Things are never boring in the world of digital SLRs especially with combatants like Canon and Nikon vying for world supremacy! Canon’s latest blow is the announcement of its brand new top-end digital SLR for professional photographers, the Canon EOS-1D X. With jaw-dropping features such as ability to shoot autofocus at 12 fps, being powered by two of the new DiG!C 5+ image processors, ISO range up to 51200, 61 AF points, full HD movie video industry compliant recording capability and all in glorious full-frame 18.1 MP, Canon have yet again set the standard for all to follow.

continue reading "Canon Announce the Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR: My Next Camera?"

Canon have recently just announced two new cameras from its PowerShot line that utilise the new and improved DiG!C (why did they spell it like this?!) 5 Image Processor: Canon PowerShot S100 and Canon PowerShot SX40 HS. The improvements lie in better handling of white balance and noise which means that users will be able to take even better pictures especially in lowlight conditions.

continue reading "Latest Canon PowerShot Cameras S100 & SX40 HS Introduce 5th Generation DiG!C Image Processor"

I’ve been impressed by Ricoh‘s continuing pursuit of excellence in the world of compact digital cameras over the last couple of years, especially after having played with the Ricoh CX1 and Ricoh GR Digital III.  There was little surprise when I received a press release this morning announcing how Ricoh has just received the “Best Consumer Compact and Most Innovative Award” at the Camera Magazine Imaging Awards 2010.
continue reading "Ricoh Nabs Best Consumer Compact And Most Innovative Award At Camera Magazine Imaging Awards 2010"

Around 2 weeks ago, I blogged about the superb time we had at the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards 2009 where we were awarded Best Geek Blog. To this very day, I think I am still recovering from the hardcore partying we did! One thing that I forgot to mention is what accompanied the beautiful glass Nuffnang Award was an equally lovely Canon G11 Digital Camera.

The funny thing was, I just bought a Canon G10 camera for my wife only 3 weeks earlier! All good though – I sold the G10 for half the price to a now very happy friend

Thank You Canon for Your Generosity Then And In The Future

I would like to say right here, thank you very much to Canon (esp. Canon Singapore) for generously sponsoring the Nuffnang event and showering us with gifts like these! Here’s to the hope that Canon Australia will give us bloggers down under more attention like this.

Hint: I would love either a Canon 50mm F1.2 or a Canon 70-200mm F2.8 (to replace my stolen one) or Canon 16-35mm F2.8 pretty please! * puppy dog eyes *

Ok enough grovelling, seriously, the Canon G11 is easily amongst the top 3 in its range (#1 in my opinion). My favourite features are its quick start up time, flash-shoe expandability, advanced optics, swivel out 2.8″ screen, lightness, quick access to exposure and ISO settings and its rugged build. I owned a Canon G3 for many years so this was a nice upgrade from that beaut camera.

I strongly recommend this camera for people who have around a US$500 or so budget.

Enough text, here’s quick Canon G11 Unboxing Video that I made 2 nights ago:

Note: Just realised I didn’t save in HD Anyway hope it’s helpful!

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet has done it again! This time he demonstrates his award winning photography / videography skills with the new Canon 1D Mark IV Digital SLR camera.

I am a great admirer of his work and I’m not surprised by the brilliant piece of art this video is! Seriously amazing.

Here’s a photo of the Canon EOS 1D Mark 4; the camera that was used to make the above video:

Pretty juicy huh? My Canon 5D Mark II is kinda looking a bit less-appealing compared to this beauty.

Major points to note about this SLR is the top ISO of 102,300, ability to record proper 1080p video, 16 megapixel sensor and can shoot a blistering 10 frames per second. Want much!?

I feel sorry for a friend who just bought a Canon 1DS Mark III 3 weeks ago…poor boy…

Nocturne on Vimeo Via Wired

For a company that was more a specialist in photo copiers, Ricoh is making huge strides in the digital camera market. Their newest premium compact digital camera offering, the Ricoh GR Digital III is proof of this. I’ve been reviewing / playing with one for the last 2 weeks and this is yet another camera that I will be sad to part with.

