Canon 5D Mark IV announced

Great news for all (Canon) photographers: Canon yesterday announced the new Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR. Like it's predecessor, the Mark III, it is a full frame camera with very good specifications.

One of the most interesting features, for me at least, is the “Dual Pixel RAW” feature. A feature that allows one to perform some very sophisticated image microadjustments (focus), bokeh shift, and ghosting reduction – during post processing!^*
*currently only possible with Canon's own DPP

While I haven't yet seen this in reality myself yet, this sounds as a really powerful feature that other camera manufacturers should have a look at implementing too!

The 5D Mark IV will be available beginning of September for around $3,499.00 / €4,129.99 (body only)

Specifications

• 30.4MP CMOS full-frame sensor with Dual Pixel AF
• DCI 4K 30/24p video using Motion JPEG + 4K Frame Grab
• 61-point AF system with 41 cross-type sensors (centre point sensitive to -3 EV)
• Dual Pixel AF (sensitive to -4EV) for continuous Servo AF in stills and video
• ISO 100-32,000 (expandable to 102,400)
• 7 fps continuous shooting
• Dual Pixel Raw
• 150,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor
• 1.62M-dot 3.2" full-time touchscreen
• Wi-Fi w/ NFC + GPS
• Built-in bulb timer interval timers
• Improved weather-sealing

Nikon firmware updates for D4s, D500, D7200, D810, D810A, and WR-1

Nikon recently released firmware updates for its D4s, D500, D810, D810A, and D7200 cameras as well as its Wireless Remote WR-1. Mostly the fixes are minor, but it is always a good idea to stay at the latest firmware releases.

Here are the recent firmware updates and their changes (click on the header to directly go to the download page on the Nikon website).

D4s Firmware C1.31

• Fixed an issue that occurred with WR-R10 wireless remote controller firmware version 3.00. In rare cases, the camera would fail to display the number of exposures remaining or would take about a minute to power down when the WR-R10 was connected.

D500 Firmware C1.01

• Fixed an issue that sometimes resulted in the options for SETUP MENU > Language not displaying correctly.

D810 Firmware C1.11 / D810A Firmware C1.01

• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the camera to stop responding when attached to a WR‑R10 wireless remote controller running firmware version 3.00.

D7200 Firmware C1.01

• Selecting Firmware version in the SETUP MENU would not display “C X.XX L X.XXX”.
• About 4 seconds of static could be heard on audio recorded with external HDMI recorders during movie live view.
• Exposure compensation would fail to produce the desired results if a negative value was selected when NEF (RAW) images were processed using the NEF (RAW) processing option in the RETOUCH MENU.
• February 29th would sometimes not display correctly in leap years.

WR-1 Firmware 1.01

• The D5 and D500 ISO sensitivity displays are now supported. If you are using two WR-1 units, one as a receiver and the other as a transmitter, update both to firmware version 1.01. If you are using the WR-1 with a WR-R10, have a Nikon-authorized service representative update the WR-R10 to firmware version 3.00.
• When used as a transmitter to change ISO sensitivity for a receiving camera, the WR-1 no longer cycles continuously through the available values.

Canon 80D announced

Canon recently announced a new APS-C camera, the Canon EOS 80D DSLR.

The new 80D will be available in March 2016 at a price of around $1,199.

Some of the more pronounced product specifications:

• 24.2 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS sensor
• Maximum frame rate: 7fps.
• 45-point all cross-type AF system
• Viewfinder with approximately 100% viewfinder coverage
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF for smooth, fast and accurate autofocus with video and stills
• Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC capability
• 1080/60p Full HD video
• Vari-angle Touch Screen 3.0-inch Clear View LCD II monitor

The new Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

Canon has just announced its new flagship camera, the EOS-1D X Mark II. Like Nikon's recently announced D5, this camera is full of exciting new and improved features.

Here are some of the more pronounced specs (with some comment as to how they compare to Nikon's D5).

