High quality Canon Lenses with great savings – Part 2

Posted by
June 7, 2009

Off we go again for high-quality Canon lenses featuring the best specs along with the best price!
In Canon lenses roundup part #1 we featured a 100-400mm , 16-35mm and the gorgeus 50mm f/1.2.

In round #2, we feature three different lenses each one with distinctive winning points, high quality but with an eye on huge savings!

28-105 mm

A general purpose lens, the Canon EF 28-105mm spans wide-angle upto basic tele focal length in a very compact package – and a rugged one too.

The Canon EF 28-105mm standard zoom lens retains the optical capability of Canon’s previous EF 28-105mm USM lens but with a refined exterior design.
The lens is distinguished by a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM) drive that provides silent, high-speed autofocusing, along with full-time manual focusing.
The 1.6-foot (about 48 cm) close-focusing distance, meanwhile, lets you take great close-up portraits and nature shots.

It’s a great lens for all-around use and does a great job without getting deep in your pocket.

THe Canon EF 28-105mm now retails for US $ 209.95 (a 46% saving over regular price)

60 mm Macro

The Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens is compact, well built and shoot images that you would only expect from Canon L-series glass.

The Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens is an excellent lens with 35mm comparable focal length of about 96 mm.

Who needs this lens after all?
Creative photographers willing to explore fixed-length lens and more prone to try out Macro photography, be it to discover nature’s secret or simply looking at the world from a different – yet enlarging, point of view.

Autofocus shows its technologically modern performance – it is fast, quiet and accurate.
The Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens incorporates Canon’s excellent USM (Ultrasonic Motor) with FTM (Full Time Manual) focusing. An internal focusing design is used. The lens does not change length while focusing nor does the front element rotate – a big plus when using the compatible Canon MR-14ex and Canon MT-24EX Macro Flashes.

Optically, the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens performs very well. It is very sharp wide open (even in the corners) and slightly sharper stopped down. It is at least as sharp as the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens and the Canon EF 180mm f/3.5 L USM lens. It is at least as sharp as the Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM Lens at equivalent apertures.

Canon’s true macro lenses (the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro Lens is one) yield a magnification of up to 1x or 1:1 which means the subject can appear lifesize on the sensor.

Lifesize on the sensor means output size is significantly larger than the sensor unless you are viewing it as a thumbnail or as a smaller-than-wallet-sized print.

Canon includes a magnification ratio scale in the 60mm Macro’s ft/m distance window (if knowing the exact magnification is important to you). Something that is not as readily apparent is the loss of light at high magnification values. The Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens loses 1/2 stop at 1:5, 1 stop at 1:3, 1.5 stops at 1:1.5 and 2 stops at 1:1 (lifesize). You need a shutter speed twice as long for a 1 stop loss and four times longer with a 2 stop loss. The camera’s autoexposure (or E-TTL if using a flash) will automatically compensate for this light loss. This loss of light is a common trait of macro lenses – not something unique about the Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens.

Now available with a 43% saving at US $ 362.59!

70-200 mm

Almost any photographer has had a 70-200 mm general-purpose lens in its weaponry.

This Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Telephoto Zoom is a true pleasure since it comes from the -L family of lenses therefore ensuring high image quality standards – and a rugged body too!

Combining a very popular and very useful focal length range with excellent image quality, professional build quality, superb autofocus performance, a fast aperture and one of users’ favorite features – Canon’s valuable 3-stop Image Stabilization – makes the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L one of Canon’s most desired lenses.

Capture the far-off action of fast-paced sports or zoom in for an intimate portrait with the Canon EF 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens. This high-performance, L-series telephoto zoom lens is distinguished by such features as an f/4 maximum aperture, an inner focusing system, and a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM). The last two features combine to deliver quick and quiet autofocusing–a priority for many amateur and professional photographers

Weighing 3.24 lbs (1470g) and measuring 3.4″ x 7.8″ (86.2mm x 197mm), the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L will not be mistaken for a light or small lens. However, I can carry this lens for long periods of time without feeling it is a burden. This is a weather sealed lens that is ready to take professional use.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM Lens balances out great build quality with excellent image quality. Images are sharp wide open (f/2.8) – corner performance is remarkable even with a Full Frame body. Stopping down to f/4 delivers even sharper results with better contrast.