If you’d like us to giveaway cameras like this on the site, leave a comment to Ricoh below!

Quick Easy Shots

For a digital compact, this has got to be one of the fastest shooting cameras I’ve seen. Its new F1.9, f-6.0 lens is the main reason for this. This translates to better indoor / lowlight condition shots. Could this be why there is a hardware release for the flash? Are they’re trying to get more newbies to experience non-flash indoor shots? The quick response means that your more likely to get a good shot as compared to slower cameras.

Very Light

When I pulled it out of the box, I was surprised to find how light it was especially for a camera that is supposed to be in Ricoh’s premium range. Generally the rule with cameras is, the heavier the better, however the light weight of this camera is a handy attribute if you’re looking for something to take with you everywhere. If you’re looking for an above average camera to take with you on your travels, this must be in your must-see and test list. It’s half the weight of my Canon G10 and a quarter of the weight of my Canon 5D Mark II!

Rugged Construction

Another reason why this would make a great travel camera is that it has a solid metallic casing featuring rubberized grip. You can be confident when hiking up mountain tops, taking aerials of cities or bumping around in tour groups that this camera will be able to tough it out and allow you to take your travel pics.

Huge Hi-Resolution LCD Screen

Ricohs are famous for their generous LCD screens and the Ricoh GR Digital III is no different. The GR Digital III has been touted to have the first 920,000 dots 3″ VGA panel on a digital compact camera. This will do wonders when reviewing your photos or recording video on the camera. We all know how we love to share a photo when taking a great shot so perfect for when many heads are peering over your shoulder.

Summary of the Ricoh GR Digital III

It’s tough, got fast optics, huge LCD screen and is light – the Ricoh GR Digital III is the perfect handbag / travel camera.

Highly recommended. Well done Ricoh!

Main features of the RICOH GR DIGITAL III

Newly developed large-aperture lens

• The adoption of the new F1.9, f-6.0 mm (equivalent to 28 mm for 35 mm film cameras) lens for the GR DIGITAL III takes compact-body cameras into a new realm of images. This lens makes it possible to shoot with a faster shutter speed than could be used on previous models, or to shoot with the same shutter speed but at a lower setting for ISO sensitivity.
• Despite the large F1.9 aperture, the new lens achieves a resolution level equivalent to that of the F2.4 GR Lens.
• The use of a newly developed lens drive system has made it possible to achieve greater image quality in macro photography.

Taking the GR DIGITAL concepts another step forward, the GR DIGITAL III achieves even greater image quality.

• The new image processing engine GR Engine III is installed. Using newly developed noise reduction technology, it enables highly sophisticated noise processing to be done while maintaining superior resolution, tone characteristics, and saturation.
• The new high-sensitivity CCD (1/1.7 inch, approx. 10 megapixels) achieves high-sensitivity properties through the use of a new process. The combination of the newly developed GR Lens and GR Engine III significantly increases shooting performance in low-light scenes.
• Even faster shooting capabilities for capturing fleeting shutter opportunities.
• Algorithm improvements have reduced focusing time in low-light scenes. With the Pre-AF function, focusing speed is further accelerated by adjusting the focus to match the movement of the subject.
• The new “full-press snap” function shoots at a preset distance for a one-push full-press of the shutter button.
• Up to five RAW images can be recorded in consecutive shooting* and bracketing.

Enhanced expression capabilities make good use of GR Lens performance.

• Shutter speed priority AE is now available in addition to aperture priority AE.
• A more extensive range of image settings enables the photographer to control hue and saturation. This makes it easy to create images with a wide variety of coloration.
• When photographing subjects with mixed color temperatures, the multi-pattern auto white balance function makes it possible to achieve optimum colour reproduction.

Large, high-visibility 3.0-inch VGA LCD monitor.

