Sigma SD14 - 14-megapixel

Three years since Sigma last introduced a digital SLR. That's nearly two generations by digital camera standards. But, just days before the Photokina international trade show in September, Sigma announced the new SD14 ($1,600, estimated street, body only), proving it was still in the game.

Besides the Sigma name on the camera, you'll see the Foveon X3 logo: The SD14 is the first DSLR to include a new and improved Foveon X3 direct image sensor. Foveon and Sigma call it a 14.1-megapixel sensor and will market the camera as a 14.1MP DSLR, just as they billed the earlier SD9 and SD10 as 10MP cameras.

But all megapixels are not created equal. Unlike the CMOS and CCD imaging sensors used in cameras from other makers, which place red, green, and blue filters over different pixels on a monochromatic sensor, the Foveon X3 creates a color image by reading out color data from each of three separate layers sensitive to red, green, and blue. As a result, the sensor acts more like film does when capturing an image, helping to reduce moiré patterns and other artifacts in the very fine details of a typical image. So a more accurate description would be to say that the X3 sensor contains 14.1 million active pixels in three overlapping layers of 4.7 million pixels each. Granted, that would be hard to fit on the box!

Our Certified Lab Tests of the Sigma SD10 (which had 10.2 million active pixels in layers that each contained 3.4 million pixels) found it could resolve image detail on par with a good 6.5MP CMOS or CCD sensor. So, we'll bet that the new SD14 delivers resolution on par with 9.2-10MP DSLRs, but will not be in the same resolution class as the 12.4MP Nikon D2xs, for instance.


Of course, resolution is just one factor we use to determine image quality. And, based on the SD14's heritage, you can expect it to capture extremely accurate colors, fine details in shadow areas, and incredibly low noise. We'll reserve judgment, though, until we've run a production unit through the Pop Photo Lab.

Via Popphoto

Olympus Stylus 1000

You can't have everything, especially among Olympus compact cameras. While they have plenty of similar cameras that serve specific purposes, there's no catch-all, high-end, great-at-everything camera. The Olympus Stylus 720SW offers waterproof shooting. The Stylus 730 features an intuitive design and a 3-inch LCD screen. The Stylus 750 includes an image-stabilized, 5X optical zoom lens. And none of these Stylus cameras share those useful features. The Olympus Stylus 1000 follows that trend: it features a 10-megapixel sensor, but it isn't waterproof, its LCD screen is only 2.5 inches, and its meager 3X, 35-to-105mm-equivalent lens lacks optical stabilization.

The Stylus 1000's sturdy metal body has a gentle wedge shape, making the camera extremely comfortable for one-handed use. However, the tapered left side makes it even more awkward for left-handed users than most point-and-shoots. The controls are mostly flat buttons that are responsive under the thumb, but extremely similar in feel. It's easy to accidentally hit the menu button instead of the direction pad when reviewing your photos. The power and the image-stabilization buttons sit on either side of the shutter release, but they're recessed enough that you probably won't accidentally press them while shooting.

Though light on the manual controls, the Stylus 1000 has some very nice features. Like all Stylii, its metal body has rubber gaskets and seals to keep water and gunk out. You can't shoot underwater, but you can splash it without fear or hesitation. For low-light and action shots, the Stylus includes digital image stabilization and can shoot at as much as ISO 6,400, but images greater than ISO 1,600 are cut down to five megapixels. The camera lacks an autofocus light, but it does automatically increase the gain of its 2.5-inch screen when shooting in low light, making it easier to frame your shot. Besides some basic controls, such as exposure compensation, ISO, and white balance, it has 24 scene modes that let casual shooters set the camera for the type of shot they want. The camera also includes a 30fps VGA movie mode for shooting video clips.

