Sony releases firmware v1.04 for SLT-A77 and SLT-A65

Sony has released the long-rumored firmware v1.04 update for its A77 and A65 SLT models. The updates add two more lenses to the list that the cameras can correct for and also promise to improve image quality, response time and 'usability.' The updates are currently available in Asia and Europe but haven't been formally announced in the US. Following our reviews of the A77 and A65 we will install the latest firmware and update the reviews as necessary.

New Firmware v1.04

1. Lens compensation data for SAL1680Z and SAL16105
2. Improved response of controls + dials
3. Improved quality – addresses rare interference experienced during 24p video recording and occasional flash exposure problem when using ADI mode
4. Improved usability – improvement of memory recall mode, fix for delayed turn off, minor adjustment to AEL button operation, enable front dial to adjust ISO Auto limits, enable rear dial for Program shift.

Provata la Sony NEX-C3, la mirrorless che piace a tutti

Corpo compatto, sensore da 16 Megapixel e tanta qualità.
Ma sono le funzioni creative e la semplicità di scatto a stupire: anche senza esperienza è davvero difficile scattare brutte foto.

Sony SLT-A77 Review

Post originally from: Digital Photography Tips.


In recent months it was obvious that Sony and Panasonic had left the upper end DSLR to others … such as Nikon and Canon.

Until now! And this one is a big mother… the Sony SLT-A77!

Sony starts making NEX and SLT cameras again, following Thai floods

DPReview reports that Sony has resumed production of its SLT and NEX cameras, which may include the NEX-7 and A65 cameras, after two of its three main manufacturing plants in Thailand were hit by extreme floods nearly a month ago. The impact was enough to make a sizable dent in the company's financial outlook and force it to establish a new plant further south in the country. There's apparently still no confirmation of when products will start shipping, but as long as the conveyor belts are rolling and people are back in employment, we're not complaining.

Aggiornamenti firmware per Nikon D5100 e Nikon D7000

Aggiornamenti firmware per Nikon D5100 e Nikon D7000: Nikon rilascia gli aggiornamenti firmware per le sue reflex Nikon D5100 e D7000 che, rispettivamente, arrivano alla versione 1.01 e 1.03.

Google Photography Prize: Looking for the photography stars of the future

Google Photography Prize: Looking for the photography stars of the future: Google+ is only a few months old, but the photography community is already thriving on it. Take a look at the profiles of Scott Jarvie, Thomas Hawk, Colby Brown or Claire Grigaut to see just a few of the inspiring photographers on Google+. More than 3.4 billion photos have been uploaded to the platform in the first 100 days.

We’re really excited about this, and think great art deserves great exposure. So we’re teaming up with Saatchi Gallery, London for the Google Photography Prize, a chance for students around the world to showcase their photos on Google+ and have their work exhibited at a major art institution.

The contest is open to university students around the world (some exceptions apply, see google.com/photographyprize for more details). From far-away places to up-close faces, there are 10 different categories to spark your imagination. And there are some great prizes to be won: 10 finalists chosen by a jury of renowned photographers will show their work at Saatchi Gallery, London for two months in 2012 alongside Out of Focus, a major photography exhibition, and win a trip to London to attend the exhibition opening event with a friend. One winner will go on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to an amazing destination with a professional photography coach.

It’s easy to enter: After you pick a category, upload your photos to Google+ and share them with the world as a public post, then visit the submission form on google.com/photographyprize by January 31, 2012 to enter.

Saatchi Gallery, London will share updates on their Google+ page for the contest, so add it to your circles if you want to see the great work that’s being submitted.

We can’t wait to see your photos!

Posted by Obi Felten, Director of Consumer Marketing, Google EMEA

Film Grenade

[Image: The "Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera" by Jonas Pfeil].

The "Throwable Panoramic Ball Camera," designed by Jonas Pfeil as part of his thesis project at the Technical University of Berlin, creates spherical panoramas after being thrown into the air.

