November 9th, 2009

Black Friday digital camera and camcorder deal reports are rolling in

Posted by Rachel King @ 3:37 am

Categories: Deals, Digital Camcorders, Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, Digital SLR

Tags: Camcorder, Camera, Huliq News, Rachel King

For those of you who want to get prepared for your holiday shopping, and especially the best Black Friday deals, some sales are already being announced.

Read the rest of this entry »

November 6th, 2009

Canon releases EOS 7D firmware update

Posted by Rachel King @ 2:53 am

Categories: Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, Digital SLR

Tags: Firmware Update, Firmware, Canon Inc., Rachel King

After it was discovered that the Canon EOS 7D has a ghosting glitch, the company has released a firmware update to correct the problem. EOS 7D owners can download the 7D Firmware Update Version 1.1.0 at Canon’s USA website. The update promises the following fix:

Corrects a phenomenon that in images captured by continuous shooting, and under certain conditions, barely noticeable traces of the immediately preceding frame may be visible.

Or at least hopefully it will correct the problem. Recently I posted that Canon posted a firmware update for the Digital Rebel XS/1000D to alleviate the “Error 99″ problem. I’ve tried multiple times to fix the problem by installing the prescribed firmware update, and while each time the camera tells me it’s worked, I’ll push the shutter button and the same error pops up. So firmware updates don’t always work for every camera. Hopefully the 7D one will fare better.

Will any of you be downloading the 7D firmware update? If so, please let us know if it worked for you.

November 5th, 2009

Olympus announces new E-P2 compact interchangeable lens camera

Posted by Janice Chen @ 12:56 pm

Categories: Announcements, Digital Photography, Digital SLR

Tags: Olympus Corp., Camera, Janice Chen

Just five months after Olympus announced its first Micro Four-Thirds compact interchangeable lens camera, comes today’s announcement of an updated version, the Olympus Pen E-P2 Micro Four Thirds camera. It’s not a huge step up from the E-P1, but it does add some useful features, including a new accessory port that accepts the bundled Electronic View Finder (EVF) (and optional external microphone adapter), full manual shutter and aperture control when shooting video, and continuous autofocus tracking.

Other new features include two additional art filters: Diorama, which simulates a tilt-shift lens’ miniature faking abilities, and Cross Process, which simulates the bright colors and contrast of cross processing film with the wrong chemicals. The two new filters (as well as the original Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Color, Light Tone, Grainy Film and Pin Hole filters included in the E-P1) can be applied to both still images and HD videos.

Read the rest of this entry »

November 1st, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Digital SLR cameras

Posted by Janice Chen @ 9:32 pm

Categories: Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, Digital SLR, Holiday Gift Guide

Tags: Nikon Corp., DSLR, SLR, Video, LCD, Camera, Canon Inc., Corporate Communications, Marketing, Janice Chen

It’s been a great year for digital SLR shooters: There have been no fewer than 17 new dSLRs released this year, with HD video shooting coming to the low-end and long-awaited updates to stalwarts like the much-loved Nikon D40. Prices have come down and features have continued to ratchet up, so if you’re shopping for a dSLR as a holiday treat (for yourself or a loved one), your dollar will go further than you think. To help you narrow down the options, here’s a list of my five favorite dSLRs of the season:

Canon EOS Rebel T1i
If you’re looking for an entry-level camera with all the bells and whistles, and are willing to spend a little more than rock bottom, the Canon EOS Rebel T1i should definitely be on your short list. As we’ve come to expect from Canon dSLRs, image quality is top notch, but it’s the video recording capability that really sets this dSLR apart: The T1i serves up 720p (1280×720) HD video capture at 30fps and 1080p (1920×1080) at 20fps. You’d have to spend almost twice the T1i’s $899 price to get much better from a dSLR. Other highlights include the fantastic 3-inch, 920,000-dot LCD and an extended ISO sensitivity range up ISO 12800.

[Read the review] [Check prices]

Go to the next page »

October 28th, 2009

Canon 7D glitch produces ghosted images

Posted by Janice Chen @ 6:00 am

Categories: Digital Cameras, Digital SLR

Tags: Image, Canon Inc., Canon 7D Glitch, Janice Chen

Canon has issued a service notice for the recently released EOS 7D digital SLR, acknowledging a ghosting problem that occurs in images captured during continuous shooting (which the 7D does up to 8 fps).  Apparently, under certain conditions, traces of one photo can be seen in the next frame.  According to the notice, “This phenomenon is not noticeable in an image with optimal exposure. The phenomenon may become more noticeable if a retouching process such as level compensation is applied to emphasize the image.”

The company is confident that a change in software will eliminate the problem and plans to issue a firmware update to address the issue.

Read the full service release here.

