Forthcoming - Olympus E-PL1 Review in-depth
Friday, February 05, 2010
A couple of days ago, I brought you news of the new Olympus Pen E-PL1 digital camera. To say that this new era in digital photography excites me is an understatement. The exciting news for me (and yourselves) that I can now confirm that I will be bringing you a series of in-depth reviews of the E-PL1 Double Zoom Kit.Mid-to-late March I will be kicking things off with an unboxing & product tour. This will be followed a series of videos looking at the various features of the E-PL1. I cannot wait to get my hands on this little beauty to take a look how the in-body image stabilisation performs, those superb art filters and of course the VF-2 Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) that you can add to the unit. The VF-2 is reported to be a wonder in itself with a superb clarity due to the high resolution. The double zoom kit comes supplied with both 14-42mm and 40-150mm zoom lenses, so I will be sure to bring you photo results from both. Following the initial series of videos, I will then move onto the video performance. The E-PL1 can capture 1280x720 video at 30 frames per second... again very impressive stuff. It even has a direct video button to make recording really quick to access and live view on the 2.7-inch screen to complete the experience. Far to much to report here, other than to say... watch this space and keep an eye on the Geekanoids Channel for full coverage.
Labels: Digital Photography, News
Sanyo VPC-SH1 - HD Camcorder with Style
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Big news on the HD camcorder front. The second half of February should see the UK availability of the VPC-SH1 HD Dual Camera. I am bringing you this news early, as I am uber excited that I will be bringing you a series of reviews covering the product features and performance. This will be followed by my regular reviews being recorded with the SH1 so you get a good idea of what sort of picture and sound it delivers.The VPC-SH1 is approximately 190cc in volume, 204g in weight, and 43mm in thickness. Its excellent portability dramatically expands the situations in which a video camera can be used. In fact, the actual dimensions are very small measuring just 42.8mm wide by 117.9mm long and 59.2mm high. It looks pretty snazzy to in black/silver or a black/silver/red combo.
It also sports something Sanyo is calling a "Double Sub REC Button"... what this basically offers is extra recording buttons (in addition to the regular ones) at the upper front part of the body. So you can hold the camcorder low down and still easily start/stop recording and take pictures from a creative angle.
It may be small, but it still captures full HD video at up to 1920x1080 pixels and at up to 60 frames per second. The bitrate is decent too, maxing out at 16Mbps. On top of this you get 10 megapixel still capture, which sounds pretty cool. All captured onto SD memory cards, with SDHC and SDXC support. A 35mm wide angle lens, with 23x optical and 30x advanced digital zoom, plus a 2.7-inch full colour screen round off what sounds like a very compelling package. I certainly cannot wait to get my hands on one. In the mean time, head on over to the Sanyo website to take a look.
Labels: Camcorder, Digital Photography, News
Olympus Announce new
E-PL1
Wow, this is fantastic news from Olympus. I am so excited about this one, rest assured, some way or another I will bring you a full review of this new camera. Press release as follows...In today’s world you’ve got to give the people what they want. And they’re going to want the new Olympus E-PL1. Not only does it deliver extraordinary digital images, it’s the perfect tool for anyone who hesitated to buy SLRs because they find them too complicated. The possibilities are virtually endless with this easy to use retro look model. With great features like HD movie shooting and impressive Art Filters, you too can take exceptional pictures. Its 100% stabilised body even lets you shoot blur-free with all lenses. Combining SLR performance and a lightweight design, PEN lets you create exciting, innovative shots, preserving those moments in life you want captured forever. The ultimate democratising force in quality photography, the E-PL1 is available from March 2010 at a retail price of just £549 for the single lens kit and £699 for the twin zoom kit.