The camera "captures an image at the highest point of flight—when it is hardly moving." It "takes full spherical panoramas, requires no preparation and images are taken instantaneously. It can capture scenes with many moving objects without producing ghosting artifacts and creates unique images." You can see it at work in this video:



Pfeil explains in detail:

Our camera uses 36 fixed-focus 2 megapixel mobile phone camera modules. The camera modules are mounted in a robust, 3D-printed, ball-shaped enclosure that is padded with foam and handles just like a ball. Our camera contains an accelerometer which we use to measure launch acceleration. Integration lets us predict rise time to the highest point, where we trigger the exposure. After catching the ball camera, pictures are downloaded in seconds using USB and automatically shown in our spherical panoramic viewer. This lets users interactively explore a full representation of the captured environment.

It's easy enough to imagine such a thing being mass-produced and taken up by the Lomo crowd; but it seems equally likely that such a technology could be put to use aiding military operations in urbanized terrain, with otherwise disoriented squad leaders tossing "robust" optical grenades up above dividing walls and blocked streets to see what lies beyond.

Either way, a throwable camera strong enough to withstand bad weather and strong bounces—and able to store hundreds of images—sounds like an amazing way to start documenting the urban landscape. In fact, the very idea that a "photograph" would thus correspond to a spherical sampling of all the objects and events in a given area adds an intriguing spatial dimension to the act of creating images. It's a kind of reverse-firework: rather than release light into the sky, it steals traces of the light it finds there.

Sony Alpha A77: il nostro unboxing in redazione

Sony Alpha A77: il nostro unboxing in redazione: Abbiamo ricevuto un esemplare di Sony Alpha A77 per la nostra recensione: in attesa della prova ecco l'unboxing in redazione.

3 November, 2011 - Canon and RED Scarlet Video Announcements

3 November, 2011 - Canon and RED Scarlet Video Announcements:

 CANON

 

Canon has announced its C300 video cameras in Hollywood today. At some US $16,000 its designed for professional TV and motion picture productions. It will be available in two versions, one with EOS mount lenses and one for PL mount. Neither version has AF or AE.

This is a 4K camera with a new 8.3 Megapixel Super-35mm CMOS sensor recording MPEG2 at 50Mbps 4:2:2 and 1080p30. It does not have raw, or dual link SDI 4.4.4 capability.

But the two C300 cameras aren't the only new video models coming. Keeping the DSLR form factor Canon has pre-announced a full frame 4K camera. No other info other than that and the above picture at this time.

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RED Scarlet

After a three-year-long gestation period RED announced the Scarlet-X today, and it was no coincidence that its introduction was on the same day as Canon's big news. RED definately wants you do draw comparisons.

Remakably the Scarlet has essentially the same specs as the EPIC, except with lower data rates. All EPIC accessories work on the Scarlet. The price is under $10,000. Fully kitted out and ready to shoot, except for the Canon EOS lens of your choice, a Scarlet-X will likely cost about $13,000. Shipments begin within a few weeks. 

Scarlet-X shoots raw video with 4K resolution at 24fps, just as the EPIC ($28,000). And, oh yes, Scarlet can shoot still photographs at 5K resolution (5120 x 2700 which is 14 Megapixels) at 12fps. The new camera uses REDCODE RAW at 50MB/sec (440 Megabits/sec). Lens mount? Canon EOS, with a slightly more expensive PL mount version coming. Sweet.

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Sean Reid, a long-time contributor to this site, has just published an extensive field review of the Ricoh GR IV pocket camera on his site http://www.reidreviews.com. 

I briefly handled this model while at the PhotoPlus show in New York City and it seemed promising though very specialized. Asked to describe this new camera in a nutshell Sean writes: "With a small sensor and a fixed prime lens - having an EFOV of about 28 mm - this is indeed a specialized camera. But I think it may be the smallest digital camera on the market that a serious photographer might take seriously." Reid Reviews is a subscription site but unique in its depth and perspective.

Sony Alpha 580 in prova: bella e conveniente

Sony Alpha 580 in prova: bella e conveniente: Sony punta forte sulle mirrorless e sulle SLT, ma in gamma ha ancora ottime reflex in grado di dire la loro. Abbiamo provato la a580, fotocamera dall'ottimo rapporto qualità prezzo.

EOS Movie viaggia verso il 4K

EOS Movie viaggia verso il 4K: Canon ha mostrato il prototipo di una reflex con sistema EOS Movie di nuova generazione. Ha un sensore Full Frame e riprende a 4K.