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Showing posts with label Retro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Retro. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Canon SX50IS Best Prosumer in the Class


After my latest review for its lower class brother, let us see the true champion of prosumer camera the SX50 IS. This one assures you to get the feel of DSLR on your hand with a plenty useful features. First, let’s take a look of its body. I would say it’s designed more “space efficient”. Vary-angle LCD is very useful in capturing moments when you cannot put your eyes properly behind the camera. As usual, its select button also have a function as shortcut to ISO, WB, timer, and AF mode. I haven’t notice the menu but surely its gonna be very user friendly. The rounded handgrip gives a comfortable handling.
This might sound exaggerated but truly its equipped with 50x optical zoom lens (24-1200mm). Well I never really try it but if you are zoom lens fanatic you’d be doubtlessly consider this one. Good news it covered with Intelligent IS feature. Once more, the wide angle aperture start from 3.4, not so satisfying for lowlight. However it consistently keep the aperture opened good (6.5) at the longest zoomrange of 1200mm. Another good news is the CMOS sensor inside the body for better lowlight handling. It would be hard to focusing on moving objects while taking a very long zoom. So the company put the Zoom Framing Assist Seek button on the camera. It works by zooming out to include a wider angle view, enabling us to locate the moving object. Once you find it you just need to release the seek button to return to its original zoom position. Canon doesn’t mention the shutter lag time for this camera but the company claims that their High-Speed AF remarkably responsive to gives you 13 fps at full resolution with reduced lag time. Wanted to judge it personally, check its specification below:

Specifications for PowerShot SX50 HS

Imaging Processor DIGIC 5
Image Sensor
Camera Effective Pixels Approx 12.1 Million pixels
Lens
Focal Length 50x zoom: 4.3 (W) - 215 (T)mm
(35mm film equivalent: 24 (W) - 1200 (T)mm)
Focusing Range 0cm (0in.) - infinity (W),
1.3m (4.3in.) - infinity (T)
Macro: 0 - 50cm (0in. - 1.6ft.) (W),
30cm - 50cm (12in. - 1.6ft.) (T)
Image Stabilizer (IS) System Len-shift type
LCD Monitor
Size 2.8-inch type (Approx. 461,000 dots)
Aspect Ratio 4:3
Features Variangle
Electronic Viewfinder Approx 202,000 dots
Focus
Control System Continuous AF, Servo AF, Manual Focus
AF frame Face Detect, Tracking AF, Center, FlexiZone
Metering System Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot
ISO Speed
(Standard Output Sensitivity, Recommended Exposure Index)
Auto, ISO 80 - 6400
1/3 step increments
Shutter
Speed 1 - 1/2000sec.
15 - 1/2000sec. (in Tv and M Modes)
Aperture
Type Iris type
f/number f/3.4 - f/8.0 (W), f/6.5 - f/8.0 (T)
Flash
Modes Auto, On, Slow Synchro, Off
Range 50cm - 5.5m (W), 1.4 - 3.0m (T)
(1.6ft. - 18ft. (W), 4.6 - 9.8 (T))
Hot Shoe Available
Shooting specifications
Shooting Modes C1, C2, M, Av, Tv, P, Auto, Movie Digest, Sports, SCN*1, Creative Filters*2, Movie*3

*1 Portrait, Smooth Skin, Smart Shutter*4, High-speed Burst HQ, Handheld Night Scene, Snow, Fireworks, Stitch Assist
*2 High Dynamic Range, Fish-eye Effect, Miniature effect, Toy Camera Effect, Soft Focus, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, Color Accent, Color Swap
*3 Standard, iFrame Movie, Super Slow Motion Movie
*4 Smile, Wink Self-timer, Face Self-Timer
Continuous shooting In P mode: Approx. 2.2 shots/sec.
In High-speed Burst HQ mode: Approx 13 shots/sec.
Number of Recording Pixels Still Images: 4:3
Large: 4000 x 3000,
Medium 1: 2816 x 2112, Medium 2: 1600 x 1200,
Small: 640 x 480,
RAW: 4000 x 3000
Movies: iFrame Movie & Movie Digest: 1280 x 720
Super Slow Motion Movie: 640 x 480 / 320 x 240
Miniature effect: 1280 x 720 / 640 x 480
Others: 1920 x 1080 / 1280 x 720 / 640 x 480
Power Source Battery pack NB-10L
Number of Shots
(CIPA Compliant)
Approx. 315 (with LCD on)
Movie Recoding Time
(Actual Usage Time)
Approx. 1hr. 15mins. (with LCD on)
Dimensions (CIPA compliant) 122.5 x 87.3 x 105.5mm (4.82 x 3.44 x 4.15in.)
Weight (CIPA compliant) Approx. 595g (21oz.) (including the battery and memory card)
Approx. 551g (19.4oz.) (camera body only)
If you think of buying it, you could have it with price around $ 567. At this range of price I would have a DSLR for better image quality. But if you need a versatile camera, this one I recommend it.

Fujifilm XF1 Premium Quality in Stylish Body


September 17, 2012

Stylish quality design with leather and Aluminum

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) is proud to announce the launch of the FUJIFILM XF1, premium design and premium quality digital camera in compact body. This latest addition to Fujifilm's X series range of cameras is due to hit the market in November this year. With its perfectly matched lens and sensor, careful attention to detail on appearance and design, and accessible technology, the XF1 extends the X series range to a much wider audience.
Newly developed for the XF1, the wide-angle, f/1.8 FUJINON lens features a manual 4x optical zoom (25mm-100mm*) operated simply by twisting the zoom ring. Its stunning stylish body includes a 2/3-inch EXR-CMOS sensor and EXR Processor, which are user for FUJIFILM X10, for the superior image quality, feel, and ease-of-use people have come to expect from Fujifilm's X series. You can bring high quality and design anywhere with you, allowing you to shoot high-quality photos whenever you feel the urge. In terms of appeal, the XF1 functions equally well as an upgrade to a compact camera or as a second, "back-up" camera for the more advanced photographer.
Highly praised for their superior image quality and ease of use, Fujifilm's X series cameras are aimed at those "passionate about photography" and currently features the award-winning FUJIFILM X-Pro1, FUJIFILM X100, FUJIFILM X10, and FUJIFILM X-S1 along with the new FUJIFILM X-E1.

