Dpreview has published their in-depth full review of this new camera from Panasonic. You can read the review here.
However, we bring you press release of Panasonic for this great camera
SECAUCUS, NJ (June 13, 2011) – Panasonic today announces its latest compact system camera (CSC), the mirror-free Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GF3 is the company’s smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a built-in flash*1, with its body size comparable to that of a smartphone and weighing just 7.83oz (body only), less than a standard 8oz cup of coffee. The Panasonic’s LUMIX GF3 realizes all the features desired from a traditional DSLR interchangeable lens camera, only it accomplishes them in an ultra-compact body that is lightweight and simple to master.
Read more…
MELVILLE, N.Y. (July 12, 2011) – Nikon Inc. today introduced the new lightweight and versatile AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G lens to
provide Nikon DX-format shooters macro capabilities at an affordable price point. Ideal for intimate details or general portraiture, the new AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8G lens has a minimum focusing distance of just 0.53 feet (6.4 inches) to allow users to capture extreme close-up photographs and High Definition (HD) video with a life-size 1:1 reproduction ratio.
“This new NIKKOR lens is an ideal accessory lens for those who are ready to explore a totally new perspective, whether it’s extreme close-up detail or general still images and movies with flattering out of focus elements,” said Lisa Osorio, general manager of marketing at Nikon Inc. The new Micro NIKKOR lens delivers new and added versatility to the Nikon DX-format digital SLR system and provides DX-format shooters with compact optics that deliver excellent color reproduction and stunning sharpness.”
read more for full specs chart
Read more…
London, UK, 13th June 2011 – Canon today announces the launch of its latest high quality telephoto zoom lens. The new EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II is a compact and affordable lens, offering powerful telephoto performance combined with high image quality, making it ideal for photographers wanting to get closer to the action.
The versatile new lens enables photographers to shoot a variety of subjects due to its variable focal range. It’s ideal for shooting anything from portraits to longer-distance subjects, such as wildlife, sports, or even features within a landscape – ensuring the moment is always captured in impressive detail.
The EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II will be available separately and also as part of a double lens kit, bundled alongside the recently-announced EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II with EOS 550D, EOS 600D and EOS 60D bodies, providing beginners with a fantastic start to their photography system, all in one box.
Designed and manufactured to exacting standards, the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II reflects Canon’s premium design philosophy, with an enhanced exterior design and a number of premium technologies to ensure leading image quality. Canon’s four-stop Image Stabilizer (IS) counters image blur during low light and handheld shooting, and the inclusion of an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lens element and Canon’s Super Spectra Coatings also ensure beautifully crisp, high contrast and glare-free images. The latest EF-S lens to be added to Canon’s range is ideal for photographers seeking an affordable and versatile lens for general-purpose telephoto photography.
The new EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II will be available from July 2011.
Ronkonkoma, NY, June 28, 2011 – Sigma Corporation of America, a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider of some of the world’s most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, is pleased to announce that its newly upgraded 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens is now available for the MSRP of $1,400.
The updated 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens now features Sigma’s own proprietary Optical Stabilizer (OS) technology, which allows for high-performance, handheld, close-up photography. The telephoto reach makes it a perfect lens for capturing images of insects and small creatures. Additionally, the wide maximum aperture combined with a short telephoto focal length make it very favorable for facial portraiture at lower magnification. A Special Low Dispersion (SLD) lens and one high refractive index SLD lens provide excellent corrections for all types of aberration and distortion.
“This lens is a fantastic addition to our extensive lineup of macro lenses,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “This is our fourth prime macro lens and the second of which that now includes our Optical Stabilization technology, which steadies the image for handheld use. This is yet another example of Sigma’s dedication to providing an array of unique lens that capture incredible imagery.”
Sigma’s Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) feature ensures quiet and high-speed autofocus as well as full-time manual focus capability. This lens also has a rounded nine-blade diaphragm that creates an attractive blur to the out-of-focus areas of the image.
The 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro features a floating focusing system that moves two different lens groups in the optical path to different positions. This system compensates for astigmatic aberration and spherical aberration, and provides extremely high optical performance from infinity to 1:1 macro. The super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting, providing high contrast images. It is also possible to use this lens with Sigma’s APO teleconverters.
