Photo Club

Our in-depth review of the latest in the popular ‘Rebel’ line of digital SLR cameras from Canon (rather later than we planned, it took a little longer to complete than we expected). The EOS 450D (Rebel XSi) builds on the success of the EOS 400D (Rebel XTi), adding live view, a new 12MP CMOS sensor and a smattering of new features (including boosted continuous shooting and spot metering). So does the EOS 450D have what it takes to stand out in the increasingly crowded (and competitive) entry-level digital SLR market? Read the in-depth review after the link to find out…

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Pre-PMA 2008: Kit lens owners seeking added stability without external support will welcome the launch of an image-stabilized ‘walk round’ lens from Sigma. The 18-125mm f/3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM combines a useful focal length range with a hypersonic focusing motor and optical stabilization in a remarkably compact package.

Press Release:

18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM

High ratio zoom lens housed in a compact construction and incorporating Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function.

The Sigma Corporation (COO: Kazuto Yamaki) is pleased to announce the new 18-125mm F3.8-5.6 DC OS HSM. This high ratio zoom lens is designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras and will be showcased at PMA, which is started on January 31st 2008 in Las Vegas, U.S.A.

• High zoom ratio lens designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras and incorporating Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function.
• SLD glass and Aspherical lenses provide high image quality throughout the entire zoom range.
• Super multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting.
• Compact construction of 88.5mm (3.5”) in length and 74mm (2.9”) in diameter.
• Minimum focusing distance of 35cm (13.8") and maximum magnification of 1:3.8, making it ideal for close-up photography.
• HSM ensures quiet and high speed autofocus.
• Mounts: Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Pentax^*1,2, Sony^*1

This compact high zoom ratio lens is designed exclusively for digital SLR cameras and incorporates Sigma’s original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function. This system uses two sensors inside the lens to detect vertical and horizontal movement of the camera and works by moving an optical image stabilizing lens group to effectively compensate for camera shake.

It offers the equivalent of using a shutter speed approximately 4 stops faster. It is the ideal lens for several type of photography such as wide-angle, telephoto and close-up. SLD （Special Low Dispersion）glass, a molded glass aspherical lens and two hybrid aspherical lenses provide excellent correction for all types of aberrations.

The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens has a minimum focusing distance of 35cm (13.8”) at all focal lengths, and has maximum magnification of 1:3.8, making it ideal for close-up photography. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed autofocus.
*1 OS function is not available.
*2 If the camera body does not support HSM motor, AF does not work.

Sony has announced that it has developed a new CMOS sensor for digital SLRs that has the same imaging area as a frame of 35mm film and offers 24.81-megapixel effective resolution. The company says it will capture images with a broad dynamic range and high signal-to-noise ratios. Its full-frame 6.3fps scanning mode also promises to support fast digital SLR shooting modes.

The bottom line: Full-frame digital SLRs from Sony and other manufacturers that use Sony sensors — notably Nikon — are surely on the horizon. Sony plans to begin mass production of the new sensor in 2008, which puts it on track for implementation in cameras that could be announced at Photokina 2008 in the fall.

Press Release:

Jan 30, 2008

Sony Develops 35mm full size CMOS Image Sensor with 24.81 Effective Mega pixel resolution and extremely high signal conversion speed for use in Digital SLR Cameras

~ All-pixel scan mode of 6.3 frame/s ~

Tokyo, Japan – Sony Corporation today announced the development of a 35mm full size (diagonal:43.3mm/Type 2.7) 24.81 effective megapixel, ultra-high speed high image quality CMOS image sensor designed to meet the increasing requirement for rapid image capture and advanced picture quality within digital SLR cameras.

Development background

In recent years, the demand for digital SLR cameras featuring high resolution and wide graduation ranges capable of capturing every detail of the subject matter has continued to increase, particularly among high-end amateur users. Additionally, the increasing user requirement to shoot from the same focal length and angle as 35mm film cameras using interchangeable lenses has led to significant interest in the development of 35mm, full size CMOS image sensors.

However, there are a number of technical challenges to developing full (large) size image sensors, such as the propagation delay caused by using extended power circuitry and signal lines, and the difficulty of maintaining uniform sensitivity and signal saturation across the surface of the screen.

Furthermore, because current semiconductor exposure systems are unable to cover the entire chip surface of 35mm full size CMOS image sensors, multiple exposures are required. This results in the difficulty of accurately controlling exposure variance and matching circuit patterns.

Advantages of this device

The newly developed CMOS image sensor combines unique circuit design technology with Sony’s advanced fabrication expertise, including a system of joining multiple exposed patterns together and advanced planarization for minimizing fluctuation, to realize 35mm, full size, 24.81 effective megapixel resolution. Sony’s “Column-Parallel A/D Conversion Technique” also provides each column within the sensor with its own A/D converter, minimizing image degradation caused by the noise that arises during analog processing while at the same time delivering an extremely high signal conversion speed.

