Thursday 29 August 2013

HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited first thoughts (needs to be better)

Pentax/Ricoh have updated one of their lenses. The new lens is called HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited and it replaces the smc DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited. The lens construction is still the same, but they have made some optimizations to the lens, so the output from the lens should be better.

HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited
I don't know any photographers that don't love a great bokeh effect on their pictures. So it is great to see that Pentax/Ricoh have work hard to improve this effect in this lens. This is really important in macro pictures as you would like your subject to be sharp and the rest have a nice creamy background.

The HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited lens has a new HD coating that should mean less flare and ghost images than the smc DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited lens. A lot of companies are adding different kind of coating to their premium lenses, which has shown that it makes a difference in the output of the images.

The existing smc DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited lens have an average rating of 67%, so it is really that great a lens, so one can hope that the HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited will have a better average rating at Pentax Index.

Here is a comparison of the two lenses based on specification:



smc DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited
HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited
Focal Length 21mm 21mm
Equivalent to 35mm format 31.5mm 32mm
Maximum aperture f/3.2 F3.2
Minimum aperture f/22 F22
Angle of View 68 degrees 68°
Construction 8 elementa / 5 groups 8 elements in 5 groups
Focusing Range 0.2m - infinity 0.2m (0.7ft)
Magnification approx. 1:5.9 (0.17x) 0.17x
Filter size 49mm 43mm or 49mm
Mount Pentax KAF - Bayonet KAF
Weight 140g 134 g (with hood 146 g)
Dimensions (Length x Diameter) 25mm x 63mm 63mm x 25mm (2.5 inch x 1.0 inch)
Kit Content Front cap
Rear cap
Lenshood
Soft case
Lens hood: MH-RBB43
Lens cap: Exclusive Cap
Lens case: Exclusive Case
Special Features Quick-shift focusing system
Dirt resistant SP coating on front lens element
HD Coating
Rounded aperture (F3.2 to F4)
Quick-shift Focus System
SP (Super Protect) Coating
Number of Diaphragm Blades
7

The price difference between the 2 lenses is $50, and with that little difference I would go for the new lens.

Follow the HD PENTAX-DA 21mm F3.2 AL Limited at Pentax Index.

Links:

HD PENTAX DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited first thoughts (good upgrade)

Pentax/Ricoh have updated one of their lenses. The new lens is called HD PENTAX DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited and it replaces the smc DA 35mm F2.8 macro. The lens construction is still the same, but they have made some optimizations to the lens, so the output from the lens should be better.
HD PENTAX DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited

The HD PENTAX DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited lens has a new HD coating that should mean less flare and ghost images than the smc DA 35mm F2.8 macro lens. A lot of companies are adding different kind of coating to their premium lenses, which has shown that it makes a difference in the output of the images.

I don't know any photographers that don't love a great bokeh effect on their pictures. So it is great to see that Pentax/Ricoh have work hard to improve this effect in this lens. This is really important in macro pictures as you would like your subject to be sharp and the rest have a nice creamy background.

The existing smc DA 35mm F2.8 macro lens have an average rating of 80%, so this is already a great lens and I think that the HD PENTAX DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited will have the same or a better average rating at Pentax Index.

Here is a comparison of the two lenses based on specification:



smc DA 35mm F2.8 macro
HD PENTAX DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited
Focal Length 35mm 35mm
Equivalent to 35mm format 52.5mm 53.5mm
Maximum aperture f/2.8 F2.8
Minimum aperture f/22 F22
Angle of View 44 degrees 44°
Construction 9 elementa / 8 groups 9 elements in 8 groups
Focusing Range 0.139m - infinity 0.139m (0.46ft)
Magnification approx. 1:1.0 (1.0x) 1.00x
Filter size 49mm 49mm
Mount Pentax KAF - Bayonet KAF
Weight 215g 214g
Dimensions (Length x Diameter) 46.5mm x 63mm 63mm x 46.5mm (2.5 inch x 1.8 inch)
Kit Content Front cap
Rear cap
Lenshood
Soft case
Lens cap: Exclusive Cap
Lens case: Exclusive Case
Lens hood: Built in
Special Features Quick-shift Focus System
Built-in retractable lens hood
Aluminium housing
Quick-shift Focus System
SP (Super Protect) Coating
Rounded aperture (F2.8 to F5.6)
HD Coating
Number of Diaphragm Blades
9

The price difference between the 2 lenses is $50, and with that little difference I would go for the new lens.

