Here are the basics: 15.1MP, HD video capture (full 1080p HD video recording at 20fps), a DIGIC 4 Imaging Processor, 3.4 fps for up to 170 large/fine JPEG images or up to nine RAW images in a single burst, ISO speeds up to 3200 in whole stop increments (plus H1: 6400 and H2: 12800), a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD (920,000 dots/VGA). The camera comes with Canon’s Auto Lighting Optimizer, Creative Auto Mode and Live View.

The T1i is scheduled for delivery by early May and will be sold in a body-only configuration for $799.99 and in a kit version with Canon’s EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $899.99.

Initial Reactions to Canon Digital Rebel T1i / 500D

Joe Decker, a Photocrati contributor, talks about implications of the 500D / Digital Rebel T1i the “narrowing” of the market for digital slr cameras, and how the increased power and resolution of “entry” level cameras may soon reduce the size of the market for flagship pro models.

Digital Photography Preview says “this is most of a 50D stuffed into the familiar 450D body.”

Camera Labs says: “if the Beta unit’s quality holds up, … the Canon Rebel T1i’s image quality is at least as good as the Canon 50D, delivering more detail than most of the 12-megapixel cameras on the market for less money.”

Both the DPreview and Camera Labs comments above are based on preliminary use of beta models, so it’s a bit early to tell what the verdict will be. But it’s clear this is intended to be Canon’s new flagship model at the lower end of the market, and that it will be popular camera.

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I mean, who buys a high-end SLR with the intention of only using a single lens? I used to think no one did, but then this hit the market and you can’t even get it it’s so popular.

He does go on to say that he does like it and it is good value ..

Overall, it’s a nice lens and produces good images. If you’re looking specifically for something with an 11x zoom range, for whatever reason, you could do much worse than buying this lens. I’d recommend it if you have to travel light or for day trips with the family. It’s economical, too, when you consider the cost of buying two or more lenses to cover the same range. But any lens covering such a broad range has to make compromises. If you don’t mind switching lenses once in a while, you’ll get better image quality from more specialized zooms or primes.

I guess the main thing to separate the two will be price, you would be choosing either the low cost Sigma or the higher priced but VR-enabled Nikkor. Two slightly different markets I am thinking so the two will find their own following.

sigma, nikkor, nikon, 18-200mm, camera, lens, dslr, photography, news, review

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Nikon D2Xs

D2Xs shares many performance and design innovations with the D2X. It also offers Nikon’s acclaimed DX-format CMOS image sensor capturing 12.4 million effective pixels per image, producing 4,288 x 2,848-pixel images with the high resolution and sharp detail needed for demanding professional assignments. The D2Xs, however, also introduces a range of revised features that make operation significantly more responsive – including refined viewfinder performance that makes for easier composition when shooting in Nikon’s exclusive High-Speed Crop mode, a new 2.5 inch LCD with a 170-degree wide viewing angle calibrated at the factory to ensure consistent color fidelity, significantly increased battery life and a wide range of firmware enhancements.

Most of the buzz seems to be around the features that I find quite ho-hum. It’s hard to get excited about 12mp and 2.5 LCD screens, not much news there. No, the specs that have me intrigued are

• 6mp crop mode allowing 8 frames a second burst
• GPS capability (with optional adapter)
• Wireless transmission and control through WiFi

Go check out the D2Xs announcement at the Nikon site, and the preview by Nikonians/LetsGoDigital. I am sure there will be a boatload of reviews in coming weeks.

Technorati Tags: nikon, dslr, d2xs, news, digtal, camera, photography

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I’ve recently returned from my first photo trip with my new system—a PhaseOne P45 (39 megapixel) back on a Mamiya 645AFDII . After using a 4×5 for the last 30 years, it was quite a change! Just lifting the camera backpack brought a smile to my face (it’s about 10 lbs. lighter). I greatly enjoyed the agility and mobility of a medium-format camera, especially with the zoom lenses. I was also able to do close-ups fairly painlessly, quite a change from 4×5. I didn’t need to worry about running out of film—my tiny card case had four 4 GB cards, allowing for about 350 exposures! And, unlike 4×5 film, where each click of the shutter adds up to around $4.50—these were…free! (Free, after you pay the rather steep price of admission for the P45 back). This is actually quite liberating, as there is no reason now not to try more adventuresome compositions and/or lighting situations. (Situations that I previously would have talked myself out of, due to film costs, and low probability of success. But…taking chances is important.)

How long will it be before we have access to 39mp …?

