Budget Compact Camera Group Test
Posted on December 2, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
The first of our Holidays ’08 compact camera group tests. We’re starting with the budget group, which contains nine models in the sub-$150 range. So what can you expect to get if shopping on a tight budget? Are there really any differences between the various models? And are there any bargains to be had or hidden gems in the entry-level ranges? Check out the roundup after the link to get all the answers…
Phil: Note this is the first of five group tests (Budget cameras, Ultra compact style, Advanced point and shoot, High end enthusiast and Ultra zoom), the next four groups will cover another 30 cameras.
Just Posted! Canon Powershot G10 review
Posted on November 26, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Just Posted: Our Canon Powershot G10 review. The Canon ‘G’ series has been the most consistently photographer-focused family of compact cameras on the market. This, the 8th iteration of that dynasty includes a 14.7MP sensor and a 28-140mm zoom, offering serious flexibility. The family faces stiffer than ever competition though – from the budget DSLRs that now undercut it on price and from some compelling RAW-shooting compact peers that fancy a tilt at its ‘king of compacts’ crown. Is the ruggedly built G10 tough enough to weather such a grueling environment? Find out in our full review.
Sigma buys sensor developer Foveon
Posted on November 17, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Camera and lens maker Sigma has bought Foveon, the sensor technology company that develops the sensors it uses. Foveon’s technology uses three photosensitive layers to detect red, green and blue light at each pixel. Sigma says owning the company will allow the development of new types of sensors and improved integration between the sensors and its lenses.
Press release:
Kawasaki, Japan, November 11th, 2008 – Sigma Corporation (Location: Kawasaki, Japan) has acquired 100% of the stock of the company that developed the original three-layer image sensor, Foveon Inc. Foveon will continue its sensor development operations in San Jose, CA, USA.
Foveon made history when it developed and patented the world’s first three-layer image capture technology, placing a stack of RGB pixels in each pixel location. As a result, Foveon sensors detect all three primary colors in every pixel location, producing images that are sharper and have significantly reduced image artifacts compared to competing image sensor technologies.
Since Sigma first worked with Foveon in 2000, both companies have enjoyed a cooperative working relationship directed toward developing highly-efficient DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras and compact digital cameras which take the best advantage of the X3 sensor technology. Sigma Corporation has employed Foveon’s technology in its entire digital camera line, producing images which are acclaimed by both amateur and professional photographers all over the world for their high resolution and for their three-dimensional look. Both the latest DLSR, the SD14, and the compact DP1 camera – which packs the full spec of a DSLR into a compact camera – have met with similar acclaim. Two additional Sigma camera products based on Foveon’s image sensor technology have been announced for 2009.
The acquisition of Foveon will not only enhance the development of new types of image sensors for high quality digital cameras, but will also create a synergistic effect with Sigma’s camera and lens business by improving the integration between the camera and sensor. This will result in camera products which will uniquely meet the widely ranging functional and image quality needs of demanding photographers.
As the digital camera market continues to expand, Foveon and Sigma will continuously evolve and improve the X3 sensor technology, thus expanding the company’s photography-related business. In addition, Sigma remains firmly committed to preserving and nurturing the culture of photography.
Samsung Techwin to spin-out camera division
Posted on November 13, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Samsung Techwin, the Korean manufacturer, plans to separate out its camera division into an individual entity (under the same ownership), according to news agency Reuters. Samsung Techwin is part of the Samsung Group’s machinery and heavy industry division and makes mobile artillery and gas turbines, as well as digital cameras. Tentatively named Samsung Digital Imaging, the new company will have a separate listing from Feb. 1, 2009, allowing its management to concentrate on the fast-moving consumer market into which its products are sold, without also having to also consider sales of aircraft engines.
