Sat on top of a mountain in Chile is the world’s most powerful digital camera. Known as the Dark Energy Camera, it’s recently been fired up to image the night sky, in an attempt to find the exotic stuff that gets all physicists excited. These are the first images it’s produced. And they’re magnificent. More »
Point-and-shoot or fashion accessory? This is the conundrum posed by the XF1, a new retro-styled point-and-shoot from Fujifilm. It’s a nice looking camera with a solid and fairly light build, certainly, and while the faux leather (in black, red or tan) might not be for everyone, the company was quick to point out that it’ll go nicely with your new designer handbag, for whatever that’s worth. The textured design is complimented nicely by a metal border on the top and bottom. There’s a bit of a learning curve here, when it comes to just turning the thing on — give it a twist and a pull, not unlike a childproof pill cap to put it in standby and another pull to get things started.
There’s a big, bright three-inch LCD on the rear of the device. Click the E-Fn button on the bottom right, and you can actually reassign the button mapping on the back to your liking on the display. Of course, such style and functionality comes at a price — this guy will run you $500 when it goes on sale next month.
Continue reading Fujifilm’s XF1 makes a fashion statement at Photokina, we go hands-on (video)
Filed under: Cameras
Fujifilm’s XF1 makes a fashion statement at Photokina, we go hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 05:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Leica has outed its latest rangefinder range, kicking off with a pared-back M-E this month but culminating in the simply-named Leica M flagship in early 2013. The Leica M will clad a 24-megapixel full-frame Leica Max sensor in a deliciously retro housing, but the specifications aren’t old-fashioned: count on ISO 200 to 6,400, Full HD 1080p (24/25) video recording, and an optional electronic viewfinder, when it arrives to replace the highly-coveted M9 of 2009.
That EVF pairs with the Leica M’s 3-inch 920k dot display, which Leica has sensible placed behind a sheet of toughened Gorilla glass. Inside, Leica’s new Maestro image processor does the heavy lifting, protected by dust/splash-proofing.
Perhaps most exciting for Leica aficionados, however, is the fact that the Leica M will not only work with the company’s dedicated M-series lenses, but with classic R-series lenses too. You’ll need an adapter in order to do that, but we can see plenty of shutterbugs happy to put up with that.
As for the Leica M-E, that’s a more affordable – in Leica terms, of course – version, with an 18-megapixel full-frame sensor and a focus entirely locked onto photography. The M-E won’t shoot video, but does offer ISO 160 – 2500 and a 2.5-inch 230k dot preview display, along with an integrated viewfinder.
The Leica M-E is available now, priced at around $5,450, while the Leica M will follow on early in the new year, price to be confirmed. We’d be surprised if it came in at under the $7,000 tag of the M9 it replaces, however.
Leica M and M-E rangefinders are retro-delicious is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Nikon just announced its D600, a $2,100 DSLR with a full-frame sensor. Now, just four days later, we have a similar (and identically priced) offering from Canon. Coincidence? Not likely. Industry backchannel conspiracies aside, however, it’s only to our advantage to have a choice — if you’re looking to upgrade your digital SLR without taking out a second mortgage, you can now pick Nikon’s model, or the EOS 6D from Canon. The latter flavor, which offers built-in WiFi (the D600 requires an adapter), packs a 20.2-megapixel CMOS sensor, and it’s 20 percent lighter than the 5D Mark III, which will remain on the market, targeting professional users. The camera features a sensitivity range of ISO 100 through 102,400, it can shoot 4.5 fps stills and offers 1080/30p video capture. It also has an optical viewfinder, paired with a 3-inch 1.04-million-dot LCD on the rear, which looks just as sharp as you might expect.
What really blew us away, though, is the new camera’s size and weight. It’s more compact than the 5D and even the 7D, an APS-C camera, weighing in at 690 grams — a 20-percent decrease from that larger pro model. 20 percent may not sound like a tremendous improvement, but it’s certainly noticeable, boosting the 6D’s versatility, and making it an ideal choice for street and travel photography. We haven’t had a chance to shoot with the new high-end DSLR just yet, but it felt quite solid in hand, despite the more compact design and significant weight drop. Take a closer look in our gallery below, followed by our hands-on video after the break.
Gallery: Canon EOS 6D hands-on
Continue reading Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video)
Filed under: Cameras
Canon EOS 6D full-frame DSLR hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 08:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Panasonic has revealed its latest micro four thirds camera, the LUMIX DMC-GH3, targeting a more ambitious breed of photographers who demand an integrated viewfinder and other DSLR features. Packing a 16.05-megapixel sensor, good for up to ISO 12,800 (25,600 extended), Venus Engine processor, WiFi, 3D noise reduction and onboard HDR photo creation, the GH3 includes both a positionable 3-inch 614k dot OLED touchscreen and a 100-percent field-of-view OLED electronic viewfinder.
