Canon PowerShot G9 – new G-series
Posted on August 31, 2007 - Filed Under Digital, Photo | Leave a Comment
Canon announced today that its acclaimed G-series has a new top-of-the line model – the PowerShot G9 digital camera. The PowerShot G9 digital camera offers serious shooters and value-minded professionals a feature-packed camera with many of the advanced photographic capabilities of a high-end Digital SLR camera, in a lightweight, compact package at an affordable price.
The PowerShot G9 digital camera features the same matte black, retro-hip design that G-series fans have come to appreciate, with a simplified control layout that is versatile yet easy to understand. This camera is loaded with Canon’s latest and most advanced technologies, while raising the bar with the addition of RAW Mode, usually reserved for larger and more expensive SLR cameras. Advanced photographers also have the option of using RAW+JPEG simultaneous capture functionality, giving photographers the best of both worlds – JPEGs for immediate use and RAW images for faithful image reproduction, and extensive, non-destructive image editing capability.
The PowerShot G9 digital camera features class-leading 12.1-megapixel resolution for stunning, deeply detailed images that allow enlargements up to poster size with cropping. A 6x optical zoom lens brings the photographer right into the action, and by incorporating Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer (OIS), excellent-quality images are assured in situations prone to camera shake and image blurring. So, whether you are shooting outdoors at dusk or inside without a flash, camera shake is detected and effectively canceled. Photographers will find it quick and easy to review and compare photos for printing with Canon’s Image Inspection Tool. And, because Image Inspection is now linked with Advanced Face Detection technology, they can save considerable time while reviewing, because the main subject is automatically detected and enlarged, eliminating the need to zoom and scroll manually, while at the same time making it simple to determine if facial expressions are pleasing before moving on to the next photo.
Canon PowerShot G9
“The PowerShot G9 digital camera brings our highest levels of performance and usability to the G-series,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. “By combining RAW Mode with our other key technologies in this camera, we’re providing a high-performing and affordable option to advanced photo enthusiasts who want the creative power of a Digital SLR in a smaller body form.”
The PowerShot G9 digital camera comes equipped with 23 shooting modes, allowing for a myriad of different photo preferences and conditions including Automatic, Manual, Shutter-speed-Priority, Aperture-Priority, and two Custom modes as well as special scene modes such as Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Sports, Indoor, Beach and Snow, offering users Digital SLR-like capability in a compact digital camera. The PowerShot G9 also features Canon’s powerful DIGIC III Image Processor, delivering superior image quality, ultra-responsive performance, extended battery life and advanced Face Detection technology, so users can be confident that the face they want, is the face that they capture. And, with a new large, three-inch PureColor LCD II screen and easy-to-access ISO and manual mode dials, customized shooting, reviewing and menu adjustments are especially convenient. The PowerShot G9 digital camera is also compatible with optional high-quality Canon wide-angle, telephoto and macro supplementary lenses, as well as EOS Speedlite flashes and a waterproof case rated to a depth of 40 meters/130 feet, giving photographers more robust photographic capabilities that are in line with professional and expensive SLRs.
Canon PowerShot G9
True to Canon’s industry leadership position, the PowerShot G9 digital camera gives consumers interested in the ease of a compact camera many of the technological advancements that are the result of Canon’s 70-year heritage as an imaging innovator, differentiating it from competitive products.
New Canon PowerShot Product Lines’ Standard Advanced Technologies
DIGIC III
The “brain” of this new PowerShot camera is DIGIC III, the gold standard on all new Canon digital cameras. The DIGIC III image processor accounts for the camera’s higher performance levels, including faster start-up, faster autofocus and quicker shutter response times that leave long-lag competitors in the dust. The DIGIC III chip design improves image quality and offers more efficient power consumption, resulting in extended battery life under typical shooting conditions.