Bargain-priced at US $ 600.00 , the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L it’s now 38% off regular price!

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A waterproof- and flash memory-based Camcorder from Panasonic: the SDR-SW20, get ready for summer video shooting!

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June 3, 2009

The Panasonic SDR-SW20 Waterproof Camcorder with 10x Optical Zoom combines a rugged, compact body with waterproofing that allows use in water, including seawater, to a depth of five feet, shock-proofing that protects against drops from up to 4 feet, and a dust-proofing design that shuts out airborne dust particles that can lead to malfunction. With a design that protects it from water, dust, and impact, the SW20 is a versatile camcorder that can meet varying weather conditions and shooting environments.

For ease of shooting, the Panasonic SDR-SW20 Camcorder features 10x optical zoom, a 2.7-inch LCD screen and a new design for easy and comfortable shooting. It also has a grip designed so the user can stabilize the unit by bracing the elbow against the body as with conventional camcorders. In addition, a Sub Rec button on the front of the camera, makes it possible to shoot with a pistol-grip style.

The Panasonic SDR-SW20 records to SD or SDHC memory cards, which further contributes to its compact design and also provides extended recording capability. A 16GB SDHC memory card allows up to approximately 13 hours, 20 minutes of recording.

This model offers the High-Picture-Quality Wide Mode, which produces images that make for beautiful, dramatic viewing on a wide-screen TV. The image is processed on 16:9 area of the CCD. Because the image decoded has the same proportions as your wide-screen TV, there is virtually no picture quality degradation. You get beautiful images and all the excitement and dynamism on either a wide 16:9 screen TV or a conventional 4:3 TV. This model also features a wide 2.7-inch LCD, making it easier to frame shots when you’re shooting in 16:9 mode. You can enjoy shooting wide, and viewing wide.

Built with ease of operation in mind, the Panasonic SDR-SW20 Waterproof Camcorder features truly friendly video Editing and Networking.

Choices are multiple, if you have an MPEG2-compatible DIGA DVD recorder with an internal hard disk and SDHC/SD memory card slot, saving your images on the hard disk is as easy as inserting an SDHC/SD memory card into the slot. This saves space you’d otherwise need for storing the recording media, and makes playback easier. And once the data is on the hard disk, it’s easy to copy it to a DVD disc.

About easy DVD copying, simply connect the SW20 directly to a DVD burner via a USB cable. You can then copy recordings from the SDHC/SD Memory Card to a DVD disc with easy operation.
The disc you make can be played on DVD players, so playback is easy too.

The Panasonic SDR-SW20 includes Editing Software and USB 2.0.
USB 2.0 compatibility lets you upload a motion picture data to a PC at high speed over a single USB cable.

You never have to finalize an SDHC or SD Memory Card, so you can transfer data to a PC right after you shoot. Just slip the card into the slot on the PC, and you’re ready to upload and edit. The camera comes with MotionSD STUDIO software that lets you add music and words during editing or copy your recordings onto a DVD disc.

It’s now available for US $ 229.99 (and that’s a summer cool 42% off list price!)

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Canon Powershot SD990IS: small, ultra-compact, powerful (14 MP!) yet so easy to enjoy!

Posted by
May 30, 2009

The ultra-compact PowerShot SD990 IS Digital ELPH: get ready for a cool tech summer!

Loaded with a host of advanced features, such as Optical Image Stabilization and Canon’s new DIGIC 4 image processor, the SD990 IS is ideal for the trendsetting techie looking for functionality and style.