• 20.2 megapixel Full Frame sensor (similar to the 20.9 of the D5).
• Continuous shooting speeds of up-to-14 frames per second (fps) with Auto Exposure (AE) and predictive AF for viewfinder shooting and up to 16 fps in Live View mode (faster than the Nikon D5).
• Continuous shooting of up-to 170 consecutive RAW images at 14 fps (slightly less than the D5, but still plenty for even the most demanding action shooter).
• Improved 61-point viewfinder AF with expanded coverage and all AF-points selectable and supported to a maximum aperture of f/8 (sure, not the 153 – all cross sensor – AF points of the D5, but these are all f/8 and 61 is still more than enough, if they're good).
• Improved AI Servo III+ predictive AF algorithm for better accuracy.
• Continuous red illumination of all AF points within the viewfinder (Nikon has offered this for years, quite surprised this wasn't offered on the Canons before).
• 4K video at 60P (!) and Full HD at 120P (much better than the D5, but then Canon has usually been better at video anyway).
• Enhanced wireless functionality with the optional Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E8 (probably similar to Nikon's).
• Digital Lens Optimizer to help correct aberrations in-camera (you previously needed to do this in post processing, Nikon has offered this for quite some time on its cameras and works quite well).
• Compatibility with both CF and CFast memory cards for optimal performance and versatility (so now we have two competing fast memory cards: XQD (Nikon, Sony) and CFast, not sure which which is better…).

The new D500: the long awaited professional crop body from Nikon!

I nearly missed it in all the D5 news (in fact, the info I initially received from Nikon only mentioned it in a link; the news was too fresh to get included), but Nikon yesterday also announced a new professional breed DX (APS-C crop sensor) DSLR. Not the D400 everyone was hoping for, but something even better: a D500.

The specifications for this camera are quite astonishing, and truly make it a professional grade camera: 20.9 MP sensor, ISO 100 – 51,200 (extendable to 50 – 1,638,400), 4K Video, 153 AF points (same as D5), 10fps, 200 image buffer etc.

Suggested retail price: € 2369 (NL, inc. 21% VAT), $2000 (US, ex VAT)
Availability: March 2016

Here are some more specs:

The New Nikon D5 DLSR: 153 AF points, up to ISO 3,280,000

The rumours where flying around already, but I just got the official announcement from Nikon Netherlands: The new Nikon D5 has been announced!

The new D5 boasts two things, previously unheard of: an all new 153 points AF system (their last top models had “only” 51 points) able to autofocus in almost absolute dark (-4 EV) and on top of that, the camera has a new record high ISO of 3,280,000. This latter is probably only usable for small prints, but at 102,400 the images are supposedly still quite clean and usable.

Suggested retail price: € 7109 (NL, inc. 21% VAT), $6500 (US, ex VAT)
Availability: March 2016

Some more specifications:

• Sensor: 20.8 Megapixels.
• ISO: 100 – 102,400, extendable from 50 tot 3,280,000 ISO equivalent.
• Frame rate: 12 fps with AF/AE, 14fps with Mirror Up (no AF/AE).
• Buffer: 200 14-bit lossless compressed RAW images.
• AF: 153 sensor points (of which 99 are cross sensors!).
• Video: 4K UHD, 25/30 fps.
• Monitor: High res 2350kdots with touchscreen.
• Storage: Double XQD 2.0 slot (I love XQD in my own D4: they're incredible fast).

New: Nikon D7200 DX Camera

Nikon today announced an upgrade to the D7100, the D7200. The D7200 is Nikon's latest top level DX (crop sensor) camera body. The D7200 will have a new 51-point AF system with improved performance, especially in low-light situations (it can still focus at -3 EV). An extended buffer capacity allows for continuous shooting of up to 100 shots (JPEG fine/Large) at 6 fps. And, to many a very welcome things, the D7200 has built-in Wi-Fi, and (with Android OS), supports NFC for fast, easy wireless communication.

The D7200 will be available from 19 March at a price of €1,199/$1,199.

