Nikon Blog launched

A great new Nikon Blog has been launched in the blogosphere. Head on over to www.nikonblog.net to check it out.

Canon EOS 450D Previewed

Canon has just released the 12 megapixel EOS 450D/Digital Rebel XSi, the latest incarnation of its low-end Digital Rebel SLR series geared for the amateur and consumer markets. DPReview has an online preview of this camera.

Nikon D3 and D300 Digitutors

Nikon has posted a couple of great Flash-based websites to help users of the new D3 and D300 get up to speed with their cameras.

D3 Digitutor
D300 Digitutor

Olympus E-3 Unveiled

Hot on the heels of major DSLR announcements from Canon and Nikon, Olympus has unveiled a long awaited update to their top-end DSLR, the E-1. The new model will be called the E-3 but few details are available other than those posted on a Korean website.

Canon 40D Specs Revealed

A leak at Amazon.com's website with info for the new 40D reveals the following specs:

Product Features

• 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor
• Large 3.0-inch LCD display with enhanced Live View and broadened color gamut
• 6.5 frame-per-second continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 75 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images)
• sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
• Powered by BP-511A, BP-511, or BP-512 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF cards

Technical Details

• Resolution: Approximately 10.1 million effective pixels (total pixels: approximately 10.5 million)
• Recording pixels: 3888 x 2592
• Sensor type: CMOS sensor, with primary R-G-B filtration
• Sensor size: 22.2 x 14.8 millimeters
• Pixel size: 5.7 microns square
• Lens focal length factor: 1.6x
• Sensor dust removal: EOS Integrated Cleaning System; active removal of dust by vibrating front low-pass filter; automatic removal of dust spots, in Canon Digital Photo Professional software (v. 3.1 or higher)
• Maximum frames per second: 6.5 frames per second (fps) at full resolution
• Maximum number of frames / burst: JPEG: 75; RAW: 17
• Shutter speeds: 30 seconds to 1/8000, plus Bulb (1/3 or 1/2-step increments)
• Flash sync speed: Up to 1/250, with EX-series Speedlites
• Anticipated shutter durability: 100,000 exposures, based on Canon test methods
• Computer interface: USB 2.0 (Hi-speed)
• Image recording storage media: CompactFlash (CF) cards (type I or II, including Microdrives)
• Card compatibility: "FAT32" compatible--OK for cards over 2GB
• Image format options: JPEG (choice of "Fine" or "Normal" compression); RAW (Canon .CR2 RAW file format); RAW + JPEG (any JPEG file size available; JPEG file written as separate file)
• Analog to digital conversion: 14 bits per channel (16,382 separate tones from brightest to darkest, for each channel)
• Resolution options: "Large"--3888 x 2592 (approximately 10.1 million pixels); "Medium"--2816 x 1880 (approximately 5.3 million pixels); "Small"--1936 x 1288 (approximately 2.5 million pixels)
• Highlight tone priority: Expands tonal range of bright highlights by about one stop; ISO range limited to 200 to 1600; activated by C.Fn II-3-1
• Live View viewing options: Camera's LCD monitor; computer monitor, via USB; computer monitor, via wireless transmitter WFT-E3A
• Manual focus: Viewed on LCD monitor, with option to magnify focus area 5x or 10x
• Autofocus: Possible--C.Fn III-6-1 active, press AF On button; mirror drops down temporarily while AF On button is pressed, allowing AF to function
• Silent mode Live View shoot: Mode 1: First shutter curtain remains open; shooting up to 6.5 fps possible; Mode 2: Quieter option; 2nd shutter curtain doesn't close until user's finger is taken off shutter button
• Accessory wireless transmitter: Canon WFT-E3A (optional, dedicated wireless transmitter)

Digital SLR market grows by 75%

According to data from CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) digital SLR shipments are up 75% overall in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year. The digital camera market overall grew at a slightly less increase of 27% over the same period last year.

Read more.....

Canon EOS 1D Mark III Best DSLR Ever?

Drew Strickland over at Pro Photo Home reviews the new Canon EOS 1D Mark III and concludes its the "best DSLR on the planet." See if you agree...

Photoshop World Convention Comes to Las Vegas

The world's biggest Adobe Photoshop conference will be happening in Las Vegas from September 6 - 8. Click here for more info

Photographers: Sell Your Photos through iStockphoto.com!

iStockphoto is a successful online stock photo agency that flourishes thanks to its low prices for buying art, video and photographs. While their low prices mean that photographers who submit photos won't make a lot of money per submission, they sell to very high volumes of buyers so you can make it up by selling the same photo hundreds or more times. To sign up with iStockphoto and start making money with your photos, videos or vector art click here.

Tokina 12-24mm AT-X Wide Angle Lens Reviewed

The Sydney Morning Herald takes at look at Tokina's super wide angle zoom lens, the 12-24mm AT-X Pro DX and gives it a big thumbs up. Read more.

Photoshop CS3 is Out

Yay! The long awaited update to Photoshop is now available and this one is a must for digital photographers. According to MacWorld:

"It’s simple, really: if digital imaging is an important part of your creative life, you’ll want Adobe Photoshop CS3. The new version provides so many improvements in so many areas that no serious digital photographer, video artist, or designer should be without it."

Macworld Photoshop CS3 Review.

You'll also want to check out Adobe RAW 4, which offers the ability to do non-destructive editing of JPEGs. Check out John Nack of Adobe who blogs on this topic.

Sony Enters Compact Flash Market

Sony just announced it is launching 2 ranges of compact flash cards aimed primarily at the digital photography market. The low end range offers a 66x transfer speed with 1GB, 2GB and 4GB capacities. Sony's "professional" range offers 133x transfer speed cards with 2GB and 4GB capacity, which will be supported by Sony’s image recovery service. Read more.