This announcement comes as part of an ongoing celebration of the company’s 50th anniversary. Find out about special anniversary activities and features, including product videos, photo sharing, photography tips and monthly chances to win Sigma products by visiting the anniversary web page.
For information about Sigma Corporation of America, visit www.sigmaphoto.com. For more information about sigma’s lenses, visit http://www.sigmaphoto.com/shop/lenses.
Categories:
Sigma Tags:
105mm, EX, F2.8, HSM, macro
Sigma has announced their new lens APO 150-500mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM for Sony and Pentax.
This ultra-telephoto zoom lens covers a telephoto range up to 500mm and allows photographers to bring the subject close and short perspective. This lens has an equivalent field of view of a 225-750mm when used on digital SLR cameras with an APS-C size image sensor. Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower. As compensation for camera shake is visible in the view finder, the photographer can easily check for accurate focus and ensure there is no subject movement.It is ideal for sports, wildlife and landscape photography with handheld shooting. Three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for chromatic aberration. This lens is equipped with a rear focus system that minimizes fluctuation of aberration caused by focusing. The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well as full-time manual focusing capability. The addition of the (optional) 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters produce a 210-700mm F7-9 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens or a 300-1000mm F10-13 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively (For Sony fitting only). A removable tripod socket (TS-31) is included as a standard component.
Original of their press release.
dpreview.com published today detailed review of the Canon Rebel T2i/EOS 550D. The EOS 550D combines high-end features taken from the 7D, with the low-cost, user-friendly ergonomics of previous entry-level models (500D, etc..). On paper its the most compelling Rebel-series DSLR to date, so can it span the bridge between first-time DSLR buyers and more experienced users? Read our full test to find out.
Read the full review here
Categories:
Canon Tags:
550D, Canon, review
There is number of websites that posted review for this camera, Panasonic DMC-G2. It is great piece of equipment and these reviews proove it…
It is successor to the G1, with a touch screen interface that can be used to select the focus point, adjust camera settings and fire the shutter. However it’s not a love it or hate it affair since the traditional control buttons are still [thankfully!] present. Feature-wise, the G2 is similar to the G1 but adds HD Movie in AVCHD Lite with monaural sound (stereo with optional adapter). The Control Dial has also moved from the front of the handgrip to the back at the thumbrest area. Read the Hands-on Preview of the Panasonic G2 at: DPReview
Northlight compared 550D vs 500D
Pro points
- 18MP CMOS sensor with gapless micro lenses
- ISO 6400 in default ISO range (12,800 is extra)
- Customisable auto ISO ranges
- Expanded bracketing range (+/- 5 stops)
- Dedicated button for video/live shooting
- 63 zone iFCL metering
- 3:2 LCD screen with more pixels
- 1080 HD at 30, 24 or 24fps
- Stereo microphone input
- Manual controls in video mode
- Slightly higher burst shooting rate (3.7 fps vs. 3.4 fps)
- SDXC compatible
Con points
- Reduced buffer size (JPEG 34 vs. 170, RAW 6 vs. 9)
- Price – higher
Categories:
Canon Tags:
550D, Canon
20th March – Firmware bumped to V2.0.4
Firmware changes
In the Version 2.0.4 firmware, the following phenomena that occurred with the Version 2.0.3 firmware (which was to enhance the movie functions) have been corrected.
- There was a phenomenon in which the manual recording settings made in C1/C2/C3 were changed and sound could not be recorded if manual sound recording was used in the C1/C2/C3 settings and the camera was subsequently turned off (or if Auto Power Off was activated). This does not occur in modes other than C1/C2/C3.
The Version 2.0.4 firmware includes the movie function enhancements listed in items 1 through 5 below, and also incorporates the correction listed in item 6.
- Adds or changes the following movie frame rates.
