Archive for June, 2009:
Nikon AF DX Fisheye 10.5mm f/2.8G ED
The main application of this lens is rad special effects for skateboarding and in-the-water surfing shots. Other nuts will use this for just about anything crazy. Get close to your subject and watch out. Caution: people have been killed getting too close to airplane propellers; you really will think you are further away than you really are.
The only lines that stay straight with this lens are lines or line segments that would pass through the center of the image. All other lines are bowed out away from the center.
The 10.5mm isn’t for film cameras. Use the 16mm fisheye on film or full-frame sensor digital cameras.
Used on a film camera the 10.5mm will have black edges as you can see here. You may want to cut off the built-in lens guard to get more of the image on film, but you really should just use the 16mm fisheye instead. Even with the lens guard chopped off you still won’t get a full 180 degree circle with the 10.5mm lens on a 24 x 36mm image; the diagonal of the 10.5mm lens is about a 28 mm circle.
Canon Powershot D10 Review
The Canon PowerShot D10 represents Canon’s first foray into the all-action world of adventure cameras. The Canon D10 is waterproof up to 10 meters / 33-feet deep, freeze proof from -10°C / 14 degrees Fahrenheit, shockproof up to 1.22 meters / 4 feet, and is fully protected from dust. More regular features include a 12 megapixel sensor, 3x zoom lens with Optical Image Stabilization, 2.5 inch LCD screen, and new Smart AUTO, Blink Detection and FaceSelf-Timer modes.
Ease of Use
The Canon PowerShot D10 is certainly very distinctive, with toy-camera-like looks that you’ll either love or hate. Our review model had a turquoise blue and silver colour scheme, which can be customised by purchasing an optional coloured Front Cover Set. This is a well-made digital camera with a sturdy metal body and excellent overall finish. It’s just about small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, featuring a 3x optical zoom lens that’s equivalent to a focal length of 35-135mm. The maximum aperture is a fast f/2.8 at the wide end and a respectable f/4.9 at the other extreme of the zoom range. The PowerShot D10 is quite bulky, measuring 4.9cms thick when turned off, making it more suited to a small camera bag than a trouser pocket, but it only weighs 190g without the battery or memory card fitted.
As with most Canon cameras that we’ve reviewed before, the PowerShot D10 is one of the better models around in terms of build quality. Even the tripod mount is metal instead of plastic and positioned centrally in-line with the lens. The only minor criticism is the lack of any handgrip on the front, with just a smooth, flat finish embossed with the Canon logo, making it more difficult to hold than it really should be. Also, changing cards or batteries is not possible while the camera is mounted on a tripod, because the compartment door hinge is too close to the tripod socket.
The Canon PowerShot D10 has relatively few external controls, 14 in total, which reflects the fact that this is quite a simple camera in functionality terms, with only limited photographic control on offer. All the controls are clearly labeled using industry-standard symbols and terminology. As this camera will spend quite a lot of its life underwater, it thankfully has large On/Off and Shutter buttons, and the optical zoom is operated by buttons on the rear, rather than a more fiddly push/pull lever. We would have liked the zoom buttons to have been a little bigger though for quicker access in more unfamiliar shooting environments.
Located on top of the PowerShot D10 are the Print Transfer, Camera/Movie and Play buttons, plus the On/Off and Shutter buttons, and on the bottom are the metal tripod mount and sealed battery compartment, which also houses the SD memory card slot. On the rear of the PowerShot D10 is the 2.5 inch LCD screen, with all the rear controls located to the right. You can directly access the various focus and flash options by clicking left and right on the navigation pad, whilst up and down are respectively used to set the exposure compensation and timer options. There is sadly no dedicated button for ISO speed, which is a commonly used feature, although you can work around this by optionally setting the Print Transfer button to one of 7 available options (which include ISO speed).
Virtually all of Canon’s compact digicams offer a few little known but advanced functions, and the PowerShot D10 is no exception. These well-kept secrets, which you usually only learn about if you read the user guide attentively, include auto-focus lock (AFL), autoexposure lock (AEL) and flash exposure lock (FEL). To lock the focus on a subject for a series of consecutive shots, press the Left button on the four-way pad once while holding the shutter release depressed halfway. To lock the ambient exposure, do the same with the Up button. Flash exposure lock is achieved the same way when the flash is set to Forced On. AEL is available in Program, Quick Shot and Movie modes (you needn’t hold down the shutter release for AEL when you are in Movie mode though).
