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Archive for the 'Buy a D-SLR' category


EOS 5D replaced with 21 MP

(Thursday, September 11th, 2008)

Canon EOS evolution

Canon EOS evolution

This is what Chasseur d’Images reveals on its web site home page. the new Full Frame sensor from Canon “dépasse la barre des 21 millions de pixels” (has more than 21 million pixels). The camera should be at the top of the category with all the possible bells and whistles including LiveView and a video mode. But above all, we must expect that the design has been improved: “rajeuni et d’une belle finition alliant robustesse et légéreté, grâce à un châssis en alliage de magnésium” (rejuvenated and with a nice finish blending robustness and lightness).

The title of the illustration seems to confirm the name of the camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II. This was very probable, but many other names had been published here and there (and here too).

We’ll know all the details on September 17th in the morning.

New EOS specs?

(Thursday, September 11th, 2008)

According to French electronic magazine EOS Numérique, the next Canon EOS dSLR camera will have the following specs.

  • 24 mega-pixel 24X36/Full Frame CMOS sensor
  • DIGIC IV processor
  • LiveView
  • Video Mode
  • Integrated Cleaning System
  • Full compatibility with Canon EF and EX-series Speedlites
  • Magnesium alloy body
  • New battery, new grip
  • Price: 2600€
  • Official announcement: 17/09/2008

It seems possible that this is real data, not a leak, since it is said that Canon has miscalculated the limit date for its recent NDA (they are trying to extend it).

And the announcement date seems to be what everybody thinks about the official launch of the Canon EOS 7D or Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

Sony top glass: 70-400mm f/4-5.6 & Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8

(Tuesday, September 9th, 2008)

Among today’s Sony announces (to go with the new Alpha 900) we find a couple of nice pro lenses that were expected (according to the recent leaks):

  • Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6, to finally offer a great tele-zoom
  • Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8, to have the wide-angle zoom lens that could drive sales of the Sony Alpha 900

Now, Sony has a full range of f/2.8 zooms from 16mm to 200mm.

Availability of these two zooms: January 2009. Let’s be patient.

Sony Alpha 900: It’s here!

(Tuesday, September 9th, 2008)

In preparation of the Photokina 2008, Sony just announced its newest digital SLR photo camera in Full Frame sensor size, the Sony Alpha 900.

Sony Alpha 900

Sony Alpha 900

Specification

(more…)

What will be the new Nikon D800?

(Sunday, September 7th, 2008)

Chasseur d’Image recently told us all that the Nikon D800 was not only a rumour. But what is really this bizarre photo camera (bizare because still unknown)? The question is there to be answered and it’s a difficult task. But, let’s see what we can infer from the little data available.

According to the numbering scheme, it would not be the direct successor of the Nikon D3 (totally pro). On the contrary, coming behind the Nikon D700, and much too early to be its replacement, in the semi-pro range, this must be a better camera.

Nikon D800?

Nikon D800?

Furtheremore, it appears that the Nikon D700 has a camera body which is not fully exploited: The memory card location seems pre-cut for an additional and smaller Flash card (SD model, probably). It seriously leads us toward the high-end cameras using two cards simultaneously to write both the RAW files on one card and JPEG files on the other. This would clearly be a feature for a high-end camera, but without being enough to create a separate model.

Hwever, Nikon became the specialist of re-use, re-cycle and modularity of its SLR cameras. They ensure that as many parts as possible are common to two different cameras. So, I would believe that…

  • the Nikon D700 body will be re-used (sorta confirmation of the Nikon D800)
  • this camera would be in the high-end

But which body?

I wonder whether the Nikon D800 (let’s use this name for the time being) would not be the real user of the Sony Full Frame 24.6 mega-pixel sensor that has been promised to us. Can you imagine it? A semi-pro Full Frame range at Nikon with a D700 of 12.1 MP and a Nikon D800 of 24.6 MP. Nikon would only have to add a high-end pro successor to the Nikon D3 in January of February 2009 and, here comes the best-looking range of digital cameras for enthusiast photographers.

Nikon would have no real dififcult to succeed here. At least, they already have everything for it.

Canon EOS 7D, this is it?