ADVANCED FACE DETECTION
With Canon’s new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect, lock-on and track up to nine forward-looking human faces in a scene. The Face Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply the closest object (based on Canon’s Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the best possible results. Using Canon’s Face Detection, photographers can keep up to nine faces in focus at any one time no matter where they are within the image. The PowerShot G9 camera also introduces an exclusive new function called Face Select and Track. With this feature, when multiple faces are detected, photographers can select any individual face they want the camera to specifically track and be a primary focus. This feature is ideal for many shooting situations such as birthday parties or graduation ceremonies, where many people are present, but the photographer is primarily interested in just one of them. Working in concert with Face Detection, the G9′s “Red-Eye Correction” feature helps to detect and correct red-eye during playback mode. Images can be corrected automatically or manually while viewing photos on the LCD screen. All in all, Canon’s new Face Detection Technology makes for even easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles, and assisting in the elimination of over-exposed faces.
OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZATION (OIS)
The extended zoom range of the PowerShot G9 camera makes optical image stabilization (OIS) essential. Canon’s lens shift OIS provides an effective antidote to camera shake, particularly at longer zoom lengths or during long exposures when even the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to picture-blurring proportions. Superior to electronic image stabilization systems that simply use software to mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens proportionately to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images. The OIS found in Canon PowerShot digital cameras is based on technology developed for Canon’s renowned high-end professional SLR cameras.
Canon PowerShot G9 underwater casing
The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new “Auto ISO Shift” feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting in low light conditions without a flash.
PRINTING MADE EASY
All Canon PowerShot digital cameras work seamlessly with Canon’s compact photo printers to deliver stunning high-quality borderless prints. Consumers simply connect their PowerShot digital camera to a Canon compact photo printer, press the Print/Share button, and moments later a brilliant, borderless 4″ x 6″ print begins to emerge; it’s that simple. Canon’s compact photo printers are PictBridge compatible, so they work with PictBridge enabled digital cameras to provide users with excellent image quality and ease-of-use, especially when paired with a Canon digital camera.
HIGH-CAPACITY MEMORY CARD CAPABILITY
As an added convenience, Canon PowerShot digital cameras also accommodate MultiMedia MMC memory cards, as well as standard SD memory cards and the new, high-capacity SDHC memory cards. This way, consumers do not have to carry around multiple memory cards in order to be able to continue to save those special moments during extended vacations or high-photo-taking adventures. Canon PowerShot owners can travel in sleek style.
Powerful Software
The PowerShot G9 is bundled with the latest versions of Canon’s powerful digital imaging software, including ZoomBrowser EX 6.0 and ImageBrowser 6.0 for easy downloading, viewing and printing. RAW Image Task software is also supplied to facilitate high-quality processing of the PowerShot G9′s new RAW images.
In stores in October, the PowerShot G9 camera kit includes a lithium-ion rechargeable battery and battery charger, a 32MB MMC plus memory card, a USB interface cable, an AV cable, a neck strap, and Canon’s software suite at an estimated selling price of $499.99*.
Olympus Stylus 1200
Posted on August 31, 2007 - Filed Under Digital, Ratings, Reviews, Tips | Leave a Comment
The Olympus Stylus 1200 is a 12 megabyte digital camera with a 3x Optical Zoom lens (35 – 105mm equivalent).
It features 47 megabytes of internal memory, ISO range of up to 6400, and a Shutter Speed range of 4 – 1/1000 second.
It measures 98.1 x 56.2 x 23.0mm and weighs 125 grams.
The Olympus Stylus 1200 has a retail price of $349.99 USD.
Olympus Stylus 1200 News Release THREE NEW ADDITIONS TO OLYMPUS STYLUS FAMILY BLEND STYLE AND PERFORMANCE
New Digital Compact Cameras Build on More Than a Decade of All-Weather Durability, Beautiful Styling and Industry-Leading Innovation
Olympus today proudly announces the newest additions to its Stylus family of sleek All-Weather digital compact cameras – the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 – which combine elegant design with power, performance and reliability.
Consumers are able to be a part of the action while capturing beautiful images thanks to the superior features offered in the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200. These features include Face Detection Technology, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Image Stabilization, large HyperCrystalTM LCD screens and Preset Shooting Modes. The three new Stylus cameras also enable consumers to capture TV-quality video with sound, and the cameras easily connect directly to a television or LCD screen for convenient playback.
