2007 February | CraigFergusonImages

Taipei 101 at night

Craig February 28th, 2007

Taipei 101, the worlds tallest building, seen from the corner of Anhe Rd and Keelung Rd, Taipei, Taiwan

Pentax have announced a couple of new lenses - smc PENTAX-DA 16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM and smc PENTAX-DA* 50-135mm F2.8ED [IF] SDM. Designed exclusively for use with its digital SLR cameras, these zoom lenses are the first models of the new high-performance smc PENTAX-DA* lens series.

The SDM system is a new autofocusing motor that provides smoother and quieter AF through the inbuilt supersonic motor. This will only work on the Pentax K10D after a firmware upgrade - on other Pentax DSLRs, conventional AF will still operate.

These new lenses are also sealed against dust and moisture.

Here’s the specs for them.

smc Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM
• Lens mount: Pentax KAF2 mount
• Lens construction: 15 elements in 12 groups
• Angle of view: 83-31.5°(when used with Pentax digital SLR camera)
• Aperture control: Automatic
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
• Minimum focusing distance: 0.3 m
• Filter size: 77mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.21X
• Dimensions (DxL): 84mm x 98.5mm (3.3 inches x 3.9 inches)
• Weight: 565g ( 19.9 oz) without hood, 600g ( 21.2 oz) with hood

smc Pentax-DA* 50-135mm F2.8ED [IF] SDM
• Lens mount: Pentax KAF2 mount
• Lens construction: 18 elements in 14 groups
• Angle of view: 31.5-11.9° (when used with Pentax Digital SLR camera)
• Aperture control: Automatic
• Minimum aperture: F22
• Number of diaphragm blades: 9
• Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
• Minimum focusing distance: 1.0 m
• Filter size: 67mm
• Maximum magnification: 0.17X
• Dimensions (DxL) : 76.5mm x 136mm (3.0 inches x 5.4 inches)
• Weight 685g: ( 24.2 oz) without hood, 765g ( 27.0 oz) with hood

There’s also the possibility of a digital MF, the Pentax 645, with a Kodak designed CCD, however they’ve been saying this for a few years and it hasn’t appeared yet

Digicam-wise, some new Pentax Optio’s have been announced - the W30, A30, T30 and M30.

Equipment , Misc. , PMA , Pentax
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Canon @ PMA 2007

Craig February 27th, 2007

For months the internet has been flooded with rumours of what Canon will introduce for PMA 2007. Top of everyones wishlist seemed to be an upgrade to the Canon EOS 5D, or the replacement of the EOS30D, generally assumed to be a 40D. The Canon Hong Kong website even briefly showed a page for a 40D, but with no actual information about it, just the name.

On February 21st, Canon issued a press release that brought some suprises. No announcements about a 5D or 30D replacement were included. What they did announce however, was the EOS 1D Mark III, a 10.1 megapixel DSLR that will replace the EOS 1D MarkII N. Sporting dual “Digic III” processors and capable of 10 frames per second in a burst of 30 RAW or 110 large JPEG, the EOS 1D Mark III is the worlds fastest DSLR and is expected to be available in spring 2007.

New features in the EOS 1D Mark III include a 3″ live view LCD (previously unavailable on any DSLR), Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System, a shutter upgrade of 50% to 300 000 actuations, the ability to shoot at ISO up to 3200, with 6400 available as a custom function and a new auto focus system with 19 high precision cross-type sensors (up from 7) included in a total of 45 AF points.

To go along with the new EOS 1D Mark III, a new lens, the EF 16-35mm f2.8L II USM. Internally focusing, the lens features new coatings to reduce flare and is sealed for mositure and dust resistance.

An upgraded flash was also announced, the Speedlight 580EX II. Like the new lens, the speedlight is sealed against moisture and dust, and comes new features including a metal hot shoe, external meter for non-TTL flash exposure control and a PC socket.

Finally, two other accesories for the EOS 1D Mark III were introduced. The Wireless File Transmitter WFT-E2 allowing fast wireless transmission and the Original Data Security Kit OSK-E3 for image verification and encryption security.

In digicam news, Canon announced 8 new models - Powershot TX1, Digital ELPH SD1000 and SD750, and Powershot A450, A460, A550, A560 and A570IS.

Canon , Equipment , Misc. , PMA
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PMA 2007

Craig February 27th, 2007

The Photo Marketing Association (PMA) annual trade show and convention runs from March 8th to 11th in Las Vegas, USA. PMA is the world’s largest photography and imaging trade show, where photography companies and manufacturers unveil new products for their 2007 lines.

In the coming days, I’ll have news from the various manufacturers about new product releases and the various goings-on.