Full specifications

Nikon unveils the D810a, a modified D810 designed for astrophotography

Today Nikon unveiled a new version of the D810, the D810a. This new D810a DSLR camera is designed specifically for astrophotography. Canon has always been the brand for astrophotographers (they have a solid reputation in that field and have had a specific camera for a while now, the EOS 60Da), but now Nikon shooters have a very good option as well, and with 36MP quality!

Full specifications

New Canon 50.6 MP (!) cameras announced

Canon just announced their new 50.6 Mega Pixel (!) cameras. Like the earlier Nikon D800, the new EOS 5DS comes in two flavours. One with and one without an optical low pass filter. (Which, to be honest, I do not understand; clearly Nikon, and others, have shown that with these high mega pixel counts there is no need for an optical low pass filter any longer).

EOS 5DS Key features

• ISO 100-6400 (expandable to 50-12800)
• 50.6 MP CMOS sensor with dual DIGIC 6 processors
• 150K Pixel RGB+IR Metering Sensor
• Up to 5.0 Frames Per Second
• 61-point AF
• Cropped Shooting (1.3x, 1.6x and 1:1)
• Low-pass cancellation filter (EOS 5DS R)

New Nikon D5500 camera and 300 f/4 and 55-200 f/4-5.6 lenses

Note: I've been quite busy in beautiful (and snowy!) Bavaria so I bring you this news with some delay…

Nikon recently announced a number of new products: a new D5500 DSLR, an updated and much lighter 300mm f/4 telephoto lens as well as a third generation of the popular 55-200 f/4-5.6 zoom lens.

Nikon D5500 – Highlights

• Vari angle touch screen monitor
• Strong monocoque body (i.e., chassis and body are integral)
• Built-in WiFi
• 24.2 Mega Pixel
• 5fps continuous shooting
• Video of up to 1920x1080 at 60fps

Full spec: see Nikon website
Price: ± $899.95

AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR – Highlights

• Nano Crystal coat suppresses chromatic abberrations and ghosting
• Fluorine coat repels water and oils
• PF (Phase Fresnel) lens element
• Electromagnetic aperture
• Much lighter (almost half the weight!) and compacter than the previous model

Full spec: see Nikon website
Price: ± $1,999.95

AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED VR II – Highlights

• Retractable barrel, reduces size
• Second generation VR (up to 4 stops)

Full spec: see Nikon website
Price: ± $349.95

New Canon 7D Mk II DSLR and 3 new lenses

The rumour was there for a while now, but today Canon officially announced the new 7D Mark II DSLR. They also announced 3 new lenses.

Camera: 7D Mark II

The new Canon EOS 7D Mark II is a 20.2 megapixel APC-C (1.6x crop factor) digital camera. The specs look pretty awesome: It can shoot up to 10 frames per second at ISOs ranging from 100–16000 (expandable to 51200). It's AF system has 65 all cross-type (!) AF points and it has has a dual card slot for both CF and SD cards. GPS connectivity is also built in. For more specs and features, see below.
Price: ±$1,799 (body only)

Lens: EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Pancake

This new 24mm pancake lens is incredibly lightweight and small. With a 35mm equivalent focal length of 38mm, it is quite a multi-purpose lens, handy for a variety of purposes. It's STM motor allows for silent and smooth focus tracking during video shooting (on EOS cameras with Movie Servo AF). For more specs and features, see below.
Price: ±$149

Lens: EF 24-105 f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

The new EF 24–105mm f/3.5–5.6 also boasts an STM motor for smooth and silent focus tracking during video shooting. A first for a Canon EF lens for full-frame sensor cameras. For more specs and features, see below.
Price: ±$599

Lens: EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II

This is Canon's new model of the popular 400 f/4 DO. It has a 3 mode Image Stabilization system, offering up to four stops of compensation. The design makes use of the more environmentally friendly lead-free glass. For more specs and features, see below.
Price: ±$6899

Specifications/Features

More specs and features of the new products are given below.

Just announced, the Nikon D810: The new high resolution photo and video king?

Nikon today announced the successor to its D800 high resolution DLSR: the D810. While the name may suggest only a minor update, the new D810 camera actually has an all new sensor and a host of new features both for photographers and videographers!