Read more at Cnet

Ricoh GR Digital Firmware update

Ricoh releases third function-enhancing firmware update for GR DIGITAL
User requests reflected in update for functional improvement

Tokyo, Japan – November 20 – Ricoh Co., Ltd. (president and CEO: Masamitsu Sakurai) announced today that it will release on November 22 a third function-enhancing firmware update for its GR DIGITAL* high-resolution compact digital camera, which has been well received for more than a year since its release.
* The GR DIGITAL is a high-end digital camera popular with pro photographers, high-end amateurs, and photo aficionados that achieves high resolution in a compact body. It was first released October 21, 2005 and is open priced.
The function-enhancing firmware can be downloaded free of charge from the Ricoh website. The following features can be added to the GR DIGITAL by installing this firmware.

• New optional sizes can be set for the JPEG images recorded simultaneously when taking photos in RAW(3264 × 2448). "N3260" (NORMAL 3264 × 2448) and "N640" (NORMAL 640 x 480) can be set in addition to the conventional "F3260" (FINE 3260 × 2448). This allows for more shots to be recorded.
  (For example, with a 512 MB SD card, RAW+F3264 allows for 33 shots, while RAW+N640 allows for 42 shots.)
  
• With a 3:2 aspect ratio (vertical to horizontal ratio of an image), "N3:2"(NORMAL 3260 × 2176) can now be selected in addition to "RAW3:2" (RAW 3264 x 2176) or "F3:2"(FINE 3264 x 2176). This allows for more shots to be recorded.
  (For example, with a 512 MB SD card, F3:2 allows for 177 shots, while N3:2 allows for 308 shots.)
  
• The exposure adjustment range when shooting with Auto Bracket (function for shooting multiple shots at different exposures) can be selected at ±0.3 EV in addition to ±0.5 EV. This allows for finer shooting with Auto Bracket.
  *Auto Bracket function cannot be used in RAW mode (same as before).

In addition to the above-mentioned functions, improved auto focus speed and focusing precision in macro photography.

Canon PowerShot G7 Review,

Announced just before Photokina 2006 in September 2006, the G7 came as something of a surprise to many who had written off the G series of high end PowerShots when the G6 (launched 2004) wasn't updated last year. The G series has a long and distinguished history at the top of Canon's PowerShot range, offering SLR-like functionality in a solid, compact body and high-end features such as fast lenses and external flash capabilities. The G7 continues the tradition, adding all Canon's latest gizmos (including the new Digic III processor, face detection and image stabilization), though since its announcement there has been heated discussion about some of Canon's decisions - particularly the loss of raw mode and the slower lens. So let's find out if the new model is a worthy successor to the G6, or if Canon really has - as some users feel - squandered the legacy of one of the most acclaimed cameras in the short history of digital photography. We'll start, as ever, by looking at the headline features:
Headline features

* 10.0 Megapixels
* 6x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer and SR coating
* DIGIC III and iSAPS with Advanced Noise Reduction and Face Detection AF/AE
* 2.5” high-resolution LCD with wide viewing angle and anti-glare coating
* ISO 1600 for flash-free, low light shooting
* Ergonomic design with dedicated ISO and Multi Control dials for fast, easy operation
* 25 shooting modes including full manual control and 2 custom settings
* Extra telephoto reach with Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
* Hot shoe support for Canon Speedlite flashes and optional lens accessories

Powershot G7 vs G6: What's changed?

Two years is a very long time in the digital camera world, and it comes as no surprise that the G7 is a significantly different beast to the model it replaces both externally (there's no grip, making the body a lot slimmer) and internally. What is slightly surprising is how many of the changes are 'steps down' rather than 'steps up'; some of the key qualities and features that made the G series so different from Canon's other compact camera ranges have been removed or 'downgraded'. Of course there are some areas where the specification has been 'beefed up' over the G6, but not all these changes will be welcome to potential upgraders.

* Higher resolution (10MP vs 7MP)
* Digic III processor
* Longer, but slower zoom lens
* Image stabilization
* Larger, higher resolution screen (fixed: no longer vari-angle)
* Loss of Raw mode
* Face detection mode
* Lighter, smaller (no hand grip), no LCD info/status panel
* Reduced battery life
* Wider ISO range (to ISO 1600 at full resolution)
* New ISO dial on body
* Better macro mode
* Enhanced movie mode
* Additional scene modes

Read more Dpreview

Nikon announces a digital SLR for the masses

The D40 combines outstanding picture quality with a smart, lightweight and compact design that will appeal to everyone

Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Nikon has taken another huge stride forward with the launch of the Nikon D40, its lightest, most compact and easiest to use digital SLR ever.