Follow the HD PENTAX DA 35mm F2.8 Macro Limited  at Pentax Index.

Links:

Wednesday 28 August 2013

Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited first thoughts (good deal)

A new Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited standard lens from Pentax/Ricoh. It is based mostly on the same lens construction, but they have made some improvements that could mean that the output of the lens is different.
Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited

The lens includes a new HD coating that should makes the lens show less flare and ghost images. It is most likely a bit like some of the other photography companies add to their lenses, where a company like Nikon calls it Nano coating. Results from other added coatings from other companies shows that it has a noticeable effect on the output of the images.

The second new thing is better bokeh effect at low apertures and this is something that can be the deciding point for many photographers whether the go for one or the other type of lens. It should be better in the Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited .

The existing Pentax Ricoh smc PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited lens have an average rating of 80% and I think that Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited will get the same or a little bit better average rating at Pentax Index.

As a bonus you also get a lens hood included in the lens package, which some love to use and others forget that they have it.

Here is a comparison of the two lenses based on specification:


Pentax Ricoh smc PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited
Focal Length 40mm 40mm
Equivalent to 35mm format 60mm 61mm
Maximum aperture f/2.8 F2.8
Minimum aperture f/22 F22
Angle of View 39 degrees 39°
Construction 5 elements / 4 groups 5 elements in 4 groups
Focusing Range 40cm - infinity 0.4m (1.3ft)
Magnification approx. 1:7.7 (0.13x) 0.13x
Filter size 49mm 30.5mm or 49mm
Mount Pentax KAF - Bayonet KAF
Weight 90g 89g
Dimensions (Length x Diameter) 15mm x 63mm 63mm x 15mm (2.5 inch x 0.6 inch)
Kit Content Lens hood
Front cap
Rear cap
Soft case
Lens hood: MH-RF49
Lens cap: Exclusive Cap
Lens case: Exclusive Case
Special Features "Quick Shift" focusing
Special flat design
Quick-shift Focus System
SP (Super Protect) Coating
HD Coating
Rounded aperture (F2.8 to F5.6)
Number of Diaphragm Blades
9

The price difference between the 2 lenses is $50, and with that little difference I would go for the new lens.

Follow the Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 40mm F2.8 Limited  at Pentax Index.

Links:


Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited first thoughts (nice upgrade)

A new Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited short telephoto lens from Pentax/Ricoh. It is based mostly on the same lens construction, but they have made some improvements that could mean that the output of the lens is different.
Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited
The lens includes a new HD coating that should makes the lens show less flare and ghost images. It is most likely a bit like some of the other photography companies add to their lenses, where a company like Nikon calls it Nano coating. Results from other added coatings from other companies shows that it has a noticeable effect on the output of the images.

The second new thing is better bokeh effect at low apertures and this is something that can be the deciding point for many photographers whether the go for one or the other type of lens. It should be better in the
Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited.

The existing Pentax Ricoh smc PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited lens have an average rating of 80% and I think that Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited will get the same or a little bit better average rating at Pentax Index.

As a bonus you also get a lens hood included in the lens package, which some love to use and others forget that they have it.

Here is a comparison of the two lenses based on specification:

Pentax Ricoh smc PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited
Focal Length 70mm 70mm
Equivalent to 35mm format 105mm 107mm
Maximum aperture f/2.4 F2.4
Minimum aperture f/22 F22
Angle of View 68 degrees 23°
Construction 6 elements / 5 groups 6 elements in 5 groups
Focusing Range 0.7m - infinity 0.7m (2.3ft)
Magnification 0.12X Max 0.12x
Filter size 49mm 49mm
Mount PENTAX K-AF KAF
Weight 130g 131 g (with hood 147 g)
Dimensions (Length x Diameter) 26mm x 63mm 63mm x 26mm (2.5 inch x 1.0 inch)
Kit Content Front cap
Rear cap
Soft case
Lens hood: MH-RF49
Lens cap: Exclusive Cap
Lens case: Exclusive Case
Special Features "Quick Shift" focusing
"Super Protect" coating
Quick-shift Focus System
SP (Super Protect) Coating
HD Coating
Rounded aperture (F2.4 to F5.6)
Number of Diaphragm Blades 9

The price difference between the 2 lenses is $50, and with that little difference I would go for the new lens.

Follow the Pentax Ricoh HD PENTAX DA 70mm F2.4 Limited at Pentax Index.

