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January
30, 2004
Canon
EOS-1D Mark II and Two New EF Lenses Announced
Canon's
EOS-1D Mark II sets new PRO standard
We
expected this year to be that of the digital SLR
and we are not being disappointed. Canon has announced
its new EOS-1D Mark II, a dSLR for professional
photographers.
 The
Canon EOS-1D Mark II digital SLR is aimed at professional
photo enthusiasts, has 8.2 megapixels resolution,
has a USB port, a SD slot, and can capture eight-megapixel
JPEG images at 8.5 fps in continuous bursts of
up to 40 frames and RAW images in continuous bursts
of up to 20 frames. Shutter speed is 30 to 1/8,000
sec., ISO from 100-1600. Together with the EOS-1D
Mark II, Canon will offer an optional dedicated
accessory known as Data Verification Kit DVK-E2
for image data authentication. Utilizing a Secure
Mobile data card and reader, the DVK-E2 quickly
scans image files from the EOS-1D Mark II or EOS-1Ds
to determine whether they have been modified in
any way. This feature is intended to support the
use of digital images in legal proceedings and
other applications where the authenticity of image
data is crucial. Set for delivery to Canon Canada
Inc. authorized dealers in April, the EOS-1D Mark
II digital camera carries a manufacturer's suggested
list price of $ 6,800 and the DVK-E2 accessory
will carry and estimated list price of $1,200.
Two
new EF lenses for the new EOS-1D Mark II: The
EF28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM features 11x zoom
with Image Stabilization, and the EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6
DO IS USM is small and light and also features
Image Stabilization. Available through authorized
Canon dealers in April, the EF28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L
IS USM and the EF70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
lens carry a manufacturer's suggested list prices
of $4,500 and $2,250, respectively.
January
29, 2004
Minolta
DiMAGE Z1 Review
The
Minolta DiMAGE Z1 has all the features and
exposure flexibility that a beginner or serious
amateur photographer needs to experiment, learn
and grow in digital photography, including macro
at 4 cm (1.7 in.) and a 10x optical zoom to a
35mm telephoto lens equivalent of 370mm. What
I particularly liked about it is excellent, virtually
noise-free image quality. It's fast, comfortable
to hold, and unique in its futuristic design.
To find out if you fit the user profile, read
our Minolta
DiMAGE Z1 Review.
January
28, 2004
Nikon
D70 & Coolpix 8700 Announced
Nikon
announces two new cameras to its award-winning
camera line
With
the introduction of two new models, Nikon is back
into the competitive game, with the Canon EOS
Digital Rebel and the Sony DSC-F828 squarely in
its sight.
 The
much anticipated Nikon D70 digital SLR, created
and priced for amateur to semi-professional photo
enthusiasts, has 6.1 megapixels resolution (on
a 23.7x15.6mm image sensor), shutter speed of
30 to 1/8,000 sec., and ISO 200-1600. It uses
CompactFlash I and II memory cards (incl. Microdrive)
and negligible shutter lag. The D70 accepts all
AF Nikkor lenses as well as the new DX Nikkor
lenses. It has an AF-assist illuminator and Scene
Modes, and can shoot at 3fps for a continuous
burst of 144 pictures. Dimensions: 338W x 111H
x 78D mm (5.5W x 4.4H x 3.1D inches) and Weight:
595g (21 oz.) without battery and storage media.
It will be available worldwide March 2004. Nikon
Canada estimates the suggested retail price of
the D70 with the new AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm
f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED kit will be $1,999. Street prices
should be less than that.
 With
8 megapixels resolution (on a 2/3 in. image sensor)
and 8x optical zoom (35-280mm, 35mm equivalent),
the new Nikon Coolpix 8700 wants to claim the
top spot in the prosumer category. The 8700 is
packed full of features, including Best Shot Selector,
totally flexible exposure control including Scene
Modes, an AF-assist illuminator, real-time histogram,
framing guides on the LCD, Vari-angle LCD, and
optional wideangle, telephoto and fisheye converters.
Dimensions: 113W x 105H x 78D mm (4.4W x 4.1H
x 3.1D in.) and Weight: 480g (17 oz.) without
battery and storage media.
January
27, 2004
Ultra
Zoom Digital Cameras
More
and more camera manufacturers are coming out with
ultra zoom digital cameras and we have a page
that lists all of them together. The more we look
at them and use them, the more we suspect some
of them may have the same lens and firmware at
the heart of some of their consumer ultra zoom
digital cameras -- though we have been known to
be wrong ;o). more...
