Nikon concept cameras surface, spark rumor mill

Is the future of photography painted in Kubrick white? It is if you believe Nikon and Canon. We’ve seen the latter’s concept in much more detail, and now a handful of pics from the Nikon Sapporo Showroom have surfaced, showcasing at least one similarly unpigmented design. The other two models, snapped and found via burner-images, look like more run-of-the-mill DSLRs, but the one that’s causing a stir online is the all-white model that originated from DCHome forums. The original poster chimes in to say it might be the EVIL camera, but we’re not exactly convinced. For starters, the body doesn’t look much smaller or different than the rest of its lineup — not exactly what we’d expect for a “new market” product, as the company reportedly wants its mirrorless shooter to be. Additionally, as noted by a number of Nikon Rumors commenters, that apparently 18-55mm lens implies it’s rocking an APS-C sensor. Of course, if we saw the other side, we could see whether or not it had a viewfinder, which does narrow down the possibilities. So in conclusion, we still don’t know what it is, or if we ever will with any certainty, but we’re making an educated guess as to what it isn’t. Got that? Good.

Nikon concept cameras surface, spark rumor mill originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:54:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Nikon Rumors  |  sourceburner-images, DCHome  | Email this | Comments

DIYer builds handsfree, Arduino-powered remote camera trigger (video)

It takes a pretty radical hack to truly grab us, but we’re fairly confident that Matt Richardson is now one of our most favorite dudes ever. He has put together a comprehensive video detailing the setup required to build your own Arduino-powered remote shutter trigger, and while it’s certainly one of the more complicated setups out there, properly executing it can land you self-taken photos like the one above. You’ll need a laptop, a solid DSLR, an Arduino, a DIYer toolkit (you know, tiny screwdrivers and the like) and a good bit of spare time. If you’ve already checked all five from your list, head on past the break and mash play — your weekend project awaits.

[Thanks, Matt]

Continue reading DIYer builds handsfree, Arduino-powered remote camera trigger (video)

DIYer builds handsfree, Arduino-powered remote camera trigger (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 08:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceGithub (mrichardson23), YouTube (mrichardson23)  | Email this | Comments

Pentax’s K-r entry-level DSLR reviewed: the sweet spot has been hit

It may look like a toy, but as ma always said, it’s what’s underneath that counts. It’s not often that those old adages prove true in consumer electronics, but such is the case with Pentax’s newest entry-level DSLR. The K-r ($800 in kit form) is positioned between the K-x and K-7, and according to PhotographyBLOG, it fits perfectly there. They felt that the compact design was a boon for newcomers to the field who wouldn’t be keen on lugging around anything of size, and most importantly, the image quality was said to be “excellent.” Of course, low light performance began to suffer at ISO levels north of 800, so those interested in ditching the grain and blur after dark will still need to spend a bit more on a prosumer model like the Nikon D7000. The wide range of manual controls were also a hit, but considering that the HD video mode is identical to that on the lower-end K-x, you’ll be forced to deal with a less-than-stellar UI. We’d suggest hitting the source link for the full skinny, but we’ll go ahead and spoil the ending: it managed a Highly Recommended badge.

Pentax’s K-r entry-level DSLR reviewed: the sweet spot has been hit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 06:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon’s 60D impresses reviewers, but a challenger approaches (video)

Canon's 60D impresses reviewers, but a challenger approaches

Canon’s prosumer line just got a little better, with the 18 megapixel, 1080p recording 60D hitting stores and, now, getting recommended reviews. Photo Blog and Camera Labs have weighed in so far, and both have positive conclusions, most notably regarding that movie mode. The camera will kindly record in 1080p24 in addition to 1080p30, but the autofocus while filming is panned, called “fairly useless” thanks to only happening when you half-press the shutter button, and then taking a few seconds to figure things out — but that’s just like the EOS 7D and T2i. Overall the 60D scores highly and easily bests the 50D it replaces, but the real competition is Nikon’s D7000, which interestingly is busting out at retail already, offering a similar price point, similar capabilities, and a magnesium alloy chassis, versus the plastic one on the Canon. How will they compare? We’ll just have to wait for the next round of reviews to find out.

Continue reading Canon’s 60D impresses reviewers, but a challenger approaches (video)

Canon’s 60D impresses reviewers, but a challenger approaches (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:05:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourcePhotography Blog, Camera Labs  | Email this | Comments

Nikon D7000 sold at Best Buy a little early, gets unboxed immediately

Best Buy’s been a naughty retailer again by letting some people purchase Nikon’s D7000 a few days ahead of its proper retail launch. Of those lucky buyers, a couple inevitably chose to document the unboxing experience and consequently we now have two videos awaiting you after the break, detailing just how neatly that black and gold box is arranged. The actual contents will hardly surprise you — a neck strap, LCD protector, all the usual cables, plus an 18-105mm kit lens with soft pouch and petal-shaped hood are all present and accounted for — but the thrill is in seeing the D7000 itself emerging from its plastic wrappings. You may do so just past the break.