The high-tech mirrorless construction of the PEN means it’s small and easy to use, yet it produces ‘big camera’ results. That’s the genius of the E-PL1, now fine-tuned with these new features:
- Easy to understand, non-technical Live Guide with simple direct control over key image effects
- Direct one touch video button
- Convenient integrated flash
- 4 bold colours to choose from: black, white, champagne, red
- 6 intriguing Art Filters for stills and movies
- E-PL1 plus 14-42 Single Zoom kit £549
- E-PL1 plus 14-42 plus MMF-1 E System adapter and 40-150 E-TeleZoom (total range 28-300mm equivalent) £699
A hybrid of SLR performance embodying the latest technologies and compact comfort, PEN constitutes a new class of camera. The E-PL1 with integrated flash houses a 12.3 Megapixel Live MOS sensor, producing beautiful, razor-sharp photos and HD movies, and the TruePic V engine guarantees superior image quality at up to ISO 3200. Mechanical in-camera image stabilisation provides shake protection of up to 3 EV, effective regardless which lens you decide to use. The high definition AVI format movie option is available at 30fps and 1280x720p resolution – recording up to 7 minutes of film in a single shot. And all this top drawer technology comes in a neat pocket-sized camera.
Helping you take your best photos the new Live Guide speaks plain language, making it easier than ever to change difficult SLR camera effects like depth of field. These can then be monitored on the 2.7” HyperCrystal LCD. i-Enhance, for example, makes sure all colours in your picture spectrum are vivid and rich. It is automatically applied in conjunction with i-Auto mode, which recognises what kind of scene or subject you’re taking and adjusts settings accordingly, or can be used alone. And e-Portrait gives your subjects a quick facelift by glossing over impurities. With the abundance of supportive features and excellent technology, feeling like a pro is a given.
Labels: Digital Photography, News
Olympus Announce
µ TOUGH-8010 and µ TOUGH-6020
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
When the going gets tough, the tough get going, so the saying goes. And that’s certainly true of the Olympus
µ TOUGH-8010 and µ TOUGH-6020. Whether you soak them, drop them, or freeze them, these 14 Megapixel action cameras just keep on performing, taking outstanding pictures and HD movies. Up to 5x wide zoom brings you right to where the action is, and the built-in Dual Image Stabilisation helps during fast-paced chaotic shoots. These tough cookies can store even more with up to 2GB internal memory, and you can intuitively surf through your albums using the new [ib] software. Essential companions on any adventure, the Olympus
µ TOUGH-8010 and µ TOUGH-6020 are available to buy from March 2010 for a retail price of £399.99 and £319.99 respectively.
The Olympus µ TOUGH-8010 and µ TOUGH-6020 – main features:
* Equivalent to a 35mm camera
** Equivalent to MIL Standard (Olympus test conditions)
*** According to IEC standard publication 529 IPX8
**** According to Olympus test conditions
***** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association
The Olympus µ TOUGH-8010 and µ TOUGH-6020 – main features:
- Shockproof to 2m**, waterproof to 10m***, crushproof to 100kg**** freezeproof to -10°C and scratchproof (µ TOUGH-6020: shockproof to 1.5m**, waterproof to 5m*** and freezeproof to -10°C)
- 5x wide optical zoom (28-140mm*)
- Dual Image Stabilisation (combines mechanical and digital image stabilisation)
- HD movie recording and HDMI technology
- 14 Megapixels
- 2GB internal memory (µ TOUGH-6020: 1GB) and SD***** Card compatible
- Photo Surfing and [ib] software
- Improved TAP Control Menu
- 6.9cm/2.7” HyperCrystal III LCD (230,000 dots)
- Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
- Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking
- Magic Filters
- Manometer (µ TOUGH-8010 only)
- In-Camera Manual
- USB charging
- Available in Platinum Silver and Midnight Black (µ TOUGH-8010) or in Midnight Black, Candy Pink, Steel Blue, and Cosmic Green (µ TOUGH-6020)
* Equivalent to a 35mm camera
** Equivalent to MIL Standard (Olympus test conditions)
*** According to IEC standard publication 529 IPX8
**** According to Olympus test conditions
***** SD is a trademark of SD Card Association
Labels: Digital Photography, News
Olympus Announce SP-800UZ and SP-600UZ
Scaling new heights in the compact market, Olympus proudly presents the latest from their ultra-zoom camera series. Equipped with a staggering 30x wide optical zoom covering a 28-840mm* focal length, the 14 Megapixel SP-800UZ makes other contenders pale in comparison. Whether snapping photos or trying out the new HD movie shooting option, a colossal internal memory of 2GB gives you the freedom to capture more. The 3” LCD displays in 16:9 format, which makes sharing the fruits of your labour with friends even more enjoyable. Little sister SP-600UZ also has built-in Dual Image Stabilisation, rendering clean, sharp images. The new [ib] software allows you to effortlessly tag your photos while browsing your albums gets simpler with Photo Surfing. Making it easy to shoot and easy to share the Olympus SP-800UZ and SP-600UZ are available in Titanium Silver from March 2010 for a retail price of £369.99 and £259.99 respectively.