Links:



Tuesday 27 August 2013

Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS (SELP18105G) first thoughs (bargain) and links

The Sony NEX cameras are among the most popular mirrorless cameras, but so far it has lacked great zoom lenses. Sony has together with Zeiss introduced two new constant aperture zoom lenses at the same time. For many it is going to be a choice between these two lenses. There aren't any reviews or comparison of these products yet, but based on the information that is available it is possible to make a qualified guess on how these lenses will perform. This article will focus on the Sony E PZ 18-105 mm F4 G OSS.

Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS (SELP18105G)
The constant aperture on a zoom lens will in most cases mean that you have great image quality and I think that we can expect it from this lens two. Besides having a constant aperture it also have a great zoom range. The size of the lens is big compared to the NEX cameras that it is going to be attached to, so you must be willing to go on a size and weight compromise to use this lens.

If you want to go small I think you should better go for the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T * E 16 - 70 mm F4 OSS ZA, but you will pay by having a small zoom range and lens doesn't have a power zoom function. Image quality wise they is most likely very close to each other, so it is going to be a hard choice.

If you are willing to put this large lens on your small NEX camera it looks like a great combination lens that could be mounted on your NEX camera 90% of the time, so this lens could be the most important purchase beside the camera itself and remember that the lens is just as important as the camera when it comes to image quality.

If I were to purchase one of these lenses I think I would go for the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T * E 16 - 70 mm F4 OSS ZA as it just seem to fit better with the NEX cameras as one of the main reason for me to get the NEX camera is the size and then you should continue that line in the choice of lens. One of the main reasons that can make you go for the Sony E PZ 18-105 mm F4 G OSS is the price. Surprisingly it is $400 dollars cheaper than the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T * E 16 - 70 mm F4 OSS ZA, which is a lot when you compare that these two have a lot of specifications in common.

Follow Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS (SELP18105G) at Sony Index

Links:

Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS (SEL1670Z) first thoughts (To expensive?) and links

Many of companies that produces mirrorless cameras are looking to add more powerful zoom lenses for their products. We have already seen the Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm  F2.8 ASPH POWER O.I.S. and Sony (and Zeiss) now comes with their offering in this department. In another article I have my first thoughts on the Sony E PZ 18-105 mm F4 G OSS and in this article I will focus on the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T * E 16 - 70 mm F4 OSS ZA.
Zeiss Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS (SEL1670Z)
Having a constant aperture in a lens does in many cases equal a great zoom lens with great image quality. Besides having a constant aperture this lens is manufactured from Zeiss which is know to produce great lenses, so combining these two factors it looks like the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T * E 16 - 70 mm F4 OSS ZA will produces some great images for the NEX cameras, but we will see how the reviews shows us in the coming time.

The zoom range isn't as great as the Sony E PZ 18-105 mm F4 G OSS, but it is a small compact lens that fits better NEX cameras. I don't expect there to be much difference between the two lenses when you look at the image quality, so it is a surprise that the Sony E PZ 18-105 mm F4 G OSS is $400 cheaper. It should be really interesting to see how these two lenses match up against each other.

Follow the Zeiss Vario-Tessar T * E 16 - 70 mm F4 OSS ZA at Zeiss Index and Sony Index

Links:

Sony NEX 5T first thoughts (Copy cat) and links

Just like in the smart phone market a new product variant has seen the light. Like the smart phone market the difference between this camera and the previous model is minor and for most people the difference is just to small, so they are going for the camera with lowest price.
Sony NEX 5T
I can't really see why Sony need to release this camera other than stirring things up a bit and make the competitors sweet a bit. When you look through the features of the camera there is almost nothing new in this version compared to the previous version.

The Sony NEX 5T has a new FN button like you might know from digital SLR cameras that makes the camera a little easier to use for advance users, but something that a lot of users don't notice. It has an NFC chip, so you can transfer pictures, which really only is nice if you have to upload your picture on the road and don't have Internet access. Then you can connect your camera with your smart phone and upload the picture through the smart phone. Some other camera makers don't need a NFC chip to do the transfer. The just use the wifi there are on most smart phones and cameras these days.

So really nothing new. Are you going for a new NEX camera, well then I would go for the camera with the less price and use the saved money on some other kind of photography equipment.