Olympus lends lenses Micro Four Thirds compatibility
Posted on November 4, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Olympus has announced firmware updates for several of its lenses to allow their use with the Panasonic DMC-G1. The updated lenses are the 35mm F3.5 Macro, 25mm F2.8 pancake, 35-100mm F2 and 40-150mm F4.0-5.6. Once upgraded, the lenses will be ‘compatible’ with the G1. It’s unclear whether the 35mm Macro and 35-100mm lenses will be able to autofocus (we’re looking into it), but the 25mm pancake and 40-150mm certainly will. (It has been confirmed that the 35mm Macro and 35-100 lenses will not autofocus on the G1)
Panasonic owners can
Just Posted! Our Nikon D90 review
Posted on October 17, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Just Posted: Nikon D90 in-depth review. The D90 has some large shoes to step into, given that it replaces one of the most popular enthusiast-level cameras of recent times. We saw in our preview that it’s had a feature boost and specification upgrade, but do those tweaks and changes result in a better camera (and images)? Has a fine camera been over-burdened with fripperies and video recording? We find out in our full, in depth review.
Pentax K20D review
Posted on October 13, 2008 - Filed Under Cameras, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Pentax K20D digital SLR camera : I have always had a soft spot for the Pentax K10D digital SLR. A beautiful and solid compact digital reflex camera, offering a superb quality, certainly when combined with the pancake lenses. Actually, it surprises me that I don’t see the K10D in the streets a lot more often. In general, the reviews came up with very positive end conclusions. Perhaps its successor, the Pentax K20D, will succeed this now that the path to success is cleared by the K10D.
14 Megapixel Pentax K20D SLR camera
In many aspects the Pentax K20D is similar to its predecessor, yet offers considerably more. In the first place, there are more pixels, of course; the trend continues. With a resolution of 14 million pixels the K20D is ahead of its close competitors, the Canon EOS 40D and its allies. The image sensor is now a CMOS and has been developed in close cooperation with Samsung. The latter also manufactures the CMOS sensor and integrates it into the GX20, which is the twin brother of the Pentax K20D. The quality should remain the same thanks to minimizing the circuitry around each photo site, thus keeping the light-sensitive area of each pixel to the same size as other companies manage on 12 MP sensors. The PRIME processor found in the K10D is also present inside the Pentax K20D to convert the signal. Since a DDR2 memory is used, processing the image should be carried out faster.
Live View functionality on the Pentax K20D
Although not much seems to have changed on the outside, the back of the camera features a larger LCD monitor. The K20D is the first Pentax equipped with the Live View function in addition to the convenient preview the K10D already offers. A camera without Live View is hard to imagine these days. Funny how things work sometimes. Not so long ago, Live View on a DSLR was absolutely not done and to a photographer could almost be compared to swearing in church. Another function we find more and more often is the possibility to control the dynamic range. The Pentax K20D, too, has a function that lets you increase the range, in order to enable you to deal with high contrast situations.
Pentax K20D lens with calibration function
As always, Pentax allows you to keep using your old lenses. Although you might not be able to use the 11-point SAFOX VIII auto focus motor. To correct any flaws that may occur in the lens, Pentax integrated a calibration function. This function looks like the setting possibilities on the Canon and Nikon, yet takes things further. You can actually calibrate the lens, and this is something for which you would have to go to the importer when it comes to other brands. A unique possibility proving that Pentax takes things a step further. Studio photographers will be pleased to bits to find the flash unit connection on the K20D; something on which K10D users, unfortunately, miss out.
Shaking sensor occurs dust on Pentax K20D photos
Many items remained untouched. Such as support of RAW and the PEF format of Pentax themselves, as well as the more universal DNG format. Naturally in combination with JPEG. Moreover, the unusual shooting modes also remained, thankfully. Just like the shaking sensor, not only functioning as image stabilization but also as dust remover. Who wouldn’t get annoyed finding dust on the picture? Pentax added a preview to the Pentax K20D that lets you check to see if there is dust visible somewhere on the picture. The preview is made at f/16. A good way to check if your sensor is still dust-free.