Additionally, the Stylus 830 features Dual Image Stabilization, which combines mechanical Sensor-Shift Stabilization with Digital Image Stabilization to compensate for both camera shake and moving subjects – ensuring blur-free images in virtually any shooting situation. The camera also offers 5x optical zoom to bring the action closer and a large 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD in a sleek, compact design. The Stylus 830 also provides illuminated buttons for easy viewing in low-light situations.
The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature a 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, which is great for easily composing, editing and sharing images with friends and family. Additionally, capturing breathtaking landscapes is a snap with the in-camera panorama mode offered in the Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200. The Stylus 1200 also provides an incredible 12-megapixels for maximum image quality when producing large-format prints or cropping/enlarging a portion of an image.
“Olympus continues to deliver superior optics and industry-leading innovations for an amazing digital photography experience,
Olympus Stylus 830
Posted on August 31, 2007 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Next we have the Stylus 830 which shares most of it’s features with the 820 but adds Dual Image Stabilization – a combination of optical stabilization and ISO boost. Available in silver or black, the casing is weatherproofed as a Stylus (or mju as they are known outside the US) should be.
Press Release:
5x zoom and Dual Image Stabilisation for more photographic freedom
The Olympus µ [mju:] 830: Style & performance
London, 23 August 2007 – A premium combination of design and features lend the Olympus µ [mju:] 830 irresistible qualities. With the luxury of a 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 36-180mm on a 35mm camera), photographers can get closer to subjects without having to move an inch. Double protection against blur caused by camera shake, which is more likely at high magnifications, is provided by Dual Image Stabilisation – a combination of high ISO setting and a mechanical image stabiliser. Furthermore, a smart, weatherproof*, aluminium exterior, finished in silver or black, serves as a stylish defence against all kinds of unexpected weather. This means that the picture-taking doesn’t have to stop when the sunshine does. And an 8 Megapixel CCD combined with innovative Face Detection Technology ensures that photos featuring faces are virtually guaranteed to come out perfectly sharp and exposed.
The Olympus µ [mju:] 830 will be available from October 2007 at around £250. For further information call 0800 0720070 or visit www.olympus.co.uk.
Shoot where, when and how you want
With a sleek, weatherproof* aluminium body in silver or black, the µ [mju:] 830 need not shy away from poor weather. Whether exposed to light showers on the hiking trail, or a splash from the pool, this model keeps on shooting through it all. 8.0 Megapixels ensure that even the tiniest of details are captured, while the 5x optical zoom (equiv. to 36-180mm) means more shooting flexibility – especially when it’s a challenge for the photographer to get close to their subject.
Fully-equipped
Face Detection Technology ensures that subjects’ faces come out stunningly sharp and optimally-exposed. Meanwhile, Shadow Adjustment Technology automatically adjusts the exposure settings for shadowy parts of the image so that results are significantly more detailed and realistic. This model also bids farewell to unwanted blur as it incorporates Dual Image Stabilisation: a high ISO setting and mechanical image stabiliser combine to provide double insurance against the effects of camera shake.
A large 6.4cm HyperCrystal LCD makes framing and reviewing shots a piece of cake – even in direct sunlight, with BrightCapture Technology working to improve the brightness of both still images and movies, as well as previews displayed on the LCD. And the inclusion of the new TruePic III image processor means more faithful colour reproduction, reduced image noise and a boost in overall camera speed.
So easy
With 22 scene modes including Night Scene and Candle, it’s no problem to quickly adjust to virtually any shooting situation. And an internal memory plus an xD-Picture Card slot mean that the user can expand storage at any time. Additionally, the Olympus Master software allows for the organisation and archiving of photos once they’re on a computer – and the trial version of Muvee Pack included can be used to create photo “movies” from images.
