D, Nikon D7000 and Pentax K-5.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is the latest interchangeable lens camera to offer both high quality still and moving images. The exciting GH2 features Full 1080p HD video with continuous autofocus, a new 16 megapixel sensor, amazingly fast auto-focusing, a 3 inch swivelling touchscreen LCD, and an extensive ISO range of 160-12800. Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 review to find out if it's the most complete video/stills camera yet...
Pro photographer Scott Audette, who shoots NASA shuttle launches for Reuters, has assembled an innovative long-distance remote-control system for his Canon EOS 5D Mark II Digital SLR camera that includes Canon’s WFT-E4 II A Wireless File Transmitter and an Apple iPad. “I was in the lobby of a hotel in Titusville, Florida with my colleagues from the other wire services and a friend from Apple,” Audette recalled. “I asked if I could borrow his iPad and see if I could control my Canon 5D Mark II, which was attached to a Canon WFT-E4 II A Wireless File Transmitter and the other gear 26 miles away in the front window of our trailer at the Kennedy Space Center. We instantly dialed into the camera and were able to control it and take pictures with it. Everybody’s faces went blank as they realized what a game-changer this was for remotely capturing and transmitting images, and we knew it would be perfect for the next shuttle launch.”
LaCie has released a resilient new hard drive case that protects hard drives against hazardous situations. The LaCie Tank, design by Neil Poulton, is essentially a hard, rugged shell made of rubber and polypropylene snaps securely around any 2.5” hard disk drive, keeping out dust and rain. This robust exterior is also shock-resistant and tested against military-grade drop requirements. Manufactured in Italy, the LaCie Tank is priced at £19.99.
The new Canon IXUS 1000 HS introduces a long zoom lens to the style-conscious IXUS range of compact cameras. Also known as the SD4500 IS, the Canon IXUS 1000 HS boasts a 10x zoom, 10 megapixel back-illuminated sensor, 3 inch LCD screen and full 1080p HD movies. Is this the right travel-zoom camera for you? Find out in our in-depth Canon IXUS 1000 HS review, complete with full-size sample images and video.
The K-5 is the second DSLR camera from Pentax for 2010, inheriting the existing K-7's proven control layout and incorporating a new 16.3 megapixel APS-C sensor. The Pentax K-5 offers an incredible ISO range of 80-51200 plus Full 1080p HD movies, 7fps burst shooting and a large high-resolution LCD screen. Read our Pentax K-5 review to discover if this mid-range DSLR can compete with the competition from Nikon and Canon.
The new NX100 is Samsung's answer to the Panasonic GF, Olympus PEN and Sony NEX - a mirrorless, compact system camera with interchangeable lenses and the attraction of a large APS-C sensor. As well as being smaller and lighter than the more DSLR-like NX10 model, the NX100 offers an innovative i-Function button which allows you to change the camera's key settings simply by pressing a button and turning the focus ring of the lens. With a retail price of around £449.99 / $599.99 with the new 20-50mm kit lens, the Samsung NX100 also offers fantastic value for money. Read our Samsung NX100 review to find out if it's the real deal...
Not everyone needs a digital camera with all the latest bells and whistles. Enter stage left the new Pentax Optio RZ10, a 10x travelzoom camera with a 14 megapixel sensor, 720p HD movies and a 2.7 inch screen, all for under £175 / $200. Read our Pentax Optio RZ10 Review to find out if it has cut too many corners...
One of the UK's leading landscape and travel photographers, David Noton, describes his perfect camera.
The EOS 60D is a new kind of DSLR camera from Canon, blending features from the cheaper 550D / / Rebel T2i and the more expensive 7D to exactly occupy the middle ground between the two. Aimed at the well-heeled amateur with a penchant for video, the 60D is the first EOS camera to offer an articulated LCD screen, making it easier to shoot both stills and importantly video. Read our expert Canon EOS 60D Review to find out if Canon's new prosumer DSLR is a worthy addition to the EOS range.
The new Canon PowerShot SX30 IS compact camera climbs straight to the top of the super-zoom ladder with its incredible 35x, 24-840mm optical lens - truly all the focal range that most photographers will ever need or use. In addition to this, the SX30 offers a 14 megapixel image sensor, 2.7 inch vari-angle LCD screen, electronic viewfinder, flash hotshoe, full manual controls and 720p HD movies. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot SX30 IS review to find out if this new super-zoom really is all the camera you'll ever need.
First impressions of the new 35x zoom Canon PowerShot SX30 IS compact camera, including some full-size sample photos.
Canon has announced that its EOS 5D Mark II DSLR cameras were used for capturing crucial images in a key action sequence in Iron Man 2. The scene in question is the one in which the titular character’s alter ego Tony Stark drives a race car in the Historic Monaco Grand Prix and is attacked by super-villain Ivan Vanko. The Canon digital SLR cameras were used to capture moving background plates on location in the famous European principality and to provide crash-cam footage amid the scene’s high-speed auto race. “The new manual exposure firmware introduced during the shoot enabled us to expose 5D Mark II imagery more similarly to the film we were shooting,” cinematographer Matthew Libatique noted. “That was the sealer for us. Once that manual firmware was installed we knew that we were going to be using the 5D Mark II.”
The brand new Canon PowerShot S95 compact camera is the more refined successor of last year's S90 model, additionally offering 720p HD video, Hybrid IS technology and in-camera HDR shooting. The same innovative lens control ring, 10 megapixel CCD sensor, fast f/2.0, 3.8x zoom, RAW file support, full range of manual shooting modes, and a 3 inch LCD are all present and correct on the S95. The launch price has also been reduced, making the Canon S95 an even more attractive proposition as a pocketable yet very capable compact. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot S95 review now.
Panasonic have introduced not one but two new super-zoom cameras for 2010. Today we're looking at the DMC-FZ45 / DMC-FZ40 camera, successor to the popular FZ38 model and the cheaper brother of the new FZ100 which we recently and enthusiastically reviewed. Key highlights of the FZ45 / FZ40 include a 24x zoom, large 3 inch LCD, 720p HD movies, RAW mode and a 14 megapixel CCD sensor. Read the world's first online Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ45 Review now.
One of the UK's leading landscape and travel photographers, David Noton, explains how to successfully master the tricky art of panning.
The Canon Selphy CP800 is an ultra-compact photo printer that replaces the existing Canon Selphy CP780. The new Selphy CP800 features a simple user interface alongside a large-button layout and a tilting 6.2cm (2.5”) colour LCD screen. Photos can be selected quickly and easily and lab-quality 4x6” prints are produced in approximately 47 seconds. Prints are dry and ready for handling the second they leave the printer, and a special over-coating provides protection from spills and splashes, so they will remain rich and vivid for up to 100 years when stored in an album. The Canon Selphy CP800 is available from September 2010, priced at £99.00/€119.00/$99.99
The super-zoom compact camera market is a hotly-contested one, with offerings from all the big manufacturers. Panasonic have updated their range for 2010 with the introduction of the DMC-FZ100, an all-singing, all-dancing successor to the popular FZ38 model. Key highlights include a 24x zoom, large free-angle LCD, full HD movies, 11fps burst shooting, fast RAW mode and a 14 megapixel sensor. Read the world's first online Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Review to find out if it can beat its rivals.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS30 (also known as the DMC-FH20) is a new compact camera with an appealingly versatile 8x zoom lens. Costing less than £179 / $179, the FS30 / FH20 is aimed at the beginner end of the market, yet still offers some advanced features including 720p HD movies and Panasonic's reliable intelligent Auto mode. Read our expert Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS30 review now.
Ten years ago Rick Norsigian, a painter for the Fresno school district, bought a set of 65 large-format glass negatives at a garage sale for $45. Experts now say the collection is worth $200 million, as the photographs turned out to have been taken by none else than Ansel Adams himself. A team of art and forensic experts conducted an exhaustive examination to determine the origin of the photographs and concluded that the negatives are early works of the virtuoso landscape photographer, most probably taken between 1919 and the early 1930s. The final report for the investigation was released at a press conference held yesterday in a Beverly Hills gallery. However, the dispute is far from being settled, as a recently published AOL News article quotes Adams’ grandson as saying, “I think it’s irresponsible to claim that they’re Ansel’s… We think it’s a very significant claim and we think it’s not accurate”.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT10 is a new tough all-action compact digital camera with 14.1-megapixels and a 4x zoom lens. The Panasonic DMC-FT10 is waterproof to 3m, shockproof to 1.5m, freezeproof to -10 degrees C and dustproof. With the DMC-FT10, HD (High Definition) movie recording in 720p Motion JPEG is available.
The G2 is one of two new Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras for 2010. The Panasonic G2 introduces an innovative and intuitive touchscreen control system that lets you focus and track your subject and take and review your pictures, all by tapping and interacting with the LCD display. Other key features of the G2 include a high-resolution 3 inch articulating screen, 720p AVCHD movies with stereo sound, an electronic viewfinder and a veritable wealth of shooting modes. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 review now.
One of the UK's leading landscape and travel photographers, David Noton, explains how to choose the best wide-angle lenses for you.
A British Life in a Mountain Kingdom: Early Photographs of Sikkim and Bhutan is the first exhibition of photographs by 19th century British government officer John Claude White. A pioneer of mountain photography, White was given the chance to live amongst some of the world’s most formidable mountains in 1888 when he was assigned to the Sikkim-Tibet Boundary Commission, tasked with mapping and surveying the regions’ borders. The cumbersome photographic equipment with which he traveled—including a large format camera and glass plate negatives—is a testament to his dedication to photography. In hist time, White’s images offered the world rare glimpses into these isolated Himalayan lands, illustrating his articles on Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal for National Geographic Magazine. A British Life in a Mountain Kingdom: Early Photographs of Sikkim and Bhutan will be on view in the Rubin Museum of Art from 6 August 2010 to 10 January 2011. The museum is located at 150 West 17th Street, New York.
Is it a DSLR? Is it a compact? The new Pentax I-10 combines the styling of the former with the simplicity of the latter, complete with a 5x zoom, 12 megapixels and 2.7 inch screen for under £199.99 / $249.95. Gavin Stoker finds out if the Pentax I-10 is all style and no substance...
Want a stylish compact camera that takes great pictures and lets you take control? Then look no further than the brand new Canon IXUS 300 HS / SD4000 IS Digital ELPH, which brings together the catwalk style of the IXUS range with a fantastic back-illuminated sensor and an f/2.0, 3.8x lens. Discover if this partnership makes sense in the World's first Canon IXUS 300 HS review.
Arctic explorer and photographer Martin Hartley has recorded historic images with an LEICA MP camera during a 60-day trek to the North Pole. “I carried the Leica MP around my neck in a thin waterproof bag to stop the moisture from my breath landing and then freezing on the viewfinder. The camera was instantly accessible all day every day, no matter how cold it got. Every time I wanted the camera to work, it did” Hartley commented.
One of the UK's leading landscape and travel photographers, David Noton, explains how to choose the best telephoto lenses for you.
The Wild Wonders of Europe 2010 photography competition is set to launch in May. Last year’s winners, Janne Heimonen and Marcus Valeur were awarded the opportunity to hone their skills during a six-day adventure to the Cairngorms National Park and Alladale Wilderness Reserve in the Scottish Highlands, followed by a day at a special Epson print academy. Their winning images were selected from almost 11,000 images submitted to the competition by hobbyists, semi-pros and pro photographers from 23 countries. If you are interested in entering the 2010 contest, visit the website below.
Website: Wild Wonders of Europe
As camera manufacturers increasingly add more bells, whistles and megapixels to their compacts in order to outdo the competition, it's easy to overlook the cheaper yet still very capable end of the market. This is where cameras like the new Canon Powershot A495 aim to provide the core functionality and image quality of their more expensive brethren in a more accessible and of course cheaper package. Read our in-depth 10-page Canon PowerShot A495 review to find out if this budget shooter hits the mark.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 is a brand new travel-zoom compact camera that's stuffed to the proverbial gills with all the latest must-have features. A 10x, 25-250mm Sony G lens? Check. Built-in GPS tracking complete with a compass? Check. Full 1080i high-definition video with stereo sound? Check. A 10 megapixel CMOS sensor, 3 inch screen, manual shooting mode, 10fps burst mode, even SD memory card support - all present and correct. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX5 review to find out if all of these features add up to a great camera.
The Canon PowerShot SX210 IS camera is the latest travel-zoom model to hit the market, sporting a 14x lens and a 14 megapixel image sensor. Other key features of the Canon SX210 include a 3 inch LCD screen, 720p HD movies with stereo sound, a range of hand-holding modes for beginners, and full manual controls for experienced snappers. Gavin Stoker finds out if this is all the camera that you need in our Canon PowerShot SX210 IS in-depth review.
The Canon Digital IXUS 130 (also known as the PowerShot SD1400 IS) is a slim and stylish addition to the long-standing IXUS range. Boasting a metal body less than 18mm thick, 14 megapixels and 720p movie recording, the tiny Canon IXUS 130 is also well-suited to the beginner, with a multitude of different hand-holding modes on offer. Mark Goldstein finds out if this is one of the best IXUS cameras yet in the World's first Canon Digital IXUS 130 online review.
Recent additions to Canon's popular Powershot range of A-series compact cameras have been firmly aimed at beginners, and the new A3100 model continues that approach. Thanks to the Easy, Smart Auto and Program modes, everyone in the family can use the A3100 to their full potential, regardless of their ability level. Add a 12 megapixel sensor, 4x zoom lens, 2.7 inch LCD screen and an attractive price tag of less than £200 / $200, and the A3100 IS starts to look like the perfect introduction to digital photography. Mark Goldstein discovers if the Canon PowerShot A3100 IS lives up to its full potential...
The Canon Digital IXUS 210 (also called the Canon Powershot SD3500 IS) joins the small but growing band of cameras that offer a graceful touch-screen interface rather than a cluttered collection of external controls. Almost every aspect of the IXUS 210's operation can be controlled by interacting with the massive and high-res 3.5 inch LCD screen that dominates the rear of the camera. Other standout features include 14 megapixels, a 5x zoom with 24mm wide-angle setting, and 720p HD movie recording. Mark Goldstein gets all touchy-feely with Canon's second touch screen camera in our Canon Digital IXUS 210 review.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP3 is a new ultra-slim camera with touch-screen technology that won't break the bank. Featuring a clever 4x folded-optics zoom lens and large 3 inch touch screen LCD, the 14 megapixel Panasonic FP3 could be your for just £179 / $230. Gavin Stoker discovers if Panasonic have delivered a winning combination of features and value for money in our Lumix DMC-FP3 review.
Pro photographer and Nikon user Uzair Kharawala explains how he dealt with the extreme cold when shooting a wedding and the Northern Lights in the Arctic.
The catchily named "mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras" are quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with, a fact that Samsung have recognised with the launch of their own rival system to the Micro Four Thirds standard. The Samsung NX10 is the first model in the new series, featuring a DSLR-like design, large 3 inch AMOLED screen, electronic viewfinder, 720p video and a large APS-C CMOS sensor with 14.6 megapixels. With 30mm pancake, 18-55mm and 50-200mm lenses and a smattering of accessories available from day one and five more lenses to follow this year, Samsung are certainly making a sizeable investment in their compact/DSLR hybrid system. Read our Samsung NX10 review, complete with 50 JPEG samples and 12 RAW, to find out if it can out-perform its Olympus and Panasonic rivals.
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ10 is a brand new all-singing, all-dancing compact camera with a long list of must-have features. The TZ10 (also known as the ZS7) somehow manages to pack a 12x wide-angle zoom lens, GPS tracking, high-resolution 3 inch LCD screen, AVCHD high-definition movies with stereo sound, and even full manual controls into its slim and stylish frame. Available in silver, black, red or blue for £399 / $399, Mark Goldstein finds out if the Panasonic DMC-TZ10 / ZS7 is the best travel-zoom camera that money can buy.
Canon's extensive range of small and stylish IXUS cameras shows no sign of flagging, with the IXUS 105 joining the family for 2010. Also known as the PowerShot SD1300 IS, the 105 is an affordable model that stays true to the core values of simplicity and classic good looks. The IXUS 105 marries a 12 megapixel sensor to a 4x wide-angle lens and is available in no less than five different pastel colours. Gavin Stoker takes an in-depth look at the Canon Digital IXUS 105.
Small cameras with big sensors are set to be the future of photography - at least, that's what Olympus think as they introduce the E-PL1, their brand new PEN camera for the mass-market. Cheaper, smaller, lighter and easier to use than most rival models, the Olympus E-PL1 is firmly aimed at frustrated compact camera owners who crave more control and better results, but who are put off by bulky and complicated DSLRs. The full-featured E-PL1 should also appeal to experienced prosumers looking for a cheaper way into Micro Four Thirds. Read the World's first online Olympus E-PL1 review to find out if it strikes the right balance between affordability and functionality.
Travel-zoom cameras have quickly become a popular sector of the compact market, offering a compelling combination of small size and big zoom. Panasonic's new budget travel-zoom camera for 2010, the DMC-TZ8 (also known as the DMC-ZS5) is no different, offering a 25-300mm focal range in a camera that can easily fit inside a jacket pocket. Mark Goldstein puts the TZ8 / ZS5 through its paces in the World's first on-line review...
