Digital Camera Reviews and Guides
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How would you change Nikon's D5000 DSLR?
Nikon's newest entry-level DSLR -- the D5000 -- has been out and about for just over a month now, which means it's just about time that we checked in with the early adoption crowd to see what kind of vibes are emanating. As Nikon's first DSLR with an articulating display, this one drew all sorts of attention for its unorthodox design. During our time with it, we found the display to be more of a gimmick than an aid in most scenarios, but we're interested to see if you agree / disagree. Has the D5000 lived up to your dreams? Are you stoked on the image quality? Have any quirks kept you up at night? Spill it all in comments below, we're all friends here.
Friday Favorite: Photomatix Pro
There are few times I have used software that really caused my jaw to drop. Photomatix Pro did just that. It's a Mac OS X utility that allows you to create what are called High Dynamic Range (HDR) images from separate digital exposures taken at different shutter speeds (exposure levels). These pictures are far more colorful and impressive in their tonal range and saturation.Many digital cameras have something called AEB, or Automatic Exposure Bracketing. You click the shutter once, and the camera takes 3 pictures instead of just one. In my case I usually shoot a normally exposed image, then one 2 stops under, and another one 2 stops over. If your camera doesn't have AEB you can do this manually.Photomatix Pro combines the three exposures you've taken into one, and tone maps the image into a JPEG or TIFF that displays a really wide dynamic range. The result is often a stunning picture, with little loss in the shadowy areas, and no blown-out highlights. It's hard to do if you are shooting people because they will move between the 3 exposures, but works great with landscapes. A tripod is recommended, but I've done just fine handheld and Photomatix Pro will automatically line up (register) the 3 images.Words can't describe the difference, so I've included a few examples to look at. There are other Mac apps that do similar things, but I've had the best luck with Photomatix Pro. They also make a Photoshop plug-in and one for Aperture, but I think the full program is the best. Newer versions of Photoshop also support the creation of these HDR images, but the results are not as spectacular in my view. There is also a free, basic version of the program that lets you combine 2 images, but it is simply not as effective.You can search for a lot of information on HDR photography on the web. I have found this site to be very good, and it reviews the different software that is available. It's very easy to overdo the look of HDR images, and Photomatix Pro gives you lots of control. You can make your images really good, or outlandish. The control is in the hands of the photographer. To many, HDR will be old hat, but a lot of photographers haven't tried it, and will be pleasantly shocked at the results. Since you can download Photomatix Pro for free, if you are serious about digital imaging, I'd give it a tryout. If you buy the full version it is US$99.00.Here are some examples of how HDR imaging works. Of course these images are reduced in quality and resolution, so they only hint at the differences.%Gallery-65254%
Natsume pulls a Pangea, bringing Afrika to North America
For a game that we didn't really care all that much about in the first place, Afrika sure has had a circuitous route in getting to us. After seeing the game at a Sony press briefing 137 years ago, we figured it was unlikely the photography sim would come stateside. But in November, National Geographic changed all that when it revealed that it would be publishing the game (and swapping the "k" for a "c").But this morning we hear from IGN that the North American rights have been picked up by Natsume. OK, listen, it's been in so many hands, we know there's not an integrity issue here, so it would it have killed one of you to slip a gun in there? Taking pictures of animals? Boring. Knowing you'll be the last person to ever take a picture of said animal? Worth at least a rental.%Gallery-64358%
Pentax gets official with 14.6MP K-7 DSLR: HD movies, HDR mode
After digesting loads of scuttlebutt here lately, we're elated to see that Pentax has finally come clean with its new K-7 DSLR. The 14.6 megapixel shooter packs a rugged magnesium alloy body and arrives with an HD movie mode that captures video at 640 x 416, 720p (1,280 x 720) or 1,536 x 1,024 -- all at 30fps. Needless to say, that's more than the D90 and D5000 offer (both top out at 720p), and while Canon's T1i does 1080p, it does so at just 20fps. There's also an HDMI port, a 3-inch Live View LCD, in-camera lens correction, shake reduction and an improved dust reduction system. The real kicker, however, is the High Dynamic Range (HDR) capture mode, which snags a trio of images, then combines them in-camera to widen the exposure gamut. The body alone should ship in July for $1,299.95 -- which is notably more expensive that recent wares from Canon, Nikon and Sony -- and you can peek the full slate of specifications just past the break.
