Archive for March, 2008
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-T70 Review (Digital Camera Review)
is a nice little camera with some unique features that just might fit this bill. Continue…
When Pentax recently released their updated flagship K20D and mid-range K200D, they also offered a series of new “DA” lenses designed specifically for Pentax DSLRs. One of the most impressive lenses from this latest release is the Pentax DA* 200mm ED (IF) SDM f/2.8 prime. After a few years of criticism over the lack of modern telephoto primes and long zooms, Pentax has stepped up to the plate in 2008 with some excellent new high-quality lenses for DSLR users. Can Pentax re-establish its former popularity with its latest line of cameras and lenses? If this lens is any indicator, they may be on the right track. Continue…
When Pentax announced the K10D back in 2006, serious amateurs and professionals quickly started paying attention. The K10D was more rugged and feature-packed than any Pentax digital SLR before it. In 2008, the company decided to update their line with the Pentax K20D, featuring a stabilized 14.6 megapixel CMOS image sensor, high quality image processing, dust- and weather-proof seals, 11-point AF, and more custom features than any photographer would need. If you’re in the market for a Canon EOS 40D or a Nikon D300, pay close attention. The Pentax K20D might just be the best choice you can make. Continue…
Having hit consumers with a barrage of new compact digicams just last month at PMA, Panasonic is back at it again today with the announcement of the ultracompact, 10.1 megapixel Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500. As a new flagship model for the FX line, the newest Lumix comes with a wide-angle Leica zoom lens, 1280×720 video recording capability, optical image stabilization, and – most notably – a 3-inch touch screen LCD. Continue…
[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital camera review, camera reviews[/tags]
Stanford researchers cram 12,616 tiny lenses into a 3D camera (Digital Photography News)
With the megapixel race already past the point of noticeable benefit to consumers, it looks like the next camera arms race will be the number of lenses your rig sports — a team at Stanford is working on a 3D camera that uses 12,616 micro-lenses to generate high quality 3 megapixel images with self-contained “depth maps” that measure the distance to every object in the frame. The system works by focusing each lens above four different overlapping sensor arrays, which work in concert to determine depth — just like your eyes. Unlike similar systems, the Stanford rig is able to use that data to create a depth map without lasers, prisms, or even complex calibration, which will allow the team to shrink the tech down to compact and cellphone camera size. Once it’s ubiquitous, the teams says depth map information can be used to do anything from enhancing facial recognition systems to improving robot vision, but there’s still a long way to go — the team has just started trying to work out how to manufacture the system.
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[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital photography news, digital camera news, camera news, photography news[/tags]
Digital Camera News, 3/18/08 (Digital Camera Review)
For some time now, higher-end Nikon DSLR cameras have had the ability to link with certain GPS receivers and record very precise information on the camera’s location at the time each image was captured. The typical setup, however, involved a compatible hand-held GPS unit, an adapter cord and interface cable, and some way to carry the GPS and keep the cords out of the way while shooting. With the arrival of the compact Solmeta N1 for Nikon users (and similar models coming soon for other brands), things just got a lot simpler for shooters looking to “geotag” their photos with detailed location information. Read More…
[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital camera review, camera reviews[/tags]
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX500 features touchscreen, 720p movie mode (Digital Photography News)
If Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-FX500 skipped out on PMA in order to get fitted with a touchscreen LCD monitor and HD recording capabilities, we’d say it was certainly a smart move. This well-spec’d shooter sports a pocket-friendly design, a 10.1-megapixel sensor, a 25-millimeter ultra-wide-angle lens, 3-inch touchscreen, 5x optical zoom and a swank movie mode capable of logging clips at 1,280 x 720 at 30fps. For those worried about said feature chewing through their SD / SDHC card (or the 50MB of built-in memory), WVGA (848 x 480) and VGA (640 x 480) video modes are available as well. You’ll also find such niceties as optical image stabilization, red-eye correction, face detection and Auto Focus tracking for good measure. Drooling yet? Chew on the choice of black or silver and get your $399.95 ready to drop come May.
