Canon produces 40 millionth EOS-series SLR, half of ’em digital

Oh, Canon — you and your milestones. Just under two years ago, you took time out of your busy schedule to gloat about the shipment of your 100 millionth compact camera, and today you’re bragging about the production of your 40 millionth EOS-series SLR camera. In all seriousness, we’re pretty proud of ya. After all, it took a full decade (1987 to 1997) for you to conjure up 10 million EOS film cameras, and six more after that to hit the magical 20 million mark. Once you blew through 30 million in 2007, it took but 28 months to get where you are today. What’s really wild, though, is that half of the milestone is all digital, and given the state of film today, we’re guessing that the delta between the two will only grow larger in the future. You’ve come a long way since the introduction of the EOS-1, but we know you’ve got a few surprises in store yet — how’s about a sub-$1,000 DSLR that shoots native 4K video and has an ISO ceiling of 1,000,000 to celebrate the rapidly approaching 50 million mark?

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Continue reading Canon produces 40 millionth EOS-series SLR, half of ’em digital

Canon produces 40 millionth EOS-series SLR, half of ’em digital originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 May 2010 00:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony’s NEX3 / 5 cameras priced, June release date leaked (update: official)

It looks like Sony’s having a field day right now in Japan, making its official reveal of the NEX3 and NEX5 cameras, the “ultra-compact” DSLRs with interchangeable lenses we saw back at PMA. The presentation is going on as we speak, and the rumor sites seem to suggest Digital Photography School posted (and subsequently pulled) a review of the NEX3. Quesabesde, however, still has its preview of the not-quite-Micro Four Thirds shooters live, and is also listing some specs and prices. First with the technical details: the NEX3 has a 14.2 megapixel sensor, support for Memory Stick and SDXC media, 720p / 30fps video, and an articulating 2.95-inch LCD. The NEX5 boasts AVCHD 1080i video, and we’re not sure yet as to other differences between the pair. As for pricing, the bodies on their lonesome appear to be worth about €250 and €350, respectively — that’s $320 and $448 in US currency. Throw in a 16mm f2.8 lens for €250 and you’re now looking at a minimum of €500 (or $640) to join the fray. The kits are said to be going on sale in June. Sony’s official site hasn’t updated yet, but with any luck we’ll get the legit scoop in very short time.

Update: Sony made it official, says a firmware update will be released this summer to capture stereoscopic 3D sweep panoramas.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Sony’s NEX3 / 5 cameras priced, June release date leaked (update: official) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 May 2010 20:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wooden DSLR shoulder rig does follow focus with a twist

We have to admit we have an affinity for finely hand-crafted gadget accessories — be they iPad cases or PC chassis — and we’re especially impressed when they add some unique functionality to match their looks, like this wooden DSLR shoulder mount built by Jonathan Clifford Berqvist and his father Erik. In addition to being built from a single tree branch, the rig packs a nifty follow focus mechanism that lets you adjust the focus with just a twist of the handle. While there’s unfortunately no step-by-step plans for building your own, it certainly seems to be straightforward enough for anyone with some basic woodworking skills, and you can get a glimpse of the build process in the video after the break.

Continue reading Wooden DSLR shoulder rig does follow focus with a twist

Wooden DSLR shoulder rig does follow focus with a twist originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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59 Fiercely Focus Stacked Photos [Photography]

For 100+ years, any given photo had a single prime focal point. But the results of this week’s Shooting Challenge combine multiple points of focus to create images never seen before. More »

Canon brings out Jackie Chan-branded Rebel T2i / 550D for Chinese market

“Eye of Dragon” must be Chinese for “better kit lens, fancier neck strap, a branded photo album, and a leather case.” Because that’s the totality of substantive changes you’ll be getting if you opt for the upgraded Jackie Chan variety of Canon’s Rebel T2i. Of course, there’s also the knowledge that you’ll be one of only 2,010 owners of this exclusive kit, which will set buyers back an unenviable 10,000 Yuan ($1,467). If you ask us, we’d rather just buy the body and add on the EF-S 18-135mm lens ourselves, but then we were always more partial to Bruce Lee anyway.

