August 7th, 2008 at 10:49pm
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It is our mission to help you find the best deals and prices on Pentax cameras, and get you the information needed to make a good buying decision. Whether you need a high-end Digital SLR or the smaller point and shoot Optio, we help you compare prices with ease on the most popular Pentax models. Asahiflex and Asahi Pentax cameras were carried in many catalogs distributed by individual stores. As such, they offer many more features than previous Pentax cameras had to offer. Some of the more significant features include the high quality pipeline for image processing, the stabilized megapixel CCD, the weather proof and dust proof seals, some exposure modes that are quite unique, and an 11 point AF including nine cross-type points.
But you will be happy with either of these great new Pentax cameras. For the next model, I’m hoping for “real” always-on LiveView and a flip-out screen! There are horror stories of people who got an old manual focus lens stuck on their Pentax cameras. Actually, there are not too many stories, but it only takes one or two for the fear to set in. Collectors of the Asahiflex and early Asahi Pentax cameras enjoy obtaining examples of the Tower variations. By conducting a thorough search at collector shows, outfits can be assembled that contain Tower light meters, cases, film, hoods, and other interesting accessories sold at the time of the early AOC models.
The Pentax DSLR bodies electronically shake their sensors to compensate for camera shake, rather than adding image stabilization to specific lenses. The Pentax system is not as effective as in-lens image stabilization and it isn’t very effective for long telephoto lenses, but it does work with all lenses, including old designs from the film years. The design is solid, and offers an alternative to the heavy pro bodies made by Nikon and Canon. However, as an afficionado of nice old metal-bodied manual lenses, I was pleased to discover that adapters are available to use them on Canon digital SLRs.
The smc Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2AL Limited is an interchangeable uni-focal wide-angle lens for exclusive use with the company’s digital SLR camera bodies.
Delivering 8.0 megapixel resolution, the Optio Z10 also features high speed detection time Face Recognition for improved portraits and digital Shake Reduction that allows ISO to 3200 to capture sharper images in low light settings. The sleek, stylish Pentax Optio Z10 body design also features a sliding lens cover for extra protection that also operates the on/off camera setting. The d40 has ISO 3200 sensitivity they just call is HI 1 for some reason. Those dust removal systems are worthless. One of the main upgrades includes zoom going from 3x to 5x and Digital SR mode to ISO 3200 and ISO 6400. Additionally, the LCD screen size remains the same at 3-inches.
The PENTAX 645 Digital medium-format camera will offer a new digital dimension for medium-format photographers. When evaluating digital cameras for purchase, consumers used to only look for an easy way to shoot good still photos. With the growth of online video sharing sites like Stage6 and Photobucket, consumers are demanding more from their digital cameras. The Green mode automates camera setup when shooting still images and allow digital camera beginners to enjoy effortless photography. A single button press automatically sets the exposure, sensitivity, white balance, and other parameters according to the shooting conditions.
By Dave Jackson
July 24th, 2008 at 11:05pm
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The DMC- LS75/LS70/LS60 is equipped with a bright 3x optical zoom lens (equivalent to a 35mm-105mm zoom on a 35mm film camera) that captures beautiful shots of people or landscapes. Use the Extra Optical Zoom when you want to pull the subject in just a little closer. An Easy Zoom button jumps to the 3x telephoto edge of the lens at the push of a button. A Quick Setting shortcut provides easy access to frequently used options.
Replacing the DMC-LS2, both models have a 3x optical zoom lens, new Easy Zoom feature which shifts the lens instantly to full 3x zoom, optical image stabilizer, Intelligent ISO Control and run on widely available AA batteries. The DMC-LS75 has a 2.5 inch screen, whilst the DMC-LS60 has a 2 inch LCD.
Additionally, the burst shooting mode boasts the capability of sequential shots at a rate of 3 frames per second at full resolution. The unlimited consecutive shooting function allows you to take photos in succession up to the capacity of the memory card or built in memory. AA-batteries and a 3x LUMIX DC VARIO optical zoom lens can be found in each of these entry level models with the LS75 sporting a 2.5-inch LCD and 7.2 megapixel CCD. The LS70 shares the CCD but steps the LCD to 2-inches like the LS60 which further cuts the CCD down to 6.0 megapixels. Just set the mode dial to the heart symbol, aim, and press the shutter button. The camera handles the complicated settings automatically and the settings menu is simplified, so there’s no stress, no confusion and no worries.
Can be used in extremely bright light situations to reduce the amount of light entering the camera; this enables more selective depth of field control. Many professional photographers, screw these filters onto their cameras lenses. Even camera manufacturers recommend using a filter to guard lenses from scratches and other inadvertent damage. I have taken tha pictures from my new panasonic camera. From my experince i say that Panasonic is the superb camera.
By Dave Jackson
July 18th, 2008 at 07:14pm
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It sports a 10x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization, high definition output and face detection abilities. It will retail at $300 when it is available in September. The zoom toggle’s soft-touch feel allows for fine adjustments, and the zoom is not stepped – allowing for apparently limitless settings between 1x and 10x. An on-screen read out displays the magnification level. Dominating the front of the camera is a Carl Zeiss-branded Vario-Tessar 10x optical 38-380mm equivalent f/3.5-4.4 zoom lens, which feeds light to an 8.1-megapixel CCD sensor. Around back you’ll find a 2.5-inch, 115,000-pixel LCD.
Combine this with a step-less 10x zoom lens covering an equivalent 38mm to 380mm and multi-mode image stabilization and you’ve got the makings of a winner for an amateur sports/nature photographer. A promised battery life of around 330 shots is equally enticing; we’ll see whether the H3 lives up to this hype, but Sony’s Stamina battery technology has proven true to the advertising copy in the past. Whereas most compacts have a paltry 3x zoom - boosted by an often unusable digital zoom - superzooms typically offer around 10x-18x optical zooms. But do they fill a gap or merely offer too many compromises? Sony puts 10x optical zoom in the palm of your hand. With compact body design, 8.1-megapixel resolution, and a top-quality Carl Zeiss lens, the Cyber-shot DSC-H3 packs more photo opportunities in a small size.
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 is yet another take on the emerging compact ultra-zoom theme, sporting a 10x optical zoom in a large pocket camera package. Amid some other more prominent entries into this field, the Sony seems to have been often lost in the mix. The 8.1-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H3 features an optically stabilized f/3.5-4.4, 38mm-380mm (35mm equivalent) 10x Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar zoom lens and 115,000-pixel, 2.5-inch LCD screen. In addition to the lens, the camera’s design, resolution, and price put it into close competition with Canon’s PowerShot SX100 IS . To begin, the new camera features a powerful Carl Zeiss ? 10x optical zoom lens, which makes it ideal for capturing every expression when shooting little stars from the audience. It also includes a long-range flash that lights up subjects farther from the camera.
It offers a generally good, stabilized 10x zoom lens, snappy shot-to-shot performance, a good flash unit, and nice color reproduction. But in evaluating cameras, I always come back to the idea of how refined a particular unit feels. But as is typical of the 10x pocket camera, there’s neither an optical viewfinder, nor an EVF on the H3.
By Dave Jackson
