Digital Camera News and Reviews

Olympus E-30

Olympus has announced a new midrange DSLR camera, the E-30. The Olympus E-30 will be placed in between the professional E-3 and the more consumer oriented DSLR cameras E-520 and E-420.

Some key features for the Olympus E-30 camera:
-12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor
-Articulating 2.7″ LCD screen
-Live View
-11 focus points
-ISO sensitivity 100-3200

This seems like a very interesting camera for Four Thirds users that are interested in a more “serious” camera but are not ready to invest as much money as the E-3 costs. The Olympus E-30 will be released in January 2009 at about $1,299. Olympus will also release a new version of their Zuiko 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 lens that supports contrast AF performance (I’m guessing the AF will work on micro Four Thirds cameras too).

Press Release:
The Olympus E-30: your own portable creative studio

Taking artistic creativity to new levels

London, 5 November 2008 – A creative photographer’s most important tool is the power of expression – and the Olympus E-30 delivers it in spades. For the ultimate in artistic expression, the E-30 offers six Art Filters, each of which uses different settings to create incredible photographic effects that would otherwise require additional lenses, filters or complex editing.

A Multiple Exposure mode further bolsters the potential for distinctive artistry in compositions, as do the choice of nine separate aspect ratios. With the newly-developed high-speed 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor and TruePic III+ image processor*, top quality image results are ensured. Ensuring an enjoyable photo experience, the monitor facilitates Live View framing ease from virtually any angle. Furthermore, thanks to built-in image stabilisation*, shots stay impressively sharp irrespective of the attached lens.

And because sometimes the perfect shot can present itself in the blink of an eye, the E-30 boasts a range of high-speed performance features to make sure that you’ll always be ready for it: lightning-fast autofocus speeds, 5fps sequential shooting and shutter speeds of up to 1/8000th sec. The E-30 will be available from mid-January 2009

Express yourself
Six innovative Art Filters enables special artistic effects to be created directly in the camera and put you in control of your composition: styles like Pop Art, Soft Focus, Pale & Light Colour, Light Tone, Grainy Film and Pin Hole let you capture your world the way you want to portray it.

These effects would normally require special lenses, filters, or image processing programs, but with the E-30, it all happens inside the camera. You can even preview the effect of a particular filter on the 2.7”/6.9cm HyperCrystal* II LCD before shooting.

What’s more, in Multiple Exposure* mode, several images can be superimposed on a previously-captured image to take photographic creativity to a whole new level. The E-30 also offers nine different aspect ratios for nine different takes on any scene. In addition, Live View with improved high-speed contrast autofocus depictions allows for easy framing of shots on the free-angle LCD.

Quality results
A range of great technologies helps ensure that the E-30 provides picture-perfect images every time. The newly developed 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor provides amazing image quality at low power requirements. Combine this with the new TruePic III+ ultra high-speed image processor, and results must be seen to be believed.

Built-in mechanical image stabilisation rounds up the package, significantly reducing image blur caused by such factors as low light or camera shake. And to ensure that the E-30’s powerful sensor remains dust-free, the patented Olympus Supersonic Wave Filter is integrated.

A need for speed
Ever waited and waited for that perfect shot, and then missed it because your camera couldn’t keep up with the action? You don’t have to worry anymore because the E-30 is always prepared. High-speed shooting of up to 5fps in full 12.3 Megapixel mode and shutter speeds of up to 1/8000th sec. will help you capture even the fastest action shots. In addition, the E-30 incorporates a fully-biaxial 11-point AF system for incredible autofocusing speeds in any lighting conditions.

Additional features and accessories
For photographers looking for integrated features to improve their shooting experience, the E-30 has a lot to offer. Shadow Adjustment Technology helps lighten shadows in shots, while Face Detection Technology recognises and focuses on the faces of subjects in a composition. An integrated Level Gauge also appears on the LCD, in the viewfinder, and on the Control Panel on the back of the camera.

This functions like a level used in construction to ensure that your pictures will never be askew. And when it comes to accessories, the E-30 also covers the whole range. As part of the Olympus E-System and based on the Four Thirds Standard, many lenses and other accessories are available to ensure the E-30 takes creativity to a higher level.

From fish-eye, macro and ultra-wide-angle lenses through to ultra-zoom models, the ZUIKO DIGITAL range of lenses leaves nothing to be desired. New in the line-up is the ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-54mm 1:2.8-3.5 II lens, which also enables full contrast AF performance with the E-30.

The Olympus E-30 gives photographers a portable creative studio and provides everything required to live out and express creativity while enjoying pro-level image results, control and performance. It will go on sale from mid-January 2009.

