Digital Camera News and Reviews

Canon PowerShot A480

Canon has announced the new Canon PowerShot A480 digital compact camera. This camera is the successor to the previous Canon PowerShot A470. The new PowerShot A480 is 25% smaller than its predecessor and a new simpler button system.

Some key features for the Canon PowerShot A480:
-10 megapixel sensor
-3.3x optical zoom
-2.5″ LCD screen
-Face detection
-Motion detection

Press release:
Fun, pocket-sized and totally intuitive:
the new PowerShot A480

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 15 January 2009: Canon today replaces its popular PowerShot A470 with a new 10.0 Megapixel model: the extra-compact, affordable PowerShot A480. Redesigned for even more intuitive operation, the PowerShot A480 offers a new build and design that is 25% smaller than that of its predecessor – in a choice of silver, red, blue or black. Flexible framing of shots is made easy by a 3.3x Canon optical zoom, while Canon’s DIGIC III processor delivers high image quality, superb colour reproduction, Face Detection Technology and Motion Detection Technology.

Designed to be easy
Every aspect of the PowerShot A480 has been redesigned with one thing in mind: ease of use. Thanks to a new, simplified button layout – with dedicated buttons for zoom, mode and playback and an improved User Interface, it’s as easy to operate as it is to carry. Compact proportions make the PowerShot A480 an ideal ‘take-anywhere’ camera, perfect for capturing spontaneous snapshots.

Generous Megapixels and flexible zoom
The PowerShot A480 uses a 10.0 Megapixel sensor to capture every scene in vivid detail, ready for printing at sizes as large as A3+. This is complemented by a 3.3x optical zoom, which provides the flexibility to frame everyday shots to perfection.

Canon know-how for great shots made easy
At the heart of the PowerShot A480 is Canon’s DIGIC III image processor. As well as ensuring exceptional image quality – with ultra-low noise levels and outstanding colour reproduction – DIGIC III drives the rapid response times, and Canon’s own Face Detection Technology. Designed to make great people shots easier than ever, Face Detection Technology detects up to nine faces in a scene and adjusts focus, exposure, flash settings and white balance – for optimal results with natural-looking skin tones.

To keep shots looking sharp, Motion Detection Technology uses changes in scene information to identify subject motion and camera-shake. ISO is then optimised for minimum blur and maximum image quality.

Ready for any occasion
A range of 15 preset shooting modes allows any user to instantly get the correct settings for common scenes. Options include dedicated Kids & Pets, Sunset, and Indoor modes. It’s also equally easy to shoot spontaneous 30fps video clips, ready for upload to the internet or sharing via the bright 2.5” LCD screen. Plus, because the PowerShot A480 is powered by AA batteries, users can enjoy a convenient, readily available source of power.

“Whether you’re 7 years old or 70, the PowerShot A480 offers a great-value way to discover the fun of taking pictures,” said Mogens Jensen, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging, Europe. “This camera brings Canon’s unrivalled image quality to its widest audience yet.”

Features at a glance:

* Compact, lightweight 10.0 Megapixel camera in four colour variations (silver, red, blue or black)*
* Canon 3.3x optical zoom
* Easy to use, with simple button layout and intuitive user interface
* 2.5” LCD with Image Inspection Tool for focus checking
* People shots made easy with Face Detection AF/AE/FE/WB and
* Red-Eye Correction in both shooting and playback
* DIGIC III processing delivers high-quality images and intelligent technologies
* Combats blur with Motion Detection Technology
* Smooth, 30fps VGA movies with Long Play mode
* 15 shooting modes
* Safety FE avoids blow-out when the flash is used
* Powered by AA batteries

*Some colours may not be available in some regions.

Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM

Sigma has announced the new Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM lens. This superzoom lens gives you 13.8 zoom and features optical design of 18 elements in 14 groups.
The Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM also features anti-shake technology for the camera body and the view finder.

The is designed for APS-C / DX sensors and will be available for Sigma, Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Sony mounts in March 2009.

Press release:
January 14, 2009: The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of new SIGMA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM on March 10th, 2009.

The SIGMA 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM incorporates Sigma’s original anti-shake compensation function, with a 13.8 times zoom ratio. As opposed to having an anti-shake function in the camera body, this lens’s Hybrid Optical Stabilizer provides not only an anti-shake function for the camera body, but also compensates for image shaking in the view finder as the Optical Stabilizer is built in to the lens.

Incorporating four Special Low Dispersion glass elements and three aspherical lens elements provides excellent image quality throughout the entire zoom range.

This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 45cm (17.7 inches) at all focal lengths and a maximum magnification of 1: 3.4 reproduction ratio, making it ideal for close-up photography. An inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making it suitable for use with circular polarizing filters and the supplied petal-type hood. Incorporating super multi layer coating reduce the ghost in the backlight photography.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

B&H Photo just got the full frame Canon EOS 5D Mark II digital camera back in stock. It is a limited batch of cameras so you might have to act quick before it is sold out again. The page at Canon EOS 5D Mark II might say that the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is back-ordered, but you can just click “add to cart” and ignore the back-ordered status.

Some key features for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II:
-21.1 Megapixel CMOS
-Full HD 1080 resolution movie recording
-3.9 frames per second continuous shooting
-ISO sensitivity 50-25,600
-UDMA card compatibility
-9 AF points + 6 Assist AF points

You can order the Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera here. B&H Photo also offer free shipping on this camera.

Leica M8

The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies has announced that their Good Design award of 2008 goes to the Leica M8 digital rangefinder camera. The criteria to win the award are several including innovation, form, materials, construction, concept, function and utility. Product appearance and aesthetic appeal is also considered.

Press release:
Leica M8 Chosen For Chicago Athenaeum’s 2008 Good Design Award

January 13, 2009 – The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies announced the LEICA M8 digital rangefinder camera as the recipient of the 2008 GOOD DESIGN award.

The Jury for GOOD DESIGN based their decisions on aesthetic criteria stated in the original 1950 Program-criteria which measures innovation, form, materials, construction, concept, function and utility. Product appearance and aesthetic appeal is also considered.

“We are incredibly pleased and honored to accept this award from this distinguished organization,” said CEO of Leica Camera AG, Dr. Andreas Kaufmann. “The M8, the world’s first professional digital rangefinder camera, has been celebrated since its release in 2006 and continues to impress and astonish photographers and designers alike. The digital successor of Leica’s famed M-series first introduced in 1954, the M8 seamlessly transfers Leica’s core qualities of craftsmanship, lens superiority and practical design into the digital world.”

This year the museum received hundreds of submissions from over 48 nations. The jury met in New York and Los Angeles in November and selected over 500 products and graphics worthy of the GOOD DESIGN Award for design distinction. The 2008 GOOD DESIGN show will premiere at the Chicago Athenaeum in June 2009.

ABOUT THE GOOD DESIGN AWARDS
The Chicago Athenaeum’s historic GOOD DESIGN program was founded in Chicago in 1950 by Edgar J. Kaufmann, Jr. with the participation of some of America’s most important designers: Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, George Nelson, Florence Knoll, Harry Bretoia, Finn Juhl and Russel Wright – the pioneering greats of American and modern design. GOOD DESIGN remains the oldest and most important awards program worldwide.

ABOUT LEICA CAMERA, AG
Leica represents a union of craftsmanship, technology and experience. It is at once an extension of art, knowledge and philosophy, providing a state-of-the-art optical experience in a precision, hand-made photographic instrument. Leica Camera has a simple mission: to provide users with an incomparable experience, an instrument that defines an unsurpassed heritage and sets a standard of excellence for the industry to meet.