digital cameras

Nikon today unveiled its new D300S and announced that it would be available for pre-order immediately. The D300S is, according to Robert Cristina, Manager, Professional Products for Nikon Europe, "designed for today’s generation of creative image makers who want to combine brilliant stills in photography with the creative potential of video capture. The DX format has the advantage of lens magnification, compact size and affordability making the D300S a really exciting package for anyone looking to take their photography to another level”.

The D300S is built upon the popular D300 and has the same DX-format 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, 51-point autofocus system and EXPEED image processor. One of the new features on the D300S is the addition of external stereo sound input to the HD movie capture. There is also a new dedicated LV

Nikon today announced that its new entry level DSLR, the D3000, is available for pre-order. The camera was designed with beginners in mind - according to Nikon Europe Product Manager Jordi Brinkman, "The D3000 dispels the view that DSLR cameras are complicated and makes taking great pictures simpler than ever before. You can really concentrate on having fun with photography and the Guide mode helps you to get the best results with the minimum of fuss.”

The D3000 features a 10.2 megapixel sensor and Nikon's EXPEED processor. It has ISO sensitivity of 1600 and also has a pop-up flash for low light photography. It has an 11 point autofocus system to keep everything in focus and is capable of continuous shooting at three frames per second.

The best feature for those new to DSLR photography is the Intelligent Guide. This basically simplifies

Summer 2009 is now in full swing (at least in the northern hemisphere) which means fun at the beach, lake, river, pool or any other body of water. This also means sand and water which can both kill a camera. If you don't want to have to worry about your camera all day or clean and dry your hands every time you want to take a picture, here are a few of the better durable, waterproof cameras available. Granted these are slightly behind their more delicate brethren, but you can take them anywhere.

1. Canon Powershot D10

Not only is the Powershot D10 waterproof but it is shockproof and freezeproof as well (which makes it perfect for skiing and other winter sports also). The D10 is waterproof up to 33 feet, which pretty much covers any depth you would be swimming without scuba gear, unless you are one of those insane pearl divers. It is also cold resistant (14° - 104°) and shockproof up to 4 feet (a four foot drop). It is a 12.1 megapixel camera with a 3X optical zoom lens and image stabilization. The D10's DIGIC 4 image

Canon has officially announced its 2009 Spring sale on a variety of cameras and lenses. The rebates will be offered from May 3 through July 11th and, what's more, they are instant rebates - no mail-in nonsense or coupons required. The deals offered are no trifle either, there are many $100+ rebates and even a $500 rebate on a telephoto lens.

Some deals of note include the highly popular Rebel XSi entry level dSLR and the more advanced EOS 50D.

The Canon EOS Rebel XSi is a 12.2 megapixel entry level dSLR, perfect for those who are new to digital photography plus plenty of features for those with experience. Canon's Spring rebate offers this camera in an $849 kit deal ($200 rebate). The kit includes the camera, obviously, a Canon EF-S

Within weeks of Canon announcing the Rebel T1i (500D), the company's top entry level digital SLR camera, Nikon has announced its answer - the Nikon D5000. The D5000, which falls somewhere between the D60 and D90, is an upper entry level model that will compete with Canon's EOS 500D. The camera is packed with features that make it suitable not only for experienced photographers but for those looking to upgrade to DSLRs for the first time as well. Though it is not shipping yet, it is available for pre-order from several retailers:

For the basics, the D5000 has a 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor and Nikon's exclusive EXPEED high speed image processing system. It is capable of continuous shooting at a rate of four frames per second (7 RAW, 25 JPEG Fine, 100 JPEG Normal). It uses 3D Color Matrix Metering II to obtain clear, accurate images. It also features an 11-point selectable autofocus system that includes subject tracking for motion shots.

The EXPEED system includes features such as Scene Recognition, Face Recognition, Active D lighting and Picture Control. The scene mode makes capturing the perfect shot easy and provides an excellent

Just a few short weeks after Canon announced their 15.1 megapixel entry-level DSLR, the Rebel T1i (500D), Nikon has announced their newest offering to the entry-level market. The Nikon D5000 seems to be intended as direct competition to the Canon 500D, offering many of the same attractive features. The Nikon D5000 is, for the most part, a simplified version of Nikon's very successful D90 camera.