The Nikon D810 will be available in late July for the suggested retail price (SRP) of $3299.95

Some of the product highlights:

• 36.3-megapixel FX-format (7360 x 4912 resolution) sensor, no Optical Low Pass filter (similar to the D800E, though the D800E still had some sort of low pass filter).
• Faste EXPEED4 image processor
• Wide ISO range of 64-12,800, extendible to 32-51,200.
• Nikon’s Advanced Scene Recognition System with the 91,000-pixel 3D Color Matrix Meter II.
• 15 cross-type AF sensors, 11 cross-type sensors of which can be used up to f/8.
• Like the D4S is also boasts Group AF mode for enhanced accuracy, even while tracking subjects.
• 5 frames-per-second (fps) at full resolution and 5:4, 6 fps in DX or 1.2x modes,  (15.4-megapixel, 25.1-megapixel, respectively), and 7 fps in DX mode (15.4-megapixel), with battery pack.
• Full resolution 14-bit RAW files or the new RAW Size Small format (12-bit file at half the resolution, approximately 1/4 the file size of full RAW files).
• Picture Control enhancements: a new “Clarity” setting has which adjusts mid tones to enhance details within an image and a new “Flat” Picture Control Profile to help preserve the most amount of detail in shadows and highlights.
• Video specific enhancements
• Full HD 1920x1080 video up to 60fps (!)
• Uncompressed digital video out to an external recorder via HDMI, while simultaneously displaying the video on the rear LCD display and external LCD monitor. You can now also record both to the internal card (compressed) and to the external recorder (uncompressed) simultaneously.
• Like the Nikon D4S, the D810 uses an auto-exposure setting to help create super-smooth exposure and tonal transitions for professional results with time-lapse and interval-time shooting.
• Audio via built-in stereo microphone or an external microphone.
• Zebra stripes: A zebra pattern can be displayed during live view, making it easy to spot overexposed areas.
• Highlight weighted metering: This new setting helps to prevent blown-out highlights in video.
• The Live View AF has been improved, and now provides faster full-time AF (AF-F mode).

Specifications and comparison to D800/D800E

For a list of specifications and a comparison to the Nikon D800 and D800E, please see the pdf at the Nikon website.

Nikon D4s officially announced

Nikon has just announced its new D4s flagship DSLR camera. As this is basically an 's' update to the current D4, the improvements aren't earth shattering (e.g., no 24MP sensor as many, including myself, had hoped for). There are still numerable improvements worth checking out though, most notable in ISO (a whopping 409,600 is now available), video (1080p/60fps), frame rate (now 11fps with AF and AE), a new S-RAW format (half the size), and a Gigabit Ethernet connector.

The initial price for the D4 is around $6,499/€6,149 and should start shipping on 6 March.

Specifications

CES2014: New Nikon D3300+18-55 kit lens, 35/1.8, and D4s announcement

At the CES (the yearly consumer electronics and technology trade show in Las Vegas), Nikon showed quite a number of new products that could be interesting for the DSLR shooter.

First of all, there is the D3300, a slightly lighter update to the D3200 starter-DSLR. Coupled with a new 18-55 VRII kit lens this could well be a good starting camera for those starting with DSLR photography. Boosting a 24.2 Megapixel DX (aps-c) sensor, a maximum ISO of 25,600, a framerate of up to 5 frames per second and video of up to 1080/60p (!), the specs are really nothing to be ashamed of.

Even though the optics of the new 18-55 VR II kit lens have been improved, Nikon has been able to reduce its size and weight at the same time as well.

Pricing of the D3300 should be around €549 (body only) or €659 with the new 18-55 VRII kit lens. The kit lens alone has a suggested retail price of €259.

For the full frame, FX, DSLR shooter, Nikon has a new fast AF-S 35 f/1.8G lens available. With a suggested retail price of around €600, this lens is for the enthusiastic amateur/pro shooter looking for a very fast multi-purpose lens.

