SONY NEX-5R Announced and Previewed

Sony NEX-5R- Announced and Previewed
August 2012, Carl Garrard

Sony NEX-5R Preview: Today Sony has launched its next generation 5 series NEX (pronounced en-eee-ex) mirrorless interchangeable camera. This new NEX-5R camera features a new tilt up screen, a 16mp dual autofocus system sensor with phase detection pixels built direct into its structure supplemented with contrast detect auto focus, a customizable control dial and function buttons, a touch screen LCD w/touch auto focus, digital level guage, wireless file transfer, upgraded battery life, 10fps shooting speed, full HD video, and a raft of Sony standard features like DRO, Multi-shot NR, Sweep Panorama, and many many others. Body only price? $650.00. BEST SONY NEX PRICES

Panasonic FZ200 Review (First Look)

Panasonic FZ200 Review (First Look)
August 2012, Carl Garrard

FZ200 Review: Panasonic's FZ200 is probably the most exciting superzoom announcement that I can recall in the last 10 years, at least on paper. Today I decided to purchase my very own FZ200 as soon as I learnt that a local shop had (two) of them in stock. Packed jammed full of just about every modern feature you can ask for, plus the headliner 25-600mm f/2.8 zoom lens (constant aperture is right), I just had to get one despite the fact that I was just there to see it in the flesh and give it a try. Lets take a look.
Prices Panasonic DMC-FZ200 -Black

Photo of the Day- Micro Burst over Caspers Regional

Photo of the Day- Micro Burst over Caspers Regional

Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP DSLR Current Price Check

Past Sony Reviews

This is a comprehensive link list of all past Sony related reviews I've completed, for your convenience.

Canon EOS 50D DSLR Review- Final

Canon EOS 50D DSLR Review- Final
June 2012, Carl Garrard
Canon EOS 50D Review- Final: Canon has quite a few good DSLRS on the market dating back to as far as 2003 as far as I'm concerned, which gives the DSLR shooter on a budget a lot of options at a much lower price than modern DSLR bodies. Canon's 50D is one such DSLR, and one in which I feel after looking back on comments (and withdrawing from memory) got a bad rap far more than it should. Comparing the 50D to today's DSLR's on specifications and you might find it has a lot more in common with them than you think a DSLR announced in August of 2008 should. This is one loaded DSLR with lots of resolution and features that, on paper at least, stands up quite well with today's newest DSLRS on the market- even against Canon's own EOS 7D (which is again about to be replaced). I've written much more detail in this final review than my initial impressions article, so read on if you'd like.
Canon EOS 50D 15.1MP DSLR Current Price Check

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens Review

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens Review
June 2012, Carl Garrard

Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Lens Review: Today I had an opportunity to be one of the first to use Canon's new 40mm EF f/2.8 STM lens shipped by B&H Photo (personal purchase). I am a big fan of the 40mm focal length for both full frame and APS-C formats, and as such this review will be completed using two bodies with this lens on both aforementioned formats. My test bodies are the Canon 5D and Canon 50D DSLRS for this review. When Canon first announced this lens I instantly purchased it even though Canon offered to send me a review unit for evaluation. And I let them know that too.
Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM Used and New Prices

Sony RX100- Too Little Too Late?

Sony Cybershot RX100- Too Little Too Late?

Cybershot shooters have been wanting a full featured compact camera ever since Sony abandoned the idea in 2006 when they purchased Konica Minolta and started the Alpha DSLR system. The last Cybershot that catered to enthusiast needs was the Sony DSC-R1, back in 2005. The RX100 is the first camera to incorporate a raw file option since then. But, is the RX100 the camera that Cybershot shooters have been asking for years? I doubt it.


Sony Cybershot Cameras

Canon EOS 50D Review- Initial Impressions

Canon EOS 50D Review- Initial Impressions: So recently I added a 5D for my full frame photography kit, and now the Canon 50D to do APS-C work. One is the family wagon, and the other is the sports car- metaphorically speaking. I chose the 50D because of its rigid and excellent body style, lighter weight, lower price, and yet highly featured set against the 7d to which I previously owned and subsequently sold.

