If you're tired of shaky-vision in your films but don't have Spielbergian budgets, the ZIP-Shooter might be your secret weapon. By manipulating the wheels, you can track your DSLR, iPhone or other video cam in a straight line or around a bend, and use it as a tabletop, low or even worm-vision underslung dolly. With a 20-pound max weight limit, it'll handle most DSLR and lens combos, and you could even squeak on a light Red Scarlet package, while still collapsing it into a camera bag after usage. ZIP-Shooter is underway with $1,203 so far and a goal of $25,000 -- to see if you'd like to pledge $350 to get one, truck past the break and check the video.

Continue reading Insert Coin: ZIP-Shooter lets you dolly around or track straight (video)

Insert Coin: ZIP-Shooter lets you dolly around or track straight (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 May 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It wasn't long ago that we heard about the "lock-up" woes D4 and D800 owners were experiencing on their shiny new shooters, but luckily for them, Nikon just outed a fix to take care of those issues. Aside from solving the aforementioned annoyance, the firmware update (B:1.01) also mends a problem allowing RAW files to be network-transferred while in JPEG-only mode, as well as a bug causing bits like aperture and exposure compensation to change unexpectedly when using certain custom settings. You can grab the updates now via the source links below, and be sure to let us know how it all turned out in the end.

Nikon pushes out D4, D800 firmware update, fixes lock-up issues and other bugs originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 May 2012 19:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pentax didn't wait long after a rather conspicuous leak to make the details official: welcome the K-30, the company's spiritual successor to the long-serving K-r. The camera makes its biggest numerical jump in sensor size, from 12.4 megapixels to 16, but you're primarily shelling out for a much tougher body that's both resistant to rain as well as to dust and temperature extremes; one of the cheapest cameras to do so, if you go by Pentax's word. We're slightly down on the light sensitivity being unchanged from three years ago at ISO 100 to 25,600, though you can now shoot video at a much higher 1080p at 30 frames per second -- and that French catalog was wrong about a drop in burst speeds, which still top out at a healthy 6 fps. Should you be committed to the K-mount ways, stores will have the K-30 in July at $850 body-only and $900 for an 18-55mm kit. While you're in the shop, there will also be a new 50mm f/1.8 prime lens to pick up for $250.

Gallery: Pentax K-30

Continue reading Pentax makes K-30 official with weatherproofing and 1080p video

Pentax makes K-30 official with weatherproofing and 1080p video originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As powerful as they've become, Mirrorless camera systems can't match the versatility of a full-size DSLR. One key component we haven't seen is a constant-aperture lens, offering a consistent large aperture size throughout the zoom range. That changed today. Panasonic's new Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm optic packs one incredible advantage over its compact competitors -- a constant f/2.8 aperture. Because of the Micro Four Thirds system's 2x multiplication factor, this 12-35mm lens covers the same zoom range of 24-70mm glass on a full-frame camera, in a significantly smaller package. The optic consists of 14 elements in nine groups, and includes UED and UHR lenses to increase image quality and minimize distortion, along with built-in image stabilization and Panasonic's Nano Surface Coating to reduce ghosting and lens flare. It's also splash- and dust-resistant, and features a metal mount on the rear. Panasonic has yet to release pricing in the US, but the European price tag has been estimated at €1,100 (about $1,400) -- by comparison, Canon's equivalent optic (from a specification perspective) will run you $1,600. For its part, the 12-35mm MFT lens is expected to hit stores in August. Full PR is just past the break.

Continue reading Panasonic launches 12-35mm Micro Four Thirds lens with constant f/2.8 aperture

Panasonic launches 12-35mm Micro Four Thirds lens with constant f/2.8 aperture originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 May 2012 16:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's been more than a year and a half since Pentax first put out the K-r as its entry DSLR, so it's about time that a sequel roll along to keep the company in the game. If we believe a French catalog, the K-30 should soon one-up its 2010-era brother with a new 16-megapixel sensor and an upgrade to "full HD" (read: likely 1080p) video from the 720p of today. Most of the real change, though, appears to be on the outside: the body would be "tropicalized," which we're sure means weather resistance and not a trip to Tahiti. We'll be a bit disappointed if there aren't subtler under-the-hood changes, though, as the ISO 25,600 sensitivity wouldn't be any different than with the K-r, and the four frames per second continuous shooting would be a decided step back from the six of the K-30's ancestor. The €799 ($1,014) with-tax price for an 18-55mm kit version likewise seems a bit steep for an entry DSLR, although we'll bite given that this is the "maximum." Let's just hope there's some wild color options in the pipeline whenever the K-30 arrives.