Pentax K20D review – Test in practise and technical DIWA test
At first sight not a lot seems to have changed, however, it still feels different when picking up the Pentax K20D. What exactly got changed and whether they form real changes, was tested by us over a longer period of time. Our findings can be read in the following 
Photokina Interview Series: Samsung
Posted on October 9, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
In the first of a series of interviews with senior executives at Photokina 2008 we met up with Samsung for chat with Mr. Choong-hyun Hwang, the Vice President of the Digital Camera Business of Samsung Techwin Strategy Marketing Team. He joined Samsung in 1983 and in 2005 was promoted to Global Marketing Director. He is currently in charge of the Product Planning. During his career, Mr. Hwang successfully launched the NV Series, Samsung’s first premium digital camera. Although much of the conversation covered areas we can’t talk about yet, Mr Hwang had some interesting things to say ‘on the record’ regarding the future of compact cameras, technology and stills/video convergence.
Mr. Choong-hyun Hwang Vice President Product Planning Group Strategy Marketing Team Digital Camera Division
Obviously the big news for us this Photokina is the development by Panasonic of the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the G1, which for us is a very exciting development. We realize you aren’t able to talk in detail about anything you may be doing in the future, but we’d be interested to know what Samsung’s feeling is about the area of the market between compact and DSLR – high end or larger sensor compacts.
"We believe that there is a potential new segment in digital cameras, brought about because of the dissatisfaction of both DSLR users and compact users. I think this is an area that is of universal interest – even for companies such as Nikon or Canon, so we don’t want to overlook it. So we are researching and looking over the possibilities. But for now we can’t make any announcements."
We agree that it’s important – we see an ever widening gap between SLRs and compact cameras, not helped by the ‘megapixel race’, so we think Micro Four Thirds is great for the market.
"I think that customers want to have both bigger sensors and more megapixels, so I believe that Four Thirds is not the right format for this type of camera. Four Thirds has not been a successful system; the Four Thirds sensor size should mean that they can make a digital SLR that is smaller than an APS-C camera, but actually the size of the Four Thirds cameras is almost the same".
Going back to normal SLRs, are you going to do anything to create greater differentiation between Pentax and Samsung SLRs?
"Samsung and Pentax have been collaborating now for around three years and we don’t expect this to change. We will continue to develop new sensors and DSPs in better ways, and we’re going to differentiate maybe by different design, but probably not when it comes to parts/components".
Certainly in the UK our feeling is that faced with a choice between two identical DSLRs, one with a Pentax badge and one with a Samsung badge, the majority of photo enthusiasts would go for the Pentax, even if they knew they were the same.
"Even though Pentax and Samsung DSLR are almost the same, the image quality – not in a vertical way but in a horizontal way; the color rendering – is different because we use different formulas and algorithms. So although the Samsung GX and Pentax K20D are the same system, some reviews have found the Samsung to be better. Right now we have a small customer base, but we’re expecting it will grow. Samsung’s SLR business started just three years ago, whereas Pentax has a long history of more than 70 years. At this moment most of Pentax and Samsung’s customers are already into the Pentax system – it’s natural."
We didn’t actually know that there was an image processing difference – maybe that’s a message that’s been lost somewhere.
"You didn’t know that certain color renderings and image algorithms were different? Well Pentax and Samsung have their own architecture, but maybe we don’t mention the differences because Pentax and Samsung are really good partners, and we don’t want to be misunderstood or to hurt our relationship".
Are the lenses identical?
"Yes, we have the same lenses".
On your compact cameras do you use your own sensors
"No, we don’t".
Would there be any advantage to developing your own compact sensors?
"In terms of efficiency we’re better at the moment outsourcing. We currently buy sensors from a range of suppliers".
Do you make any compact camera sensors?
"No, at the moment we don’t".
Do you think that CMOS is likely to eventually take over from CCD sensors in compacts?
