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Site News

Canon PowerShot S90

Canon PowerShot S90

Most likely sharing a lot with the recently announced Canon PowerShot G11, the Canon PowerShot S90 marks the return of Canon’s S-series compact cameras. Here are the highlights of the S90, many of which are also in the G11:

  • 10 megapixel high sensitivity CCD sensor
  • Dual Anti–Noise System
  • DIGIC 4
  • f/2.0 wide aperture lens (@ widest 28mm setting)
  • Lens Control Ring
  • Up to ISO 3200 and 12800 using the 2.5MP Low Light mode
  • Discrete zoom stops at 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm

It is quite obvious that the S90 is positioned to compete with serious amateur compacts like the Lumix LX3 and Ricoh GR Digital III. The introduction of f/2.0 at the wide end is very much like the LX3, though the focal length is a tad narrower at 28mm. The discrete zoom stops is a feature from Ricoh’s GX–series like the GX200, making the S90 an obvious contender in this market. Note that the 10 megapixel sensor is a downgrade from Canon’s recent models that already hit 14 megapixel a generation ago. I’m almost sure this change is more of an image quality consideration.

At 429 USD it is not that far from the G11’s price range and I’m sure these two models will somehow take away sales from each other. Collectively, it would be interesting to know if they can actually compare to what is presently available and upcoming in this growing advanced enthusiast market.

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Site News

Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

It’s now officially unveiled: the Canon PowerShot G11. Though you may think that this is simply just an update to Canon top–of–the–line for compact digital cameras, the G11 is said to improve on the G10 in many ways. One curious note though: the G11 has only 10 megapixels.

Not that megapixel count has mattered for the past year or so. The Canon PowerShot G11 utilizes a high-sensitivity CCD sensor that goes up to ISO 3200. Paired with the enhanced DIGIC 4 as well as other new technologies like i–Contrast, this camera should produce images as good or better than the G10 and its competitors. It should, or Canon loses that chunk of the market as its competitors have gained ground in this field. Then again, maybe there’s really no point to the G–series cameras now that it can hardly cope up with MFT compacts like the Olympus E–P1 and the Panasonic Lumix GF1?

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Asides

Pictreat is supposedly a useful web serv …

Pictreat is supposedly a useful web service that programatically beautifies profile photos without much fuss. It will be interesting if we see this kind of technology in common photo–editing apps.

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Asides

Samsung decides that putting an LCD in f …

Samsung decides that putting an LCD in front of the camera is a good idea. A curved mirror would’ve worked too!

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Asides

5 photo contests you can actually win.

5 photo contests you can actually win.

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Asides

The Leica S2 will be selling for $26,000 …

The Leica S2 will be selling for $26,000 (£15,996)! That’s quite a handful of money for a camera, don’t you think?

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Rumors

Leica M9

Leica M9

It is rumored that the Leica M9 will be using the same sensor as that on the Canon EOS–5D Mark II. Reportedly, profiles for the M9 are showing up in certains versions of some RAW conversion software, suggesting that the new Leica is almost here. However, it would be quite strange if Canon indeed lends the 5D CMOS sensor to Leica as they’re not known to produce sensors for other camera makers. But then again, we know that Leica sells cameras with a huge premium which may just allow them to offer a good price for the 5D’s imaging sensor. And since the the M9 will be nowhere near the 5D Mark II’s price, there’s little chance it would hurt Canon’s market.

If Leica announces the M9 with a 21–megapixel CMOS sensor, it’s probably from Canon.

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Asides

Firmware version 2.40 has been released …

Firmware version 2.40 has been released for the Ricoh GR Digital II. Usability has been improved with customization options for the use of the ADJ. lever and Up-down dials.

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Asides

Now here’s a first: the Nikon S1000pj – …

Now here’s a first: the Nikon S1000pj – the world’s first projector camera! No longer will you be needing a TV or a separate projector to showcase your photos, you can do it from within this camera. Now since it uses SD/SDHC cards, I wonder if it would be possible to use this as your dedicated projector in a location shoot. Interesting.

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Rumors

Rumor: Panasonic Lumix GF1

panasonic-gf1

Rumors have been circulating about Panasonic’s supposedly to–be–announced new camera called the “Panasonic Lumix GF1” that is in many ways comparable to the new Olympus E–P1. Utilizing the Micro Four Thirds (MFT) sensor format, such a camera would make perfect sense as there is a growing interest in compact rangefinder–styled cameras with interchangeable lenses. And with Panasonic’s stake at Leica, everyone’s waiting at just what Leica lenses will be offered for the GF1.

There is also a second leaked image supposedly with the details on the Panasonic Lumix GF1:

panasonic-gf1-details

Everything seems sensible to me. Now if indeed this camera is real, will Panasonic end the LX line with the LX3 or still continue producing successors to their popular model? After all, the LX3 is still selling well almost a year after it was released. More serious users can finally graduate to the GF1 while those just into good point–and–shoots can go with the LX3 or its successors.

