Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED Lenses

Nikon has announced two new FX format lenses – the AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR and the AF-S 24mm f/1.4G ED. Read more »

Canon EOS MOVIE Plugin-E1 for Final Cut Pro

The Canon EOS MOVIE Plugin-E1 for Final Cut Pro is a plug-in currently in development that is intended to allow footage from EOS DSLRs to be edited more quickly and easily in Final Cut Pro.  The plug-in will be introduced in a free Beta release in March 2010.

Key features of the plug-in includes the enabling of the “log and transfer” of footage from the 5D Mark II, 7D and 1D Mark IV.  Moreover, the plug-in converts Canon EOS DSLR footage to Apple’s ProRes 4:2:2 at twice the speed of what you get out of the box with Final Cut Pro.  Adding timecode, reel names and metadata to footage will also be a faster and smoother task.

Stay tuned for updates on the availability of the EOS Movie Plugin-E1 for Final Cut Pro.

Canon PowerShot SX210 IS, SD3500 IS, SD1400 IS and SD1300 IS

Canon has introduced a number of new point and shoot cameras for its Spring 2010 lineup – the SX210 IS, SD3500 IS, SD1400 IS and SD1300 IS. Read more »

Canon Rebel T2i

The Canon Rebel T2i (the Canon EOS 550D in markets outside the US) is an 18MP DSLR that serves as a replacement to the popular Rebel T1i.  The Rebel T2i offers a number of advancements, including an improved metering system and a number of HD video recording options.  The Rebel T2i should be available in March 2010 at an initial retail price of $899 packaged with the EF-S 18-55mm IS lens or $799 for the body only. Read more »

An Open Letter to Nikon re: the 50mm f/1.8 Lens

Dear Nikon,

I think you are doing a great job with your cameras, lenses and accessories.  The entry-level series that started with the smaller form-factor Nikon D40 through the current D3000 and D5000 has been a real hit.  The D40 is a fantastic little camera that you have continued to build upon over the past several models in this line.  The D5000 is now one of the best bang-for-your-buck DSLR cameras on the market.

I understand that you needed to pull the AF motor out of these camera bodies in order to make them smaller.  I totally get that.  I will also say that you have done a good job with your lens selection since the D40 was introduced.  There are so many great AF-S lenses available now and you seem committed to continuing this trend.  To that end, kudos to you.

That said, we are all missing one crucial AF-S lens that is not in your lineup at this time – an AF-S 50mm f/1.8 lens. Read more »

Topaz Detail 2 Updated

Topaz Labs has updated its Topaz Detail 2 Photoshop plug-in with a speed boost, redesigned user interface and several other enhancements.

You can get more info at Topaz Labs’ website and in the press release below. Read more »

Canon UK Cashback Program Extended

Canon UK have extended the cashback program on Canon 450D and 500D cameras and kits through February 24, 2010.  Discounts range from £30 to £50.

UK shoppers can see all the cameras here on Jessops.com.

Canon 1D Mark IV vs. Nikon D3s ISO Comparison

The Canon 1D Mark IV and Nikon D3s are the two latest powerhouse DSLRs from the respective manufacturers.  As a quick rundown on the spec sheet, the Nikon D3s offers a 12.1-megapixel FX format sensor, while the Canon 1D Mark IV features a 16.1-megapixel APS-H (1.3x crop) sensor.  Both cameras offer extreme high ISO settings, up to the equivalent of ISO 102,400.

Which one offers the best noise control at these crazy-high ISO settings?  Read on to find out. Read more »

Alien Skin Blow Up 2 Review

Alien Skin’s Blow Up 2 is a Photoshop plugin designed to help you create images that are larger than the native resolutions coming out of your camera.  Alien Skin provided me with a review sample of Blow Up 2 and mentioned words like “presets”, “single-click” and “take the complexity out.”  I took them up on their claims and gave it a spin.

While I don’t enlarge many prints beyond 8×10, I have, on occasion, used Photoshop’s bicubic image sample method to enlarge prints up to 20″ x 30″.  I have always thought that this capability in Photoshop works pretty well.  That was, however, until I saw the results from resizing using the Blow Up 2 plugin. Read more »

Ricoh CX3

The Ricoh CX3 is a 10MP point and shoot camera with a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, a 10.7x optical zoom (28-300mm equivalent) and has the ability to capture HD video.  The CX3 should be available in February 2010 at an initial retail price of $399.99.  Check availability on Amazon.com.

More details in the press release below. Read more »