A photographer, John Heller, had $9,000 worth of gear stolen at a shoot in Hollywood. After giving up all hope of ever getting his Nikon D3 back, he checked with a site called GadgetTrak that scans Flickr and other image upload sites for photos matching the serial number of his DSLR.

In a few seconds he had found shots with serial numbers matching his D3 belonging to a professional photographer. With the help of the police he got his gear back and now the tracking service is a recommend site for LAPD detectives on the hunt for fugitive cameras.

Want to give it a try? You can search the service for free. It currently holds 10 million serial numbers and it checks sites like 500px.com and Flickr for recent shots. Also note that you should probably write down your camera’s serial number ASAP for this to work correctly at all.

A lot of these posts are a bit self serving but it’s great to see folks reunited with their gadgets so often these days (this tale of a stolen laptop is particularly stirring) that it makes me wonder why anyone tries to gank anything electronic anymore.

Three from James Miller on Vimeo.

James Miller wanted to transfer this old Super 8 movie shot in 1979 to digital. Instead of, you know, using ready-made gear or services, he attached a mask to a Canon 5DMK2 and ran the film a frame at a time past the sensor, syncing the frames with the camera’s recording capabilities. The results are impressive, to be sure, but according to Miller the build took two years to complete.

Here’s his complete process:

The Projector – 8mm Direct to 5Dmk2 from James Miller on Vimeo.

via Giz

Pentax seems to have a sweet spot for digital cameras with funky designs, and this time it’s the Pentax K-r that will receive a limited edition treatment. Pentax today announced [JP] the so-called K-r BONNIE PINK MODEL”, a redesigned version of the camera, which was released last year.

Bonnie Pink is the name of a fairly famous Japanese pop star.

Technically, Pentax didn’t change anything, apart from adding a boot screen that shows the singer’s logo. Buyers will get a DA L 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL BONNIE PINK MODEL lens that’s bundled with the camera.

The camera will be limited to just 100 units (price: $1,100). Pentax will start selling it next month: ask specialized online store Rinkya if you want to lay your hands on one but don’t live in Japan.

The D7000 has a new improved EXSPEED 2 processing system, which when combined with their new 39 point AF system pretty much guarantees that you’re going to get the shot you want. Along with the improved auto-focusing system, the D7000 will shoot 1080p at 24 fps, or 720p at up to 30 fps. The ISO range is pretty spectacular as well, ranging from ISO 100-6400, however it will extrapolate up to 25,600. That’s pretty much unheard of in a DX sensor. The D7000 also has an expanded scene recognition system, allowing the camera is switch between modes automatically and without requiring the user to manually choose. The scene recognition system is a Nikon exclusive, and uses a 2,016 pixel 3D color matrix meter RGB sensor, which makes it possible for the D7000 to have the most accurate white balance of any current DSLR. The best news is that the D7000 will be available mid-October for $1199 for the body only, and $1299 with an 18-105mm VR lens.

In addition to the D7000, Nikon is also launching a couple a really nice new lenses today. There’s an AF-S 200mm f/2 VR II for $5999.95, the long awaited AF-S 35mm f/1.4 for $1799.95, and a new SB-700 Speedlight flash for $329.95. I think I see a new flash in my future.

From the press release:

You might as well take your Rebel T2i back to the store, friends, because Canon just dropped the EOS 60D, a mid-range DSLR with RAW shooting, a swing-mounted LCD, and great video recording.

Price-wise we’re talking $1,000 for the body and $1,400 for the lens kit – $200 more than the T2i but with a few more features including tilt-shift and “Hipstamatic”/Toy Camera filters. Finally, a $1,000 camera that can mimic a 99 cent iPhone app. Giz wasn’t impressed but it takes a village to get those boys excited, so grain of salt there.

Anyway, press release:

Product Page

Rumors have been flying left and right about Nikon’s upcoming cams. The word around the tubes is that both the D90 and D3000 are getting a refresh real soon. We supposedly saw the specs for the D90 replacement last week and now a German magazine published with what they claim are the D3100 specs. Hopefully it’s not twisted joke because these specs would make the D3100 one hell of a camera.