Canon brings out Jackie Chan-branded Rebel T2i / 550D for Chinese market originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic’s DMC-GF1 / GH1 / G1 firmware updates improve autofocus performance

Curious timing, no? Nary a fortnight after Olympus announced an autofocus-related firmware update for its line of Micro Four Thirds cameras (the PEN E-P1, E-P2 and E-PL1), along comes Panasonic with an all-too-similar round of firmware fixes for their own MFT range. Slated to hit the interwebs on May 10th, a trio of new updates will purportedly bring improved autofocus performance with third-party lenses as well as recognition of the new 14-42mm kit zoom to the DMC-GF1, DMC-GH1 and DMC-G1. We’re also told that there will be improved flash performance for the latter two, and if you just so happen to be the proud owner of one of these, you can head on past the break for the full changelog.

Continue reading Panasonic’s DMC-GF1 / GH1 / G1 firmware updates improve autofocus performance

Panasonic’s DMC-GF1 / GH1 / G1 firmware updates improve autofocus performance originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CE-Oh no he didn’t!: Nokia’s Anssi Vanjoki thinks cameraphones are about to make SLRs obsolete

From what we know of Anssi Vanjoki, he’s a great guy and one that isn’t afraid of admitting his company’s mistakes. Alas, now we can also add to that dossier the ignominious fact that the fella doesn’t seem to know how professional cameras work. Talking about the rapid improvement in cameraphone technology during a speech in Helsinki yesterday, Vanjoki said that very soon “there will be no need to carry around those heavy lenses.” He’s really enthusiastic about HD video coming to phones, which he predicts will be here within 12 months (if you ask Sony Ericsson, it’s here already), but we just can’t let that spectacular line about lenses slide. The glass you shoot through is, for a lot of people, the most important piece of photographic equipment and there are genuine reasons why said lenses are heavy, elongated, and typically unfriendly to pockets. Then again, this dude also thought the N-Gage was gonna be a success, so don’t start selling off that glass stockpile just yet.

CE-Oh no he didn’t!: Nokia’s Anssi Vanjoki thinks cameraphones are about to make SLRs obsolete originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-G10 camera finally gets the review we’ve been waiting for

Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G10 finally gets the review we've been waiting for

The Lumix G10 got pricing and a vague date yesterday, and now the first full review has finally graced the interwebs. Photography Blog put this $599, 12 megapixel Micro Four Thirds camera (and its 14 – 42mm kit lens) through a full suite of tests and came away generally impressed. The addition of 720p video recording makes this model an easy choice over the older G1, despite the subtraction of a few features and the tilting LCD. But, the upcoming $800 G2 offers all those features plus 720p video recording as well, making it perhaps a better choice for more serious shooters with deeper pockets. Still, the G10 looks to be a great option for those wanting affordable DSLR power and HD video recording in a (reasonably) svelte package.

Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-G10 camera finally gets the review we’ve been waiting for originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BeetleCam wildlife photography secures stellar snaps in the wilds of Tanzania

We won’t even front — we’ve got a thing for visiting National Parks, and in a way, we’re dangerously envious of these fellows who crafted this here BeetleCam. In short, the device is a wildlife photography robot: a four-wheeled, remote control buggy that holds a DSLR, a couple of flashes and enough torque and battery life to power through African wilds for hours on end. After months of testing, building, rebuilding and rebuilding again, the BeetleCam was packaged up and carried over to Tanzania’s Ruaha and Katavi National Parks. During the fortnight-long excursion, the buggy managed to survive being mauled by a lion (sadly the same can’t be said for the Canon EOS 400D) and get staggeringly close to elephants, African Buffaloes and other untamed fauna. Frankly, this is one of the more amazing homegrown gadgets we’ve seen in quite some time, and we couldn’t encourage you more to hit up that source link for the full spill.

BeetleCam wildlife photography secures stellar snaps in the wilds of Tanzania originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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77 Sensationally Staged Scenes [Photography]

Some pictures capture a moment. Others capture a story. For this week’s Shooting Challenge, I asked you to stage a scene. Your results were sometimes funny, sometimes beautiful, sometimes sad and always worthwhile. More »