Canon PowerShot SD1200IS 10 MP Digital Camera Review

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Design: With a choice between silver, dark gray, green, orange, blue and pink the Canon PowerShot SD1200IS should appeal to anyone. Measuring in at 3.5 inches by 2.2 inches high and 0.9 inch deep this 10MP ultra-compact is small, thin but comfortable to grip. Featuring a mode switch, a play button, a directional pad and Function Set button, the controls are easy to access. The shutter button has a zoom ring next to the power button with most of the buttons being rather flat, making them ideal for slim fingers. At a mere 4.9 ounces the camera weighs almost nothing at all with a 2.5 inch LCD viewfinder.

Specifications: Powered by a 10MP 1/2.3 inch CCD sensor the Canon PowerShot SD1200IS offers a 3x optical zoom lens at f2.8-4.9 and 35mm equivalent. The camera itself takes up to 3648×2736 resolution JPEG still images and up to 640×480 at 30fps motion JPEG movies. With both mechanical and digital image stabilization the camera takes fairly steady shots. Equipped with a Li-ion rechargeable battery, the camera is rated for 260 shots on a single charge.

Features & Performance: Menu navigation for the Canon PowerShot SD1200IS is simple and straightforward with a basic but well rounded array of features. This includes ISO sensitivity up to 1600, White Balance, Focus, Metering and Color effects. Canon‘s Smart Auto mode is good for the most part.

The Canon PowerShot SD1200IS reacts quite fast for such an ultra-compact model. With a startup-time-to-first-shot of 1.4 seconds, shutter lag at 0.5 second and shutter lag in dim conditions of 0.7 second, the camera is quite fast. Its shot-to-shot time of 2.1 seconds without flash and 3.2 seconds with flash continuous shooting is good while burst mode takes pictures at 1.4fps. Image quality is very good with lush and vibrant colors and great exposure, but for best results try to stay at ISO 200. Overall, the Canon PowerShot SD1200IS is a great 10MP ultra-compact point-and-shoot in terms of usability and more or less guarantees great quality images.

Canon 7D Vs Nikon D300s – DSLR Camera Review

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It’s another Digital SLR shootout! Canon vs Nikon… again. This is an extremely interesting battle of Photography Equipment Manufacturers.

The stakes are high as they duke it out to see who can win the most new consumers.

Photographers are lining up across the virtual battlefield from each other to hurl technical features and camera jargon back and forth.

If you search photography forums for the latest threads about these two mid-range Digital SLR cameras, you will see some very interesting comments. But once the dust is settled, it seems that there is really a winner.

Here are some of the issues that have risen to the top of the debate since the release of two very similar, and, yes, amazing, pieces of photographic equipment.

Megapixel count -

Megapixel count seems to favor the Canon 7D at 18 megapixels vs 12 megapixels on the Nikon D300s. However, the only mention of the issue was from one user who mentioned that the higher resolution of 18 megapixels was an asset when recording images at a high zoom range. Otherwise, it was a non-issue.

Auto Focus –

This is a feature that would seem to favor the Nikon D300s with its 51 focal points, because the Canon 7D has only 19 focal points. However, this is where more is not always better. Some of the comments made reference to the fact that with 51 points to try to focus on, the camera had to work much too hard to quickly coordinate all those points.

Essentially, the 19 point system worked far better when dealing with fast moving objects because the camera‘s computer was able to keep up with the demand for continuous focus. When not much movement is involved the AutoFocus was not an issue with either camera, but when it was necessary to lock focus on a moving object, one user commented that the “7D is the most capable AF I’ve seen to date.”

Hmmm.. very interesting

Movie Mode -

Both cameras feature HD video capture. The Canon 7D has higher resolution at 1080p and 30 frames per second versus 720p and 24 frames per second.

ISO -

Now that the cameras have been in the hands of actual users for several months, the comments indicate that the Nikon D300s has not been able to capture the same quality of images at high ISO ratings. This will come into play if you are shooting photos indoors in lower light without a flash, such as at a school play or a concert where there will be ” No Flash Photography Permitted”.

LCD -

Again on the issue of numbers, it would appear that the LCD clarity would be about the same, but, once more, comments on the user forums by folks who have used both cameras seem to favor the brightness of the Canon 7D, especially out doors in bright sunlight when using movie mode and/or Live View.

Price -

Street price is about $100 cheaper for the Nikon D300s. That is $1500 vs $1600, depending upon where you are shopping. This is for the Body Only – without a lens.

Bottom Line – if you are a fan of one camera brand or the other, there is no need to switch, because you will continue to get great images from your chosen brand.