Canon’s latest professional digital SLR camera, the EOS-1D Mark IV, was used by pro photographers to shoot Super Bowl XLIV. “Shooting at Super Bowl XLIV with the EOS-1D Mark IV was a night-and-day improvement compared to previous EOS models. It blew them all away. The 1D Mark IV exceeded my expectations quite a bit,” said Daniel Powers, staff photographer, Gannett Co., Inc. “The autofocus and tracking are razor sharp. After the NFL Wildcard Playoff game I was submitting 10 to 12 shot sequences all in crisp focus.” remarked Tom Hauck, of Tom Hauck Photography. The Canon EOS-1D Mark IV is available now for £4499 / €5499.
The EX-G1 is the first all-action water, dust, shock and freeze -proof camera from Casio, branded with the company's famous G-Shock moniker. This is also the slimmest tough camera in the world, and also beautifully styled and made. The EXG1 is up against some tough competition though, with Olympus very well-established, Panasonic making a recent splash, and Pentax offering some worthy budget alternatives. Read our Casio EX-G1 review to find out it can out-muscle the competition.
Akvis Software has updated Akvis Coloriage, a program for colouring black-and-white photos. Using Coloriage requires no manipulation with layers and no manual painting whatsoever. Coloriage analyses the original shades of grey on the black-and-white picture to produce a shiny new picture with genuine colours and natural tones, the developer says. Version 7.0 introduces a new mode for the Pencil tool, Multicolor mode, as well as other enhncements including an improved interface design, improved compatibility with Windows 7, Snow Leopard, Adobe Photoshop CS4 64 bit and Adobe Photoshop Elements 8. AKVIS Coloriage is available for Windows and Mac as a Photoshop plug-in and a stand-alone edition. The product costs from $97 to $246 depending on the licence type. Registered users can upgrade to Version 7.0 for free.
It hasn't taken Panasonic long to release their second all-action digicam, the Lumix DMC-FT2. Successor to the very good FT1 model that we reviewed just a few weeks ago, the Panasonic FT2 gains new freezeproof capabilities, better shock and water proofness, plus a faster auto-focus system, more stable anti-shake, and a couple more megapixels. In this World First review, find out if the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2 is the new toughest camera on the block.
Olympus have expanded their Micro Four Thirds family with the launch of the E-P2. Heavily promoted in a series of eye-catching adverts fronted by none other than Kevin Spacey, the E-P2 adds a smattering of new features to the existing E-P1. These include an optional electronic viewfinder, two new Art Filters, the ability to record movies in Manual mode, and a sober all-black finish. Gavin Stoker finds out if the Olympus E-P2 really is a camera for everyone in our latest expert review.
The Nikon D3S is the best low-light camera ever - period. Offering an incredible ISO range of 100 to 102,400, you really can use the D3S hand-held in the dimmest of lighting conditions, for both still images and 720p video. Pros will also love the 51-point AF module, 9-fps continuous shooting speed, large high-resolution LCD screen and weatherproofed body. Which is just as well - as they're probably the only ones who can afford the eye-watering £4199.99 / €5100.00 / $5199.95 price-tag. Zoltan Arva-Toth finds out if the new Nikon D3S is also the best ever DSLR camera...
Liquid Scale, a highly polished, content-aware image resizing application for the Apple iPhone, is now available from the App Store. The program resizes pictures without deforming or cropping the content. Pictures can be transformed to a new aspect ratio in a fast and intuitive way. Plus the intelligent app automatically analyses the important area of an image and recognises the real motif as compared to the background. Images processed by Liquid Scale can be stored in an album on the iPhone or they can be sent by e-mail. Liquid Scale for iPhone is available now for €1.59 through the App Store.
Website: Liquid Scale
Today’s second story related to underwater photography is about a site created by photographer Scott Gietler. UWPhotographyGuide.com has been in beta for several months already, with articles on theory, technique and equipment being added every week, but now it’s been opened to the general public. Many award-winning amateur and professional underwater photographers worldwide have contributed to the Underwater Photography Guide. Reaction to this resource by industry professionals has been overwhelmingly positive, Mr Gietler says. In addition to photography theory and technique, the Underwater Photography Guide also has articles on the natural history and behavior of marine life, and unbiased, informative articles about dive destinations around the world that offer underwater photography opportunities.
Website: UWPhotographyGuide.com
One of the UK's leading landscape and travel photographers, David Noton, explains how to choose the best lenses for you.
Lexar Media has announced improvements to the Professional line of CompactFlash (CF) and Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) memory cards. Lexar has increased the capacity of Professional 300x CF cards to 32GB (see picture above), and Professional 233x CF cards are now available in 16GB and 32GB capacities. In addition, the Lexar Professional 133x SDHC card has achieved a Class 10 speed rating. This means it now provides a minimum sustained write speed capability of 133x (20MB per second) for shooting higher-resolution images and large-sized, high-definition video files with SDHC-enabled devices. Additionally, the Lexar Professional 133x SDHC card significantly improves camera performance and image transfer speeds from card to computer. All Professional line cards include a limited lifetime warranty and free downloadable copy of Image Rescue 4, the latest version of Lexar’s award-winning image recovery software.
The Lumix DMC-FP8 is the first in a new stylish series of cameras from Panasonic. Aimed at the fashion-conscious consumer, the FP8 features a flat aluminium body with an integral 4.6x optical zoom lens, plus an interface that lights up in blue when operated. In addition to all this adornment, the Panasonic FP8 also offers a 12 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch LCD screen and ultra high speed auto-focus performance. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-FP8 is available in red, black or silver for £249.99 / $299.95. Gavin Stoker finds out if there's enough substance to match the style...
A dramatic photograph capturing a hovering barn owl has been unveiled as the overall winner of this year’s RSPCA Young Photographer Awards. 18-year-old Ryan Edwards scooped the YPA09 overall winner’s prize, as well as the 12-18 category, with his photograph Golden Flight (above). Ryan, from Woodbridge, in Suffolk, received his prizes from BBC One Countryfile presenter Matt Baker, who was also on the judging panel for this year’s awards. Ryan’s prizes include £1,000 worth of Olympus vouchers, an Olympus E-620 D-SLR camera with two zoom lenses and the opportunity to go on an exclusive photo shoot at a unique RSPCA location. (RSPCA stands for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.)
The new Olympus E-600 DSLR has all the features of a mid-range camera at an entry-level price. Heavily based upon the existing E-620 model, the E600 loses a few of its bigger brother's features in order to hit a more competitive price-point - namely $599.99 / £549.99 with the 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko lens. Gavin Stoker finds out if there's still enough on offer in our Olympus E-600 review.
Epson have introduced the Epson PictureMate Show, a two-in-one digital photo frame and 4” x 6” photo printer. Boasting a seven-inch, 16:9 tilt digital photo display with 800x480-pixel WVGA resolution, PictureMate Show offers 12 unique and entertaining slideshow formats for digital images, as well as a remote control to conveniently view and display photos. Combined with a 4”x6” photo printer, it allegedly offers the highest maximum print resolution in its class (5760x1440dpi) to produce a print in 37 seconds. PictureMate Show ($299.99) is currently available through a variety of online retail shops and Epson’s retail site.
The Páramo Dark Cloth provides a clear viewing screen in all conditions and is practical and comfortable to use in wet and windy weather. Although designed primarily for large and medium format, a number of photographers have used the Dark Cloth successfully with Digital SLR to slow down the process, thereby improving composition and the visibility of the LCD screen, especially for fine focusing among live view users. The Páramo Dark Cloth is available now for £90.
Our regular columnist, one of the UK's leading landscape and travel photographers, David Noton, explains how to take perfect long exposures.
The new Canon PowerShot S90 compact camera offers a lot of DSLR functionality in a pocketable format. Support for the RAW format, full range of manual shooting modes, and a fast f/2.0 lens should grab any keen photographer's attention, especially as the Canon S90 can easily slip inside a shirt pocket. This seemingly winning combination of size and features doesn't come cheap though - £449.00 / €519.00 / $429.99 is an awful lot to ask for what is after all still a camera with a tiny image sensor. Gavin Stoker sizes up the Canon PowerShot S90 in our latest expert review...
Pentax have been producing excellent DSLR cameras for some time now, and their latest model, the K-x model, is certainly no exception. The small and lightweight 12 megapixel Pentax Kx has a wealth of features, including 4.7fps continuous shooting, 11-point auto-focus, high-definition video, auto modes for beginners and manual modes for experts. With an official price of £599.99 / $599.95, the K-x also won't break the bank. Mark Goldstein finds out if the new Pentax Kx deserves a place on your DSLR short-list...
The PowerShot G11 is the latest version of Canon's compact camera range for prosumers and professionals, offering a DSLR experience in a pocketable body. Interestingly Canon have reduced the number of megapixels on the G11 in a bid to improve image quality at higher ISO speeds, and they've responded to customer feedback by re-introducing the vari-angle LCD that was missing on the previous G10 model. With a price-tag of £569.00 / €659.00 / $499.99, the Canon PowerShot G11 is one of the most expensive digital compact cameras that money can buy - Gavin Stoker finds out if it's also one of the best...
Lexar have unveiled a new 600x Compact Flash card with a guaranteed minimum write speed of 90MB/s. Available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities, the Lexar Professional 600x CF card works with the latest UDMA 6 enabled cameras, including the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, EOS 7D and the new 1D Mark IV, and the Nikon D3x, D3s and D300s.
Lexar’s 600x card also offers increased image transfer speeds from card-to-computer with minimum sustained read speeds of 533x (80MB/s), or faster when paired with the new Lexar Professional ExpressCard CompactFlash Reader. This is a portable, high-performance reader that requires no cables and connects directly to a PC or Mac laptop computer’s ExpressCard slot.
The Lexar Professional 600x CF cards will begin shipping on October 22nd in 8GB and 16GB capacities for £149 and £219 respectively. The 32Gb version will be available in November for £399. The Lexar Professional ExpressCard CompactFlash Reader will cost £29.99.
The Canon PowerShot SX120 IS is one of the most affordable super-zoom cameras around. For less than £225 / $250, the Canon SX120 offers a 10x optical zoom lens, 10 megapixels, 3 inch LCD screen and fast DIGIC 4 processor. Curiously aimed at both the family market, with Easy and Smart Auto modes, and prosumers, with a full range of manual controls, is the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS a successful jack-of-all-trades or master-of-none? Mark Goldstein finds out...
The Canon EOS 7D is a brand new 18 megapixel DSLR camera, complete with 8fps continuous shooting, high-res 3 inch LCD screen, Live View and Full HD movies. The Canon 7D also features a number of significant improvements to its auto-focusing, metering, viewfinder and flash systems, which all add up to make this one of the best-ever specified EOS cameras. Find out if the Canon EOS 7D can also take great pictures by reading the World's first expert review...
Athentech today announced that Apple has approved v1.2 of its Perfectly Clear image correction application for its iPhone / iPod Touch devices. Perfectly Clear iPhone v1.2 allows users to capture and correct images taken with their Apple devices and now save out their corrected images at full resolution (1600x1200 for 3G and 1536x2048 for 3GS) – unless the photos were imported by iTunes, which resizes them. Perfectly Clear assures that the millions of photos being taken by iPhone and iPod users can be optimised for exposure, colour accuracy, sharpness and depth all with a single touch, the company said. This upgrade is available free of charge from the Apple iTunes App Store to anybody who bought an earlier version of the application. For new purchasers, the price is $2.99.
Epson have announced the affordable, portable Epson PictureMate Charm.photo printer. The PictureMate Charm can print a borderless 4x6” colour photograph in 37 seconds, and the prints are smudge, scratch and water resistant. Also, they are claimed to resist fading up to 96 years under glass and over 200 years in dark album storage (though Epson does not actually guarantee the longevity of prints). The printer features a 2.5” LCD screen to view, crop and print photos, as well as remove red eye and select popular photo layouts and colour tones. PictureMate Charm also prints from all popular memory cards with built-in card slots, and prints wirelessly from PDAs and digital camera cell phones with a separately sold Bluetooth adapter. ThePictureMate Charm will be available on Oct. 20 through a variety of online retail stores and Epson’s retail site at an estimated street price of $149.99.
Canon have just launched their slimmest ever compact camera, the new Canon Digital IXUS 120 IS (also called the PowerShot SD940 IS Digital ELPH). In addition to offering a slim and stylish design, the Canon IXUS 120 also offers a wide-angle 4x zoom lens, 12 megapixels and 720p HD video. Available in a variety of colours for around £299.00 / €349.00 / $299.99, read our in-depth review of the slimline Canon Digital IXUS 120 IS.
Canon have entered the touch-screen camera market with their first ever interactive compact, the new Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS (also called the PowerShot SD980 IS Digital ELPH). The 3 inch LCD screen can be used to focus on the main subject, set the camera options and playback your images. In addition to getting all touch-feely, the Canon IXUS 200 also offers a wide-angle 5x zoom lens, 12 megapixels and 720p HD video. Available in a variety of colours for around £329.00 / $329 / €379.00, Gavin Stoker gets to grips with the Canon Digital IXUS 200 IS.
The Nikon D300s is the latest camera to join the growing ranks of DSLRs that can shoot HD video. Heavily based on the previous D300 model, the 12 megapixel, DX-format D300S adds a continuous shooting speed of 7fps, dual CF and SD memory card slots and a new Quiet drive mode. With camera prices escalating in recent months, the Nikon D300s will set you back £1499.99 / €1821.00 / $1799.95 body only. Zoltan Arva-Toth finds out if the D300s is worth considering...
ACD Systems International Inc. today unveiled ACDSee Pro 3, a new version of their popular photo management software that introduces new image processing and publishing capabilities. The beta version of ACDSee Pro 3 has been available to interested photographers for awhile, but today marks the release of the full version. ACDSee Pro 3 provides photographers with the capability to manage digital assets to their own specifications using both folders and metadata. New additions allow users to distribute their creative work effortlessly through SMTP-enabled e-mail applications such as Gmail and Yahoo! Mail Plus. In view mode, images can be seen in full size at “unparalleled” speeds. Finally, ACDSee Pro 3’s new process mode integrates nondestructive image editing and precise pixel-level editing into one seamless application. ACDSee Pro 3 is available for a free 30-day trial and for purchase at $169.99 by visiting www.acdsee.com. Registered owners of ACDSee Pro, Pro 2 and Pro 2.5 are eligible to upgrade for less than $90. Purchasing a licence of ACDSee Pro 3 also gives you access to a 2GB account on the ACDSee Online Web site.
Peter Crouch has been asked to train the UK Sony ‘Twilight Football’ team ahead of their big game today. The outcome was some simply stunning imagery. Sony says, “The upcoming sporting event from Sony called “Twilight Football” has been set up to do just that, capture some beautiful imagery of the beautiful game, whilst demonstrating the low-light shooting capabilities of Sony’s new range of cameras and Handycams including the Cyber-shot TX1 and WX1 models, the Handycam TG7 and the DSLR A550.” Amateur footballers have competed to take part in matches around the world and the team of successful UK applicants were awarded the extra honour of being trained by England football legend Peter Crouch. He commented: “It was a fantastic experience working with the UK winners of the Sony Twilight football competition. They are a dedicated, tight knit team and it was my pleasure to coach them ahead of their upcoming match in Australia.”
World Exclusive! This is the first online review of the Canon PowerShot SX20 IS super-zoom camera. Featuring a 20x wide-angle zoom lens, 12 megapixels, 2.5 inch tilting LCD screen, electronic viewfinder, external flash hotshoe, HD video recording and full range of shooting modes, the compact Canon SX20 sounds like a thinking photographer's dream. Read our in-depth review of the Canon SX20 IS to find out if it lives up to expectations...
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX1 is a super-zoom camera with some rather unique features up its proverbial sleeve. These include a 20x zoom lens and 9 megapixel CMOS sensor, both of which utilise Sony's DSLR technology, 3 inch tiltable LCD screen, and fast 10fps burst shooting mode. Going up against the likes of the Canon Powershot SX20 IS, Panasonic FZ38 and Olympus SP-590UZ, we find out if the £480 / $500 Sony HX1 hits the right spot...
The Sony A330 is the second model that we're reviewing in Sony's revamped lineup of entry- and mid-range DSLR cameras for 2009. Heavily based on the previous A300 model, the new A330 features a new look and feel designed to make it easier to use for people new to SLR photography, whilst retaining all the key features of its predecessor. These include a 2.7 inch tilting LCD screen, Live View, anti-dust system, ISO range of 100-3200, body anti-shake system, eye-start auto-focus system and Dynamic Range Optimiser. Is the £600 / $650 Sony A330 the best camera for DSLR first-timers? Zoltan Arva-Toth finds out...
The Olympus E-P1 brings together the image quality and interchangeable lenses of a digital SLR, the video capability of a camcorder, and the size and portability of a point and shoot, all in one compact package. The first Micro Four Thirds model from Olympus is inspired by the popular 1950's PEN series of film cameras, but is very much a product of the new millennium, offering a wealth of up-to-date must-have features. Mark Goldstein finds out if the E-P1 really is all the camera you will ever need in our latest expert review.
Large format photographer David Ward explores the creative process of taking a photograph.
Our regular columnist, one of the UK’s leading landscape and travel photographers, <a href="http://www.davidnoton.com/">David Noton</a>, shows you how to take great travel portraits.
