Digital Camera Product Reviews Blog

The price gap between the upper-entry-level Olympus E-520 and more expensive E-3 has always suggested there is room for a mid-range DSLR to sit between them. Olympus has announced the E-30, a new 12.3 megapixel Four Thirds Standard DSLR camera that is positioned between the pro E-3 and consumer E-520 models to compete with the Nikon D90, the Canon EOS 40D, and the Canon EOS 50D. It has more AF points than the 50D but less megapixels and lower color depth, a better viewfinder than the D90 but weaker ISO settings and a smaller (albeit rotating) screen. The Olympus E-30 will be available from mid-January 2009 and retail for $1300 body only. If you are interested in Olympus E-30, and feel confused between Canon50D,Nikon D90, here is a specs to help you to choose.

Dust spots on your D-SLR’s sensor appear as tiny black specks on the image. When photographers change lenses, dust can enter the camera and lodge on the filter or protective glass that covers the sensor. These dust spots can show up as dark blotches in subsequent shots. A camera with Dust Control Systems will prevent dust from settling on your camera’s sensor which is exposed to the elements every time you take the lens off. This technology is only found in interchangeable-lens DSLR cameras, such as Canon 450D, Canon 50D and so on, where it is a virtual necessity.

Olympus was the first camera manufacturer to install dust-reduction technology in its DSLR cameras, with a special Supersonic Wave Filter (SSWF) system that vibrates the filter in front of the sensor to dislodge dust. The dust collects in a tray below the sensor, which is cleaned when the camera is serviced. Other manufacturers have followed with similar systems - but they may only be included in one or two models.

Some manufacturers combine the vibrating filter with anti-static materials in the camera’s mirror box, while Canon adds a Dust Delete detection/removal system via software. Only Canon’s system deals effectively with dust that becomes ‘welded on’ when a camera with dust on its sensor is moved between low and high humidity.

Listed below are a part of the latest digital SLR cameras that include dust control systems.

Taking professional quality wedding images is a big challenge to new photographers. Any digital SLR body combined with a decent lens (see below) is a good start. Most professional wedding photographers, however, use a set of three zoom lenses: a wide-angle zoom, a wide-to-tele zoom, and an image-stabilized telephoto zoom. Most professional wedding photographers recommend that for small sensor, Canon 40D or 50D, Nikon D90 or D300 are good ones；for Full frame cameras, they suggest Canon 5D, 5D Mark II, Nikon D700 or D3. If you are serious about photography, try to buy a DSLR. That way you will be able to purchase separate, high quality, lenses. A resolution of at least 6 megapixel is important. The flash unit is as important, if not more important than the camera. I have a really old Canon Point & Shoot digital camera - but it has an external flash shoe. With it, I can take indoor bounce-flash photos that have incredible lighting; no one would guess they come from an old digital camera. When buying a digital camera, make sure you get a quality external flash that allows you to rotate the flash head vertically and horizontally.

Camera with Image stabilization option and ability to handle high ISO is essential. Camera should be responsive and auto focus must be fast and accurate. Lenses with a large maximum aperture of f/2.8 or larger are extremely valuable for weddings. The wide-angle zoom lens makes it possible to photograph in confined spaces, such as the bride’s dressing room or a packed dance floor. The wide-to-tele lens is wide enough to take a group photograph, but still long enough to take a three-quarter portrait of a couple without the unflattering effects of wide-angle perspective distortion.

Flashes and Accessories

1. 2-3 500-800 w/s monolight heads
2. 2-3 “speedlight” on-camera TTL flashes
3. light stands for each flash
4. umbrellas/softboxes for each flash
5. flash triggering device (radio slaves, optical triggers, or PC cords)
6. hand held flash meter

Wedding photos are a challenge to take, simply because of the flurry of activities that go on and the wide variety of lighting conditions that may occur.  But do remember that while wedding photos are challenging to take, they can be very rewarding. Especially when you see the couple smiling and reminiscing about how wonderful their wedding day was.