(Saturday, September 6th, 2008)

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D, is it really the new Full Frame camera?

From CanonRumours. But it seems to be an elegant fake from Xitek.com.

Sony Alpha 900 seen in the wild

(Saturday, September 6th, 2008)

You never can hide anything from the keen eyes of the Internet photo lovers. The Sony Alpha 900 has been seen used with the Carl Zeiss 16-35mm f/2.8 lens.

Notice the small trapezoidal LCD screen on top of the camera body, the nice position of the drive and exposure buttons on top of the grip, nearly under the finger:

Source: DP via PB.

Super-tele-lens at Sony

(Friday, September 5th, 2008)

We were waiting for it, we were speaking about it, we were murmuring. Here it comes. Sony just let some information leak about their new super-tele-lens to complete an already rather rich list of good quality lenses:

Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM

The Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SSM is described in the PDF documentation of the Sony 70-300mm f/4-5.6 G SSM. Obviously, they were designed together. It is a twist-zoom. This will differentiate quite notably from the push-pull type of others like the Canon 100-400mm and it should protect it efficiently against dust entry (and we know that this is the bane of push-pulls.

Sony 70-400mm f/4-5.6 G SMM - specification

The technical features can be read from this table. I can imediately notice that the diaphragm is staying between f/4 and f/5.6 (the golden standard of this type of zoom), that the weight is rather high (heavier than the Nikon and the Canon, nearly as much as the Sigma equivalnet) and that the minimum focus distance is very competitive.

Let’s wait for images and tests (and the price), but this could be the ideal lens to go and shoot in a wild-life safari.

Source: DPreview forums. See also my previous article about high-end tele-zooms.

The real new Canon EOS

(Friday, September 5th, 2008)

Canon EOS evolution

Canon EOS evolution

As seen on Canon EOS evolution (US web site).

Importantly, the progression of the moon phases will apparently progressively reveal the new camera around the end of the month, just in tome for the opening of the Photokina fair.

Canon EOS, it’s coming

(Friday, September 5th, 2008)

The Canon France web site started to prepare the arrival of a new Canon EOS camera with an animated teaser. Visibly, it will be at the top of the range (who said Canon EOS 7D?).

Canon teasing

Canon teasing

Canon EOS 7D – the name is official (nearly)

(Friday, September 5th, 2008)

Thanks to Image et Nature magazine who says so on its next cover page.

Image et Nature

Image et Nature

So, no Canon EOS 5D Mark II or similar. It will be Canon EOS 7D.

I told you that the press was currently held by the Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). Here is one which failed to cover it completely…

Sony Alpha 900 – name confirmed by ad

(Thursday, September 4th, 2008)

A Danish photography magazine just leaked the official name of the new flagship camera from Sony.

Sony Alpha 900 - publicité

Sony Alpha 900 - magazine ad

As everybody expected, it will be named Sony Alpha 900. Also,this tends to contradict the possibility of additional similar cameras (possibly with a different/smaller sensor).

Features

  • 24.6 Mega Pixel Full Frame Exmor CMOS Sensor
  • Dual BIONZ Image Processing Engine
  • Intelligent Preview
  • 100% Viewfinder (with 0.74x Magnification)
  • 3.0â€, 921K-pixel Hybrid LCD
  • 9-point double-cross AF (with f2.8 wide-area sensor & 10-point secondary sensors)
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • SteadyShot on the sensor

Update: Yet another ad has been found.

Sony Alpha 900 - Magazine ad

Sony Alpha 900 - Magazine ad

Embargo on Canon EOS 5D MkII, Sony Alpha 900

(Sunday, August 31st, 2008)

The DPreview forums are currently providing the latest bit of information about the Canon EOS 5D succession. The EOS 5D is dead, long live the… EOS 7D and EOS 5D MkII. The first would be for a low cost option (around $2000 – I told you that this low price point would be critical in the battle of the Full Frame cameras in 2008-09), the second would be staying up against the Nikon D700 and replace honorably the original Canon EOS 5D. Or it would be a set of Canon EOS 3D and Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Anyway, do not expect to get any reliable information now. Canon has put under NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) all press representative and has provided the pre-production cameras for the initial hands-on reviews to pop up everywhere when the embargo is lifted.