Pro Nikon sports/wildlife shooters have something to lookout for: Nikon has announced the development of their new flagship camera, the D4s. Not much is known at this moment about the successor to the D4, other than that it likely has improved video and autofocus. Especially the improvement to AF is something I am personally looking forward to. Not that the D4 is bad in that area (not at all), but the Canon 1Dx shows us there surely is something to gain in this respect! Though nothing about this new camera is really firm, one can definitely expect to see some pre-release versions of this camera at the coming Olympics!

Nikon goes retro with the Df

And now for something completely new old, we present you the Nikon Df.

With this latest camera, Nikon actually goes back in time and delivers a modern digital camera in an old fashioned camera body. With the sensor of the D4 and lots of other nice specifications, this is not a camera gimmick (eh, mister Leica), but a full blown workhorse. While it has some noticeable advantages (size and price for starters) over its sibling, the D4, whether or not this new retro Df camera is something for you, you'll have to decide for yourself…

Oh, and being a retro photo camera, the Nikon Df does no video ;-)

New Nikon DSLR: the D5300

In addition to the recently introduced D610, Nikon also just presented an update to the D5x00 series: the new D5300. A DX format camera with built in Wi-Fi (a new feature for this type of camera!).

Full specs (from Nikon)

Type
Type	Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount	Nikon F mount (with AF contacts)
Effective angle of view	Nikon DX format; focal length equivalent to approx. 1.5x that of lenses with FX format angle of view
Effective pixels	24.2 million
Image sensor	23.5 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor
Total pixels	24.78 million
Dust-reduction System	Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Storage
Image size (pixels)	6000 x 4000 (Large). 4496 x 3000 (Medium). 2992 x 2000 (Small)
File format	NEF (RAW): 12- or 14 bit, compressed. JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression. NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats
Picture Control System	Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls
Media	SD (Secure Digital) and UHS-I compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards
File system	DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) 2.3, PictBridge
Viewfinder	Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverage	Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical
Magnification	Approx. 0.82 x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint	18 mm (-1.0 m-1; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens)
Diopter adjustment	-1.7 - +1.0 m-1
Focusing screen	Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen
Reflex mirror	Quick return
Lens aperture	Instant return, electronically controlled
Lens
Compatible lenses	Autofocus is available with AF-S and AF-I lenses. Autofocus is not available with other type G and D lenses, AF lenses (IX NIKKOR and lenses for the F3AF are not supported), and AI-P lenses. Non-CPU lenses can be used in mode M, but the camera exposure meter will not function. The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.
Shutter
Type	Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Speed	1/4000 - 30 s in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV; Bulb; Time
Flash sync speed	X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower
Release
Release mode	Single frame, continuous L, continuous H, quiet shutter release, self-timer, delayed remote; ML-L3, quick-response remote; ML-L3; interval timer photography supported
Frame advance rate	Continuous L : Up to 3 fps. Continuous H : Up to 5 fps (JPEG and 12-bit NEF/RAW) or 4 fps (14-bit NEF/RAW). Note: Frame rates assume continuous-servo AF, manual or shutterpriority auto exposure, a shutter speed of 1/250 s or faster, Release selected for Custom Setting a1 (AF-C priority selection), and other settings at default values.
Self-timer	2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1-9 exposures
Exposure
Metering mode	TTL exposure metering using 2016-pixel RGB sensor
Metering method	Matrix metering: 3D color matrix metering II (type G, E, and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses). Center-weighted metering: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame. Spot metering: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point
Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F)	Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0-20 EV. Spot metering: 2-20 EV
Exposure meter coupling	CPU
Mode	Auto modes (auto; auto (flash off)); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M); scene modes (portrait; landscape; child; sports; close up; night portrait; night landscape; party/indoor; beach/snow; sunset; dusk/dawn; pet portrait; candlelight; blossom; autumn colors; food); special effects modes (night vision; color sketch; toy camera effect; miniature effect; selective color; silhouette; high key; low key; HDR painting)
Exposure compensation	Can be adjusted by -5 - +5 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV in P, S, A, and M modes
Bracketing	Exposure bracketing: 3 shots in steps of 1/3 or 1/2 EV. White balance bracketing: 3 shots in steps of 1. Active D-Lighting bracketing: 2 shots