Nikon D3100:

• 14 MP CMOS Sensor
• Live View
• 3 inch Display
• 100 – 12800 ISO
• 11-Point AF
• Full HD Video (1920 x 1080)
• price 650 €

Do you see that ISO rating? 100 – 12,800? Wow. In an entry level DSLR? Yessir! Of course there’s no official word from Nikon yet, but the frequency of the rumors seem to state these cameras are coming sooner than later.

What is this thing?
The rise of micro four-thirds camera is probably biggest potential change in popular cameras since the rise of the point and shoot. Micro four thirds “system” cameras offer the best of both worlds – removable lenses for folks who like to play with focal lengths and primes and a simple interface and low price for entry level users.

The Lumix DMC-G10 is Panasonic’s latest addition to its G family of m4/3 cameras. It is, in short, Panasonic’s attempt at creating a strong competitor to Canon and Nikon’s entry-level DSLR line-up and at the same time attack the entry-level consumer who may be in the market for an ultrazoom point and shoot or, barring that, a standard pocket camera.

Features:

• 12-megapixel sensor
• 720p video recording
• ISO 100-6400 range/li>
• 14-42mm kit lens
• $599

Pros:

• Light and small
• Excellent photo quality
• Built-in flash

Cons:

• Low resolution screen and digital viewfinder
• Some odd interface choices

The Camera
The G10 looks like a standard DSLR. The lenses, while considerably smaller, can fall into the hefty range, especially when you look at the 45-200mm. However, the camera body is only 12 ounces and weighs in at 20 ounces with the kit lens included. This alone would make it a good, portable camera. However, the G10 is sized almost like a DSLR, so you lose much of the portability because of the large hand grip and body.

The camera has a 3-inch LCD on the pack and a “live” view finder which is actually a tiny LCD that mirrors the 12.1 megapixel Live MOS Sensor output. Both the LCD screen and viewfinder display all major camera readouts and on-screen prompts allow you to modify settings on the fly.

The camera has standard Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual Modes as well as portrait, landscape, action, macro, backlit, and scene mode. Scene modes include the old standbys like Night Portrait as well as Sunset, Party, Baby (two settings!), and Pet. It has 100-6400 ISO equivalency and a small pop-up flash.

The camera also takes 720p video and can autofocus during filming, allowing you to perform a few fun camera tricks while shooting.

The kit lens is a VARIO 14-42mm with image stabilization. It’s a nice, close shot and is a bit slower than I’d like in low light. There is also a hot-shoe for optional external flash.

In short, you’re getting the equivalent of a mini-DSLR: loads of features in a package considerably smaller than even most ultrazoon fans are used to.

The Quality
So how does it shoot? Since I’m not a prosumer by any means, I did enjoy the auto mode – essentially an automatic mode that takes most of the guesswork out of the shoots. However, I did feel that the camera is overly complex, especially for a new user. The myriad modes and functions do not appear to be well laid out and selecting a Scene mode – one of the popular crutches for beginning photographers – doesn’t bring up a Scene menu immediately. You instead need to hit the iA button to bring up the menu and even then it is unclear when this menu will appear. It took a few tries to get it to pop up.

As for the photos, I was pleased with the bit of shooting I did with this camera. It’s an impressive piece of equipment and with the right glass it takes nice shots.

The Good
The G10 takes great shots and video. I used it in multiple lighting situations over the past week and came away slightly annoyed by some blurring in the wrong light but most of my shots came out crisp and clear. At $599 with lens you’ll be hard-pressed to find a similarly outfitted camera with a removable lens.

There are some sample photos in sunlight there as well as a shot inside a dimly lit cigar bar. The video recording is also quite nice with good focus throughout. I’m going to put up some sample video shortly.

The Bad
The G10 is a bit big. If this is supposed to be a more portable camera for the photog on the go, the lens and body size definitely doesn’t help. I much prefer the size of the Olympus E-PL1 I reviewed, at least in terms of portability. You are just a hair smaller than a DSLR with this camera, and that could put some people off.

Whereas the E-PL1 feels like a good “second” camera, Panasonic is clearly aiming this one as a camera made to pre-empt the purchase of a DSLR. While this is a noble goal, I wonder how many experienced shooters will want another fairly lumpen camera in their mix.