The Canon Powershot SD990IS showcases enhanced specifications such as 14.7-megapixel resolution, 3.7x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilization and Canon’s new Quick Shot Mode for even faster shutter speeds. Reminiscent of a sporty race car, this new model is available in black or silver.
In addition, to commemorate the 100 millionth compact digital camera manufactured, Canon created a limited-edition Canon Powershot SD990IS Digital ELPH camera in red.

The newly upgraded DIGIC 4 image processor, accounts for the Canon Powershot SD990IS camera’s higher performance levels, including significantly improved signal processing speed and higher image quality. One of the most important new features made possible by the DIGIC 4 image processor is Servo AF, which is a form of continuous focus tracking for moving subjects. By pressing the shutter button half-way, the camera can track subject movement up to the instant of exposure, resulting in sharper photographs. Additionally, the processor’s high ISO speed noise reduction processing has improved substantially to enable consumers to shoot high-quality images, even in extremely dark situations without the use of a flash. The new Intelligent Contrast Correction (aka i-Contrast) function automatically improves image quality in high contrast shooting situations.

Canon Powershot SD990IS features:

Right now, the price is US $ 309.99 (saving $ 90.00 or -23% less!)

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High quality Canon Lenses with great savings – Part 1

Posted by
May 28, 2009

We love high-quality lenses so here we go with a two-part survey of hard-to-beat Canon lenses with hard-to-resist savings and discounts!

You may find it helpful since savings are in the 30-40% range and since these lenses are not exactly cheap, these offers make them a lot more affordable by pro-amateur photographers!

100-400 mm

Meet Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 USM L IS which is Canon´s long range zoom lens primarily meant for sports-, wildlife- and press photography. Due to its rather small max. aperture it isn´t quite suitable for portraits.
On an APS-C DSLR the field-of-view resembles a whopping 160-640mm lens on classic (full-frame) SLRs.

The lens has a very good build quality – no wobbling whatsoever inc. smooth focusing action. It has a push-pull zoom mechanism which has both pros and cons. You can zoom very fast if necessary but at cost of accuracy. The amount of zoom friction can be adjusted using a dedicated control ring. It´s also possible to lock the lens at a certain zoom position so zoom creeping is not an issue.

True inner focus 4x or 5x zooms in this range aren´t overly likely to emerge in this range due to the physical size requirements for the 400mm setting.

One of the primary and still strong selling argument is the IS (Image Stabilizer).

The lens features a ring-type USM drive resulting in a very fast and virtually silent AF operation. Full-time manual focusing is possible in one-shot AF mode. To avoid unnecessary hunting there’s a focus limiter where you can choose between 1.8m-infinity or 6.5m-infinity.

Price for the Canon EF 100-400mm is US $ 1.400.00 (and that’s 42% off its regular price!)

16-35 mm

On the other side, let’s look at a ultra wide-angle lens from Canon: the Canon EF 16-35mm ultra-wide-angle zoom lens.

Taking over the ultra-wide angle position of the available professional grade f/2.8 zoom lenses from the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L USM Lens, the 16-35 L II becomes the new standard for professional and serious amateur photographers alike.

Specifically designed for improved edge-to-edge image quality that meets the strict requirements of professional and high-end amateur photographers alike, the lens lets you bring more area into focus while providing greater depth of field. The lens features three high-precision aspherical lens elements–ground, replica, and GMo–that produce even better image quality than the original Canon EF 16-35mm USM lens. The circular aperture, meanwhile, produces a beautiful and natural background blur when shooting at wider apertures. Other details include internal focusing, a ring-type ultra-sonic monitor (USM), and new AF algorithms for fast and quiet autofocusing.

The large 82mm filter size is a first for Canon EF Lenses. High quality filters of this size are expensive and at this point, not shareable on other Canon lenses without a stepping ring. The larger objective end of the barrel reduces the handling comfort of this lens only slightly, but the improved image quality is definitely worth the change. Focus and zoom rings are well-positioned, nicely sized, smooth and well-damped.