The new Pentax K-7 digital SLR camera is one of the big surprises of 2009, offering a multitude of desirable features in a compact, weatherproof body. The K7 is the latest DSLR to feature a HD movie recording mode, in addition to its 14.6 megapixel still images. Other highlights include a dedicated HDR mode, improved 11-point auto-focus, high-res 3 inch LCD screen and optical viewfinder with 100% frame coverage. Can the Pentax K-7 take on and beat the likes of the Nikon D300 and Canon EOS 50D? Read our in-depth review with test shots, JPEGS, RAW files and movie to find out...
The Nikon D5000 is the latest digital SLR camera to incorporate a video recording mode, capable of producing 720p, 1280x720 pixel movies at 30fps complete with sound. The 12.3 megapixel D5000 also features a vari-angle LCD screen, making unusual picture compostions easier than with a fixed screen. More traditional SLR features include an ISO range of 100-6400, 4fps continuous shooting, and 11-point autofocus system. Retailing for £719.99 / €878.00 / $729.95 body only, or £799.99 / €972.00 / $849.95 with the 18-55mm VR kit lens, we find out if the Nikon D5000 can successfuly combine video and still images in our latest expert review.
Eastman Kodak Company announced today that it will retire its Kodachrome colour film this year, concluding its 74-year run as a photography icon. While Kodachrome, which was born in 1935, was not the world’s first colour film using a subtractive method - brands like Gasparcolor had been around for a couple of years by then -, it was unquestionably the first commercially viable one, which put an end to the rule of additive processes like Autochrome or Dufaycolor that had dominated the colour film/plate market for the first couple of decades of the twentieth century. Kodachrome went on to become an iconic film used by many great photographers working for National Geographic and other publications. However, sales have declined dramatically in recent years, as people went digital or turned to newer films. Kodak claims that today it represents “just a fraction of one percent” of their total sales of still-picture films. Steve McCurry, the photojournalist who captured the legendary portrait of the Afghan girl on Kodachrome a quarter of a century ago, will have the privilege of shooting one of the last rolls.
Website: Kodachrome Tribute Gallery
The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is a new DSLR-like camera that can shoot both still photos and high-definition video. Based on the Micro Four Thirds standard, the Panasonic GH1 takes all the good points of the original G1 camera and adds a plethora of advanced movie-making functionality into the mix. Available now in black, red and gold for $1499.95 / £1299.99, Mark Goldstein finds out if the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is the best ever DSLR / video camera.
PhotographyBLOG Editor, Mark Goldstein, was stopped and searched in central London yesterday for “taking photos of iconic landmarks”. Under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act, the Metropolitan Police are now conducting patrols along the South Bank of the River Thames, specifically targeting “individuals with cameras who are photographing famous buildings”. After informing the officer that I ran a photography website and giving her my business card, I was issued with Form 5090(X), with no actual search taking place. The whole process was somewhat undermined by two other officers posing for photos with tourists whilst their colleague completed the paperwork! I can only conclude that it was the bright pink Casio camera that I was testing at the time which attracted the police officer’s attention…
Have you been stopped by the authorities, legally or otherwise? Let us know by leaving a comment…
The Canon Digital IXUS 110 IS (also know as the Canon PowerShot SD960 IS) is a new compact camera with a 28mm wide-angle lens and HD video mode. Available in four different pastel colours, the Canon IXUS 110 IS features a 4x zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilization, 2.8 inch wide-angle LCD screen and 12 megapixel sensor. Gavin Stoker casts his critical eye over the new $329.99 / £349.00 / €399.00 Canon Digital IXUS 110 IS.
Samsung has announced the Samsung Pixon12, the first 12-megapixel camera phone in the world. The Samsung Pixon12 boasts a 28mm equivalent lens, a 3.1” touch-sensitive AMOLED screen that also enables AF point selection via a touch of your fingertips, AF tracking, one-touch access to the camera function, a shot-to-shot time of just 2 seconds, a Xenon flash and a Smart Auto feature that intelligently picks the right scene mode based on an analysis of the scene in front of the camera’s lens. Videos are recorded at a resolution of 720x480 pixels at 30 frames per second and are saved using the H.264 codec.The phone’s high-connectivity functions including Wi-Fi and HSUPA capabilities mean that users’ photos can be shared with their friends in no time, Samsung says. The Samsung Pixon12 will be available from end of June in European countries and it will be expanded to other regions in August.
Camera Bits has announced that it had surpassed the milestone of 35,000 licenses sold of its Photo Mechanic software and released Version 4.6.1. Photo Mechanic is a photo browser and workflow solution that is claimed to be the most popular photo editing software used by educational institutions, the U.S. military, photojournalists and major newspapers and news organizations including The Associated Press. With Photo Mechanic, users can read the images from a memory card, flatten the directory structure, apply IPTC metadata, create a backup on a separate disk and rename files – all in a single step. The original software was released more than 10 years ago, whilst Version 4 has been available for exactly six years, the company says. Version 4.6.1 incorporates many improvements and fixes to the new features of version 4.6 including Live Ingest, embedded GPS coordinates in photos individually or in a batch using GPS log files, new upload templates, a Convert RAW to DNG command, a loupe tool and file upload status indicators in the Contact Sheet view and an auto-advance after tagging feature in the Preview window. A full license of Photo Mechanic is available starting at $150, while upgrades to existing owners start at $90.
Website: Camera Bits Store
Our regular columnist, one of the UK’s leading landscape and travel photographers, <a href="http://www.davidnoton.com/">David Noton</a>, travels 16,000 miles to Bali for one photo.
Looking for the smallest DSLR camera in the world? Step forward the diminutive Olympus E-450, weighing in at less than 400 grams. The tiny E450 is based on the FourThirds standard, offering a 10 megapixel sensor, 2.7 inch LCD screen and brand new Art Filters for creating your own digitally enhanced master-pieces. Is the Olympus E-450 worth £350 body only / £450 single lens kit in the UK, or $699 for the double-lens kit in the US? Zoltan Arva-Toth finds out in the World's first online Olympus E-450 review.
The Canon Digital IXUS 95 IS (also know as the Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS) is a new entry-level IXUS compact camera. Available in a wide range of colours, the classically designed Canon IXUS 95 IS features a 3x zoom lens, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 12 megapixel sensor. Gavin Stoker discovers if the $229 / £249 / €299 IXUS 95 IS / SD1200 IS is the perfect pocket compact camera.
The Nikon Coolpix L100 super-zoom camera has a 15x, 28-420mm zoom lens and is designed to be easy to use for beginners. Scene Auto Selector and Easy modes take the guesswork out of capturing the moment, Sensor-shift Vibration Reduction should keep your shots sharp, and the L100's large 3 inch screen is great for sharing with friends and family. The Nikon L100's is available now in black for a wallet-friendly price-tag of £239.99 / €269.00 / $279.95. Read our expert review to discover if this is the right digital camera for you.
The Canon EOS 500D is the latest DSLR camera to jump on the HD video bandwagon, offering 1080p and 720p quality settings. Also known as the Digital Rebel T1i, the successor to the EOS 450D features a 15 megapixel CMOS sensor, 940,000 dot 3-inch LCD screen, Live View and ISO range of 100-12800. At $799.99 / £869.99 body only or $899.99 / £969.99 with the EF-S 18-55mm f3.5-5.6 IS kit lens, find out if the Canon EOS 500D is the best consumer digital SLR in our expert review.
The Canon Digital IXUS 100 IS (also know as the Canon PowerShot SD780 IS) is a super-slim, super-stylish digital camera, with an all-metal body that's just 18.4mm thick. Available in black, red, silver or gold, the Canon IXUS 100 IS point-and-shoot camera sports a 3x zoom lens, 12 megapixel sensor and the ability to record 720p HD movies. Gavin Stoker finds out if the $279.99 / £299.00 / €349.00 IXUS 100 IS / PowerShot SD780 IS is the perfect marriage of style and substance...
The Canon PowerShot D10 is an all-action compact camera that will cope with just about everything that you throw at it. Water, dust, freeze and shock proof, the new Canon D10 is a distinctively designed 12 megapixel camera with a difference. Find out if the $329.99 / £379.00 / €449.00 D10 makes the perfect summer camera by reading our expert review.
The Canon Digital IXUS 990 IS is the new top-of-the-range IXUS camera, offering 12 megapixels, 5x zoom lens, 3 inch LCD screen, and HD movies. Also known as the PowerShot SD970 IS Digital Elph in North America, this compact model features the DIGIC 4 image processor, Smart AUTO mode for beginners, plus Blink Detection and Face Detection technologies. Read our in-depth review to find out if the IXUS 990 IS / SD970 IS offers enough to justify its $379.99 / £379.00 / €449.00 price tag...
Forget the new car, holiday or house extension - a mere £5499.99 / €7728.00 / $7999.95 will buy you the shiny new Nikon D3x. This 24.6 megapixel camera is the highest-resolution DSLR on the market, bettering the Sony A900 and Canon EOS 5D Mark II. As well as it's headline-grabbing megapixel count, the D3x also boasts a 51-point auto-focus system, 920,000-dot 3-inch LCD screen, 50-6400 ISO range and 16-bit image processing. Gavin Stoker discovers if the Nikon D3x really is the best ever DSLR...
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ6 is a new entry in the travel-zoom camera market. Offering a 12x, 25-300mm lens with optical image stabilisation, 2.7 inch LCD screen, WVGA (848x480) movies and 10 megapixel sensor, the Panasonic TZ6 is the well-appointed cheaper sibling of the TZ7 model that we recently raved about. Available in silver and black for £269 / $299, is the TZ6 a worthy alternative? Find out by reading out latest expert review...
PhotoShelter has released a free guide to getting photography websites listed on search engines. The PhotoShelter SEO Toolkit offers internet marketing guidance for serious photographers looking to grow their businesses online. The primary content is PhotoShelter’s SEO Cookbook – a 30-page, step-by-step e-book covering every tactic, on and off the photographer’s web page, that can be employed to garner better search engine results. The toolkit can be requested here: http://pa.photoshelter.com/mkt/seo-kit-for-photographers.
The Canon PowerShot SX200 IS is a new 12 megapixel, 12x compact digital camera. Offering a versatile focal range of 28-336mm, 3 inch LCD screen, 720p HD movies, and full range of shooting modes for both beginners and pros alike, the SX200 IS wants to be your do-it-all, take-everywhere pocket companion. But can the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS beat the current travel zoom king, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7? Read our in-depth review to find out which one deserves a place in your camera bag...
Our new regular columnist, one of the UK’s leading landscape and travel photographers, <a href="http://www.davidnoton.com/">David Noton</a>, takes us behind-the-scenes on safari in Africa.
The Canon PowerShot A1100 IS is a brand new 12 megapixel compact digital camera with a 4x optical zoom lens. Offering a focal range of 35-140mm, the A1100 offers Optical Image Stabilization and motion detection technology to help combat camera shake. There’s a 2.5 inch LCD screen on the back with a wide viewing angle, plus a traditional optical viewfinder, new Smart Auto mode with Scene Detection Technology for true point-and-shoot operation, and a veritable wealth of Face Detection options. Available in silver, grey, blue, pink and green, the Canon A1100 IS won’t be available until early-April, but that hasn’t stopped us from already reviewing this $199.99 / £219.00 / €259.00 camera.
Are you feeling the economic pinch, but still want a more than capable compact camera? Then you could do a lot worse than Canon's cheapest camera, the Powershot A480. With a 10 megapixel sensor, 3.3x zoom lens and 2.5 inch LCD screen, the A480 offers a solid base onto which it adds a 1cm macro mode, face detection and digital anti-shake system. The Canon A480 doesn't offer the bells and whistles of more expensive models, but it can be yours for just $129.99 / £129.00 / €159.00. Read our in-depth review to find out if the Canon PowerShot A480 is worth the modest investment.
The Canon PowerShot A2100 IS is a brand new 12 megapixel compact digital camera with a 6x optical zoom lens. Offering a versatile focal range of 36-216mm, the A2100 offers Optical Image Stabilization and motion detection technology to help combat camera shake. There’s a large 3.0 inch LCD screen on the back with a wide viewing angle, new Smart Auto mode with Scene Detection Technology for true point-and-shoot operation, and a veritable wealth of Face Detection options. The Canon A2100 IS won’t be available until early-April, but that hasn’t stopped us from already reviewing this $249.99 / £259.00 / €309.00 camera.
The winners of Sony Ericsson’s World View 2008 cameraphone competition have been announced. The camera phone photo entitled “Peace” by Marriane Nill from the Philippines has won the ‘Expert’s Choice Award’. Marriane received a once in a life time photography trip for two, worth £10,000. Gisela Cañete from Argentina was named as the winner of the “The People’s Choice Award”. World View 2009 will kick off in the first half of 2009.
ACDSee Pro 2.5 is a major update designed to improve digital asset management and workflow. New features include completing digital asset management as photos are imported, embedding custom metadata such as categories and ratings, improved Auto Slide Show, and adding borders, drop shadows and edge effects to images. ACDSee Pro 2.5 is available for a free 30-day trial and for purchase for $129.99 (USD). ACDSee Pro 2 users are eligible for a free upgrade to this new version.
The Artisan 800 and 700 are new flagship inkjet all-in-ones from Epson. The premium Epson Artisan 800 model features Wi-Fi Fax, an Automatic Document Feeder (ADF), Ultra Hi-Definition photos, 4800 dpi resolution scanning, a 7.8-inch smart touch panel and 3.5-inch LCD screen. The Epson Artisan 700 lacks the fax capability of its big brother and has a smaller 2.5-inch LCD and 2400 dpi resolution scanning. Both models offer Wi-Fi and Ethernet networking and use six-color Ultra Hi-Definition Claria ink. The Epson Artisan 800 costs $299.99 and the Artisan 700 $199.99.
The Nikon D90 is the world’s first DSLR camera that shoots High Definition video. Replacing the D80 model, the new 12.3 megapixel Nikon D90 can shoot 1280x720 pixel, 720p video at 24fps with mono-sound for up to 5 minutes. Compared to a camcorder, the larger image sensor on the D90 offers higher image quality, a shallower depth of field and better ISO performance in low-light conditions. The D90 also offers advanced features such as Live View, Scene Recognition, Active D-Lighting, Picture Control and an ISO sensitivity range of 100-6400. There’s also a 3-inch LCD screen with 170? viewing angle and 920,000 dots, viewfinder with 96% frame coverage, Live View shooting with new Face Priority mode, and 850 picture battery life. The Nikon D90 will be available in September for £699.99 / €959.00 / $999.95 body only, or £849.99 / €1164.00 / $1,299.95 with the new 18-105mm F/3.5-5.6G ED VR kit lens. Nikon also unveiled the GP-1, a new GPS device that allows you to geo-tag your photos (price and availability to be confirmed). We have exclusive pictures of the D90 in action from yesterday’s UK press launch.
UK-based Experience Seminars are offering Canon digital SLR training packages for £99. The program, promoted by Canon, covers the Canon digital EOS system in depth along with how to get the very best out of your camera for specific photographic subjects. Experience Seminars have just moved into a new enlarged training centre at Wennington near Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire. The company has over 600 events covering 32 different seminars and training courses scheduled for 2008.
Canon has launched the first of two new television commercials to support the Canon EOS Rebel and Canon PowerShot digital camera lines. “Journey,” uses a unique technology that blends individual digital still photographs shot with the Canon EOS-1D Mark III into a “picture-trail” motion commercial. “In this spot, the journey is the destination. Edited together, the shots made for a compelling story. But each single Canon photograph is also a piece of art in itself. You can freeze this ad at any given moment and find a photo that you’d probably like to blow up, frame and put on your wall.” said Grey New York’s chief creative officer Tor Myhren. The latest PowerShot commercial, set to air in early June, will continue to feature Maria Sharapova and her charismatic puppy, “Dolce.”
The Sixties: Photographs By Robert Altman is a new photo exhibition at the Idea Generation Gallery. Running from 16th July – 29th August , the exhibition brings together 60 of the most powerful images from the chief staff photographer of Rolling Stone magazine. “The passion for what he was shooting is wonderfully clear, but there’s more to it than that. It’s almost as if he’s distilled the essence of the era - you get a real sense of the drama, excitement, hope, anger, idealism of the time. It makes for some iconic images.” commented Hector Proud, managing director of Idea Generation Gallery. Entry to the exhibition at the Idea Generation Gallery in London is free.
The new Canon SELPHY CP770 and SELPHY CP760 compact photo printers offer a combination of lab-quality photo printing and ease of operation. The Canon CP770 features an integrated storage case, carry handle and optional battery pack. The ultra-compact Canon CP760 offers a large LCD screen and improved user interface. Both the SELPHY CP770 and SELPHY CP760 print to a variety of different-sized media – including standard print sizes, credit-card size papers and miniature stickers – in as little as 52 seconds. Prices are £89 / $99.99 for the CP760, available end of May, and £139 / $149.99 for the CP770, available end of June.
The Ricoh G600 is a new compact, lightweight, water and dust-resistant, wide-angle, 5x zoom digital camera featuring enhanced shock resistance for outdoor use. Successor to the Caplio 500G Wide model (which will still be available), the Ricoh G600 is smaller and lighter yet still passes the shock resistance test for a 1.5m fall. The Ricoh G600 will be available in May 2008 for £349.99 inc vat.
Schneider B+W Infrared Filters allow anyone to create infrared images using the right digital SLR camera. Schneider Optics offers two B+W Infrared Filters for digital SLRs; the IR 092 and the IR 093. The B+W IR 092 is nearly opaque, and creates infrared images that also include a portion of the visible red spectrum. The completely opaque B+W IR 093 Infrared Filter blocks the entire visible spectrum, resulting in pure infrared photographs. B+W Infrared Filters 092 and 093 cost $105.00 each and are available with screw-on mounting rings to fit a wide range of DSLRs.