The Olympus SP-800UZ and SP-600UZ – main features:
- 30x wide optical zoom (28-840mm*) (SP-600UZ: 15x, 28-420mm*)
- Dual Image Stabilisation (combines mechanical and digital image stabilisation)
- High-speed 10fps sequence shooting HD movie recording and HDMI technology
- 14 Megapixels (SP-600UZ: 12 Megapixels)
- 2GB internal memory (SP-600UZ: 1GB) and SD Card compatible**
- Photo Surfing and [ib] software
- 3” LCD with 16:9 wide format (230,000 dots) (SP-600UZ: 2.7” LCD (230,000 dots))
- Advanced Face Detection and Shadow Adjustment Technology
- Intelligent Auto Mode (i-Auto) and AF Tracking
- Magic Filters, Beauty Mode, In-Camera Panorama
- Built-in flash In-Camera Manual
- USB charging (SP-800UZ only)
**SD is a trademark of SD Card Association
Labels: Digital Photography, News
Olympus u7010 Digital Camera Review
Thursday, November 05, 2009
With so many digital cameras on the market nowadays, manufacturers really have to stand out from the crowd. The Olypmus u7010 does just that with superior build and image quality. Check out the video review below.
Product: Olympus u7010 Digital Camera
Supplied by: Olympus UK
Contact:+44 (0)1923 831100
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Olympus Pen E-P1 Digital Camera Review
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
If you want a more compact solution to a Digital SLR camera, then look at the reborn Olympus Pen E-P1.
Product: Olympus Pen E-P1 Digital Camera
Price: £599 (average UK)
Supplied by: Olympus UK
Contact:+44 (0)1923 831100
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Canon SX200 IS Digital Camera Review
Friday, October 23, 2009
As promised here is the unboxing video and full review of the Canon SX200 IS digital camera. There are also some sample images taken with the camera below the videos. Enjoy!
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner Review
Friday, October 09, 2009
If you are remotely interested in photography then it is likely you will have a digital camera. However, if you have been in the game for a while, you may even have a album or two, or maybe even a shoebox with some real photographs. You remember, the ones that are paper, that you hold. Well, if you want to bring them into the digital age, you could do a lot worse than the Epson Perfection V500 Photo scanner. Check out my review below and also check out TestFreaks which scored this scanner 7.6/10.
Labels: Digital Photography, Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals, Reviews
Sony Cybershot DSC-WX1 Review
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The Sony Cybershot DSC-WX1 offers so much on the feature list. You get a very compact camera, with a 10.2 megapixel sensor. Excellent lens with a 5x optical zoom. Plus features like high definition movie capture and smile detection. However, problems with 16GB memory sticks and noise whilst zooming will not do it any favours. Check out the two videos below, followed by some gallery photos taken with the camera.
Images showing photo taken at widest angle 24mm, then zoomed right in at 5x. Final panoramic photo was taken using the Sweep Panorama feature.
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Canon Legria HF-200 HD Camcorder Review
Friday, July 24, 2009
Two videos for you on the Canon Legria HF-200. This HD camcorder promises great recording quality straight to SDHC memory card. In the first video below, I show you what you get for your money. The second video is here, click this link to see some actual footage and comparison with a Sony HDR-HC7 HD MiniDV camcorder.
