Canon 1000D/Rebel XS spec as cheap as expected

So the Canon Rebel XS/1000D seems to be arriving to compete with the cheap lineups of the likes of Olympus, Sony, Nikon and Pentax. I have already written my feeling that going lower than the 450D/XSi is not a necessity for Canon. (continued)

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New Canon and Nikon DSLR rumours

ElectronRun has already mentioned the new Sony 24.8 megapixel full-frame sensor being prepared for forthcoming DSLR cameras. Given that Nikon is a really good Sony sensor customer, rumours on a forthcoming Nikon D3x with a -surprise surprise- 25 megapixel full-frame sensor are nothing but perfectly logical. A new Nikon D90 to replace the Nikon D80 is also mentioned.

At the same time, Canon’s 5D has seemingly completed its life cycle and new things are expected pretty soon under the 5d Mk II name. Sites like Photography Bay and Crave have plenty of gossip to keep you busy, you could also be entertained by plenty of photographic forums where users not only take guesses as to what the new specs will be, but also openly present their wish lists if they were to upgrade (continued)

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Samsung and Pentax to possibly join the full-frame DSLR race

ElectronRun covers DSLR developments and only last week I listed 7 reasons DSLRs are so important to manufacturers. From PMA 2008 it is becoming apparent that the reflex camera entry category is already incredibly crowded. Manufacturers respond with an increasing number of models and the inclusion of as many features as possible.

This however leads to more price competition and a distinct difficulty to achieve product differentiation. This time the safety valve seems to be full-frame sensors. Canon had them first, Nikon followed with the excellent D3 -that is surely going to cut a lot of business from Canon’s formerly exclusive domain- and Sony has plans to join the club with a 24.8 megapixel sensor.

Canon XL H1S and XL H1A not going far enough?

Canon’s new XL H1S and XL H1A prosumer videocameras are the new versions of a legendary product line that created a new segment and integrated in a compact package features previously expected only by heavy and cumbersome back-breakers.

The improvements are not revolutionary and concentrate on better controls and a better user experience. The sensors remain the same 3 1/3-inch CCDs with 16:9 aspect and 1440×1080 resolution. With the new cameras you also get the updated 20x HD Video Lens III with better feel and adjustments.

Overall however, there is a feeling that not much has changed. Admittedly, the XL series can hardly be criticised for being run-of-the-mill. However, at a time when storage media are modernised, what is the point of retaining tape as the storage medium?

CHDK = How to turbo-boost your Canon compact

Have you ever wondered whether maybe -just hypothetically asking!- your Canon compact can do a lot more than you can currently access? If you have, you are not far from the truth. Like all modern electronics, it is all down to the processing unit in the camera’s heart. And if it is a Digic II or III -i.e.: one of the two latest generations- you can use CHDK firmware to reach all available functions.

CHDK stands for Canon Hacker’s Development Kit and you can load it onto your Canon compact without fear, since the original firmware can be restored. According to the CHDK wiki, the list of enhancements is as follows:

• Shooting in RAW.
• Live histogram (RGB, blended, luminance and for each RGB channel).
• Zebra mode (blinking highlights and shadows).
• Depth of field calculator.
• Battery indicator.
• Scripts execution (exposure/focus/… bracketing, intervalometer and more).
• File browser.
• Text reader.
• Calendar.
• Some fun tools and games.

Nikon DSLR share almost equal to Canon’s, Canon still world #1 overall

Source: CNET and IDC

The ripples of the digital camera revolution have not settled yet. CNET is reporting that according to IDC data on world camera sales, Canon is still number one overall, a lead it has retained continuously in recent years. However, in the most important DSLR category, Canon’s significant lead has all but been eroded by Nikon’s explosive progress.

In particular, the world DSLR pie of roughly 7.5 million units has gone by 42% to Canon, 40% to Nikon and the remaining to everyone else -with Sony being the most aggressive DSLR outsider. To get a feeling of Nikon’s progress, bear in mind that in 2006 Canon’s share was 46.7%, while Nikon was lower by one third at 33%. With the current trend, Nikon with its fast 71% growth will overtake Canon this year -Canon’s growth is stuck at 29%.

Canon HF10 “the first great AVCHD camcorder”

There is hardly any camcorder that is not tested by the guys at camcorderinfo. Amid the storage medium confusion -HD, tape, flash, optical disc- there is also the even more serious matter of what format to choose. From the first HD generation, the only models that managed to offer good quality results were tape based HDV models, working and storing footage much like their miniDV ancestors.

2 important features I expect from the rumoured Canon 5D Mk II DSLR?

As Gizmodo states, Canon’s 5D DSLR is around for 2 1/2 years and a replacement is definitely on its way. This length of life is highly unusual for a digital camera, even if it is a semi-professional DSLR.

So what elements have made the 5D attractive for so long? Most of all its full-frame sensor, in a package that is unmatched in terms of picture quality and portability. The signs of time are however showing and you can now get the body for well below €2,000. On top of that you get some formidable competition from Nikon’s D3 and D300, challenging Canon’s domination in a way unseen for the last five or six years.

PMA 2008 DSLR wrap-up

This year’s PMA has been nothing but exciting for DSLR cameras. The great news is that Canon and Nikon are no more alone in the arena. Of course we have the issue of legacy lens and photographer resistance to change when they have been served by their cameras for year on end…

The show’s disappointment? For me the fact that Canon did not replace its 5D with a newer model, but of course it is their regular practise to only release one major model per show. We will have more chances for this later in the year. Full-frame sensors are Canon’s strong card as it has the longest history and a proven record. If the 5D successor comes in at a low enough price point to become competitive against smaller sensor DSLRs it will be the most exciting development I could expect this year…

New DSLR cameras coming in PMA 2008

Tired of CES and Macworld yet? Time for something more focused, because PMA is no generalist show but concentrates exclusively on imaging stuff. I am not going to deal with compacts at all, as models change with the the frequency of weather changes, I am going to concentrate on my favourite part of the show, DSLR cameras :-) There is already wind of new DSLR models for the show, the timing is quite critical as 2008 is going to be good for this segment and fierce competition is a certainty.

Canon is going to reveal its 450D/Rebel XSi that will replace its current 400D/XTi. With 12 megapixel resolution, a larger viewfinder, live view, spot metering, 3 inch screen, 14-bit processing and high ISO noise reduction it is a definite improvement but times are changing and the competition is not as weak as in previous years… A point to note is that resolution is higher than the 10 Mp of the more expensive and capable 40D, a case of dismay among Canon customers expressed vocally in the past with the 400D/XTi and the 30D.