A new Tokina 11-16mm lens, two new possible Leica cameras, Nikon and Canon’s new mid-sized DSLRs…!? From the already-announced to the soon-to-be released, we have this week’s updates on gear news. Check out the full post for the goods.
ApertureAcademy has an interesting article by Stephen Oachs about a recent sighting of someone who apparently works for Canon. He seemed to be testing a new 5D (or perhaps 7D) series camera. At some point, he also had pulled out a 600mm lens along with a new 200-400mm lens with — get this — a built-in teleconverter! Brilliant! See the full post for all the juicy details and photos.
Between Nikon’s D4 announcement at the end of last week and this week at CES, it’s been (and will continue to be) an exciting time of imaging innovation. In this post, we’ll re-cap some of the top innovations that have been introduced recently and what these new features mean for you — in the real world.
Last night the Nikon D4 went on sale at Amazon for about an hour before it sold out. The only other store that we know of that is currently taking pre-orders is Adorama. Head over to their site and put down just $250 to reserve your camera today.
Being on the road in Argentina, with nothing but my iPad and nets speeds of 0.36Mbps, makes for some hard posting. But when the admins over at Nikon Rumors announced the specs for Nikon’s D4, with 90% certainty, I knew it was worth the effort . Read what they have to say about Nikon’s anwser to Canon’s 1DX in the full post and let us know if it’s all you hoped for.
Everyone has been waiting for the new Nikon D3s and D700 replacement cameras for what seems like forever. Nikon Rumors recently opened a whole can of worms as they released photos that the rumor blog owner stats as being 99% legit. However new speculations have come out from another reliable source over at DigitalRev. We here at Fstoppers aren’t going to claim we know what the next Nikon DSLR will actually look like so instead we pose this question: Which version of the Nikon D800 do you think is more accurate and which one excites you the most? Click the FULL POST to view a side by side comparison of both speculated versions of the camera and leave your thoughts below in the comments. I’d actually be more interested in the DigitalRev version but that’s just me.
Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Lens Time was, you bought a Sigma when you couldn’t afford a better lens. In the past five months, Sigma has completely turned that stigma and the photography community upside down, with the result that their 35mm f/1.4 is one of the best lenses on the market today. This is the ultimate gift that has jumped to the top of nearly every photographer’s list. Be the ultimate giver and nab them this amazing lens. [Amazon | B&H ]
Nikon D800 This is probably the most popular Nikon DSLR on the market, and most certainly the one Nikon wants you to buy. We are usually wary of that kind of mentality, but in this case we agree with Nikon. This camera is smaller and more compact than the D3X or the D4, but doesn’t lack any of the power. It’s Lee and Pat’s camera of choice, and the choice of thousands of Nikon faithful around the planet. Grab it if the photographer in your life is still shooting Nikon crop sensor- you WILL get tears of joy. [Amazon | B&H ]
Canon 5D Mark III I never thought I would desire something so much as the Canon 5D Mark III. For the longest time, I contented myself with the 7D and the 60D, both fantastic cameras. But when I put a 5D in my hand, the game was changed. The image quality is spectacular, and it’s just a camera that lets me focus on shooting and nothing else. Much like the Nikon D800, you will get tears of joy if you gift this to the photographer in your life. [Amazon | B&H ]
Sony Alpha A99 If you know someone who is a great photographer, but is just entering into the pro-digital photography scene and isn’t invested too heavily in lenses for other brands, they might be interested in Sony. Sony’s latest full frame digital SLR is pretty spectacular and is making photogs the world over think again about Sony. Plus that copper ring is just plain sexy. [Amazon | B&H ]
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II 24-70mm is the most popular focal length for any digital SLR or photographer simply because of the versatility. It can simply “do it all.” Canon’s latest iteration left some wanting more given the price point, but it’s a stellar lens for a still photographer. All of the complaints that existed in the last lens have been fixed in this version, and it’s a stunner. [Amazon | B&H ]
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 For the Nikon shooter, 24-70 is going to offer a similarly awesome lens to the new Canon glass, but for a lot less money. Though not as newly renovated as the Canon, the Nikkor glass is spectacular and deserves a spot in any Nikon shooter’s bag. FS contributor Blair Bunting uses this lens basically exclusively when he shoots his commercial work: it’s that reliable. [Amazon | B&H ]
Tamron 24-70mm f/2.8 VC Way less expensive than Canon or Nikon, the Tamron 24-70mm may not be as sharp as its competitors, but it’s got something no one else has: wicked vibration reduction. Tamron excels with their VC, and there is no better choice for video. It’s amazing how well this lens works when it comes to reducing shake. It’s uncanny. [Amazon | B&H ]
Manfrotto Video Tripod These things are pretty expensive, but they’re worth every cent. Heavy, sturdy and with an amazing pan head these tripods are the kind you see professional grips and videographers using. For video, there is no better tripod. They work well for still too, if you have to use them, but their main purpose is spectacularly stable video shots. Must have for any aspiring videographer. [Amazon | B&H ]