In addition, even though the Canon 7D is the obvious winner in this review, just wait. It won’t be long before both cameras are replaced with newer, shinier, more technologically developed siblings.

It is indeed a great time to be a photographer. Photography is really fun.

New Canon EOS Rebel T2i Digital SLR Camera Review

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Canon has added to the entry-level segment, the new EOS Rebel T2i. Born with the popularity of the Canon EOS Rebel T1i, the EOS Rebel T2i is designed to offer more choice to the video function.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i – Features:

There are several changes from the Rebel T1i. In particular, the ISO sensitivity reaches up to ISO 6400, although it is still possible to expand to 12800 ISO. The management of the sensitivity function AutoISO, can not use very high ISO in difficult conditions, but to set an upper limit. Features not found on previous models offering a totally entrusted to the control machine.

The screen has a higher resolution, it passes from 307,000 to 1,040,000 pixels, a significant difference expect to deepen.

The new screen resolution should help with new video features of the Canon EOS Rebel T2i. Available video recording Full HD 1080p with manual control and frame rate selectable. You can choose between 30, 25 and 24 fps in full HD quality, while 60 or 50 fps with reduced quality to 720p. Interesting is the Movie Crop reduces the resolution to 640 × 480 to obtain a magnification of 7 times the lens focal length.

The measurement system to 63 zones iFCL dual-layer corresponds to that of the Canon EOS 7D, just one of the innovative features that accompanied this product. This measurement system has new algorithms for determining an optimal exposure.

The EOS Rebel T2i has an exposure compensation of +/- 5EV 1/3 or 1/2 stop. Is not a new feature to other brands like Nikon and Olympus.

Added compatibility with the Eye-Fi memory. Probably the Eye-Fi technology will be implemented in the service iMAGE GATEWAY, offering a convenient service that automatically sends the detection of a hotspot Wi-Fi on your space. Canon EOS Rebel T2i supports memory cards SDXC that have a theoretical maximum size of 2TB.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i – Considerations:

It ‘a new SLR from excellent features. It will certainly be a good product that will continue the success of this segment Canon. The functions and features allow you to judge as of now, the only concern of great importance is the quality of the sensor, an APS-C loaded with 18 megapixel would seem a bit excessive, then we must take a look at the shots at high ISO.

Will go on sale from March at a price of $799.99 body only and $899.99 in one body with Canon EF-S 18-55 f/3.5-5.6 IS lens kit.

The price is high, but of course, is to launch. Expect some evidence “empirical” to give an overall assessment on the new Canon T2i.

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera Review – Pros and Cons

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If you are an amateur photographer who plans to bring your photography skills to the next level, the Canon Digital Rebel XSi will be the prefer DSLR camera for you. Lets take a closer look at this very popular DSLR camera and what it has got to offer.

Cons: After taking a closer look at its price, feature and performance ration, our tech experts have trouble finding any significant flaws on the Canon Digital Rebel XSi. Nevertheless we managed to find some minor ones.

For instance, this model has no video features. Although the battery life span is generally good, it drains quite quickly when the Live View feature is being used. Considering that this is a DSLR model, it comes with a basic set of features. So if you are looking for a camera with tones of bells and whistles, this model is not for you. The design of the camera is also a little too subtle (but comfortable to use nevertheless).

Pros: Like many Canon cameras, what the Canon Digital Rebel XSi lacks in features is made up in terms of quality and performance. The photo quality was so impressive that it rivals some of the more expensive DSLR models in the market. The photos were sharp with accurate colors and good noise profile. The quality of the photos was very good even at ISO 1600.

Despite is timid design, the Canon Digital Rebel XSi is very comfortable to use. It is also very light, weighing in at just 16.8 ounces. Speed wise, this model also fare well with a fast startup time (0.2 seconds) and shot-to-shot time (0.4 seconds). Overall, I am on the same page with other DSLR experts out there in declaring that the Canon Digital Rebel XSi is arguably the best entry-level DSLR camera in the market.

Canon PowerShot SX200IS 12 MP Digital Camera – A Complete Review

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Design: As far as point-and-shoot cameras go the Canon PowerShot SX200IS breaks the mould with slim but slightly curved grip on the right, making the camera look like a slightly bent black brick. With a telescoping wide-angle lens dominating the entire front area the camera is quite attractive and comes in black, blue and red. When turned off the whole camera body is quite compact and fits into most pockets with ease. At 8.6 ounces it is a bit heavier than normal but not to the point of making it uncomfortable

Specifications: The Canon PowerShot SX200IS offers a resolution of 12 mega pixels with a 12x optical zoom. The camera‘s 1/2.3-inch CCD and f3.4-5.3, 28-336mm (35mm equivalent) lens allows it to capture really wide-angle shots for JPEG images and H.264 or MOV movies.