The viewfinder also includes an eye sensor, which can automatically shut off the main display when it recognizes that it’s being used, thus saving battery life. There’s also 6fps burst shooting at full resolution (rising to 20fps in 4-megapixel mode) and the HDR mode works in the background so that there’s no delay to taking the next shot.
As for video, up to 1080p Full HD is supported, with Dolby Digital sound, an integrated stereo microphone, and twin 3.5mm jacks for headphones and an external microphone. Footage – recorded at up to 72Mbps (ALL-Intra) or 50Mbps (IPB), with frame rates of 60p, 30p, or 24p – can be stored in AVCHD, AVCHD Progressive, MP3, or MOV formats, and there are various manual control options as well as autofocus, autofocus tracking, and face-recognition autofocus. The touchscreen can be used for touch-setting autofocus points.
The pop-up flash is GN12 equivalent at ISO 100, though there’s a mount for a separate flash if it’s not powerful enough for your tastes. Panasonic offers an external flash with wireless and LED for video, as well as a battery grip. Video output can be delivered in real-time using the mini HDMI connection, with the choice of showing solely the camera’s view, or the menus as well.
Panasonic has also baked in WiFi b/g/n, used for transferring files either to the cloud or a computer, and there’s a remote app for controlling the GH3 wirelessly. If your phone or tablet has GPS, that data can be appended to each photo or clip too. Onboard controls can be reprogrammed, with five hardware function buttons and two software presets, and the whole camera is ruggedized against dust and splashes.
Joining the LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm, f/2.8 ASPH. POWER O.I.S. lens already available is a new zoom, the LUMIX G X VARIO 35-100mm. That offers f/2.8 and POWER O.I.S. as well, and both are dust/splashproof. Obviously any other micro four thirds lenses will work with the GH3, though you’ll need a mount adapter.
Panasonic is yet to confirm final pricing, but expects the new model to be on shelves by the end of the year with a roughly $2,000 tag.
Panasonic LUMIX GH3 official: WiFi, OLED viewfinder and 72Mbps HD is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Here you are Canon’s latest PowerShot with the :
PowerShot G15 Digital Camera
The powerful new PowerShot G15 builds upon the success of the G-series providing some of the most advanced features in Canon’s PowerShot lineup. The PowerShot G15 continues this tradition with a new 28mm wide-angle f/1.8 – f/2.8 lens with 5x optical zoom, great for low-light shooting or dramatic shallow depth of field. The PowerShot G15 includes Canon’s HS SYSTEM where the camera’s DIGIC …
Fujifilm has been busy this month unveiling new digital cameras in its high-end X-series line. At the beginning of the month, Fujifilm unveiled the X-E1 interchangeable lens digital camera positioned to rival full-frame DSLR cameras on the market. Today Fujifilm has unveiled another new camera called the XF1.
Fujifilm is positioning the XF1 as a premium digital camera with a perfectly matched lens and sensor, high attention to detail on the materials and design, and more. It looks like Fujifilm is trying to channel a Leica vibe with the XF1. The new camera doesn’t offer interchangeable lenses and uses a Fujinon F1.8 lens with four times manual zoom.
The camera has a large 2/3-inch 12-megapixel EXR CMOS sensor that Fujifilm promises will deliver extraordinary image quality. The camera will come in three different designs that vary in color with one having synthetic black leather, one having smooth synthetic tan leather, and another having synthetic red leather. The leather on all three models is offset by the silver aluminum frame of the camera.
Fujifilm expects to launch the camera in October at $499.95. The camera has three power modes, including travel with the lens fully retracted, standby where the camera is off but the lens is extended, and shooting mode with the camera ready to go. The camera features optical image stabilization, full manual controls, a three-inch rear LCD, and supports ISO 100-12,800. The camera can shoot full HD resolution video and promises 300 shots per battery charge. The camera also supports motion panorama for seamless panoramic shots and macro shooting. The camera also features a number of automatic and artistic effects modes.
Fujifilm unveils sexy XF1 digital camera is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
There’s a brand new compact digital camera here in the Olympus camp and it’s aiming for greatness with Stylus XZ-2 iHS on its name tag and high-performance point-and-shoot action on its list of checkmarks. This device has the lovely 4x optical / 4x Digital zoom iZUIKO DIGITAL f1.8-2.5 large-diameter lens favored by the predecessor to this device from Olympus and adds a hybrid control ring, a touch-sensitive tilt screen, and a TruePic VI image processor. You’ll be rocking with Full HD movie recording as well as FlashAir compatibility to rock and roll with your smartphone or mobile-connected tablets instantly – social time!
Inside you’ve got a 12-megapixel 1/1.7″ high-sensitivity back-lit CMOS sensor teamed up with the same processor you’ll find in the impressive Olympus OM-D E-M5 we reviewed earlier this year. That’s the TruePic VI processor and with it combined with the lens, you’ll have faster recovery time as well as shutter releases on a regular basis. You’ve got up to ISO 12,800 with the device’s speedy f1.8 lens for full-resolution photos that look excellent even in dim conditions.