[Via PCMag]
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[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital photography news, digital camera news, camera news, photography news[/tags]
Camera Tips and Tricks – Shooting the July sky
, Tips and Tricks
With the 4th of July (and Bastille Day, and a whole host of other regional excuses to set off large explosions in the Midsummer sky) in the offing, John Watson has a short tutorial on shooting fireworks. there are thousands of tutorials on this subject out there, but he boils it down to the essentials: use a reasonably slow ISO setting (100-200); don’t forget the tripod; exposure = length of trail; aperture = brightness of trail.
Working out the timing so that the starburst is centered wherever you’ve aimed the tripod is left as an exercise for the reader.
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[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital photography news, digital camera news, camera news, photography news[/tags]
Samsung announces world’s thinnest 8 megapixel cellphone module (Digital Photography News)
Measuring just 8.5-mm thin, you’re looking at what Samsung claims to be the slimmest CMOS camera module of its kind. The 8 megapixel module is expected to supplant the 5 megapixel job found in todays top-end cameraphones sometime in the second half of the year. Fortunately, this isn’t just a case of megapixel marketing as the module also features anti-shake, a 1-cm macro, and face tracking technology. It also packs a smile shutter feature to snap that picture just as soon as a smile, or vinegar, is detected.
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[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital photography news, digital camera news, camera news, photography news[/tags]
Solmeta N1 Digital Photo GPS Review (Digital Camera Review)
For some time now, higher-end Nikon DSLR cameras have had the ability to link with certain GPS receivers and record very precise information on the camera’s location at the time each image was captured. The typical setup, however, involved a compatible hand-held GPS unit, an adapter cord and interface cable, and some way to carry the GPS and keep the cords out of the way while shooting. With the arrival of the compact Solmeta N1 for Nikon users (and similar models coming soon for other brands), things just got a lot simpler for shooters looking to “geotag” their photos with detailed location information. More…
It seems that the bags we’ve been getting in for review around here lately have been getting bigger and bigger. With the recent arrival of Mountainsmith’s Capture AT, we’re wondering if we’ve reached the practical limit. A considerable bag in every sense, the highly functional, well-speced Capture takes a slightly different approach to configuration and design than many of the pro bags on the market. While it’s certainly not right for every shooter, or even every shooter with a large lens collection, the Mountainsmith’s ability to handle larger lenses, especially, potentially makes this gear hauler an excellent choice for a certain group of photographers. More…
When last I visited with a Canon SD camera wearing a 900-something number, it was the SD900 with a 10 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and no stabilization. My latest houseguest is the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS, and it’s amazing what those two extra letters can do for camera utility and desirability. But there are other incremental changes in the 950 to give it a bit more separation from the 900, and the letters are only part of the story. Still, the question arises if the improvements are significant enough to cause folks who like the 900 to trade up, or attractive enough to bring new believers to the flock. More…
In a surprise announcement this evening, Canon unveiled three new PowerShot SD models: the SD890 IS, the SD790 IS, and the SD770 IS. All three new 10-megapixel models build on trends seen throughout Canon’s new models this year, coming equipped with Motion Detection and Optical Image Stabilization technologies, DIGIC III processing, and Face Detection. Notable lineup updates include the aggressive and angular SD790 and the SD890′s addition of a 5x zoom model to the SD series. More…
Canon has lots of experience creating ultra-compact, feature-rich, easy-to-use digicams, but they really outdid themselves with last year’s snazzy little SD1000 it was hands down the best digicam in its class. The retro-minimalist Canon PowerShot SD1000 got rave reviews from both professional camera reviewers and ordinary consumers because it delivered everything an ultra-compact digicam could reasonably be expected to provide. Updating a very popular digital camera like the Canon PowerShot SD1000 is an especially tough job, but the new Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS retains most of what made its predecessor one of the ultra-compact digicam sales leaders of 2007. More…
When the Nikon D60 was announced in the build-up to PMA, many were slightly disappointed that Nikon’s head-on response to the latest entry-level offerings from other manufacturers didn’t do more to move beyond the specs and performance of its predecessor, the D40x. In some ways, this decision opens Nikon up to criticism that it’s falling behind the pack, but after shooting with the D60 for a day, it feels as relevant and high-function as ever – a testament to the longevity of the basic concepts, stylistic and functional, introduced in the original D40. More…
[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital camera review, camera reviews[/tags]
Dallas considers shutting off red light cams, since they’re working too well and harming revenue (Digital Photography News)
, Transportation
There’s just one, fairly ironic, flaw to the otherwise totally lovable red light cameras that adorn Dallas: they work too well. Turns out the cams have curtailed red light infractions by 50 percent, which in turn has put a budget crunch on City Hall. The city is now considering stopping its planned rollout of more cameras, or shutting down the cameras on a rotating basis — upkeep when off is next to nothing, but the city pays $3,799 per month per online camera to its service provider. That sounds like quite a spendy broadband bill, but we’re not the experts here. Just remember kids, your government wants what’s best for you, and what’s best for you is a well-funded government, alright?
