Olympus releases the pro-level OM-D micro four thirds EM-5 camera

Olympus has released their first true high-end Micro Four Thirds camera: the E-M5. With a new 16 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, super-fast AF system, 5-axis image stabilization, an OLED display, and much more.  The weather sealed body resembles the classic OM series from four decades ago.  

Not to give my age, but my first SLR was the OM-1 in 1974 and it was a beauty.  When my daughter took her first photography class in High School,  I had to go out and find a nice used OM-1 four years ago.  I may have to buy this sucker even though I’m heavily invested in Canon gear.  Nothing sells like nostalgia.

Ships in April for $999 body only, $1099 with a 14 - 42 mm lens (black only), and $1299 with the new 12-50 mm lens.

Hit this link for a preview on dpdreview.com

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Canon launches three new lenses

EF 24-70mm F2.8L II USM: Sealed against dust and moisture; ships in April for $2299

EF 24mm F2.8 IS USM:  ships in June for $849

EF 28mm F2.8 IS USM:  ships in June for $799

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Nikon introduced D800 full-frame digital SLR. Is 36MP enough now?

Nikon has announced their new D800 full-frame digital SLR and what a camera it is.  This size sensor, has probably exceeded what film was ever capbable of showing, or at least matched it finally in the 35mm size.

•  36.3 Megapixel (!), full-frame FX-format CMOS sensor
• Expeed 3 processor
• Nikon F-mount; no crop factor with FX-format lenses, 1.5X with DX-format (resolution drops to 15.4 MP, as well)
• Very solid magnesium alloy construction, sealed against dust and moisture; shutter rated to 200,000 cycles
• 3.2-inch LCD display with 921,000 pixels, with live view
• Large optical viewfinder has magnification of 0.7X, coverage of 100/97 percent (FX/DX format)
• 51-point AF system, with fifteen cross-type sensors
• 91,000 pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering system
• Full manual controls (in case you were wondering)
  • ISO range of 100 - 6400, expandable to 50 - 25600
  • Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec
• Continuous shooting at 4 fps (FX mode), 5 fps (DX mode), or 6 fps (DX mode with optional battery grip)
• Electronic level
• In-camera HDR feature (two shot)
• Built-in flash can double as a wireless master; hot shoe and flash sync port for attaching something more powerful
• Records video at 1080p @ 24 or 30 fps, or 720p at 60 fps
  • Uses H.264 and B-Frame compression for super high quality, 24 MBps video (20 min limit); standard compression can be used for longer videos (30 min)
  • Full manual controls available while recording
  • A lens’ power aperture can be adjusted for changes in depth-of-field while recording
  • Dedicated movie recording button on top of camera
• Stereo mic input, headphone output
• Can output uncompressed video through its HDMI port (like the D4)
• USB 3.0 port (backward compatible)
• Dual memory card slots support SD and CompactFlash
• Uses EN-EL15 lithium-ion battery, 900 shots per charge
• Optional battery grip (which can use another EN-EL15, the D4’s EN-EL18, or AA batteries), wireless file transmitter, and GPS receiver
• Ships in late March for $2999, body only

 

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Nikon D4 FX camera to be announced this Friday, January 6, 2012

The Nikon D4, which is slated for February availability at a $6,000 suggested retail, will offer a full-frame 16.2-megapixel full-format CMOS image sensor that will shoot full-resolution images at up to a 10 fps rate.

The camera is also one of the first to support the new XQD Compact Flash memory card format, and will also offer a second card for more conventional CF cards.

The Nikon D4 has improved low-light performance, with an ISO range from 100 to 102,400 which can be expanded to 50 to 204,800 for both movies and stills.

The D4 also improves on the D3’s color matrix metering system with a third-generation 91,000-pixel RGB metering sensor.

The unit takes the AF mode select switch from the D7000 and uses improved 51-point AF points with 9 cross-type sensor and a beefed up AF module allowing focus with an f/8 lens and faster (up from f/5.6). The AF detection range is now down to EV-2.0

The viewfinder features a full pentaprism with a 100 percent field of view.

The video section will record pixel-for-pixel Full-HD 1080p resolution with selections for 30p and 24p frame rates in this iteration, and 720p at up to 60p for slow-motion work. The camera now includes support for the H.264 B frame compression scheme.

The camera uses contrast detect AF in movie recording and features a low-pass filter optimized to maximize sharpness of HD video, meaning greater noise reduction when shooting full-frame movies.

Function buttons are illuminated this year, and a dedicated video button (user re-assignable) is added near the shutter button.

The D4 supports WTSA wireless control using the optional Nikon WT-5 wireless transmitter, and features an integrated Ethernet port and HDMI output enabling output of uncompressed video.

The D4 also introduces face detection/recognition into the flagship series

Another new feature is smooth aperture control for use while shooting video.

