Photography Bay » Eric Reagan

New Sony Alpha Models Named: A55, A33, A560 and A580

Eric Reagan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 15:11:12 +0000

Sony Alpha Rumors claims to have a solid tip on the names and specs of the upcoming Sony Alpha DSLRs to be announced in August. The new, mid-range DSLRs are rumored to include 14MP and 16MP sensors, with additional specs provided below.

A55 (translucent) 16MP 10FPS EVF-1.44M 1.1X magnification 95% AVCHD full hd
A33 (translucent) 14MP 7FPS EVF-1.44M 1.1X magnification 95% AVCHD full hd
A560 14MP 7FPS MF recording AVCHD full hd
A580 16MP 7FPS MF recording AVCHD full hd

The “translucent” spec is in reference to rumors of a pellix mirror system.

[via Sony Alpha Rumors]

Copyright/DMCA Notice: The RSS entry was originally published on Photography Bay and is protected by copyright laws. It is unlawful to (a) edit, modify, alter, or create derivative works of the text, content or links supplied by Photography Bay, (b) use any robot, spider, scraper, other device or manual process to monitor or copy any content from the Photography Bay RSS feed, (c) sell, retransmit or commercially exploit the Photography Bay RSS feed, headlines or content in any manner except as expressly permitted in writing by authorized representatives of Photography Bay, (d) incorporate advertising into or the placement of advertising associated with or targeted towards the Photography Bay RSS feed or (e) use the Photography Bay RSS feed for any unlawful purpose or in violation of the rights of others. RSSID#794326

Sinar P-SLR

Eric Reagan — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 10:25:17 +0000

Sinar has designed a p-slr system that allows photographers to mount their DSLRs on Sinar view cameras. The Sinar p-slr will allow exact control of perspectives and selective sharpness to be set and evaluated precisely as on a view camera.

The Sinar p-slr will be available August 2010 for 1980 Swiss Francs. Check with your Sinar distributor for availability.

More details in the press release below.

Sinar Press Release

The Sinar p-slr was designed especially for photographers who would like to combine the convenience of digital single lens reflex cameras with the advantages and quality characteristics of a Sinar view camera. Exact control of perspectives and selective sharpness – the most important creative tools in photography – can be set and evaluated precisely on a view camera.

And now, Sinar also made all of these advantages available to the users of 35 mm SLR cameras. This well thought-out solution brings a significant enhancement of quality to users of 35mm cameras, because the high-resolution digital Rodenstock lenses can be used. The Sinar p-slr complies with the Sinar policy of offering photographers modular systems that are in keeping with the latest trends of the market. This upgrading set will be available as of August 2010 and it can be ordered right now at the price of 1980 Swiss Francs (not including the Value Added Tax).

Professionalism in the details

The Sinar p-slr can be used with all Canon and Nikon single lens reflex cameras currently on the market. Thanks to the quick locking adapter supplied with the Sinar p-slr, the format can be changed from vertical to horizontal with only a few motions and within seconds. If the single lens reflex camera is controlled by a computer, the integrated support for the cable ensures the safety and the protection of the USB / Fire Wire socket on the camera. A positioning- and centering aid serves for the exact positioning of the digital single lens reflex camera on the optical axis. That ensures that the sensor of the digital camera is positioned perfectly for vertical as well as horizontal exposures. This function is essential for making full use of the advantages of the view camera and for working professionally.
A summary of the advantages:

* Unlimited creativity in composing an image
* Unrestricted use of an existing single lens reflex camera
* Cost-effective use of an existing Sinar view camera for digital solutions
* Quick change from the vertical to a horizontal format
* Adapters for a variety of 35 mm cameras
* Unique expansion possibility for a live image by means of an additional monitor
* Increased quality by the use of digital medium format- and view camera lenses
* Support for USB- and power supply cables
* Extensive assortment of professional accessories, such as bellows lens hood and filters

Firmware Friday: Pentax K-7, Panasonic LX3, TZ7/ZS3, TZ6/ZS1

Eric Reagan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:17:47 +0000

Below you will find this week’s firmware updates. Hit the manufacturer website links for more details and download instructions for the firmware.

Pentax K-7 firmware version 1.10 – “Added Movie editing function on playback mode palette. You can divide a movie into multiple segments and erase unwanted segments from the movie. Added Electronic Level indication on the Monitor. When Mode dial is set M or X and Electronic Level is set to display, exposure meter is indicated both of them in the LCD panel and in the Viewfinder. Added [Reversal Film] mode on Custom Image function [PENTAX Digital Camera Utility 4] have been updated. When using Live View, auto focus activate by pressing shutter release button halfway. Also improved focus speed“ [Pentax website]

Panasonic LX3 firmware version 2.2 – “Optimization of software processing.” [Panasonic website]

Panasonic TZ7/ZS3 firmware version 1.3 – “Optimization of software processing.” [Panasonic website]

Panasonic TZ6/ZS1 firmware version 1.3 – “Optimization of software processing.” [Panasonic website]

“Ansel Adams” Garage Sale Negatives Most Likely from Uncle Earl Instead

Eric Reagan — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:20:20 +0000

As a follow-up to the buzzing story from earlier in the week, a California woman has come forward with a rather convincing claim that her Uncle Earl Brooks shot the $200 million+ Ansel Adams negatives in 1923.