Gorgeous Mirror's Edge inspired photo set leaps into view
Savage Land Pictures have revealed a gorgeous photo set inspired by the 2008 Electronic Arts action title, Mirror's Edge. The shoot, which Savage Land Pictures notes took months to plan, includes sixteen images of a model dressed as Faith traversing rooftops and interacting with armor-clad enemies. The set isn't completely realistic however, as "Faith" is shown holding a pistol and the image doesn't completely break... like the game did when she picked up a weapon. Just kidding, kinda.[Via SlicedLime Twitter]
Sony's Alpha 230, 330 and 380 DSLRs get flood of official pics
Sony's latest mainstream DSLRs cameras got the seal of officialness this past Saturday, and now the company's added some icing to the cake by releasing of plethora of pictures for its α230, α330, and α380. Direct your eyes lovingly at the articulating screens and SD/SDHC card slots in the gallery below. Pre-orders for the trio are supposed to start today at Sony's official retail site, but as of this writing, they're not yet there.
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH1 produces sample shots and videos galore
Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH1 has already shown off its visual prowess a time or two before, but the eagle-eyed photogs over at DPReview have finally hosted up a cornucopia of sample shots and videos for those still unsure if a Micro Four Thirds camera is right for them. And hey, even those cats obviously understand a little tongue-in-cheek humor, wouldn't you say? Tap the read link for the full array of goods.
Ask Engadget: Best small camera (with good video) under $600?
We know, you were hoping to just glance over today's hottest articles in the world of consumer electronics, and along comes this: something that actually asks a little of you. Trust us, it'll be alright, and hey -- after you've replied, you can send in a question of your own to ask at engadget dawt com. "The family and I are headed to Walt Disney World in June for the first time. I have a Canon Digital Rebel and a Canon GL1, but really do not want to haul either or both of them to the Magic Kingdom with us. So, the question is: what is the best camera that does great stills and video and is super small? Under 600 bones preferably. Thanks!" No Rich, thank you for making us all envious. Be sure to take the advice that'll surely flow in comments below and send us picture postcards while waiting in line to ride the Tower of Terror for the forty-third time. (Seriously, do not miss Tower of Terror.)
Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition spotted in its natural habitat
Last year, we idly mused that Success Corp.'s Amazing Animals, a Wii safari game, looked kind of neat. Now, Natsume will give us a chance to experience the kind-of-neatness for ourselves! The company announced today that it has picked up North American publishing rights for the title.Confirming our previous assumption about the gameplay, Natsume explains that Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition is a wildlife photography game in an African setting. "Each day, [players will] be tasked with completing specific assignments, such as taking pictures of particular animals, groups of animals, or animals engaged in certain actions. Players will see a variety of exotic wildlife on their expedition, including gazelles, gorillas, and elephants." So basically it's Sony's Afrika, but cuter and less likely to be used as a TV demo in electronics stores. Natsume will be displaying Animal Kingdom at E3. We're so glad Natsume decided upon the Animal Kingdom name, by the way. We've never been happier with a regional name change. The title of the game in Europe is ... Safar'Wii.%Gallery-51809%
Nikon D5000 impressions, head-to-head with D90
Nikon's D5000 is a curious beast. It boasts an unorthodox model name, packs a strikingly unique display and aims at an atypically small niche. In a way, it's a poor man's D90, but stopping there would be selling this gem short. The D5000 kit, which ships with the same 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens that comes bundled with the D60 kit, sports an MSRP of $849.99, placing it squarely between the aforementioned D60 kit (currently streeting for $549.95) and the D90 kit (which can be found for around $1,150). 'Course, the D90 kit lands you a nicer 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF-S VR lens, a higher resolution rear LCD, a top-mounted display for showing vital statistics, a more rugged body and a few other internal upgrades. We've had some time to toy with Nikon's latest, and we've laid out our impressions just past the break. Join us, won't you?