"Ah you are asking difficult questions! I think that many people – everyone – expects CMOS sensors to be applied to more compact cameras. Sony has a high speed CMOS sensor in development, and the speed is remarkable".
Is it less expensive to manufacture CMOS sensors?
"Oh no, it’s much more expensive. The Sony and Canon high speed CMOS sensors are very expensive to manufacture. The standard CMOS sensors used in mobile phones are very small and are inexpensive, but not those for compacts cameras. Canon has been making a lot of effort to replace CCD with CMOS, and they have not yet been successful because the performance and efficiency aren’t good enough yet".
So HD video is now appearing in more and more cameras – is this demand led or simply a case of ‘we can do it, so we will’?
"Three years ago we introduced a compact camera with HDMI, which was the first in the industry, and it didn’t sell that well. At the time HDTV had just been introduced to the market, and people didn’t really have a concept of what HDTV could offer. Right now we’re seeing the analog TV services disappearing as TVs are converted to digital, so there’s a lot more interest in all countries, and so I believe that HD is quite appealing to customers now. Right now Samsung is the number one in LCD TV panels, and we believe that HD will become more and more common in the marketplace, and that this will affect the ‘display culture’ and that more sharing will be done via TV screens".
You also manufacture HD camcorders, which must cause some positioning issues when you have products that are so rapidly converging…
"We believe that there will be convergence of digital stills and camcorders. I believe that at some point the border between digital camera and camcorder will disappear, especially with the introduction of high speed CMOS sensors. That’s the starting point".
I guess there are issues with things like form factor, continuous focusing, zoom range and so on that currently keep the two lines separate, so do you think that a future convergence product would be more like a camcorder that takes stills or a stills camera that does movie clips?
"I think both actually, but the stills cameras with camcorder function will come first".
As photography enthusiasts I guess our worry is that it’s difficult to optimize a multi function product and that if the primary function isn’t shooting stills then there will be compromises in stills quality – perhaps in terms of lens and sensor design for example.
"I don’t believe that this is the case for convergence products – customers will not feel there is much difference; users will not be able to see a difference between these future products and current stills cameras. They will have to be developed in a way that customers feel that quality is not being compromised. But if they’re really high end users who want a really great stills camera, they’ll probably still go for a dedicated stills camera, and if they want really high quality movies they’ll buy a camcorder. Those products will still exist at the high end, but most users [of compact cameras] will be buying convergence products".
Is removable media storage capacity a limiting factor in such products at the moment?
"Currently camcorders have their own [built in] memory and right now hard disk is better, but we believe that memory will develop in a way that will match hard disks.
Interview conducted by Phil Askey and Simon Joinson, report by Simon Joinson
Casio announces Exilim EX-FH20 high speed camera
Posted on September 29, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Casio has launched the Exilim EX-FH20 high speed digital compact camera. Building on the interest in its EX-F1 model, the FH20 offers a burst rate of up to 40fps and movies at 1000fps. The camera is built around a 9.1MP, 1/2.3” CMOS sensor and 20x zoom lens (26-520mm equiv) Priced at £399, the EX-FH20 is considerably less expensive than the EX-F1 and will be available from October.
The EX-FH20′s burst mode allows up to 40 7.1MP images to be recorded in burst of anywhere between 1 and 40fps. The camera also offers a pre-record mode that buffers images before the shutter release is pressed. Sensor-shift image stabilization is also included, along with a flash that can operate for up to 5 frames in continuous mode.
Press Release:
Casio High Speed EXILIM Digital Camera with
Ultra High-Speed Burst Shooting and HD movie functions
New Camera Takes 40 shots per second and records high speed movies at 1000 fps
London, September 16, 2008 – Casio Computer Co., Ltd., today announced the release of its newest EXILIM® digital camera, the HIGH SPEED EXILIM EX-FH20. This remarkable new camera is capable of ultra high-speed burst shooting at 40 fps and can record high speed movies at up to 1000 fps.
