New on IR
Last week, we got to test the new Sony Alpha A99 in the field at a special Sony shooting event in San Francisco. And now we have the A99 in our lab, with our first studio test shots posted.
Here are some first impressions from IR founder and publisher Dave Etchells:
"The Sony A99 is really pretty incredible. I found the AF to be very fast and accurate, image quality seems great, and it really is lighter than the average full-frame camera. Of course, I was mostly using it with the Sony Carl Zeiss 24-70mm f/2.8,...
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Saturday, October 2012
Imaging Resource just tested and reviewed a half-dozen of the most popular waterproof, weatherproof, ruggedized compact digital cameras on the market -- models you can take anywhere without worrying if they get wet or banged around -- for our Waterproof Shootout 2012. Our six contenders (in alphabetical order) included the:
Just how rugged and element-defying are...
If you're considering picking up a brand new enthusiast compact camera, we've got good news for you! Three of the latest models from Canon and Nikon--the PowerShot G15, PowerShot S110, and Coolpix P7700--are in our lab for testing as we speak, and we've just posted a raft of their studio samples.
For each of the three cameras, there's a little under 30 still-life shots, spanning the range from base to maximum sensitivity. (That's ISO 12,800 for the Canon PowerShots, and ISO 6,400 for the Nikon Coolpix.)...
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Thursday, October 2012
Our Sony shooting experience this week included the new Sony NEX-6 compact system camera. And IR founder and publisher Dave Etchell just posted a new gallery of sample shots to show off what the NEX-6 can do.
Here's what Dave said about his experiences with the Sony NEX-6 so far: "You could say that Sony set out to make a NEX model with a UI that would be more familiar to current SLR users, and I think they've largely succeeded with the NEX-6," Dave said. "It's a nice addition to the NEX line, particularly with...
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Wednesday, October 2012
Update: Added more outdoor shots, some low-light
Dave Etchells is still out in California shooting with Sony's latest cameras, and he just uploaded sample full-resolution images from the Sony Alpha A99. Dave says that the company's new 24.3-megapixel, full-frame DSLR is "another great camera, very responsive, and has what looks like a very sure-footed AF on it, at least in my limited experience so far."
"I think it's a camera that could change a lot of pros' minds about Sony. While the NEX E-mount system is...
Dave Etchells is out in San Francisco shooting with the amazing full-frame 24.3-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot RX1 and we've managed to post a few of his Gallery images. He's having a great time with the Sony RX1: "It's an absolute joy to shoot with. I can't believe how compact it is for a full-frame digital camera," he said.
Click here to see his Gallery images.
The Sony RX1 is the first full-frame digital camera in such a small form factor. To achieve its small size, Sony limited the design to a...
When we reviewed Custom SLR's strap a while ago we heard from so many other strap makers that we did a roundup of sliding straps. Then we heard from Carry Speed. They make such a nice solution, we just had to tell you about that, too.
So we've updated our roundup to include two of their models. One's for lighter cameras and one can handle the heavy stuff, including a long telephoto lens. There's also a nice hand strap included in the bigger one.
And like the Custom SLR solution we originally reviewed to get...
One of the longer exotic primes produced by Canon, the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM, is one of the more popular lenses for sports, nature and wildlife photographers. The new version of the lens integrates Canon's latest technology for exotic primes, and we have put it all through its paces in our test lab. Click here to read our full review of the Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM!
There are two things we really like about StickyAlbums.
First, it gets your images off your hard drive and onto your client's mobile devices where they can easily share them. It gets your images easily off your hard drive, we should say, with a Web-based tool called Builder that assembles a branded (your brand) slide show you send to your client as a simple link.
When they click on the link, they're looking at your photos. with your name, phone number...
The second-largest lens Canon produces, the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM, is one of the more popular lenses for sports, nature and wildlife photographers. The new version of the lens integrates Canon's latest technology for exotic primes, and we have put it all through its paces in our test lab. Click here to read our full review of the Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM!
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Thursday, September 2012
Canon updated its wide angle primes with image stabilization - and after 24 years with the Canon 24mm f/2.8, the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM is a worthy update. Redesigned with a new optical formula, curved aperture blades and image stabilization, we have had the opportunity to put the lens through its paces in our test lab. Click here to read our full review of the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM!