Exposure lock	Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)	ISO 100-12800 in steps of 1/3 EV. Can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 12800; auto ISO sensitivity control available
Active D-Lighting	Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, Off
Focus
Autofocus	Nikon Multi-CAM 4800DX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 39 focus points (including 9 cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1 ft 8 in.-9 ft 10 in.)
Detection range	-1 - +19 EV (ISO 100, 20 °/68 °F)
Lens servo	Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status. Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used
Focus point	Can be selected from 39 or 11 focus points
AF-area mode	Single-point AF, 9-, 21-, or 39- point dynamic-area AF, 3D-tracking, auto-area AF
Focus lock	Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Flash
Built-in flash	Auto, portrait, child, close up, night portrait, party/indoor, pet portrait, color sketch, toy camera effect: Auto flash with auto pop-up. P, S, A, M, food: Manual pop-up with button release
Guide Number	Approx. 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F)
Flash control	TTL: i-TTL flash control using 2016-pixel RGB sensor is available with built-in flash and SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400, or SB-300; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering
Flash mode	Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off
Flash compensation	-3 - +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV
Flash-ready indicator	Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoe	ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)	Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 as a master flash or SU-800 as commander; Flash Color Information Communication supported with all CLS-compatible flash units
Sync terminal	AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately)
White balance	Auto, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine-tuning.
Live View
Lens servo	Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F). Manual focus (MF)
AF-area mode	Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF
Autofocus	Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Automatic scene selection	Available in auto and auto (flash off) modes
Movie
Metering	TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Metering method	Matrix
Frame size (pixels) and frame rate	1920 x 1080, 60p (progressive)/50p/30p/25p/24p, high/normal. 1280 x 720, 60p/50p, high/normal. 640 x 424, 30p/25p, high/normal. Frame rates of 30p (actual frame rate 29.97 fps) and 60p (actual frame rate 59.94 fps) are available when NTSC is selected for video mode. 25p and 50p are available when PAL is selected for video mode. Actual frame rate when 24p is selected is 23.976 fps.
File format	MOV
Video compression	H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Audio recording format	Linear PCM
Audio recording device	Built-in or external stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable
ISO sensitivity	ISO 100-12800; can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.7, or 1 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 12800
Monitor	8.1 cm/3.2-in. (3 : 2), approx. 1037k-dot (720 x 480 x 3 = 1,036,800 dots), vari-angle TFT monitor with 170 ° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment
Playback	Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 12, or 80 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, photo and/or movie slide shows, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, picture rating, and image comment (up to 36 characters)
Interface
USB	Hi-Speed USB
Video output	NTSC, PAL
HDMI output	Type C mini-pin HDMI connector
Accessory terminal	Wireless remote controllers: WR-1, WR-R10 (available separately). Remote cords: MC-DC2 (available separately). GPS units: GP-1/GP-1A (available separately)
Audio input	Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5mm diameter); supports optional ME-1 stereo microphones
Wireless
Standards	IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
Communications protocols	IEEE 802.11b: DSSS/CCK. IEEE 802.11g: OFDM
Operating frequency	2412-2462 MHz (channels 1-11)
Range (line of sight)	Approximately 30 m/98 ft (assumes no interference; range may vary with signal strength and presence or absence of obstacles)
Data rate	54 Mbps. Maximum logical data rates according to IEEE standard. Actual rates may differ.
Security	Authentication: Open system, WPA2-PSK. Encryption: AES
Wireless setup	Supports WPS
Access protocols	Infrastructure
Location data
Receiving frequency	1575.42 MHz (C/A code)
Geodesics	WGS84
Supported languages	Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese
Power source
Battery	One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL14a battery
AC adapter	EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5A power connector (available separately)
Tripod socket	1/4 in. (ISO 1222)
Dimensions/weight
Dimensions (WxHxD)	Approx. 125 x 98 x 76 mm (49.2 x 3.9 x 3 in.)
Weight	Approx. 530 g (1 lb 2.7 oz) with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 480 g/1 lb 0.9 oz (camera body only)
Operating environment
Temperature	0 °C - 40 °C (+32 °F - 104 °F)
Humidity	85% or less (no condensation)
Supplied accessories	BS-1 accessory shoe cover, DK-25 rubber eyecup, BF-1B body cap, EN-EL14a rechargeable Li-ion battery (with terminal cover), MH-24 battery charger, AN-DC3 strap, UC-E17 USB cable, EG-CP16 audio/video cable, DK-5 eyepiece cap, ViewNX 2 CD, Reference CD (contains the Reference Manual)