Pentax A40 Review
FEATURES OVERVIEW
The Pentax Optio A40 is a 12 megapixel compact camera that packs a lot of features. Sporting a 3x zoom (37-111mm equivalent) lens, enhanced Shake Reduction image stabilization technology, a 2.5-inch high-res screen, and a plethora of in-camera modes and options, the A40 sounds like a capable camera. Included with the camera are a USB cable, audio/video cable, hand strap, rechargeable li-ion battery, charger, and CD-ROM with software.
The A40 features the following primary shooting modes:
- Auto: Complete automatic mode, which allows basic settings like flash mode, macro focus mode, drive mode (continuous, single, timer, etc.)
- Program: Allows the choice of auto-exposure program, shutter priority, or manual exposure mode, giving more options to more advanced users
- Night Scene: Optimizes the camera for shots of scenes or people at night; the camera suggest the use of a tripod or similar to help stabilize the camera, and the use of flash for portraits
- Landscape/Flower: These two modes are optimized for their respective targets, with the camera adjusting the focus style as well as some color options to help make the pictures appealing
- Natural Skin Tone/Food: These modes also adjust color tones to help get the best pictures – natural skin tone is clearly aimed at making photos of people look better, while food mode gives more saturation to make food items look more appetizing
- Kids/Pets/Sport: These modes are all specialized for quick moving subjects, changing the focus mode to help track and allow quick shots of your target
- Text: Designed to help get sharp, clear photos of text – this mode allows for choice of black and white photos and can be further optimized by adjusting the contrast value
Joby Gorillapod SLR-ZOOM
The Gorillapod SLR-ZOOM is designed with the serious photographer in mind. It attaches to SLRs (with zoom lenses!), video cameras and professional tripod heads, and it can support up to 6.6 lbs (3 kg)!
The adapter screw allows you to mount both the standard 1/4-inch cameras and other 3/8-inch professional tripod heads.
Buy the Joby Gorillapod SLR-Zoom
Flexible joints bend and rotate 360° to form the perfect shape. The Gorillapod uses high-quality, injection-molded plastic for snug joints that stay firm after lots of action.
Rubberized ring & foot grips provide extra gripping power to grapple wherever you want to go.
The Gorillapod SLR-ZOOM is designed with the serious photographer in mind. Its sturdy prehensile legs help achieve a steady shot with your SLR and zoom lenses. It attaches to any standard SLR cameras, video cameras, or even your own tripod head. The Gorillapod SLR-ZOOM can support a whopping six pounds, while still maintaining its compact size.
Product Specifications
Intended for: Tripod mountable cameras and professional tripod heads
Max weight load: 3000g (6.5 lbs)
Adapter: Universal 1/4-in tripod screw plus a 3/8-inch adapter screw
Size: 250 x 60 x 60mm (9.8 x 2.4 x 2.4in)
Weight: 241g (8.5 oz)
Habitat: Anywhere!
Gitzo GT2541G 4SCT Carbon Tripod Review
Gitzo GT2541G 4SCT Carbon Tripod
Recommended for lightweight camcorders, spotting scopes and DSLRs with 200mm lenses, up to a 300mm maximum. Excellent maximum load capacity and good torsion rigidity, available in 3- and 4-section models at standard and eye level heights. Series 2 is the ideal solution for photographers that are looking for a solid tripod without sacrificing weight. All series 2 tripods (geared version excluded) now feature a new magnesium upper casting for a further weight reduction and a new third ultra low leg spread to take full advantage of the Ground Level Set. Series 2 tripods are also provided with the new Power Disc for a safer head lock.
| >intended use: |
|
- Recommended for lightweight camcorders, spotting scopes and DSLRs with 200mm lenses, up to a 300mm maximum. Excellent maximum load capacity and good torsional rigidity, available in 3- and 4-section models at standard and eye level heights. Series 2 is the ideal solution for photographers that are looking for a solid tripod without sacrificing weight.
| technical details
|
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||