Voigtländer adapter expands lens pool for Micro Four Thirds cameras
Granted, this was totally expected, but we can't possibly be more excited to see such a peripheral emerge before the Micro Four Thirds segment even has a chance to blossom. Cosina, parent company of Voigtländer, has just introduced a new adapter which aims to make Micro Four Thirds cameras (you know, like Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G1) compatible with a slew of existing Voigtländer, Leica and Carl Zeiss lenses. Unfortunately, we're told that the device is mechanical only, which could cause issues with some of the more advanced features that require tight knit camera-lens communication. Head on past the break for a full list of suitable lenses, and feel free to ping your favorite Japanese importer with a mailing address and at least ¥19,800 ($205).[Via Wired]
Nikon's D5000 DSLR (and its articulating display) shipping April 27th
Oh, goodie goodie! Merely ten days after the D5000 was formally introduced to the world -- and just hours after Amazon's pre-order page went live -- we're now being told that Nikon's first DSLR with an articulating display will be shipping in three short days. Starting on April 27th, the cam will begin making its way out to those who pulled the trigger early on... at least in kit form. We don't expect the body-only configuration to leave the docks for at least a week or so later, but you can rest assured we'll be giving one a go and letting you know if it's worth the cheddar.[Thanks, Jonathon]
First Look: Camera Zoom for iPhone
The iPhone's built-in camera is a prime target for improvements. We've seen iPhone cases with built-in wide-angle lenses, iPhone cases with zoom lenses, and a plethora of apps to manipulate photos. Camera Zoom (click opens iTunes) is a new US$0.99 app from KendiTech that provides a 4x digital zoom for your iPhone camera. Camera Zoom displays a preview in real time, just like the regular camera app. You use a slider to adjust the level of zoom. After taking the photo, Camera Zoom tweaks it for the best possible quality.For those of us with "real" digital cameras, the ability to zoom the iPhone's camera is nice. However, the picture quality of a digital zoom is never as good as you'll get with an optical zoom lens. As you can see with the example photos above, the zoomed image tends to be grainy. This is particularly true in low-light conditions. If you can put up with the degraded picture quality, Camera Zoom is an inexpensive way to add zoom capabilities to your iPhone.I'm surprised that Apple approved this app, since the icon is titled "Camera" just like the real Camera app, and it duplicates the functionality of the Photos app as well. The latter isn't done very well, since you can't flick the screen to move between pictures in the camera roll.This is version 1.0 of this app, however, and it's a good start to what could be an easy-to-use photo manipulation tool for the iPhone platform.
Video: Samsung NX outfitted with massive lens, teased on rotating platform
Eager to get a few more dirty details on the heretofore elusive Samsung NX Series camera? Sorry, bub. Now that we've destroyed your wildest dreams, ruined your Friday and infuriated you beyond description, we will point out that Sammy has a new teaser video of the camera for all to view, and it's looking mighty special. The curvaceous cam is seen behind glass on an endlessly rotating platform, complete with a fairly large lens, a fairly large rear LCD monitor and... not much else. There's no audio to speak of (or hear, for that matter), but it's still a mesmerizing watch. Peek after the break if you're sitting squarely in the "yes Jim, tell me more!" camp.[Via 1001 Noisy Cameras]
Now even wider -- Pano 3 for iPhone
Pano, a fun iPhone app for taking panoramic photos, has been around since last fall and the developers at Debacle Software have been hard at work improving the app ever since. While the first iteration stitched together a maximum of 4 photos, the 2.0 version of the app upped the limit to 6 photos.Now Pano 3 (click opens iTunes) rewrites the rules for taking panoramas with your iPhone. The new version can automatically meld up to 16 photos, providing 360 degree panoramas. The team at Debacle added a way to resume interrupted panoramas, so if Mom called right as you were taking the fifth shot in your series of sixteen, you can pop back into Pano 3 and start right back up. While the capabilities of Pano have increased, the price remains the same low $2.99US. I use this app a lot, and it's just about the most fun that you can buy for $3. If you have an iPhone and love to take photos, Pano's deserving of a place on your home screen.After you've shot a few panoramas with Pano 3, take part in Debacle's I Love Pano Pano Panorama Contest. A group of TUAW bloggers are judges, and there are some great prizes.