Its highest resolution size for still images is 4000×3000 pixels and 1280×720 at 30fps for very good movies although the optical zoom is not usable during movie mode. Complete with mechanical and electronic stabilization the camera takes steady shots and thanks to an efficient li-ion rechargeable battery it can last for 280 shots on a single charge.

Features & Performance: At its core, the Canon Powershot SX200IS is a point-and-shoot digital camera with auto, 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1600 ISO sensitivity and various white balance modes. The camera offers various automatic and preset recording modes along with great color effects. What makes the camera so different is that with its scroll dial you can manually focus and change aperture or shutter speeds which should appeal to the more intermediate to advanced crowd.

Thankfully, photo quality is top notch with sharp details and excellent exposures. While the camera does have a slightly slower shot-to-shot time it has very good shutter lag. All in all, the Canon PowerShot SX200IS is one point and shoot camera that should appeal to the more experienced digital camera user along with the beginner wanting a camera with a bit more power but not to the point of DSLR or pseudo DSLR levels.

Where to Get SLR Camera Repair Services

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If your expensive and latest-technology digital SLR camera gets broken, the obvious and first thing to do is to contact the manufacturer and bring the camera to the nearest branch. For example, if your Canon EOS gets broken and you’re residing in the US, you can send your camera to Canon USA. The phone numbers and other contact details for repair facility and services are usually found on company websites so getting contact information shouldn’t be that hard.

If you live in a far-flung place in a third world country with no known nearby offices of camera companies, you can still FedEx your camera to a repair center. Just make sure you include your credit card number so they can charge you for their services. Another option would be to send it directly to the importing company.

If you’re into vintage cameras and you have a 35mm camera and wouldn’t mind spending 200-300 bucks for repair services, you can send the camera back to Pentax or Nikon or any trusted camera manufacturer. Know, however, that there some manufacturers who don’t want to bother with models that are over 20 years old. These guys will simply tell you that there are no longer any parts available for your vintage camera model. If this is the case, you should go to specialized camera shops that are willing to revive your camera from scratch or improvise parts to make it work. I recommend the Professional Camera Repair shop located in New York City.

For those who own a Hasselblad, I recommend you get in touch with Gil Ghitelman and consider sending your camera to him. He’s the Hasselblad go-to person in my book because he hires his own Hasselblad repair person.

If you live in New England, you’ve probably heard of Steve Grimes – the only camera legend living in the area. He can help you out with all sorts of large format issues and problems with customize machining. He also does lens mounting, large format shutter repairs, etc. You can check out his website at skgrimes.com and contact him through 401-762-0857. I can’t run down all recommendable repair shops or go-to persons in every state, so your best bet would be to ask around and do your own research on where you can get quality SLR camera repair services in your state. If all else fails and you feel that your camera is beyond repair, there’s no other choice but to get a new one.

Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera Review

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Specifications: The Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP digital camera is a 12.1 mega pixel consumer camera with 3x optical zoom. The 2.5-inch LCD display is small but very viewable. It is lightweight and stunningly designed, making this digital camera one of the most sought after compact digital cameras on the market. As a bonus, the PowerShot’s SD780IS has the ability to record videos in HD which also boosts its already impressive specifications.

Design: Its design is pretty different from regular PowerShot designs of the past because it is slimmer and comes in a new matte surface (for the black model) that is impervious to fingerprints. The camera is a mere 0.7-inches thick, and users will barely know the camera is in their pockets. Its slim design allows for greater portability, making it the ideal camera for enthusiastic amateur photographers.

Features & Performance: The 12.1 mega pixel-quality allows the Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP digital camera to produce outstanding images with good clarity and detail. The 2.5-inch LCD screen is on the smaller side but can nevertheless produce good color, clarity, brightness and sharpness. Its lightweight, slim design, ability to capture moving images, smart auto mode, face detection with the DIGIC IV processor and blink detection all make photo-taking a pleasure. Video recording is also superb as it can record in HD (1280 x 720 pixels).

Overall: Overall the Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP digital camera is a good camera for everyday use. With HDMI output, it allows for HD video playback straight to a HD television, although sound-wise quality is not as good. The picture quality, compact design and array of features included coupled with the affordable price make the Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP digital camera a perfect camera to buy for camera enthusiasts looking for a stylish yet competent compact digital camera.