Its speed and ease of use truly puts this camera in a class of its own. In recognition of these unique characteristics, with today’s release of the new EX-FH20, Casio has launched the new HIGH SPEED EXILIM series, which includes this camera and the EX-F1, launched in March 2008. Casio expects the revolutionary capabilities of its HIGH SPEED EXILIM cameras to generate entirely new applications for digital photography.
Priced at £399, the EX-FH20 will be available from October at all good camera stockists.
Key product highlights include:
9.1 effective megapixels and a high power, wide angle zoom lens
The EX-FH20 is equipped with a 26 mm-equivalent wide angle zoom lens that can close in on subjects with a powerful 20x optical zoom. The camera also features a CMOS shift anti-shake function to support power-zoom shots.
Never miss a photographic opportunity, with high speed burst shooting up to 40 fps
The EX-FH20 can capture action in high definition, 7 megapixel (3072 x 2304 pixel) images with ultra-high speed burst shooting at up to 40 fps. Users can select from seven burst settings, allowing them to capture from 1 fps up to 40 fps in a single burst. Further, users can prerecord up to 40 still images not just at the instant they press the shutter button, but before! Even if they press the shutter a little late, they will still catch that vital moment.
High speed movie recording at up to 1,000 fps
The EX-FH20 can record high speed movie footage of motion too fast for the human eye, for ultra slow motion playback. Users can select from recording speeds of 1,000 fps, 420 fps or 210 fps and can also switch from the standard speed of 30 fps to high speed recording at 210 fps during recording at the touch of a button. The EX-FH20 makes it easy to capture critical moments on video.
High Speed Anti-Shake function
This function corrects images by automatically synthesizing multiple images captured during high speed burst shooting.
High Speed Night Scene setting
With or without a tripod, this feature ensures that high speed night shots come out clear and beautiful.
HD Movie function
The EX-FH20’s HD Movie function records at 1280 x 720 pixels, at 30 fps.
Casio EXILIM EX-FH20 specifications
| Sensor |
• 1/2.3" Type CMOS |
|---|---|
| Image sizes | • 3456 x 2592 • 3456 x 2304 (3:2) • 3456 x 1944 (16:9) • 3072 x 2304 • 2304 x 1728 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480 |
| Movie clips | • 1280 x720 (HD 30 fps) • 640 × 480 (STD, 30 fps) • 480 × 360 (HS, 30-210 fps) • 224 × 168 (HS, 420 fps) • 224 × 56 (HS, 1000 fps) |
| File formats | • Still:RAW (DNG)JPEG (Exif Version 2.2), DCF 1.0 standard, DPOF compliant • Video: AVI format, Motion JPEG, IMA-ADPCM (monaural) |
| Lens | • f=4.6 to 92.0mm • Approx. 26 to 520mm • F2.8 (W) to 4.5 (T) • 14 lenses in 11 groups, including aspherical lens |
| Image stabilization | CMOS-Shift |
| Optical Zoom | 20x |
| Digital zoom | 4x |
| HD Zoom | 108.0x |
| Focus | • Contrast Detection Auto Focus • Auto Focus, Macro Mode, Super Macro, Manual Focus |
| AF area modes | Spot, Free or Tracking |
| AF assist lamp | Yes |
| Focus distance | Approx. 12cm to 50cm (W) |
| Metering | Multi-pattern, center weighted, spot |
| Flash | • Built-in • Range: Approx 0.4 to 7.0m (W) Approx 1.3 to 4.4m (T) |
| ISO sensitivity | Auto, 64,100, 200, 400, 800,1600. |
| Exposure comp. |
-2EV to +2EV (in 1/3EV steps |
| Shuttter speed | 1 to 1/2000 second |
| Aperture | F2.8 to F4.5 |
| Modes | • BEST SHOT Included: 18 scenes • Prerecord Still Images • Prerecord Movie • YouTube™ Capture Mode Included • Face Detection |
| White balance | • Auto WB • Daylight • Overcast • Shade • Day White FL • Daylight FL • Tungsten • Manual WB |
