PreviewGadgets.com we are testing the latest gadgets for you - digital cameras, mobile phones, laptops - you name it will have it on our test table 2009-11-13T17:33:19Z WordPress http://www.previewgadgets.com/feed/atom/ ID <![CDATA[Canon EOS 7D – my dream come true]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1907 2009-11-13T17:33:19Z 2009-11-13T17:33:19Z canon-eos-7d

In cooperation with Fotomanijak.com, we are able to present reviews of the latest digital cameras on the market. First preview from Fotomanijak labs is preview of the latest Canon’s EOS 7D DSLR.

Thanks to PCfoto.biz we have Canon’s latest, Canon EOS 7D digital camera on our test table. First impression, just WOW. Finally camera that fit so perfectly in hands – with every control that you can think of right where you expect it to be.

From the moment when Canon has released EOS 50D, we are using it our everyday work, when they had announced 7D, we didn’t thought that we need and upgrade. But after testing new 7D, o god how I was wrong.

After working with 7D, coming back to 50D is hard, you have a feeling that something is missing, button here, focus point groups… Viewfinder, after you had worked with 7D looking in 50D viewfinder is like a looking in the keyhole.

Here are some sample photos from 50D and 7D, made under identical controlled conditons with ISO 12800, photos are made directly in JPEG, with noise reduction off.

Canon-EOS-50D-sample-ISO12800
Canon EOS 7D sample photo ISO 12800 – click for the full resolution (about 12MB)

Canon EOS 7D sample fotografija ISO 12800
Canon EOS 50D sample photo ISO 12800 – click for the full resolution (about 12MB)
canon-eos-50d-iso12800-crop
Canon EOS 50D ISO 12800 100% crop
Canon EOS 7D ISO 12800 100% crop
Canon EOS 7D ISO 12800 100% crop

Packing up more megapiksels on optisal sensor, had a price, basicly noise increasing, to controle that additiona noise, 7D obvously has much more agressive noise reduction, even when the ISO noise reduction is OFF.

This is a short preview of EOS 7D, and comparison to the EOS 50D, stay tuned for the full review.

]]> 1 ID <![CDATA[Olympus PEN story continuous with E-P2]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1891 2009-11-08T15:48:33Z 2009-11-08T08:38:37Z E-P2_sideLe_with_14-42mm_lens

It’s a bit strange that Olympus has released their new PEN digital camera, knowing that the E-P1 PEN camera was presented just few months ago.

So, new Olympus E-P2 micro four thirds digital camera is here, it’s more like a face lifting then the real upgrade comparing to the E-P1. E-P2 got new port for additional electronically viewfinder or it can be used for external microphone. To distinct these two cameras more easy, E-P2 is coming in black finish, comparing to the silver E-P1.

From new features, there is a new auto-focusing system, which now allows tracking of a subject in frame, some changes in firmware i-Enhance ‘color-boosting’ function.

Both cameras will be available on the market, E-P2 kit will include plugin viewfinder, and with 17mm pancake lens or 14-22mm Zuico Zoom lens it will be sold for no less then $1100. Yes you had read it right $1100, if you ask me thats more then a price that I’m prepared to give, even for the peace of history that PEN camera is. It’s quite obvious that Olympus is targeting those eccentric but rich “photo artists” who are easy to spot on by their greasy long hair and their view glued to the distance.

]]> 0 ID <![CDATA[The Flip UltraHD – HDvideo for everyone]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1880 2009-11-07T01:32:56Z 2009-11-07T01:31:32Z We had received our Flip UltraHD recorder, this is one of the most advanced Flips ever made, so let’s take a look.

The Flip HD ultra

The Flip HD ultra

From the first Flip presented, The Flip has become a standard for compact affordable video recording. The latest model UltraHD is offering over two hours of recording capacity (8GB memory). Compared to the previous models, new Flip UltraHD is bringing new bright two inch diagonal LCD screen for no-glare viewing even in direct sunlight.