[Via Fark]
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[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital photography news, digital camera news, camera news, photography news[/tags]
Camera Tips and Tricks – Hack: Disposable to Reuseable
, How-to’s
I have little exposure to disposable cameras; so the brands RitzCamera, CVS and Walgreens mean absolutely nothing. Apparently though you can take these cheapy little fillies and dispose of the disposable moniker and make them reusable.
TopTenDigitalCamera supplies all the details – from which connections to make through to where to download the software to turn “a disposable 10 dollar digital camera from RitzCamera, CVS, or Walgreens into one you can use over and over, just like a normal digital camera”. I just wonder though if all the trouble is actually worthwhile. The images, such as the one to the right, seem reasonable enough though.
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Continue…
[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital photography news, digital camera news, camera news, photography news[/tags]
Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS First Thoughts (Digital Camera Review)
retains most of what made its predecessor one of the ultra-compact digicam sales leaders of 2007. Continue…
In a surprise announcement this evening, Canon unveiled three new PowerShot SD models: the SD890 IS, the SD790 IS, and the SD770 IS. All three new 10-megapixel models build on trends seen throughout Canon’s new models this year, coming equipped with Motion Detection and Optical Image Stabilization technologies, DIGIC III processing, and Face Detection. Notable lineup updates include the aggressive and angular SD790 and the SD890′s addition of a 5x zoom model to the SD series. Continue…
Aesthetically, the Pentax K20D is virtually identical to the previous generation K10D, and it takes an experienced eye to notice the differences between these two SLRs. Pentax added a X-sync port for connecting studio strobes and a slightly larger 2.7-inch LCD monitor, but beyond these differences there is little to differentiate the exterior of the K20D from the K10D. Despite the visual similarity, however, the K20D is a unique animal. The addition of a 14.6-megapixel CMOS image sensor, improved high ISO performance, live view, and an amazing burst shooting mode capable of up to 20 frames per second make the K20D a truly impressive camera. Continue…
When Pentax announced the K10D back in 2006, serious amateurs and professionals quickly started paying attention. The K10D was more rugged and feature-packed than any Pentax digital SLR before it. In 2008, the company decided to update their line with the Pentax K20D, featuring a stabilized 14.6 megapixel CMOS image sensor, high quality image processing, dust- and weather-proof seals, 11-point AF, and more custom features than any photographer would need. If you’re in the market for a Canon EOS 40D or a Nikon D300, pay close attention. The Pentax K20D might just be the best choice you can make. Continue…
When the Nikon D60 was announced in the build-up to PMA, many were slightly disappointed that Nikon’s head-on response to the latest entry-level offerings from other manufacturers didn’t do more to move beyond the specs and performance of its predecessor, the D40x. In some ways, this decision opens Nikon up to criticism that it’s falling behind the pack, but after shooting with the D60 for a day, it feels as relevant and high-function as ever – a testament to the longevity of the basic concepts, stylistic and functional, introduced in the original D40. Continue…
When last I visited with a Canon SD camera wearing a 900-something number, it was the SD900 with a 10 megapixel sensor, 3x optical zoom and no stabilization. My latest houseguest is the Canon PowerShot SD950 IS, and it’s amazing what those two extra letters can do for camera utility and desirability. But there are other incremental changes in the 950 to give it a bit more separation from the 900, and the letters are only part of the story. Still, the question arises if the improvements are significant enough to cause folks who like the 900 to trade up, or attractive enough to bring new believers to the flock. Continue…
[eminimall ... ] [tags]digital camera review, camera reviews[/tags]