Until the Canon EOS 50D was released, the K20D and GX-20 held the record for the highest resolution sensor in the APS-C image sensor format - 14.6 megapixels. Both cameras are currently at the top of the APS-C resolution game, but which is the right camera for you? Pentax K20 is one of the first cameras that introduce 14 megapixels for semi-pro class. After the Canon 50D’s  quick release, I don’t think it affects the K20D much though it does have a few cool features: much better liveview (including face detection…P&S time) with contrast AF finally, high speed shooting even w/ the larger images, and finally an option to disable Canon’s heavy-handed NR.

Pentax K20D

Canon 50D

The Canon 50D has 15.1 MP (megapixels) of resolution, against 14.6 MP on the Pentax K20D. The difference is not important, the 50D wins by the slightest of margins. But I really think the K20D didn’t lose anything.

The Canon 50D manages a 6.3 fps (frames per second) performance, while the K20D can only shoot at a maximum rate of 3 fps. If you need fast shooting performance with a deep buffer (for instance, for sports photography), the 50D is your camera.

Pentax k20D is weather shield camera, able to withstand rain and dust, so offers superior protection in wet or dusty environments compared to the 50D.

The K20D offers image stablization for all lenses that you mount on the camera. To drive home this point, you get image stabilization even with any old or pre-war lenses that are compatible with the Pentax mount.

Pentax k20d has a price drop this week from $1000 (body only) couple months ago to $833. with lens, 1150 to 941 (a $200 price drop). With this new price point, Pentax k20d will compete directly with Canon 50D and Nikon D90.

These three years has been awesome years for Digital SLR cameras.  Many new innovation and technology has appeared in many new digital cameras, especially in digital SLR cameras. There are five big features that have recently emerged in digital SLR cameras that the manufacturers are using to help set their cameras apart. They are including image stabilization, dust control sensors, live view LCD screens, extended dynamic range, D-movie HD video mode.

Image Stabilization (IS)

Image stabilization is somewhat a mixed bag. It does allow one to handhold a camera with a shutter speed 2-3 stops slower then without. It also adds weight, complexity, and cost to the camera. So it’s biggest advantage is when shooting with a long telephoto indoors or in poor light outdoors. Nikon and Canon have been including stabilization systems in their lenses for years. But many of their competitors have included image stabilization (IS) in their camera bodies, providing great value to their customers. Maybe both Nikon and Canon should offer IS in both lenses and in camera bodies at ALL levels (pro, pro-am, and am). New Cameras with Image Stabilization including: Canon 450D(with kit lens), Canon 50D, Nikon D60, Nikon D90, Pentax K200D(build in), Pentax K20D, Sony DSLR-A200, Sony DSLR-A300, Sony DSLR-A350.

Live View LCD

Simply stated, Live View is the ability to frame your shot with the LCD monitor on the back of certain DSLR cameras instead of through the optical viewfinder. That is to say you can preview the photo you’re about to take using the large LCD on the back of the camera. Live View lets you see the changes in real time. That’s what “Live” View means. Considering the current market trend, it may be difficult in the near future to find a camera that does NOT have Live View. ( Canon Rebel XSi, Canon 50D, Nikon D90, Olympus E-420, Olympus E-520,Pentax K20D, Sony DSLR-A300, Sony DSLR-A350)

Dust Control Sensors

Dust control digital SLR cameras prevent dust from attaching to your camera’s sensor and ruining your photos. Without a dust control system, dust can contaminate the digital sensor of your SLR camera and will be evident as little black spots in every photo you take. Dust control are common today.

Extended Dynamic Range

Extended dynamic range imaging (EDRI) is a proprietary image acquisition technique that enables quality analysis of comet images generated in the single cell gel electrophoresis assay. The EDRI technique overcomes serious limitations with respect to the range of light intensities that conventional digital image acquisition systems support. EDRI provides high dynamic range images that yield much more stable and reliable analytic results than conventional image acquisition systems can provide. Digital SLR cameras that feature “extended dynamic range” attempt to compensate for this either by limiting the brightness of highlights or by increasing the brightness of shadows to create a more balanced image.
 