Canon Digital Rebel XSi Camera Review

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I have been a camera user for quite some time now. I believe that there will come a time that you will have a craving to own a camera that can just offer more than the usual features, that your old camera used to provide. The Canon Digital Rebel XSi in my own humble opinion, is in the mid high price range. I am attracted by its large 3.0 inch LCD. It is somewhat bigger in size but when you actually carry or use it, it’s lighter as compared to the older models. I like the idea that it has a self cleaning imaging sensor to guarantee long lasting quality images. I really appreciate the fact that it is compatible with the full inventory of Canon‘s lenses in the EF and EF-S league.

Canon Rebel Xsi has greatly considered functionality, usability, and price. The combination of these three aspects make this camera a must buy especially for newbie or novice photographers. The Auto ISO feature will definitely help them in using the camera and unraveling its hidden wonders. It has a commendable refined ergonomic design that just makes it more convenient to its users. It is compatible with SD and SDHC memory cards and new accessories that will surely enhance any aspect of the photographic experience. Personally, it is best to purchase a memory card that can match the technical requirements of this camera. If you buy low end memory cards, you will only get frustrated because you might think the camera has defective features. You might think the shutter speed is below standard or the framing rate is not meeting its projected speed.

One thing that might annoy some camera enthusiasts, is the Auto focus feature of this camera. I tried using it and there is truth to some claims from different users. I had a number of unusually odd out of focus shots. Thinking that I could have purchased a defective camera, I had it replaced the next day. The replacement produced better results. In this manner, I really can’t tell what caused it.

Generally, I am very pleased with the Rebel’s performance. Its color reproduction is amazing. It produces low noise and it’s lightning fast.

Canon Rebel XS Digital SLR Camera Review – A Great Low-End SLR Camera

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When you’re ready to graduate to a Single-Lens-Reflex camera, the Canon Rebel XS 10.1Mp Digital SLR Camera might be what you’re looking for. When you’re looking at the DSLR lines, it’s a good entry level to this line.

All of the cameras at this price level are incredible, of course. They’ll give you distinct huge photographs that rival anything that a professional might shoot.

However, this Canon is very affordable, being only a little above the price of the high-end point-and-shoot cameras. If people are afraid to pay those big bucks for the big SLR cameras, this might be a good choice.

Here are some of the features of the Canon Rebel XS:

1. When the LCD screen gets up to this camera‘s 2.5 inch size, that helps keep the camera compact, yet allow the user to have a good view of what they’re going to be taking a photo of. The menus of these cameras are very important, because they’re how you’ll be navigating when you’re looking to turn on the special features.

2. Since you can purchase the body separate from the lens, this is good because it’s so low priced that you can get a better quality lens to go with it, yet end up with a very reasonable camera for the price.

There are so many features, it will take you weeks before you’re completely knowledgeable about the unit, but most people won’t use all those features. Being a successor to the XSI, it’s quality and overall design is very similar.

Here are some more of the features of the Canon Rebel XS 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera:

1. Ten megapixel is about as much as you want to go when you’re going to manipulate the photos on a computer. Anything above that will have unreasonably large load times when they’re brought into Photoshop. Since the DigicIII sensor in the camera allows the image quality to be better than normal, that ten megapixel will definitely be an advantage.

2. Although, the camera comes with its own software, most people are going to just use Photoshop, if they’re at this level of expertise.

3. One really important feature that the camera offers, which few SLRs offer, is Live View. Some Olympus SLRs offer this. It means that you can see what’s coming through the lens can be seen on the LCD display.

In all fairness, I must mention the cons of the Canon Rebel XS:

1. The Live View takes some getting used to with a digital camera. It means that you’re seeing what’s coming through the lens, not what’s coming through the CCD. That’s a very distinct difference which has to be experienced to understand. The CCD is the integrated circuit which grabs the image. The CCD image might be drastically different than what’s coming through the lens, particularly if you’re shooting into the sun. Many can’t get used to that huge leap of difference, and others love the feature.

2. Also, because there is no spot metering while in live view, that greatly impedes its function.

3. The plastic case makes it look poorer quality than some other cameras of its price range. However, you might appreciate that plastic case; it greatly reduces the camera‘s weight. That might be a disadvantage, though, because having less momentum, the camera will shake more.

All-in-all, despite its flaws, the Canon Rebel XS 10.1Mp Digital SLR Camera is a great low-end SLR camera.

HandySLR Review

Wow, I love this rig! Here’s a quick look at the HandySLR, a very well-designed DSLR video support rig.