Bottom Line
As a gadget reviewer people ask me all the time what kind of camera they should get. Barring obvious recommendations for folks who are not very tech savvy and just want something for the pocket or purse, I always recommend an entry-level DSLR like the Canon Rebel. I am slowly changing that recommendation to something in the m4/3s family. Although I personally prefer the size of the E-PL1, I would consider this a worthy adversary in the nascent micro 4/3s line-up.

Product Page

In my opinion, it’s a for some kind of hybrid still and video camera. It just feels like something that you’d see on the back of a pretty advanced camcorder, but we still see the manual controls you’d expect on a still camera. Of course, I could be completely wrong, but that’s the fun of it right? Here’s Nikon’s wording from the patent application:

“In a digital still camera, when the reproducing mode is selected, an indication to the effect that the operation is in standby for reproduction is displayed on an indicating device, and if the command dial is not operated until 16 seconds elapses after the indication has been started, the supply of source voltage to the various parts of the camera is stopped, to achieve a reduction in power consumption. If the command dial is operated within 16 seconds, image signals are output to an external monitor and also an indication to the effect that reproduction is in progress is displayed on the indicating device. If the command dial has been operated within three minutes after reproduction of a given photographic frame has been started, reproduction of the following frame is performed, but if the command dial has not been operated until the three minutes have elapsed, the indication to the effect that the operation is in standby for reproduction is displayed again. If the sensitivity changeover switch and the command dial are operated together during reproduction or standby for reproduction, the photographic frame to be reproduced is determined in correspondence to the quantity and direction of the rotation of the command dial and the frame number of the frame thus determined is displayed on the indicating device.”

Nothing really concrete there, right? Well, I’m sure we’ll see what it is later. Here’s some more images from the patent application.

[via Nikon Rumors]

So this is kind of a DIY project, if for no other reason then you can’t buy this, but you can buy all the parts (and download the instructions) on how to build it. I’m not going to lie to you and tell you that it’s easy, but the end result is incredibly cool. You’re going to need to take apart a camera release, a WarioWare: Twisted cartridge, and don’t even think about using this on a DSi. What’s the gain? Well, there’s a fairly large homebrew community sprouting up, but the basic set up gives you a sound activate trigger, motion sensor, time-lapse, and sun and moon rise awareness. Considering that this is a just a bunch of hackers building something that they couldn’t buy color me impressed. My only question is when can I get one for my Nikon?

[via Electronista]

The DM40 is quite an impressive camera technically, but expect to pay for the privilege of shooting with it, as a sensor that large doesn’t come cheap. MSRP on this amazing piece of equipment is a jaw-dropping $21,990. For all the technical details, here’s the press release:

Mamiya today announced the addition of the new Mamiya DM40 to its lineup of professional large-sensor DSLRs. Featuring a resolution of 40 megapixels with a peak capture rate of .8 seconds per frame and a sustained capture rate of 60 frames per minute, the Mamiya DM40 is the industry’s fastest large-sensor DSLR.

The heart of the DM40 system is the new “DF” camera-core technology, developed by Mamiya, featuring two user-selectable shutter systems: leaf or focal plane. In demanding daylight situations, photographers can use predictable high speed flash synchronization to fill-in or overpower even the brightest ambient light on one of three new leaf-shuttered lenses designed by Schneider-Kreuznach and manufactured by Mamiya. The lenses – available in focal lengths of 55mm, 80mm, and 110mm – deliver an effective maximum flash sync speed of up to 1/1600th of a second. For more conventional situations, photographers can choose any one of 15 other world-class Mamiya optics, from 28mm to 300mm APO, designed for use with the cameras’ focal plane shutter system.

Also newly announced, the Mamiya DM40 Digital Back will be available for those customers who wish to obtain the latest in high-speed and resolution digital capture for their existing Mamiya or large format camera. Supported cameras include: Mamiya 645AFD series, 645DF, Mamiya RZ series (via optional adapter), Mamiya RB series
(via optional adapter), and 4×5 view cameras
(via optional adapter).

Specifications Highlights
CCD: 44 x 33mm, 40 Megapixel
Largest file size: 240 MB 16 bit TIFF
ISO: 80-800
Capture rate: 0.8 sec/frame
Digital imaging user interface: 6x7cm LCD touchscreen

Pricing and Availability
The Mamiya DM40 DSLR kit will be available in the U.S. at $21,990, including Mamiya 80mm f.2.8 D lens. The Mamiya DM40 Digital Back, also available in the U.S. at $19,990. Both are expected to be shipping in March, and include Capture One and Leaf Capture software.