Stylish design & Style

Meticulous attention to ease-of-use and the best choice of materials produces a stylish, high-end design for the XF1. The aluminum body is both light and durable, while a synthetic leather covering reproduces the feel of genuine leather while ensuring an improved grip. The XF1 comes in a choice of three very appealing colors: Black, Red, and Brown.
Unlike anything offered by power zoom, the twisting mechanical zoom ring offers a traditional zooming style by turning ring. The camera is powered on by the turning ring, like the X10. While the camera is not used, the ring can be pushed off into the body to minimize camera size for aiding portability.

Stunning results in low light with f/1.8 lens

The XF1's fast f/1.8 lens allows poorly-lit subjects to be photographed without raising sensitivity levels, keeping noise to a minimum. The slim-line lens achieves its aperture of f/1.8 with a construction that features 7 lens elements in 6 groups (four aspherical and three extra low dispersion), the first with a highly variable profile and a high refractive index, and the second an aspherical element with an extremely high refractive index. All elements are subjected to FUJINON's unique Wide-band High Transmittance Electron Beam Coating process (developed for FUJINON broadcast-use lenses), reducing ghosting and flare for crisp results in even the most difficult conditions.
Featuring a unique Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) mechanism that shifts one group of four lens elements to reduce blur, while avoiding color shading and lost resolution at the edges of the image, the XF1 will ensure that noise levels are minimized to produce clear low-light photographs.
Other features include Macro photography at ranges as close as 3 cm, and also the opportunity to capture images using the beautiful "Bokeh" depth of field effect (for crisp subjects set against out-of-focus backgrounds) by taking advantage of the XF1's fast lens and six diaphragm blades.

Premium high image quality with a larger 2/3-inch EXR CMOS sensor

Everyone can take full advantage of the superb image taking potential of the XF1 by using Fujifilm's premium EXR Auto mode, the technology takes charge and selects the optimum settings (from 103 patterns according to the scene's demands), making extremely high photo quality easy to achieve, with almost any subject, whatever your ability!
Adjustable sensor controls are still on offer for the more advanced photographer. The 2/3-inch, 12 million pixel EXR-CMOS sensor features Fujifilm's three switchable sensor modes (SN - high ISO and low noise, DR dynamic-range, and HR resolution) which can be selected according to the subject for bright, sharp images.

Fast AF in even dark scene with EXR processor

With its EXR-CMOS sensor and EXR processor, the XF1 camera offers fast Auto Focus no matter what you're shooting, even in dark scene. The speedy read time of the CMOS sensor, coupled with the high-speed EXR processor, accelerates all operations; quick response, start-up in just 0.55 seconds, focus acquisition in as little as 0.16 seconds, and minimum shot-to-shot time of just 0.8 seconds. Additionally, the EXR processor offers high-speed processing for hassle-free HD movie recording and burst-mode photography.

Manual 4X zoom lens (25mm-100mm*)

Newly developed for the XF1, the wide-angle, f/1.8 lens features a manual 4x optical zoom (25mm-100mm*) operated simply by twisting the zoom ring. This offers the photographer a traditional zooming style for quickly compose shots for pleasure and stress-free framing; unlike anything offered by power zoom.

Manual feeling with new GUI

A rich assortment of multi-function controls is available to those who prefer adjusting camera settings manually. The camera is equipped with a main command dial that simplifies the task of altering the shutter speed and aperture, while up to 6 frequently-used settings can be assigned to the Expanded-function button as desired, allowing the photographer to capture the scene exactly as intended through intuitive operations performed while viewing the LCD monitor.
That monitor is bright, sharp, 3.0-inch/460K dot premium clear LCD monitor with tempered Glass which protect from Scratch.

Artistic filters

The XF1 features a new "advanced filter" option that lets you enjoy quite different forms of photographic expression. Choose from 11 creative patterns; Pop color, Toy camera, Miniature, High-key, Dynamic tone, and six Partial color options (shoot in B&W plus one selective color: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple), and preview the effect of any of the filters on the LCD monitor.
  • * Equivalent 35mm format

FUJIFILM XF1 key features list:

  • Pocketable, premium, camera available in 3 stunning colors (Black, Red,Brown)
  • Manually twisting mechanical zoom ring for turn-on and zooming
  • F1.8 (wide) - F4.9 (telephoto) 4x Fujinon optical zoom lens (25-100mm equivalent 35mm format) and up to 8x Intelligent Digital Zoom
  • 12 megapixel 2/3" EXR-CMOS sensor with EXR-Auto
  • OIS: Optical Image Stabilization
  • Fast processing and response times
  • 3.0-inch/460K dot premium clear LCD monitor with tempered Glass which protect from Scratch
  • Motion Panorama 360 for seamless panoramic shots in a snap
  • Artistic effects including 6 "Advanced filters" with 11 patterns and 5 "Film simulation modes" for additional creative expression, plus an individual shutter 3D shooting option to create a 3D effect from 2 x 2D shots
  • Full HD movie recording with the ability to zoom and to take photographs during movie recording. Now also with Automatic Scene Recognition for even better results when videoing
  • Synthetic leather case with the same 3 color variation will be available to complement the XF1