Features of the new Flip UltraHD

  • High Definition, 1280 x 720
  • Store up to 2 hours of HD material (8 GB built-in memory)
  • LCD Screen – 2 inch – transflective – visible in bright sunlight
  • Uses two regular AA type  batteries (rechargeable AA battery is included in initial pack)
  • HDMI TV Output

Compared to the previous Flips, packaging is quite similar. When we unpack the box, the cam is there. Accessories are hidden behind the camera. In the initial pack, you will find a wrist strap, Flip pouch and a quick starting guide. Also, Flip UltraHD uses rechargeable AA batteries, you will get two of them in the packing. Good change since the last Flip that I had own (Flip Mino) had non-replaceable batterie.

Connection is easy via USB or HDMI plug

Connection is easy via USB or HDMI plug

One of the most obvious upgrades, again compared to my Flip Mino, is the much brighter and larger LCD. I didn’t mind the size of the screen on Mino, but working with UltraHD is a real pleasure. The controls has stayed the same, so no additional complications, three buttons, record, play, trash and four way control dial. Dial is used for all things like volume control and zoom control. To remain the low price of the final products, there is no real zoom just a digital zoom. Digital zoom is a kind of cropping more then a zoom, but some compromises have to be made.

The Flip UltraHD

The Flip UltraHD

Biggest advantages of the The Flip UltraHD

  • compact size – a bit bigger a heavier comparing to previous models but now HD
  • remained easiness of use
  • using rechargeable and replaceable AA batteries
  • Better image quality
  • Great value for money invested

Photos by rok1966

]]> 0 ID <![CDATA[Canon EOS 1D Mark IV – Canon strikes back]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1867 2009-10-20T11:54:46Z 2009-10-20T11:03:09Z There was a lot of rumors, that we are just a few days from new Canon 1D. The only question was, if the successor of the Canon’s flagship 1D is going to be Mark IV or Mark V. Cause the bad connotation of the number four in the Japan’s culture.

20091020_loRes_1dmkiv_3q

Today Canon corporation has presented it’s new EOS- 1D Mark IV digital camera – long anticipated successor of the EOS 1D Mark III DSLR.

Main improvement, similar like on new Nikon D3S is totally brand new auto-focus system, with focus in 45 points. New auto-focus system, as Canon clams, should eliminate all the problems that users of 1D Mark III had. Besides the new auto-focus system, 1D Mk IV is featuring new CMOS optical sensor APS-H sized (1.3 crop) with 16.1 megapiksels. Besides over 50% resolution increasing, new sensor, has ability to capture video. Not just video, but FULL 1080p HD video – at maximal 30 fps. While in the smaller 720p HD resolution it can provide up to 60 fps.

20091020_loRes_1dmkiv_back

Similar as the newly presented Nikon D3S, Canon EOS 1D Mark IV is moving boundaries in usable ISO range. New optical sensor allows ISO from ISO100 up to ISO12800. With ISO expansion, it can take photos on ISO50 up to the ISO102400. Guarantee the the ISO boost is not only marketing thing, but that the HI ISO values will be usable in everyday work is new optical sensor construction. Increased size of usable surface of every pixel allows “packing up” more usable pixels on the same size sensor surface, but still keeping color noise under control. At extremely high ISO values there is no way to prevent color noise, but it can be cleaned. For good cleaning there are two DIGIC IV processors. Two parallel DIGIC 4 processors was a must, in spite the 50% resolution increasing maximal burst speed remained at 10 fps.

Nikon has raised the bar with new D3S, response from Canon was more then expected. Judging by the feature lists Canon EOS-1D Mk IV overcomes new Nikon D3S, faster burst speed, higher video resolution are just few obvious things. But thats all just on paper, we will have to wait for both cameras and then listen the users to make a final judgement.

Official sample photos are available on Canon site.