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Technoline BL-700 Intelligent Battery Charger Review
If you (like most of the population) get fed up with having to throw away alkaline batteries, then you need to get some NiMH ones instead. If you are a heavy user, then a good charger is also an essential piece of kit. Check out the review below of the Technoline BL-700.
Product: Technoline BL-700 Battery Charger
Price: £39.99 (for current BL-900 model)
Supplied by: Battery Logic
Contact: 0800 066 4668
Labels: Digital Photography, Gadgets, Reviews
Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG10 Review
Monday, July 06, 2009
If you want a snap happy little camcorder, that does HD, check out technolicio.us review of the Sanyo Xacti VPC-CG10.
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Innova innovate with FibaPrint Ultra Smooth Gloss
When someone buys an inkjet printer (in my case the Epson R2880), you often get a sample pack of paper with the device. This is not just out of kindness, it is marketing. Papers are normally developed especially for the manufacturers inks and when you see the results, it is more than likely you will continue to buy their own brand papers. Unless you are in the graphic design industry, it is unlikely that you would even research any other papers, so I have done a little bit of that work for you.FineArtFoto, a specialist retailer of fine art papers and canvas materials for inkjet printers, kindly sent me some samples. The first of which is the Innova FibaPrint Ultra Smooth Gloss. It comes in a range of sizes, A4 thru A2, as well as roll based media for large format inkjet printers. This is a heavy weight paper at 285gsm and has some superb stiffness to it. This is superb for photo prints that you might intend to resell, as it gives a very high quality feel. The finish on this particular paper is ultra smooth, with a high white finish. Unprinted it appears a little mottled, but once it has been shown the ink, the smoothness really becomes aparent.
Before I move onto the printing results, I should mention that Innova have made ICC profiles available for a lot of the Epson printers, including the R2880. This ensures that the printer uses the right mix of inks to deliver consistent and expected results. Download and installation is easy and for the tests I let Photoshop handle the colour management, thus utilising the ICC profile for this particular paper.
The results are nothing short of outstanding (scans and original to follow). The ink lays on the paper nicely and creates a print that appears to stand off slightly from the page. The tonal range (when compared to Epson Premium Glossy) is fantastic, there is just such a natural feel to the print that I was really amazed. The level of detail also improved, with clouds in the sky taking on a more natural look. In darker areas, much more detail was resolved, just proving that it was there in the original photo.
Innova FibaPrint Ultra Smooth Gloss is not something you would use everyday, due to the cost. For those of you who want to make those special one off prints for framing, this is definitely a media you should check out. For the graphic professionals out there, if you intend to resell your prints, then you will be very pleased with how this media performs.
The prices below are obtained by using a special discount code when checking out. The code to use is INNUSG-GEEKS. You can use this online or even if you phone your order through. It equates to about 35% discount off the RRP and can be used on ANY paper order.
Product: Innova FibaPrint Ultra Smooth Gloss
Prices (exc. VAT. Other sizes & quantities available):
A4/25 £14.27
A4/50 £27.30
A3/25 £28.60
A3/50 £54.60
A3+/25 £37.05
A3+/50 £67.60
A2/25 £55.90
A2/50 £108.55
Supplied by: FineArtFoto
Contact: +44 (0) 845 2775555
Labels: Digital Photography, Printing, Reviews
Tokina f2.8 Macro Lens Review - AT-X 100 AF PRO D
Thursday, June 18, 2009
If you need a very high end Macro lens, check out this model from Tokina.
Product: Tokina f2.8 Macro Lens AT-X 100 AF PRO D
Price: £458
Supplied by: Kenro UK
Contact: +44 (0)1793 615836
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Epson Stylus Photo R2880 Printer Review
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Something a little larger than an A4 printer can make for some very effective photos. The Epson Stylus Photo R2880 printer offers the ability to do larger prints and even produce panorama's. Check out the video review.