Pentax K-30 leaks out in French catalog, teases us with weather resistance and 1080p video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Sony's newest NEX and DSLR have already graced these pages -- albeit in decidedly unofficial fashion -- but the time has come for this duo of shooters to be revealed to the world with the blessing of their maker. In case you didn't catch the earlier leaks, the NEX-F3 is the replacement for the much-beloved NEX-C3 as the entry-level ILC from Sony, while the A37 slots in the same place in the company's Alpha DSLR lineup. Sony's also rolling out fresh glass for each this July, in the form of an E-mount 18-200mm, F3.5-6.3 zoom lens for $850, and an 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 A-mount telephoto unit that'll set you back $500. Both the NEX-F3 and A37 will come with kit 18-55mm lenses and cost $600 when they go on sale in June, which makes them quite competitively priced as compared to their competition. An enviable pricing position, to be sure, but can they deliver the imaging goods? Well, we spent time with each on a tour of San Francisco recently, so join us after the break for our impressions and some sample photos.

Gallery: Sony NEX-F3 press shots

Gallery: Sony Alpha A37 DSLR press shots

Continue reading Sony NEX-F3 and A37 cameras hands-on and sample shots

Sony NEX-F3 and A37 cameras hands-on and sample shots originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 May 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Full-frame HD video in a brand new compact body, with Leica lenses? It could happen, but if you have to ask why exorbitant Leicas don't already do video then you probably can't afford it. While still calling the feature "theoretical", Leica's chairman Dr. Andreas Kaufmann intimated that the company had solved issues with data rate, battery life and heat for a possible M9 replacement. He also said that HD would be shown soon on "existing and new models", and Leica would stick with Truesense imaging, the former Kodak shop which supplies the M9 CCD, to make the new full-frame sensor. Whether that means video could also be retrofitted to existing M-series rangefinders remains to be seen, but more will be revealed on September 18th. Until then, if you need to make an extravagant splurge, the Hermes M9-P, perhaps?

HD video possible in upcoming Leica compact, bon vivants check trust funds originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Three years is quite a long time for any one gadget to complete its product cycle -- even a high-end DSLR. The D700 remained on its flagship DSLR perch since its launch in the summer of 2008, all the way through Nikon's D800 announcement earlier this year. During that tenure, the full-frame camera became the primary workhorse for a bounty of photography pros, and it appears safe to confirm that its successor is up to the same task. The 36.3-megapixel D800 has completed its labs tour, leaving reviewers with positive impressions across the board.

As always, DPReview offers some of the most comprehensive analysis on the web, and highlights several advantages over the D800's competitor, the Canon 5D Mark III, including a higher megapixel count (36MP vs. 22MP) and a significantly lower price tag ($3,000 vs. $3,500). CNET struggles to identify cons, and praises the cam for its "stellar photos, excellent videos, speedy performance, and a relatively streamlined shooting design." Ken Rockwell brings a D800E into the reviews mix, concluding that the low-pass-filter-less flavor isn't the best fit for everyone. Finally, newcomer The Photo Brigade put the camera in the hands of Preston Mack, a professional on assignment who used the DSLR to capture a GigaPan photo for MLB.com and offered this takeaway: "I am very happy with the Nikon D800 camera. It is an amazing value." Overall, seems like quite a hit -- you'll find links to all of the above reviews just past the break.

Continue reading Nikon D800 review roundup: significant upgrades to an already top-notch DSLR

Nikon D800 review roundup: significant upgrades to an already top-notch DSLR originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

RED's dabbled in the workshop arena with its three-day REDucation classes, but the cinema company's new program ups the session time to a full 16 weeks. REDucation X, which kicks off on October 1st, will run you a cool $15,000 -- approaching the cost of an entire Scarlet-X package. While getting REDucated at RED Studios in Hollywood, you'll learn from high-end film pros alongside 20 other deep-pocketed students as you cover digital production from A to Z, including lighting, shooting and equipment brass tacks, followed by a one-week shoot, and finishing with editing, grading and big-screen delivery. So given the choice, should you buy a new Scarlet, or take the training? We'd love to own one, but it would be nice to know how to use it properly, too.