The enhanced image quality generated by the sensor’s 24.81 effective megapixel resolution, wide range of graduation expression achieved by its full size broad dynamic range, and the low noise, high resolution, ultra-responsive performance provided by Sony’s Column-Parallel A/D Conversion technique enable it to meet the ever-increasing requirements within high performance digital SLR cameras.

Sony will target for mass production of this CMOS image sensor within this year.

Major features

1) High picture quality in 35mm full size image sensor with 24.81M effective pixels

2) “Column-Parallel A/D Conversion method” achieves high S/N and high-speed imaging

• CDS/PGA(24dB)Circuit (PGA: Programmable Gain Amplifier)
• 12bit-AD Converter on chip
• Diversified readout mode
     • All-pixel scan mode 6.3 frame/s (12bit)
     • Window readout

3) High-speed digital output (12 channel parallel LVDS output)

Device Structure

Image size Diagonal width 43.3mm (Type 2.7) Total number of pixels 6236(H) x 4124(V) approx. 25.72M pixels Number of effective pixels 6104(H) x 4064(V) approx.24.81M pixels Number of active pixels 6096(H) x 4056(V) approx.24.73M pixels Chip size 41.0mm (H) x 31.9 mm (V) Unit cell size 5.94μm (H) x 5.94μm (V)    

Olympus have released a firmware update for their ZUIKO DIGITAL ED 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 SWD lens. The update simply provides improved focusing precision on distant subjects when using the C-AF (continuous AF) mode. The update can be downloaded from the Olympus Japan website.

To download the free update visit:

http://www.olympus.co.jp/en/support/imsg/digicamera/download/software/firm/e1/

Zuiko Digital 12-60mm Lens

The Zuiko Digital 12-60mm Pro lens is a high-performance standard wide zoom lens that features the Supersonic Wave Drive (SWD) lens drive mechanism and covers a versatile zoom range that’s the equivalent of a 24-120mm (35 mm) film format lens.

The newly developed Olympus-original SWD has made possible an ultra-fast, whisper-quiet and high-precision AF system.

Optimized for use with the concurrently released E-3 camera, this lens enables the E-3 to demonstrate the full power of its high-speed capability, providing the fastest autofocusing available in the world* using a standard zoom lens.

*Among interchangeable lenses for Digital SLR cameras. Measurement based on our in-house measuring standard. (As of Oct. 17, 2007, surveyed by Olympus).

With minimal geometric distortion at its widest angle, the digital-dedicated design ensures high-definition performance with clear, crisp images from edge to edge even when used at fully open apertures!

This lens also boasts impressive close-up shooting capability, allowing users to shoot from as close as 25 cm throughout the zoom range.

The splash-proof and dust-proof design and robust construction makes it suitable for professional use.

Fisheye lens with close up ability designed exclusively for use with APS-C size digital SLR cameras

10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM

• Fisheye lens designed specifically for APS-C digital SLR cameras
• 13.5cm minimum focusing distance and 1:3.3 maximum magnification allows close up photography
• Equipped with HSM allowing full-time manual focus override
• Equisolid angle projection system is possible for art and scientific use

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 10mm F2.8 EX DC FISHEYE HSM lens.

This autofocus fisheye lens is designed for use with digital SLR cameras equipped with APS-C size image sensors. The Nikon version produces a diagonal angle of view of 180°(154°for Sigma, 167°for Canon). The diagonal field of view of this fisheye lens produces striking images with exaggerated perspective and distortion. The minimum focusing distance of 13.5cm/5.3inch, and maximum magnification 1:3.3 allows subjects to be as close as 1.8cm/0.7inch from the lens’ front element. This close focusing capability allows close-up photography and also it is possible to make use of large depth of field that covers wide range of subjects. The Integral hood blocks out extraneous light and the Super Multi-Layer Coating minimizes flare and ghosting, creating superior image quality. The HSM(Hyper Sonic Motor)ensures fast and quiet autofocusing and allows full-time manual focus override by rotation of the focus ring. This lens is supplied with a gelatin filter holder at the rear, allowing the use of gelatin filters.

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Sigma 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC Circular Fisheye HSM lens : The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new 4.5mm F2.8 EX DC Circular Fisheye HSM lens. This autofocus circular fisheye lens has an angle of view of 180 degrees in all directions. It is exclusively designed for digital SLR cameras with the APS-C size image sensor. When used in conjunction with digital SLRs with APS-C size image sensors, it produces circular image within the frame. The F2.8 large aperture value produces a bright image in the viewfinder and allows photographers to take pictures in low light conditions, making it an ideal lens for Astrophotography and Aurora photography. The HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) ensures fast and quiet auto focusing.