- 1920×1080 : 30 fps (changed – actual 29.97 fps)
- 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added – actual 23.976 fps)
- 640×480 : 30 fps (changed – actual 29.97 fps)
- 1920×1080 : 25 fps (added – actual 25.0 fps)
- 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added – actual 23.976 fps)
- 640×480 : 25 fps (added – actual 25.0 fps)
NTSC: PAL:
- Adds a function for manually adjusting the sound recording level (64 levels).
- Adds a histogram display (brightness or RGB) for shooting movies in manual exposure.
- Adds shutter-priority AE mode (Tv) and aperture-priority AE (Av) mode to the exposure modes for shooting movies.
- Changes the audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to 48 KHz.
- Fixes a phenomenon where communication between the camera and the attached lens is sometimes interrupted after manual sensor cleaning. (This phenomenon only affects units with Firmware Version 1.2.4.)
Caution:
- Firmware Version 2.0.4 is for cameras with firmware up to version 2.0.3. If the camera’s firmware is already version 2.0.4, it is not necessary to update the firmware.
- Movies captured using EOS 5D Mark II cameras with Firmware Version 1.1.0 to 1.2.4 can be played back on cameras updated with Firmware Version 2.0.4. However, if you try to play back movies captured with a camera with the new firmare on a camera with a previous firmare version, a message, Cannot play back image, appears on the camera’s LCD monitor.
- It is recommended that you use the latest Canon applications*1 to edit movies captured with EOS 5D Mark II cameras that have the latest firmare because some previous versions do not support movie-editing functions and the frame rates that are added or changed by the latest firmware. You can download the latest Canon applications from our Web site.
*1 ZoomBrowser EX Version 6.5.0 or later (compatible operating systems : Windows XP/Vista/7)
ImageBrowser Version 6.5.0 or later (compatible operating systems : Mac OS X v10.4/10.5/10.6)
- In addition to the enhancements to the movie function, the accompanying instruction manual has also been revised. Users are asked to download both the latest firmware and the latest instruction manual. You can proceed to download the instruction manual by clicking the [I Agree] button from the bottom of this page.
Read the whole story and instructions on canon’s official firmware page.
Categories:
News Tags:
5D mkII, Canon
Improvements compared to original EOS 5D
- 21.1 megapixel (5,616 x 3,744 pixels), compared to 12.8 megapixels (4,368 x 2,912 pixels)
- DIGIC 4 image processor, compared to DIGIC II
- 100-6400 ISO (expandable to L (50), H1 (12800), H2 (25600)), compared to 100-1600 (expandable to L (50), H (3200))
- 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting (78 JPEG or 13 Raw in a single burst), compared to 3 fps (60 JPEG or 17 Raw)
- Small Raw modes: sRAW1 mode (10 megapixel/3861 x 2574 pixels), sRAW2 mode (5.2 megapixel/2784 x 1856 pixels)
- 98% viewfinder coverage with 0.71x magnification, compared to 96% coverage
- Larger 3.0-inch (76 mm) LCD display with 640 x 480 VGA resolution (307,200 pixels/921,600 dots), compared to 2.5-inch (64 mm)
- 1800mAh LP-E6 battery, compared to 1390mAh BP-511A
New features
- Movie recording with 12 minutes of full HD at 1920×1080, or 30 minutes of SDTV at 640×480 resolution, up to 4 GB, 30 frames/s (due to FAT32‘s limitations)
- Monaural microphone for audio during video recording, speaker for playback and microphone jack for external stereo microphone
- Live preview with contrast-detect autofocus
- HDMI video output for live preview or playing clips and images on an external monitor via Type C MiniHDMI port
- Dust reduction system to perform automatic sensor cleaning
- Battery management software
The 5D Mark II is the first camera in the EOS line to provide video recording functions. Still photography during video recording is possible, but the camera suspends recording video until the final still frame is captured.
The Li-Ion battery for the 5D Mark II (LP-E6) has a 1800mAh capacity. Each battery contains a microchip with a unique identifier for reporting charge status and battery health for display on the camera. The 5D Mark II’s ‘Battery Info’ screen can track battery health and shooting history for up to six LP-E6 batteries.
Source: Wikipedia
Categories:
Canon Tags:
5D mkII, Canon