RED goes beyond cameras with $15,000 REDucation X showbiz immersion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 22:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canon EOS 5D Mark III's light leak fix found to be black tape originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 17:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nikon promised us a "late April" shipment of its D3100 replacement, and sure enough, it looks to have met that self-imposed deadline. The black D3200 kit is now shipping from Best Buy warehouses, and while a litany of other reputable e-tailers have the unit listed (check our links below), we're seeing it backordered elsewhere. That said, these things are obviously trickling into the places that matter most, and determined to-be buyers can almost certainly call around to find one in stock. If you're still on the fence, have a look at our hands-on here, and head on past the break for a lovely unboxing video tour.

Continue reading Nikon D3200 now shipping from Best Buy, unboxing video gets personal with new features

Nikon D3200 now shipping from Best Buy, unboxing video gets personal with new features originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera preview (video)

Cameras, Olympus OM-D E-M5 five-axis sensor-shift image stabilization hands-on (video)

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera to ship on March 31st? (update: now April)

Stepping across the great DSLR divide into the land of mirrorless cameras always requires some compromise. Focusing speed, image quality, lens compatibility and battery life are frequent casualties, but for everyone except professional shooters, the size and cost benefits of swapping a full-grown beast for a compact ILC surely help soften the blow. The latest Micro Four Thirds model from Olympus, the OM-D E-M5, adds functionality that expand that list of betterments even further, allowing more versatility than larger DSLRs have to offer. These perks include a water-resistant design, for starters, along with a nifty lens that offers macro shooting and both manual- and powered-zoom in one compact package.

One area where the 16-megapixel E-M5 does match the footprint of its full-size brethren is in price: you'll drop a cool grand for the body alone, while the 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 lens kit will bump that tag up another $300. Make no mistake, the E-M5 is a fantastic camera, but $1,300 is mighty steep for any mirrorless model, especially one with a Micro Four Thirds sensor. This, however, is no ordinary MFT camera. As the first model in Olympus's OM-D line -- taking design cues from the company's popular line of OM film cameras -- the E-M5 is in a class of its own, at least as far as Olympus's portfolio is concerned. Besides physical appearance, perhaps, the most notable selling point is its focus speed: press the shutter release, and your subject comes into clarity with rapid-fire precision, whether you're shooting in bright sunlight or a dark restaurant. But though the E-M5 has already received accolades for its powerful focusing, you might be wondering how the whole package performs. Meet us past the break to find out.

Gallery: Olympus OM-D E-M5 review

Continue reading Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera review

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

New Zealand-based designer Chris Thomson and filmmaker Ben Ryan found that motion-control time lapse gear too expensive, too complicated and too bulky. So they set about building the Genie, a box that moves your camera around under its own power. Designed to be cheap(er than the competition) and user-friendly, the device will let you choose from a variety of presets or build your own to turn and position the camera. It will also draw itself along a guide rope, either on a dolly track or cable-cam for stunning landscape photography. It's reached $42,542 of its $150,000 goal and if successful, each unit will cost $1,000.

Continue reading Insert Coin: Genie turns any camera into a world-class time lapse rig

Insert Coin: Genie turns any camera into a world-class time lapse rig originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canon reported its Q1 2012 earnings this week, and things certainly appear to have gone better than the last time we checked in when it replaced the company president. While revenue declined slightly, net profit reached 61.54 billion yen ($766 million), up 11 percent from a year ago. There's no executive moves to report, however on the earnings call executive VP and CFO Toshizo Tanaka noted a unit sales increase of 30 percent for SLR cameras including the new EOS 5D Mark III as well as the cheaper T3i, Mark II and 60D models, combined with strong sales for WiFi-connected point-and-shoots. As far as new products, while its new cinema cameras got a glancing mention the plan this year includes compact cameras "offering the image qualities that approaches SLR cameras", with improved design and network connectivity features. All the numbers and earnings call talk are in black and white at the links below, although we prefer to spend our time speculating about the future of mirrorless cameras.

Canon reports slightly higher profits in Q1, teases new compact cameras on the way originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We'll soon be putting Fujifilm's new interchange able shooter through our own wringer, but in the meantime we found an apt low-light comparison with two of its non-reflex brethren. Although blogging photog Steve Huff admits the tests are "crazy" and depend on the camera's own auto-exposure choices, the results do give some food for thought. How would the pricier rangefinder-bodied X-Pro1 stack up against the Sony NEX-7 and Olympus OM-D E-M5? If we had to guess -- and we really do, given his methodology -- the noise levels on the Fuji at ISO 3200 and 6400 look to be slightly better than the Sony and smaller-sensored Olympus. If you'd like to take a stab at judging for yourself, follow the link below.

