Photo&Cameras

Megapixel has a review of the General Electric G1 and writes, “While the G1 will satisfy the needs of many point and shoot users, it does face some stiff competition from companies whose name is more readily associated with photography than GE. The G1 is a debut camera, and its descendants may well develop into more impressive and feature-rich cameras over time. But at this time, however, the list prices currently indicated by some retailers may make it a tough sell amongst well-informed camera buyers.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Image licenser Corbis has launched a beta version of a new microstock Web site. SnapVillage lets photographers of any level upload images to the site and price them at any of five price points between $1 and $50, with no exclusivity requirements. Photographers can also elect to make their images available to buyers who purchase a monthly $199 subscription that includes up to 750 downloads. Corbis will pay SnapVillage photographers a royalty rate of 30 percent for all flat-price image sales, and 30 cents per download on all subscriptions sales.

SnapVillage allows photographers to tag their images with keywords, and site visitors can save pictures as favorites, share links to photos via e-mail directly from the site, and comment on images. Each image receives a dynamic В“snappyness” rating that reflects the number of times it has been viewed, downloaded, saved as a favorite, commented on, shared, or purchased.

Corbis expects the new site to function as a gateway for developing photographers to the company’s professional services. According to Corbis, its editors will scout SnapVillage to find photographers who show the potential to sell their work on the Corbis professional site.

All SnapVillage buyer payments are conducted via credit card, and photographer royalties are distributed via Paypal. SnapVillage does not require an application or approval process for photographers, or any preliminary payment commitments from buyers.

While in beta, SnapVillage is soliciting customer feedback to use as a basis for site enhancements. A small selection of free content is available on SnapVillage to allow users to experiment with the site.

Read the rest of this entry »

Click photo to launch a slideshow of images taken by the Sony Zeiss 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 Vario-Sonnar T* AF.

When the Sony Alpha 100, our 2006 Camera of the Year, debuted last year, the only optics available for it were cosmetically updated Konica Minolta lenses. At the time, Sony promised a future line of Zeiss-designed glass. This 16- 80mm f/3.5-4.5 ($660, street) — a vaunted T*, no less — is the first of the promised line to run the Pop Photo Lab gauntlet. How does it compare with Sony’s similar but less expensive 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 kit zoom ($190, street)? Let’s see.

Hands On

The Zeiss is an ounce or two heavier than average. Zoom and distance scales are well marked. The zoom action is somewhat uneven, growing slightly stiffer as the lens is racked out; the MF ring is among the roughest-turning we’ve used recently. Autofocusing on the Alpha is slightly noisy and more sluggish than average.

In The Lab

As expected, SQF data showed Excellent sharpness and contrast at the three tested focal lengths. DxO Analyzer 2.0 tests found Visible barrel distortion at 16mm (0.57%), and Imperceptible pincushion distortion at 35mm and 80mm (0.09% and 0.10%, respectively), nearly identical to the kit lens. The Zeiss lens showed no light falloff in the corners by f/8 at 16mm, and by f/5.6 at 35mm and 80mm — about average and, again, same as the earlier lens. At the uniform close-focus distance of approximately 12.75 inches, the maximum magnification ratios ranged from 1:14.25 at 16mm to a satisfying 1:3.8 at 80mm. (The less expensive Sony kit lens offered more magnifying power, 1:3.26 at 70mm.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Image licenser
Corbis
has launched a beta version of a new microstock Web site.
SnapVillage
lets photographers of any level upload images to the site and price them at any of five price points between $1 and $50, with no exclusivity requirements. Photographers can also elect to make their images available to buyers who purchase a monthly $199 subscription that includes up to 750 downloads. Corbis will pay SnapVillage photographers a royalty rate of 30 percent for all flat-price image sales, and 30 cents per download on all subscriptions sales.

SnapVillage allows photographers to tag their images with keywords, and site visitors can save pictures as favorites, share links to photos via e-mail directly from the site, and comment on images. Each image receives a dynamic В“snappyness” rating that reflects the number of times it has been viewed, downloaded, saved as a favorite, commented on, shared, or purchased.

Corbis expects the new site to function as a gateway for developing photographers to the company’s professional services. According to Corbis, its editors will scout SnapVillage to find photographers who show the potential to sell their work on the Corbis professional site.

All SnapVillage buyer payments are conducted via credit card, and photographer royalties are distributed via Paypal. SnapVillage does not require an application or approval process for photographers, or any preliminary payment commitments from buyers.

While in beta, SnapVillage is soliciting customer feedback to use as a basis for site enhancements. A small selection of free content is available on SnapVillage to allow users to experiment with the site.