I don't want video on a DSLR at this time, and rarely shoot above 3200 ISO. Also, and quite frankly, I didn't want to spend a lot of money on an APS-C body. The 50D ticked nearly every box initially, including weather sealing, so that was the choice I made. Now lets see how my initial impressions bear out.

Canon EOS 50D 15.1 BODY ONLY Price Check

The Essential Minolta Lenses for the A-Mount Shooter

If you relatively new to the A-Mount or, you are hunting around wondering what lenses to buy for your Minolta or Sony DSLR (etal), these are a list of 'must have' lenses for your kit. Know that none of the lenses listed here will break your wallet, and they all offer excellent optical performance in one or more important practical performance characteristics ( performance you'll appreciate when printing or looking at the images). Links are the best I could find for Amazon, just as a quick reference.

Tenpa Eyepiece Magnifier

High quality gear. I've only found them on Ebay for sale and they will come direct from China to anywhere in the world. I own three Tenpa magnifiers. Two are the same model for different mounts (Pentax and Minolta), and yesterday arrived my 1.22X Tenpa magnifier for my 7D. It also works very well on my Maxxum 9 film camera- and can you imagine the Maxxum 9's viewfinder being magnified 1.22x without vignetting in the corners?!

Compare to Sony FDAME1AM Magnifying Eyepiece (Black)

Currently Testing- (Cameras on the Red Carpet)

A quick look under the Photographic-Central hood: Currently testing two cameras, the Panasonic G3 (and several lenses) and a throwback bargain hunting DSLR, the Nikon D80 (w/35mm f/1.8 G lens). Both cameras arrived yesterday and I familiarized myself with most of the necessary functionality last night. One of the points of my camera testing here is to find good deals for photographers whether it's an older camera or the new with zero brand bias.

Nikon D80 10.2MP DSLR

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 Digital Camera (Body)

Konica Minolta 100-300mm APO D f4.5-5.6 Lens Review

Konica Minolta 100-300mm APO D f4.5-5.6 Lens Review
May 2012, Carl Garrard

Konica Minolta may no longer be in the camera business officially (at least for the time being) but that doesn't mean they aren't in many of the hearts and minds of the photographers who still use their equipment. With 17 million lenses available still on the used market (the number at least in 2006 when they handed Sony the business), that means that a great deal of lenses not only still exist, but that there is quite a range to choose from. And out of that range stand out a few classic Minolta lenses that are wildly popular in the "KM" A-Mount community. One such lens is the Konica Minolta 100-300mm APO, which has seen two different versions with the "D" version being one of Konica Minolta's last and the subject of this review.

Konica Minolta 100-300mm Used Prices

Konica Minolta 7D- Notes and Update

Today I did some basic maintenance servicing on both of my 7D's. I removed the focusing screens (no tool needed if you know how) and cleaned off  a couple of annoying dust specs/threads out of both viewfinders- both are perfectly clean now. I'm a stickler about my equipment being spotless, so it's nice to do this maintenance myself. I've also cleaned both of the 7D's exterior very thoroughly. More...
 Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D 6MP DSLR Availability and Price

Canon Powershot G1X Review

Canon Powershot G1X Review
April 2012, Carl Garrard

Canon Powershot G1X Review- Every once in a while a camera will come my way that blows my ship right out of the water. I'm glad its a rare occurrence because if it weren't I couldn't make that statement with the same enthusiasm or honesty. So, is the Canon G1X one of those rare cameras? First, know that I am a huge G12 fan- up to today's date it has remained my favorite all round serious compact camera.

G1X Price and Availability

Nikon D700 Coming Down!

Prices on the Nikon D700 are looking real good for those who don't want/need all the newest gear but want a real solid DSLR body instead. The Nikon D700 is one of my favorite DSLRS that I have yet to own. It's still a very very solid all around camera that will do much of today's demanding tasks, and is quite a bargain on the current market both used and new alike. If I were shopping today for a full frame camera I'm likely to go the route of picking up a D700 myself. My short time spent with this camera was very positive and left a lasting impression of durability, handling, features, and performance.  Current prices on the D700 are below (there are used D700's too!).