The D40 marks a number of important milestones and cements Nikon’s reputation for developing high quality, innovative products packed full of the latest technologies and features.

The D40 is a brand new interchangeable-lens digital SLR that unites the brilliant performance of world-famous Nikkor lenses and the practicality of a remarkably small and light camera body. It boasts handling and performance advantages that do away with the frustrations often associated with compact digital cameras, making it ideal for anyone who wants to capture spectacular digital pictures without fuss or complication.

Thanks to Nikon’s world beating digital and optical technologies, the D40 makes it amazingly simple to capture beautiful pictures in almost any situation.

The D40 – equipped with a specially designed 3x 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens - is light and compact, making it easy to carry anywhere. The camera’s design incorporates fewer potentially confusing controls and other distractions, allowing anyone to take breathtaking pictures while eliminating the need to "learn" photography.

The D40 features a high-resolution 6.1-effective-megapixel Nikon DX Format CCD image sensor and a highly advanced Nikon Image Processing Engine. These combine to produce exceptional image detail with true, vivid colors.

Nikon’s exclusive 3D Color Matrix Metering II assures accurate exposure control even in difficult lighting conditions and an AUTO ISO feature makes the most of available light by automatically setting the camera’s light sensitivity from the available ISO range of 200 to 1600.

The D40 has remarkably fast responses, with autofocus control algorithms that are inherited from Nikon’s renowned D200 and D80 digital SLRs, delivering more precise focus, faster subject tracking and more accurate autofocus response and detection – even in low light.

The D40 takes just 0.18 seconds to power up, and its almost imperceptible shutter release lag time does away with the frustrating picture taking delay common with point-and-shoot digital cameras – assuring that special moments are captured beautifully.
Nikon’s scene-optimised Digital Vari-Program modes allow the photographer to concentrate on capturing nearly any type of scene without being distracted by camera settings. All eight modes – Auto, Auto (Flash Off), Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sport, Close Up and Night Portrait – are designed to produce remarkable results by automatically calculating the best settings and ISO-equivalent sensitivity for each scene.

The new mode, Auto (Flash Off), prevents the Built-in Flash from popping up while boosting the ISO, thereby allowing the photographer to take pictures in museums, concerts, school plays, weddings and other low-light situations where flash photography is prohibited.

The D40’s new Retouch menu offers exclusive in-camera image editing features that add to the D40's “fun factor” by providing greater creative freedom without the need for a computer. Included in the Retouch menu is Nikon’s D-Lighting, Red-eye correction, Image Trim and other creative features such as Image Overlay, Small Picture, Monochrome (Black-and-white, Sepia, Cyanotype) and Filter Effects (Skylight, Warm filter, Colour balance).

The kit lens for the D40 is the new 3x 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens, assuring superb picture sharpness and optimum contrast, along with the versatility of a wide-angle to medium telephoto lens.

Included with the camera is Nikon’s PictureProject software to transfer, organise and share images while Nikon’s Capture NX photo editing software is available separately.

The D40 opens up the fun, excitement and superior image quality of digital SLR photography to everyone. Its compact size and ideal ergonomics make it the digital SLR solution for pictures anytime, anywhere. Its bright and sharp viewfinder with 0.8x magnification ensures precise composition. After shooting, the camera’s large 2.5-inch high-resolution color LCD monitor provides a clear view for checking sharpness, exposure and focus by enlarging the picture up to 19 times.

Building on Nikon’s reputation for making the finest digital SLR cameras, the compact D40 offers mobility, easy operation and beautiful pictures to even first-time digital SLR users, making it ideal for anyone ready to experience the difference of Nikon digital SLR photography.