The Olympus µ [mju:] 830 – main features:
- 5x optical zoom (equivalent to 36-180mm on a 35mm camera), 1:3.3-5.0 for exciting close-ups
- Avoid blur thanks to Dual Image Stabilisation
- Weatherproof*, aluminium body
- Face Detection Technology for perfectly focused and exposed faces
- 8.0 Megapixels to make poster-sized prints
- 6.4cm/2.5” HyperCrystal LCD (230,000 pixel resolution) with a bright display even in brilliant sunlight
- Better low-light shooting thanks to BrightCapture Technology
- 22 scene modes for the best results in different situations
- Shadow Adjustment Technology to brighten shadowy areas in a composition
- Liven up your memories with movie recording with sound
- TruePic III image processor for faster image handling and higher image quality
- Internal memory plus xD-Picture Card slot
- Hi-Speed USB
- 25 languages on board
- Illuminated buttons
- Supplied with Olympus Master software 2.03 and Muvee Pack trial version plus LI-42B battery
*Weatherproof equivalent to the IEC standard publication 529 IPX4
Olympus Mju 830 specifications
| Sensor |
• 1/2.3" Type CCD |
|---|---|
| Image sizes |
• 3248 x 2436 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 @ 30fps • 320 x 240 @ 15fps • 160 x 120 @ 15fps |
| Maximum clip length | • 640 x 480: 10 sec • 320 x 240 / 160 x 120: 29 min |
| File formats | • JPEG Exif v2.2 • AVI (Motion JPEG) with WAV audio |
| Lens | • 5x optical zoom • 36-180 mm (35 mm equiv) • F3.3- F5.0 |
| Image stabilization | Dual Image Stabilization |
| Conversion lenses |
No |
| Digital zoom | up to 5.6x |
| Focus modes | • Autofocus • Macro • Super Macro |
| Focus distance | • Standard: 70 cm-infinity • Macro: 20 cm-infinity (wide), 60 cm-infinity (tele) • Super Macro: 3 cm closest focus distance |
| AF area modes | • TTL iESP auto focus with contrast detection • Face-detection AF • Spot AF |
| Metering | • ESP Multi-Pattern • Spot metering |
| Live Histogram | Yes |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto (80 – 400) • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 |
| Exposure compensation | +/- 2EV in 1/3EV steps |
| Shutter speed | • 1/2 – 1/2000 sec • Up to 4 sec in Night Scene mode |
| Scene modes |
• Portrait |
| White balance | • Auto • Sunlight • Overcast • Tungsten • Fluorescent 1 • Fluorescent 2 • Fluorescent 3 |
| Self timer | Yes |
| Continuous shooting | • 7 fps / 11frames (in 3MP mode) |
| Flash | • Auto • Red-eye reduction • Fill-in • Forced Off • Range (Auto ISO): Wide: 20 cm- 3.6 m (7.9 in – 11.8 ft), Tele: 60 cm- 2.4 m (2.0 – 7.9 ft) |
| Viewfinder | No |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD • 230,000 pixels • BrightCapture |
| Connectivity |
Combined USB 2.0 Hi-speed and AV output |
| Print compliance | • PictBridge • Print Image Matching III • DPOF |
| Storage | • xD-Picture Card (Panorama mode available when using Olympus branded cards) • 14.8 MB internal storage |
| Power | • Li-ion battery pack LI-42B |
| Weight (no batt) | 125 g (4.4 oz) |
| Dimensions | 99.6 x 55.1 x 24 mm (3.9 x 2.2 x 0.9 in) |
Software Review – Adobe Photoshop Plug-in Plug-In Suite 3: Mask Pro 4.1 From onOne
Posted on August 31, 2007 - Filed Under Culture, Photo | Leave a Comment
This is the third of a four part review of the products that are included in the onOne Plug-In Suite 3. Parts One and Two are available here on Blogcritics. This review is on the product Mask Pro 4.1
Mask Pro 4.1 is the latest version of the plug-in from onOne Software that makes it easy to mask and cut objects out of an image. This can be done for placement in another image or to replace the background in the original image.
Mask Pro 4.1 requires you to have Windows running XP SP2 or Vista or Mac OS X 10.4.8 or later. You will need Photoshop CS2 (v9.0.2), CS3, or Photoshop Elements 4 or later. Also you must have at least 512MB of RAM and 60 MB of hard-disk space. Installation is very easy and is all automatic.
So what is masking? Masking is the process of selecting and erasing parts of an image. Normally you select the parts of the image that you want to keep and erase the areas that you want to drop. You can use the selection tool in Photoshop, but to get it right it can take a lot of time and effort especially if you don't want a halo effect or other problems,. Mask Pro 4.1 makes this process much easier and can save you a lot of time.