The G-DRIVE mini Triple 500 is the world’s first 500GB portable hard drive. With a FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 interface, the G-DRIVE mini Triple 500 is bus-powered and doesn’t require an AC adaptor. It fits into a computer, camera or camcorder bag and can store 200,000 5 megapixel JPEG photos. Available in March 2008, the G-DRIVE mini Triple 500 comes complete with cables, a protective leather carrying case and 3 year warranty. Price is to be confirmed.
Wang Feng from China has beaten over 74,000 entrants to win the Sony Ericsson World View 2007 cameraphone photo contest. Commenting on Wang’s image, judge David Viggers said: ‘It’s a very high quality, sharp and well framed image, which blends a sense of humour with technical ability. It’s a simple, spontaneous moment captured on a camera phone to produce a visually striking, unusual image.” Merran Wrigley, Head of External Relations at Sony Ericsson, said: “Camera phone photography is being taken more and more seriously as the quality of images improve to that comparable with stand alone digital cameras. People are now using their camera phone to capture spontaneous moments that occur when they probably wouldn’t have their traditional camera.” Wang Feng has won a once in a life time photography trip for two.
As part of the Sony Alpha Unseen Britain campaign Sony is inviting photographers to submit eye-catching images of Britain. Pictures submitted will be entered into a competition to receive a new Sony Alpha 700 (?700) Digital SLR camera and full kit. The closing date for entries is January 4 2008. In addition renowned photographer and climber Mike Robertson will be scaling Spinnaker Tower (Portsmouth), Blackpool Tower, Newport Transporter Bridge, Snowhill Plaza (Birmingham) and a London site armed with the Sony Alpha 700. Paul Genge from Sony says: “Through combining the advanced technology of the new Sony Alpha 700 (?700) D-SLR camera with Mike’s expertise, skill and daring attitude, we aim to capture views of Britain that have not been shared with the public before. We want individuals to be inspired and think about photography with a different perspective and encourage them to enter our competition.”
“301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques” is a comprehensive, how-to guide to high-quality digital printing. It includes detailed instructions and hundreds of full-color examples from more than 20 professional photographers and other artists. “After using a variety of inkjet printers for more than ten years, I’m very happy to be able to share many of the tips and techniques I’ve been using to make exhibition, portfolio, and personal prints with others who share my passion for photography.” said author Andrew Darlow. “301 Inkjet Tips and Techniques: An Essential Printing Resource for Photographers” is available now for US $49.99 / CAN $62.95.
DCResource have reviewed the Panasonic DMC-FZ18 digital camera, which features a 18x optical zoom lens, equivalent to 28-504mm on a 35mm film camera.
“The FZ18 is only the second mega zoom camera I’ve tested (the other being the Olympus SP-550UZ) and it’s definitely the better of the two. That may change when I get my hands on the SP-560UZ or the Fuji FinePix S8000fd, but for now, the DMC-FZ18 is the best camera for those of you who can’t get enough zoom.”
Eight of O’Reilly’s top authors will be in attendance at next week’s PhotoPlus International Conference and Expo in New York City. Katrin Eismann plans to share the secrets the best retouchers use to create flawless skin in her seminar titled “Skin, Skin, Skin.” David Pogue, O’Reilly’s Missing Manual series founder, will deliver a keynote talk about his four-month quest to determine, once and for all, just how important megapixels are in a digital camera. O’Reilly is also offering a 30 percent discount on a selection of their titles.
Nikon will sponsor 100 of the worlds most promising young photojournalists as part of the 20th annual Eddie Adams workshop. “Nikon has been a proud sponsor of the Eddie Adams Workshop since its inception 20 years ago. This year is a tremendous milestone for the workshop and a true testament to Eddie’s vision for creating an education program that helps promising young photographers become award-winning photojournalists.” said Bill Pekala, general manager of Nikon Professional Services. In addition to the event sponsorship, this is the fourth year that Nikon will award a $10,000 scholarship to the top student from the workshop.
The Canon ES2 and Canon ES20 are two new compact photo printers. Canon’s Easy System uses integrated ink and media cassettes, and is complemented by one-touch operation and a 50-sheet capacity. The Canon ES2 offers a 3 inch LCD monitor, and the ES20 a 2.5 inch display. “Digital cameras are more popular than ever, but many users have yet to invest in a dedicated photo printer,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. “With the SELPHY ES2 and ES20, we are able to offer two convenient, high-quality products that will allow digital photographers to share and store their photos for years to come.” The Canon ES2 will be available from the end of October 2007 priced at £169.00 / €249.00 / $199.99. The Canon ES20 will be available from the end of November 2007 priced at £139.00 / €199.00 (the ES20 isn’t available in the USA).
ACDSee Pro 2 features next-generation workflow management and RAW processing functionality. The upgrade was developed with input from more than 2,500 photographers worldwide. “The ability to work directly with our customers has allowed us to develop a product release that will bring unprecedented efficiency to the photographic community, freeing them to focus on what they do best—producing quality images.” said Mark Franklin, executive vice president of ACD Systems. ACDSee Pro 2 is available now for $129.99. Current ACDSee customers are eligible for a 30-percent customer discount.
The Epson PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom are new 4”x6” compact photo printers that offer up to 200 year print life. Both PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom produce borderless 4”x6” prints in as fast as 37 seconds. Both models feature a large built-in premium photo viewer with a 3.6” total viewing area. PictureMate Zoom additionally features a built-in CD burner. PictureMate Dash and PictureMate Zoom are now shipping and will be available for $99.99 and $199.99 respectively.
Photoshop Lightroom Adventure is both a guided tour of Lightroom 1.1 and the country Iceland. Part Icelandic road trip, part photo essay, this book’s photo-rich pages come packed with beautiful photographs from a dozen talented working photographers. “Yes, it’s a technical book. Yet it’s not only a complete guide to the latest version of the application, but a pleasure to look at, too,” explains Mikkel Aaland. Photoshop Lightroom Adventure costs $39.99 USD, £24.99 GBP.
The UK photo storing, sharing and printing website Photobox has just passed the 2 million member milestone. Commenting on PhotoBox’s growth, Mark Chapman, UK Managing Director said, “We are delighted to have achieved such outstanding results. The combination of the PhotoBox service and an increasingly web-savvy audience has undisputedly helped us reach 2 million members.”
ProPhoto Home have reviewed the new Canon EOS-1D Mark III DSLR camera.
“Having read the reports of a few people indicating problems with the autofocus system the first thing I did was conduct some of my own tests. My tests did not indicate any significant issues in this area. I did think I noted a few instances of a delay in locking focus on a still subject. But, upon reviewing the actual image files I saw nothing consistent worth reporting. It all seemed well within the norms of the standard digital autofocus systems we all use.”
PCMag have reviewed the Olympus Stylus 770 SW digital camera, which can survive falls from up to 1.5m, is waterproof to 10m depths, as well as being freezeproof to -10 degrees Celsius.
“This specialty point-and-shoot is pricey for an ultracompact, but it lets you take pictures in places where few other cameras can go: underwater. The Olympus Stylus 770 SW is submersible to a depth of 33 feet and will withstand temperatures as low as 14 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s pretty rugged, too: The camera can be dropped from a height of 5 feet, which I confirmed in my testing, and is designed to shrug off 220 pounds of direct force.”
Website: PCMag - Olympus Stylus 770 SW Review
DCResource have reviewed the new Nikon D40x DSLR, which features a 10.2 megapixel sensor, producing 3,872 x 2,592-pixel images, 3D Colour Matrix Metering II system and 2.5 inch LCD screen, all in the most compact Nikon DSLR ever.
“If I could describe the D40x’s photo quality in one word, it would be “vivid”. Nikon has turned up the color saturation to “Kodak” levels, which I think is a little over-the-top. If you agree then you’ll want to play around with the various color settings on the camera. So what else? Exposure was spot-on in all of my real world photos. Being a digital SLR, photos are a bit on the soft side, and this too can be addressed by modifying a setting in the menu, should you feel the need. The camera is capturing plenty of detail, though, with nearly no noise, and no “smearing” from noise reduction. Purple fringing did pop up with both of the lenses I tested (the 18-55 and 55-200), but it was fairly minor.”
Website: DCResource - Nikon D40x Review
Website: Read our Nikon D40x Review
The Brite Vue Sensor Loupe from VisibleDust allows you to closely examine the sensor of a DSLR. With the Sensor Loupe, the photographer can easily check for sensor dust and know exactly if a cleaning needs to take place. Retail price is US$69.95, 79.95 CAD and at £44.95 in the UK.
Kingston and MyMemory Limited today unveiled the industry’s first Flash memory vending machine at the North Terminal, Gatwick Airport. MyMemory vending machines dedicated to exclusively selling Flash memory products using chip and pin will be placed in all major airports, mainline stations and underground stations. “They want instant access to SD cards and USB drives as they need them 24/7, so vending machines in public spaces was the most obvious solution.” commented Ann Keefe, Director of Sales UK & Ireland at Kingston Technology.
DPReview have also reviewed the Panasonic DMC-TZ3 camera, which fits a 10x optical zoom, 7.2 megapixels and 3 inch LCD screen into a compact, stylish body.
“And so then, the TZ3 is another fantastic Panasonic camera with a fantastic lens that struggles to impress if you look at the images too closely because of overblown noise reduction. It’s a classic example of a camera that will never do that well in a dpreview test because the output doesn’t look great at a pixel level, but that I would happily buy for myself for walkaround snapping.”
A panel of digital imaging editors have selected the winners of the prestigious DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards. DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards recognize products or services utilizing new technologies and /or applications that make the product either distinct or the first of its kind. The winners include the HP Designjet Z Photo Printer Series, Lensbaby 3G, Olympus SP-550 UZ and Think Tank Photo rotation360 backpack.
I attended the Canon Spring Launch press event at The Bridge, SE1 in central London earlier today and tried out the new EOS-1D Mark III DSLR camera, plus the 16-35mm lens, 580 EX II flashgun, Powershot and IXUS cameras, and PIXMA printers. Hearing the EOS-1D Mark III rattling away at 10 frames per second for over 10 seconds was quite something! This new DSLR is 16% lighter than its predecessor, has a self-cleaning sensor based on the EOS 400D, and uses a 3rd generation CMOS sensor and two DIGIC III processors. Apparently the shutter is 50% more durable than the previous model - Canon have tested it to no less than 300,000 cycles. And the camera’s 19 auto-focus sensors and 26 focus assist points offer a 1 stop improvement in low-light. Canon demoed a EOS-1D Mark III saving files to a compact flash card, SD card and external hard drive all at the same time! Price will be £3049.99 in the UK and $3999 US. Click on the link below to see exclusive shots of all the new products that have been announced today (well, not quite all of them, I didn’t spend too much time with the new fax machines). Leave a comment if you have any questions and I’ll do my best to answer them…
Monochrome enthusiasts will welcome the news of the reintroduction of ILFORD SFX 200 infrared film. Available from March 2007, ILFORD SFX 200 is a special red-filtered film perfect for landscapes, mountainscapes and similar subjects. “The revival of ILFORD SFX 200 film will enable those specialists who concentrate on outdoor photography to achieve a remarkable degree of control over their images,” commented ILFORD PHOTO marketing director Howard Hopwood. ILFORD SFX 200 is available in special value promotional packs which contain three rolls of 36x135 film plus an ILFORD COKIN P red filter.
Update: Ilford have also launched a competition called White Light, White Heat, which invites all amateur photographers to demonstrate their creative usage of ILFORD SFX 200 film.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom will ship in mid-February and is now available for pre-order in the United States and Canada at www.adobe.com/store for a special introductory price of £125 (ex VAT) / $199. Photoshop Lightroom will later sell for an estimated street price of £175 (ex VAT) / $299. Users of Lightroom beta will have access to the program until its expiration on February 28, 2007. More than 500,000 photographers participed in the public beta program during the last 12 months.
Steves Digicams have published their review of the new Nikon D40 entry level DSLR camera.
“The model utilizes a 6.1-megapixel Nikon DX format image sensor that records photos with a good amount of sharpness, accurate exposure, and rich color saturation. The D40 features a 3-area TTL AF system, it was fast and accurate, as you can see by our shooting performance numbers above. I was very impressed with the lack of image noise in our test shots, even ISO 1600 looks relatively good in my opinion.”
Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon D40 Review
Website: Read our Nikon D40 Review
PCMagazine have just reviewed the new 10 megapixel Samsung NV10 digital camera.
“The camera fared well during lab testing. I didn’t find much noise in the daylight shots, but high ISO settings indroduced some colored noise. Pictures had pretty good color, with just a touch of purple fringing. My flash pictures displayed nice illumination with lots of detail in the highlights. The NV10 averaged 1,900 lines of resolution, which is excellent for a 10MP camera. There was no pincushion distortion to speak of, and just a touch of the usual barrel distortion.”
Website: PCMagazine - Samsung NV10 Review
Website: Read our Samsung NV10 Review
PCMagazine have published their review of the 10 megapixel Panasonic DMC-FZ50 camera.
“Looking at my test shots alone, it’s clear why the camera retains the Editors’ Choice we awarded the FZ30. I tested the FZ50’s two different types of image stabilization, and it proved rock-solid on both my informal trials. The FZ50 also acquitted itself very well on image quality: My test shots of trees set against a bright sky showed very little fringing.”
Website: PCMagazine - Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review
Website: Read our Panasonic DMC-FZ50 Review
Dust-Aid Press Release
Bend, Oregon – January 3, 2007 – DUST-AID™, an adhesive-based DSLR sensor clearer, will soon be released to the retail market, offering a unique solution for DSLR camera photographers seeking a safe and easy way of cleaning their dusty sensors. Developed and tested for contamination using scientific FTIR lab testing, DUST-AID was invented by a landscape photographer who primarily works with film but needed digital capabilities for advertising / contract shoots.
PCMagazine have reviewed the the Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd (also known as the S6500fd), a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 10.7x zoom lens equivalent to 28-300mm.
“In my tests, the S6000fd recognized faces in a variety of situations, although it struggled a bit in low light. That makes sense to me, however, because the camera seems to be looking for the contrast of people’s eyes in order to recognize a face. The device also did a decent, although not flawless, job of figuring out which faces were closer and which ones were farther away. The nearest face is the one that the camera will choose as the primary focusing point, so that’s an important distinction.”
Imaging Resource have reviewed the the Fujifilm FinePix S6000fd (also known as the S6500fd), a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 10.7x zoom lens equivalent to 28-300mm.
“Don’t be embarrassed if you mistake the Fuji S6000fd for a digital SLR. After taking my test model out of the box, it took a few seconds of monkeying with the 28 - 300mm (10.71x) lens and its rubber barrel grip for me to realize it wasn’t detachable. The substantial hand grip—also rubberized—is a great touch, making this camera very easy to hold on to when toting it around strapless like a pro. Of all the “chunky” superzoom cameras I’ve tested this is the model that comes closest to looking and feeling like a digital SLR.”
PCMagazine have reviewed the new Canon G7, which features a 10 megapixel, 1/1.8 inch sensor, DIGIC III image processor, Face Detection, 35-210mm lens and optical image stabilization system.
“Overall, the test shots had very good color saturation and accuracy. There was hardly any fringing in my lab test shots, although the contrast may have been a bit too strong. No highlights were blown out in the flash shots. The exposures were also quite good, and the colors were vibrant and accurate. Even better, images were incredibly sharp, with the average resolution 1,975 lines, excellent for a 10MP camera.”
Website: PCMagazine - Canon G7 Review
Website: Read our Canon Powershot G7 Review
Photo-i have reviewed the the Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd (also known as the S6000fd), a 6 megapixel digital camera with a 10.7x zoom lens equivalent to 28-300mm.
“The built-in motordrive offers an impressive 3 frames per second, which should be sufficient for most hobbyists needs. I also liked the exposure bracketing feature whereby the camera shoots three frames - the “correct” exposure and then one shot either side for under and over exposure. The values can be custom set in 1/3 stop increments. On exposure issues, I found the camera had a tendency towards overexposing pictures by about 1/2 stop. I used an exposure compensation of -2/3 for most of my test pictures.”
Website: Photo-i - Fujifilm FinePix S6500fd Review
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Concert Audio For Digital Camera Videos
2. SDHC Write Speed For Digital Camera Videos
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
Imaging Resource have reviewed the Casio EX-S600, a 6 megapixel ultra-slim digital camera with a movie stabilizer function that reduces camera shake when recording movies.
“A Casio EXILIM EX-S600 test unit arrived on my doorstep at about the same time as I purchased a new Motorola RAZR V3m cell phone from Verizon Wireless, and I was amazed at how strikingly similar in size and design these two models are. The RAZR, of course, is one of the most popular mobile phones on the market, so the EX-S600 is certainly in good company.”
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Panasonic FZ50’s Noisy CCD, It’s Just Not Cricket
2. How Do Add-On Lenses Effect DOF?
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
PCMagazine have just reviewed the new Canon PowerShot A630 digital camera.
