Camera Talk

[Torurot]

Due to a "technical" hitch the previous 50 page thread has gone  

Sony Alpha rumours

http://sonyalpharumors.com/

Nikon rumours

http://nikonrumors.com

Canon rumours

http://www.canonrumors.com/

Leica rumours

http://leicarumors.com/

Photo rumours

http://photorumors.com/

Olympus 4/3 rumours
43rumors.com

Pentax/Samsung rumours
K-rumors.com

[Bumpa STIKKA]

I have a feeling it will be back!

[Torurot]

Some spectacular photos at the links
Eyjafjallajokull, Icelands Volcano. This is the best collection I have seen anywhere!

http://fiveprime.org/hivemind/Tags/eyjafjallajokull,lightning

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gunnargestur/

http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2010/04/surtur_smiles.php

[rxpharm]

Sony has just announced a new camera series called Nex 3 and 5.

It's kind of a hybrid camera with a larger sensor size, using an APSC found in most DSLRs in a point and shoot body with high quality lenses.

Here's a link to the specs: DPreview Sony Nex 3/5

And some pictures of the new camera:











And a photo taken with the camera at ISO 12,800, f 5.5 at 1/1250 second.



Looks pretty impressive and may be a good alternative for those wanting more than a point and shoot, but don't want the bulk of a DSLR.

[pacman]

I had been waiting for Sony to announce the details of this series of cameras, the NEX 3 & 5.

Neither model is the answer to my photographic search. Despite having the APSC sensor, they are too menu driven for anyone other than someone wanting to upgrade from a 'Point & Shoot' model camera.

This means the operator can't make fast changes to the settings when conditions suddenly change. Plus the fact they have made them so no other lens fits. So new lenses need to be bought & at this stage, there is a choice of 3. They need more than that.

For appearances, the NEX 5 in particular is a work of art but it really is a case of style over substance. I could buy one just on aesthetic grounds alone though if I had money to waste.

There is already talk of a NEX 7, which seems to be the model that serious shooters will want but if they make it bulkier with the same limitation on lenses, who is going to buy it?

If Sony are serious about selling this thing, then they need to design a fully retractable lens for the front of it & whack a cell phone on the back of it.

Now we are talking about a 21st century product that the world would go mad over. It would rate alongside the iPad as the must-have gadget.

[pacman]

Another high-spec camera in a small body, Samsung's EX1 has been announced.

Baby sized cameras with impressive capabilities. The world is demanding them & the makers are responding. How far can they go? All the way IMO.

[Torurot]

Microsoft has just updated it's Most excellent ICE panorama stitching program.  Big improvements.  I use it all the time.  Great little program!

http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/...roups/ivm/ice/

What is Image Composite Editor?
Microsoft Image Composite Editor is an advanced panoramic image stitcher. Given a set of overlapping photographs of a scene shot from a single camera location, the application creates a high-resolution panorama that seamlessly combines the original images. The stitched panorama can be shared with friends and viewed in 3D by uploading it to the Photosynth web site. Or the panorama can be saved in a wide variety of image formats, from common formats like JPEG and TIFF to the multiresolution tiled format used by Silverlight's Deep Zoom and by the HD View and HD View SL panorama viewers.

[Snick]

I got to play with the Sony NEX-5 at Paragon yesterday and I have to say I was unimpressed.
I expected a lot more from the specs, I found the User Interface very confusing and SLOW. you had to go into a menu to switch between modes (AV,M,P, etc..) and I never found the ISO settings !
The lenses are slow (3.5-6.5) except for the 16mm.
There is no flash either (I think).

If you gave me one for free, I would regift it and keep using my Canon S90 (which DOES have controls like a pro camera).

Hope Canon comes out with a good EVIL camera next year, I like the concept but none of the available models impresses.

[Torurot]

Super-charge your Canon PowerShot camera (shoot RAW format!) with CHDK
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2010....th-chdk

http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK

[rxpharm]

A couple of impressive new cameras announced by Sony.

A new variation on the DSLR with an electronic view finder, translucent mirror and video.

The Sony SLT (single lens translucent) Alpha A33 and A55.

Here's the link for the Dpreview Sony Alpha A55




A55 key specs:

**16.2MP (effective) APS HD CMOS sensor
**Fixed, pellicle-type semi-translucent mirror
**Maximum ISO 12,800 (with a quasi-ISO 25,600 'Multi-frame NR' option)
**15-point phase-detection AF array with 3 cross-type AF points
**Electronic viewfinder with 1.15 million dot resolution
**Built-in GPS
**Electronic level in EVF/LCD with pitch/roll indicator
**Dual-purpose Memory Stick/SD card slot
**10fps continuous shooting rate
**1080p AVCHD movie mode with continuous AF
**Articulated 3in 'TruBlack' LCD with 912k dots
**socket for external microphone
**2x magnification mode in live view
**Face-detection AF (focus via nearest phase-detection AF point)








DPR gave it a Gold Award, so they were impressed with it. Time will tell if this is a revolutionary breakthrough camera for Sony.

[gordo68]

Yeah, I nearly got a stiffy    when I saw the new Sony on DP Review! I have been a long time Minolta Maxxum and then Sony Alpha guy and this looks like the real deal for a small travel camera with some video. I really like the articulating LCD that can be stored screen in, as I broke the LCD on my A350 and had to replace it when I tossed it in the back of my vehicle one day. Anyways, I have gone from Maxxum 500si, 600si and 800si to a Maxxum 7D (first digital SLR) and then the A350, looks like this will be my next move. I like the smaller NEX series, but only 3 lenses    and a sucky flash really kills it for me, this one let's me use almost all my old legacy equipment   .

[rxpharm]

gordo68, I still shoot with an old Koncia/Minolta 5D, only 6MP, but puts out great *.jpgs - the Guess Bar and KC3 update photos are from that camera.

This one has me interested as I need to upgrade someday, and the size of these look pretty good. The new Sony Alpha A7xx camera will be more expensive than these ones.

[gordo68]

Yeah, I can already see my minolta 24-105 and my 100-300 apo mounted on this puppy along with my 3600HS!!

[Torurot]

DSLR film making (mostly Canon at the moment)

http://www.eoshd.com/

[gordo68]

(rxpharm @ Aug. 25 2010,11:17) gordo68, I still shoot with an old Koncia/Minolta 5D, only 6MP, but puts out great *.jpgs - the Guess Bar and KC3 update photos are from that camera.

Yeah, I would still be using my    Maxxum 7D    today, loved that camera and it's outstanding ergonomics, except that a nephew of mine dropped it on a tile floor. It did not leave a dent on it, but it messed up the anti-shake mechanism. At that point, it would have cost me more to repair ( if they could scrounge parts for it) than replace.