Mask Pro 4.1 operates as a plug-in, inside Photoshop or Elements. It resides in the Filters menu or the onOne menu. There are a number of views from within Mask Pro and all help you make sure that you are getting the best image possible.
There is Original view which maintains the original image for review, Solid view which displays the erased area as a solid color. Single Layer view displays the erased area as a grid, Quick Mask view displays dropped areas as a rubylith mask overlay, Mask view displays the mask's alpha channel as 100% erased in Black and 100% kept in white, Cleanup view displays 100% kept in white, 100% dropped in black and transition areas in gray; this is good for making sure there are no holes in your mask, and Composite view show you the underlying layer.
Mask Pro 4.1 also provides individual and composite channel views for CMYK, RGB or Lab depending on the image type. There is fast masking for well defined images, detailed masking for more difficult images and methods for masking transparent and semitransparent objects
What is the bottom line on Mask Pro 4.1? It is as simple or complex as you need it to be. For very simple images, such as the one above, it takes almost nothing to use. As your selections become more complex, there are tools that get you the masking that you need.
What I especially like are the different views so that you can make sure that you are really getting the cuts you expect. I like some of the simple things like the ability to change your brush stroke by using the scroll wheel of your mouse. I also like the ability to make transparent selections of things like bubbles and glass.
Add to that, there is a comprehensive PDF users manual that explains everything you need to know, but there is also one and one-half hours of on-line training from Lynda.com via a seven day free pass. The down side is that you only have seven days to master the training; the upside is that during those seven days, you also get to try any of the other video training sessions as well and if you have read any of my reviews of their training, this is a very good thing.
Keep in mind that if you expect this or any masking program to do a perfect job on any image every time, it won't, nor will any other program. If you want one that comes close to doing it, then Mask Pro 4.1 won't disappoint. Mask Pro 4.1 will be a welcomed addition to your imaging toolbox.
Ricoh Releases Caplio R7
Posted on August 30, 2007 - Filed Under News, Photo | Leave a Comment
Click photo for more images of the Ricoh Caplio R7.
Ricoh has upgraded its Caplio R6 point-and-shoot with the Caplio R7. The new model uses an 8.2-megapixel sensor and Ricoh’s Smooth Imaging Engine III processing engine. Otherwise nearly identical to its predecessor, the R7 offers the same slim design, broad set of exposure and creative controls, and f/3.3-5.2, 28mm-200mm 7.1x zoom lens that distinguished the R6. It also retains the R6′s 230,000-pixel, 2.7-inch LCD; sensor-shift optical image stabilization; and face-detection technology.
Pricing and availability in the U.S. have not yet been announced.
Pentax Z10 and Pentax S10
Posted on August 29, 2007 - Filed Under Art, News, Photo | Leave a Comment
The Pentax Z10 and Pentax S10 digital cameras offer a 7x zoom lens and 10 megapixels respectively. The 8 megapixel Pentax Z10 has a 7x optical zoom, Face Recognition for improved portraits and ISO 3200 mode. The tiny Pentax S10 is a 10 megapixel camera with digital Shake Reduction, Face Recognition and DivX video format. Priced at US $249.95 each, the Pentax Z10 and Pentax S10 will ship in September.
Pentax USA Press Release
PENTAX ANNOUNCES THE OPTIO Z10 WITH 7X ZOOM AND TINY OPTIO S10 DIGITAL CAMERAS
GOLDEN, CO. (August 22, 2007)…PENTAX Imaging Company has announced two digital compact cameras including the Optio Z10 with a high-magnification 7X optical zoom lens and the small, stylish PENTAX Optio S10 with 10 megapixels.
The PENTAX Optio Z10 is equipped with a 7X optical zoom lens, the highest magnification among current PENTAX compact digital camera models. Designed with a refraction lens system so the lens never protrudes from the camera while zooming, the 7X optical zoom covers a broad range, from wide-angle to telephoto zoom, and offers an ultra high-magnification of up to approximately 35.7X when combined with digital zoom. With 8.0 megapixels, the Optio Z10 also features high speed detection time Face Recognition for improved portraits and digital Shake Reduction that allows ISO to 3200 to capture sharper images even in low light settings. The sleek, stylish PENTAX Optio Z10 body design also features a sliding lens cover for extra protection that also operates the on/off camera setting.