We
are currently reviewing the Minolta
DiMAGE Z1 and the Kodak
Easyshare DX6490.
January
25, 2004
Photoxels
Forum!
Hey,
come and visit our new forum -- your community!
We're just trying this out with a forum board.
Instead of simply being a place to chat, we intend
to augment our tutorials and make them interactive
through the forum (but that'll have to wait a
little as we work on the best structure). We know
our readers are from all over the world, so drop
by and say, Hi! -- and make good friends in
the process.
January
20, 2004
Press
Release:
- Fujifilm
reaffirms commitment to film and 35mm film cameras
Comparative
Shots -- A Word of Caution
Comparative
shots of the same subject using different digital
cameras is a popular way to attempt to differentiate
digital cameras. The principle is simple enough:
keep everything constant except the digital camera.
The results should speak loud and clear for themselves.
The
idea makes intuitive sense -- but there's a flaw
in the thinking. more...
January
19, 2004
Kodak
Easyshare DX6490 Fact Sheet
 We
have added a fact sheet for the Kodak Easyshare
DX6490 Zoom, a 4 megapixels resolution digital
camera with a 10x optical zoom (35mm equivalent
of 38 - 380mm). more...
January
16, 2004
MegaPixel.net
Reviews
Don't
miss the reviews of three exciting digital cameras
over at Megapixel.net: Fujifilm FinePix S7000,
Sony DSC-F828 and Olympus E-1.
Kodak
Digital Cameras
You
have all read the news about Kodak moving away
from traditional 35mm film cameras and concentrating
instead on digital cameras. It's good news, and
to respond to all those who wrote and asked us
to cover the Kodak line, well your patience will
be soon rewarded.
Minolta
DiMAGE Z1
We've
just received a Minolta DiMAGE Z1 for review.
It has 3.2 MP resolution, 10x optical zoom and
uses 4 AA batteries. Watch out for our first review
of the new year in about 2 weeks!
January
14, 2004
Tutorial
- Learn: Understanding
Focal Length Part II
Added:
Focal length multiplier, digital lenses and the
attractiveness of standards.
January
13, 2004
Tutorial
- Learn: Understanding
Focal Length Part I
What
is focal length? What are some of the more popular
focal lengths? In this Part I of the tutorial,
we cover the basics. In a later Part II continuation
we will cover focal length multiplier and explain
other good stuff you need to understand about
focal length.
Housekeeping
Forms
should be working once again. We are still working
on resolving some of the other issues (we all
experience growing pains). Thanks to all those
who sent in ISP suggestions.
January
11, 2004
Housekeeping
Yeah,
I know, all the forms on the site are broken.
I have support issues with my current ISP that
I am trying to iron out. If any of you have a
suggestion for a good reliable (and affordable)
host, please
for consideration. Thanks! I am going to give
my current ISP a few more tries at solving the
problem(s) before taking the drastic decision
of moving everything to a different, more reliable
and supportive, host. Sigh!
January
10, 2004
Project:
Animal Noises
Just
wondering if we have readers who live near farms
and have access to live animals. Forget about
recordings of digital camera shutter sounds ;o),
we are looking for very short (5-10 secs max)
video/sound recordings of real farm animals
(i.e. rooster, duck, chicken, lamb, goat, horse,
etc.) that you capture using your digital cameras
(hey, it's a digital camera site!). What I would
really like to know is if a rooster sound the
same whether it comes from a British farm or a
French farm or a Germal farm, etc. You get the
idea! Come on, it should not take you two seconds
to get a recording and
, subject = Animal Noises.
New
Sponsor
We've
just welcomed a new sponsor on our site and you
would have noticed the ads on top and right side
of the page. These ads should help us cover some
of our web hosting costs (remember, I still have
a day job and this is still an after hours and
week-end gig). So, please do support us by visiting
those companies. We want your feedback, especially
if you encounter any type of spywares (ensure
your PC is clean first by running: Ad-aware
from www.lavasoft.de and/or Spybot
Search & Destroy from PepiMK Software).
Thanks.
January
9, 2004
Nikon
Coolpix 2200 and 3200
 Nikon
has just announced an upgrade to the Coolpix 2100
and 3100 digital cameras [see Press Releases below].
Interestingly, they both now use SecureDigital
(SD) memory cards instead of CompactFlash (CF)
cards. With adoption by the major digital camera
manufacturers, the SecureDigital memory card has
definitely earned its place and is quickly becoming
the de facto standard memory card used in compact
and ultracompact digital cameras. The Nikon Coolpix
3200 improves on the 3100 by the addition of a
low-light AF-assist Illuminator, a Panorama Assist
mode, 14.5MB of internal memory, and is PictBridge
compatible.