She has original prints in her possession that are strikingly similar to negatives from the Ansel Adams garage sale collection.

[KTVU via CNN]

Canon 60D Nearing Launch, Confirmed by DxO?

Eric Reagan — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:22:48 +0000

Rumors of a Canon 60D situated in the EOS lineup below the 7D have been stirring in recent months. However, what appears to be an unintentional leak at DxO adds significantly more weight to those rumors.

While I would expect this page to be updated soon to remove the 60D references, DxO has its “roadmap” for DxO Optics Modules slating the 60D and a number of lenses on schedule for support in November/December 2010.

That would be about right for a camera released in August/September of this year.

Look for lots more on the Canon 60D as we approach Photokina 2010.

[DxO via Canon Rumors]

Panasonic G2 and G10 ISO and Noise Compared to Canon Rebel T2i

Eric Reagan — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:30:51 +0000

The Panasonic G2 and G10 are the latest and greatest Micro Four Thirds cameras from Panasonic. They both feature a 12.1MP Live MOS image sensor and come packaged with a 14-42mm kit lens. In short, I’ve been quite impressed with these two cameras during my review thus far. It seems to me that Panasonic is a step or two ahead over the other players in the mirrorless camera market right now.

As part of my upcoming review of the Panasonic G2 and G10, I decided to pit them against the Canon Rebel T2i to see how the noise control holds up. In order to do so, I put the cameras on a tripod and captured a number of images of the same scene at various ISO settings. I left the cameras in their default settings for noise control and such. I also left the cameras in auto white balance to demonstrate the cameras’ different interpretation of white under tungsten lights. Exposure times and aperture settings were the same across all cameras.

Below is a full view of the captured scene to give you an idea of what you are looking at in the close-up crops further down.

Panasonic G2 and G10 ISO Comparison to Canon Rebel T2i

Since the G10 and G2 only go up to ISO 6400, I placed those crops next to the Canon Rebel T2i at ISO 12800 again for comparison purposes.

Feel free to download any of these sample images for your personal inspection (not for republication). You can download the full size images by right-clicking on the images below and choosing “Save link as…”

Panasonic G2 ISO 100 – Panasonic G10 ISO 100 – Canon Rebel T2i ISO 100
Panasonic G2 ISO 200 – Panasonic G10 ISO 200 – Canon Rebel T2i ISO 200
Panasonic G2 ISO 400 – Panasonic G10 ISO 400 – Canon Rebel T2i ISO 400
Panasonic G2 ISO 800 – Panasonic G10 ISO 800 – Canon Rebel T2i ISO 800
Panasonic G2 ISO 1600 – Panasonic G10 ISO 1600 – Canon Rebel T2i ISO 1600
Panasonic G2 ISO 3200 – Panasonic G10 ISO 3200 – Canon Rebel T2i ISO 3200
Panasonic G2 ISO 6400 – Panasonic G10 ISO 6400 – Canon Rebel T2i ISO 6400
Canon Rebel T2i ISO 12800

Expect more on the Panasonic G2 and G10 in a full review soon.

The Panasonic G2, G10 and Canon Rebel T2i are available from B&H Photo at the following links:

Panasonic G2 at B&H Photo

Panasonic G10 at B&H Photo

Canon Rebel T2i at B&H Photo

By making your photography purchases at B&H Photo through these links, you are helping Photography Bay to continue bring quality camera tests, news and reviews. Thanks for your continued support.

New Video Cameras from Panasonic and Samsung

Eric Reagan — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:50:50 +0000

Panasonic released a number of new video cameras this week, including a 3D camcorder, while Samsung released a Flip-like video camera as well. Get the full scoop on all these latest video cameras at Tech Tilt via the links below.

Panasonic HDC-ST750 3D Camcorder

Panasonic HDC-SDX1 Camcorder w/ 1080i

Panasonic HM-TA1 Pocket Video Camera

Samsung HMX-E10 Pocket Video Camera

Tiffen Updates Photo fx for iPhone and iPod Touch

Eric Reagan — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:36:04 +0000

Tiffen has updated its Photo fx App to version 4 for the iPhone and iPod Touch.