Nikon D700 SLR Digital Camera (Body Only)

Sony 85mm f/2.8 SAM Review

Sony 85mm f/2.8 SAM Review
March 2012, Carl Garrard

Sony 85mm f/2.8 SAM Review: In July of 2010 Sony released 3 lenses, two of which were from its newer budget line SAM (smooth auto focus) series. Of those two the Sony 85mm f/2.8 was introduced to give photographers on a budget an affordable budget medium telephoto portrait lens option in this focal range (which equates to roughly 128mm on APS-C sensor sized cameras). The 85mm f/2.8 retails for about $249.00 (Amazon price) in the US making it a budget lens indeed. The design is simple and lightweight, and comes equipped with a lens hood and front and rear caps. Typically lenses of this price range do not include a lens hood. More... Sony 85mm f/2.8 Best Price (Amazon) and Sony 85mm f/2.8 B & H Price

Voigtlander Bessa R3A Review

Voigtlander Bessa R3A Review
March 2012, Carl Garrard

Voigtlander Bessa R3A Review - Handsome, isn't it? For the rangefinder fan in me, the Bessa R3a exemplifies rangefinder camera design. It's simple, affordable, well built, and beautiful. Its looks belie a camera that above all things functions well, and its form factor is designed primarily around that concept. Cameras that look nice but perform well  are, at least in my eyes,  the best of both worlds. Make no mistake, the Bessa R3a is a film camera- and it's glorious.

Voigtlander Bessa Used and New Prices

Pentax DA645 25mm f/4 lens Announced!

March 22, 2012- PENTAX Introduces New 25mm f/4 Lens Designed Exclusively For Company’s 645D Medium-Format Digital SLR Camera

Denver, CO (March 22, 2012) – PENTAX RICOH IMAGING AMERICAS CORPORATION today announced the introduction of its new DA645 25mm f/4 lens, designed and optimized for exclusive use with its popular 645D medium format digital SLR camera. 

 By combining its ultra-wide perspective with exclusive PENTAX Super Multi-Coating (smc), Aspherical Elements (AL), Supersonic Motor Drive (SDM), and all-weather (AW) construction, PENTAX has created a lens that will render super-sharp images with performance levels photographers have come to expect from original PENTAX lenses.
Pentax 645D Lenses Best Price Check

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM Lens Prices

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM Lens Prices

Sony's 16-50mm f/2.8 SSM lens is their best kit lens to date that comes in with great performance and a very reasonable price. This is a versatile lens that covers 24-75mm @35mm equivalent which should cover most photographic needs both outdoors and indoors alike. Prices are starting to slowly drop on this lens now so check here for the latest prices and availability. Spend more on a lens like this and it will likely be all you'll ever need.
B&H Photo Price Check:

Sony 16-50mm f/2.8 Standard Zoom Lens

Sony Alpha A600 Coming? (Updated 3-06)

(Not an actual A600 image, obviously)

Recently I received information from an apparently well informed gentleman about an upcoming A600 DSLR from Sony. I'm not normally in the rumor business here but I wanted to share this with readers mainly because of the source of the rumor. I also think it's directly related to a highly debated topic and therefore newsworthy. Yes this is about an actual DSLR rumor, not a rumor about an SLT model. This person who shared this information has given me inside (and secret) information in the past, but has not contacted me in about 2 years.

Oben 1410 Tripod Review

Oben 1410 Tripod Review

March 2012, Carl Garrard
 

Oben AC-1410 Tripod Review: Tripods may not be everyone's forte but for some photographers they are just as vital for photography as a camera is. There are many manufacturers that make tripods on the market but only a relative few that make tripod that are competitive for light duty field work. Typically I like tripods that are lightweight, compact, and offer a lot of full size tripod features in a much more svelt and compact form. Today I'm reviewing the Oben 1410, which is a medium height tripod that comes in at a relatively middle of the road price of $119.00 retail. What does the Oben 1410 offer for the price? We'll depending on your needs the Oben seems pretty well spec'd on paper.  I've been using the Oben 1410 for about a month now and I'm reporting my thoughts here on this review.