At the same time, the company introduced the Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.8G FX format lens ($500 suggested retail).

PhotoRadar has hands on reviews of Canon 600D/T3i & 1100D/T3

One of my favorite online photo sites, has just published a hands on review of the new Canon 600D and 1100D models just announced by Canon.  I learned about PhotoRadar by reading the great UK magazine “Digital Camera”, or “Digital Camera World” as it’s known here across the pond.

I’ve picked up some great Photoshop skills using tutorials on the PhotoRadar site, and in the included discs when I purchase the magazine.

Here are the links to these new articles:

Canon EOS 600D hands on

Canon EOS 1100D hands on

Nikon Intros the new D7000 Digital S

Nikon today introduced the D7000, which is the follow-up to the very popular D90 digital SLR. The D7000 carries a lot of new features into an easy-to-use camera that’s priced from $1199.

The main bullets are:

• 16.2 effective Megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor
• EXPEED 2 image processor
• Supports all Nikon F-mount lenses with a 1.5X focal length conversion ratio
• Magnesium-alloy body is sealed against dust and moisture; shutter rated to 150,000 cycles
• 3-inch LCD display with 921,000 pixels
• Optical viewfinder features 100% coverage and a magnification of 0.94X
• Full manual controls
• ISO range of 100 - 6400, expandable to 25,600
• Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec
• RAW (NEF) format supported, with in-camera editing
• Live view with contrast detect AF and subject tracking
• 39-point AF system, with 9 cross-type sensors in the center
• New 2,016 pixel RGB metering sensor uses scene data to ensure accurate metering and flash output
• Continuous shooting at 6 frames/second
• Can record Full HD video (1920 x 1080 at 24 fps) for up to 20 minutes using H.264 codec
• Full-time autofocus and manual exposure control
• Can also record 720p at 24 and 30 frames/sec
• Stereo mic input
• In-camera video editing
• Built-in wireless flash support
• HDMI output
• Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC slots; second slot can be used for backup, overflow, and splitting up stills and movies
• Uses EN-EL15 lithium-ion battery, 1050 shots per charge
• Optional battery grip holds an additional EN-EL15 or six AA batteries
• Ships next month for $1199 body only, or $1499 with an 18 - 105 mm VR lens

I’ve posted a large number of shots of the D7000, so make sure you check them out below:

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Dpreview tests the Canon Rebel T2i/EOS 550D

PROS

• Excellent detail and resolution (especially in raw mode)
• Lovely new LCD screen - the 3:2 format really makes a difference.
• Capable, flexible AF system in both phase-detection and live view modes
• High-spec video mode, including external microphone jack
• Highly intuitive operation, refined ergonomics
• Fast and responsive operation (although shooting in raw mode slows things down)
• Very reliable metering and white balance in most shooting situations
• Decent build quality for the price - no creaks
• Highlight Tone Priority works well, in both raw and JPEG mode.
• Excellent battery life for its class
• Acceptable - although not outstanding - image quality at highest ISO settings.
• Excellent supplied software suite - DPP is one of the best bundled raw converters around

CONS

• Auto Lighting Optimizer’s effect is subtle to the point of being unnoticeable
• No rear control dial (as found on higher-end Canon bodies)
• Entry-level ergonomics won’t suit everyone (the EOS 50D and 7D just feel nicer)
• No in-camera raw conversion option
• Slightly soft JPEG output at default settings (but this is far from unusual)
• Chroma noise takes a fairly big chunk out of resolution at ISO 12800 (but better than the 500D)
• AF assist strobe can be annoying

source:dpreview

Canon identifies problem with EOS 7D - firmware update soon

Canon has said it is investigating an issue with its recently released EOS 7D digital SLR. In a service notice it says there is an occasional issue where traces of a preceding frame may be visible in images captured in continuous shooting mode. The company says it will release a firmware update to resolve the problem.

Click here to read service notice from Canon.

Canon EOS 1D Mark IV with 1080p

Canon has finished its last major DSLR update of the past year and launched the EOS 1D Mark IV as its highest-end camera. The new model jumps from a 10-megapixel APS-H (near full-frame) sensor to a 16-megapixel, 1.3X crop unit and upgrades to twin DIGIC IV processors. The boost gives it 1080p video at 30 frames per second, or 720p at 60 frames per second, while still shooting full-quality still images at up to 10 frames per second. It can also match the Nikon D3s’ ISO 102,400 light sensitivity and so can shoot in extremely low light without invoking flash.
An overhauled 45-point autofocusing system is new and, like with the EOS 7D, can automatically group points together to speed up selecting the right area while still allowing the camera to focus on a more exact point. It can also track a subject locked in one point across any of the other points, even if it’s temporarily blocked.

