Hasta La Gadget!

There’s lots of alternatives to the strap that comes with your camera, like straps with thicker padding. But I’m pretty into sling-style straps, especially for torturous events like CES. Luma’s 2.0 Loop is a radically simple, elegant implementation of a sling strap. More »

Shocker of shockers — the T3i really isn’t a monumental upgrade from the T2i that came before it. Granted, you could probably glean as much from the raw specifications list, but at least we’ve got a handful of reviews now to confirm it. The folks at Camera Gear Guide have a fairly exhaustive critique up, and while they lauded the overall image quality and the addition of the new video features (a digital in-shoot zoom and a swiveling LCD), they couldn’t wholeheartedly recommend it as an upgrade for existing T1i and T2i owners. Even for newcomers to the mid-range DSLR game, Canon’s own 60D seems infinitely more compelling at just $100 more, and it’s also hard to ignore Sony’s SLT-A55 for $50 less than what the T3i is retailing for. That’s not to say the T3i wasn’t impressive; quite the opposite, in fact. But it seems as if you’ll need to seriously survey the competition before deciding that this one’s worth your hard-earned Benjamins. Hit the source link for the full skinny, and hop on past the break for a preview video.

Continue reading Canon’s Rebel T3i / 600D reviewed: not exactly a compelling upgrade

Canon’s Rebel T3i / 600D reviewed: not exactly a compelling upgrade originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Touching your camera to re-focus its lens while filming your next budget masterpiece isn’t necessarily a good idea, and lugging a laptop around to handle the task remotely isn’t exactly practical for today’s modern gorilla filmmaker. The $400 USB Follow Focus looks to be a much more simple solution. It’s quite simply a knob in an aluminum enclosure that connects over mini-USB. Plug it in and welcome to your next Oscar — or Emmy, anyway. There are a suite of buttons that can be used to define focal presets and it has compatibility with most Canon HD DSLR shooters. The results? Check the two videos after the break and see for yourself.

Continue reading Okii USB Follow Focus knob makes remote-focusing your Canon DSLR easy (video)

Okii USB Follow Focus knob makes remote-focusing your Canon DSLR easy (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 11:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who woulda thunk it? Half a year ago, finding a conventional point-and-shoot with integrated GPS was a chore, but these days, it’s growing tougher and tougher to find one without it. Pentax is joining the geotagging frenzy this evening with its Optio WG-1 GPS, a rugged 14 megapixel shooter that’s waterproof up to 33 feet, shockproof in nature and engineered with a “crushproof” body that can withstand weight force of up to 220 pounds (but not another Black Eyed Peas halftime show). You’ll also get integrated face detection technology, the ability to snap in sub-freezing temperatures, a 5x optical zoom lens and a 2.7-inch rear LCD. There’s also a 720p movie mode, HDMI output, IR control compatibility and support for Eye-Fi‘s wireless SD card. It’ll ship this April in black or yellow-green for $399.95, and if you’re uncomfortable remembering where you took each and every photograph, the GPS-less Optio WG-1 will also be available (in black or purple) for $50 less.

In related news, the company is taking this opportunity to issue a limited edition K-5 DSLR, with this one touting a silver body, a uniquely shaped grip and shock-resistant, scratchproof glass surrounding the LCD. Outside of that, everything else about the 16.3 megapixel shooter will remain the same as it ever was, and the $1,699.95 (body only) price point is most certainly no easier to swallow. For those still sold on the idea, Pentax will also be offering a trifecta of silver prime lenses: the 21m f/3.2 AL, 40mm f/2.8 and the 70mm f/2.4. Check out Sir Silver (and the full press releases) just after the break.

Continue reading Pentax reveals Optio WG-1 and WG-1 GPS rugged cameras, limited edition K-5 DSLR

Pentax reveals Optio WG-1 and WG-1 GPS rugged cameras, limited edition K-5 DSLR originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not looking for a new PowerShot? How’s about a new DSLR? Canon has just rolled out a new entry-level Rebel and a new flagship Rebel this evening, with the T3 (1100D) and T3i (600D) offering mild updates over their predecessors. The EOS Rebel T3 will ship at the end of March with a EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II zoom lens for $599.99, offering up a 12.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC 4 Imaging processor, nine-point autofocus system and a 63-zone dual-layer metering system. You’ll need to provide your own SD, SDHC or SDXC card, but unlike entry-level bodies of the past, this guy will capture full-motion video at 1280 x 720. There’s an ISO range of 100 to 6,400, a pop-up flash and a newfangled Basic+ non-technical interface that should help beginners grow accustomed to more technical aspects of photography without the steep learning curve.

Stepping up, there’s the new T3i, which boasts an 18 megapixel CMOS sensor, an ISO range of 100 to 6,400, support for SD / SDHC / SDXC cards, DIGIC 4 Imaging processor, pop-up flash, integrated Speedlite settings (to go along with a few new Speedlite flashes also introduced today) and a tilt / swivel LCD monitor. It’ll ship at the start of March for $799.99 (body only), or $899.99 bundled with a EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II zoom lens. Hit the source links below for the devilish details, not to mention information on two new telephoto lenses (the EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM and EF 600mm F/4L IS II USM).

Continue reading Canon trots out Canon Rebel T3 and Rebel T3i DSLR cameras

Canon trots out Canon Rebel T3 and Rebel T3i DSLR cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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