Follow the Sony NEX 5T at Sony Index

Links:

Sony ILCE-3000K/A3000 first thoughts (steal) and links

The world between digital SLR cameras and mirrorless cameras are getting smaller and smaller. This new Sony ILCE-3000K/A3000 is an example of a camera for people that like the SLR form factor, but don't want it be to big. I a little like the Canon EOS 100D.
Sony ILCE-3000K/A3000

Sony ILCE takes the format factor from the alpha cameras and combines it with the technology of the NEX cameras. This might be the reason the Sony doesn't name it one way of the other as it really isn't a NEX camera as the form factor is that of a digital SLR and it really isn't an alpha camera as it has the technology and mount of a NEX camera, so there you have a new product line.

The target user for the camera is the amateur user that wants to feel like they have a digital SLR camera. The camera doesn't have many buttons, so it should be easy to use for many of the users of the camera.

So do the camera have any potential users? At that price level I am sure that there are many that wants to jump on the wagon and it is even cheaper than most of the NEX cameras. So you are getting a camera with NEX techonology at a good price as long as you don't mind getting a bigger camera body. And at a price of $400 with a lens this really a great deal. It should be interesting to see how this camera match up against both other digital SLR cameras and mirrorless cameras.

Follow the Sony ILCE-3000K/A3000 at Sony Index.

Links:

Friday 23 August 2013

Canon Powershot SX170 IS first thoughts (disappointment) and links

Four PowerShots models were introduced here in the middle of August 2013 and this Canon PowerShot SX170 IS is the only model without a wifi model, which a bit surprising in this world where you want to publish your photos as fast as possible.
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS

This isn't the only disappointment with this camera. It is almost impossible to find any difference from the previous model Canon PowerShot SX160 IS. The only really different is that Canon has changed the batteries from standard batteries that you can buy at any store to a custom Canon battery. This gives the camera some extra battery life.

The price is almost the same. So get the camera with the best price.

Follow the Canon PowerShot SX170 IS at Canon Index.

Links:

Canon PowerShot SX510 HS first thoughts (good deal) and links

Looking for a super zoom compact camera. Well Canon just release a new super zoom compact camera the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS, which seems like a replacement for the Canon PowerShot SX500 IS. So do you go for the new (Canon PowerShot SX510 HS) or old model (Canon PowerShot SX500 IS)?
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS

One thing that is weird is that Canon have decided to put a 12 megapixel image sensor in the camera instead of a 16 megapixel image sensor. It is normal that the sensor gets the same or a bigger sensor. So why have Canon done this with this new camera? Well the main reason would most likely be because they want better performance at high ISO, which means better performance when shooting pictures in low light situations. Time will tell if this decision by Canon was smart. To make things even better in low light situations the Canon Powershot SX510 HS also has the HS software system that makes low light pictures look even better.

A couple of minor improvements has also made it to the camera. The battery life is better in the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS, which is great if you are travelling with the camera which most likely will be one of the main uses of the camera. The camera like most camera introduced at the moment also have wifi module, so that makes it easy share pictures on the Internet. How many pictures that can be taken at the same time has also been improved.

The price difference isn't big (just $15), so the new model even with a small image sensor just seems like the best buy.

Follow the Canon PowerShot SX510 HS at Canon Index.

Links



Canon PowerShot S120 first thoughts (a step forward) and links

The Canon PowerShot S120 is the upgrade model from the Canon PowerShot S110. Just like the Canon PowerShot G16 it doesn't at first look that there are a big improvement on this model compared to the previous model, but if you look closer it has gotten two important improvements. The most important improvement is that the Canon PowerShot S120 uses a new image processor that is the heart or lungs of the camera and the second major improvement is the wifi module that lets the camera connect to a wifi network.
Canon PowerShot S120

So why are the processor an important upgrade? Well it comes to 3 things main improvements ( and a lot of minor improvements):
  • image quality
  • AF focus speed
  • frames per second
There are three major factors that in any camera decides the image quality in the picture and movies that comes out of the camera. The lens, the image sensor and the image processor. When you upgrade one of these three components you can expect an improvement in the image quality that comes out of the camera. So when the image processor is upgraded it has better algorithms and power to process the image information that comes out of the image sensor, so the output of camera should be better, but only tests and reviews will tell how much better the camera has gotten from the previous Canon PowerShot S110.

Canon themselves mention in their press release that the auto focus speed has gotten a major improvement in this model compared to the previous model. This is very important in a compact camera as the performance of the auto focus module normally isn't as god as in mirrorless cameras and digital SLR cameras, so if the camera has gotten a 40-50% performance improvement in auto focus it will be something that you notice and will be happy about.