Great video about new Canons 1D Mk 4 auto-focus system

]]> 1 ID <![CDATA[Nikon D3S – moving boundaries in highspeed photography]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1852 2009-10-18T14:45:44Z 2009-10-15T18:03:34Z Nikon corporation has welcomed us with their latest flagship DSLR – Nikon D3S. As we can probably assume by the name itself, it’s upgrade for current Nikon D3 DSLR digital camera. Main improvements are based around newly developed optical CMOS sensor – unfortunately same resolution as the D3, but now with almost unthinkable ISO range – up to ISO 120.400. Also D3S comes with ability to capture HD video, only in 720p resolution unfortunately. Also image buffer has been increased so it can take up 48 RAW images comparing to only D3 18. From additional improvements, there is a new faster contrast based auto-focus system as the in-camera RAW prosecting.

D3S_14_24_front


As you can notice all improvements are hidden inside the camera, so by the outside it’s hard to differ these two cameras. D3S is a nice improvement to Nikon’s high-end DSLR palette, with D3 (12.1 mpix resolution, 9fps), D3X (24.5 mpix, 5fps) and now D3S with improved ISO range and buffer size – just perfect for shooting indoor sports.

D3S_back

Nikona D3S main features

  • new fullframe CMOS optical sensor – 12.1 mpix resolution (same as the D3)
  • incresed ISO range – ISO 200 – 12800 (ISO 100 – 102.400 in HI3 mode) – quite a boost comparing to the D3
  • video recording in 720p HD resolution / with 24fps
  • bigger image buffer – for 48 RAW photos (compared to 18 on D3)
  • Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor
  • In-camera RAW processing
  • Nikon EXPEED image processor
  • LCD display 3 inch diagonal  922,000 pixel resolution
  • LiveView with two focus modes, normal with lowering the mirror, and new much faster (30%) contrast auto-focus
  • HDMI HD video out
  • additional LV buttons on a back side of the camera

Bold features differs from the D3 model.

HD recording is the largest feature of the new D3S so lets see how that works.

Also in this video you will see what are other practical differences between D3 and newly presented D3S.

]]> 1 ID <![CDATA[Not two… not three… Intel has presented concept notebook with four displays]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1847 2009-09-24T09:22:56Z 2009-09-24T09:22:18Z Every now an then, some manufacturer appears with some new radical concept of next generation laptop with an additional screen. Intel corp is definitely rising the bar, with their newly presented concept of next generation laptops with no less then four screens.

tangent_bay_500x375

It would be easier if you take a look at the photo, one display is main display like any other regular notebook, while above the keyboard we have additional three OLED displays. Code name for this concept is Tangent Bay. General idea is to increase usable surface on the main LCD, by transferring all meta information to the OLEDs. To take usability even further, those three OLED screens are touch sensitive.

There are few videos, where you can see how will that system will perform in standard working environment.

Source: cNet

]]> 0 ID <![CDATA[iPod nano – take photos with you iPod]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1842 2009-10-18T14:38:40Z 2009-09-22T19:26:14Z It’s true that previous three generations of iPod nano has ability to take you photos with you on your favourite music player. But now the latest generation of iPod nano has ability to take photos, with it’s built in camera. It’s quite strange cause one of the official statements of the Apple corp was that iPod is not going to have camera ever.

ipod-nano-new-generation



Strange but true but implementing video camera to the latest iPod nano is not the only controversial decision regarding features of new iPod nano. Also few other things such as microphone, speaker and FM tuner has finally arrived in one of the world’s most popular music players.

Besides taking photos, new iPod nano is capable of making video clips, which can be latter on easily put on the youtube or any other similar video sharing service. Glass and aluminium are not new for the iPod nano, but the large 2.2 inch display is.

I had mentioned before, that new iPod nano features a built-in FM radio, which is one of the things that users demanded long time ago. But cause that rising demand you were able to buy all sorts of third party addons for your iPod that can add this feature on. Also Apple was offering iPod + Nike feature which was a pedometer plugin for tracking your walking and running exercise.

new-ipod-nano-orange

So after presenting latest generation iPod nano, will probably kill great part of the third-party add-ons for iPod cause it has all that already build in.

