DSLR

While I've been lucky never to have actually misplaced a lens cap for my digital SLR, there have been times when I've been lost for somewhere to put it between shots (no suggestions please). Chicago's Mark Stevenson has designed a simple solution to allow photographers to secure the wandering lens cap to a camera strap or camera bag.  Read More

A new GPS module designed for use with the latest digital SLR cameras from Pentax could help photographers who like to capture shots of the heavens avoid annoying star trails on long exposure shots. As well as adding earth-bound location information to images, the weather-resistant O-GPS1 unit also tracks the location and movement of celestial bodies and, with the help of the shake reduction system within the camera, shifts the image sensor in sync with the movement of the stars and planets.  Read More

Hasselblad has announced that its new H4D-200MS camera is now available for shipping. Announced at last year's Photokina, the 50 megapixel camera features the company's own multi-shot image technology which allows it to combine multiple successive images into one 200 megapixel photo. The new professional-level camera has been given a suitably huge price tag but owners of the previous multi-shot system don't have to buy a completely new system, H4D-50MS models can be returned to the Hasselblad's factory for a refit.  Read More

You could be forgiven for thinking that Japan's Sigma is just a maker of lenses for the cameras of other companies like Canon and Nikon, but that's not the case. The company broke into the digital camera market in 2002 with the SD9, which was also the first outing for a new sensor technology developed by Foveon. Unlike other sensors that capture one color per pixel location, the Foveon X3's stacked design captures all three colors at each pixel, which is said to result in more accurate color reproduction and sharper resolution. Now Sigma is about to release a new camera sporting a new version of the X3 sensor, dual image processing engines and improved ISO sensitivity. It's also very expensive ...  Read More

HDSLR cameras are taking off in a big way as cheap video rigs with quality interchangeable glass – but the more you get into SLR filmmaking, the more obstacles you find yourself working around. One of those obstacles is that you can't stick your eye to a viewfinder – you have to watch an LCD screen. And in harsh sunlight or wide aperture conditions, that makes it very difficult to get a tight focus on the action. And that's exactly why Zacuto's Z-Finder EVF was built; it's an alternative plug-in LCD screen for your DSLR that can be mounted on a frame or held separate to the camera. It's got higher resolution than your camera's screen, it's got a rubber eyepiece to block out ambient light, and a bunch of other pro video-friendly features that help move your DSLR closer to a proper video camera form factor.  Read More

DSLR cameras have brought high-def video capture into the hands of vast numbers of people like myself – people who have now had a glimpse at the possibility of making pro-standard video but who don't have the cash for all the pricey accessories that you need to move to the next level. So a bunch of businesses are taking creative approaches to bring down the cost of moviemaking – and here's a neat example. RigWheels are a simple and compact way to build yourself a cheap camera dolly to liven up your footage with sliding shots – the visual effect is similar to what we got with a slightly more expensive Glidetrack-type slider rig on our recent Zero Electric Supermoto review video.  Read More

Lensbaby is an odd company making distinctly analogue products to suit modern digital SLR cameras. The Composer Pro is a lens body that features a tilting head which bends light and distorts the focal plane of whatever lens optic you drop into it, giving you a bunch of ways to creatively mess with your photography in-camera for some pretty striking and evocative effects. It feels like a strange thing to do, putting such low-fi and distorted lenses on your ultra-sharp DSLR – but then again, hey, if it feels good, do it! Click through to see some example photos.  Read More

Nikon has announced the latest addition to its entry-level D-SLR lineup in the form of the new D5100. The D5100 boasts the same 23.3 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor, 16.2-megpixel resolution and ISO range of 100–6400 (expandable to 25,600) as Nikon's D7000, plus a new Night Vision mode that can shoot up to a staggering 102,400 ISO. The D5100 also sports a new 3-inch, swing out style Vari-angle LCD screen with 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dot resolution that has the ability to rotate 180 degrees horizontally and vertically.  Read More

With the Okii Systems USB Follow Focus, photographers and videographers can remotely control their Canon EOS HD DSLRs. The compact remote device uses Canon’s built-in USB capability to operate many camera functions including focus (even while recording video), record start/stop, shutter release, and more. Built in a rugged, compact case, the Okii USB Follow Focus eliminates the need for a bulky mechanical setup or being tethered to a computer.  Read More