Digital Camera Review » digital slr

Olympus E-30

Cuzzy — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:37:00 +0000

Over the years, famous photographers have channeled their individualism by depending on open imaginations and a good eye to create aestheticly pleasing works of art that change your world view to expose a deep meaning or opinion. The Olympus E-30 digital SLR camera is a robust camera that brings the artwork of picture taking to fresh creative peaks by providing the artistic freedom to photograph what you vision in your mind’s eye, not simply what you see through the lens of the camera.

Like the first brush stroke on a blank canvas, the E-30 renders split second artistic satisfaction. Its simplicity and ability to morph the average into something aesthetic is appealing to traditional artists, commercial artists, creative directors and website developers, people with an vission for style and creative people from all different backgrounds, not just photographers. New Art Filters and Multiple Exposure alter how we produce photos, letting loose a digital imaging experience different than anything else that creates brilliant masterpieces with just the camera without needing expensive software like Photoshop.

Besides the new Art Filters and Multiple Exposure features, the E-30 presents similar advanced-precision functionality and photo quality needed by master photographers who use the E-3, as well as the newbie-friendly functions found on the E-520, and many new surprises of its own. As with all Olympus DSLRs, the E-30 offers innovative Dust Reduction and in-body mechanized Image Stabilization so that all Four Thirds lens systems are steady. The E-30 also provides TruePic III+ Image Processor and Full Time Autofocus Live View. These functions are integrated with a new 12.3-megapixel high-speed Live MOS image sensor to take exhilarating photos.

Additional Features Include:

AF Focus Adjustment: use the AF sensor (when set to [Hybrid AF] or [AF Sensor]) to fine-adjust the focusing position to a range of ±20 steps
Lens Data Set: fine-adjust the AF for each lens. You can register the adjustment values for up to 20 lenses.
Focus Target Selection
AE Fine Adjustment
Smooth Live View (Frame Rate): change the frame rate of the Live View display
Customizing of information display: change what appears when you select the “INFO” button
Customized Battery Check Level: for use with the HLD-4 Battery Grip

Canon EOS 1D Mark III

Cuzzy — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:31:08 +0000

Great photographers are sure of what they need in a camera. Most Importantly, the camera has to be reliable — capable of coming through in shooting positions that are not perfect… especially in trying environmental and difficult circumstances. It’s vital that the camera be responsive — responding quickly to the photographer’s commands… have the ability to photograph, within a blink of an eye, the perfect shot. It has to offer advanced features which make it proficient and flexible and, still, won’t limit operability. And, naturally, it has to give unquestionable picture quality — which, in this day and age, signifies not just nearly noise-free photos, fullness of color, and deep tones, but also adequate information concentration to fulfil the greatest range of output programs. Nowadays, there’s a digital single-lens-reflex camera that fits these standards like no other: and that’s the Canon EOS-1D Mark III. Designed and engineered from the floor up, Canon’s most fledgling flagship EOS is sure to be the next “got to have” DSLR for professional photographers.

EOS 1D Mark III Highlights

Brand new 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor
Excellence in digital photography begins with the imaging sensor. Canon’s state-of-the-art innovative in-house detector design and manufacturing capabilities are a leading cause for why EOS Digital SLR cameras systematically return innovative imaging execution.

The EOS-1D Mark III sports a freshly produced 10.1 megapixel Canon CMOS sensor. It meets the vital purposes of an imaging sensor — responsive, true, very low noise capture of photo information — with unexampled competency. Its APS-H size sensor issues a 1.3 lens transition factor, a format that EOS-1D series photographers know. Furthermore, it comprises Canon’s current CMOS technology improvements that importantly cut digital noise — particularly in dark areas — and extend the functional ISO range.

Exceedingly wide ISO range
Mixing the brilliant image capture possibilities of the new sensing element with innovative Dual DIGIC III Image Processors, the EOS-1D Mark III provides the greatest ISO range of any digital SLR on the market. The common range of 100 – 3200 can be increased to a exceptional 50 – 6400. More significantly, the low-noise operation at high ISO settings gives the full range usable in real-world shooting positions.

14-bit A/D convertors
Whereas previous EOS digital cameras applied 12-bit A/D convertors, the EOS-1D Mark III uses innovative 14-bit convertors to serve the output of the imaging sensor. This creates faster toned conversions and more brilliant graduations. RAW images are registered at 14 bits so that the wide range of tones taken by the sensor are open in 16-bit TIFF images.