“n my daylight test shots, I noticed some noise, and more was evident in my flash image. Both shots had excellent color, were quite sharp, and displayed very little fringing. I saw a bit more of this fringing in my real-world shot of tree branches against the bright sky, but it wasn’t terrible. In my flash test shot, the coverage was pretty good and evenly illuminated. There was good detail in the highlights, but it was just a tad underexposed. Because of the nicely designed physical controls, however, you can adjust the level of the flash quickly and easily.”
PCMagazine have reviewed the new Canon EOS 400D (Canon Digital Rebel XTi in the USA), which offers 10 megapixels, a large 2.5 inch LCD screen and new integrated dust removal system.
“In my labs and real-world testing, the Canon Rebel XTi did quite well. On daylight still-life shots, the camera demonstrated a little more noise than the Nikon D80 did, but in general, it produced excellent dynamic range and contrast. Colors were vibrant, even in the deepest tones, such as purple, and showed very little fringing. Images were sharp—sharper than either the Nikon D80’s or the Sony Alpha A100’s.”
Website: PCMagazine - Canon EOS 400D Review
Website: Read our Canon EOS 400D Review
PCMagazine have reviewed the new 10 megapixel Nikon D80 DSLR camera.
“The D80 packs excellent performance, very good image quality, and a long zoom lens. There’s little not to like about it, except perhaps the high sticker price ($999.95 list). That amount covers the camera body only, but $1,299 nets you a very fine 18- to 135mm lens in addition, which is what I used in testing the camera. In my opinion, it’s well worth the extra cost.”
Website: PCMagazine - Nikon D80 Review
Website: Read our Nikon D80 Review
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. In Search Of A ‘Versatile’ Non-SLR
2. Image 9877 And Counting
3. My First Ever Mistake
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
Phase One Press Release
September 20th, 2006, Copenhagen, Denmark: Phase One®, the world leader in professional digital imaging solutions and SanDisk® Corporation, the world’s largest supplier of flash storage card products, are helping photographers to realize the benefits of shooting in RAW. Starting October 16, 2006, for a limited time only, SanDisk will include a coupon in their Extreme packaging for online registration and download of Capture One for free in Europe, Americas and a few countries in Asia. Capture One LE normally retails at $ / € 99. The bundle of the two products will enable photographers that shoot in JPEG to easily join their professional peers in working in RAW. Extreme III users who already shoot RAW images can now process their images in the industry leading Capture One at no additional charge. Purchase of Extreme III cards also offers upgrades from Capture One LE to Capture One PRO at a 15 per cent discount. Upgrades can be purchased through Phase One’s on-line store at www.phaseone.com.
The PictureMate Pal, Snap and Flash will all be available in September 2006 for $149, $199 and $299.
Epson America Press Release
Epson Builds on Success of PictureMate® Personal Photo Lab Family With New Printers That Deliver Even Better Image Quality, Speed and Ease of Use - PictureMate Pal, Snap and Flash Offer Professional Quality 4” x 6” Photos That Consumers Can Easily Print Themselves
LONG BEACH, Calif., Sept. 6 /PRNewswire/—Building on the phenomenal success of the PictureMate personal photo lab line, Epson America Inc. today announced three new printer models, which enable consumers to easily print professional looking 4” x 6” photos themselves at home or wherever they choose, with or without a computer. The newest PictureMate printer line, which includes PictureMate Pal™, PictureMate Snap™ and PictureMate Flash™, boasts several improvements over the previous generation, including features that make it even easier to print the best looking photos with no tradeoffs.
DIWA member LetsGoDigital have just reviewed the new 10x zoom, 5 megapixel, compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 digital camera.
“Although the Panasonic Lumix TZ1 did well in the test run and we really enjoyed having the MEGA O.I.S image stabilizer, we still see some challenges ahead for Panasonic. The noise ratio at ISO values of 400 and higher is still a stumbling block for this manufacturer. Looking at the competition, we can see that it is possible to get more out of the small CCD image sensors and to have less obvious noise than there was at 400 ISO and higher.”
Website: LetsGoDigital - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 Review
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. WANTED: Splashproof 28mm 7x Zoom Ultra-Compact
2. Histogram 101
3. Waiting For Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review
4. Telecaster Or Stratocaster
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
PCMagazine have reviewed the Samsung Digimax L85, which features 8-megapixels, 5x optical zoom (38-190mm - 35mm equivalent), 2.5-inch LCD display (230K pixels), full manual control and 11 preset scene modes.
“My tests show it has the worst shutter lag of any camera I’ve tested to date. Sadly, the Digimax’s deficiencies don’t end here: The camera also has serious autofocus problems. Many point-and-shoot cameras have one or two lighting conditions that give their autofocus trouble. The L85 had problems in many different situations: low light, bright light, high contrast. More often than not, I had to find another angle to shoot from in order to achieve proper focus in the scene. “
The Nikon D80 digital SLR camera is officially announced. In one of the most protracted launches ever, where even Nikon themselves leaked pictures of the new camera and several sites started D80 forums, we can finally tell you about the 10 megapixel Nikon D80, which will cost £699.99 body only in the UK. The D80 is also available in kit form with the 18-70mm lens for £899.99, and the new 18-135mm lens for £949.99. Early September is the anticipated release date.
Nikon UK Press Release
Nikon UK is pleased to announce the introduction of the D80, a high performance digital SLR camera incorporating Nikon’s latest digital and photographic technologies. This outstanding interchangeable-lens digital SLR boasts automated operation and advanced features, designed to satisfy photographers with the passion to create beautiful photographs. The Nikon D80 features a 10.2 effective megapixel DX Format CCD image sensor, providing a new level of high resolution and sharp detail. With this, however, also comes the freedom to crop creatively and print impressive enlargements. Nikon’s DX Format sensor and F bayonet lens mount design assures compatibility with the Nikon D80 across the comprehensive range of AF and DX Nikkor lenses.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Different Horizontal And Vertical Resolutions
2. Digital Dust Revisited
3. Olympus Stylus 710, A Good Choice
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
Adobe Press Release
Digital Photography Workflow Solution Now Available for Windows® and Macintosh Platforms
London — July 19, 2006 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the public beta of Adobe® Lightroom™ software for the Windows platform, a digital imaging workflow solution for professional photographers. Now available for both the Windows and Macintosh platforms, Adobe Lightroom beta is the efficient new way for professional photographers to import, select, develop and showcase large volumes of digital images. Windows-based photographers now have the opportunity to assist with the development of Lightroom by testing this new beta download and submitting feedback to the Adobe Labs forums at http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/lightroom.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. $30 PhotoShop Equivalent
2. Carry That Weight
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, inventor, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected] , and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
World-Renowned Photographer Kevin Ames Set to Teach Nationwide Pro Digital Workflow Seminar Series Presented by Blue Pixel - Attendees Will Benefit Greatly from Hearing Valuable Secrets of Professional Digital Imaging Workflow First-Hand
Annapolis, MD – June 27, 2006 – Still trying to strike the balance of efficient digital photography workflow and ending up with high-quality results? Learn how as Blue Pixel presents the Pro Digital Workflow Tour with Kevin Ames. Beginning Sunday, September 17 in Washington, D.C., talented digital photographer and author Kevin Ames will teach professional and advanced amateur photographers how to get the most out of their digital photography using the fewest steps for the least amount of work, by improving their digital workflow.
DIWA member LetsGoDigital have reviewed the new 6 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 camera.
“The 6x optical Lumix DC Vario zoom lens performed superbly during the practice tests. The images are sharp, and excellent results are produced over the entire range. Although a certain degree of chromatic aberration and distortion is visible in the wide-angle mode, it is not insurmountable. Upon zooming in lightly, these small wrinkles are quickly evened out, which ensures you will be presented with a decent and attractive end result.”
Website: LetsGoDigital - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 Review
CNET have reviewed the new 10x zoom, 5 megapixel, compact Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 digital camera.
“Images from the Lumix DMC-TZ1 showed accurate, natural colors, with plenty of saturation. Plus, exposures were generally accurate, though it had a tendency to clip detail from the brightest portions of our field test images. Unfortunately, we also saw moiré in the finer details of our test images, which were noticeably soft and suffered from JPEG artifacts and fringing. More troubling, though, was that like a lot of Panasonic cameras, the DMC-TZ1 had a tough time keeping noise in check.”
Website: CNET - Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ1 Review
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. No Need To Go Below ISO 200
2. Whether To Weatherproof Or Waterproof
3. Nikon D70 Front Focusing Problem: S-O-L-V-E-D
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected], and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Nikon D70 Front-Focused Images (Part III)
2. How To Achieve Smaller Image Files
3. Busy As A Bee
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected], and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Nikon D70 Front-Focused Images (Part II)
2. The Big Picture (Take Two)
3. Another Kodak Moment … Happy Mother’s Day !!!
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected], and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
PCMagazine have the first online review of the entry-level Fujifilm FinePix A500 Zoom digital camera.
“Looking for a digital point-and-shoot that is both affordable and easy to use? Fuji has one for your consideration. The Fuji FinePix A500 ($179 list) is a 5.1-megapixel compact digital camera that features a 3X optical zoom. The lens has a 6.4mm-to-19.2mm zoom range (equivalent to a 35mm lens with a 38mm-114mm zoom) and corresponding maximum f-stops of f/3.3 to f/5.5. It comes with 12MB of internal memory and includes Fuji’s patented Super CCD sensor (but I have to say that I’ve never noticed that this special sensor does anything out of the ordinary). On my tests, the A500 took very good stills and delivered solid performance for low-cost camera.”
PCMagazine have just reviewed the new 6 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 camera.
“Panasonic’s recent ad campaign promoting MEGA O.l.S., its image stabilization technology, includes the catch phrase “Life’s a blur. Your photos shouldn’t be.” It’s a good line and, for the most part, appropriately highlights this technology’s performance. The MEGA O.l.S. (optical image stabilizer) hardware comes in handy on Panasonic’s 6-megapixel Lumix DMC-LZ5 compact digital camera, which has twice the zoom range of most compacts I’ve tested.”
Website: PCMagazine - Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ5 Review
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. Large Sensors Just As Noisy As Small Sensors?
2. I Dream Of (A Digital Camera) Jeannie
3. It’s A Mac/Win-Win Situation
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Senior Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imagination run wild. Email all your nagging digital camera questions to: [email protected], and then, En Garde!
You may also attach to your email an ORIGINAL PHOTO of your choosing. A preview of the photo will be displayed with your question, and a full-sized version will be just a click away (unless you request otherwise). No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically include it in the text or attached photo of your email, which may be further edited for grammar, content, or other reasons.
PMA 2006: PMA 2006 turned out to be as much about the future as the present, with some of the hottest new products just being prototypes or mockups, rather than the real deal. Consequently you won’t be able to get your hands on quite a lot of the kit that has been announced until May, June, or even 6 months later in the case of the Panasonic DMC-L1 and the as yet un-named 10 megapixel Pentax DSLR. In fact, of all the products listed in our Hot Top 10 for PMA 2006, only 2 of them are available to buy today (Bibble Labs 4.6 and Muvee). Carry on reading to find out which products made our top 10…
Fujifilm UK Press Release
A polar first, and maybe a last. Captured on Fujifilm - Fujifilm memory cards to document a historic journey to the North Pole and beyond
Fujifilm is proud to announce that its CompactFlash cards have been selected for Adventure Ecology’s epic expedition across the ice of the Arctic ocean, from Russia to Canada via the North Pole. Due to the rise in global temperatures, this transcontinental ice route may soon be inaccessible by man, and the images documenting the team’s journey will become our last record of this path. The four-person team, including Britons David de Rothschild and photographer Martin Hartley, departed early March from Cape Arctichesky in Russia and are travelling across the ice towards the North Pole, then on to Canada. The trip will cover 1,240 miles, and, if completed, will be the first time that Britons have made the surface polar crossing from Canada to Russia. Images and reports detailing the expedition’s day-by-day progress can be viewed at: www.adventureecology.com/mission1
This week’s Gary’s Parries topics are:
1. High-Zoom Ultra-Compacts (The Noise On The Street)
2. Love That HP Photosmart 475 Printer
3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1 Structural Tests
Introducing this week’s Gary’s Parries column. Everything you always wanted to know about digital cameras, but were afraid to ask. No question too difficult, or too easy. As a Principal Software Engineer, and a former Assistant Professor of Computer Information Systems, as well as a recording studio owner/operator, and now, a digital camera enthusiast, GARY has more digital camera knowledge in his entire brain than most people have in their little finger. In the unlikely event that GARY would not know the answer to your question, he will answer it anyway, true to the spirit of the word “Parries”, a fencing term which, in this context, implies “cleverly evasive answers”. So let your imaginations run wild. Email all your nagging questions to: [email protected], and then, En Garde!
The best question of the week will receive a small PRIZE from the PhotographyBLOG goody bag, so send your questions now.
If you do not see your previously submitted question in this week’s column, it may have been submitted too late for consideration, in which case it will be held over for next week. If your question is selected for publication, the complete text of your email will be included in the column, but may be edited for grammar, consistency, or other reasons. No personal information will be published with your question unless you specifically type it into the text of your email. All judging is done on an impartial basis without regard to race, creed, color, sex, national origin, professional status, physical disability, mental handicap, or model of camera owned (these latter two go hand-in-hand). The decision of the judges is final.
Here are this week’s questions and answers.
Fotolog Press Release
Founded in 2002 as way for a small group of friends to share photos, Fotolog now has more than 2 million members in 200 countries. To meet the increased demand, Fotolog implemented a major hardware upgrade and code overhaul over the past few months that has greatly enhanced the Fotolog experience. If you haven’t visited Fotolog in a while, the first thing you’ll notice is speed – the site is now averaging less than 2.5 seconds for page delivery and 230,000 photo uploads daily (vs. 180,000 in November).
DIWA Press Release
DIWA Gold Award to Samsung Pro815 megazoom camera
With the digital age, Samsung has become one of the major camera manufacturers in record time. The Digimax camera range has gained popularity all over the world thanks to a remarkable value for money ratio. With the new flagship, the Pro815, Samsung also displays a capacity of high-class camera manufacturing, assisted by their renowned lens manufacturing partner, Schneider-Kreuznach of Germany.
Amsterdam, 6. February, 2006 – DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), a world-wide organisation of collaborating websites within digital imaging, today has the pleasure of announcing a DIWA Gold Award to the 8 Megapixel Samsung Pro815 digital megazoom camera.
Adobe have also posted a useful series of Frequently Asked Questions about Lightroom.
What is Lightroom Beta?
Adobe Lightroom Beta is a new, exciting product built from the ground up for professional photographers. It is an efficient, powerful way to import, select, develop and showcase large volumes of digital images. It allows you to spend less time sorting and organizing images, so you have more time to actually shoot and perfect them. Project Lightroom aims to get direct product feedback from the photography community, via our new Adobe Labs web site, so that photographers will have a huge say in what Adobe actually ships.
PCMagazine have reviewed the new Kodak V570 camera that was first announced yesterday.
“For us, the real appeal of this camera is the 23mm wide-angle view. It’s great for capturing landscapes, interior settings, or any picture where you’re fairly close to your subject. Like any wide-angle lens, using this one will distort images. Shooting with the 23mm lens is can be a very cool compositional tool, enabling you to work with interesting distortions or views that you generally get only on an SLR with a wide-angle lens. Just be sure to take some test shots to see what the distortion looks like.”
Website: PCMagazine - Kodak V570 Review
Website: Read my Kodak Easyshare V570 Review
Olympus UK Press Release
Olympus releases first firmware update for E-500
12 December 2005 - A firmware update is now available for the Olympus E-500 digital SLR. Changes to the previous version include the addition of a three-step adjustable button timer, a white balance off option and a security mode to protect against the unintentional erasing of both JPG and RAW versions of the one image.
Dedicated to ensuring users enjoy the best possible photography experience, Olympus now releases firmware version 1.1 for the Olympus E-500 digital SLR.
DIWA Press Release
Photoxels.com, a major digital imaging website based in Canada, becomes the 12th member of the DIWA Awards organization. Their success is the result of drastically simplifying the mysteries about photography and digital imaging, making it readily available to anybody. Still, the information provided is truthful and the product reviews are objective and trustworthy, a must to be accepted as a DIWA Awards member.
Amsterdam, 6. December, 2005 – DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), a world-wide organization of collaborating websites within digital imaging, today has the pleasure of welcoming the high quality Canadian digital imaging website, Photoxels.com, as the second DIWA member on the American continent.
DCViews have published their review of the Canon IXUS 750 digital camera (also known as the Canon PowerShot SD550), which has 7.1 megapixels, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens.
“When we tested the S400 or IXUS 400 in October 2003 we mentioned that we had lost count on the number of Digital Elphs in existence at that time. Two years on, it is clear that it is not a question of how many more Elphs Canon will release but when the next one will arrive. With most manufacturers replacing or updating digital models almost every six months, Canon keep supplying us with a steady stream of new compacts of which the SD550, or IXUS750 as it is called in certain markets, is the most recent one. With a 7-megapixel sensor, a fast 9-point AiAF autofocus system and 3x optical zoom the SD550 is now Canon’s top model in the series, sporting a huge 2.5” LCD screen and an ultra compact stainless steel body. As we have come to expect, all Elphs are built like the proverbial tank and will be good for many years of photo fun. Our personal IXUS400 is now more than two years old and although its design and features are becoming a bit dated it is still going strong after more than 10.000 images.”
Website: DCViews - Canon IXUS 750 Review
Photographic Magazine have reviewed the new entry-level Konica Minolta Dynax 5D digital SLR camera.
