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Nikon D90 rumors heating up ahead of Photokina as well
Man, all these old camera rumors are just seeping out of the woodwork ahead of Photokina next month -- now it's the Nikon D90 getting the zombie rumor treatment. At least we're getting specs this time around, and they're not bad at all: 12 megapixels, Live View, video mode (necessitating a built-in mic), HDMI out, optional GPS, and a new 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens. Sure, it's a worthy successor to the D80 -- but we'll believe it when we see it.P.S.- Yes, that's another old, probably Photoshopped image that's been floating around, so don't get crazy -- like we said, these rumors aren't exactly new.
Leaf Aptus 75S, 65S and 54S debut
Leaf recently announced its newest digital back cameras, the Leaf AFi S-series -- which includes three models, the 75S, 65S and 54S. These new cams range from a 22 to 33 megapixel resolution, shoot at speeds from 0.8 seconds per frame (up to 75 frames per minute), have an unlimited burst depth, bring a "new, lossless image-compression engine," and pack FireWire 800 and up to 800 ISO sensitivity. Further, the camera has a good-sized 6 x 7 cm viewing screen on the rear panel. However, despite all the fanfare for this new series, we don't have the info we really want -- how much it'll cost (if you have to ask, you can't afford it) and how soon we can get one (does it really matter?).[Via LetsGoDigital]
Pentax X-Change interchangeable lens concept
DSLRs get all the photog credit, what with those snazzy interchangeable lenses and decent image quality, but point and shooters get most of the work done for most consumers, thanks the the size and convenience of a tiny, easy to use camera. Well, nothing much going on for the "decent image quality" angle of things, but at Photokina, Pentax is showing off a "X-Change Point & Shoot" concept that demos an interchangeable lens system for a compact cam. The miniscule camera body has a pop-up flash, and can accept a variety of lenses. Interestingly, the CCD is built into each lens, allowing for different focal lengths, protection from dust, and what we suppose would be some hefty prices. Unfortunately, it looks like Pentax has been kicking this idea around since 2002, so we're not going to get our hopes up too much for an imminent release. Pentax has plenty of other interesting (and old) concepts they're showing off at Pk, so be sure to peep the read link to catch the rest.[Via OhGizmo!]
Check out the E-400, K10D and NV7 in their Photokina glory
The peeps over at DigitalCameraInfo.com got their grubby mitts on some digicam hawterness over at Photokina and they've posted up their impressions for y'all to see. In the high end we have the Olympus EVOLT E-400 DSLR (top) with a £700 list price ($1324 US) for its Europe-only launch. Overall, it seems the 10 megapixel camera is a solid offering, with a particularly small form factor, but since you're not exactly going to be slipping this into your jeans pocket, that doesn't really set it apart from the crowd, and neither do the rest of its features. It should work for the more casual users, but DCI isn't really feeling this one for other higher-end uses. As for the Pentax K10D (middle), the DCI folks have pretty much nothing but praise, and are thinking it could work out as a budget alternative to the Nikon D200, and might be a fit for the pro set if the image quality is good enough. With a 10 megapixel CCD and features like shake reduction and dust reduction, all wrapped up in a well-made, weatherproof and easy to use package, the K10D could well be a worthy successor to the K1000, and at 1,000 Euros ($1,269 US), the price isn't too shabby neither. Finally, on the point and shoot end, there's the Samsung NV7 OPS. The $400 cam features an optically stabilized lens, 7.2 megapixel CCD, and an interesting "Smart Touch" interface, which involves buttons along the side of the LCD for intuitive menu navigation. Apparently the interface works great, but the rest of the camera isn't so hot. Performance is pretty clunky, and while DCI is reserving judgement on image quality until they can get the NV7 into the lab, the initial impressions weren't great. The good news is that colors looked accurate, and the image stabilization worked fine.Read - Olympus EVOLT E-400Read - Pentax K10DRead - Samsung NV7 OPS
Fujifilm S9600 wireless adapter shown at Photokina
Not to keep harping on Fujifilm's newly-unveiled, fixed-zoom S9600 camera, but the company has apparently busted out a less-than-glamorous wireless attachment for the highly-touted prosumer model. While we knew the 10.7x zoom, 9 megapixel sensor, and tiltable LCD were on the docket, wireless transfers is definitely a new addition. Spotting WiFi on cameras isn't too uncommon (heck, we're even giving one away), but we've yet to see a dedicated wireless adapter for a camera of this stature. Reportedly, the demo was set up to photograph onlookers, and then pass the snapshot along (sans wires, of course) to a WiFi-enabled printer sitting nearby. Unfortunately, details concerning model numbers, pricing, or if this add-on will ever surface outside of the Photokina confines remains to be seen -- but honestly, we hope the final design (should there be one at all) trims down a bit, as the current build sure looks to add a good deal of heft for just cutting the proverbial cord.[Via Daily Wireless]
Rechargink, a soda fountain dispenser for inkjet cartridges
Who wouldn't love a really convenient and easy way to refill those annoying empty inkjet cartridges, besides every printer company ever? With that in mind, KIS/Photo-Me is displaying its new "Rechargink" system at the Photokina exhibition in Germany this week, which is great news for consumers and retailers and terrible blow to HP, Canon, and friends. The Rechargink is basically like a soda fountain dispenser, but for ink, based on what we can tell from this photo -- apparently you belly up to the kiosk with your empty container, pull down the lever, and then you have a functioning ink cartridge again within five minutes. No word on price nor availability, nor on what happens if you try to make a suicide soda version of ink, either.