Continue reading Nikon D7000 sold at Best Buy a little early, gets unboxed immediately

Nikon D7000 sold at Best Buy a little early, gets unboxed immediately originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:32:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Nikon Rumors  |  sourceGeoff Bassett (Vimeo), PanicInJune (YouTube)  | Email this | Comments

Olympus not looking to replace the everyman DSLR E-620, thinks PEN system fits the bill

The E-620 from Olympus, the company’s latest attempt at an entry-level DSLR, was well reviewed upon release, said to be the best mix of performance and value of any of the company’s DSLRs released to date. However, that date is something of a problem: summer of 2009, and today’s camera fans are hungry for updates at least every year. Is a successor coming? No, according to Product Manager Toshiyuki Terada, at least not in the near-term. He believes that the “entry level SLR class can be completely replaced by the PEN system in terms of performance.” Yes, the compact, replaceable lens PEN system that’s currently found models like the E-P1 and E-P2. Mind you, we definitely enjoyed our time with the lesser expensive E-PL1, and all the little shooters have been impressing, but none quite delivers the DSLR feel that meaty-pawed amateurs covet. Maybe all they need is a little dose of 50 – 200mm telephoto to get over their anxiety.

Olympus not looking to replace the everyman DSLR E-620, thinks PEN system fits the bill originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Revised PhotoTrackr Plus works with Nikon D90, D3100, D5000 and D7000

Nothing like a little competition in the morning, eh? Just days after the Foolography Unleashed Bluetooth geotagging family hit the scene, in flies GiSTEQ with a mildly tweaked PhotoTrackr Plus (RT90, compared to last year’s RT10). The only major difference with this guy is its list of compatible cameras — Nikon’s D90, D3100, D5000, and D7000 are now supported. It’s still a two-piece solution, which requires users to plug one end directly onto the camera, but it touts near-instant bootup, low power consumption and the incredible ability of making far-fetched dreams come true. And by “far-fetched dreams,” we mean “help you remember where your photos were taken.” It’s available now for $179 if you’re memory’s fading faster than ever before.

Continue reading Revised PhotoTrackr Plus works with Nikon D90, D3100, D5000 and D7000

Revised PhotoTrackr Plus works with Nikon D90, D3100, D5000 and D7000 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 06:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RED founder Jim Jannard calls prosumer Scarlet ‘a mistake’

Perhaps it should be no surprise, considering the heartbreaking delays (and $1,000 price bump) the Scarlet has already endured, but it looks like the project is undergoing a major shift in focus — namely, it will no longer be targeted towards prosumers. EOS HD quotes RED founder Jim Jannard thusly:
The concept of RED was to build a camera with as much capability as possible… for the professional market. Then we thought we could extend it down a bit to the prosumer level. Apparently, that was a mistake.
He also says that “plenty of companies [are] dedicated to selling prosumer (short for ‘almost right’) cameras. We aren’t going to be one of them.” And later, “we had no idea what we were doing… Nothing works like it is supposed to.” Ouch. Although we respect the man’s candor (if not his eyewear), it’s hard to say exactly what this all means: is the Scarlet camera going to be scuttled completely (probably not), or merely priced out of consideration for the (well-heeled) consumer? Either way, you can officially consider us bummed out.

RED founder Jim Jannard calls prosumer Scarlet ‘a mistake’ originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Wet Pixel  |  sourceEOS HD  | Email this | Comments

Sony outsourcing some image sensor production to Fujitsu

Whoa. Sony sure didn’t mention anything about this at its Photokina press conference last week, but then again, it’s not the most glamorous announcement to make. According to Reuters, Sony is aiming to “outsource some production of image sensors used in digital cameras and mobile phones to Fujitsu,” and as you’d expect, it’s being done in a bid to shave costs and “cope with tough global competition.” According to a Sony spokesperson, the company has been mulling this decision for awhile, but it’s unclear if this will have any further impact in Sony’s employment numbers. It’s also unclear why “some” sensor production will remain internal — we’re guessing that newfangled Translucent Mirror technology may have convinced the firm to keep the DSLR lines a bit closer to the chest. It’s bruited that Sony will begin subcontracting output to Fujitsu later in the year, and it could shift even more output if things go swimmingly. Funny enough, an eerily similar scenario hit Sony’s LCD department back in early 2008. What’s next? Subcontracting Walkman production to Apple?

Sony outsourcing some image sensor production to Fujitsu originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax K-5 DSLR and Optio RZ10 hands-on

We didn’t get a chance to lay hands on any of the colored variants, but the solid black Optio RZ10 was easily one of the best feeling point-and-shoots we’ve touched in quite some time. Pentax doesn’t advertise the coating as being “soft touch,” but that’s exactly the vibe we get. It’s also shockingly small to have a full-on 10x optical zoomer, and while things will get pretty ugly at ISO 6400, it’s one of the few handhelds that even give you the option. The K-5 DSLR, on the other hand, simply didn’t feel like a $1,600 piece. And it should, given that’s what Pentax is charging for it. Sure, it’s solid enough and comfortable to grip, but it’s got a lot of proving to do in the reviews to come before we fully recognize the value proposition. Head on down below if you’re up for more eye candy.

Pentax K-5 DSLR and Optio RZ10 hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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