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Bodies Product Announcements

Nikon D300s confirmed

nikon-d300s

So most of the rumors on the Nikon D300s were true after all. Nikon has just confirmed the Nikon D300s, the update to the D300. Though many features are kept the same, there are several notable changes:

  • 720p video recording
  • Dual card slots, now with CF and SD/SDHC options
  • Fast continuous shooting at 7 fps (the D300 was at 6 fps)
  • Better autofocus
  • Virtual Horizon overlay
  • Active D-Lighting Bracketing
  • Dedicated LiveView button, slightly revised button layout
  • Quiet Shutter Mode
  • Wider-coverage flash (Now at 16mm instead of 18mm)
  • Smaller HDMI port

Okay, there were more changes than “just a bit.” HD video recording is definitely welcome as most competitors are offering it now. Additionally, the dual card slots allows for various recording combinations to make you never lose a shot due to data corruption—just don’t lose the camera along with your memory cards!

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Bodies Product Announcements

Nikon D3000 launched

nikon-d3000

The Nikon D3000 is Nikon’s newest digital SLR camera positioned to replace the D40 in the competitive entry–level segment. With its list of welcome improvements, the D3000 appears to continue the D40’s place as the favorite digital SLR for first–time buyers.

Here’s some of the nice things on the D3000:

  • 10 megapixel self–cleaning CCD sensor
  • EXPEED image processing with Picture Control menu
  • CAM 1000 11-area AF system, similar to the D90
  • ISO sensitivity: 100-1600 + Hi 1
  • Active D-Lighting system
  • 3D Color Matrix Metering II
  • 95% coverage viewfinder
  • 3fps continuous shooting
  • 3-inch (diagonal), 230,000-dot rear LCD

Unfortunately, the D3000 does not get the HD video capabilities of its sibling. This would likely make potential buyers think twice as most new digital SLRs these days can record HD video. Pegged at USD $600 for the kit that comes with the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, the D3000 will surely be a good value. If other manufacturers decide to skip HD video for its next entry–level offerings, the D3000 might sell just as well as the D40. But it might not be that way.

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Photo Samples

Ricoh GR Digital III Sample Images

If you’re wondering how images from the new Ricoh GR Digital III appear, here’s a bunch of photos from their product site that highlight the new camera’s strength. Click on them to download the full–size versions.

sample_01s

sample_02s

sample_03s

sample_04s

sample_05s

sample_06s

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News P&S Digitals

Ricoh GR Digital III announced

Ricoh GR Digital III

After months and months of rumors on the update to Ricoh’s GR Digital series, the Ricoh GR Digital III is finally here. One of the notable details floated around was indeed correct: the new fast–aperture 28mm f/1.9 GR lens.

Here’s the list of highlights for the GR III:

  • 28 mm/F1.9 GR Lens
  • GR Engine III
  • 10 megapixel high-sensitivity CCD and AFE
  • Pixel output interpolation algorithm
  • Multi-pattern auto white balance
  • Fast AF even in low-light situations
  • Full Press Snap
  • Pre-AF mode
  • Continuous shooting and high write speed
  • AE/AF target shift
  • Extensive exposure modes (Shutter speed priority AE newly added)
  • New macro mode system controls field curvature
  • Dynamic range double shot (In–camera HDR!)
  • Aspect ratio 1:1 square format mode
  • Flash synchro setting
  • Manual flash amount setting
  • Three types of bracketing
  • Magnesium body for superior reliability

The GR Digital III is certainly better than the GR II. Unfortunately, there are curious omissions like HD movie recording—it still records in 640×480 pixels! Compared to the Panasonic Lumix LX3, it’s a close battle with the LX3 taking the lead in movie recording and lens performance, at least on paper. More importantly, the GR III is priced above USD $500, making it more expensive than its direct competitors. Unless Ricoh lowers its price, the GR III might just be the same as its GR and GX siblings—good cameras that could’ve sold more.

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Asides

Canon has just unveiled their Hybrid Ima …

Canon has just unveiled their Hybrid Image Stabilizer technology that eliminates two types of camera shake: tilt and shift. The new system is expected in new lenses later this year.

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Asides

Invisible flash takes photos without the …

Invisible flash takes photos without the glare.

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Asides

Photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson and …

Photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson and Walker Evans: America exposed — “A new book reveals how two master photographers uncovered the anxious realities of the American Dream.”

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Asides

88 USD for a bunch of flash modifiers is …

88 USD for a bunch of flash modifiers is a bit much, but at least they don’t look as ghetto as your typical DIY projects.

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Asides

There is a power–related problem with t …

There is a power–related problem with the Nikon D5000 that may suddenly cause it to simply not work, completely inoperable. If your camera is affected, Nikon will be fixing it for you at no cost.

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Asides

PercepTool is a Photoshop plugin that mi …

PercepTool is a Photoshop plugin that mimics what the brain “sees” upon looking at a photo, which isn’t exactly how a camera records it: “PercepTool takes the image made in the digital camera sensor (also called luminance image) and changes it into what our brain actually perceives. The luminance image consists of 2 sub (intrinsic) images: reflection and illumination. The reflection and illumination images are separated from the luminance image in the visual cortex of the brain, processed and recombined into what is known as the percept, or the image that we actually perceive. We call this image luminosity. Most of the changes are due to differential recombination of the edges in the image and optimization of tonal values.”