Oben AC-1410 Best Price Check

Fujifilm X10 Review

Fujifilm X10 Review
February 2012, Carl Garrard

Fujifilm X10 Review: Ever daydream of your own perfect camera design? I do. I do it all the time. Two years ago I daydreamed about a compact camera that I'd make. In that daydream I decided that I'd like to have a manual zoom bright aperture lens, 2/3" sensor, and a rangefinder styled camera with a better than average optical viewfinder. Fuji must have been listening to me. Or wait, maybe it wasn't just me, maybe it was many who were having the same very daydream and Fuji caught onto it. That sounds more plausible to me, and it's probably true.

Fujifilm X10 Digital Camera (Black) (B&H Best Price)

Olympus Pen E-P1 Review

Olympus Pen E-P1 Review
February 2012, Carl Garrard 

Olympus Pen E-P1 Review- Not only do Olympus have a rich history of camera making and innovations that spans over decades, they also have made at least a couple classic designs that have not only stood the test of time but have engraved themselves into camera lore. Olympus have much of my respect as a camera maker and despite some recent financial hiccoughs with the parent company (putting it mildly), I see no reason they won't continue to make more wonderful cameras in years to come. Today, I'm talking about the Olympus Pen E-P1, Olympus's first mirrorless camera to the market.


Olympus PEN E-P1 Body Only Current Best Price Used and New

Sony Alpha 500mm G SSM Telephoto Announced

Sony Alpha 500mm G SSM Telephoto Announced
February 2012, Carl Garrard

Today Sony has silently announced the arrival of the 500mm f/4 G SSM Super Telephoto lens for Alpha DSLR's and SLT model cameras. This lens has been on display in various forms at photo trade shows for the last 3-4 years and finally makes it to the production line. Just in time for the new pro camera's coming later on this year, I'd say. This lens marks Sony's commitment to higher end camera models and shows they are more serious about DSLRS/SLT's than all the talk over the last 6 years.  Read on for the full press announcement, or check here for price:
Sony SAL 500mm f/4.0 G Lens

Pentax K-01: Reviewing the New Direction

Pentax K-01: Reviewing the New Direction
February 2012- Carl Garrard 

Pentax K-01- Reviewing the New Direction: My first thought when holding a K-01 at CES was "whoa.". Certainly Marc Newson makes striking designs but I never thought I'd see him co-design a camera. But lately there is a market for looks in just about every device in electronics on the market, and photographic manufacturers have started to give that crowd something to chew on. Not everybody wants an all black camera that reminds them of Darth Vader ( I would), some would like a bit of style to tote around. Well Pentax listened to that crowd, now they need to get one in your hands.


Pentax K-01 Best Price Check

Fujifilm X10 Review Coming Soon

Fujifilm X10 Review Coming Soon
Fujifilm X10 Digital Camera (Black)

Yep the Fuji X10 has finally arrived into my hands. I haven't even opened the box yet but I am VERY excited to get this camera in the field. I had a chance to meet up with Fujifilm at CES in Las Vegas and handle all of the new cameras they announced. As well we chatted a lot about future developments, the XPro1 and other topics I shall not discuss! Fujifilm has been making very interesting cameras of late and this one in particular is special to be because I called for a camera almost exactly like this a couple years before its announcement.

Fujifilm X10 Digital Camera (Black)

Pentax Introduces New Optio VS20 Dual Position Compact and 20X Zoom

Pentax's Optio VS20 20X Zoom w/Vertical Shooting Enhancements
January 25th, 2011- Carl Garrard 

Pentax's Optio VS20 kind of breaks new ground for portrait photographers by being the first ever compact fixed lens camera to include an extra zoom lever and shutter release designed solely to aid in portraiture/vertical shooting. The VS20 also includes a secondary grip on the face plate that further aids in vertical shooting ease of use. Besides these stand out features, the VS20 is equipped with a 20x 28-560mm f/3.1-f4.8 (faster aperture than the usual superzoom) equivalent zoom lens and a 16mp 1 2/3" CCD sensor (that's right, it's not a BSI CMOS sensor).