Technologies Explained

Art Filters
Enables special artistic effects to be created directly in the camera. The following Art Filters are available in the Olympus E-30:

* Pop Art: Enhances colours, making them stronger and more vivid to create high-impact pictures that express the happy, light-hearted feeling of the pop art style.
* Soft Focus: Creates a soft tone which gives pictures an ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. It renders pictures as though they were veiled in heavenly light, without obscuring details such as the hair or flower petals.
* Pale & Light Colour: The foreground is enclosed in flat, gentle light – similar to a flashback scene in a film – creating a sense of déjà vu.
* Light Tone: Creates a picture with a gentle feel to it, similar to one taken under artificial lighting. Both the shade and highlight areas are rendered very softly to provide a sophisticated atmosphere.
* Grainy Film: This effect recreates the feeling of reality evoked by grainy, high-contrast monochrome pictures. The strong presence and dramatic atmosphere make the subject stand out impressively.
* Pin Hole: Reduces the peripheral brightness like an image seen through a pinhole. Added to this is a unique colour tone that results in a style that has an air of secrecy or portrays the feeling of being lost in another dimension or space.

Built-in image stabiliser
A type of image stabiliser that is built directly into the camera. This enables the photo-enhancing effects of image stabilisation to be enjoyed irrespective of the attached lens. In Olympus E-System cameras with built-in image stabilisation, a gyro sensor detects the precise direction of the shake. Using the on-board SWD, the shake is then compensated for by shifting the image sensor according to the movement data. For quick response at long focal lengths, cameras are equipped with two dedicated microprocessors: one to control the two supersonic motors that shift the unit vertically and horizontally, and one to provide high-precision control.

Face Detection Technology
A technology that searches for faces in a composition and recognises them as the main subject. It then automatically puts them in focus and optimally adjusts exposure to create an image that’s sharp in the right places and ideally exposed.

High Speed Live MOS Sensor
A high-performance image sensor that enables Live View capabilities and fast sequential shooting for D-SLR cameras. It combines the advanced specifications of a Full Frame Transfer (FFT) CCD with the low power requirement of a CMOS. Photodiodes are deeply embedded in the sensor to suppress image noise. The faithful reproduction of subject details with rich tones and natural, vibrant colours characterise this type of sensor.

HyperCrystal
A high-grade, fully-transmissive technology used in LCDs, which employs an additional layer at the bottom of the LCD to reflect light from external light sources. This enhances the brightness of the LCD, so even in direct sunlight images are displayed sharply and with improved contrast compared to that of conventional displays. Also, it provides for particularly wide viewing angles without glare or shadow, so images can be framed from a variety of angles and viewed by several people at once

Level Gauge
The Level Gauge functions like a level used in construction – it helps ensure that pictures are straight and even. The built-in dual axis sensor detects the levels in roll and pitch. The level gauge is displayed in the viewfinder, on the Control Panel and on the rear LCD.

Live View
Provides an alternative to framing shots through the viewfinder on a digital SLR camera. The image sent through the lens to the image sensor is displayed directly on the camera’s LCD. Whereas most compact digital cameras have been equipped with Live View functionality for many years, this feature has only recently become available on D-SLRs. The world’s first D-SLR to feature continuous Live View capabilities was the Olympus E-330.

Multi Aspect
The E-30 lets photographers choose from nine different aspect ratios that enable individualised framing of scenes. These provide a new means of adding expression to shots and the selected ratio can be seen directly on the camera’s LCD. The available aspect ratios include: 16:9, 3:2, 7:5, 4:3, 5:4, 6:5, 7:6, 7:5 and 6:6.

Multi Exposure
Multiple exposures are possible with the E-30 in both Live View and viewfinder shooting. In Live View shooting, previously shot RAW data is used as the base image and the final photo can be monitored by overlapping the image to be added on the LCD. Up to four images can be superimposed in a single multiple exposure sequence.

RC Wireless Flash Control
The user can control wireless flash units remotely – eliminating the need for extra cables – by using the built-in flash as the system’s master unit. Control options include the ability to independently regulate flash mode and compensation settings for up to three groups of flashes, four channel settings to avoid interference as well as a wide range of brightness levels.

Shadow Adjustment Technology
A technology designed to improve exposure for pictures with dark areas. Using a sensor that works much like the human eye, dark parts of a composition (e.g. a shadow under a tree) are identified and the camera then adjusts the exposure settings accordingly for those areas. The result is a more realistic and detailed picture.

