Digital Camera News and Reviews

Zeiss ZA Planar T* 85mm f/1.4

The German photo website photozone.de has reviewed the lens Zeiss ZA Planar T* 85mm f/1.4, Sony SAL-85F14 for Sony Alpha mount. This Zeiss lens is great for low light portraits and to get a very shallow depth of field (DOF).

Photozone ends up giving the Zeiss ZA Planar T* 85mm f/1.4 lens a “Highly Recommended” grade due to the lens’ excellent sharpness even from f/1.4 and great contrast. The only drawback is a some tiny problems with the focus ring and the high price (but good optics come at a high price).
Read the full review here.

Apple today updated their photo editing tool Aperture to version 2.0.1. The update fixes several problems including errors in .Mac Web Gallery and problems with updating the libraries.

Download Aperture 2.0.1 here.

Casio EXILIM Zoom EX-Z9

Today Casio announced a new 8.1 megapixel digital camera called EXILIM Zoom EX-Z9. The “stylish” compact camera will be available in pink, black, silver and orange.

Here are some of features of the camera:
-3x digital zoom
-2.6-inch wide LCD display
-23 “Best Shot Modes”
-8.1 megapixels
-Anti shake DSP
-Easy Mode for simplifying the camera settings
-Casio’s Face Detection technology for maintaining a sharp focus


Press release:
CASIO INTRODUCES STYLISH NEW 8.1 MEGAPIXEL
DIGITAL CAMERA

EX-Z9 Offers Increased Portability and 23 Best Shot Modes to EXILIM Zoom Series of Digital Cameras

DOVER, NJ, MARCH 6, 2008 — Casio America, Inc. introduced the latest addition to its stylish series of EXILIM® digital cameras today, the EXILIM Zoom EX-Z9. This newest member of the EXILIM line features a stylish, slim and compact design to increase portability, and provides an improved 8.1 megapixels of image resolution with 3X optical zoom.

This new model stays true to the user-friendly features that have become standard to the EXILIM Zoom series. The 2.6-inch wide LCD display enables users to easily navigate camera operations and enhance the review of images, while the 23 Best Shot Modes and face detection technology help users take high quality photos without having to adjust camera settings.

“Whether you are taking snap shots of your family at the park or your friends at a concert, this high-quality digital camera is sure to satisfy all of your photographic wants and needs,” said Bill Heuer, Vice President of Casio’s Digital Imaging Division. “Casio’s innovative YouTube Capture Mode allows videos to be recorded and uploaded directly to YouTube in as few as 3 steps, making the EX-Z9 perfect for online video enthusiasts.”

The EX-Z9 comes loaded with other useful features including Anti Shake DSP which reduces photo blur from shaky hands or moving subjects, allowing users to shoot images with ease and confidence. Easy Mode simplifies the camera settings to three easy menus (image size, flash and self timer). With Easy Mode, the camera is set to take great photos in every situation without having to check presets or accidentally making a wrong adjustment. Casio’s Face Detection Technology maintains a sharp focus and the correct exposure for the human face.

Available at retail in March, the EX-Z9 will be available in pink, black, silver and orange and will have an MSRP of $159.99.

Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm f2.8 pancake lens

In addition to the Olympus E-420 Olympus also announced a new lens. The Zuiko Digital 25mm f2.8 is a so called pancake lens and is very compact. The lens has an overall length of 23.5 mm and when combined with E-410 or E-420, the total length including the camera body and lens is only 76.5 mm.
With its relatively fast f2.8 and compact size it is a strong competitor to the Leica 25mm f1.4 prime lens that a considerably higher price tag.

Olympus Zuiko Digital 25mm f2.8 pancake lens will be released in mid April in Japan and early May in USA.


Press release:
Olympus Imaging Corporation (President: Masaharu Okubo) today announced the upcoming launch of the ZUIKO DIGITAL 25mm f2.8, a thin, lightweight single-focus standard pancake-type lens fully compliant with the Four Thirds System standard for digital SLR cameras and scheduled for release in the middle of April, 2008.
Main Features

1. Thin, lightweight pancake-type lens with an overall length of 23.5 mm and weight of 95 grams
2. Digital-dedicated, high-image-quality design
3. Excellent close-up shooting capability
4. Screw-in aluminium lens cap, and lens hood (optional)

ZUIKO DIGITAL is a series of interchangeable lenses designed especially for use with digital SLR cameras. Featuring compliance with the Four Thirds System standard, these dedicated lenses maximize the potential of the high-performance image sensors used in digital SLRs.

The newly developed ZUIKO DIGITAL 25mm f2.8 is a thin, lightweight single-focus standard pancake-type lens with a focal distance equivalent to 50 mm on a 35 mm camera lens. It offers both excellent portability thanks to the compact and lightweight advantages of the Four Thirds System and very sharp, clear imaging performance.

The lens has an overall length of 23.5 mm. When combined with the already released E-410 or the upcoming E-420 digital SLR camera, the total length including the camera body and lens is only 76.5 mm. The result is an easy-to-store, easy-to-carry camera system with go-anywhere portability. And when the lens with E-420 is used, “AF Live View” function, which makes Live View shooting easier and more convenient than ever, is available.

With a focal distance equivalent to 50 mm on a 35 mm film camera lens, this standard pancake-type lens provides an image angle very close to that of the naked eye. The result is a near-natural visual field that makes this an ideal standard lens for daily use, whether for simple snapshots or for more sophisticated portrait and landscape shooting.