The hybrid control ring is what Olympus lets us know is the world’s first of its kind. Here you’ve got function settings able to be assigned with ease and switches between digital operations and analog with little effort. You’ve also got touch controls, of course, with the XZ-2′s touch screen on the back with Live Guide and a user interface quite similar to the OM-D we’ve reviewed and the PEN shooters also just revealed today.
This camera will be available in November of 2012, just in time for the holiday season, and will be appearing with a USB cable, video cable, Lithium-ion battery pack, battery charger, shoulder strap, Olympus ib software CD, manuals, registration card, and a healthy dose of love from Olympus. This unit will be available for an estimated street price of $599.99 USD and will be available in any color just so long as its black. This unit has an accessory port – as you may have noticed – so you’ll be able to be compatible with what Olympus notes is a “growing range of Micro Four Thirds accessories” – fun stuff!
Olympus Stylus XZ-2 iHS revealed with flagship aspirations is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Canon’s wireless-toting EOS 6D isn’t the company’s only new model of the morning; there’s also a trio of PowerShots, the G15, SX50 HS and S110, set to hit store shelves even sooner. The Canon PowerShot G15 packs a 12.1-megapixel redesigned sensor, refashioned for improved low-light performance, paired with a 28mm wide-angle f/1.8-2.8 5x optical zoom lens and DIGIC 5 image processor, and is capable of 1080p Full HD video recording.
There’s also an integrated stereo microphone and a 10-frame burst photo mode capturing full-resolution shots, while the accessory shoe can be used for a flash or an optical viewfinder. Otherwise, you’ll be using the 3-inch 922k dot LCD. A waterproof housing is also available.
The Canon PowerSHot SX50 HS, meanwhile, brings a massive zoom to the party, slotting together a 12.1-megapixel sensor and a whopping 50x optical zoom (24-1200mm) with 24mm wide-angle lens, something Canon claims is an industry first. It unsurprisingly has optical image stabilization, and supports up to ISO 6400 and a 10-shot burst mode at full resolution.
A 2.8-inch, 461k dot multi-position LCD is on the back, together with an electronic viewfinder, and there’s a Zoom Framing Assist feature which locks onto a close-up subject, zooms back out to show you its context in the overall frame, and then zooms right back in on it again when you lift your finger off the button. 12-bit RAW + JPEG capture is an option too.
Finally, the Canon PowerShot S110 packs WiFi and the same sensor as the G15, here matched up to a 24mm wide-angle lens, 5x optical zoom, and f/2.0 aperture. It can offload photos to a computer remotely, or indeed be remotely controlled via the Canon CameraWindow app for iOS and Android.
Like the other two models, it can grab up to 10 shots in rapid succession, at full 12.1-megapixel resolution, and there’s ISO up to 12800 and Full HD 1080p video recording with stereo sound (and an HDMI output to watch it). On the back there’s a 3-inch capacitive touchscreen.
The Canon PowerShot G15, PowerShot SX50 HS and PowerShot S110 will all go on sale in October 2012, priced at $499.99, $479.99, and $449.99 respectively.
Canon PowerShot G15, 50x optical zoom SX50 HS, and WiFi S110 debut is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Canon has outed its latest DSLR, the EOS 6D, packing a 20.2-megapixel full frame sensor and integrated WiFi and GPS for transferring geotagged photos and video more easily. Directly taking on Nikon’s D600, the EOS 6D has a freshly designed CMOS paired with Canon’s DIGIC 5+ Image Processor, supporting 11-point AF and ISO 100-25600 (extendable to 50, 51200 and 102400).
There’s 63-zone dual-layer iFCL metering and 4.5fps continuous shooting, along with various preloaded “creative modes” including a built-in HDR photography option – combining three exposures of the same frame into a single image, without requiring post-processing on a computer – and a Multiple Exposure mode which can combine up to nine images.
Video is captured at 1080p Full HD resolution, with support for 30,24, and 25 fps, while 60fps and 50fps are supported in 720p mode. The camera also offers manual control over exposure and audio levels while recording.
On the back, there’s a 3-inch 1,040k dot VGA resolution LCD display, which promises 100-percent coverage during video recording, as well as a viewfinder. Inside, meanwhile, you get both a WiFi chip and GPS – two options most DSLRs would demand you add separately – which allow the EOS 6D to offload its photos and video to your computer, smartphone or tablet, or indeed be remotely controlled via the free Canon EOS Remote app for iOS and Android. Geotagged content can be subsequently shown on a map with details of where, exactly, it was captured.
The Canon EOS 6D will go on sale in December, priced at $2,099 body-only. It will also be offered as a kit, with Canon’s EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USZ zoom, for $2,899.
Canon EOS 6D: 20.2MP full-frame DSLR with WiFi and GPS is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