Product: Epson Stylus Photo R2880
Price: £499 (Amazon)
Contact Epson: +44 (0)8702 416900
Labels: Digital Photography, Mac Peripherals, PC Peripherals, Reviews
Kodak Z8612 IS Digital Camera Review
Friday, May 08, 2009
If you are after a cost effective digital camera that offer some high quality optics, then please check out the review below of the Kodak Z8612 IS. After the video you will also find some sample images.
Product: Kodak Z8612 IS
Price: £109.99 (RRP)
Supplied by: Kodak UK
Contact: 0870 2430270
Sample images:
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Nikon D90 Digital Camera Review
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
With the aim of trying something a little different... the Nikon D90 digital camera review is brought to you by two new hosts. Bobby and Stevie from PuppetNation are a little nervous on their first outing, but hang in there, give them a chance.
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Nissin Speedlite Di622 - Camera Flash Review
Monday, April 20, 2009
As an alternative to paying Nikon and Canon prices, this professional camera flash from Nissin certainly looks the business. It performs almost identically to the more expensive offerings from Nikon and certainly in the value for money arena it wins hands down. I was particularly impressed by its accuracy, four second recycle time and build quality. For outstanding performance and budget beating price it wins our Gold Award. We don't hand these out very often, so it should go without saying that the Nissin Speedlite Di622 comes highly recommended. Check out the video review below.Product: Nissin Speedlite Di622
Price: £156.58 RRP : £89.99 Best UK Price
Supplied by: Kenro Limited
Contact: +44 (0)1793 615836
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
Lowepro Vertex 200 AW - camera backpack review
I purchased a Lowepro Vertex 200 AW Backpack about two weeks ago for just over £100. Intended to be a bag that I carry all of my photo gear in, on those longer journeys or on holiday. Yes, that amount of money is a lot to spend, but if you have expensive camera gear it really needs good protection.So, the Vertex 200AW has a lot going for it. It can accommodate two SLR cameras, plus lots of lenses. It has a main compartment that takes all of your main kit which is divided up by padded pieces that attach in the place you choose with velcro. The flap of this main compartment has some extra pockets for accessories too. It is amazing how much you can fit in. The main compartment gobbled up my Nikon D90 with an 18-105mm zoom lens attached, two macro lenses, one zoom lens and a small prime lens. Add to that my flash and there is still loads of room. It also sports a weather-resistant quiet zip.
In front of this is another zipper of the same style. This reveals a laptop compartment which will take up to a 15-inch screen laptop. I have tried my MacBook in there with loads of room to spare. This section could quite easily be used for papers and a book or two. Then there are extra smaller pockets for memory card, plus a really cool strap down on the front. This slides up and down into position, and allows you to strap a tripod on, you even get a foot support supplied too (shown left). There is also a little pocket on the bottom of the bag, inside which you find a waterproof cover, that pulls out and covers the whole backpack. It is great and protects your kit from heavier rain and sand, this is a superb inclusion.The shoulder straps are nice and padded. There is also a chest and separate waist strap too. These add extra stability, but it is a shame they cannot be removed from the bag.
Now, it is very comfortable to use and I am very happy, but there is a but. The bag is very heavy even without any kit inside. Add a camera and some lenses and it becomes extremely heavy to use. So, my advice is to buy this one for longer journeys, or if you need to take ALL of your kit with you. Lowepro make loads of different bags and I hope you bring you a review of their Slingshot 200 AW soon, which could be used to travel light (as an everyday bag). That said, the Vertex 200 AW is superbly made and worth every penny. It still amazes me how much kit you can fit into it.Note: Prices are due to change on this product on 1st May 2009, so get in at this price whilst stocks last.
Product: Lowepro Vertex 200 AW Backpack
Price: RRP £160 : £109.97 Best Price
Supplied by: Morris Photographic
Tel: 0845 430 2030
Labels: Digital Photography, Reviews
The Authors
Dave
Dave has been in the graphic design industry for 14 years. Long time reviewer of technology related products, he is Owner/Editor of Geekanoids.
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