Hasta La Gadget!

As is often the case with nearly every itty-bitty software update, the goal’s usually to alleviate any problem regardless of how minor it is, and sometimes even bring a couple of enhancements with it. Well, such is the fact behind Olympus’ latest firmware refresh for that sleek E-M5 Micro Four Thirds shooter. That’s not to belittle the goods, however, as v1.2 does pack a couple of welcomed changes, including an improved “sleep recovery operation” and the addition of an autofocus tracking point to use while in the camera’s Sequential L setting. The firmware bundle is up for download now, which you can get at the source link below along with the full instructions on how to install it on your precious OM-D.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Olympus outs firmware update for OM-D E-M5 camera, sleep mode and AF improvements in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jul 2012 06:03:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some important news for anyone who bought a Nikon D800 or D7000 DSLR earlier this year. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada announced today that the battery packs sold with the cameras are part of a voluntary recall due to a potential burn hazard. While there’s been no injuries reported, Nikon says it has received seven reports outside of North America of the battery packs overheating, which can cause them to melt and pose a risk to users. The recall encompasses 5,100 batteries in the US (sold in March and April) and 1,100 in Canada (sold in February and March), plus an additional 195,000 battery packs worldwide. Those with one of the battery packs in question are advised to remove it from their camera and contact Nikon directly for a free replacement. Complete details can be found at the source link below.

Update: As some have pointed out in comments, Nikon first initiated this recall itself in April, but it has just now risen to the level of the CPSC and Health Canada.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Nikon recalls battery packs sold with D800 and D7000 DSLRs due to burn hazard originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jul 2012 14:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been generally unimpressed with the latest round of basic point-and-shoots, including those from Samsung’s mid-range Smart series, but we do tend to take heed whenever a manufacturer opts to focus on optics rather than bumping up the megapixel count to boost sticker appeal. Compared to sub-$200 shooters, there’s a fairly limited market for $549 pocketable models — a price point that often prompts would-be owners to dig beyond superficial specs in search of full manual control, solid high-ISO performance, fast focusing and a lens that enables both low-light shooting and shallow depth of field. Samsung’s EX2F appears to fit the bill, offering a 12.4-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, a top extended ISO setting of 12,800, a 3-inch VGA-res AMOLED display and — the crown jewel — an f/1.4-2.7, 24-79mm lens. That optic delivers an additional one 2/3 stop of sensitivity over the EX2F’s predecessor, the two-year-old TL500. Other advantages include a lighter magnesium alloy body, an NX power pin-enabled hot shoe for adding an external mic or flash, and a new micro-USB trigger cable.

Though the EX2F was noticeably lighter than the 2010 model during our hands-on, it retains much of the TL500’s heft — at least from a size perspective. The camera’s footprint makes it too bulky to slip in a pocket, as we were able to do with the Sony RX100, though the flip-out AMOLED display is certainly a welcome addition. An NX-like smart UI mode enables instant access to key settings, as do the dual control dials, which let you adjust shooting modes (on the right) and capture speed (on the left). There’s also a new in-camera HDR mode which merges two back-to-back shots (one underexposed and the other overexposed) in order to retain additional shadow and highlight detail. The camera was quite responsive during a quick shoot earlier today, powering on, focusing and capturing an image quickly. We’ll need to spend much more time snapping outside of an office environment before passing any formal judgement, but it’s easy to see the appeal of such of device — and the advantage over less-abled point-and-shoots. For now, you can take a closer look in the gallery below, and in our hands-on demonstration after the break.

Continue reading Samsung EX2F point-and-shoot with f/1.4 lens hands-on (video)

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Samsung EX2F point-and-shoot with f/1.4 lens hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:27:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Canon T4i is the latest DSLR into the entry-level market, although a small batch of cameras seem to have been affected by a manufacturing problem. Canon has released a statement saying that the front rubber grips on some cameras may turn white after a short period of time. Canon has looked into the issue and determined that its caused by a reaction to zinc bis after exposure to high temperature or high humidity.

The company says that until suffering the issue were manufactured in a 16 day period between May 31st and June 15th. The rubber manufacturer supplying the grips seems to have used a higher rubber accelerator than normal, resulting in the chemical reaction when exposed to high temperatures or humidity. Zinc bis is also deposited on the grips as a result, which may lead to an allergic skin reaction for some users.

Canon say that they’ll begin swapping out any units that suffer from the issue. To check if your camera is affected, you’ll have to consult your serial number to see if the sixth digit is 1. After you input the full serial number into Canon’s online tool, you’ll be told whether your camera is affected or not. If it is, the company will send out a free replacement in the next couple of weeks.

[via Gizmodo]

Canon T4i rubber grips suffering from chemical reaction is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’ve been wondering what kind of eye candy Canon’s EOS-1D C is capable of, you might be in luck. The crew over at EOSHD have apparently snagged some 4K sample footage from an early prototype of the unreleased, professional-grade DSLR. The clip looks slick to us, albeit lacking in the scenery department. Even so, EOSHD comments that while a “massive step up for image quality compared to all previous DSLRs” the video footage isn’t as sharp as stills from the 1D X (the 1D C’s less-endowed sibling) and “not near what true 4K should look like.” (Of course, anyone looking for true 4K is advised to step up to Sony’s $70k F65 CineAlta, so we guess you get what you pay for). You can check out the minute-long clip, unfortunately scaled to a Vimeo-friendly 1,920 x 1,080, after the break. If your discerning eye demands the raw footage, however, why not grab the few seconds available at the source link and let us know your thoughts? That’s what the comments are for, after all.

Continue reading First DSLR 4K video from prototype Canon EOS-1D C reportedly emerges

First DSLR 4K video from prototype Canon EOS-1D C reportedly emerges originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 22:12:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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