Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips
Looks like somebody showed up at the Nikon press conference on Thursday with one of the new Sony Alpha cameras. Here’s the pictures that showed up online:
You can follow the discussion regarding this sighting over at DPReview.com. I expect we’ll be hearing something from Sony on the new Alphas rather soon.
[tags]sony, alpha, a100, a200, a300, a400, a500, dslr, new[/tags]
DIY Photography has a new series, Back to Basics, underway. The first post in the series is on exposure. If you’re not familiar with the fundamentals of exposure, you should check it out.
Additionally, consider picking up a copy of Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. Bryan Peterson is an excellent teacher. He’s great at breaking down intimidating concepts for the novice and explaining them on your level. The book breaks up exposure into the three fundamental elements that go into properly exposing a photo: aperture; shutter speed; and ISO (or, film speed). This is the book to buy for those who have only ever used a point and shoot camera or who always shoot their SLR on full auto mode (the little green rectangle setting). Simply reading this book will make you a better photographer overnight if you fall into these categories.
If you’ve got a basic handle on these concepts but not sure you really grasp the significance of one or all of them then you should consider adding this book to your library as well. Aside from the technical basics, Bryan teaches you how to look at a scene and capture a creative photo in addition to a properly exposed one.
Before you buy another camera, lens, flash, or any other gear, buy this book if you’re wondering what you should spend you cash on. It’ll be the best $15 you ever spend on your photography gear.
[tags]photography, basics, exposure, learn, how-to, diy, bryan peterson, understanding[/tags]
Canon’s Response, originally uploaded by loc.nguyen.
. . . to Nikon’s recent announcement.
[tags]canon, 40d, 1ds mark iii, nikon, d3, d300, ad[/tags]
Rob Galbraith is still in the trenches with Nikon. He reports:
D3 bodies are currently being made at a rate of about 400 per day in Sendai, but this will grow to about 600 per day in September for a planned ongoing production of 12,000 units per month. Assembly of the D300, which takes place at Nikon’s factory in Thailand, will also be in full swing in September, at which time 60,000 units of the midrange digital SLR will emerge each month.
Both the Nikon D3 and D300 are set to ship in November. Stay current on the availability of the new cameras here.
[tags]nikon, d3, d300, availability, preorder[/tags]
New Camera Offers 27mm Wide-Angle Lens, Face Detection, Shadow Adjustment Technology, TruePic III and Other Innovative Features
CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 23, 2007 – Olympus introduces the new SP-560 Ultra Zoom digital camera, the all-in-one solution for consumers looking for power and versatility for any shooting situation. The compact SP-560 UZ blends ease-of-use with an industry-leading focal range (27mm wide-angle to 18x optical zoom), an 8-megapixel image sensor and the latest technologies to deliver superior image quality and performance.
These new innovative technologies include: [Read more…]
Video of the Nikon D3:
I know it’s not the best but it’s all that’s out there right now.
[tags]nikon, d3, video, review[/tags]
MELVILLE, N.Y. (AUGUST 23, 2007) – Eight years after Nikon’s D1 camera changed professional digital photography forever, Nikon today introduced the D3 – a new digital SLR camera that is poised to once again revolutionize photography for professionals. The 12.1 effective megapixel D3 features Nikon’s new FX-format CMOS sensor, measuring 23.9 x 36mm, which is nearly identical to the size of 35mm film. With the fastest startup time, shortest viewfinder blackout time, and shortest shutter lag of any digital SLR camera as well as the capability to shoot up to nine frames per second at full FX-format resolution, the D3 is the world’s fastest digital SLR camera in its class.*
Designed with sports photographers and photojournalists in mind, the Nikon D3 introduces an astounding list of brand new features and technologies that make it the most sophisticated and advanced Nikon digital SLR to date. In addition to the new FX-format CMOS sensor, the D3 incorporates Nikon’s new EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to the blazing speed and processing power needed for many of the D3’s new features.
Images taken with the D3 reflect exceptional overall quality, broad tonal range and depth, along with extremely low-noise throughout its normal ISO range of 200 to 6400. By setting the camera to its built-in options of Lo-1 or Hi-2, the ISO range of the camera can be expanded to the equivalent of ISO 100 or ISO 25,600 respectively, offering unmatched versatility in practically any shooting situation. [Read more…]
MELVILLE, N.Y. (AUGUST 23, 2007) – Nikon (www.nikonusa.com) today introduced its most advanced DX-format digital SLR camera, the D300. Engineered with pro-level features and performance, the 12.3 effective megapixel D300 combines brand new technologies with advanced features inherited from Nikon’s newly announced D3 professional digital SLR camera to offer serious photographers remarkable performance combined with agility.
Similar to the D3, the D300 features Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to driving the speed and processing power needed for many of the camera’s new features. The D300 features a new 51-point auto focus system with Nikon’s 3D Focus Tracking feature and two new LiveView shooting modes that allow users to frame a photograph using the camera’s high-resolution LCD monitor. The D300 shares a similar Scene Recognition System as found in the D3 that promises to greatly enhance the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance by recognizing the subject or scene being photographed and applying this information to the calculations for the three functions. [Read more…]
Nikon Introduces the World’s First 14mm Ultra Wide-Angle Zoom Lens with a Constant f/2.8 Aperture and a Highly Versatile 24-70mm f/2.8 Zoom, Making Professional Lens Selection Easier Than Ever
MELVILLE, N.Y. (AUGUST 23, 2007) – Nikon (www.nikonusa.com) today announced two new high performance NIKKOR lenses that offer remarkable sharpness, clarity and contrast. The new AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED lens is one of the fastest 14mm ultra-wide angle zoom lenses available today while the new AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED lens is a highly versatile lens ideal for a broad range of applications and lighting conditions. While designed for use with either of Nikon’s FX and DX format digital SLR cameras, these new lenses truly maximizes the potential of Nikon’s recently announced D3 FX-format professional digital SLR camera. Combined with Nikon’s venerable AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR, these new lenses now offer professional photographers the ideal three-lens solution with a constant f/2.8 aperture across all three lenses. [Read more…]