Fujifilm X-Pro1 high-ISO shots go under the loupe in mirrorless standoff with OM-D E-5 and NEX-7 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Ahead of getting trigger happy with a fully-working D3200 -- rather than the pre-production unit from our hands-on -- we've been checking out some official 24-megapixel samples on Flickr. To our eyes, the images befit the smaller pixel size, namely sharp and high-res, but with a good dollop of noise on the side. Albeit completely unscientific, a blowup compared to an image from the similarly priced Sony NEX-5N looks grainier at the same 1600 ISO. On the plus side, the JPEGs show almost zero compression artifacts, so budget-minded shooters could easily print poster-sized images -- of course, providing they have enough light for a low ISO shot in the first place.

Gallery: D3200 official samples

Nikon D3200 sample pics appear on Flickr, make a slightly noisy entrance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nikon's recent cashback promo gave us a twinge that new consumer models might be around the corner, but as of today there's just the one: the almost entry-level D3200, which Nikon hopes will complement the cheaper D3100 without supplanting it. The price gap between these two low-end DSLRs is significant -- around $150 based on current D3100 prices, with the black D3200 and regular 18-55mm kit lens expected to hit shelves at the end of April for $700. What does that extra outlay get you? Quite a lot, actually: a hefty resolution upgrade to 24-megapixels with an Expeed 3 processing engine, versus 14-megapixels mustered by D3100; an extra ISO notch of 6400, providing more flexibility in low-light situations; and also a much higher-res LCD display for cleaner live-viewing and playback, with around four times as many pixels as the D3100's grainy window. Read on for some initial impressions and a hands-on video, and you'll see that there are a couple of subtler selling points too.

Gallery: Nikon D3200 hands-on

Continue reading Nikon adds D3200 to its DSLR range, we go hands-on! (video)

Nikon adds D3200 to its DSLR range, we go hands-on! (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canon 'examining countermeasures' for 5D Mark IIIs experiencing top LCD light leak problem originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Apr 2012 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Distro Issue 36 lands with The Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, the New York International Auto Show, Ultrabooks and Nikon's D4 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading VizTools reveals HandiZoom video accessory for Canon DSLRs

VizTools reveals HandiZoom video accessory for Canon DSLRs originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In a departure from its last introduction as dramatic as the C300's Hollywood launch itself, Canon has quietly announced two additional cameras to sit alongside the company's former lone flagship. You may have caught a glimpse of the EOS-1D C at the C300 launch, but what six months ago was a mere mock-up has actually become a reality, likely to ship sometime this year. More out of left field, however, is the C500 -- a higher-end version of the C300 that adds several shooting modes, dual 3G-SDI ports and a larger, permanent grip. Both cameras can capture 4K video, but in substantially different ways.

Canon teases 'exclusive screening' in Las Vegas, new Cinema EOS products coming at NAB?

Canon has a new 'EOS Movies' DSLR on the way too: 4K video, 35mm full frame sensor

Canon C300 cinema camera hands-on (video)

The $15,000 1D C, which has the same chassis and still shooting features of its less-abled cousin, the EOS-1D X, pipes 4096 x 2160 8-bit 4:2:2 video to a CF card at 24 fps. Unlike the X, however, the C swaps a headphone jack for the X's PC socket, that's usually used for hooking up strobes. The higher-end C500 requires a dedicated external recorder, but offers two full-RAW output options: 4096 x 2960, that will be better suited for motion picture capture, and 3840 x 2160 for 4K TV. Both of these modes offer 10-bit 4:4:4 at 60 frames-per-second. There's also a half-RAW option, at 4096 x 1080 or 3840 x 1080 resolutions, also 10-bit 4:4:4, but at 120 fps. The C500 also includes dual CF slots, but that recording option is only available for 1080p (which can be captured to CF concurrently). Both cameras support Canon Log Gamma, empowering colorists to correct color in post production with more versatility by capturing additional information and a higher dynamic range.