Supersonic Wave Filter
Dust entering digital SLRs, for example during lens changes, can cause damage to photos – unless it is removed. With the Supersonic Wave Filter, the potential for dust to ruin photos is eliminated. A transparent filter is located between the camera’s shutter and sensor. It makes sure no dust is able to land on the sensor. Instead, the particles settle on the filter and are then shaken off by a series of ultrasonic vibrations generated by the filter when activated. Olympus was the first manufacturer to incorporate dust protection in D-SLRs.

TruePic III+ image processor
Olympus’ latest-generation image processing engine. It automatically enhances important aspects of image quality including: colour reproduction (colour range, saturation and brightness), picture sharpness (reduced image noise, improved edge reproduction), as well as providing faster processing speeds. Furthermore, it supports Art Filters to enable unprecedented creative expression.

Canon EOS 50D

The well known website dpreview.com has reviewed the latest DSLR camera from Canon, the Canon EOS 50D. There has been quite a fuzz about this camera since the sensor contains a staggering 15 megapixels.

Some key features for the Canon EOS 50D camera:
-15,1 megapixel sensor
-3″ LCD screen with 920,000 dots
-ISO sensitivity 100-3200
-Magnesium body

Dpreview.com ends up giving the Canon EOS 50D a “Highly Recommended (just)” rating. This indicates that the 50D is a very good camera, but there has been some discussion about the “just” rating. Dpreview does not seem too happy about Canon cramming 15 megapixels into the sensor because this makes the pictures more noisy at higher ISO levels.
But this doesn’t make the 50D a bad camera. It is able to produce excellent images and is good over all so it should be good choice for the more serious amateur photographer.
Read the full review of the Canon EOS 50D here.

Sigma SD15 DSLR

Sigma has announced that they are releasing an improved version of their SD14 DSLR camera. The new Sigma SD15 DSLR features improved image processing and a larger 3″ LCD screen. It also has a 14 megapixel sensor that should please most people.
There is not much else new with the SD15 so Sigma fans might be a bit disappointed with this DSLR release?

Press release:
Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the new Sigma SD15, a 14 megapixel (2,652×1,768×3 layers) Digital SLR camera.

This camera is the latest model in Sigma’s digital SLR camera SD series, powered by the 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct-image-sensor it can capture all primary RGB colors at each and every pixel location arranged in three layers.

The developing SD15 incorporates the “TRUE II” new image processing engine. It provides high resolution power and reproduces high definition images rich in gradation and impressive three-dimensional detail. Incorporation of the large 3.0 inch LCD monitor and improved processing speed provide ease of operation of the camera.

Development of the SD15
Since October 2002, Sigma has introduced three digital SLR cameras, the SD9, SD10 and SD14 to the market. In March 2008 Sigma also introduced a high-end compact digital camera, the DP1 which uses the same large image sensor as is featured in Sigma’s digital SLR cameras. They have established a strong following from a wide range of photographers, both amateur and professional. Photographers expressed a desire to incorporate the image processing engine “TRUE”, which is used in the DP1, into a digital SLR camera. In order to meet this demand, the SD15, with high resolution direct image sensor, has been designed around the new “TRUE II” image processing engine. This combination delivers superior image quality as well as improved processing speed, operation and performance.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Canon today announced that they are releasing a follow up camera to their hugely successful FullFrame DSLR Canon EOS 5D. The new camera is called Canon EOS 5D Mark II and have some very impressive features. The Canon EOS 5D Mark II contains a 21 megapixel CMOS sensor, supports ISO 50-25,600 and full HD video recording. It will be interesting to see how this beat of a camera is able to compete with the new FullFrame cameras from Nikon (D700) and Sony (A900). I think it is very positive that we are seeing more competition in the “economic” segment of FullFrame cameras. Maybe the prices will drop considerably in the future..
The Canon EOS 5D Mark II will be cost $ 2,699 in the US for body only.

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

Press release:
Canon redefines the future of photography:
21.1 MP EOS 5D Mark II offers Full HD video capture

Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 17 September 2008: Canon announces the full frame, 21.1 Megapixel EOS 5D Mark II: the first EOS with full High Definition video capability.

Compact, lightweight with environmental protection, EOS 5D successor boasts a newly designed Canon CMOS sensor, with ISO sensitivity up to 25,600 for shooting in near dark conditions. The new DIGIC 4 processor combines with the improved CMOS sensor to deliver medium format territory image quality at 3.9 frames per second, for up to 310 frames.

Triggered from Live View Mode, HD video capture allows users to shoot uninterrupted at full 1080 resolution at 30fps – for amazing quality footage with outstanding levels of detail and realism.