Micro Four Thirds cameras are hot right now. Between Pano’s G1 and the Olympus E-P2, it’s just crazy how fast this style is selling. The new, unnamed Panasonic camera goes in a slightly different direction; a FourThirds camera – NOT another MicroFourThirds. We’re going to call this one a rumor because it’s coming to us from a patent filing, and not from any particular source. This means that Panasonic is going to be announcing a DSLR style camera with Live-View, a mirror and prism system, and an interchangeable lens mount. What you are losing however, is image stabilization, and video recording. The real questions are going to be how much, and when, but for now we’ll just have to be happy with the technical drawings.

[via 4/3rumors]

It’s definitely worth your time to check out Photojojo as well. They have some pretty cool photography tips and some suggestions for projects you might not have ever seen before.

Don’t expect to get this level of megapixel madness for cheap. The DM22 has an estimated street price of $9995, and the DM28 will sell for $14,990. This is one of those cases where it’s the only camera for the job, and you need one, no other camera will do.

For all the details, hit up Mamiya’s site.

Regardless of the D300′s demise, it’s still a great camera, and well worth your photography dollar. Sure it doesn’t do video, but it does have the same 51 point auto-focus that the D300s does, it uses the same lenses, and the processing speed hasn’t been actually defined by Nikon as being that different.

Now, I do need to confess something here: I have a D300, and I love it. I haven’t been tempted to upgrade to a D300s, because I’m not convinced yet that there is that much different in the new model (aside from the video, which I haven’t tried and so can’t comment on). I will be reviewing a D300s soon, so maybe it will win me over.

As it stands, it is worth it to buy a D300? It’s still a truly great camera, and the price will definitely be dropping on what many considered to be the best prosumer camera available. One thing is certain: Nikon will want to move out the old inventory to make room for the new model.

http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=19317786&access_key=key-2imxepg0k0czjjwsa6t3&page=1&version=1&viehigh

Ready?

Let’s start with the “compact, magnesium alloy body” because most cameras are initially judged by specs and how they feel. The K-7 has significantly more weight than previous DSLRs that I’ve handled from Pentax. To be specific, it weighs roughly 26.5 ounces with the rechargeable Li-ion battery compared to that of the K200D, which weighs 24.3 ounces. As you can surmise, it’s a bit of a lump in the hand, but it’s well balanced. The groove in the grip for your middle finger ensures a firm hold of the body, but it could have protruded out a little further for an even better grip. I can usually carry the K200D without a strap and not worry about it being easily knocked out of my hands, but I’m not as comfortable going without a strap on the K-7. And I don’t have the world’s largest hands either.

Buttons and controls are well laid out on the rear of the K-7 and it may be construed as a drastic change from previous models in the Pentax lineup such as the K20D, which the K-7 now replaces as the premier SLR in the family. The same can be said of the UI, but we’ll get to that in just a bit. The playback and delete buttons have been moved to the left of the viewfinder to allow for a 3-inch LCD. Said LCD is bright and vibrant and offers viewing angles from every which way. The K-7 now includes a dedicated Live View button and Green mode button. White Balance, Flash, Drive Mode and Image Tone have been given dedicated buttons and the Menu and Info buttons have been moved from the left hand side to the lower right below the aforementioned buttons.

Adjusting the AF point switching dial can lead to inadvertly turning on Live View mode and it’s a bit stiff so be prepared to dedicate a few minutes to adjust how to turn the dial without pushing the LV button. Pentax also decided to move the EV compensation button up top next to the ISO button.

Also new to the K-7 is a mode dial lock button that must be depressed while switching modes. It can be cumbersome when trying to switch modes quickly, but it also eliminates the chance of switching modes inadvertently. Other than that, there isn’t anything new when it comes to this area of the camera so let’s move on.

Starting with the K2000, Pentax drastically overhauled their UI and I initially found it awkward, but it’s much more streamlined with the way the hard buttons have been laid out. It’s also far more intuitive than the UI found on the K200D. Unfortunately, I haven’t had any time with the K20 so I can’t compare the two. I haven’t even begun to dip into the menu system and tweak things around to my preferences and just started shooting with it right out of the box. We’ll have more on this in the review.