Olympus woodcam premieres at Photokina
As much as we love shiny new toys, there's something to be said for the elegance of polished wood. At the Photokina exhibition in Germany, Olympus recently wowed everyone with a Japanese cypress encased camera. Olympus issued a press release with a great number of details about the wood, and included photos of how the wood was carved -- but unfortunately neglected to tell us what kind of hardware resides in this hardwood. We're betting that Olympus is holding off on releasing further info until it can develop a way to convert its pristine images into equally stunning Japanese woodblock prints.[Via FarEastGizmos]
Norcent's DC-10 -- 10 megapixels on the cheap
We can't say we find the idea of a 10.1 megapixel image captured with a $200 camera particularly appealing, but we can't really fault Norcent for playing the megapixel game so dang well. Of course, the camera doesn't really have much else going on, but the 2.4-inch LCD doesn't sound too terrible. The maximum ISO, a mere 200, doesn't sound quite as fun, and most other features truly fail to excite. There's some 3x zoom action, VGA video capture and 32MB of built-in memory, and the camera runs on a pair of AA batteries. So, if you're prepared to snap some really crappy pics at incredibly wasteful resolutions, the DC-1020 seems be the way to go, and it should be available now for that very purpose.[Via LetsGoDigital]
Apple's Photokina event has started
Apple's special event at Photokina is underway. At the moment they are discussing the transition to Intel (which went smoothly) and heralding Aperture as the 'ultimate darkroom.' More info as we get it.As we suspected, Aperture is the star of the show. Testimonials from a number of photographers are being played, and they are all heralding Aperture as super cool.Apple has just introduced Aperture 1.5. More details to come.Aperture 1.5 has a new library system with better support for external storage, DVD's, as well as RAID. This should make a lot of Aperture users happy. iLife integration is also new, with support for a plugins framework. Plugins for Gettyimages, iStockPhoto, Flickr are included with more on the way. The magnifying function has been improved and one can now magnify images up to 1600%. The XMP format is now supported for exporting image data. You can get information about a photo without the RAW file being available to Aperture (i.e. it is on a disconnected external device). iPod integration is also new to this point release (you can store photos on your iPod).The biggest piece of news for current Aperture users is that this will be a free upgrade, and it will be available this week.And the event is over. A very special thanks to MacNotes.de for there wonderful coverage.
Olympus' E-1 followup on display at Photokina
When Olympus unveiled the E-1 DSLR way, way back in 2003 it was the first DSLR designed from art-to-part specifically for digital photography. Now the lucky few attending Photokina will be the first to see the eagerly anticipated E-1 followup when the show kicks off tomorrow. Well, kinda. See, Olympus will be displaying a concept model when the doors swing wide so take these images as a taste of what's to come, 'cause that's all we've got for now. Oh, and be sure to go full screen, 'cause just like Paris, the new Engadget's a moveable feast.[Thanks, oly_man]
Seitz Roundshot D3: take a 360-degree panorama in two seconds flat
Remember that ridiculously-sized but utterly awesome Seitz 6x17 Digital that we showed you yesterday? Well, Seitz has another one to wave around at this year's Photokina. This time, though, it's a 360-degree cam that'll capture 470 million pixels worth of color and light, and furthermore, will complete that task in two seconds -- less than the amount of time it's taken you to read half of this paragraph. Like the 6x17, the Roundshot D3 has a ISO range from 500 to 10,000, accepts lenses from 24mm to 250mm and comes with a maxed out Mac mini to act as its oversized flash card. The D3 is more expensive than the 6x17, however, with the mobile version taking a sizeable 46,900 francs ($37,463) from that numbered Swiss bank account of yours, while the studio version comes in at 43,700 Swiss francs ($34,906). In either case, you'll probably want to head over to the Seitz site to get in line to pre-order this bad boy, which is due to hit the streets of Geneva by early 2007. Oh yeah, and make sure to catch a big pic of the D3 on the next page.Read
Leica M8 combines old-world charm with new-world tech
Camera fans worldwide no doubt appreciate Leica's attention to quality and detail when it comes to making high-end film-based rangefinder cameras. This month, the famous German company will introduce its first digital rangefinder camera at the Photokina trade show in Cologne -- the same location where the first Leica M3 was announced in 1954. The Leica M8 doesn't just have a pretty body, nor is it resting on the laurels of its predecessors: it's got a 10.3 megapixel resolution, with a low-noise CCD image sensor that starts at ISO 160 but that can also kick up to ISO 2500. The Leica M8 can take gorgeous shots with an exposure time that drops down to 1/8000 of a second, and to 1/250 of a second with a flash. The cam also has a focal length extension factor of 1.33, which helps to mitigate the problem of "vignetting," or a fall-off in brightness that would occur without the extension factor. Oh, and there's one more thing: did we mention that the M8 works with "virtually all" Leica M series lenses produced since 1954? We don't have any firm information from Leica about what the availability or price of the M8 will be, but estimates on the internets suggest that it will set you back about €4,500 ($5,708) -- and this totally amazing camera will probably be worth every euro cent.Read - Press releaseRead - DPR's hands-on preview
Confirmed: Apple to hold special event on Sept. 25th
It looks like the special event that was rumored to be happening on September 25th, the day before photokina in Germany starts, is a reality. Our friends at Macworld just got an invitation featuring a big old camera lens, which is reminiscant of Aperture's icon. Seems pretty natural that Apple would do an Aperture announcement at one of the largest photography trade shows in existence.