PENTAX also announced the stylish PENTAX Optio S10 compact digital camera with 10.0 effective megapixels. This latest model in the popular PENTAX Optio S series offers digital Shake Reduction and a high-speed Face Recognition AF&AE function for fast, high quality portraits. The Optio S10 is the seventh DivX Certified® digital camera from PENTAX. Now enhanced with digital Shake Reduction, the DivX format enables users to create high-quality video files that may be played back on a wide-variety of DivX DVD players and other devices. The PENTAX Optio S10 digital camera is one of the smallest, lightest 10.0 megapixel digital cameras in the world.
Priced at US $249.95 each, both cameras will ship in September. The PENTAX Optio S10 will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart Stores in the United States.
PENTAX Imaging Company is an innovative leader in the production of digital SLR and compact cameras, lenses, flash units, binoculars, scopes, eyepieces and mobile printers and scanners. For more than 80 years, PENTAX technology has developed durable, reliable products that meet the needs of consumers and businesses. With headquarters in Golden, Colorado, PENTAX Imaging Company is a division of PENTAX of America, Inc.
Pentax Z10 Specifications
MODEL: Optio Z10
TYPE: Compact Digital Camera
PRODUCT CODE: 19321, UPC: 027075130647
SENSOR
Type: 1/2.5
Olympus Stylus 830
Posted on August 29, 2007 - Filed Under Photo | Leave a Comment
The Olympus Stylus 830 is an 8 megapixel point and shoot digital camera with a 5x optical zoom lens and 2.5 inch LCD display (no optical view finder).
It features image stabilization, ISO range of up to 1600, 15 megabytes of internal memory and two underwater scene modes.
The Olympus Stylus 830 measures 99.6 x 55.1 x 24.0mm and weighs 125.0 g.
It will retail at $329.99 USD.
Olympus Stylus 830 News Release THREE NEW ADDITIONS TO OLYMPUS STYLUS FAMILY BLEND STYLE AND PERFORMANCE
New Digital Compact Cameras Build on More Than a Decade of All-Weather Durability, Beautiful Styling and Industry-Leading Innovation
Olympus today proudly announces the newest additions to its Stylus family of sleek All-Weather digital compact cameras – the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200 – which combine elegant design with power, performance and reliability.
Consumers are able to be a part of the action while capturing beautiful images thanks to the superior features offered in the Stylus 820, Stylus 830 and Stylus 1200. These features include Face Detection Technology, Shadow Adjustment Technology, Perfect Shot Preview, Image Stabilization, large HyperCrystalTM LCD screens and Preset Shooting Modes. The three new Stylus cameras also enable consumers to capture TV-quality video with sound, and the cameras easily connect directly to a television or LCD screen for convenient playback.
Additionally, the Stylus 830 features Dual Image Stabilization, which combines mechanical Sensor-Shift Stabilization with Digital Image Stabilization to compensate for both camera shake and moving subjects – ensuring blur-free images in virtually any shooting situation. The camera also offers 5x optical zoom to bring the action closer and a large 2.5-inch HyperCrystal LCD in a sleek, compact design. The Stylus 830 also provides illuminated buttons for easy viewing in low-light situations.
The Stylus 820 and 1200 feature a 2.7-inch HyperCrystal LCD, which is great for easily composing, editing and sharing images with friends and family. Additionally, capturing breathtaking landscapes is a snap with the in-camera panorama mode offered in the Stylus 820 and Stylus 1200. The Stylus 1200 also provides an incredible 12-megapixels for maximum image quality when producing large-format prints or cropping/enlarging a portion of an image.
“Olympus continues to deliver superior optics and industry-leading innovations for an amazing digital photography experience,
Lens Test: Sony 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 DT AF
Posted on August 29, 2007 - Filed Under Cameras, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
The widest lens available for Sony’s Alpha 100 DSLR, this digital-only (DT) zoom, the 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 AF ($580, street), isn’t recommended for use on older Konica Minolta Maxxum film cameras. But Alpha users may love its 16.5-27mm equivalent focal length, even if that is a narrow range by today’s standards.