October 21st, 2009

Canon EOS 5D Mark II firmware update to add broadcast and cinema frame rates

Posted by Janice Chen @ 9:03 pm

Categories: Digital Photography, Digital SLR

Tags:

Though not as big as yesterday’s release of its new EOS-1D Mark IV, Canon also slipped in an announcement that will make fans of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II’s video capabilities happy. A press release from Canon Europe announced that the company is developing a firmware update to enable the 5D Mark II to record high definition 1080p video at 24 and 25 fps, providing a choice of video recording frame rates like the new EOS-1D Mark IV and EOS 7D offer.

When the 5D Mark II was first released last year, its full 1920×1080 video capture at 30 fps bested competitors like the Nikon D700 and Sony Alpha DSLR-A900. Then, in May of this year, Canon released a firmware update that added manual exposure control for video to the camera.  Now, with a firmware update due in the first half of 2010, the 5D Mark II will be able to record 1920×1080 video at 24 fps and 25 fps as well, making it compatible with the NTSC and PAL broadcast television standards in the U.S. and Europe, respectively and allowing budding filmmakers to create the cinematic look of film using the lower 24 fps frame rate.

October 20th, 2009

Canon introduces EOS-1D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera

Posted by Rachel King @ 2:10 am

Categories: Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, Digital SLR

Tags: Video, Canon Inc., Mark IV, Corporate Communications, Marketing, Rachel King

Canon has just announced its newest EOS-1D series model: the Mark IV Digital SLR Camera. The two prime highlights of this 16.1-megapixel CMOS sensor camera are improved its AF system and full HD video capability. Read the rest of this entry »

October 13th, 2009

Canon releases Rebel XS firmware update

Posted by Rachel King @ 5:24 am

Categories: Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, Digital SLR

Tags: Monitor, LCD Monitor, Firmware Update, Firmware, LCD, Canon Inc., Monitors & Displays, Hardware, Components, Rachel King

Canon has released a firmware update for the digital Rebel XS/1000D SLR. The update is meant to fix unintended language change, LCD and shutter operation freeze.

Here are the symptoms, according to Canon’s site:

1. Some cameras may exhibit a phenomenon in which the LCD monitor does not display, the shutter does not release, and the busy indication remains lit in the viewfinder.
2. The message, “Err 99 Shooting is not possible. Turn the power switch to <OFF> and <ON> again or re-install the battery”, appears on the camera’s LCD monitor, and after the above operation is carried out, the LCD monitor displays in a language that is different from the actual language setting.

I own the 1000D, and I’ve definitely had the Err 99 problem for some time. Here’s to hoping it gets fixed finally.

October 12th, 2009

DSLR remote iPhone app adds Nikon D300s support, fixes compatiblity issues

Posted by Janice Chen @ 1:21 pm

Categories: Digital SLR, Software

Tags: Nikon Corp., Apple iPhone, DSLR, Canon Inc., OnOne Software, Apple Mac OS X, Apple Mac OS, Smart Phones, Operating Systems, Software

OnOne Software has just released an update for its excellent DSLR Camera Remote app that we’ve written about before. The updated version 1.2 of server software for the app — which lets you use your iPhone or iPod Touch as a wireless cable release for DSLRs — adds support for the Nikon D300s and fixes a number of issues including (according to onOne blogger and VP of marketing, Mike Wong):

• Fixed an issue with the Canon Rebel T1i preventing its use on Windows
• Fixed an issue with Nikon D300 when used in LiveView and Burst mode at the same time
• Improved permissions detection and warning on Mac OS X
• Fixed an error on Mac OS X when an old version of Nikon Camera Control is installed
• Fixed an error when attempting to autofocus in LiveView when the camera is set to manual focus

Unfortunately there’s still no support for the new Canon 7D, because Canon hasn’t yet released a 7D SDK to developers.

Because all the changes have been made to the server side software (which you download and run on your computer), there’s no need to update your iPhone app — and no iTunes App Store approval process to wait on.

September 30th, 2009

ZDNet readers want digital SLR cameras most on vacation

Posted by Rachel King @ 9:01 am

Categories: Digital Camcorders, Digital Cameras, Digital Photography, Digital SLR

Tags: SLR, Camera, Rachel King

It was a bit of a tight race between pocket cameras and digital SLR cameras, but more ZDNet readers (48%) voted that they need their DSLRs when traveling. 296 readers voted in the poll, but it should be noted that more than one option could have been selected. Camcorders proved less necessary with 3% each for both mini and standard HD camcorders. Write-in votes came in for mainly accessories like extra batteries, tripods and waterproof camera bags. For special trips where I want top-quality photos, I am always willing to carry around my DSLR. But I have to agree with reader ryoung that its good to carry a point-and-shoot camera around for crowded areas, especially when it is not safe it have such an obviously expensive gadget in plain view. But I also like the pocket cameras with video capability in case I ever want to record something in a pinch, without carrying multiple devices around.

Do you agree with the results?