Leica announce fixes for M8

Upgrade for the LEICA M8 available

11/24/2006 - Since delivery of the LEICA M8 started as of the end of October 2006 we have received the endorsement of many happy users. Nevertheless, in some fairly rare situations, some annoying effects may occasionally occur. Even though these artifacts neither happen often nor to everyone we want to eliminate the effects by providing the following solution.

Issues reported as "Banding" and "Mirror/Ghost images"

Our engineering teams thoroughly investigated the root causes of these effects. They have developed and tested a robust remedy - an upgrade for the M8 - to eliminate any re-occurrence. We have taken extra precautions to not only make sure that the problem does not surface again, but that this remedy will enable every M8 to meet and exceed Leica performance standards.

Cameras shipped from our factory as of November 27th, 2006 will be equipped with the upgrade. Therefore, and because they will be tested thoroughly, we are confident that they will be defect-free.

All customers having received their LEICA M8 before this delivery date will be offered an upgrade free of charge in Leica Camera AG's Customer Service in Solms. To upgrade your camera please, register yourself on our website as of December 6th, 2006. After you have registered you will be contacted by Customer Service to make an appointment to send in your LEICA M8.
Please note that even without this upgrade all cameras delivered before this date are in working order and can be used normally. Even so, we recommend you to have the upgrade performed.

Above-average sensitivity for infrared light (synthetic fabrics are rendered with a slight magenta offset)

During the development of the LEICA M8, we made important design choices to insure that the camera delivers the quality in images the Leica M System is known for. Keeping the protective glass cover on the sensor as thin as possible on the one hand has the benefit of allowing the full potential of Leica lenses on the LEICA M8 to be utilized with respect to their sharpness and contrast rendition, but it also absorbs less of the infrared light. In everyday photographical use the resulting above-average sensitivity for infrared light may lead to a faulty color rendition, especially in the case of synthetic fabrics which - depending on the ambient light - cannot be rendered fully black but only with a slight magenta offset.

Our solution: We will offer special screw-on type UV/IR filters for all Leica M lenses. With respect to the Leica M's compact build the combination of a thin absorption filter on the sensor and a screw-on interference filter on the lens represents the best technical solution. It completely eliminates the color offset caused by infrared light. When using lenses from 16 to 35mm, we suggest opting for the 6-bit coded ones, in order to prevent a color offset towards the edges. No disadvantages must be expected for the images when the LEICA M8 is equipped with the latest firmware (from 1.10; available as of early December 2006).

Leica Camera AG offers every LEICA M8 customer a basic kit of two UV/IR filters with diameters of her/his choice and free of charge. Delivery will commence as of early February 2007. In order to receive the two free IR/UV filters, please register yourself as of December 6th, 2006, including your name and address as well as the camera's serial number. After your registration you can order two filters of choice which will be delivered to your address. Additional filters will be available from your Leica dealer.

Continuing improvements through firmware updates

As is common with digital products, Leica Camera AG is constantly working on improving firmware details such as in the case of the automatic white balance. All improvements will be made available for our customers as downloadable firmware updates.

We are confident these corrective technical measures will fulfil every expectation of even the most demanding customers.

Via Dpreview

Toshiba announce 8GB SDHC memory

TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced the global launch of the latest addition to its new series of high-capacity SDHC Memory Cards: the industry's first 8-gigabyte Class 4 memory card. The new card will be introduced in early January 2007, alongside the 4GB products launched in September, and will give Toshiba larger commercially available lineup in high performance SD Memory Cards.

The SDHC (SD High Capacity) Memory Card is based on the SD Card Association's SD Specifications Ver2.00, which defines high capacity, high performance enhancements to market-leading SD Memory Cards. The new card meets the Class 4 standard, a speed standard that requires a data write speed of at least 4MB a second. Toshiba is first in the industry to announce the launch of Class 4 8GB SDHC memory card.

SDHC Memory Cards are expected to find wide application in digital video and still cameras, and Toshiba is enhancing global distribution of its new cards.

Via Dpreview