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Thursday, September 2012
Ladies and gentlemen, the Leica M digital camera is here, and it is not your Daddy's rangefinder! After the first significant overhaul in three years, Leica's latest M-system camera sports a number of significant new features that are quite a departure from the Leicas of days gone by. The Leica M (Typ 240) now boasts functionality taken for granted by the rest of the market for years, such as full-time live view and high-definition video capture, as well as a few options that are less common.
It also...
Think quickly! How much would you pay to have a USB port and an extra switch on your Leica digital camera? Did you say US$1,500 or more? If so, then you can stop reading this preview: the German camera legend would rather you looked at our review of their M9 and M9-P instead.
If, though, you're the kind of person who's willing to sacrifice a couple of features that--let's face it--you probably wouldn't use much anyway... Well, the brand-new Leica M-E might just be the rangefinder camera for you! The M-E...
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Tuesday, September 2012
Over the years, Lensbaby has evolved its selective focusing system from a one-piece optic into the modular Optic Swap system. But today at photokina the company introduced a new design that folds both concepts into an affordable new option.
The new Spark updates the old bellows design of the Lensbaby 2.0 with the newer Optic Swap system, providing an Optic Swap-compatible housing with a fixed aperture, multi-coated glass doublet.
Here's the juicy stuff:
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Monday, September 2012
Panasonic's GH series cameras have had video recording as their main focus from day one. The GH1 saw good pickup among amateur video enthusiasts, and with the GH2, quite a few pros began using them as inexpensive alternatives to full-frame SLRs. This was aided by the GH2's excellent video quality, as well as Panasonic's broad line of excellent optics.
With the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3, though, the company is very explicitly addressing the needs of professional video shooters, and throwing down the gauntlet...
Tiny and feature-rich as they were, Olympus saw fit to revamp their two smallest Pen cameras just fifteen months after their introduction. The higher-end model, the Olympus Pen E-PL5, is still about the same size, but it gains a few features from both the E-P3 and the OM-D E-M5, both of which have some cool stuff to offer. The most obvious addition is the removable grip from the E-P3. What isn't quite as obvious is the inclusion of the very fine 16-megapixel sensor handed down from the OM-D E-M5. Sitting up...
Revamping their two smallest Pen cameras just fifteen months after their introduction, Olympus chose to give their least expensive model--the Olympus E-PM2--the combined look of the original E-PL1, with the fixed grip of the original E-P1. It's fun to see their designers playing with the digital Pen heritage already. The end result is better looking to my eye than the originals, and I own and use both. What's better than appearances, though, is the E-PM2's inclusion of the same 16-megapixel sensor as the...
Special care was taken to differentiate the Olympus Stylus XZ-2--yes, the Stylus brandname has been resurrected--from a close competitor, the Panasonic LX5/LX7. The surprising result is that the camera body grew a bit, both in size and price. As I've noticed from their other recent cameras, Olympus is still watching the competition and innovating as well, with a new approach to the front ring control that could make the Olympus XZ-2 more versatile than other premium pocket cameras. Shipping in October for a...
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Friday, September 2012
Imaging Resource senior editor Shawn Barnett is finally back at IR HQ and he brought the Nikon D600 with him, so we rushed this hot DSLR into the lab right away. Luke's been working feverishly all day to bring you as many D600 lab shots as he could, and we're happy to report the fruits of his labor have now been posted! See our Nikon D600 samples page for the 120+ lab shots he's taken so far, including links to select raw (.NEF) files. We've also uploaded raw files for our night Gallery shots.
Enjoy, but...
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Thursday, September 2012
Affordable and easy to use, the Nikon D3200 really doesn't disappoint, providing a small body, improved controls, and a remarkably high-resolution 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor. We found it capable and pleasantly quiet to shoot, and it's still easy to recommend to novice or advanced amateur alike. We wish the lens stood up a little better to the high-resolution sensor, but we think most family photographers will be quite happy with both camera and lens. Click here for our review of the Nikon D3200!
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