While compiling a list of my favorite professional DSLRs two things came to my mind: At this point in the 21st century, why are they still called DSLRs and not simply SLRs? Canon’s top-of-the-line, film-based EOS-1v was introduced in 2000 and is long gone. Nikon’s F6 ($2,399) was launched in 2004, and although you can still buy one, not many people do. To me it’s like calling automobiles “horseless carriages” and since I don’t think a Nikon F7 is around the corner, let’s put this abbreviation to bed.
Canon held its once-every-five-years Canon Expo 2015 show in New York City last September where the Tokyo-based company pulled back the curtain on some potentially groundbreaking imaging technology. Part science lab and part marketing showcase, the event drew tens of thousands of buyers, dealers, and distributors of Canon products (along with a large group of journalists) eager to see what the company had up its sleeve.
Becoming the victim of a camera buying scam on the Internet could happen to anybody. That’s the message in the below video from prominent photo blogger Steve Huff who fell prey to a scam when he tried to purchase a Canon EOS-1D X Mark II and some L-series Canon lenses on Amazon and ended up with a lot less than he bargained for.
Starting with the 2014 CES trade show, held at the turn of the year, and continuing through press time for this issue, we’ve seen a goodly number of new products come to the fore. All this is only the start—this being a photokina year we’ll see a whole new round of products, including CMOS-sensor medium formats, with prices to match, coming our way. I trust that this report will give you a good sense of what’s here and what’s coming down the pike. So, here are my quick picks of those products that caught my eye, plus a snapshot of some of the trends.
Ricoh Imaging just introduced two new HD PENTAX D FA Lenses. Designed for use with the current PENTAX K-mount D-SLR cameras (and future PENTAX sensor technology) these lenses offer ranges not found in previous models, including a star-series telephoto zoom and super-telephoto zoom for capturing clear images of distant subjects and weather resistant for shooting in all conditions.
The HD PENTAX D FA lenses feature a high-grade HD Coating which helps produce extra-sharp, high-contrast images, minimizing flare and ghosting, even under demanding lighting conditions such as backlight situations.
Ricoh Imaging Americas just announced the Pentax K-70, a compact, dustproof and weather-resistant DSLR. The Pentax K-70 uses a 24-megapixel APS-C image sensor and is designed for shooting in low light and at temperatures as low as 14-degrees F (-10°C). It’s aimted at “hikers, climbers and snow sports enthusiasts, as well as for nature and landscape photographers,” Ricoh Imaging said in a news release today.
In an announcement that’s sure to create a buzz among those looking for a new full-frame DSLR, Ricoh Imaging, the parent company of Pentax, just unveiled the eagerly anticipated Pentax K-1 Mark II DSLR. The new camera retains all of the features that made the original Pentax K-1 camera so popular, and adds a host of powerful new features and capabilities.
Just last August, Ricoh introduced the K-S1 digital SLR and now that model is already being replaced with the just announced K-S2. Where the previous camera received a mixed reaction for its unconventional design that featured a handgrip that lit up with green lights, the new K-S2 DSLR is more traditional looking.
Photographers loved the now-discontinued Pentax K-5 IIs DSLR for its rugged, magnesium body and it’s weatherproof/cold-resistant design. Brian Maneely is one such shooter whose Penax K-5 IIs recently survived being doused with fire retardant and then hosed off with water while shooting a California wildfire.
It seems obvious that being part of a group is better than going it alone against the Canon and Nikon digital SLR juggernaut. The K-mount group now joins the Four Thirds alliance in competition with The Big Two. Developed jointly with Pentax Imaging (www.pentaximaging.com), Samsung's GX-1S digital SLR features a...
Serious photography can be seriously expensive, especially for those who update their cameras often and insist on carrying a bag loaded with premium glass. But here’s a secret for photographers on a budget: For the same money (or less), you can often achieve far better results with a high-quality vintage lens, than by “saving money” on a modern mid-level or kit lens.
Outdoor photographers are known for carrying tons of gear, so they’re prepared for just about anything they encounter. We’ve addressed this burden in the past for landscape shooters who often hike great distances into the field, and for travel photographers who want to carry a minimum of equipment.
Q. I have a Lightroom catalog that contains pictures I have accidentally erased. The items are not in the “Recycle Bin” nor do I have any other access to the JPEGs. Is there anything that can be done using Lightroom to retrieve the JPEGs?
Selling your used equipment for the best price is easier and safer than you thought, provided that you follow these tips and deal with the right buyer. So if you’re considering weeding out a few of your seldom-used lenses or the cameras you’ve outgrown, have an itch to move up to mirrorless or maybe 4K video capability, or just want some cash, this story about MPB is for you.