Gallery: Canon Cinema EOS-1D C and C500

Continue reading Canon unveils EOS-1D C and C500 4K Cinema cameras, two new lenses ahead of NAB (updated)

Canon unveils EOS-1D C and C500 4K Cinema cameras, two new lenses ahead of NAB (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Nikon D4 hands-on gallery

Continue reading Nikon D4 field review

Nikon D4 field review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's been a bumpy ride for Panasonic's GF line of Micro Four Thirds cameras. The GF1, an excellent mirrorless camera for its time, was soon replaced with a less-capable entry level model, the GF2. Then another, the GF3. And now, it's time to say hello (again) to the GF5. For better or worse, the GF3 won't be going away -- it'll sit tight at its new $500 price point (with a 14-42mm kit lens), ready to confuse consumers looking to purchase its nearly identical, yet $100 pricier, pseudo-replacement. Both cameras come equipped with 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensors, though the newer model adds a "High Picture Quality" distinction -- it's been dubbed a 12.1-megapixel "High Picture Quality" Live MOS sensor. So, naturally, we're going to expect some pretty incredible images. Panasonic has also added an ISO 12,800 "extended" mode (the GF3 topped out at a native ISO 6400). There has been a jump in the video department, with 1080/30p MP4 recording joining the 720p mix. Burst mode capabilities have seen an increase as well, from 3.8 frames-per-second to... 4. Finally, it's slightly larger, due to a more substantial (and more comfortable) grip, though battery life has dropped from 340 shots to 320, likely due to a new processing technique aimed at further reducing noise in low-light captures.

The GF3 and GF5 look so similar that we mistakenly photographed the former for a minute or two, only realizing the error when we flipped on the LCD. The 5 has a much-improved touchscreen, with a 920k-dot resolution (460k dots on the GF3). It looks gorgeous by comparison, but amateurs making the switch from a point-and-shoot may not take notice. The features they'll appreciate most relate entirely to the GUI, and include a highlight window for selection options, 14 filters with a realtime preview option, a background image that appears on the main menu and a filter recommendation while in Intelligent Auto. This feature works by suggesting that you apply the Expressive or Toy Effect if you're taking a macro shot, for example. Other additions include a stereo microphone for video capture, though the left and right mics are positioned oddly near each other -- on either side of the word "MIC" on the top of the camera, with the right mic angled towards the left -- so we can't image that you'll be getting a true stereo effect. Like its predecessor, the GF5 is clearly designed with beginners in mind -- more advanced photogs should consider the GX1 -- but with a $599 sticker price (with 14-42mm lens), it's sure to be a hit.

Gallery: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 hands-on

Continue reading Panasonic Lumix GF5 looks identical to its predecessor, offers similar specs for $100 more (hands-on)

Panasonic Lumix GF5 looks identical to its predecessor, offers similar specs for $100 more (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Canon EOS 60Da DSLR press photos

Continue reading Canon EOS 60Da: the DSLR for that astrophotographer in your life

Canon EOS 60Da: the DSLR for that astrophotographer in your life originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Nikon offers cashback on D3100, D5100 and D7000 in the UK and Ireland

Nikon offers cashback on D3100, D5100 and D7000 in the UK and Ireland originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canon 5D Mark III hits US retailers, available in stores today originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Shoot in the dark. That's essentially what you can do with the Canon 5D Mark III -- with a top sensitivity of ISO 102,400, what was once unfathomable could soon become an acceptable standard. While point-and-shoot manufacturers are adding WiFi and GPS, and tweaking algorithms in an effort to boost sensitivity beyond the 6400 mark, Canon and Nikon are making clear cases for a DSLR upgrade, by drastically improving image quality. The 5D Mark II had an excellent three-year run, but with its 22.3-megapixel sensor, 1.04M-dot 3.2-inch LCD, improved autofocus and high-performance video capabilities, Canon's latest full-frame DSLR is an entirely different beast, and a very compelling successor.

We spent two glorious weeks with a pre-production 5D Mark III before reluctantly shipping it back to Canon. The biggest benefit (for us, at least) has been high-ISO shooting. While the former 5D could theoretically handle ISO 25,600 captures as well, its native range topped out at 6400 -- venturing beyond that territory meant taking a hit on image quality, making it a seldom-used feature that benefited the camera's spec sheet far more than our low-light snap collection. With this latest iteration, we were able to capture sharp images in environments where there was far too little light to make out details with the naked eye, just as we have with the larger (and pricier) Nikon D3S. Our resulting scenes look like they were lit with sophisticated rigs, or in an environment that allotted far more natural light than was actually available. Low-light shooting is but one benefit of the Mark III, however, so join us past the break for a closer look in our field review.