The last improvement is something that have gotten a good deal of attention in the mirrorless cameras. It is the possibility to shoot a lot of pictures in a row. Usually in many cameras this is limited by how big the buffer in the camera is, but in this camera (and in the Canon PowerShot G16) it writes directly to the memory card, so it is the speed of this device that limits how many pictures you can shoot in a row. It should be interesting to see if Canon decides to move this technology onward to other product lines like the digital SLR cameras as it is one of the factors that separates the entry level models from the top models.

Having a wifi module in the camera is almost a must this days and this camera also has a wifi module. This is important as one of the major competitors is the smart phones how both have wifi modules and Internet access through the phone card. It is clearly that the difference between compact cameras and smart phones gets smaller and smaller as times goes by. People want small form factor with great image quality and be able to share the pictures on the Internet.

The price is $100, which is a good deal, but as you can read from above you also get some good stuff. The question is if it is some good stuff you like and need.

So how do you decide which to get. The older Canon PowerShot S110 which will get on sale as Canon tries to clear the stock that they have on this camera or the new Canon PowerShot S120 with better features, better image quality and faster camera. Well it depends on what kind of photographer you are and how you decide to use the camera and if you are on a tight budget. If it were me I would go for the new Canon PowerShot S120.

Follow the new Canon PowerShot S120 on Canon Index.

Links:

Thursday 22 August 2013

Canon PowerShot G16 first thoughts (good upgrade?) and links

Looking from a distance it seems like the Canon PowerShot G16 is just a minor update from the previous Canon PowerShot G15, but this isn't exactly true.
Canon PowerShot G16

The most noticeable difference is that this model have a new processor. This has an impact on three major points:
  • image quality
  • frames per second
  • autofocus speed
This DIGIC 5 processor that is used in the Canon Powershot G15 is a couple of years old and as many knows things move faster in the processor world, so when the processor is about 2-3 years old it is close to the end of the products life cycle. The DIGIC 6 processor is a new processor from this year, so it will have leading age performance.

Because of the new processor you can expect better image quality from the Canon PowerShot G16 vs the Canon PowerShot G15. It will be better to process the information that comes from the sensor, so that the dynamic range, low iso performance should be better. We will see once the reviews starting coming on this product, but I would expect a good push in the right direction.

One of the main new features of the new processor is the possibility to have a high frame rate when shooting pictures as many of the mirror less cameras also have and the big difference is that it isn't the buffer that limits how many pictures that you can capture in a row, but the memory card. If this kind of technology is moved onwards to higher end products like the digital SLR market then it will make a big difference and something that we sure will hear a lot more about.   

The last major advantage coming from this new processor is the autofocus speed. Canon claims that you can expect major performance improvements compared to previous versions. Autofocus speed is something that you really notice if it isn't fast, as it can just be that factor that means that you don't capture the right moment. 

The camera has wifi build in, which also is a new feature. A lot of the cameras that Canon introduces at the moment has this feature. Great to have. 

The price difference here at the launch of the Canon PowerShot G16 is about $100 at the moment and it might get higher as Canon tries to empty its stock on the previous model. It is a hard choice to save the money or get the new innovations. Depends on who you are. If I were to buy one of these two I would go for the new model.

To keep up with information about the product follow the Canon PowerShot G16 on Canon Index

Links:

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM first thoughts (bargain) and links

A new lens from Canon were introduced from Canon, which is a telephoto zoom lens that can be used with APS-C digital SLR cameras like the Canon 100D, Canon 700D or the Canon 70D. It is the fourth STM lens for the digital SLR cameras and it is the perfect combination lens with the Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM. It is the first telephoto lens with STM focus motor build into it.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM
The STM engine makes it perfect for video, so if you are shooting a lot of video then this could be the lens that you use to take video of soccer games, wildlife or other subjects where you can't get close to the subject to record the video. The STM engine is almost silent when shooting videos, so you don't record audio from your video where you hear the camera moving the lens to get the correct focus.

Another great thing about the lens is that the front element is not rotating, which is great for those that uses filters when they take pictures or video. This is most important if you use graduated filter, polarising filter where the setup of the filter is important.

So the question is if this is the lens to choose or the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II is the one to choose. For the most part the two lenses look the same when looking at the specification, but there are a couple of important differences.