HANDS ON: Compact and lightweight, with Sony’s now-familiar finely ribbed focus and zoom rings, the lens has well-marked subject distance scales (feet in orange, meters in white). The AF is moderately fast and rather loud. The zoom action is very well damped, and the manual-focus action is relatively loud, with a rough feel. As you might expect, when used with the Alpha’s built-in flash, this ultrawide zoom, even without its lens shade, casts a noticeable shadow at all focal lengths except 18mm.
IN THE LAB: Lens bench test data showed Excellent sharpness and contrast at the three tested focal lengths, in keeping with the majority of performances among today’s digital-only ultrawides. In DxO Analyzer 2.0 tests, barrel distortion was in the Visible range at 11mm (0.49%), and in the Slight range at 14mm and 18mm (0.27% and 0.13%, respectively). These are among the best distortion performances in the digital-only ultrawide category.
Nikon AF-S 400mm f/2.8G ED VR lens
Posted on August 27, 2007 - Filed Under Digital | Leave a Comment
Nikon AF-S 400mm f/2.8G ED VR lens : Nikon Europe announced a new super-telephoto lens incorporating Nikon’s exclusive VR II Vibration Reduction system. Aimed at professional sports, news and wildlife photographers, the Nikon AF-S 400mm f/2.8G ED VR complements the NIKKOR range of super telephoto lenses. The new Nikon 400mm f/2.8G ED VR super telephoto gives photographers the equivalent of a shutter speed 4 stops faster, thanks to Nikon’s VR II technology. “Lenses like these bring the photographer right to the heart of the action, even from hundreds of meters away,
Canon Powershot A610 review
Posted on August 27, 2007 - Filed Under Cameras, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera review : The second half of the year 2005 was dominated by a massive Canon introduction of printers and cameras, among which the Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera. This new PowerShot camera succeeds the Canon PowerShot A510 camera and enhances the resolution from 3 to 5.0 Megapixels. The PowerShot A series digital cameras of Canon are well-known for their high quality features that are borrowed from the advanced Canon digital cameras like the PowerShot G-series and S-series. In fact, the Canon A610 is a combination of the best of two worlds: refined advanced features and entry-level user-friendliness. A digital camera from the PowerShot A-line always offers remarkable features and combines comprehensive functionality with low entry level.
Canon A610 – DIGIC II processor
The difference between the Canon A510 and A610 is the size and flexibility of the monitor on the back of the camera; it is enlarged from 1.8 to 2.0 inch and is able to tilt. The effective resolution has also made a huge step forward from 3.2 to 5.0 Megapixels. This resolution of 5 Megapixels suffices to print a beautiful A4 picture. Another important feature is the integrated fast DIGIC II processor. This is Canon’s strongest trump compared to the competing brands. The DIGIC II processor is also used in other Canon models, among them the professional EOS 1DS Mark II digital SLR camera. The powerful DIGIC II enables the Canon A610 to start up fast, to realise a short release lag and to process the images quickly. Various digital camera tests have proven the value of this processor. It’s admirable that Canon is capable of rapidly integrating innovative developments from the professional digital world in the amateur line of digital cameras. The consumer benefits from it!
Canon PowerShot A610 – 4x optical zoom
Besides the 5 Megapixels and the DIGIC II processor the Canon PowerShot is equipped with a 4x optical zoom (focal range of 35-140mm equivalent of a 35mm camera). This lens lets you take close-ups as well as portraits. The lens features eight elements in seven groups and is equipped with two aspherical elements. The focus performance at low light conditions is improved to 2 steps which should ultimately result in extra photographic freedom when shooting with low light intensity.
Canon A610 digital camera review
The Canon PowerShot A610 nicely fills up the successful A-line of Canon. This line is quite popular and offers the novices among us an entry-level camera combined with attractive and creative functions. The Canon A610 had to prove in practice that not only its specifications are interesting so we tested it thoroughly during some time to find out how the camera performed in practice. Our experiences can be read in the following Canon PowerShot A610 digital camera review.