Sigma 50-150mm f/2.8 Lens This is one of those “workhorse” lenses that you hear us photographers mumbling about now and again. With a great focal range, fast aperture and great performance, this lens is a fantastic addition to any photographer’s arsenal. It’s using Sigma’s new hardware which includes better optics and a more accurate and faster autofocus motor. Sigma has been stepping up, and this is just another fine example of that fact. [Amazon | B&H ]
Canon 85mm f/1.2 L II Sure, we can settle for the non-L glass 85mm, but this lens is the Portrait lens for any Canon photog. It’s just amazing, and we want it. If we find this in our stocking, there will be profuse squealing, some hugging and possibly a lot of running around in circles. [Amazon | B&H ]
Sigma 180mm f/2.8 Macro Lens Sigma is doing the unprecedented in being the first third party lens manufacturer to land on our gear guide three times in one section. The 180mm macro is another showstopper, boasting beautiful bokeh, ridiculous autofocus sensitivity and perfect sharpness. Any wildlife photographer would drool over seeing this under the tree. [Amazon | B&H ]
Leica M9-P It’s a Leica, and so you can expect pristine optics, gorgeous performance and a great retro feel. If you can afford it, this is a fantastic compact mirrorless camera that will give any photographer the ability to capture life’s moments as they happen in stunning fashion. [Amazon | B&H ]
Olympus OM-D We’ve been tough on Olympus in the past, but this is the camera that saved the company from what appeared to be certain doom. The OM-D is the best mirrorless camera on the market (it passed our tests with flying colors). This camera is so popular, B&H has a hard time keeping it stocked. With a low price and fantastic image quality and usability, this is the compact camera you should own. [Amazon | B&H ]
Cinvevate Atlas This is the Fstoppers slider of choice. Super smooth, lightweight, compact, and makes for very high budget looking shots. If your friend is a videographer and he doesn’t have a slider, buy this for him or her. It will make him scream like the Nintendo 64 kids on Christmas morning. [Amazon | B&H ]
Apple 13.3″ MacBook Air It’s no pro, but it’s still a powerhouse of a computer. It is more than powerful enough to run a few of the photographer’s must-use programs and packs down to an unbelievably light package. I personally prefer a desktop computer for editing when possible, but when I’m on the road, power takes a backseat to light weight. You can’t beat the Air when it comes to the lightweight category. [Amazon | B&H]
Apple 15.4″ MacBook Pro If there is no room for a desktop computer, with the MacBook Pro, it won’t be missed. More than enough power and in a lightweight package, this computer is the computer of choice for pros around the world as their go-to main computer. The one with Retina display is just plain gorgeous and for photographers is the only thing we really want to be looking at. [B&H]
Apple iPad With Retina Display Nobody NEEDS an iPad, but I’ll be damned if we don’t all want one. The best interface on the market, more apps than any other tablet, and a simplicity of design that makes us all smile. Yes, we hate you Apple for making something we don’t need and making us CRAVE it. Yet we love you. Don’t stop making iPads. Oh, and did I mention that with an Eye-Fi card you can shoot wirelessly to the iPad no matter where you are? That’s pretty sweet if you’re a portrait photographer. [B&H ]
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended Photoshop is a must-have in my book. If you’re a photographer, you aren’t getting the most out of your work unless you’re using the digital darkroom that is Photoshop. If you see your friend tinkering with free online photo editors or another lame program, don’t let him suffer. Get him the gift that will make all other gifts blush. [Amazon | B&H ]
Steadicam Merlin Are you one of those friends who doesn’t mention that your buddy’s videos are shaky and… distracting? Fix the problem, and give him the gift that is the equivalent of a breath mint to a garlic lover. It’s the steadicam of choice for Fstoppers.com, and we love the results we can achieve with it. [Amazon | B&H ]
Kino Flo Barfly There are few lights that I can say with certainty can be used effectively with both still and video work, but Kino Flo has it down. The light you see in our FS originals comes from these guys, and Peter Hurley has used them for years in his headshot work. They’re gorgeous. Get em. [B&H ]
Elinchrom 7 Foot Octa Bank So you want the biggest, softest light imaginable? Done. Elinchrom’s massive 7 foot octa bank is big enough to get even soft light across an entire body, not withstanding your everyday giant. Provided the space is available to set this sucker up, it’s one of the best light modifier options out there. [Amazon | B&H]
So as you have now seen, Nikon Rumors just received the first images of the soon to be released Nikon D800. As I studied the pictures I noticed that the command dial on the top was sitting a bit more sideways than it does on the D700. As I looked closer I noticed that Nikon seemed to have shaved down the left side of the camera a bit. You’ll notice the buttons on the left side no longer have as much room. Do you guys see any other big differences?
Our friends over at Nikon Rumors just got their hands on images and specs of the new D800. This camera was supposed to come out weeks ago but was put on hold due to the flooding in Thailand. Once again they are saying this thing is going to be 36mp and shoot 1080p video. I am most excited to hear that it is going to have 60FPS video, even if it is only at 720. Head over to NR to read all of the other details.