  • The lens construction in the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM is more complex in the new lens, which usually means that you will get better image quality from the lens.
  • The minimal focus distance is about 30 cm /1 feet closer making it easier to use the camera to take close portrait pictures. This makes the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM better.
  • The image stabilisation is a half stop worse in the new Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens, but this is a minor difference which you might not see in real life.

The price difference at this point in time at BH Photo Video is just $50, which is close to nothing when you are shopping for a new lens and at a price at $349 it really sounds like a bargain. So bottom line is if you are looking to buy a new telephoto zoom lens for you APS-C digital SLR camera I would wait and look for reviews of this lens before choosing a telephoto zoom lens.

You can use this page of the Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM to follow when new reviews are made around the Internet about this lens.

Links:

- Product page
- Press release

Tuesday 20 August 2013

Updated index sites and better organization of product pages

Here is a small recap of the updates to my index sites:
  • Leica  119 links, 27 new links to quality articles
  • Samsung Index 64 links, 0 new links to quality articles
  • Sigma Index 282 links, 31 new links to quality articles
  • Zeiss Index 154 links, 7 new links to quality articles
  • Pentax Index 478 links, 75 new links to quality articles
  • Canon Index - 1797 links, 64 new links to quality articles
  • Nikon Index - 2631 links, 259 new links to quality articles
  • Panasonic Index - 323 links, 61 new links to quality articles
  • Fujifilm Index - 251 links, 11 new links to quality articles
  • Olympus Index - 331 links, 68 new links to quality articles
  • Sony Index - 861 links, 50 new links to quality articles
There is a lot of quality information to be found here. Check out your equipment or what you are considering to buy.

Product pages has been reorganized for a better grouping of articles, so it is easier to find all the reviews of the product.

Still in a build and major indexing phase, so a lot of articles being added at the moment.

Thursday 15 August 2013

EISA Awards for 2013-2014 with comments and links

The EISA Awards for 2013-2014 is out and lets take a look at the winners (and losers) of these awards.

First lets take a look at how many awards each company got:

Number of awards:


Looking at this list it is clear who is the big winners. Canon with three awards and all in the categories that is most important for them. The SLR market categories. The other big winner is Tamron who won in two out of three categories it was able to win in. It is only in the "European Compact System Zoom Lens" category it didn't win. So it is safe to say that they are big winners too.

Three companies is the big losers. Nikon just won one category which is bad compared to Canon who won three awards. Pentax Ricoh and Sigma must be very disappointed as they didn't get any awards at all. Especially Sigma must be very disappointed as they have produced two great lenses with the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM A and the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM.

Leica also didn't get any awards, but I don't think they care that much about these awards as some of the other companies does as they market segments is another.

Here are a selected list of award winners:


The rating in the above list is from different online reviews on the Internet, where the product have been reviewed and given a rating. 

Tuesday 6 August 2013

Index sites have been updated!

Here is a small recap of the updates to my index sites:

  • Leica  92 links, 38 new links to quality articles
  • Samsung Index 64 links, 1 new links to quality articles
  • Sigma Index 251 links, 47 new links to quality articles
  • Zeiss Index 147 links, 62 new links to quality articles
  • Pentax Index 403 links, 112 new links to quality articles
  • Canon Index - 1733 links, 241 new links to quality articles
  • Nikon Index - 2372 links, 350 new links to quality articles
  • Panasonic Index - 262 links, 23 new links to quality articles
  • Fujifilm Index - 240 links, 59 new links to quality articles
  • Olympus Index - 263 links, 23 new links to quality articles
  • Sony Index - 811 links, 159 new links to quality articles
There is a lot of quality information to be found here. Check out your equipment or what you are considering to buy.

Still in a build and major indexing phase, so a lot of articles being added at the moment

Nikon Coolpix L620 first thoughts and links

A new Nikon Coolpix were announced today from Nikon. It is the the Nikon Coolpix L620 which is an upgrade model from the Nikon Coolpix L610. 


The Nikon Coolpix L620 has a bit bigger image sensor with 18 megapixel were the Nikon Coolpix L610 had a sensor with 16 megapixel.This really isn't a big difference, but expect there to bit some small incremental improvements compared to the L610. This also means you get a 6% bigger picture out of the camera, which is better for cropping the picture, but also at the same time takes a bit more space.

The biggest improvement is in the battery life. Where the camera can last longer on the same batter. You can expect to take about 20-25% more pictures with the new Nikon Coolpix L620 vs the old Nikon Coolpix L610. This is great news.