| Self timer | 10 seconds, 2 seconds, Triple Self-timer |
| LCD monitor | • 3.0-inch wide TFT color LCD • 230,400 dots (960 x 240) |
| Connectivity | • USB/AV port, AC adaptor connection (DC-IN) • AV out |
| Storage | • SDHC Memory Card, SD Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, MultiMediaCardplus compatible |
| Power | AA-size alkaline battery (LR6) x 4, AA-size rechargeable Ni-MH battery (HR6) x 4, AC adaptor |
| Weight (no batt) | 483 g |
| Dimensions | 123 (W) x 81 (H) x 85 (D)mm |
Phase One introduces 3.5/45mm TS lens
Posted on September 22, 2008 - Filed Under Digital, Photo, Reviews | Leave a Comment
Pre-Photokina 2008: Phase One has announced the 3.5/45mm TS, a tilt-shift lens developed in collaboration with Hartblei. The 45mm lens offers up to 12 mm shift (combined with a 360 degree rotation) and 8 degrees tilt. In addition, it is bundled with Phase One’s Capture One 4 Lens and Focus optical correction technology.
Press Release:
Phase One Introduces Tilt/Shift Lens
Based on Collaboration with Hartblei
Copenhagen, September 3, 2008 – Phase One A/S today announced an exclusive strategic alliance with Hartblei to drive medium format photographic lens innovation. The first product of this alliance is the Phase One 3.5/45 mm TS lens, based on the popular Hartblei 45 mm f/3.5 Super Rotator lens.
Specially designed for the professional photographer, this small, lightweight tilt shift lens is ideal for location or studio applications. It offers up to 12 mm shift and 8 degrees tilt for maximum flexibility.
Together Phase One and Hartblei have engineered important design advancements with this lens, including:
- New 2008 batch optical glass with multi-layer coating
- Improved 12 blade aperture design
- Mechanics with tighter tolerances
- New interior antireflection coating
- More streamlined mechanical design
When used with the Phase One 645 camera system, the Phase One 3.5/45 mm TS lens offers a simple, alternative to more advanced technical cameras. With it, photographers can adjust the plane of focus without changing the depth of field, correct perspective and selectively sharpen and soften an image – quickly gaining creative possibilities that cannot be realized in post-production.
The Phase One 3.5/45 TS lens comprises a simple eight-lens optical system. Each element is coated with a multilayer anti-reflective coating to reduce internal reflections, increase image transmission efficiency and enhance contrast. The new lens is also is supported by Phase One’s Lens+ and Focus+ optical correction technologies available in Capture One 4.
Pricing and Availability
The Phase One 3.5/45 TS lens is 2.990€ / $3,990 and may be ordered now. It will be demonstrated at Photokina, at which time more details will be available. Volume shipment is expected in Q4 2008.
Phase One 3.5/45 mm TS lens specifications
| Compatible Cameras | Phase One 645 / Mamiya 645AFD |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 45 mm (equivalent to 24 mm focal length for a 35mm camera) |
| Focusing | manual |
| Maximum aperture |
1:3.5 |
| Aperture range | 3.5 – 22 (manual) |
| Optical Construction | 8 elements in 7 groups |
| Angle of view |
83° (98° with optical unit shifted) |
| Minimum focusing distance |
1.15 ft (0.35 m) |
| Filter size | Ø82 mm |
| Lens movement |
Individual rotation of both tilt and shift in any direction |
| Rotation movement range | 360°, with click stops every 15° |
| Shift movement range | 0 to 12 mm in any direction |
| Tilt movement range |
0 to 8° in any direction |
| Standard Accessory | Flower-shaped lens hood |
| Compatible Mount |
For Canon, Nikon, Pentax, and Sony |
| Weight | 880 grams |
| Dimensions | 96×110 mm |