The integration of HD movie capability into a high-end 21.1 Megapixel camera opens a multitude of new possibilities for photojournalists and news photographers. With its full frame CMOS sensor and outstanding ISO performance, the EOS 5D Mark II will appeal to any photographer in search of the finest camera equipment available – from studio and wedding to nature and travel photographers.
Other improvements to the EOS 5D include

* Addition of Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, with a new Fluorine coating on the low-pass filter
* Larger 3.0” Clear View LCD with VGA resolution, a 170° angle of view and anti-reflective coatings
* Improved menu system including Quick Control Screen for more direct access to common settings
* Automatic peripheral illumination correction, utilising detailed EF lens information to optimise JPEG images straight out of the camera
* Magnesium alloy construction with additional environmental protection
* UDMA memory card compatibility.

“Professional photojournalists and wedding photographers already choose the EOS 5D for its discrete size and outstanding image quality,” said Mogens Jensen, head of Canon Consumer Imaging. “The addition of HD movie recording opens a new chapter for EOS. It creates new possibilities for EOS photographers to capture and share their stories and to stay relevant in a rapidly changing digital landscape.”

Key Specifications:

* New 21.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor with improved EOS Integrated Cleaning System (E.I.C.S.)
* New Full HD 1080 resolution movie recording
* 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting
* High performance DIGIC 4 providing superb image quality
* Maximum 310 large JPEG images in a single burst with a UDMA card
* 3.0” VGA (920k dots) Clear View LCD
* ISO 100-6400 (expansion from 50 up to 25,600)
* 9 AF points + 6 Assist AF points

Additional information

New CMOS sensor
The EOS 5D Mark II’s newly designed full frame 21.1 Megapixel CMOS sensor features ISO sensitivity from 100-6400, expandable to 50, 12,800 and 25,600. Large 6.4µm2 pixels have been redesigned to capture more light and yield a better signal to noise ratio to ensure lower noise images throughout the ISO range. The full frame sensor has the same dimensions as a frame of 35mm film. This means that wide-angle lenses stay wide, without the change in angle of view associated with smaller sensor cameras. As well as benefiting from finer control over depth of field, photographers moving up to the EOS 5D Mark II’s full frame format will find the newly designed wide, bright 98% coverage viewfinder on a joy to work with.

New DIGIC 4 processor
A new DIGIC 4 processor combined with 14-bit analogue to digital conversion provides smooth gradations in mono-tonal areas such as skies, and highly accurate colour rendition. As well as HD movie shooting, DIGIC 4’s high speed provides for long uninterrupted continuous bursts of large JPEGs, near-instant start-up times and immediate and fast review after shooting. DIGIC 4 also provides for improved noise reduction algorithms, complementing the already low noise images from the EOS 5D Mark II’s CMOS sensor.

HD video capture
The EOS 5D Mark II is Canon’s first D-SLR to incorporate full HD 1920×1080 video capture. Once filming is started from Live View mode, photographers can fire off either single of continuous stills, with video capture continuing after the final frame is captured.

See everything
A new 3.0” VGA resolution LCD provides a wide 170º angle-of-view, providing plenty of clarity for accurate focus checks in playback. The screen brightness can automatically adjust to suit viewing conditions, extending battery life in low light and improving viewing in bright conditions. A new dedicated Live View button switches modes to display a real-time image on the LCD. This allows EOS 5D Mark II photographers to enjoy simplified shooting from awkward angles. Simple connection to a PC provides easy remote shooting.

Precision focus and metering
A 9-point auto focus system is supported by 6 additional invisible Assist AF points, located inside the spot-metering circle to optimise subject tracking performance in AI SERVO AF mode. For accurate exposure readings in tricky lighting conditions, the spot metering circle covers just 3.5% of the frame.

Control
The EOS 5D Mark II’s redesigned menu system includes a new Quick Control screen, for instant access to the most commonly changed settings. A new Creative Auto mode allows photographers to cede control of key settings to the camera, while retaining control over creative variables such background blur, drive mode and image brightness. Custom user settings allow photographers to switch between two completely different camera setups. This is ideal for changing quickly between two different environments, such as switching from working inside a church without flash to outdoors with fill-flash at a wedding.

Accessories
Shooting flexibility is enhanced with a range of new accessories. Shooting capacity can be extended with either the high capacity 1800mAh lithium-ion Battery Pack LP-E6, or Battery Grip BG-E6.

A new optional Wireless File Transmitter –
the WFT-E4 – offers external HDD and GPS compatibility along with ability to transmit images direct to computer or FTP server, or operate the camera wirelessly. Both the BG-E6 and WFT-E4 feature a vertical orientation shutter release and other key controls for comfortable portraiture work, with a substantial grip to help balance the camera when used with long lenses.

