DSLR

Ogling the innards of new Canon SLRs

Cameras have always been marvels of miniaturization, but with the switch to digital technology, engineers have had to squeeze electronics and computers into camera bodies already filled with mechanical and optical components.

Most folks only see the outsides of cameras, but the insides can be works of engineering art, too. Canon's latest SLRs, the $8,000 EOS-1Ds Mark III and $1,300 EOS 40D, are a good case in point.

Here are some of the views I found most interesting.… Read more

Sony announces 12.7-megapixel SLR sensor

Sony announced a 12.7-megapixel sensor Monday for SLR cameras, the IMX021 built with a CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) manufacturing process.

The company will sell the sensor to others as well as "promoting its use within Sony," so don't be surprised to see some 12.7-megapixel SLRs coming soon. Sony has promised an advanced amateur SLR this year and a professional model next year, and there are indications that Sony's advanced amateur model will arrive soon.

The sensor can produce up to 10.4 frames per second, a high rate indeed, assuming that camera makers … Read more

Canon barrage

Whether you're in the market for a professional high-resolution heavyweight or a feather light ultracompact, Canon's got you covered with one of the 8 new models on its Fall lineup.

Canon announces the EOS 40D. Really. This isn't a rumor. Canon's EOS-1Ds Mark III reaches 21 megapixels Canon PowerShot G9 hits 12 Canon's budget megazoom, the PowerShot SX100 Canon updates high-end Elphs Canon's new dSLRs get some new accessories

Canon announces the EOS 40D. Really. This isn't a rumor.

Although rumors began to circulate about this model as much as a year ago--for example, here's a Crunchgear post from September, 2006--the Canon EOS 40D will finally hit stores within the next two weeks. Unsurprisingly, the much-speculated upon replacement for the EOS 30D introduces some long-requested features, integrates some of the new technology from the EOS 1-D Mark III and delivers the usual bump in resolution and performance. The pricing remains similar to that of the 30D, with a body-only version for $1,299 and a kit including the EF f/3.5-5.6 28-135mm IS USM lens … Read more

Canon's EOS-1Ds Mark III reaches 21 megapixels

Though most of its thunder has already been stolen by the Canon EOS-1D Mark III, studio photographers have been awaiting the announcement of its high-res, full-frame sibling, the EOS-1Ds Mark III. Coming in November for about the same price as the 1Ds Mark II--$7,999--the replacement model is faster and higher resolution than the old, with the body and technology enhancements of the Mark III generation.

1Ds Mark II 1Ds Mark III 1D Mark III Resolution 16.7 megapixels 21.1 megapixels 10.1 megapixels Continuous shooting 4fps32 JPEG/11 raw 5fps56 JPEG/12 raw 10fps110 JPEG/30 … Read more

IDC to raise digital camera sales forecast

Shipments of digital cameras jumped 22 percent in the second quarter compared with the year earlier, and growth for coming months likely will outpace earlier expectations, analyst firm IDC said Thursday.

"IDC expects to raise its forecast for the CY2007 year due to this continued, stronger-than-expected growth," analyst Christopher Chute said in a statement.

Consumers are replacing earlier cameras with new models that stabilize images to counteract camera shake, but more importantly, they're also responding to lower prices, he said.

Canon remained the No. 1 seller, with 26 percent of shipments in the second quarter. Sony was … Read more

Canon updates 1D Mark III firmware

As promised, Canon has released new firmware for its high-end EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR.

Earlier this month, the company said it planned to release version 1.0.9 of the built-in camera software for the photojournalist-oriented camera. Instead, Canon released version 1.1.0 for download, fixing a fifth problem with 1.0.9.

Version 1.0.9 of the firmware "reduces the tendency of the camera to autofocus on high-contrast backgrounds when shooting in conditions where autofocus detection is difficult, such as when the main subject is not completely covered by the autofocus frames or if the … Read more

Canon says new firmware improves 1D Mark III autofocus

Canon will release new firmware for its high-end EOS-1D Mark III digital SLR by the end of the month, including a fix to an autofocus problem, but a prominent camera tester said the update didn't fix the problems he's been having.

The new firmware improves images viewed on the 3-inch LCD by applying a stronger sharpness setting; corrects a "rare" problem in which a selection dial wouldn't respond; fixes Italian and Chinese menu errors; and most prominently, "improves the consistency" of autofocus in some conditions.

Specifically, version 1.0.9 of the firmware &… Read more

Ricoh eyes high-end compact camera niche

Camera makers can be pretty cagey about their future plans--maybe they don't want to undermine sales of products with such a fleeting shelf life--so it can be frustrating to try to find out who's interested in meeting the demand for high-end compact cameras that cater to the SLR (single-lens reflex) crowd.

One company that's trying its best to fill that niche is Ricoh, a Japanese manufacturer in the shadow of giants such as Canon and Nikon. But Ricoh has been trying to lure high-end compact camera buyers with its GX100, a 10-megapixel compact camera that features a … Read more

Sigma SD14 v1.04 Firmware Upgrade Available

Sigma has released a new firmware update to its recently released 14 MP SD14 DSLR with the unique Foveon X3 sensor. This firmware update, v1.04, corrects several issues with the camera's operation. The improvements to previous firmware versions are included in this most recent update as well.

We generally recommend installing the latest firmware updates for your camera, to get the most out of your gear. For more information on firmware updates for a specific camera, visit the manufacturer's Web site. Before installing any firmware upgrade, always take the time to read through all of the documentation, … Read more