“Metering performance was excellent, and the 5D did a great job with bright, high-contrast subjects like white birds in direct sun. Dynamic range and color reproduction are excellent, but highest-quality JPEG images were a bit noisier at all ISO settings than with the 7D (I couldn’t test RAW image quality because the necessary software was not yet available when we received our test sample). All in all, though, image quality is very good. Besides ISO settings from 100 to 3200, the 5D offers an Auto ISO mode, in which the camera sets an appropriate ISO for the shooting conditions—very handy in rapidly changing lighting situations.”
Website: Photographic Magazine - Konica Minolta Dynax 5D Review
Pixmantec Press Release
ANNOUNCING THE ULTIMATE RAW WORKFLOW TOOL - $59.00 OCTOBER ONLY!
Copenhagen, October 28th 2005: Danish digital imaging software specialists Pixmantec announce the release of the latest addition to their Photographers’ Toolbox applications for the camera RAW format, RawShooter | premium 2006. Building on the incredible success of the FREE RawShooter | essentials 2005 product (now with several hundred thousand copies installed worldwide), RawShooter | premium 2006 provides unsurpassed RAW workflow functionality and professional image quality at an unbeatable competitive price. In addition to a state of the art feature set, RawShooter | premium 2006 adds camera RAW support for several new DSLRs including the Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 1D II N.
DigitalCameraReview have reviewed the HP Photosmart 475 compact photo printer, which can store up to a thousand photos internally on an internal hard drive, eliminating the need to store images on a PC or camera.
“Quality is also very good. I used a single image and printed it both to the Photosmart 475 and a Photosmart 2510, which utilizes six colors for truer photo prints. Both printers were set to print in Best mode and the 2510 had the Maximum DPI option selected. In side-by-side testing, images from the portable 475 were as good as or better than the 2510. The 475’s photo had crisper detail and more vibrant colors. Granted the 2510 is two years old, but it just goes to show how much printing technology continues to change. In this case, the 475 uses HP’s Vivera inks whereas my older 2510 does not. It makes a notable difference in side-by-sides provided you’re looking for the differences. Finally, I will mention that the Photosmart 2510 required just over 4 minutes to print a photo that took the 475 just 2 minutes.”
Website: DigitalCameraReview - HP Photosmart 475 Review
The Epson PictureMate Express Edition is announced. The PictureMate Express Edition is the third PictureMate and will retail for $149. The new Epson PictureMate Express Edition is 35% faster than the original PictureMate model and can print a 6x4 inch photo in 80 seconds.
Epson USA Press Release
Epson Adds PictureMate(R) Express Edition to Its Line of Personal Photo Labs - Company Also Reduces Pricing for PictureMate and PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition in Anticipation of Holiday Shopping Season
LONG BEACH, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/—Last year, Epson’s PictureMate(R) personal photo lab was a top choice among gift givers looking for the perfect digital camera companion for their friends and family members. With less than 90 days left to shop for holiday gifts, Epson is giving consumers yet another PictureMate product to choose from—and making the popular line of 4” x 6” compact photo printers even more affordable.
The latest addition to the PictureMate product line, Epson’s new PictureMate(R) Express Edition (MSRP $149) has all the benefits of the original PictureMate, plus a faster print speed that allows users to print brilliant, glossy 4"x6” photos in as little as 80 seconds—35 percent faster than the original PictureMate(1). In addition to the introduction of a third PictureMate model, Epson also is reducing the price of its existing PictureMate products. PictureMate and PictureMate(R) Deluxe Viewer Edition are now available for a suggested retail price of $129 and $199, respectively.
TrustedReviews have reviewed the Pentax OptioS55, a 5 megapixel camera with a 2.5 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens.
“The control layout is simple enough, but this is not a simple camera, and I would certainly not recommend it for a first time user. My parents, both in their 70s, took the S55 on holiday to Italy to get me some good test shots. My father is a keen amateur photographer and owns a couple of nice film SLRs, but he had never used a digital camera before. I attempted to explain the S55’s multiple modes and options to him, but after going over it twice I still don’t think he’d really grasped it. I can’t say I blame him though because to be honest even I found it confusing and difficult to understand.”
Website: TrustedReviews - Pentax OptioS55 Review
Foto Imagen Digital have a great interview with Toshiyuki Terada, Olympus Product Manager, about the new Olympus E-500 digital SLR camera.
“In our tests we have found that the focus accuracy and reliability in Olympus reflex is very good, better than some of the competition, but the Olympus auto focus are still slow…
This is true. Olympus has not a long run in auto focus making, as other brands have. We know that we must work fast and hard in this respect. We are proud of our auto focus accuracy, and probably it is better than other brands ones, because accuracy mainly remains in the work and integration of the system: lens, mount, sensors… And we have created an all-new integrated system. Other brands don’t. But focus speed remains mainly in the firmware, in the algorithms, and we are improving this. I ask my designers for more speed too! But, always keeping accuracy. We try to improve the speed while keeping the accuracy.”
Website: Foto Imagen Digital - Interview With Toshiyuki Terada
CNET have published their review of the Canon IXUS 750 digital camera (also known as the Canon PowerShot SD550), which has 7.1 megapixels, 2.5 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens.
” A slightly more expensive version of the PowerShot SD500, which remains in Canon’s product lineup, the Canon PowerShot SD550 comes with a larger 2.5-inch LCD and a new finish. Like its sibling, it has an exterior design that combines form and function more elegantly than any point-and-shoot we’ve ever tested. A Digic II-powered image-processing system enables the PowerShot SD550 to snap a limitless stream of 7-megapixel photos at a respectable clip, its start-up time is tops in its class, and it delivers decent photos when compared to its competition.”
Website: CNET - Canon IXUS 750 Review
Website: Read my Canon Digital Ixus 750 Review
Virtual Traveller has compared a full-production Canon EOS 5D digital SLR (pictured) and the 24-105 f4L IS USM lens with an EOS 20D and 17-85 f4-5.6 IS USM lens.
“I practically ran home after work to start testing the new camera, as the light was failing (yes, I’m that sad!) I live near Tower Bridge in London so I rushed out to take a few comparison shots near the bridge just before sunset. My aim was to compare the cameras, not to take good photos. Also, the cameras were on their own in this test - I wasn’t going to be helping them out by using my knowledge. I know the 20D tends to overexpose quite badly in contrasty light, but for the purposes of this test the cameras would be left to their own devices. I was expecting the metering to be identical on both cameras, and it pretty much seemed to be.”
ACD Systems Press Release
ACD Systems Releases ACDSee™ 8 Photo Manager – the Fastest, Most Powerful Software for Taking Control of Your Growing Photo Collection
New search, organize, edit and sharing capabilities will enhance the way photo enthusiasts manage their growing numbers of digital pictures
VICTORIA, British Columbia – Sept. 7, 2005 – ACD Systems International Inc. (TSX: ASA), makers of ACDSee™ photo management software and Canvas™ technical illustration software, today announced ACDSee™ 8 Photo Manager for photography enthusiasts. With the release of ACDSee 8, ACD Systems sets the standard in both speed and usability for enthusiasts who manage rapidly growing collections of digital photos.
According to the Photo Marketing Association, more than 20 billion digital images will be taken this year in the United States alone. As cameras and camera phones create opportunities to shoot and store more pictures, it becomes increasingly difficult for enthusiasts to find, organize and share their digital photos. Family photo lovers, nature photo enthusiasts and creative amateurs alike are discovering they require advanced photo management capabilities when their photo collections exceed 500 photos.
Graphics Management Press - Press Release
Digital Secrets and Graphics Management Press have released DSLR: Canon Digital Rebel XT / EOS 350D eBook.
A deep camera deserves a deep eBook. Something that goes beyond the manual and explores how to get much more out of the camera and its features. That’s the targeted goal of the DSLR series of eBooks.
The Canon Digital Rebel XT is an amazing camera with features so deep that virtually no single photographer uses them all. There are even four different functioning cameras inside the XT and each behaves with different buttons in different ways for different kinds of photographic results.
Here’s a camera that has redefined the DSLR market and the new Rebel XT eBook digs deep beneath its surface to bring out its secrets, special techniques, tricky technologies and wide range of accessories and lenses.
TrustedReviews have reviewed the new Fujifilm FinePix F10 Zoom, which has an ISO range of 80 to 1600, Super CCD sensor with 6.1 megapixels and a 2.5 inch LCD screen.
“Despite my love of photography, there are few cameras that I would describe as a real pleasure to use, but the F10 is one of them. It feels solid and comfortable in the hand, the controls fall neatly under the fingers and thumb, and respond quickly and positively. The camera’s performance is also exemplary. It starts up in 1.3 seconds, which is respectably quick for a camera in this class. It has minimal shutter lag, and a consistent shot-to-shot time of just over a second in High-Speed Shooting mode. The AF system is particularly good. I was testing this camera alongside a similarly-specified model from another manufacturer, and in every situation the Fuji focused and shot faster.”
Website: TrustedReviews - Fujifilm FinePix F10 Zoom Review
Olympus Europe Press Release
Jon Nicholson puts the Olympus E-300 to the test amid the action of the F1 circuit
Hamburg, June 2005 – Since professional Formula One photographer Jon Nicholson first shot with the Olympus E-300, it has hardly ever left his hands. Starting with the first ’05 race in Melbourne, the digital SLR from Olympus has been his constant companion during each of this season’s F1 events so far. An enthused Nicholson cites the camera’s responsiveness, large LCD and professional ergonomic feel among his favourite features and sums up his fondness for the Olympus E-300 with an unmistakably clear “I am very impressed!”.
Website: Read my Olympus E-300 / Evolt Review
DigitalCameraInfo have reviewed the 5 megapixel Nikon Coolpix 5600 that was announced at PMA in February.
“The Nikon Coolpix 5600 boasts 5.1 effective megapixels on its 1/2.5-inch CCD. When tested, we determined the camera utilizes just 2.72 megapixels for imaging. This is 54% of its advertised count and a dismal resolution score. These results are not altogether surprising as many of the compact Coolpix models we have tested thus far seem to fall short in this department. This does not mean small (4x6-inch) prints made from the 5600 will display compromised quality, it just limits the potential print size considerably. Users who attempt to make 8x10 prints from the 5600 will likely be disappointed, particularly after realizing much of the camera’s $249.99 retail price stems from the 5 megapixel CCD included. Consumers might be better off looking for a more affordable 4 megapixel camera with additional shooting flexibility and control. “
Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Nikon Coolpix 5600 Review
Website: Read my Nikon Coolpix 5600 Review
Epson PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition is announced by Epson USA. The Epson PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition is an updated version of the original popular PictureMate which offers several improvements. Most notable is the addition of a 2.4 inch colour LCD screen for previewing and editing your photos (the lack of a colour LCD was something that I criticised in my review of the original PictureMate). The Epson PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition can now print more quickly - Epson claims 40 percent faster than the original PictureMate. The PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition will be available by June 2005 for a suggested retail price of $249.
Epson USA Press Release
At-Home Photo Printing Even More Convenient with Epson’s PictureMate Deluxe Viewer Edition
LONG BEACH, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—May 10, 2005—Extension of PictureMate Line Features Premium Photo Viewer, Faster Print Speed And Enhanced Printing and Editing Features for Easier, More Versatile Digital Photo Printing
With digital camera adoption surging to nearly 46 million households(a), an increasing number of consumers want better solutions for printing lab quality photos in the convenience of home. One of the biggest annoyances has been having to download images onto a computer and then fuss around with software in order to format and print photos, which can be difficult and time-consuming. And what about the growing number of digital camera owners who don’t even own a computer?
DIWA member Steves Digicams have reviewed the HP Photosmart R717, a 6.2 megapixel digicam with a 1.8 inch LCD screen and 3x optical zoom lens in a stylish stainless steel body.
“I was pleased with the overall image quality when using 6MP *** mode. Its 3x optical zoom lens produces tack sharp results through out its range. The majority of our outdoor test shots were well exposed, and colors were nicely saturated. I did noticed an average amount of noise in High/Low contrast areas, but there was an improvement over the R707. The Adaptive Lighting feature was useful when shooting either indoors or outdoors; when using it, the camera increases the gamma of the image to better enhance the detail of objects in low contrast (shadow) areas, but the image quality does suffer a little, if you’re not going to print anything larger than an 8x10” you should be fine.”
Website: Steves Digicams - HP Photosmart R717 Review
Website: Read my HP Photosmart R717 Review
PCMagazine have just published their review of the Canon Digital IXUS 700 digital camera (also known as the Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital ELPH).
“Canon has added yet another sibling to its ever-popular Digital Elph series—the 7.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot SD500 Digital Elph. As we’ve said time and again, having more megapixels doesn’t necessarily lead to better images. But we certainly can’t argue with this camera’s excellent image quality. The SD500 also performed very well on our speed and sharpness tests, and it’s got a fun My Color feature that will appeal to many types of shooters. Overall, the SD500 is strong enough to earn Editors’ Choice among ultracompact cameras.”
Website: PCMagazine - Canon Digital IXUS 700 Review
DigitalCameraInfo have taken a look at the budget-priced 3.2 megapixel Olympus Camedia C-310Zoom digital camera.
“The Olympus D-540 suits point-and-shoot consumers perfectly. It has a large 1/3.7-inch 3.2 MP CCD and significant 1.8-inch LCD monitor. The built-in flash and automatic interface helps the camera appeal to any level user in most shooting situations, although there are glaring limitations in control. Control is granted over Exposure Compensation, Flash, Macro Mode, and White Balance. This camera is straightforward in its automatic control set up; however, the on-screen menu has a layout that is tiresome at many points when setting different options. It is also important to note that during testing, the number of batteries used was astronomical - and should factor into the price somewhere, however, the camera’s light weight frame, handling ease, and shooting competence should more then compensate for this to the right type of user.”
Website: DigitalCameraInfo - Olympus Camedia D-540 Zoom Review
Website: Read my Olympus Camedia C-310Zoom Review
DPReview have today published their review of the 4 megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-L1.
“The price is good, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the DSC-L1 as a second camera - in the couple of months I’ve been testing it, this is the one camera that I’ve had with me virtually every waking minute. It is cameras like this that help maintain the significant advantage a dedicated camera has over a camera phone - and it’s a lot smaller than most cell phones too. It doesn’t do much more than point and shoot, but it does that very well (Canon et al could learn a lot about fast focus from Sony), and my only serious complaint is that I’d like a slightly more powerful flash - everything else is fairly minor.”
Website: DPReview - Sony Cyber-shot DSC-L1 Review
The 45th PhotographyBLOG Portfolio has been submitted by Alan Yuen.
”“My name is Alan YUEN, from Hong Kong. Hong Kong is a place for mix culture and with a lot of special vision, I hope to summit my portfolios on what I see and what I touch in different area of Hong Kong , I never touch the image on computer, I just like B/W and use B/W to tell what I saw.
I am a IT journalists work on a computer magazine in Hong Kong , most of my job is review and testing latest Digital Camera.”
Link to my web site:
http://homepage.mac.com/yuen
Website: Portfolios: Alan Yuen
Imaging Resource have reviewed the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50, a new compact and stylish 5.0 megapixel camera which features a large 2.0-inch LCD screen, enhanced speed and other design improvements.
“I printed out some of our test shots from it on the Canon i9900 printer we have in our studio. (An excellent printer, with great color and high resolution.) Looking at prints from the X50, I found its output looked great when printed as large as 13x19 inches. While I found the X50’s image noise levels at ISO 400 very objectionable when I viewed its images onscreen, 4x6 prints of my ISO 400 shots by and large looked entirely acceptable, and even 5x7 prints of some subjects looked OK. (The exception would be subjects with large areas of relatively flat tints, such as skies, solid-color walls, etc. In such instances, the colored noise speckles were still quite visible, even in 4x6 prints.”
Website: Imaging Resource - Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 Review
NikonNet Press Release 03/01/05
NikonNet and ‘Legends Behind the Lens’ Honor the Work of Veteran Commercial Photographer John Huet
MELVILLE, N.Y., Jan. 1 /PRNewswire/—Sometimes the moment elicits more inspiration than all the preparation in the world. For over 20 years,
renowned commercial photographer John Huet has lived by this concept. Considered to be one of the most successful commercial photographers working today, Huet’s images have been seen throughout the world. However, it’s his unique style that often raises eyebrows.
This January, NikonNet’s inspiring monthly, “Legends Behind the Lens,” honors the work of veteran advertising and commercial photographer John Huet. He has photographed some of the most recognizable images in national advertising campaigns for Nike, Adidas, BMW Motorcycles, Microsoft, the NBA, Wrangler, Nikon, and many others.
PCMagazine have taken a look back over the last year of new products and published their Best of the Year guide. The 8-megapixel Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom (pictured) is their recommended model in the Camera—Enthusiast category.
“Other models have longer zoom lenses and more intuitive menus, but the Olympus C-8080 Wide Zoom’s excellent picture quality, deep feature set, and solid construction make it a great choice for enthusiasts. It boots up and recycles very quickly. In testing, flash shots showed well-saturated colors and strong, balanced illumination. Exposure and colors were good in our simulated daylight shots.”
Other photography-related winners include the Leica Digilux 2, Nikon D70, Canon EOS 20D, Canon i9900 Photo Printer and Epson PictureMate.
DigitalCameraInfo have just reviewed the 4 megapixel FujiFilm FinePix S5100 digital compact camera.
