| Canon EOS 40D 10.5Mp digital SLR
We've used a wide spectrum of digital SLRs, from entry-level models up to pro cameras. Once you have a taste of the capabilities of a professional camera, you can't easily go back to a digital SLR that's less full-featured; likewise, if you want to step up from an entry-level digital SLR, you have to get something with extra oomph. The Canon EOS 40D delivers outstanding image quality at a price that's in reach for photo enthusiasts and professionals alike. The Canon EOS 40D received a score of Superior in our image-quality tests. Images were well balanced, with good colour saturation and accuracy, under both flash and natural light. One of the Canon EOS 40D's advantages is that it has enough high-powered features to appeal to enthusiasts as well as to professionals seeking a second camera.
Olympus SP-570UZ Digital Camera Is Like DSLR, But Not Quite
When you take a look at the spec sheet of the newly revealed SP-570UZ digital camera from Olympus, you can't help but let your jaw drop. And then you drool a little. After that, you realize that it's not really a digital SLR, but it's got enough going for it that the Olympus SP-570UZ might be a perfect solution for consumers who want a little more from their picture-takers. For starters, you'll notice that this cam comes equipped with a lens that offers 20x optical zoom, totally destroying similar offerings from Canon and Sony that only do 12x optical. It's also got a 10 megapixel sensor, dual image stabilization, face detection, shadow adjustment, and perfect shot preview. Around the back, the Olympus SP-570UZ treats you to a large 2.7-inch LCD, as well as access to a series of manual controls.
Canon 40D Review
The test lab over at our review partner Digital Trends published a review of the Canon 40D Review SLR Camera. The Canon EOS 40D scored an Editor's Choice Award. Quote from the review: "Late last year Canon released the EOS 40D, a 10-megapixel D-SLR targeted to serious photographers since it costs north of $1,000 USD for the body alone. Add a few lenses and accessories, the next thing you know youve hit $2K. This camera is targeted for anyone looking at the older 10-megapixel Nikon D80 or the newer 12.2MP Sony alpha DSLR-A700, a camera I liked a great deal. In other words, its for those more than willing to go beyond Auto and make the most of a sophisticated imaging capture device (a.k.a camera)." Read the full Canon 40D Review. .
A Look Back At The Future Of Electronics
I have a professional photographer friend who spent $25,000 for a digital camera back in the 90s. Now you can get great pro-sumer cameras for under $800. At CES, Sony debuted its $699 Alpha DSLR-A100. Like the Canon EOS Rebel XTi and the Nikon D40, this is a full featured camera with interchangeable lenses sold as a kit with a starter lens. The new Sony camera features a 10 megapixel sensor, the ability to take up to 3 frames per second and the support for ISOs ranging from 100 to 3,200. What that all adds up to is a camera that can perform well in a variety of lighting conditions. Also, like the competition, it has image stabilization which compensates for our shaky hands, especially when using a long zoom. Casio introduced one of the most innovative cameras at show. It isnt an SLR, but the new Exilim Pro EX-F1 has a 12X optical zoom and what Casio says is the worlds fastest burst shooting performance.
Find your Digital Rebel's inner Holga
If you love the look of pictures taken with the Holga —those cheap, plastic cameras made in China—but don't want to deal with the oh-so-last-century idea of film, check out Holgamods' Holga Body Cap. Randy Smith, the man behind Holgamods, has taken the lens off a stock Holga and grafted it onto a Canon body cap that fits all of the Canon D-SLRs, including the Digital Rebel series, the EOS 5D Digital, the new EOS 40D Digital, and even the top-of-the-line EOS-1Ds Mark III (it would probably fit any of the more modern Canon film cameras as well). The result is pure plastic goodness without the darkroom. Like the Lensbaby (another of our favorite toys), the Holga Body Cap isn't an automatic lens. You'll need to shoot in manual mode, and set the shutter speed accordingly, but it's a lot of fun, and you end up those dreamy, variable-focus images that tell everyone you're just a little bit off-kilter.
Camera makers vie for SLR buyers' attention
Camera manufacturers including Canon, Pentax, and Fujifilm will show new digital SLRs for professional photographers at the PMA07 show in Las Vegas next month. The new models balance traditional and advanced features to retain existing customers and tempt new ones. Canon will show the EOS-1D Mark III Digital SLR, an upgrade of its classic 1D model that shoots 10.1 megapixel images at up to 10 frames per second. Canon developed a more sensitive image sensor for the camera that can be pushed to ISO 6400, it said Thursday. Fujifilm, meanwhile, will show the FinePix S5 Pro, which begins shipping this month. The digital SLR has a 12.34 megapixel image sensor: half the pixels respond best to low light levels, the other half to stronger light, a system that captures images with a wider dynamic range, the company said.
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