Technologies Explained:

CMOS
Canon’s CMOS technology is one of the company’s key competitive advantages, with noise reduction circuitry at each pixel site delivering virtually noise-free images. In comparison with CCD technology, the lower power consumption characteristics of Canon’s CMOS sensors also contribute to longer battery life.

Signal conversion in Canon’s CMOS sensors is handled by individual amplifiers at each pixel site. Unnecessary charge transfer operations are avoided, vastly speeding up the process of getting signal to the image processor. Noise generation is reduced, power consumption is limited and faster frame rate potential is increased.

DIGIC
Image data captured by the CMOS sensor is processed by Canon’s purpose-built DIGIC image processors before being written to the camera’s memory card. DIGIC technology uses advanced image processing algorithms to ensure precise, natural colours, accurate white balance, and advanced noise reduction. Ultra-fast processing speeds result in highly responsive camera operation and near-instant start-up times.

DIGIC chips work with a high speed DDR-SDRAM image buffer – reading, processing, compressing and writing image data fast enough to keep the buffer clear during long continuous shooting bursts. And because DIGIC integrates all key processing functions, power consumption is kept to a minimum.

EOS Integrated Cleaning System
The EOS Integrated Cleaning System combats sensor dust in three important ways: Reduce, Repel and Remove.

* Reduce – Internal camera mechanisms are designed to minimise dust generation. The redesigned body cap prevents dust generation through wear on the cap itself.
* Repel – Anti-static technologies, including a special fluorine coating, are applied to the low-pass filter covering the front of the sensor so as not to attract dust.
* Remove – A Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit uses hi-frequency vibrations to shake dust from the infrared filter for a period of approximately one second after each start up. For instant shooting after power up, this feature is disabled immediately the shutter release is depressed.

Canon has also developed an internal Dust Delete Data system, which can map the position of visible dust on the sensor. This can then be deleted automatically after the shoot with the latest Digital Photo Professional software.

Picture Style
Picture Style pre-sets simplify in-camera control over image qualities. Picture Style pre-sets can be likened to different film types – each one offering a different colour response. Within each selectable pre-set, photographers have control over sharpness, contrast, colour tone and saturation. The camera’s factory default configuration is set to deliver immediately-usable JPEG images without need for additional menu settings. Picture Style presets applied to a RAW image can be revised with Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software.

The six pre-sets are:

* Standard – for crisp, vivid images that don’t require post-processing
* Portrait – optimises colour tone and saturation and weakens sharpening to achieve attractive skin tones
* Landscape – for punchier greens and blues with stronger sharpening to give a crisp edge to mountain, tree and building outlines
* Neutral – ideal for post-processing
* Faithful – adjusts colour to match the subject colour when shot under a colour temperature of 5200K
* Monochrome – for black and white shooting with a range of filter effects (yellow, orange, red and green) and toning effects (sepia, blue, purple and green).

Software
Digital Photo Professional Software
Digital Photo Professional software provides high speed, high quality processing of lossless RAW images. Processing with Digital Photo Professional allows real-time display and immediate application of image adjustments, giving control over RAW image variables such as white balance, dynamic range, exposure compensation, noise reduction and colour tone – plus the ability to view Auto Focus points on an image. The Lens Aberration correction tool allows precise correction of different types of distortion caused by certain cameras. Images can be recorded in camera with sRGB or Adobe RGB colour space.

Digital Photo Professional supports sRGB, Adobe RGB, ColorMatch RGB, Apple RGB and Wide Gamut RGB colour spaces. ICC (International Colour Consortium) profiles can be attached to TIFF or JPEG images when converted from RAW. This allows faithful reproduction of colours in software applications that support ICC profiles, such as Adobe Photoshop. For improved efficiency, a set of image adjustments can be saved as a recipe and applied.

EOS Utility
The latest version of EOS Utility provides essential support for Live View remote shooting, camera configuration and image transfers. Tightly integrated with Digital Photo Professional, EOS Utility can be configured to monitor ‘hot’ folders, automatically renaming and moving incoming images to a structured file system. Users can also tag their images with EXIF data, including copyright information.

Picture Style Editor
Picture Style Editor allows users to create individual Picture Styles that fit with their personal requirements. Each Picture Style contains detailed information on how specific colours should be represented within an image. Once new Picture Styles have been created, they can be uploaded directly into the camera and applied to JPEG or RAW images. When working with RAW files in DPP, both personal Picture Styles and the 6 predetermined Picture Styles can all be adjusted.