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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Sony Alpha A350 DSLR review at CNET

In PMA 2008 Sony made a surprise move by announcing two and not only one new DSLR body. The Alpha A350 is the more impressive of the two since it packs 14.2 megapixels, together with a long list of concentrated features like sensor based stabilisation, swivel screen and live preview. CNET has reviewed the A350 and finds that it is a good camera with good dynamic range, performance and build quality.

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.

7 reasons DSLR cameras are so important for camera manufacturers

In a recent post about global camera sales in 2007, DSLR cameras were mentioned as a special and very important category. If you have noticed, the DSLRs sold in 2007 were about 7.5 million, roughly 6% of overall camera sales which exceeded 120 million.

So since the volume of DSLR cameras is so low overall, why is it so important? And why do all camera manufacturers try to get in this segment? Do not forget that recently Sony went as far as buying the Minolta camera division, mainly for the DSLR system that the later had already developed and sold in the market. So here is some main reasons I come up with:

1. DSLR cameras have large sensors, use high quality lens and in general are high precision masterpieces that offer the best in camera performance and engineering. Therefore excelling in DSLR design and manufacture is important.
2. As a consequence of #1, DSLR design and manufacture attracts the best engineers, designers and technicians available in the job market. Having a great workforce is super important for the future of any company.
3. DSLR cameras are the cameras used by professionals in high profile work, from studio to battleground journalism. These guys know a lot about cameras and can provide invaluable feedback about what to improve or what features to add. Furthermore, professional use is a great promotional tool for any brand.

Reviews of Olympus 12-60mm/f2.8-4.0 & 14-42mm/f3.5-5.6 lens by dpreview

In DSLR systems, lens is as important as the body. Professional choices are largely based not only on megapixels and body features, but also -sometimes mainly- on what lens ranges have to offer. Olympus understands this very well and given that its DSLR system was built from the ground up, a lot of good lens had to be developed to fill all requirements. The two lens reviewed by dpreview are the 12-60mm/f2.8-4.0 and the 14-42mm/f3.5-5.6, both belonging to the all-useful middle range for everyday use.

Without a doubt the 12-60mm/f2.8-4.0 is the star of the new Olympus lens, with a compact high-tech design that is in 35mm terms equivalent to 24-120mm. This means that it covers very satisfactory wide angles and also gets in telezoom fields, covering an incredibly rich range for a wide range of photographic applications. Designed to accompany the new E-3, it is no surprise that its quality of assembly, super-wide range and high quality results get it a review rating of ”highly recommended” and a description of “superb lens”.

Minolta 58/f1.2 converted with ROM Chip to AF for Sony A700

Source: Dyxum

Some people are plain create and come up with stuff and conversions that would more likely be expected from factory engineers. As Engadget reports, the moderator of the Dyxum photographic forum has managed to convert an old 58 mm/f1.2 Minolta lens from the 60s to AF for a brand new Sony A700!

The forum post describes the process which involves both mechanical and electronic intervention. A custom ROM chip was added and the mount was reworked, both to ensure compatibility with the A700’s characteristics.

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%.

Phase One and Mamiya develop new 645/645AFDIII medium format camera

Very few people will manage to get their hands on the new camera co-developed by Phase One and Mamiya. It is called the 645 by Phase One, or the 645AFDIII by Mamiya and is hailed as the most flexible medium format system in the world (great moto). Components are the usual body, backs (digital or film), lenses and software.

6 reasons Pentax cancels its 645 digital medium format camera

Medium format cameras are the ultimate in resolution and quality. Right? Yes, but Pentax does not seem to be so enthousiastic about this format any more, as it has decided to finally not release its digital 645, a model announced and presented in shows more than a year ago. Here is some possible reasons behind the decision:

1. Pentax wants to focus on its K-series, something which is Pentax’s reasoning anyway.
2. The resources of Pentax are limited, so it is normal that Pentax does not want to waste the momentum it has gained with its K20D and K200D models.
3. The medium format is a much more limited segment than conventional DSLRs, so Pentax might not be seeing many future opportunities there.
4. DSLR are getting better and better all the time. Especially full frame models -at the moment only by Canon and Nikon- can arguably offer similar or good enough results for photographers that previously only relied on medium format cameras.

Posted in DSLR | Tagged: 645, DSLR, K-series, K200D, K20D, medium format, Pentax | No Comments »