Pentax VS-20 Best Price Check

Sony Cybershot DSC-V3 Review- A Cybershot Powerhouse

Sony Cybershot DSC-V3 Review- A Cybershot Powerhouse
January 2012, Carl Garrard 
Sony DSC-V3 Price Check

Sony V3 Review: As Canon clearly shows with the G1X, the age of the enthusiast level rangefinder styled compact is far from dead. Sony's DSC-V3 was the last of its kind, unfortunately, and one has to wonder just how far along that camera's successor would be now if Sony had only continued the V series lineup. Although the V series is seemingly a forgotten line for Sony, it still remains a unique and interesting camera some 7 years after it's introduction for some shooters like me. I've even made Sony a V5 blueprint/concept in this review (complete with image!).

Sony DSC-V3 Price Check

Minolta MD Mount- Vivitar SCS 28mm f/2.8 Close Focus Lens

Minolta MD Mount- Vivitar SCS 28mm f/2.8 Close Focus Lens
January 2012- Carl Garrard
 Check Prices On USED LENSES

Snapshot Review: Vivitar was once a more well known and respected lens maker during the film era than they currently are. They produced a large quantity of high quality prime lenses that you can find on Ebay now for mere pennies compared to new lenses. This one is one of my favorites for the price that I use on my Pentax and 4/3 gear alike. I purchased this lens for a mere $20.00 plus shipping and it arrived in like new condition. Mounted on the 4/3 mount it gives a 35mm equivalent close focus magnification of  1:2.5 (35mm magnification is 1:5) and has a reasonably bright f/2.8 aperture just as the name suggests.

Check Prices On Lenses

Panasonic Lumix DMC-L1- Still a Real Gem!

Panasonic Lumix DMC L1 Review- Still a Real Gem!
January 2012, Carl Garrard

Panasonic DMC-L1 w/Minolta MD Rokkor 45mm f/2

Panasonic L1 Review- The Four Thirds mount may have been shown the door, but that doesn't diminish the shine of some of the cameras that use/used it, namely the DMC-L1 by Panasonic. Some of you may have this camera confused by the DMC-LC1 but the two cameras couldn't be more night and day different. After all the L1 is a true DSLR in a rangefinder's clothing unlike the LC1 which is a fixed lens digicam. And some of you still may have this camera confused with using the Micro Four Thirds mount, but this camera existed well before m4/3 was even conceived. Today it still remains one of my favorite cameras of all time, and for reasons I will outline. My current  L1 is relegated to doing near infrared photography only, having been converted by Spencers Camera as a dedicated near IR photographic tool.


As a tool for near IR photography it contains all of the essentials plus a few hidden surprises that make it a dream to work with. And the image quality it produces still impresses even though it is some six years old.

Panasonic DMC-L1 w/Leica Kit Lens Price Check New

Sony A65 Review- Alpha Ala TMT

Sony A65 Review- Alpha Ala TMT  (Updated 3-30-2012)
November 2011, Carl Garrard
Sony A65 Best Price Check

 Sony A65 Review: When my hand first wrapped around the Sony A65 I knew it was the medium sized bodied camera I had been wanting from Sony for quite some time- at least in it's size and form factor. I won't be shy to say that I favor medium sized DSLR's (or DSLT's/DTMT's) over typically larger Pro and Enthusiast level DSLR's. I find a medium sized body to be more practical for all day holding yet still fully functional and controllable when using larger lenses. Find out the rest of my thoughts on the A65 next.

Sony A65 Best Price Check

Nikon Coolpix P300 Review

Nikon Coolpix P300 Review
December 2011, Carl Garrard

Nikon P300 Review: This being my first ever official Nikon review, I want readers to note this isn't the first Nikon camera I've used- far from it in fact. That being mentioned I'll get right on into it. Nikon's Coolpix P300 is a pocketable wide angle 24-100mm f/1.8-4.9 lens digital camera that sports manual modes, interesting scene modes, and some enthusiast styling and controls. Image reviewing and framing is made way a of 3" LCD screen with 920,000 dots- there is no optical viewfinder. Video wise it is capable of full 1080p HD video and even has 120fps VGA 120 and 720 60fps video modes.

Just about right for the family camera I say, one that will handle vacations and work at home equally well. Enthusiasts might be put off by the lack of a raw file option but the Jpeg image quality might please you enough. Currently the price is about $329.00 brand new, but refurbished models can also be found for much less at this link below. I suggest that if you are looking for a good deal and interested in the P300, to check prices regularly as they do vary.
Nikon Coolpix P300 Current Price Check