Dual DIGIC III Image Processors
The EOS-1D Mark III uses Canon’s stylish DIGIC III Image Processor, which preserves the exceedingly high image quality standard of its precursor but, surprisingly, makes even sharper processing speed. Furthermore, the 1D Mark III uses not one, but Dual DIGIC III Image Processors operating in parallel to supply still larger data managing capability. The ensuing imaging engine deals a wide number of information from the 10.1-megapixel sensor with exceptional speed. Card write speeds are quicker, noise control is importantly improve, and camera reactivity has been yet further improved.

Leica C-LUX 2

Cuzzy — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 06:39:57 +0000

If you value style but not weight when you’re out looking for great images, consider the ultra-compact Leica C-LUX 2. Sporting a classic black metal body and measuring just 3.5 x 2 x .9 inches, it fits into even the smallest pocket. (The Leica C-LUX 2 is also available in silver.) The elegant exterior design is unmistakably Leica and is matched by an immaculate standard of optics and digital technology inside.

The high-speed wide-angle 28mm zoom lens takes stunning, space-grabbing shots. The optical image stabilizer and the intelligent exposure control prevent camera shake and ensure optimum definition. The 7.2-megapixel CCD sensor enables superlative prints up to poster size.

The extra large 2.5-inch display, the image stabilization, and short shutter delay of the Leica C-LUX 2 all guarantee carefree photography with high-quality results. Fast, discreet snapshots captured on the fly, or picture-perfect compositions at twilight or in other tricky conditions–everything is possible with the Leica C-LUX 2. The Vario-Elmarit zoom lens retracts entirely into the camera body at the flick of the ‘off’ switch. Whether you’re a partygoer, beachcomber, city stroller, or nature lover, the Leica C-LUX 2 is always a dependable companion–any time, any place, you’ll never miss another photo op.

Product Features:

7.2-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality 15 x 20-inch prints
3.6x optical zoom; 2.5-inch LCD display
High-speed wide-angle lens allows for creative framing
Classic, ultra-compact metal body measures 3.5 x 2 x .9 inches
Powered by lithium-ion battery
stores images on SD memory cards

Pentax K-7

Cuzzy — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:58:20 +0000

The Pentax K-7 features a rugged, yet compact new body design, a new 14.6 megapixel CMOS sensor rebuilt from the ground up, and advanced features such as HD Movie Capture and new, unique-to-Pentax camera controls. Compatible with every Pentax lens ever made, the high-end K-7 features an abundance of long-anticipated new and improved features that are exclusive to the camera and combine to make it a tremendous photography tool.

A durable, functional body, smaller than any other in its class
The K-7 is built exceptionally solid and durable with a chassis made of a highly rigid stainless-steel alloy and a housing made of a durable but lightweight magnesium-steel alloy. Construction includes 77 seals for weather, dust and cold-resistance for reliable operation even under harsh conditions and at temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C). The camera also features a newly designed shutter unit providing a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second and the outstanding durability to withstand 100,000 shutter releases. Despite all these features, the K-7 is one of the most compact and functional photo enthusiast level models in the market.

High-quality image reproduction
The K-7 incorporates a newly developed CMOS image sensor measuring 23.4mm by 15.6mm and featuring a high-speed, four-channel image data readout. With approximately 14.6 effective megapixels, this image sensor more accurately produces fine-detailed, gradation-rich images. With the adverse effects of digital noise significantly reduced, the sensitivity may be increased from ISO 100 up to the highest level of ISO 6400 (via a custom function).

High-performance, high-speed PRIME II imaging engine
The K-7 features the newly developed PRIME (Pentax Real Image Engine) II, an upgrade of the original PRIME, as its imaging engine. This new imaging engine offers faster data-processing speed for higher quality images with richer gradation and more accurate color rendition. The system also offers high-speed movie data transmission.

Additional features:

HDR (high dynamic range) function to create one composite image with an extra-wide gradation range from three images with different exposures
Dynamic-range expansion function to compensate for both white-washed (overexposed) and blacked-out (underexposed) areas
Digital level function for easy checking of the image’s levels
Automatic compensation of distortion and lateral chromatic aberration (available only with DA- and DFA-series lenses)
White balance control, featuring a new CTE mode to emphasize the color components of sunset scenes and a new incandescent-tinted fluorescent light mode
Multi-exposure function, with a superimposition of already-recorded images on the LCD monitor for at-a-glance comparison
Attachment of copyright credits on recorded images
RAW button for single-action switching of image file format
16 digital filters to add a range of visual effects; a new function to record an overwritten history also available
Color-specific control buttons/dials for easy recognition and quick access, based on the universal color design
Pentax Digital Camera Utility 4 software package, including a RAW-data processing application (based on the popular
SILKYPIX RAW-data processing engine developed by Ichikawa Soft Laboratory) and a browser application