“Loyal Fujifilm consumers would probably find this camera to be simple to use. However, I test and review cameras of all brands, and when compared to other digital cameras, the FinePix S5100 rates low for ease of use. Setup is difficult to learn and tedious to execute. I will admit that, once I had read the manual and knew where to put my fingers, the camera was much easier to use, but still not as easy as a point-and-shoot should be. Shooting in automatic mode was by far the easiest and most simplified means available on the camera. Changing manual settings such as the aperture or exposure became frustrating when I had to hold buttons down while scrolling with the four-way controller. Some buttons are smaller than they should be, and some buttons seem illogically placed.”
DCResource have posted their review of the 7 megapixel Pentax Optio750Z.
“While it’s not perfect, I do like the Pentax Optio 750Z quite a bit, and it earns my recommendation. It has a stylish, fairly-compact body with a handy flip-out LCD display. Build quality is very good for the most part, save for the cover over the battery/memory card compartment. Despite its size, the Optio packs a 5X zoom lens—great for telephoto lovers who don’t want to carry around a bulky ultra zoom camera. Photo quality is very good, though a bit noisier than the other 7MP cameras I’ve tested. Images were well-exposed, colorful, and very sharp, all with a minimum of purple fringing. You may encounter some blurry corners or vignetting in flash shots while using the 750Z.”
Website: DCResource - Pentax Optio750Z Review
Epson America Press Release 17/11/04
PictureMate, The No. 1-Selling 4’’ X 6’’ Ink Jet Photo Printer, Now in Full Distribution across United States
LONG BEACH, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Nov. 17, 2004—The PictureMate(TM) personal photo lab, the No. 1-selling(a) 4"x6” dedicated ink jet photo printer in the United States, has gone into full distribution—making the popular personal photo lab available to even more of the estimated 33 million-plus digital camera owners(b) across the country just in time for the holiday season, according to Epson officials.
The PictureMate personal photo lab and PictureMate Print Pack, the affordable ink and paper combo pack, are now available nationwide at consumer electronics retailers, computer superstores, mass merchandisers, office superstores and photo specialty stores. Consumers also can purchase PictureMate online, via catalogs and through television shopping.
PictureMate, which launched in limited distribution earlier this year, is the first and only dedicated photo printer to address all the barriers digital camera owners have had with printing their photos at home.
PCWorld have just reviewed the stylish Polaroid PP46d Thermal Photo Printer.
“I tested a shipping PP46d by printing images taken with a 5-megapixel camera and stored on a CompactFlash card. The print quality was great, prompting one of my colleagues to remark that the prints looked like “real pictures.” The unit also reproduced colors accurately, with skin tones, landscapes, and even a white wedding gown looking crisp and clean.”
Website: PCWorld - Polaroid PP46d Thermal Photo Printer Review
DCResource have posted their review of the Kyocera Finecam M410R, a 4.0 megapixel digital camera with a high-powered 10x optical zoom and high-speed lens.
“The Kyocera Finecam M410R is an ultra zoom camera whose biggest claim to fame is its stunning continuous shooting performance, and it lives up to the hype. If the image quality was better then I’d be more enthusiastic about this camera, but unfortunately it was not. Photos were fuzzy and soft and colors were dull in many of my real world test photos. In addition, there was mild vignetting in nearly every picture I took. In addition, there was no noise reduction for long exposures, and redeye was above average. One thing that wasn’t a problem was purple fringing.”
Imaging Resource have just reviewed the Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600, a value-packed, high performance 6 megapixel digital camera.
“Don’t let its small size fool you, Konica Minolta’s DiMAGE G600 digicam packs a lot of features into its tiny body. Boasting an all-metal, very compact body and full assortment of exposure options (including full manual exposure control and a nice range of color adjustments), the G600 should be a good fit for a wide range of users. The dual-slot memory system accepts both SD memory cards and Sony Memory Sticks (a feature that first debuted on the Konica KD-400), although the G600 doesn’t provide compatibility with the Memory Stick Pro format, as did the recent G400 model. Adding to the G600’s attractions are its tiny size and all-metal body, as well as a high-resolution, four-megapixel CCD and very fast startup time (according to my tests, 1.9 seconds from power up to the first shot captured, fast indeed).”
Website: Imaging Resource - Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600 Review
Dual DIWA Awards to Nikon: Gold Award to D70 and Silver to COOLPIX 8700
24. September, 2004: DIWA (Digital Imaging Websites Association), a world-wide organisation of collaborating digital imaging websites, today announced that two Nikon digital cameras have been awarded for outstanding test results. On all accounts, the Nikon D70 satisfied the DIWA testing experts, who honoured its overall performance with a DIWA Gold medal in the category of digital system cameras. Also another high-quality Nikon digital camera, the compact megazoom model COOLPIX 8700, has passed the rigorous DIWA tests with excellent results, qualifying for a DIWA Silver medal.
The Nikon D70 took the D-SLR market to new heights by introducing exceptional features and qualities at a very reasonable price. Although the camera is targeted for advanced amateurs, also numerous professional photographers have found the D70 to deliver exceptionally good value for money. The DIWA testing team confirms this impression. Numerous individual reviews conclude that the Nikon D70 qualities are indisputable, regardless of the price issue.
The Nikon COOLPIX range of high-performance digital compact cameras is topped by the 8 Megapixel COOLPIX 8700. Several reviews, based on the comprehensive DIWA testing procedure, confirmed that the camera performs better than many of its rivals, with scores well within the DIWA range for a Silver medal.
IN THE IMAGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Jose Snijders (LetsGoDigital), Mark Goldstein (PhotographyBLOG), Dennis Hissink LetsGoDigital), Mark Peters (LetsGoDigital), Kai Thon (DigIT)
DIWA Press Release 17/09/04
Pan-European PhotographyBLOG joins DIWA Awards, The Digital Imaging Websites Association
DIWA Awards is a fast-growing association of expert websites specialised in digital imaging technologies and product reviews. Today, the group is proud to announce its 12th member website: www.photographyblog.com, a pan-European site, presently located in London and Paris.
PhotographyBLOG was started in January 2003 by UK photographer Mark Goldstein and has quickly grown to become one of the premier sources of photography news on the Internet. The main purpose of PhotographyBLOG is to report all the photography news, as it happens. Reviews are also a fundamental part of the site, with detailed reports on digital and film cameras, printers, software and other photography products. PhotographyBLOG has a very popular photo Gallery, Forum, User Reviews database and Portfolios section, as well as running regular photo competitions and prize giveaways. From being a small personal weblog about photography, PhotographyBLOG is now a vibrant community with a large amount of subscribers.
Mark says: “The speed of the Internet never stops to amaze me. Only 18 months after its modest beginning, I’m proud to learn that my site is invited to join the prestigious DIWA organisation. My introduction to the unique DIWA testing procedure confirms its reputation of being the most comprehensive and rigorous of its kind”.
Although PhotographyBLOG originated as a news website, it is now increasingly focusing on product reviews and tests. Joining an international organisation like DIWA is indeed an inspiration for Mark and his team, as they now establish themselves in Paris.
Digital Photography Blog have published a handy guide to online photo processing and printing sites, which coincidentally includes a link to my own online print services review.
“Along with the rise of the digital camera, the past year or so has seen a large number of Online Photo Processing and Printing services appear one the web. Its difficult to sort through the different options - especially when many of them seem to have a very similar online presence and special offers.
We’ve found a few sights that have tested many of them and have collated them below for your convenience. Feel free to add your own experiences of online photo processing and printing services below in our comments section.”
DCResource have posted their review of the 5 megapixel, 10x optical zoom Kodak EASYSHARE DX7590 digital camera.
“Although not what I’d call “excellent”, the DX7590’s photo quality is very good overall. My test photos were well-exposed with saturated (and accurate) colors. Images are on the soft side, though, and details like grass and leaves seem “overprocessed” and fuzzy (which has been the case with recent Kodak cameras). If you’re making prints 8 x 10 inches and smaller this isn’t an issue. Any larger than that, or if you like viewing images on your computer screen at 100% then you will notice. Purple fringing showed up a few times (it tends to be worst than average on ultra zoom cameras) but I wouldn’t consider it a problem.”
Connected Home Media have reviewed the Canon EOS 300D digital SLR.
“The Canon EOS Digital Rebel ($999) is a fabulous camera for photographers who desire more than the basics. If you have the time and inclination and curiosity to explore the myriad capabilities of this striking piece of equipment, I think you?ll find that very few cameras at this price point can match the professional image quality and sheer usability of the Digital Rebel. Best of all, in my testing of the Rebel, I found that I could swap out the included 18-55mm lens and affix my old lenses, meaning this is a camera that gives me the best of SLR functionality in the digital realm.”
Imaging Resource have published their review of the HP Photosmart 945 digital camera, which features a 5.3-megapixel total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x optical zoom). The HP Photosmart 945 digital camera is available now and has an estimated U.S. retail price of $549.
“I found my view of the HP 945 evolving quite a bit as I worked with it. My initial reaction was pretty negative - It just seemed bulky and clunky, and so sloooow in the rapid-fire environment of our test studio. Looking at its images up-close on the computer screen, the way the Digital Flash feature emphasized image noise in the shadow areas led me to largely write it off as a marketing gimmick. When I actually went out into the field with the camera for some more laid-back shooting though, I found myself changing my mind, and ended up liking it quite a bit.”
SanDisk Press Release 23/08/04
SanDisk CompactFlash Memory Card Survives Blast That Destroys Camera—and Records Moment of Impact
Razing of old highway bridge across the Mississippi River created a more powerful than expected back-blast for photographer and camera gear on the ground. Photo courtesy of Southeast Missourian.
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Aug. 23, 2004—Photographer Was Nearly Too Close in Attempting to Photograph the Dynamiting of a 76-Year-Old Span on the Mississippi River
When a demolition crew set off an explosion to bring down an old highway bridge on the Mississippi River, newspaper photographer Don Frazier was so close that his hair stood on end. His digital camera, positioned on a tripod at an even closer point to remotely capture the event, fared much worse. It was blown to bits.
But to Frazier’s amazement, there on the ground, inches from the shattered remnants of his new pro-level camera, was his SanDisk(R) 256MB CompactFlash(R) card, which he had owned since 1999. Surprisingly, except for a few nicks, it was unscathed, even though it had been blasted from the camera chamber. And when he inserted the card into a PC reader, up popped an image that has astonished everyone who’s seen it.
Photobird.com have posted a great interview with Rafa Torcida, who has had a portfolio published here on PhotographyBLOG.
Photobird.com Press Release 17/08/04
Torcida discusses his inspirations, his methods, and his tools for creating beautiful photographs
San Francisco, CA - August 17, 2004 - Photobird.com, the easy way to share your photos around the world, today announced the immediate availability of its interview with international award-winning Spanish photographer Rafa Torcida. In this revealing interview, Rafa Torcida shares some insight into the tools he uses, his photography methods and processes, and his variety of inspirations that enable him to create beautiful photographs. This interview with Rafa Torcida is available for free to everyone visiting Photobird.com and is published in the Photobird Learning Center at www.photobird.com/learn/rafa.html. More details and a free trial to Photobird.com for sharing digital photos is available at www.photobird.com.
“I was really amazed when I saw Rafa’s photos for the first time. They are some of the most vibrant and inspiring photos I have ever seen. Naturally, I wanted to learn more about Rafa and his techniques. I also wanted to share his ideas with other digital camera users and
photographers so they can learn, improve their skills, and simply enjoy Rafa’s magnificent work,” said Ed Krimen, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Photobird.com. “One of the best ways to improve one’s skills in any craft or occupation is to learn more from the experts. I’m very pleased that Rafa was able to take time out of his busy schedule to share his thoughts with Photobird.com so that we can in turn share his expertise with everyone visiting Photobird.com.”
The website Digital Media Thoughts have published a comparative review of 4 different high-speed SD memory cards, testing which one is the quickest and how that relates to its overall value.
“In the realm of flash memory cards, most vendors offer two or more types of cards: the regular version, and a professional version that’s said to be much faster than the normal version of the card. I always thought that those “high speed” memory cards were something you could only take advantage of if you had a high-end professional camera, and that the extra top-end speed was wasted when used in a PDA, phone, or consumer-level device. Imagine my surprise when performing a test on a Pocket PC and I saw different numbers when using a high speed Sandisk memory card! This prompted me to do some further investigating, so I created a simple test to see how several cards from top vendors measure up against each other.”
Website: Digital Media Thoughts - Memory Card Shoot-Out: Four 512 MB Secure Digital Cards Compared
Dp-Now have published their First Look at the 5 megapixel Ricoh Caplio GX digital camera.
“Alas, the Caplio GX is a frustrating disappointment. The camera is nice to use and to hold. OK, there are some irritations, like the flash system charging lock-out and the occasional reticence to shoot when ordered, but overall - the Caplio GX is a camera that looks and feels like it should take great pictures, but it doesn’t.
We always print test shots because examination on the screen can be misleading. But if anything the printed results made things even worse for the GX, showing up noise issues in an even harder light.”
Website: DP-Now - Ricoh Caplio GX First Look
ImageRecall Press Release 22/06/04
ImageRecall Offers European Digital Camera Users Professional-Grade Photo Recovery with ImageRecall 2.0
The easy-to-use software is now available throughout Europe from ImageRecall’s network of distributors and retail stores.
Winchester, Hampshire, UK -June 22, 2004- ImageRecall announces the European availability of ImageRecall 2.0, a professional-grade photo recovery program that retrieves lost images, data and sound files from flash memory cards. According to the Photo Marketing Association, Europe overtook the Americas during 2003 as the world’s largest market for digital cameras, accounting for 36 percent of all units sold. This increasing popularity can be attributed to recent improvements in picture resolution that make it possible to take digital photos that are the same quality as film. Unlike film however, digital images are subject to losses from accidental deletions, reformatting and random corruptions. With more dependence than ever on digital film for keepsake images and professional shoots, losing digital pictures can be devastating.
Imaging Resource have reviewed the 4 megapixel Kyocera Finecam L4v, which has a huge 2.5 inch LCD display on the back of the camera.
“Slightly disappointing resolution for a four-megapixel camera. The L4v performed fairly well on the “laboratory” resolution test chart, though somewhat below my expectations for a four-megapixel camera. It started showing artifacts in the test patterns at resolutions as low as 600 lines per picture height, in both horizontal and vertical directions. I found “strong detail” only to 1,050 lines in both directions. “Extinction” of the target patterns occurred around 1,200-1,250 lines.”
If you’re a Canon DSLR user who’s interested in long-lens photography, then you will want to take a look at the new article from Michael Reichmann over at Luminous Landscape. Michael has tested the Canon 100-400 f/5.6L IS against the Canon 400mm f/5.6L using the DxO Analyzer optical testing system. Can the zoom lens beat the prime?
“Recently I started testing some of my existing cameras and lenses with DxO Analyzer. Based on e-mails that I receive and the numerous questions that I see on various equipment Forums around the Net, one of the most common questions concerns what is the best moderately priced 400mm solution for Canon lens owners? This test is intended to partially answer that question, at least with regard to measurable optical performance.”
Website: Two Canon 400mm Solutions Compared
Imaging Resource have just reviewed the PowerShot SD110 Digital ELPH, which packs 3.2 megapixels into the smallest digital ELPH camera ever made with an optical zoom (a 2x zoom lens with a cross-section smaller than a dime). Estimated street price is $299.
“Excellent color. As I’ve become accustomed to with Canon cameras, the SD110 delivered excellent color throughout my testing. Colors were bright and accurate, although I did think that strong additive primary colors (red, green, blue) tended to come out a little oversaturated. The white balance system worked very well, although its Auto option had a lot of trouble with the incandescent lighting of my Indoor Portrait test. In that test though, the SD110’s Incandescent and Manual white balance settings did a very nice job. Skin tones were good, and it’s really hard to find much fault with the SD110’s color in any of the test images.”
Website: Imaging Resource - Canon PowerShot SD110 Digital ELPH Review
Dphoto.us have posted a test of the new 8 megapixel professional DSLR from Canon, specifically looking at image quality at the high ISO speeds of 1600 and 3200. They look pretty amazing to me…
“I took the 1D Mark II for a spin at Victory Field, home of the Indianapolis Indians, AAA affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. When shooting at Victory Field at night, common practice is to try your best to get your shots in at dusk. Noise levels, even on the 1D were generally not adequate to get good quality shots. Well, the Canon 1D Mark II has changed all that. This camera offers new opportunities for low light photographers. The results were astounding and beyond my expectations.”
Website: Dphoto.us - Canon 1D Mark II Sports High ISO Impressions
Fujifilm Press Release 22/03/04
Fujifilm digital camera image scoops Wanderlust Travel Photo of the Year award
Fujifilm is proud to announce that the winner of the prestigious Wanderlust Travel Photograph of the Year Award (Digital Category) is Andrew Chong, using Fujifilm’s FinePix 6800 Zoom camera. Andrew’s photograph of wildlife on the Galapagos Islands was a clear winner, beating other entrants using newer or higher specification cameras, including the Nikon D100 and Canon EOS 10D.
The FinePix 6800 has been a hugely popular camera, and is ideally suited to the challenges of photographing wildlife because of its powerful optical zoom that captures images quickly and discreetly without intimidating the subject. This feature enabled Andrew to achieve crisp, detailed images without having to use a large, bulky zoom lens.