“The new update features Paint Filter which includes brushes such as: Color, Clone, Blur, as well as Black and White Mosaic, Red Eye, Repair, Scatter and Eraser. Also included in this award winning app are: Sharpen, and Auto Adjust. The new Question Mark icon, tells you how to use any filter. Tiffen has also renamed the Photo groups and Filter placement to match those of the Photo fx Ultra iPad app. New Photographic features include: Eye Light Filter, Color Compensating, Color Conversion and Light Balancing.” – Tiffen

The $2.99 App can be purchased in the iTunes App Store, and Photo fx v4 is a free update for existing owners.

More info about Photo fx for iPhone and iPod Touch is available Tiffen’s website.

Samsung ST80: Wi-Fi Enabled Point & Shoot

Eric Reagan — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:30:16 +0000

The Samsung ST80 is a 14.2MP point and shoot camera that features a 3x optical zoom and a 3-inch touch screen display. The ST80 can capture 720p video in H.264 format and offers Wi-Fi connectivity to email and direct upload images to photo and video sharing websites.

The Samsung ST80 should be available in September 2010 at an initial retail price of $249.99. Check availability on Amazon.com.

More details in the press release below.

Samsung ST80 Press Release

Ridgefield Park, NJ (July 28, 2010) – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today unveiled the ST80, a 14.2 mega-pixel point‑and-shoot camera that joins Samsung’s growing line of Wi-Fi enabled digital cameras. With wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi and Samsung’s AllShare™ (DNLA) connectivity, the ST80 makes it easy to share images on the move and keep friends and family updated from anywhere at any time.

“We want to let people share their favorite pictures quickly while they’re on the move, and the ST80 does just that,” said Sangjin Park, President of the Digital Imaging Business, Samsung Electronics. “Connectivity is everywhere, and at Samsung we are committed to bringing these wireless capabilities to the digital imaging world by developing innovative cameras that satisfy the distinct needs of our consumers. The innovative and stylish design of the ST80 is also a testament to the strong vision of Samsung’s design engineers. It’s the perfect digital imaging solution for today’s well-connected consumer.”

Beauty and Brains

The unique style of the ST80 immediately makes it stand out from the crowd. Consumers will be drawn to the ST80’s slim and rounded design, which houses a 3x optical zoom as well as a large, 3.0-inch wide touch‑screen on the back of the camera. Consumers will also enjoy the smart features found within the camera. The ST80 comes equipped with Samsung’s new ‘Smart Crop’ feature, a unique editing tool which takes place directly on the camera. With ‘Smart Crop,’ users can crop images taken at any angle or slant, such as banners or signs, and then straighten them as if they were originally taken straight on. The ST80 also makes it easy to capture great images with Samsung’s Smart Auto (Still & Movie) scene recognition technology. Smart Auto (Still & Movie) automatically recognizes the user’s current shooting environment and selects the appropriate settings to achieve the best results possible.

In addition to the impressive 14.2 mega-pixel resolution for digital still images, the ST80 offers HD video recording. At 30 frames-per-second, the ST80 allows consumers to record high‑quality, 720p HD video utilizing the H.264 format, which provides up to three times more recording capacity than the MJPEG video format.

Wirelessly Connected

The ST80’s wireless connectivity makes it easy for users to upload or share digital images or videos with others directly from the camera without the need to be connected to a computer. By leveraging an available Wi-Fi internet connection, consumers have the option to email their digital images and video to individual email addresses or to those stored in the camera’s address book. In addition to email, consumers can also effortlessly upload images and videos directly to social networking sites such as Facebook®, Picasa™, YouTube®, Photo Bucket or even Samsung’s own Web site (www.samsungimaging.com). The ST80 range also comes equipped with an account with mobile hotspot provider Boingo, delivering broadband speeds in the palm of your hands at more than 120,000 Wi-Fi hotspots across the world.

The ST80’s wireless connectivity is further enhanced by Samsung’s AllShare™ technology. Thanks to AllShare, users can effortlessly sync the ST80 to popular DLNA-compliant (Digital Living Network Alliance) electronics found throughout the home, such as HDTVs and digital photo frames, and wirelessly connect and share content between each device.

Apple Refreshes iMac and Mac Pro Lines

Eric Reagan — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:30:51 +0000

Apple has updated its iMac and Mac Pro line to include the latest Intel processors, adding Core i7 as an iMac option and a dual processor 12-core Mac Pro option.

Additional product releases include a Magic Trackpad for adding MacBook trackpad functionality to desktops, and a new 27″ LED Cinema Display.

Full details at Tech Tilt: Apple Updates iMac and Mac Pro, Introduces Magic Trackpad and New 27-inch LED Cinema Display.

Also, working pros who demand serious horsepower should checkout this insightful post from digital imaging technician, Brook Willard: The State of Apple’s Professional Line. I’m not trying to pile on by any means; however, I think Brook makes some important points about the lack of USB 3.0 and limited PCI slots, among others. Your thoughts?