D-movie

Nikon D90 is the world’s first D-SLR with Movie function. The D90 offers a movie function, allowing you to shoot HD720p (1,280 x 720 pixels), 640 x 424 pixels or 320 x 216 pixels movies at the professional smoothness of 24 frames per second in motion JPEG format. The D90’s sensor, which is much larger than the sensor of a typical camcorder, ensures higher image quality and exceptional low-noise, high ISO sensitivity performance, even during movie shooting. Capturing creative movie clips or the drama of life’s moving moments is further enhanced by the wide selection of incredibly sharp NIKKOR interchangeable lenses that are available, from fisheye to wide-angle to super-telephoto. And Micro NIKKOR lenses bring the magic of extreme close-up imagery to movie making.

2008 is a great year. The past two years has been an awesome years for digital SLR cameras. This year, many new great digital SLR cameras appeared in the market with new innovation in technology. The new gadgets are including: Sony Alpha DSLR-A200 (February 29), Pentax K20D (March), Nikon D60 (March 29), Pentax K200D（April 1），Canon Rebel XSi (450D)（April 15），Sony Alpha DSLR-A350（April 25）, Olympus E-420(May 20), Sony Alpha DSLR-A300（May 25），Olympus E-520(August 10), Nikon D90(September 8), Canon 50D(October 10). This post is concerned about all the new digital SLR cameras in 2008 and if you want to find a new camera of this year, this post will help. Of course, as the new cameras are announced and I will add the information in time. Here I will introduce the cameras according the release date。

Sony Alpha DSLR-A200

The Sony α (alpha) DSLR-A200 camera is perfectly positioned to carry a new generation of photographers into the creative world of DSLR performance.

Megapixels: 10.2
Autofocus Points: 9
Continuous Speed: 3 photos per second
LCD Size: 2.7 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 3200
Crop Factor: 1.5x
Lenses: Sony and Konica Minolta A-Mount
Memory Media: Compact Flash / Memory Stick

Pentax K20D

The PENTAX K20D digital SLR offers advanced photo enthusiasts an array of exciting PENTAX innovations. It is also the only Pentax digital SLR camera with a live view LCD, and it features an extended ISO range that goes all the way up to 6400.

Megapixels: 14.6
Autofocus Points: 11
Continuous Speed: 3 photos per second
LCD Size: 2.7 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 6400
Crop Factor: 1.5x
Lenses: All Pentax
Memory Media: SD / SDHC

Nikon D60

Nikon D60 is Nikon’s smallest Digital SLR ever. It’s Nikon’s 16th digital SLR and is placed between the D40x and the D80 in terms of specification, price and audience.

Megapixels: 10.2
Autofocus Points: 3
Continuous Speed: 3 photos per second
LCD Size: 2.5 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 3200
Crop Factor: 1.5x
Lenses: Only Nikon AF-S and AF-I
Memory Media: SD / SDHC

Pentax K200D

The latest entry level model from Pentax is the K200D, replacing last years K100D Super. What sets the K200D apart from other cameras in its price range is that the camera body is sealed against weather and dust - assuring that you can continue taking photos even when the weather turns foul.