This is exactly the reason why  we no longer have any information about the upcoming Sony Alpha 900 which will be fighting in exactly the same market. Possibly with exactly the same weapons (two cameras to simultaneously cover both the $2000 and $3000 ranges).

Confirmation: The Canon EOS 5D MkII will be at Photokina

(Saturday, August 30th, 2008)

Canon IFA 2008

Canon IFA 2008

Everybody expects it to happen, but here is a noticia (in Spanish) where the writer informs us that the Canon people at the IFA2008 exhibition confirmed that the Canon EOS 5D will be renewed with the arrival of a new D-SLR camera with a Full Frame sensor within the scope of the next Koln Photokina fair.

In parallel, it has been observed that a Flicker user published an image that appeared to be marked as coming from a Canon EOS 6D (in the EXIF part of the file). But the author quickly confirmed that this was only a quick an dirty modification of the JPG file while testing some unrelated part of the Flicker operation.

So, we are still left without precise information about which name will be held by this new camera from Canon. But the latest descriptive rumour says that the EOS 6D or Canon EOS 7D (or whatever) will have the following features:

  • 21.1 M-pixel Full Frame
  • DIGIC IV
  • ISO 100-6400 (extension: 50 ISO & 12800 ISO)
  • 5 fps
  • 3.2″ High Resolution Screen (LCD)
  • 19-point AF
  • HDMI Out
  • Liveview
  • HD Movie Mode
  • Viewfinder: 100% Coverage
  • Full weather sealing
  • EF Lenses only

Anyway, this 2008 edition of the Photokina will be very interesting. You’ll see plenty of people running in the alleys from the first day to have a look at all the new cameras and photo products to be presented there.

Nikon D90 – it’s official now

(Wednesday, August 27th, 2008)

We are nearing time for the Photokina fair in Koln, Germany. So, photo manufacturer companies areannouncing their new products right now. As expected, here comes the Nikon D90 aimed at the entry-level D-SLR market. It is supposed to replace the Nikon D80.

The first presentations and reviews are coming up now everywhere on the Internet (except in France where Nikon appears to have embargoed the news after an isolated incidents in this country):

And an advanced presentation video:

$999 should be quite a nice price for a completely new camera with 12.3-megapixel image (4.5fps bursts) and even a 24fps HD-Movie 1280×720 mode. Standard zoom lens offered in kit will be AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR. You can see it below with this lens and… a GPS unit (compatible with nearly all existing Nikon SLR cameras: D3, D300, D700, D2X, D2Hs, D2Xs and D200).

Nikon D90 avec GPS

Nikon D90 with GPS unit attached

As I was expected, this announcement is not followed by one for the Nikon D3x. Just the entry-level Nikon D90.

Canon EOS 5D-MkII / 6D or 7D: Wait for Photokina

(Tuesday, August 26th, 2008)

According to Chasseur d’Images news-bit announcing the Canon EOS 50D, we could have some information about the replacement of the “5D” at the Photokina fair.

Il faudra attendre la Photokina pour en savoir davantage sur le prochain “5D” à capteur 24×36. (we will have to wait for Photokina to know more about the next “5D” with a 35mm sensor).

Only a few days to wait now until we know more about Canon EOS 5D-MkII, Canon EOS 6D or Canon EOS 7D.

The Canon EOS 50D is official now

(Tuesday, August 26th, 2008)

We have been talking a lot about it lately. Now, the Canon EOS 50D is out in the open, announced by Canon itself. If you followed here, nothing will surprise you. Even the body-only price of $1,399/£1,199.99/1499€ is expected (we’ll wait for a little step down when the camera is really available, in October 2008).

Here is a list of articles on the Internet describing the  new camera (to replace the Canon EOS 40D):

The Canon EOS 50D looks like a very good camera. As usual in this part of the camera range at Canon, this is an improvement, but having 15MP, more than 6 frames per second bursts, and a good image quality (up to 12800 ISO) is going to make it definitely interesting for people coming from either the EOS 40D or the EOS 30D. I’d say, the Canon EOS 50D is going to be loved.


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