I found the following features to be useful while shooting over the weekend: built-in level, auto-rotating menu and the AF assist light. Speaking of AF, the K-7 is much, much faster at locking on than the K200D and the 50mm f/1.4 that I primarily use with the K200D feels alive. However, I did notice that the K-7 struggled to lock onto multiple subjects even in continuous AF mode and would focus in on something stationary that didn’t seem to be focused on from my point of view. I can’t pass judgment, though. It could have been user error and I’ve only had the camera for a few days. We’ll investigate this further. I should also mention that the shutter is much more quiet than in previous SLRs from Pentax.

HD video has finally come to a Pentax DSLR, which is great and all, but why not go with full HD when competitors have been touting 720p capabilities for months. Hell, look at the Canon 7D that was just announced. As a consumer in the market looking at high-end DSLRs, I’d probably go with the 7D because for $400 more I get a rig that shoots in full HD regardless of everything else the K-7 may offer over the 7D. Either lower the price of the K-7 down to $999 or offer a badass rig that rivals the big boys, Pentax.

But I digress. A total of two videos were shot over the weekend and this was the best of them. This is just a sample that I shot during the practice round with the 300mm telephoto. You can imagine how difficult it is to manually focus such a large lens without a strap or monopod. User error, I know. Again, we’ll work with the video mode a bit more extensively for the full on review.

And now the sample images taken with the 300mm lens from yesterday’s post. The first and last were shot way atop the Penthouse E level at turn 1 while the second and third were taken from the turn 2 shooting pit. I’ve never photographed a race before, but I don’t think they’re horrible.

A few things that I wish were different based on my initial hands-on with the K-7 that others may or may not agree with. The 3-inch LCD is bright and the viewing angles are tremendous, but like any other LCD, it smears from body oil and it’s a pain in the ass to clean. How about an oleophobic screen? It makes perfect sense, right? Easy to clean and I doubt any photographer wouldn’t want one. An AF-L function would have been righteous, too. AF in movie mode would have been the killer feature on the K-7.

Again, this is the real deal hands-on and not me spouting off like a fanboy. Hope you enjoyed.

Big news this AM from Olympus with the announcement of the E-600 DSLR. Looks like another entry-level(ish) digital SLR. Big notables for the 12.3-megapixel shooter include a swiveling 2.7-inch LCD and slew of fancy art filters. That’s seriously about it, folks. The E-600 coupled with a 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 kit lens will retail for $600 in November.

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., August 31, 2009 – The new Olympus E-600 is a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera with everything you need to start enjoying the benefits of DSLR-quality photography today. It’s simple to use, so moving up from a basic point-and-shoot is an enjoyable and affordable experience, and packed with features to meet all of your still photography needs.

The E-600’s high-performance swivel 2.7-inch HyperCrystalTM LCD screen helps you compose from virtually any angle; in-camera Art Filters add more pizzazz to your pictures; its four-frames-per-second burst speed won’t miss a moment of the action, and In-body Image Stabilization removes blur caused by camera shake when you’re on the go. The 12.3-megapixel image sensor and TruePic III+ captures detailed, crisp images and accurate color.

“With the E-600, Olympus has answered the call for a more affordable and creative camera that has everything you could need to get great results,” said John Knaur, senior marketing manager, Digital SLR, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The new entry-level SLR camera offers something for everyone to enjoy, including in-camera Art Filters for expanded creative freedom.”
Exceptional Image Quality

Whether you’re shooting a high school basketball game or capturing a city streetscape, the E-600’s high-performance 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor delivers excellent dynamic range, accurate color fidelity, and a state-of-the-art amplifier circuit to reduce noise and capture fine image details in both highlight and shadow areas.

Its Live MOS image sensor is complemented by Olympus’ TruePic III+ Image Processor, which produces clear and colorful photos using all the pixel information for each image to provide the best digital images possible. The new image processor is noted for accurate natural color, true-to-life flesh tones, brilliant blue skies, and precise tonal expression; it also lowers image noise in photos shot at higher ISO settings, enabling great results in low-light situations.
Swivel Live View LCD Swings into Action

The E-600’s 100 percent accurate 270 degree swivel 2.7-inch Live View HyperCrystal III LCD can be rotated freely so photographers can compose at any angle, including overhead and down low, without getting bent out of shape. This makes it easier to photograph young children on their own level or shoot high above a crowd. E-600 photographers can compose a subject right on the Live View LCD and see the results of the various creative features – live as they’re happening, before the shot is taken.