Press
Releases:
- Nikon
Coolpix 2200 and 3200
January
8, 2004
Minolta
DiMAGE A1 Fact Sheet
 We've
added a new fact sheet for the Minolta DiMAGE
A1. The Minolta A1 is Minolta's top of the line
prosumer digital camera, touts its AF to be the
fastest among current 5MP digital cameras, and
claims its AF works even in low-light without
the need for a low-light AF illuminator. It also
has a unique anti-shake system where it is the
image sensor that actually moves to compensate
for camera shake. more...
Minolta
DiMAGE Z1 Fact Sheet
 We've
added a new fact sheet for the Minolta DiMAGE
Z1. The Minolta Z1 is Minolta's 10x optical ultra
zoom digital camera with a decidedly futuristic
look. more...
Press
Releases:
- Minolta
DiMAGE Scan Dual IV Film Scanner
- Canon
MultiPASS MP390 Multifunction desktop photo
printer
- Canon's
new ZR80, ZR85 and ZR90 Mini DV Camcorders
January
7, 2004
Images
From Mars
 Thanks
to digital photography, NASA's Spirit rover is
sending superb images from Planet Mars after a
seven month journey. The CCD image sensors used
by Spirit's PanCam (panoramic camera) are produced
by Waterloo, Ontario-based Dalsa
Corp., at its semiconductor foundry in
Bromont, Quebec. The image sensors are installed
in Spirit's nine electronic cameras, including
two panoramic cameras on the rover's mast that
give the vehicle its human-like vision. Three
of the cameras are used for scientific investigation,
and the other six aid in navigating the rover.
According to a Press Release from Dalsa, "Pancam’s
mast assembly allows it to rotate a complete 360°
while the camera bar itself can swing up or down
through 180° of elevation. This allows the
cameras to generate stunning panoramic image mosaics
as large as 4,000 pixels high by 24,000 pixels
around, equivalent to a 96 megapixel image."
The RAW
images are available on NASA's site.
January
5, 2004
Nikon
Coolpix 3700 Fact Sheet
 We've
added a new fact sheet for the new Nikon Coolpix
3700 (and removed that of the Coolpix 3500 that
it replaces). This is Nikon's first digital camera
using the increasingly popular SecureDigital (SD)
memory card. It features a low-light AF-assist
to achieve focus lock in low-light and 15 scene
modes to cover most picture taking situations.
more...
January
3, 2004
Mark
Sweeting's Lens Calculator
Readers
have expressed some confusion over the focal length
specifications of digital cameras, especially
compared to their 35mm film counterparts. We are
preparing a tutorial to explain all this, but
meanwhile here is something that may shed some
light on it for those of you who are mathematically
minded. We received this "Lens Calculator"
from reader Mark Sweeting and it calculates
the angle of view and field of view of a lens
based on the size of the image sensor used. Thanks,
Mark!
[If you want to contact Mark and discuss his Lens
Calculator (or SETI or Archaelogy or ...), you
can reach him at www.sweeting.org/mark].
January
1, 2004
Happy
New Year & A New Look for Photoxels
A
fresh coat of paint always does wonder to a room,
a garage door, the trim of a window, -- or a web
site (using digital paint)! In our quest to make
your experience on this site ever more enjoyable,
we have enhanced and added the following:
- Spruced
up the navigation column on the left to make
it even easier to find what you are looking
for;
- Added
a Press Releases page to contain the press releases
from camera manufacturers;
- Added
Feature Boxes on our home page to indicate the
latest review, tutorial.
We
are still working on certain sections, so if you
encounter any broken links or strange site behaviour,
please let us know.
Thanks.
Featured
Site: CanadaHelps.org
 For
our first Featured Site for 2004, we have chosen
to highlight an online portal for charitable giving.
CanadaHelps.org is a non-profit organisation
started by three university students to capitalize
on the rapid progress made in Internet technology.
By making available best of breed e-commerce technology
free of charge to charitable organisations through
its portal, CanadaHelps.org has instantly catapulted
every one of Canada's 78,000 charities into the
Internet age. Please start the new year right
by thinking of those less fortunate. If you have
found Photoxels.com useful, then one way you can
give back is to visit the CanadaHelps.org
portal and contribute to your favourite charity.
Thank you!
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