Pentax's Optio E20 for simple folk
In the rampup to Photokina nought-six, Pentax brings us another new Optio shooter with their entry-level Optio E20. As followup to the E10, the E20 brings 6 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom, 2.4-inch LCD, and a "simple" mode setting which relieves the user of all responsibility for doing anything other than pushing the shiny button up top. No, on TOP we said, that's the zoom button ferchrisake. The E20 runs off a couple of AA batteries 'cause Pentax doesn't trust noobs anywhere near a battery charger. Sorry, no pricing nor ship date, just these pretty pictures. Mmm, pre-tty cam-er-a.
Carl Zeiss creates telephoto lens with 1700mm focal length
This new telephoto lens comes to us from the: "because we can" department. Lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss has just made one of the world's largest telephoto lenses -- it's so big in fact, that you nearly need a construction crane to lift it up. Weighing in at 256 kg (564 lb.), this monstrosity of a lens has a focal length of 1700mm (over 5.5 feet!), a speed of f/4, and has 21x magnification. You can't miss it if you attend this year's Photokina convention in Cologne, Germany starting September 29. Based on the company's press release, it sounds like it was custom-built for a client who wanted to shoot wildlife at a distance on the very high-end Hasselblad 203 FE using 6 x 6 medium format film -- in other words, she/he has some serious cash to spend. No word on if it will be ever made available to the public, but it sounds like Carl Zeiss is open to ideas if you've got a briefcase full of euros to pay for the project, not to mention the means to get it from wherever you are to wherever you actually want to use it without scaring every living thing in your path.
BenQ's new consumer cams, the C540, C740 and C1000
As Photokina looms ever nearer, camera manufacturers continue their stream of announcements, and BenQ seems to think today's their lucky day. They've got three new ones to show, and there seem to be plenty of megapixels and piddling feature sets between them. Headlining the trio is the C1000 (pictured), which packs a 10 megapixel CCD, 3x zoom and 2.4-inch LCD. There's also 24MB of built-in memory, an 8 second shutter night scene mode, and quick 4 continuous shot mode -- exciting, we know. Next up there's the C540 and C740, which bump the LCD size to a whole 2.5-inches, and manage 5 and 7 megapixels respectively. Both of the cams feature a "Shake-Free" mode, along with 1000 ISO sensitivity for extra nighttime fun. Yeah, not a whole lotta excitement to be had here, but at least these three cams should be fairly cheap when they drop in September. Keep reading for pics of the C540 and C740.Read - BenQ DC C540Read - BenQ DC C740Read - BenQ DC C1000
Sigma teases SD14 DSLR
We've gotta hand it to Sigma, with other companies announcing a slew of digital cameras in advance of Photokina, it's holding out and unveiling its new DSLR, the SD14, at the show itself. Of course, they're still doing their best to build anticipation with a trying-to-be-mysterious teaser site that taunts us with such penetrating dialogue as "you believe that all RAW data is created equal?" and "if you could have fundamentally better technology, would you settle for added, improved functions instead?" We'll leave you to ponder that for a minute, but rest assured, "the truth will soon be revealed." It also looks like the truth has been leaked, as evidenced by the pic after the break that cropped up Xitek.com's discussion forum, although it seems we'll still have to wait for the big unveiling at Photokina to get all the camera's deets. [Via DP Review, thanks Robby B]
Apple gathering press at Photokina
In their first Photokina showing, well, ever, Apple is for whatever reason gathering press to make some kind of presentation on September 25th -- the day before the show begins. Before your fanciful self starts dreaming up gorgeous new video iPods or revamped Apple QuickTakes, do keep in mind that something having to do with the floundering Aperture and their software push into professional image production is a little more likely than, say, an iPhone announcement. Don't worry, you'll get your fall / winter Apple lineup soon enough, says we.[Thanks, Jay]