The Nikon Coolpix L620 will start at $250 which is $60 dollar more than the list price for the Nikon Coolpix L610 and that one can be found on sale for a little less than $150. Based on this don't wait for the new Nikon Coolpix L620, just go out and grap the existing L610.
To keep up with what comes of articles about the new lens. Keep and eye out at it page on Nikon Index, where I will update the pages as I find more information.

Nikon Coolpix S6600 first thoughts and links

This new Nikon Coolpix S6600 were introduced today and is an upgrade from the Nikon Coolpix S6500.

For the most part it is the same camera, but there are some differences. The main one is the LCD screen that can be flipped and you can use gestures to operate the camera. This sound great, but when you think about it how often are you really going to use gestures to operate the camera? My guess is not much.

The camera doesn't seem to come to USA at this point in time as it was only announced on the global site and the European site, but it might get to the USA at a later point.


To keep up with what comes of articles about the new lens. Keep and eye out at it page on Nikon Index, where I will update the pages as I find more information.

Nikon Speedlight SB-300 first thoughts and links

A entry level flash for those people that doesn't want to use something besides the flash that is on the camera. It is the Nikon Speedlight SB-300 that were introduced today. It got a bit more flexibility in how the flash head can turn than the SB-400, so it can be used to bounce on the celling in the room instead of just shooting the light straight out like the on board flash does and the Nikon Speedlight SB-400 does. You can' turn the flash to either sides as you can with the bigger flash models, which would have been a great feature. That would have made the flash a home run and it is strange that it doesn't have that feature. A small flash that can turn in any direction like the bigger flash would have been a great sales hit as sometime size and weight does have an effect on the equipment you pack.


It has almost the same specification as the Nikon Speedlight SB-400, which only advantage is that it has a little bit more of flash power than the SB-300, but it is very little. At the same price level you should really go for the new Nikon Speedlight SB-300 as it has the possiblity to bounce the light of the celling and it is also smaller and lighter.
To keep up with what comes of articles about the new lens. Keep and eye out at it page on Nikon Index, where I will update the pages as I find more information.

AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED first thoughts and links

Today Nikon announced that they have a new lens for the Nikon DX format. About 7 years ago Nikon introduced almost the same type of lens with a focal length of 18-135mm, but it is retired product. The older lens is a lens that gotten a bit good deal of not so good reviews and it is the third worst reviewed lens in the Nikon DX standard zoom range. It the last couple of years Nikon has produced some great lenses, so this good very well be one of them.



Looking at the specs for the lens, there are only minor differences from the old 18-135mm lens with a bit more glass in the new lens, which also means that the new 18-140mm lens is a bit more heavy (490g vs 385g). The biggest difference from a spec point of view is that the VR in the lens gives you 4 stops, where it only gives you 3 stops in the old lens.

When you look at what the lens is up against it is the great 18-105mm from Nikon and the 18-200mm also from Nikon as long as you want a clean Nikon setup. There are third party lenses also on the market, but here you have to watch as not every lens has the high standard as Nikon normally does.

It clearly that Nikon feels a gap with the new lens. The 18-105mm lens is currently priced at about $400, the 18-200mm at about $850, so here the 18-135mm fits nicely with a price about $600.

Until we see any reviews of the new lens it is hard to recommend which to go for, but my initial thoughts are to go for the 18-105mm. It is a great lens for the price.


To keep up with what comes of articles about the new lens. Keep and eye out at it page on Nikon Index, where I will update the pages as I find more information.

Thursday 1 August 2013

Panasonic Lumix GX7 first thoughts and links

The mirrorless market is the hottest in the camera market with many people moving from their big digital SLR cameras to the smaller form factor with the same options to be able to exchange lenses and have great picture quality.

Today (1. August 2013) Panasonic introduced the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7, which has been rumored for the last couple of weeks. Panasonic is big in the mirrorless market, but is still behind Sony who is the current leader. One of the great things about the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 is that is uses the Micro Four Thirds format, which has been lenses available, so it makes a great system choice.

The best thing about the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7 is in my mind the live view finder that is a part of the body to keep it small, but at the same time makes it possible to shoot pictures like you do with your digital SLR camera.

This will be a great product and a sure hit. I will be monitoring and updating on a weekly basis what comes of great articles on this product at the Panasonic Index/Panasonic GX7. Nothing there yet, but reviews from around the net will be coming here, so be sure to check back or just watch this blog on when the index is updated.