Megapixels: 10.2
Autofocus Points: 11
Continuous Speed: 3 photos per second
LCD Size: 2.7 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 1600
Crop Factor: 1.5x
Lenses: All Pentax
Memory Media: SD / SDHC
Canon Rebel XSi (450D)

“For stunning photography with point-and-shoot ease, look no further than Canon’s EOS Rebel XSi. The EOS Rebel XSi brings staggering technological innovation to the masses. It features Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, Live View Function, a powerful DIGIC III Image Processor…”

Megapixels: 12.2
Autofocus Points: 9
Continuous Speed: 3.5 photos per second
LCD Size: 3 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 1600
Crop Factor: 1.6x
Lenses: All Canon EF and EF-S
Memory Media: SD / SDHC

Sony Alpha DSLR-A350

The Alpha DSLR-A300 and Alpha DSLR-A350 are Sony’s fourth and fifth DSLRs. If you want to graduate from using a digital camera to using an SLR, the DSLR-A350 is just what you need! This Alpha range camera from Sony includes all the features of the A300, and has a 14-megapixel sensor and the LiveView function. It’s easy to set up your photos on this camera, because just like a digital camera, it has a 2.7-inch screen for you to monitor your shot before taking it. Because it’s compatible with Sony and Konica Minolta lenses, the DSLR-A350 is as versatile as it is reliable, guaranteeing outstanding quality for all your shots in all kinds of conditions.

Megapixels: 14.2
Autofocus Points: 9
Continuous Speed: 2.5 photos per second
LCD Size: 2.7 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 3200
Crop Factor: 1.5x
Lenses: Sony and Konica Minolta A-mount
Memory Media: Compact Flash / Memory Stick

Olympus E-420

Olympus E-420 is the smallest and lightest digital SLR camera in the market. The Olympus E420 is perfect for everyone who wants to step up to the power and performance of a digital SLR (single lens reflex), yet enjoy the ease of use and ability to compose images on the LCD common to point-and-shoot cameras.

Megapixels: 10
Autofocus Points: 3
Continuous Speed: 3.5 photos per second
LCD Size: 2.7 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 1600
Crop Factor: 2x
Lenses: Olympus 4/3
Memory Media: Compact Flash

Sony Alpha DSLR-A300

The 10.2-megapixel Sony Alpha DSLR-A300 offers Sony’s new Quick AF Live View technology for using the camera’s 230,000-pixel, 2.7-inch tilting LCDs as a viewfinder. Quick AF Live View uses Sony’s Pentamirror Tilt system to direct light to a dedicated live-view sensor instead of flipping the optical viewfinder mirror up and using the main sensor as many live-view systems do.

Megapixels: 10.2
Autofocus Points: 9
Continuous Speed: 3 photos per second
LCD Size: 2.7 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 3200
Crop Factor: 1.5x
Lenses: Sony and Konica Minolta A-mount
Memory Media: Compact Flash / Memory Stick
Olympus E-520

The E-520 adds an appealing range of features to the existing Olympus line-up of dSLRs, but mostly for the first-time buyer. Apart from image stabilisation built into the body and the ability to use older lenses on the Four Thirds system, there is not much that really sets the E-520 apart from other cameras in its class.

Megapixels: 10
Autofocus Points: 3
Continuous Speed: 3.5 photos per second
LCD Size: 2.7 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 1600
Crop Factor: 2x
Lenses: Olympus 4/3
Memory Media: Compact Flash

Nikon D90

The Nikon D90 is a feature-packed mid-range DSLR which inherits a number of aspects from the semi-pro D300, while adding some unique capabilities to deliver a highly compelling proposition. As the long-awaited successor to the popular D80, it brings that model bang up-to-date with the latest features and gadgetry. It features movie recording capability.

Megapixels: 12.3
Autofocus Points: 11
Continuous Speed: 4.5 photos per second
LCD Size: 3 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 3200
Crop Factor: 1.6x
Lenses: All Nikon F-mount
Memory Media: SD Memory

Canon 50D

The perfect combination of speed and quality, the EOS 50D’s 15.1 MP CMOS sensor and DIGIC 4 processor deliver superb high-ISO performance, shooting flexibility and image quality without compromise.

Megapixels: 15.1
Autofocus Points: 9
Continuous Speed: 6.3 photos per second
LCD Size: 3 inch
ISO Range: 100 to 12800
Crop Factor: 1.6x
Lenses: All Canon EF and EF-S
Memory Media: SD Memory