With Live View, settings like white balance and image brightness can be selected, and the result can be seen instantly on the LCD display. Real-time Live View offers amazing versatility and creative control. The LCD displays 230,000 pixels in vivid color and includes HyperCrystal technology, which offers many times the contrast of conventional LCD monitors for easier viewing in both preview and playback. It also provides a wide viewing angle of 176 degrees, which ensures images can be composed from even the most obscure angles. The 2.7-inch LCD makes icons and text on the camera’s menu easy to view.
Fast Autofocus

Life moves fast, so it’s important to have a camera that locks focus accurately and quickly. Whether you choose to use the super fast autofocus technology or focus the lens manually, the E-600 offers the same sophisticated focusing options as higher-end DSLRs. Use the optical viewfinder to track movement like birds or wildlife or your favorite team on the field, or use the large Live View LCD to frame up a flower or a group of friends at the family gathering. Consumers accustomed to composing and focusing using a point-and-shoot camera’s LCD will appreciate that the E-600 offers the same easy, seamless experience (what you see on its LCD is what you get!). Either way, the focus is quick, precise and easy.
Art Filters for Expanded Creative Control

If you’re hoping to get more out of your camera than simply capturing and documenting a scene, and enjoy enhancing or customizing an image to make it your own, then you will value the camera’s Art Filters. The filters, which are built into the camera, provide incredible individual artistic control over an image, so that you can spend more time shooting and less time computing.

Let your inner artist shine through and make a statement with these in-camera Art Filters:

* Pop Art: Enhances colors, making them more saturated and vivid, creating high-impact pictures that express the joyful, lighthearted feeling of the Pop Art style of the 1960s;
* Soft Focus: Creates an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere that renders subjects in a heavenly light without obscuring details; and
* Pin Hole: Adds a nostalgic look and feel to the image with a darkened vignette around the subject connecting the viewer intimately with the subject at the center of the picture.

Art Filters are easily activated with the mode dial on the right side of the camera body, and the fun part is that you can see and experiment with the effects on the subject live, on the LCD, before you take the shot!
In-Body Image Stabilization for Sharp Images on the Go

The E-600 travels with you to more places, thanks to its compact size and light body. Capture sharp images on the go with the camera’s in-body Image Stabilization (IS), which virtually eliminates blur with any lens attached. Three IS modes handle any situation. The IS-1 mode is for general shooting and adjusts the sensor on both the horizontal and vertical planes to compensate for movement by the photographer so images stay sharp in low light even at slow shutter speeds. To capture the motion of moving subjects, the E-600 offers two specialized modes: IS-2 mode is ideal for capturing a runner or cyclist traveling by in the horizontal mode, preserving the sense of motion while panning; IS-3 mode achieves the same effect when the camera is held vertically. In either mode, the artistic effects of panning enhance the shot and render the subject in sharp detail with blurred background. Moreover, the E-600 is the world’s smallest DSLR with built-in Image Stabilization, so you’ll feel comfortable taking it on the road with you to capture the action.
Always Find a Face in the Crowd

The new camera’s Face Detection technology reduces the chance of blurred subjects in photography by distinguishing between people’s faces and the background. It tracks up to eight faces within the image area, even if people are moving, and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant portrait pictures (ideal for large family or party group photos).
Fast Sequential Shooting

The E-600 can capture images at the highest image-quality setting at a rate of four frames per second. Whether you’re capturing a soccer game, children playing or a bird swooping through the yard, the E-600 ensures that you won’t miss a frame.
Preview a Multitude of Possibilities

Perfect Shot Preview enables users to easily preview and select from four thumbnail previews of the photographic effects of white balance and exposure compensation adjustments live on the LCD before taking the photograph. It is an ideal way for novice users to learn about the effects of different photography techniques, visually, without having to scroll through menu options. With 13 preset scene-select modes for every imaginable shooting scenario, automatic modes and full manual controls, the E-600 offers a world of possibilities to photographers.
Versatile Memory

Accepting both CompactFlash Type I & II, UDMA, Microdrives and xD-Picture Cards, the camera provides a choice of data storage options for enhanced flexibility, and it is possible to transfer image files from one card to the other right inside the camera.
Dust Reduction System for Spot-Free Images