Nikon announces the new D610 DSLR

Today Nikon announced the successor of the affordable Nikon D600 full frame camera. The most notable updates of the D610 are improved improved white balance and shutter mechanism (with new quiet continuous shooting options and a slightly higher frame-rate).

The Nikon D610 will be available in the shops from 18 October at a price of around $1999/€1969.

Full specifications (from the Nikon website)

Firmware updates for Canon EOS-1D Mark III & IV and EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon just posted a firmware update for their EOS-1D Mark III, EOS-1D Mark IV, and EOS-1Ds Mark III DSLR cameras.

The new firmware addresses the following two issues:

1. Resolves the following phenomenon: when the camera is not attached to a lens, power consumption may be higher than usual, causing premature battery drain.
2. Resolves a phenomenon in which "Err 70" ("Err 02" on the 1D Mark IV) may be displayed when the shutter is released without a lens attached.

You can download the new firmwares from the Canon USA website:

• EOS-1D Mark III v1.3.2
• EOS-1D Mark IV v1.1.4
• EOS-1Ds Mark III v1.2.3

Canon unveils new EOS 70D camera with dual pixel sensor

Canon today unveiled their newest camera, the EOS 70D. Perhaps the most exciting feature of this new camera is the sensor. Making use of the dual pixel technology allows much faster autofocusing when using live-view as in addition to the relatively slow contrast-detect AF, it can now also make use of the much faster phase-detect AF.

The rest of the specifications of the new Canon EOS 70D are pretty good too. Here are some of the key features:

• 20.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+
• 19 point cross-type AF System and 7 fps shooting^*
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF^**
• Instant sharing and remote control with Wi-Fi
• ISO 12800 (H:25600)
• Vari-angle 7.7cm ClearView II LCD touch screen
• Intelligent viewfinder (98%coverage, 0.95 magnification)
• Full-HD movies (30/25/24fps 1080p, 60/50/30/25/24fps 720p)

^*UHS-I card required for maximum burst duration
^**Dual Pixel CMOS AF is possible over 80 per cent of the width and height of the Live View frame

New Canon 700D and 100D cameras announced

Canon just announced two new cameras: the 700D which is an update to the (quite recently released) 650D and an all new very slim and lightweight (world lightest?) 100D. Both cameras should be available in April.

Canon EOS 700D/Rebel T5i

• 18.0MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
• DIGIC 5 Image Processor
• 3.0″ Vari-angle touch screen LCD
• ISO 100-12800, expandable to 25600
• Full HD 1080 video with continuous AF
• STM lens support for quiet AF during video shooting
• 5 frames per second continuous shooting rate
• 9 point AF system (all cross-type!)

The suggested retail price of the 700D body is €699/$750. You can also get the 700D as a kit with the (also new) Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens (€249, lens only).

Canon EOS 100D/Rebel SL1

• 18.0MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
• DIGIC 5 Image Processor
• 3.0″ Clear View II touch screen LCD
• ISO 100-12800, expandable to 25600
• Full HD 1080 Video with continuous AF
• 4 frames per second continuous shooting rate
• 9 point AF system (all cross-type!)
• Very lightweight (±400gr, less than 0.9lb!)

The suggested retail price of the 100D body is €649/$650, again also available as a kit with the new EF-S 18-55/3.5-5.6 lens (just as the 700D).