Gallery: Canon EOS 5D Mark III review

Continue reading Canon EOS 5D Mark III field review

Canon EOS 5D Mark III field review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nikon D800 studio samples posted at DPReview (update: 5D Mark III studio sample added) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Sony Alpha A57

Continue reading Sony outs Alpha A57 translucent mirror camera with 12fps shooting, improved autofocus system

Sony outs Alpha A57 translucent mirror camera with 12fps shooting, improved autofocus system originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Canon EOS 5D Mark III high-ISO sample images (hands-on)

Canon EOS 5D Mark III high-ISO sample images (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Canon teases 'exclusive screening' in Las Vegas, new Cinema EOS products coming at NAB? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 19:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Pentax offers 'special edition' K-5 DSLR kit: silver body, 40mm slimline lens, $1,600

Pentax offers 'special edition' K-5 DSLR kit: silver body, 40mm slimline lens, $1,600 originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Mar 2012 04:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Suffice it to say, March 2012 is a notable month for Canon. Not only does it mark the 25th anniversary of the first EOS SLR, but it's also ushering in Canon's latest addition to its full-frame DSLR lineup. That gorgeous beast your eyes are feasting upon is the company's new EOS 5D Mark III. That's right folks, this isn't a replacement for the Mark II, but rather an updated variant meant to sit between the workhorse of four years and the company's soon to arrive EOS-1D X. At a glance, the shooter is nearly indistinguishable from its older sibling, although a closer inspection reveals a new name badge, improved weather- and dust-resistance and some slight tweaks to its top-mounted info display and buttons on the back.

Don't be fooled, however, as there are obviously major changes here worthy of the new moniker. Key specs include a larger 1,040,000-dot 3.2-inch rear LCD, Digic 5+ processor, 22.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, 61-Point High Density Reticular autofocus with 41 cross-types (all of which are borrowed from the 1D X), dual memory card slots (SD and CompactFlash) an extended ISO range of 50 to 102,400 (100 to 25,600, natively), OVF with 100 percent coverage (versus 98 previously), and a maximum 6 FPS burst speed. Naturally, the 5D Mark III is no slouch in the video department: it can capture h.264 footage at HD resolutions up to 1080 at 24/25/30p or 720 at 50/60p, with an effective ISO range of 100-128,000 -- and of course there's a stereo mic input for the microphone of your choice. Better yet, not only does it allow for real-time control of your audio levels during filming, but also monitoring, being the first EOS-series DSLR to come equipped with a headphone jack (!) -- something that's been sorely missing in the world of ILC cameras. We've only skimmed the surface, however, so join us past the break for further details and a quick video overview.

Gallery: Canon EOS 5D Mark III

Continue reading Canon announces EOS 5D Mark III: 22.3 MP full-frame sensor, 6 fps, 102,400 max ISO, 1080/30p HD, yours for $3,500 (video)

Canon announces EOS 5D Mark III: 22.3 MP full-frame sensor, 6 fps, 102,400 max ISO, 1080/30p HD, yours for $3,500 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Remember when we were in a tizzy about the Nikon D4, way back in January? We got to play with this tank of a DSLR a bit, but sadly weren't permitted to actually publish any of the photos or video that we shot with the thing. Sure, we've seen some samples of it in action, but it's not quite the same. Thankfully, the company made our late-February that much better, allowing us to take the D4 on a jaunt around the city, a couple of weeks ahead of its mid-March launch. We strolled around Washington Square Park and 6th avenue, with the beast of a camera in-hand, shooting tourists and scenery, before popping by a subway station to have a go with the camera's purported excellent low-light capabilities that we've been hearing so much about. Click on through to take a look at some sample video.

Gallery: Nikon D4 sample shots

Gallery: Nikon D4 hands-on shots

Continue reading Nikon D4 hands-on with sample images, video

Nikon D4 hands-on with sample images, video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera to ship on March 31st? (update: now April) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nikon D4 and D800 to ship in March, but only in the land of the baguette? (update: US too) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Nikon WT-5 WiFi dongle wins FCC approval, fires off a ring of D4s to celebrate

Nikon WT-5 WiFi dongle wins FCC approval, fires off a ring of D4s to celebrate originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 high-ISO shooting

Continue reading Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 ISO 204,800 shooting hands-on (video)

Canon EOS-1D X and Nikon D4 ISO 204,800 shooting hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Sony Cyber-shot TX300V hands-on

Continue reading Sony Cyber-shot TX300V inductive charging camera and dock hands-on (video)

Sony Cyber-shot TX300V inductive charging camera and dock hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gallery: Olympus black E-M5 mirrorless camera and internals eyes-on

Olympus black E-M5 Micro Four Thirds camera and internals eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.