Olympus SP-590UZ (and its 26x zoomer) gets reviewed
We're beginning to think there really is no number too high for the megazoom focal length. Back in the day, just boasting a 10x zoomer was enough to fall into said category; today, you best top 20x if you even want into the discussion. Olympus' 26x SP-590UZ is definitely amongst the craziest out there, sporting a 12 megapixel sensor, 2.7-inch LCD and a launch price of just under $450. Reviewers over at PhotographyBLOG were duly impressed across the board, with a certain critic noting that "the ability to go from capturing wide-angle landscapes to distant details in a four second zoom of the lens cannot be underestimated, especially as there's little distortion to worry about at either end and excellent sharpness across its entire range." Not surprisingly, the cam notched a "Highly Recommended" badge along with 4.5 out of 5 overall stars -- that said, are you really willing to buy in knowing a 58.983x successor is just around the bend?
Screen Grabs: Nikon D60 served up with standard lens, chocolate frosting
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com. Ace of Cake's Duff Goldman and his Charm City Cakes shop pulled out all the f-stops to recreate a (presumably) delicious Nikon D60-shaped pastry for one family to celebrate their photographer father's birthday. The first trial ended up being too small, but instead of turning it into a point-and-shoot or micro four thirds they scrapped that iteration altogether. There's some impressive details here, but best of all (and unfortunately not seen in the gallery below) is the picture of another birthday cake in the viewfinder. Seriously, the only thing that could make this better is if they baked it with a longer lens.[Thanks, Susie]
Canon PowerShot SX200 IS reviewed, deemed pretty decent
Photography Blog's just put up a rather exhaustive review of Canon's PowerShot SX200 IS. If you've already forgotten, this little guy boasts a 12 megapixel sensor, a 12x optical zoom, and a 3-inch LCD. Among the standout features of the cam, they like the PASM creative shooting modes, and its versatile 12x zoom lens. Drawbacks for the camera include its video mode, LCD (which is a lower resolution than some rivals), and a Smart Auto Mode that leaves a little to be desired. Overall, they seem to think that the camera stacks up quite well against most of its rivals, though they did find that it feel a bit short of its main competitor, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ7. There's one more shot after the break, and hit the read link for the full on review.
Pentax douses K-m in olive, K20D in titanium
We know, you're a firm believer that there's evidence of thaumaturgy splattered all over here, but believe it or not, all it takes to create a camera in a new color is powerful signature and a little paint. As Pentax has done so often in the past, it's pumping out new editions of old cameras with fresh hues. The latest duo to don new Springtime wardrobes is the K20D -- which is now outfitted in titanium -- and the K-m, which now sports an absolutely peculiar olive shade. Both models are being limited to 1,000 in quantity, and while no price is mentioned, we get the feeling a ticket to Tokyo may be your only shot at acquiring one.Read - Olive K-m, via PhotographyBLOGRead - Titanium K20D, via PhotographyBLOG
Canon's EOS Rebel T1i DSLR leaked?
Looks like CNET might've jumped the gun a bit, releasing a video podcast that outed Canon's oft rumored EOS Rebel T1i before the company had a chance to announce it themselves. The evidence has since been pulled and we're looking for a copy to verify, but according to the DP Review forum posters who claim to have seen it, the 15 megapixel DSLR has the same sensor size as the 50D and can shoot video at 720p / 30 FPS and 1080p / 20 FPS. Its frame is comparable to the Rebel XSi. Earlier this month, a Danish publication Zoom said it was invited to a Canon press conference scheduled for tomorrow, and we think we've got a good clue as to what it might unveil...[Via Photography Bay; thanks, Eric]Read - Rebel T1i leakRead - Canon press conference on March 25