Well the rumors were right. Canon just announced the 1DX, a rapid fireing sports shooter to compete with Nikon’s D3s. Check out the full post to read the full press release and read about all the new features that Nikon will trump with the D800 in a few weeks. I’m kidding, I’m just a jealous Nikon shooter.
I just wanted to give our readers a little heads and let you know that both Nikon and Canon plan to announce new cameras this month. Canon is rumored to announce a 1D series camera (their pro sports camera) on Tuesday October 18th. The camera will have around 16mp and will shoot around 12fps.
Nikon is rumored to release the extremely anticipated (and late) D800 but is rumored to completely change the direction of this camera from a cheaper D3 to a D3X killer. The D800 is rumored to be announced on October 26 and have a shocking 36mp sensor.
Have these camera companies completely switched direction? I thought Canon was all about MP and Nikon was all about ISO performance. We will just have to wait and see.
Nikon D4 DSLR Camera This is currently Nikon’s Flagship sports and photojournalism camera. The extreme high ISO quality is insane which makes the D4 great for low light stills AND video. The D4 also has amazing features for videographers with 3 different crop modes and in camera audio monitoring. This is the camera we’ve dreamed of for filming Fstoppers Originals! [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Nikon D800 DSLR Camera Nikon shocked everyone when they essentially replaced their $8000 Flagship D3x camera with the new D800. It features 36 megapixels for amazingly sharp studio or landscape photos. It has almost all the same video features as the D4 and even works in a smaller 15mp crop mode. I never would have thought this camera would be less than $5,000 so you know we had to pick one up! [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Nikon D700 DSLR Camera When we need super low light capabilities at weddings or for natural light portraits, the Nikon D700 is our goto camera body. It integrates flawlessly with our other favorite camera, the Nikon D300s while offering all the benefits that come with a full frame sensor (better ISO, smoother bokeh, shallow DOF). If there was one camera to have for still photography, the Nikon D700 would definitely at the top of that list. [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Nikon D300s DSLR Camera The D300s is definitely our goto camera for video at the moment and heavily used for wedding, macro, and telephoto stills. We love the 1.5 crop factor and having video on us at all times is pretty crucial. About 70% of the video you see on the Fstoppers Originals have been filmed on this camera. Until a D700 replacement comes out with video, the D300s is our top pick camera for both professional and notice photographers alike. [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Nikon MB-D10 Vertical Grip Many people think having a vertical grip is only beneficial for extra battery life but the truth is, it makes taking vertical photos 1000x times easier. Every Nikon camera Fstoppers uses has a grip on it, and when you start using large pro lenses you can really feel the difference in stability compared to a camera with out the grip. Of course you will also want to pick up a few extra EN-EL3e batteries for when you want to take over an hour of video footage. [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Nikon D7000 DSLR Camera The D7000 is one of the newest cameras in the Nikon lineup and until the D700 and D300s are replaced we aren’t quite sure how to rank this one. The low light capabilities for both still shots and video are among the best of any Nikon camera and for its price it really bridges the gap between entry level camera and professional camera if you make such a distinction. It uses a new grip and battery so I have to believe the D7000 is the first of a series of changes coming to Nikon’s lineup and so far we love what we are seeing![Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Nikon D3100 DSLR Although Fstoppers does not currently own this camera, we have used it a bit and think it might be the finest entry level camera ever made. We shot our first 1080 video with the D3100 (Twitter Contest Video) and the quality you can get from this camera is pretty amazing. We’ve proved in the past that good results are not dependent on the best gear so this camera should suite you well if you are just getting into photography or video with DSLRs. [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Canon 7D Digital Camera Lee and Patrick are known for using Nikon equipment but there are a few Canon bodies being used as well. The main reason for using Canon cameras at the moment is for the beautiful slow motion video they produce when shot at 60 fps. We have probably never taken a single still shot with this camera but the build is great and is much more similar to the D300s and D700 cameras the team is used to using. If slow motion video interests you and you want a more than capable still camera, consider the Canon 7D first. [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Canon T2i Digital Camera This is one of the best budget cameras out for both still photography and video. It can be a little tough to use manually because it has far fewer buttons than the 7D but if you are investing in your first camera this is a great choice. We only really use the T2i for slow motion video with its 60 fps mode and with this adapter we can even use all of our Nikkor Lenses. [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
GoPro HD Hero Kit The Gopro HD camera (which has a lot of extra names associated with it) is one of the most fun cameras we use when filming Fstoppers videos. The 720 and 1080 video quality is great, and because it is small and water proof you can use it in places you normally wouldn’t dare to place a camera. We original added this camera for its slow motion ability but have since found it to be the most versatile video camera we own. [Amazon | B&H Video | Rent it ]
Panasonic Ts2 Every photographer has been through a dozen or so point and shoot cameras. The Ts2 has become our favorite travel camera because its one of the best water proof cameras out and it also shoots usable HD 720 video (in the dark too with it’s LED light). The Panasonic Ts2 is to the still image as the Gopro HD is to video. [Amazon | B&H Video ]