Read the rest of this entry »

Megapixel has a review of the General Electric G1 and writes, “While the G1 will satisfy the needs of many point and shoot users, it does face some stiff competition from companies whose name is more readily associated with photography than GE. The G1 is a debut camera, and its descendants may well develop into more impressive and feature-rich cameras over time. But at this time, however, the list prices currently indicated by some retailers may make it a tough sell amongst well-informed camera buyers.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Olympus has introduced a new super-telephoto zoom lens. The Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm offers an f/4.0-5.6 maximum aperture and an angle of view equivalent to 140mm-600mm on a 35mm camera when used on DSLRs with the Four-Thirds mount.

The compact 21.8-ounce lens incorporates three ED (extra-low dispersion) elements to reduce fringing and other optical flaws, and provides a minimum focusing distance of 47 inches with autofocus or 38 inches with manual focus. Like all Zuiko Digital Specific lenses, it houses its own processor and offers the photographer the ability to upgrade its firmware as new technology becomes available. The lens has a 58mm filter diameter.

The Zuiko Digital ED 70-300mm Super-telephoto Lens will be available in September 2007 for $399.99.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Mercury On-The-Go 200GB is the highest capacity 7200 RPM portable hard drive currently available. Equipped with FireWire 800/400, USB2, and eSATA interfaces the Mercury On-The-Go 200GB is up to 50% faster than other 7200 RPM drives and offers 25% higher capacity than the competition. Priced at $359.99, the Mercury On-The-Go 200GB is available now.

Other World Computing Press Release

OWC ANNOUNCES HIGHEST CAPACITY 7200RPM PORTABLE STORAGE SOLUTION—MERCURY ON-THE-GO 200GB

Blazing Fast – 50% Faster than other 7200RPM Models

25% Greater Capacity

June 26, 2007, Woodstock, IL—Other World Computing (OWC) http://www.macsales.com, a leading Mac and PC technology company, announced today the highest capacity 7200RPM portable, bus-powered storage solution on the market – the Mercury On-The-Go 200GB portable hard drive.  The Mercury On-The-Go is blazing fast—up to 50% faster than other 7200RPM drives; and at 200GB, it provides a 25% higher capacity than the competition. 

Equipped with FireWire 800/400, USB2, and eSATA interfaces, the OWC Mercury On-The-Go 200GB 7200RPM is a bus powered, palm-sized, high performance storage solution.  Priced at $359.99, the drive is built on the latest Hitachi 7K200 mechanism with OWC’s custom Oxford924 bridge interface for the highest performance portable storage solution available on the market.

Geared to the demanding вЂ?on-the-go’ professional road warrior that requires dependable, high-performance storage, the OWC Mercury On-The-Go 200GB 7200RPM portable drive is compatible with virtually all computers with an available FireWire or USB port, including all Macs and PCs.  It also works with all FireWire or USB gadgets, including digital cameras and camcorders, for an instant on-the-go portable storage solution to quickly and safely store all your digital photos and video when traveling. 

With The Mercury On-The-Go portable drive, you can back-up your entire desktop computer and bring it with you everywhere you go.  For easy backup, the portable drive also includes the full retail versions of the latest award-winning Prosoft DataBackup III for OS X and NovaStor NovaBackup for Windows.

In addition to the 200GB 7200RPM drive, OWC now offers a 250GB 5400RPM model, the Mercury On-The-Go 250GB 5400 RPM portable solution, with a 25% higher capacity and up to a 50% better performance than competing 5400RPM solutions, as well as being faster than other vendor’s 7200RPM solutions.  The OWC Mercury On-The-Go 250GB 5400RPM is available for FireWire 800/400, USB 2.0, and eSATA.  Both the 200GB 7200RPM and the 250GB 5400RPM Mercury On-The-Go models are the leading capacity and performance solutions in the market today. 

The OWC Mercury On-The-Go 200GB 7200RPM Portable Drive is priced at $359.99and the Mercury On-The-Go 250GB 5400RPM Portable Drive is $319.99.  Both drives are available immediately through OWC and other retailers.  The drives have two FireWire 800/400 and one USB 2 ports and ship with a carrying case, FireWire 400/800 cables, USB cable, Prosoft DataRescue III for OS X and NovaStor NovaBackup for Windows.  All Mercury-On-The-Go models are covered by a one-year warranty and are compatible with Apple OS Versions 8.5 through 9.2.x; Apple OS X 10.0.3 and higher (including OS X 10.4.x); and Microsoft Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP.

For more information, see: http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/on-the-go.

About Other World Computing

Other World Computing (OWC) has been providing quality hardware products and support to the computer industry since 1988.  The Illinois based company operates the popular e-commerce portal http://www.MacSales.com which features one of the largest online catalogs of computer and iPod enhancement products, including Mercury, Neptune, and NewerTech acceleration, storage, and FireWireВ® product lines. OWC is also a strategic partner with Axiotron and exclusive US distributor of the award winning Axiotron Modbookв„ў.