The D5000 offers key features which include: 12.3 megapixel DX-format (cropped) CMOS sensor, HD movie capture up to 720p (1280x720), Live View with contrast-detect AF and face detection, automatic sensor shake cleaning system, ISO 200-3200 (100-6400 expanded), 2.7" tilt and swivel LCD monitor (230,000 dots), 4 fps continuous shooting (7 RAW, 25 JPEG Fine, 100 JPEG Normal), in-camera retouching and development, new increased-capacity battery, hot shoe connector for optional GPS unit for automatic geotagging of images, and 11 auto-focus points with 3D AF tracking.

The Nikon D5000 takes on many of the above features from its D90 big brother, including the 12.9 megapixel sensor and its 11 point AF system (though the D5000 actually one ups the D90 by adding

Olympus' upper entry level DSLR, the Evolt E-620, that just two weeks ago debuted at PMA 2009 is now available for pre-order from Amazon, and will soon be available from several other major camera retailers.

The Evolt E-620 features a 12.3-megapixel Live MOS image sensor and a TruePic III+ image processor. It has a 2.7-inch Live View HyperCrystal III LCD that swivels 270 degrees and rotates, allowing the photographer to get the right shot even in the most difficult of circumstances. You can view the effects of changing settings such as white balance or exposure instantly in Live View mode. The

The Sigma Corporation has announced five new lenses at this year's Photo Marketing Association expo in Las Vegas. The lenses include the Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM, Sigma 18-50mm F2.8-4.5 DC OS HSM, Sigma 50-200mm F4-5.6 DC OS HSM, Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC OS HSM and the 24-70mm F2.8 EX DG HSM.

Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM

The Sigma 10-20mm F3.5 EX DC HSM is a super wide-angle lens that has an aperture of F3.5 throughout the entire zoom range. The wide-angle lens provides a 102.4 degree view. The lens has two ELD (Extraordinary Low Dispersion) glass elements and a SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass element that correct color aberration. Four aspherical lenses provide correction for distortion and allow

With the Photo Marketing Association's annual expo as a stage, Panasonic introduced its newest addition to its Lumix G Micro System - the company's new interchangeable lens camera system. The camera is billed as one that will meet the needs of beginners and seasoned professionals alike - according to David Briganti, National Marketing Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, “Photographers of all levels – professionals, amateurs and beginners – will be stunned by the range of creative possibilities that the LUMIX GH1 creates in the world of high-quality photography and HD video. Users will be equally amazed by the camera’s easy-to-use design and small size... Beyond its creative potential, the LUMIX GH1, a sister product to the award-winning LUMIX G1, is also innovative and differentiates itself from the pack by recording High Definition video with continuous AF, an indispensable feature for practical video recording.” The GH1, which is compatible with the Micro Four Thirds System standard, improves upon the ground-breaking and award winning (2008 Camera of the Year, Popular Photography & Imaging magazine) Lumix DMC-G1, which debuted less than half a year ago.

For starters the GH1 is capable of recording high-resolution full HD (1920 x 1080) video at 24 fps or smooth HD video (1280 x 720) movie at 60 fps using an AVCHD format (MPEG-4/H.264). The dedicated video record button allows the user to begin HD recording even while in the midst of taking stills, to ensure no video-worthy moments go unrecorded. The GH1 records audio in high-quality stereo sound

The X70 Megazoom is one of the digital cameras that Pentax Imaging Company is showcasing at this year's Photo Marketing Association expo in Las Vegas. The 12 megapixel X70 is designed to bridge the gap between compact digital cameras and digital SLRs. It is ideal for the "intermediate to advanced shooter who wants to step up in form and function from digital compact offerings without the size, weight, and expense of a true DSLR camera."

The X70 gives photographers both the simplicity of a compact camera and the advanced shooting options of a digital SLR such as aperture/shutter priority and metered manual modes, Shake Reduction (another word for image stabilization) and a high quality zoom lens. The lens is one of the highlights of the X70. Its 24X optical zoom is equivalent to 26-624mm, giving the user both wide angle