He also compares Raw Developer vs. Capture One, I didn’t realise there was so much involved in properly developing RAW, I need to research more I think.

Technorati Tags: phaseone, p45, digital, camera, review

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A sure sign that Spring is just around the corner (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere at least) is that the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition hit the newsstands yesterday. What may draw this to the attention of photographers (besides blatant prurient interest, or a fascination with the latest swimsuit fashions) is that photographer William Hawkes used the new 39 Megapixel Phase One P45 back to take this shot for a Budweiser beer ad. The reproduction size in the magazine is one of the largest ever; a fold-out measuring 11”x34” (27.94cm x 86.36cm). This ensures that almost every teenage boy in America will paste this large poster to their bedroom wall. The fact that it’s an ad for beer will likely never enter their consciousness, and that it was shot with a P45 back, not at all. But those of us interested in the latest photographic technology will take note. When you purchase your copy of SI this week, be sure that you let the pharmacist knows that you’re purchasing it purely to look at resolution figures

Source: luminous-landscape

How long will it be before we have 40 megapixels in our own DSLRs? Not long I expect, the march of technology continues …

Technorati Tags: 39mp, megapixels, sports, illustrated, picture, photography, digital, dslr, news

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Could be good news for the price-sensitive “pro-sumer” market as they are planning on attacking the field using lower cost mass-market products.

I for one welcome Sony into the market, a bit of healthy competition could drive down prices and encourage innovation. It also confirms what we have been hearing about the Konica news. Apparently Konica have sold 16 million lenses over the years, that ought to be a good head start for Sonys new product. With their electronics and manufacturing capability, marketing expertise and healthy bank balance they should be a force to be reckoned with.

Sony eyes big push into high-end digital cameras – Yahoo! News

Sony Corp. said on Friday it would aim for a quarter of the digital single lens reflex (SLR) camera market after acquiring assets for a push into that market from Konica Minolta Holdings Inc.

Sony is the world’s No. 2 digital camera maker behind Canon Inc. but it currently has no presence in the potentially lucrative digital SLR market.

Canon and Nikon Corp. control the lion’s share of the digital SLR market, but Pentax Corp  and Olympus Corp. have recently formed alliances with electronics makers in a bid to boost their sales.

Yutaka Nakagawa, president of Sony’s digital imaging business group, told reporters the company would aim for 20-25 percent of the fast-growing digital SLR market by focusing on relatively inexpensive models that could achieve mass-market appeal.

“But because there are few players in this market, I would like to grab an even bigger share than that,” he said.

Technorati Tags: photography, news, sony, konica, dslr

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They have even pulled out of the show in the NEC.

More here …

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Samsung announce their first digital SLR – The GX-1S

6 mega-pixels CCD

Light weight and portable – only 505g

Large bright 2.5 inch colour TFT LCD screen

Pentaprism technology provides clear, bright viewfinder

11 point auto focus

High sensitivity up to ISO 3200

Samsung is announcing its advance into the digital SLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera arena with the launch of the six mega-pixel GX-1S.

In February, the new interchangeable lens GX-1S is Samsung’s first digital SLR camera, developed in conjunction with Pentax. Samsung now provides a full offering of digital cameras to cater for the needs of everyone – from point and shooters to advanced enthusiast photographers.

Offering high portability and mobility through its compact design, the GX-1S will weigh just 505 grams and house a 23.5mm x 15.7mm CCD image sensor. The 3200 ISO equivalent allows high sensitivity shooting in indoor environments.

The GX-1S also provides a continuous shooting speed of 2.8 frames per second (up to eight frames in JPEG mode).

Lens
The GX-1S will utilize the new advanced Schneider Kreuznach D-Xenon lens system and Pentax’s lens KAF bayonet mount technology – all Pentax DSLR lens will be mountable on the GX-1S.

Viewfinder
The large TFT colour LCD screen (2.5 inch and 210K pixels) and Pentaprism technology ensure a clear and bright view. The field of view is 95% with magnification at 0.95x (50mm F1.4 lens).

Focusing, Shutter & Flash
Modes include AF Single (with focus lock) and manual focus together with continuous AF . Shutter speed is 30 ~ 1/4,000 sec. with Bulb. The flash is a built-in retractable P-TTL auto pop-up offering the following modes: Auto, Manual, Auto/Red-eye reduction, Manual/red-eye reduction. Angle of view coverage is 28mm wide-angle (equivalent to 35mm). Recharge time is 3 seconds.

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