Read the rest of this entry »

LaptopMag has a review of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3 and writes, “Under normal shooting conditions, the camera excelled with the MEGA O.I.S. and sharp Leica lens, producing crisp pictures with accurate color. The camera’s large LCD had ample resolution (230,000 pixels), so we could easily tell whether we got the shot, without having to transfer photos to our laptop. … With a versatile wide-angle lens and helpful automatic controls, the TZ3 is definitely a camera that takes photography seriously. The best part is that you don’t need to be a serious pro to capture great pictures with it.”

Read the rest of this entry »

Click photo to launch the Sigma SD14 Image Quality Gallery.

If patience is a virtue, photographers shopping for a new Sigma DSLR are saints. After all, it’s been three years since the last Sigma digital (the SD10), and it was more than six months between the announcement and availability of the new Sigma SD14 ($1,600, street, body only).

Clearly, a truly unique camera takes time. And the SD14 is unique. It’s the first and only DSLR to use a second-generation Foveon X3 sensor, which has a 1.7X lens factor, boasts 14.1 megapixels, and is promoted as a color-accurate, detail-obsessed, low-noise alternative to the CMOS and CCD sensors used in other DSLRs.

For more on the X3, see the McNamara Report. For how the SD14 handled our standardized tests in the field and the Pop Photo Lab, keep reading.

Links

• Image Quality 
Gallery

• Product Gallery
• How to Read a Camera Test
• Rate this camera
• Comment in our Forums

What’s Hot

• Excellent image quality in RAW images at ISOs below 400.
• Removable IR/dust filter expands creative possibilities.

What’s Not

• High price for image quality and performance.
• Poor JPEGs at higher ISOs.

Who’s This For?

Sigma 35mm SLR owners who want to go digital, plus SD9 and SD10 fans seeking higher quality.

Competitive Set

• Canon EOS 30D
• Nikon D200
Beyond the sensor

Aside from the sensor, this is the first Sigma DSLR with a new five-point AF system, JPEG and RAW file storage, pop-up flash, lithium ion battery, and 2.5-inch LCD.

We described many of the camera’s features based on a preproduction model in our December 2006 Hands On. Built to tougher standards than most sub-$1,000 DSLRs, the SD14 is similar in size and design to its predecessors, the SD9 and SD10, which share its stainless steel frame and tough outer casing, but lack the pop-up flash. The less-expensive 10.2MP Nikon D200 rivals the SD14 in strength, and exceeds it by including weather and dust seals.

However, the SD14 has a removable dust/infrared cutoff filter in front of the sensor that keeps image dust mostly out of focus. Removing this filter enables IR shooting when combined with the right opaque IR passing filters, a very nice feature (for more on how to do that, see our SD14 Camera Hack). Another improvement: a beefed-up shutter mechanism that Sigma now rates at 100,000 shots, similar to the ratings of the Canon EOS 30D and Nikon D200.

The SD14 also packs a totally redesigned pentaprism viewfinder that no longer shows a dotted-line frame around the field of view (a holdover from Sigma’s full-frame 35mm SLR days). Since all Sigma DSLRs sport a much smaller image sensor and a 1.7X 35mm lens factor, the new viewfinder is a welcome improvement and projects a bright, clear image with 98% accuracy and 0.90X magnification — earning it Excellent ratings in both categories.

The new pop-up flash, with S-TTL metering and redeye reduction, is similar in range and power (GN 38, feet) to the Nikon D200. Flash sync speed is 1/180 sec, same as Canon’s EOS 30D and slower than the 1/250 of the D200, but it falls to 1/60 sec when set to wirelessly control the optional Sigma EF-500 DG Super flash ($240, street). Though useful, the wireless control doesn’t match the sophistication and multiple channels of the D200’s Commander mode.

Read the rest of this entry »

HP Photosmart R937

HP has added nine affordable compact cameras to its Photosmart R, M, and E lines. All of the new models are compatible with HP’s PhotoSmart printer docks. Designed for photographic simplicity, they provide numerous automatic shooting modes. All but the least expensive models also offer features such as video recording with sound; redeye removal, and HP’s Adaptive Lighting, which brightens dark shadows and optimizes dynamic range.

The flagship Photosmart R937 offers 8-megapixel resolution and an f/3.5-4.2, 39mm-118mm (35mm equivalent) Fujinon 3x zoon lens, along with a 3.6-inch touchscreen LCD. The LCD automatically brightens and darkens to optimize viewing for changing ambient light levels. Its controls include an onscreen keyboard that can be used to enter custom image tags with a stylus that comes with the camera and attaches to its wrist strap. Photos can be tagged with preset categories or user-entered words; Windows Vista and Mac OSX support the tags for organizing images on a computer.

Other notable features of the R937 include spot metering, auto exposure bracketing, a maximum light-sensitivity setting of ISO 1600, pet-eye removal, and an in-camera tool for touching up blemishes and other flaws. There’s also a tool for correcting vignetting, and the camera can autobracket the Adaptive Lighting tool. The R937’s panorama mode can stitch as many as five shots together, and 25 photo effects are available in its design gallery.

Read the rest of this entry »