Image quality should be improved with better noise reduction as the image leaves the sensor; 14-bit color conversion now occurs even at the maximum 10FPS photo shooting rate. A coating on the low pass filter should remove more dust from the sensor than in the past, and photographers can now capture smaller S-RAW or M-RAW shots to shoot faster or at reduced file size without losing compression.

The EOS 1D Mark IV arrives in a body-only kit at the very end of the year, in late December, and should cost $5,000. A companion add-on, the WFT-E2 II A, will give the Mark IV 802.11g Wi-Fi and Ethernet support to share photos over local networks and the Internet, including remote shooting with a live preview; Bluetooth is onboard to add geotagging with a wireless GPS receiver.

source:electronista

Canon unveils EOS-7D with 18MP, 8FPS shooting

As promised, Canon tonight launched the EOS-7D, its most advanced crop-frame digital SLR camera to date. The camera not only shoots at 18 megapixels, one of the highest resolutions for a camera that isn’t full-frame, but also gives it two DIGIC 4 processors that help it shoot more quickly than other cameras in its class. It can shoot bursts of 8 frames per second for up to 15 shots in RAW or 126 shots in JPEG. The advanced processing also gives it video advantages over even the EOS-5D Mark II: it can record 720p at up to 60FPS or 1080p at 24, 25 or 30 frames per second, letting filmmakers capture at native speed without having to convert later.

Optical quality regardless of mode has been given a boost with 19-point autofocus (up from nine on the 5D Mark II) with a special Zone AF mode that simplifies the selection into five areas, making it easier to track a moving subject without having to scroll across all of the points. This precision also applies to point expansion, which groups together points to track moving subjects, and a spot AF mode that narrows down an individual point for a very specific focus. A new macro tracking mode recognizes an appropriate lens and increases the amount of sampling to prevent blur at such a close range.

Extra improvements bring a new LCD overlay on the viewfinder that brings more information into the shot, a two-axis digital level to assist in orienting the shot, and a 63-zone, two-layer metering system that checks both the actual light and the coloring. It continues to offer an external mic input like the 5D Mark II and has light sensitivity between ISO 100 and 12,800.

The 7D arrives at the end of September at the rumored body-only price of $1,699. A kit version with a 28-135mm EF lens will cost $1,899.

Three new lenses are also shipping and are headlined by the EF 100mm f2.8L, Canon’s first ever Hybrid IS lens: the extra compensation for both angled shaking and shifting makes it possible to shoot very stable macro shots even when completely handheld, Canon insists. Also coming are a 15-85mm f3.5-5.6 general purpose but wide-angle lens and a low-cost 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 lens designed for moderate telephoto shooting while still allowing reasonably close shots. The macro and 18-135mm lenses ship in late September at prices of $1,049 and $500 each, while the 15-85mm lens appears in late October for $800.

Specs:

• 18.0 Megapixel CMOS sensor
• Dual DIGIC 4 processors
• Supports all EF and EF-S lenses with a 1.6 focal length conversion ratio
• Rugged magnesium alloy body has weather seals and a shutter rated to 150,000 cycles
• 3-inch LCD display with 920,000 pixels
• Intelligent pentaprism viewfinder has 100% coverage, a magnification of 1.0X
• An LCD is overlaid on top of the viewfinder to show AF points, composition grids, spot metering, electronic level, and the usual shooting info
• New 19-point, all cross-type AF system
• Supports AF point expansion (surrounding AF points used to track a moving subject) and Zone AF (divides all focus points into five selectable zones)
• Intelligent Macro Tracking detects when a macro lens is attached and adjusts the AI Servo sampling frequency to compensate for forward/backward camera movement
• New iFCL 63-zone dual layer metering system
• Full manual controls
• ISO range of 100 - 12,800 when fully expanded
• Shutter speed range of 30 - 1/8000 sec, plus a bulb mode
• Three RAW sizes to choose from
• Continuous shooting at 8 frames/second (15 RAW, 126 JPEG with UDMA card)
• Dual axis electronic level handles roll and pitch; data can be shown on LCD or viewfinder
• Pop-up flash has built-in wireless flash transmitter; external flash supported via hot shoe or flash sync port
• Dust reduction system
• Records movies in Full HD (1920 x 1080) with sound, using H.264 codec
• Frame rates at 1920 x 1080: 30p, 24p, 25p; at 1280 x 720: 60p, 50p; at 640 x 480: 60p, 50p
• Exposure and focus can be manually adjusted
• Dedicated movie recording button
• Stereo mic input
• CompactFlash Type I/II slot
• HDMI output
• Optional battery grip and wireless file transmitter (see below)
• Uses LP-E6 li-ion battery; 800 shots per charge
• Ships in late September for $1699 body only, or $1899 with the F3.5-5.6, 28 - 135 mm IS lens

Can’t forget the backside.  Oh, and of course DPReview.com already has the hands on preview on this just announced beauty.