DCResource have published a comprehensive review of the 4 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE G400 digital camera, which is actually exactly the same model as the Konica KD-420Z.
“While not my favorite camera of the bunch, the Konica Minolta DiMAGE G400 is a solid performer. Probably its most impressive trick is the ultra-fast startup time—really amazing. It also takes very good photos, though they’re slightly noisy. The camera did surprisingly well in our redeye test, as well. While the G400 starts up quickly, the autofocus performance wasn’t as impressive—especially in low light.”
Luminous Landscape has today reviewed DSLR Remote Pro from Breeze Systems, a software program which allows you to connect a Canon DSLR to your PC and directly operate your camera’s controls and take photographs from your PC.
“As I was testing DSLR Remote Pro and putting it through its paces I found that the hours were slipping by. But, I couldn’t stop. I would take a frame and seconds later there it was on my screen to be studied in detail. Not a tiny viewfinder image. Not a coarse and unrepresentative rear LCD display, but a large 21” highly detailed image. I played with exposure changes, colour balance and more. I looked to see how blown highlights were handled by the camera with minute exposure setting changes. Then it hit me. What a great learning tool this is.”
Nikon UK Press Release 28/01/04
Nikon COOLPIX 8700—A new flagship for the Nikon COOLPIX series with 8.0 effective megapixels and an 8x Zoom-Nikkor ED lens
TOKYO - Nikon Corporation is pleased to announce the introduction of the COOLPIX 8700 Digital Camera.
With an impressive 8.0 effective megapixels and a powerful 8x zoom lens, the COOLPIX 8700 is positioned as the lineup?s newest flagship model. It delivers unmatched image quality—a hallmark of all Nikon products—and offers an advanced ergonomic design which greatly enhances operational ease and comfort.
The camera primarily targets users who already explore advanced forms of photographic expression, but are unsatisfied with current compact digital cameras. The COOLPIX 8700 meets their demands, especially those that require state-of-the-art image quality, higher zoom power and even greater portability and ease of use. Anyone in search of an extremely versatile, high-quality digital still camera will find the COOLPIX 8700 loaded with possibilities.
The COOLPIX 8700 carries an astonishing 8.0 effective megapixels for ultrahigh-definition photography. The clarity of your images is ensured by the professional-quality 8x Zoom-Nikkor lens. With its 8.9 - 71.2mm focal range (equivalent to 35 - 280mm in 35mm [135] camera format), the lens incorporates two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) lens elements to minimize chromatic aberration and give you clear and crisp image reproduction. In addition, the Optical Low-Pass Filter is optimized, which helps the new high-definition CCD image sensor make the most the incredible optical performance. The result is remarkably clear, natural images with unparalleled detail and contrast. The basic performance of the COOLPIX 8700 has also improved. This includes faster start-up time, faster data recording, shorter release time lag and a new AF-Assist illuminator for quick AF operation in low light.
The camera incorporates four exposure modes: Programmed Auto [P], Shutter-Priority Auto [S], Aperture-Priority Auto [A] and Manual [M] combine to give you the greatest degree of creative control possible. The COOLPIX 8700 also offers [AUTO] mode, in which the camera automatically selects appropriate exposures and shutter speeds, giving users high-quality point-and-shoot capability. And for striking images in practically any situation, the new COOLPIX features 12 versatile [SCENE] modes. Simply select the mode appropriate to your lighting conditions, and the camera is able to automatically adjust the focus, flash, contrast, sensitivity and white balance.
The COOLPIX 8700 features many advanced digital controls, such as BSS (Best Shot Selector), AE-BSS (Auto Exposure-Best Shot Selector) mode, Noise Reduction mode, Saturation Control and White Balance Bracketing. These are often crucial to obtaining optimum image quality. To help ensure that you don?t miss those unexpected or fleeting moments, the COOLPIX 8700 also has a 5 shot buffer mode. Versatility is further enhanced by handy, innovative features such as movie capability with audio and the Time-lapse movie mode, which is ideal for observational recording.
The newest member of the COOLPIX family comes equipped with a large, Vari-angle LCD monitor for increased visibility—even during bright daylight. Moreover, the improved high-resolution EVF (Electronic Viewfinder) offers greater contrast and a clearer images. And the compact, lightweight magnesium (Mg) alloy body has been designed for maximum durability and portability, with a secure, comfortable grip for stability during shooting.
New Framing guides on the LCD monitor offer an optional means of achieving ideal composition, and the new real-time histogram display lets you select the best exposure value while shooting. For those who desire more creative freedom when editing, the COOLPIX 8700 also offers RAW data image mode.
The COOLPIX 8700 comes loaded with all the essential accessories: a battery and charger, an A/V cable, a USB cable and the comprehensive Nikon View software package. The camera is also compatible with a host of optional accessories, including wideangle, telephoto and fisheye converters. It can also be fitted with a Lens Hood that uses lens filters. In addition, the COOLPIX 8700?s accessory shoe accommodates a number of Nikon?s external Speedlights.
This incredible array of features and quality accessories helps make the COOLPIX 8700 a truly special achievement in digital photography.
Note: Specifications, design, product name, standard accessories, and release schedule may differ by country or area.
DPReview have reviewed the Fuji FinePix S7000, which is the successor to the popular FinePix S602 model. The S7000 uses Fuji’s 4th Generation Super CCD HR with 6.3 Million Effective Pixels output and 12.3 million recorded pixels. It costs around $799.99 and is available now.
“The S7000 is in a fairly unique position, it is the only prosumer digital camera with a six megapixel sensor. Indeed, until the announcement of Sony’s eight megapixel DSC-F828 it was the highest resolution prosumer digital camera. Test results versus the Sony were mixed, our studio comparison shots showed better performance from the F828, however the S7000’s 12 MP mode matched the F828 on the resolution chart.”
Website: DPReview - Fuji FinePix S7000 Review
Just in time for Christmas, Steves Digicams have posted their full review of the Nikon D2H digital SLR.
“I have only one disappointment with the D2H I’ve been testing - Nikon wants it back. To say that I’ve been spoiled while using it is an understatement. I’ll repeat what I said earlier: The D2H was nearly transparent as I used it; it did not demand my attention or make me wait, and allowed me to concentrate my efforts on capturing images, not operating a camera. I will surely miss this camera when it’s gone, but I’ll have some fond memories.”
Website: Steves Digicams - Nikon D2H Review
DCResource have published their review of the HP Photosmart 945 digital camera, which features a 5.3-megapixel total resolution and 56x total zoom (8x optical zoom). The HP Photosmart 945 digital camera is available now and has an estimated U.S. retail price of $549.
“Color and exposure are both accurate, and images are sharp (since HP cranks up the in-camera sharpening). One thing I did notice (probably due to the image sharpening) were a lot of “jaggies” on edges in my test photos. They’re not hard to find—just open up any image. Purple fringing (chromatic aberrations) were higher than average, a common trait of ultra zoom cameras. Noise was also a little higher than I’d like, but it’s no worse than other top models in this class.”
Nikon Press Release 05/11/03
Service engineers at Nikon’s German Service Centre were amazed to discover during routine servicing recently that a Nikon F5 had achieved 1,092,904 shutter releases without fault.
Translating into about 35 kilometers of film this figure is a testament to the durable design of the mechanism, now also shared by the latest Nikon D2H Professional Digital SLR.
To put the 1,092,904 shutter releases into context, it equates to 34 hours of continuous shooting at 8 frames per second.
The camera is one of the bodies used in the Matthaus Photographic Studio in Nuremburg, Germany.
Nikon Germany?s Service Manager Joachim Hoffman said: ?This is the most shutter releases I have ever seen. The F5 shutter is, in my opinion, definitely more durable than any other camera?s. Because the F5 in question was well looked after and serviced regularly, that makes it last longer- it?s a bit like going to the dentist!? he added.
DCResource have reviewed the 5 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE G500, which has a 3x zoom lens with a range that is equivalent to 39 - 117mm on a 35mm camera.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the photo quality on the G500. For a compact camera, they are very good. Minolta definitely has the sharpness cranked up, which adds a tiny bit of noise to the images. Color and exposure were also good. Purple fringing / chromatic aberrations were nowhere to be found (except for a little in the torture test). I guess the blurry corner is my only real complaint—good job Konica/Minolta!”
Well-known UK UK wildlife photographer Andy Rouse has has just published his review and 10-day field test of the Canon EOS 300D. Andy subjected the 300D to tests that are usually handled by the likes of the much more expensive 1D and 1DS, so this will be one of the more unusual reviews of the 300D that you’ll ever read.
“Speaking as a photographer I actually like these enhancements and they make shooting a whole lot easier with the 300D than the 10D. Having the settings information just below the viewfinder means I can quickly glance at it without having to shift the camera away from my eye. It?s a shame that the compass point buttons are only used for controlling the menu functions and setting the ISO / White Balance, as they would have been superb for controlling the autofocus points.”
Website: Andy Rouse - Canon EOS 300D Review
DPReview have added a new section to their Olympus E-1 preview, courtesy of Les Freed, the photographer who used the E-1 at the USA Formula One Grand Prix in Indianapolis last week. Called “A Day (or three) at the Races”, this is a professional photographer’s personal observations of the E-1:
“Although I had previously used an E1 for a week, the F1 race was the first extended, all-day shoot I’ve done with the camera. Unlike the paid pros working the race, my career wasn’t on the line. But I was there to put the E-1 to the test, so I treated the race weekend as I would any other assignment - which meant that I had to get some decent pictures.
I can’t think of a more demanding event to test a camera. During the three day event, our cameras were subjected to rain, dozens of lens changes, the occasional hard knock, and very heavy use. The weather ranged from clear and sunny to heavy rain - sometimes within minutes of each other. An Olympus technical representative was present to help with questions and offer suggestions, but we were otherwise free to shoot at our leisure. “
Website: DPReview - Olympus E-1 Update
DCResource have completed their review of the Canon EOS 300D, adding test photos and a conclusion to their earlier first look at the camera. Like everyone else, they only have positive things to say about the 300D:
“Based on the pages of text above, you probably don’t need to hear my conclusion. But I’ll repeat it anyway: the Canon Digital Rebel is a breakthrough product, bringing the digital SLR to the masses. I must confess that my level interest in the Minolta A1 and Sony DSC-F828 dropped immediately after the announcement of the Rebel. Many will ask, “why spend $1199 on a fixed lens camera when I get get a D-SLR and choose from scores of lenses and accessories for $899?” That will be a tough decision for many people over the holiday shopping season!”
Website: DCResource - Canon EOS 300D Review
Imaging Resource have posted a quick review of the very futuristic-looking 3.2 megapixel Minolta DiMAGE Z1. This new digicam has a 10x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 38-380mm 35mm camera zoom, which in combination with the digital zoom offers a 40X zoom range.
“I was quite impressed though, with the way the Z1 combined a novice-friendly design with a surprising array of advanced features to satisfy more expert users. Both the price point and battery life are also impressive. Minolta also has a great track record for high-quality lenses on their digicams, so I’m expecting good things of the Z1’s optics. Final judgment will have to await my in-depth testing of a production model, but based on this First Look, the Z1 is definitely going to be a long-zoom digicam to watch.”
DPReview have reviewed the Fuji FinePix F700, which has a 6.2-megapixel Super CCD SR. As a reminder, the F700 CCD improves image quality by widening the dynamic range, rather than just increasing the number of pixels. This should mean more detail in the shadow and highlight areas of an image than Fuji cameras have previously captured. Or at least that’s what Fuji claims anyway…
“It seems a pity therefore that the first SuperCCD SR digital camera simply doesn’t produce images that visibly have any more dynamic range than other traditional CCD digital cameras. Certainly in technical side-by-side tests it is possible to detect a little extra dynamic range but it doesn’t extend as far as we had expected nor has it delivered smooth highlights or extended shadow detail. On the contrary Fujifilm appear to have chosen a particularly contrasty tone curve for the F700 which means that it clips shadows to black far earlier than we would like, in addition overexposed areas of the image tend to clip harshly with an almost immediate pixel level transition from detail to pure white.”
Website: DPReview - Fuji FinePix F700 Review
Photo.net have published a review of the recently released Canon G5 by one of their readers, Jeff Spirer.
“It?s important to frame this review in the context of what and how I shoot. I don’t test cameras. Generally, I?m a street shooter, including people shots and my own twisted view of the world as we have built it. I don?t shoot nature (although I shot a tree for this review), sunsets, seascapes, or pets, but I do shoot portraits and I make some money doing music events and occasional photojournalism.”
Website: Photo.net - Canon G5 Review
DCResource have just reviewed the newest addition to Canon’s digital camera line-up, the Powershot G5:
“I have posted a rather lengthy (by my standards, at least) review of the Canon PowerShot G5. While overall, the G5 is a very nice 5 Megapixel camera, I was disappointed with the level of purple fringing in my test photos. It also has the same redeye and “view of the lens barrel through the optical viewfinder” problems as the G3. Still, it’s well worth a look.”
Digital Camera Resource Page have reviewed the Minolta Dimage Xt, an ultra-compact, ultra-thin 3 mega-pixel digital camera that can easily be slipped into a shirt pocket.
“The Minolta DiMAGE Xt is a small update to their DiMAGE Xi, adding just a few features here and there, along with an even more unique design. In terms of photo quality, the Xt isn’t going to win any awards, with above average barrel distortion, vignetting, some fuzziness in corners, and a “video capture” look—but then again, most cameras don’t have the Xt’s one-of-a-kind lens design. Everyday shooters and those people who do smaller prints won’t mind, but as I said earlier, enthusiasts may want to find a more traditional camera if photo quality is your number one priority.”
Website: DCRP - Minolta Xt Review
Coincidentally Imaging Resource have also reviewed the Dimage Xt; they seem a lot more enthusiastic about it (the site editor actually owns the previous model, the Dimage Xi):
“Based on my tests, I’d say that they’ve also once again further improved the camera’s color handling. The net result is an even more appealing version of one of my favorite subcompact camera models. Read on for all the details, but if you’re looking for a super-portable, stylishly different camera, the DiMAGE Xt deserves a close look.”
Website: Imaging Resource - Minolta Xt Review
...who are unsure whether their shiny new camera is suffering from the now legendary front/back focus issue, Bob Atkins has posted a quick guide to checking the focus. I’l be testing my camera later today - fingers crossed that it’s OK…
“There are many reports of focus problems with the EOS 10D. There are also many examples where the reported focus errors turned out to be user errors rather than camera errors. For a lot of users the 10D seems to be their first serious camera, their first SLR and their first exposure to the Canon AF system, so operator error isn’t unexpected. However the possibility does exist, and there certainly does seem to be some evidence to support the hypothesis, that some EOS 10D bodies have a problem which manifests itself as focusing in front of the intended subject. It’s also possible that in some cases the 10D has no worse errors than those in film bodies (Canon, Nikon or other), but the ability to do “free” tests in digital reveal those errors! It’s also possible that after being told that there is the possibility of the 10D focusing in front of the desired focus point, some users will find just that, whether or not an objective test shows it to be the case!”
Website: Photo.net - Focus Testing
Michael Reichmann from Luminous Landscape.com has at last reviewed the Canon EOS 10D.
“In the end the 10D will be bought by a broad range of purchasers. Entry level digital buyers will find that it meets their needs and gives them lots of room to grow and learn. Advanced amateurs and pros will find it to be a tool that effectively delivers high quality images, and does so at an attractive price. Many owners of 1D and 1Ds models will buy one as a back up body. In fact, a few weeks after returning my test camera to Canon I bought a 10D for myself as backup to my 1Ds. The D60, which had previously served that purpose, was sold to a friend as backup for his 1Ds. So to answer the question of those that will ask ? is it worth upgrading from the D60 to the 10D?, my answer is ? I did. “
Could Maurice Joubert from France be the very first EOS 10D owner?! There are no sample pictures taken with the 10D, but there some photos of the actual camera. I think Maurice is going to have a pretty busy weekend, fielding questions and testing out the 10D…
“This happend today. My local dealer knew that I was interested by a 10d. He called me today he had got one. He told me that he phoned to Canon.France and asked like anybody for avaibility, he was answered there was one available, he ordered it, et voila ! The kit is complete, except for the manual and soft, who are expected later.”
Website: DPReview - Canon SLR Forum
UPDATE: 10/03/03
Maurice has been out and about in Paris during the weekend and has now posted some sample images taken with the 10D.
Phil Askey at DPReview has posted a new review of the Olympus C-5050 Zoom, which currently retails for ?699 at Jessops.
Website: DPReview
Just posted! Our full in-depth review of Olympus’s C-5050 Zoom five megapixel, three times optical zoom digital camera. The C-5050 Zoom is one of the first of a new generation of five megapixel digital cameras based around a 1/1.8” (7.2 x 5.3 mm) CCD sensor. The advantage of sticking to the 1/1.8” format are that existing lens systems and bodies originally designed for three and four megapixel sensors can be used as the basis for the new cameras. This is exactly the case with the C-5050 Zoom. Read on to see how the camera fared in our tests.
The same camera receives an even more enthusiastic response at Imaging Resource.
Website: Imaging Resource
“I dubbed this one “the best camera Olympus has ever made”, a tipoff to my feelings about it. The 5050 is the latest in one of the longest-running lines of digicams in the industry, but this time around Olympus has significantly redesigned the user interface, as well as added some very welcome features not present on the previous 4040. All in all, a really excellent camera, one that I’m sure is going to find many happy homes.”