• The 3.0-inch, 920,000-dot VGA LCD monitor provides high resolution, a wide viewing angle, excellent colour reproduction, good visibility outdoors, and a surface that resists soiling. The sRGB comparison for colour reproduction range is 100%.
• The micro-thumbnail display function displays 81 thumbnail images on a single screen.

Operability further enhanced.

• The My Settings on the mode dial have been expanded to three sets. The number of Fn (function) buttons on the back of the camera body has been expanded to two.
• A function has been added for assigning names to My Settings sets and storing and retrieving them. A maximum of six sets can be defined and stored.

Expandability further enhanced with addition of new options.

• The 21 mm wide conversion lens GW-2 and hood and adapter GH-2 will be sold.
• The available soft cases are the GC-3 for the body only and the GC-4 quick-shooting case type compatible with the GV-2 viewfinder.
• There are also plans to introduce the GF-1 external flash, which can handle TTL flash using auxiliary flash, in the autumn of 2009.

Function to be expanded using firmware.

• Even after the GR DIGITAL III is introduced, we will continue to add new functions through the release of new firmware. By updating their firmware, GR DIGITAL III owners can continue to utilize the latest functions.

More information at Ricoh Global.

I was only playing with my friend’s Canon G10 last week, when I got word via CrunchGear that the Canon G11 is only a couple of weeks away!

Very impressed with the images that the Canon G10 was able to produce so can’t wait for the G11!

Been a big fan of Canon’s G series – I even still have a G3 at home somewhere

Main Features of the Canon G11 Digital Camera:

• 10.0MP (strangely low, right?)
• 5x optical zoom – 28-140 mm
• 2.8-inch vari-angle PureColor System LCD
• RAW shooting mode
• HDMI out
• No HD video recording mode
• October release for US$499

Via CrunchGear

The Ricoh CX1 digital camera, was one of those review gadgets that you really don’t enjoy giving back.

This new camera offering from Ricoh is superb value at around the AU$500-$600 mark. The photos that it produced were above average compared to other instamatics. I especially like the 7.2 optical zoom and the fact that it has built in memory so if you run out of room on your memory card you can still take a couple more crucial photos!

Here’s a review by ShinyMedia on Youtube which also provides insights into some of the main features on the Ricoh CX1:

Main Features of the Ricoh CX1 Digital Camera:

- 9 Megapixels
- Sturdy Steel body
- 180 grams (not counting battery)
- Accelerometer
- ISO up to 1600
- 7.2 Megapixel Optical Zoom
- Secure Digital Card
- Built in memory

What do think? Something you’d buy for yourself?

Ricoh CX1 Digital Camera Page

Digital SLRs are a dime a dozen these days. If you’re in the market for one, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the different brands and models to choose from.

One of the best ways to narrow down your list is to see what other photographers are using.

Where does one find this information? Where the photographers hang out of course!
Online this place is Flickr which is the world’s best photo sharing site.

Here are the Top 10 Digital SLRs on Flickr @ March 2009:

Digital SLR – Brand / Model	Usage This Year / # of Users
1. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi (400D)
2. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT (350D)
Nikon D80
4. Canon EOS 40D
5. Nikon D40
6. Nikon D300
7. Nikon D90
8. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
9. Canon EOS 5D
10. Nikon D60

Looks like Canon’s top two are on the way out, possibly making way for a Nikon takeover.

Notice how Canon and Nikon dominate this list? Don’t think it’ll change (brand-wise) too suddenly either given they’ve been around for more years than I can remember. Also not surprised that my Canon 5D Mark II didn’t make the list given it’s above than average price tag.

You can view more information about cameras used on Flickr here.

Did your digital SLR make the cut? (please leave comment below)

If you’re prone to dropping everything you own in water, or if you have a predilection of acquainting your pet fish with your newest gadget, the new Elecom SDHC cards might tickle your fancy. Yep, these cards are completely waterproof and how many memory card in the market can claim that?

continue reading "Elecom’s New SDHC Cards Are Waterproof"