It’s avaliable at two “sizes”, the smaller 8GB one and larger 16GB one. Also color pallete has some new colors to offer, including silver, black, purple, blue, green, orange, yellow, (PRODUCT) RED and pink.

Ok, the moment of truth the price… $149 for the 8GB model and $179 which is more then fair price cause this is the most complete iPod nano that you can get.

]]> 1 ID <![CDATA[Olympus The PEN story – fantastic stop motion video…]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1838 2009-09-21T16:43:29Z 2009-09-22T10:32:25Z olympus-EP-1

For the 50th anniversary of Olympus’s PEN camera series, but also for the promotion of the renewing PEN series cameras with new micro 4/3 digital camera Olympus E-P1, they had released great short stop motion video – to remind us how much that photography is inseparable part of our lives.  

Video is created using stop-motion animation technique, about 60 000 photographs are join in to the video. For purpose of creating this video, more then 1800 photos was printed. Also they are claiming that there are no postproduction CGI effects.

]]> 0 ID <![CDATA[Show must go on… Canon EOS 7D]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1830 2009-09-21T13:26:25Z 2009-09-21T13:26:25Z As we had expected, Canon corp has presented it’s new DSLR camera body – named EOS 7D.canon-eos-7d-side

By the name 7D the first assumption will be that newly presented camera is successor of the 5D(Mark II) camera. But instead, EOS 7D is a founder of a totally new Canon’s DSLR class, closer to the full-frame DSLR now more then ever – but still not full-frame. New EOS 7D is placed someware between existing EOS 50D DSLR body and fullframe 5D DSLR body class.

We can use just few words to describe this DSLR, it have all positive sides of a full-frame body, such as great viewfinder, except full-frame sensor. Instead it implements new Canon’s 18 megapixel resolution CMOS, APS-C sized optical sensor.

Some of the 7D’s key features are:

  • new optical senzor – 18Mpix resolution CMOS, and APS-C sized (crop size)
  • 8 fps burst mode – thanks to the Dual Digic IV image processors
  • Full HD video mode – with all manual controls of aperture and frames per second
  • New viewfinder 1x magnifying, 100% frame covering, by the quality it matches those viewfinders in 1D high-end professional cameras.

Basically, EOS 7D is a professional DSLR made for hard working professional. It’s quite obvious that this camera more then any before responses to almost all requests made by the photographers, finally! In 7D marketing material you can find that, before the actual designing process of 7D begun, Canon made a inquiry all around the word with more then 5000 professional photographers participating. They had asked them, simply “what do you want from you next camera”, as Canon claims EOS 7D is a response to their requests.

In general EOS 7D is the long lost link between two worlds of APS-C crop DLSRs and Full-frame DSLR cameras, even the price is a bit higher that we would expected – we are more then convinced that it will pays every cent invested in it.

]]> 0 ID <![CDATA[Canon – The largest and most important launche in the company’s history!?]]> http://www.previewgadgets.com/?p=1827 2009-09-19T20:56:33Z 2009-09-19T20:56:33Z By the lattest information that came, the Canon corp is preparing something big for this fall. By their exact words  “…Canon will make one of its largest and most important launches in the company’s history…”.

Initial origin of these information has been tracked to the Sweden, cause Canon Sweden is inviting their business partners to the “most important event in company’s history”.
This is how the invitation looks like:
september29-canon-teaser

And here is the translation:

Mark the calendar

During this fall, Canon will make one of its largest and most important launches in the company’s history and we hope you can attend. During a luncheon, you are invited to listen to CEO Jouko Tuouminen, Marketing presiden Monica Forsberg and trend analyst Magnus Lindkvist, talking about tomorrows trends and factors of success in the continually more digitalized everyday life.

Date: september 29
Time: 11 am- 1pm

An invitation including more information will come soon.

Source: Canon rumors

]]> 0