Life moves too fast to spend time worrying about dust ruining the perfect image. Olympus’ proven Dust Reduction System produces spot-free photos with the exclusive Supersonic Wave FilterTM. The patented ultrasonic technology vibrates to remove dust and other particles from the front of the image sensor and captures it on a special adhesive membrane every time the camera is turned on. These spot-free photos liberate users from hours spent retouching photographs at the computer or sending their cameras back to the manufacturer to remove dust trapped inside. With Dust Reduction and the new creative features, Olympus continues to liberate users from the computer and editing software, and enables them to have fun capturing it all while on the go.
Accessories

The HLD-5 Power Battery Holder can hold up to two Lithium Ion BLS-1 batteries to extend the performance life of the E-600 and its existing BLS-1 battery. It also enables effortless vertical shooting with its own separate shutter button and control dial.
Availability

The Olympus E-600 DSLR will be available in early November 2009. It includes the E-600 Body, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLS-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCS-1), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM, Manuals and Registration card.
U.S. Pricing / Product Configurations

E-600 Body with ED 14-42mm f3.5/5.6 Zuiko Digital Zoom Lens Estimated Street Price: $599.99

via PB

The Bokeh Filter from The Bokeh Filter on Vimeo.

Awww, how sweet. You know that fuzzy effect that everyone loves where you have a figure in focus in the foreground and the background is all blurry? That’s called bokeh. Well, this lets you turn lights in the background into odd shapes using what is essentially a lens cap with a shape cut out of it (Hint: you can probably do this yourself).

The caps cost $9.99 and you can order online so if you don’t have a Dremel and a dream you can get some ready made shapes including a star, a heart, and a spiral.

via Giz

It seems a little unnecessary but (there’s a sucker born every second) the 24.6-megapixel full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor equipped α850 is being geared towards “a broader group of consumers,” says Kristen Elder, the Director of Digital Imaging at Sony. Before you raise an eyebrow and ask why Sony has another full-frame DSLR when the α900 is top dog, ask me how much the α850 is going to be. It’s coming in under $2000, which is $700 cheaper than the α900.

Compared to the flagship α900, the α850 comes up short in three main areas: FPS, viewfinder coverage and an optional IR commander control. The α850 only has a 98 percent field of coverage compared to the α900’s 100 percent. The flagship shooter handles 5FPS while the α850 musters up 3FPS.

The α850 will be available next month for “about” $2000, body only.

[PSGallery=an10oadklo0]

http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=19142078&access_key=key-18l3ml3iqwij1ro1z7eh&page=1&version=1&viehigh

Out of nowhere Sony just dropped three new α DSLRs, the α550, α500 and the α850, which we’ll get to a little later. Key new features in the α500 series include the latest gen Exmor CMOS sensors and BIONZ image processors. Sony claims that the new sensors will capture high quality images in low light scenarios with the BIONZ image proc reducing color-noise as high up as ISO 12800. A couple other notables you might want to know about are in-camera HDR and improved Live View functions.

The 14.2-megapixel α550 and 12.3-megapixel α500 will retail for $950 and $750, respectively. Those are prices are for the body only. An 18-55m kit lens can be bundled for an additional $100.

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http://d.scribd.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=19142079&access_key=key-11fzvp7oe3gg6pgiky0q&page=1&version=1&viehigh

The videos, by Robert Bosch and Ami Vitale and commissioned by Nikon to show off the D300s’s movie mode, don’t offer much on that point. I can’t see a lot of skew, but then again, it looks as if the creators went out of their way to avoid situations where skew would be evident (basically, any kind of horizontal movement). I’m also skeptical that YouTube adequately preserves 24fps video. There are some more videos here at Nikon’s site.

Here’s a frame that shows an example of skew (obviously the helicopter blades are moving very quickly, so skew is unavoidable):

Needless to say, this kind of distortion tends to distract the eye, and a filmmaker would be right to avoid it when using a camera prone to it.

Commenters at the original post are debating what manual controls, if any, there are. The consensus seems to be that there’s manual focus and a selectable aperture before shooting. That pretty much makes it difficult to use for serious filmmaking, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be great for this and that.

[ProLost via PDNPulse]