Price for the Canon EF 16-35mm is US $ 1.399.00 (a 39% cut-off from list price tag).

50 mm

Last but not least a super-classic lens we all started with: a 50 mm.

Actually, this is the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM!

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM lens is a peerless standard lens for Canon digital SLR cameras.
The lens is suitable for any shooting situation, with a lens coating and construction type that are optimized to minimize the ghosting and flare that frequently occurs when lenses are used with digital cameras.

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM also offers an ultra-large aperture ( f/1.2 !!!) that produces a narrow depth of field and the type of soft background blur so loved by photographers everywhere.

The high-performance, weather-resistant lens delivers all the superb image resolution and contrast you expect in a Canon L Series lens.

What we really love about it: picture quality – from f1.2 thru f2.8, the lens works superbly. AF is fast & faster compared to 50mm 1.4.

List price for the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2 L USM is now $1,499.00 (which is some 35% cut-off from its regular price).

More Canon lenses soon up & coming in part #2!

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Get tough, but not with your DSLR with Camera Armor rubber shield!

Posted by
May 27, 2009

The toughest protection for your camera!

Made Products custom designs each of their Camera Armor cases to fit the camera like a glove.
All controls and access points are still accessible and you can use your camera just like you’re used to!

No more missed photographs trying to get your camera out of its case.
Rugged, custom fit Camera Armor cases that provide protection from impact and abrasion while allowing full access to all features of the camera.
Great for outdoor use (currently being used for nature photography, climbing, cycling, bungee jumping, canyoning, aerial photography, forensics, photo journalism, etc), working with multiple cameras (wedding photography, industrial applications), or other activities where full-time protection is required without a lot of additional bulk or weight.

Camera Armor is made up of 4 part system that includes Lens Armor, Body Armor, LCD shield, and lens cap lanyard.

Camera Armor even works with most tripods, optional battery grips, flash guns, L-brackets, and other accessories.
Proprietary silicone material is heat stable to 420 degrees, provides protection from heat or cold, and gives the camera a secure, grippy feel.
Does not trap condensation under the armor, and will not deform or lose its shape over time.

Camera Armor is available for most current DSLR such as Nikon D60, Nikon D80, Canon EOS 400, Canon EOS 40D, Canon XSI XSi/450D, Sony Alpha and a lot more: check here for most Camera Armor models.

Prices starting from US 19.89 for the Camera Armor for Canon XSI XSi/450D (that’s 60% off)!

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Sony Canada slips A500, A550 mid-range SLRs

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May 25, 2009

It’s been a week or so when Sony introduced the three new entry-level Alpha 230, Alpha 330 and Alpha 380.

Now PhotoRumors reports:

Sony on Monday inadvertently spoiled its own plans by revealing a pair of mid-grade digital SLRs. The electronics giant’s Canadian warranty registration page gives the option for the A500, A500S, A550 and A550S; these are believed to be body-only and kit versions. Other references aren’t available and so don’t provide actual specifications.

The naming scheme suggests either would sit in between the newer A330 and A380 and the higher-end A700. Speculation would have either gaining HD video recording and, like the lower-end cameras, being separated mostly by resolution rather than features. A release isn’t known but, given the product entries, is likely to come soon.

[via PhotoRumors.com]

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Goin’ waterproof at 10 MP with Pentax Optio W60 Waterproof 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Zoom!

Posted by
May 20, 2009

Tough and rough yet pretty nice: this is what the Pentax Optio W60 it’s all about!

Lightweight and fully waterproof, the Optio W60 features 10 megapixels and a 5x zoom lens with 28mm wide-angle capability. The enhanced design of the Optio W60 allows the camera to operate up to 13 feet underwater for two hours and at extreme temperatures well below freezing.

Perfect for photography in adventurous as well as everyday settings, the 5x optical zoom refraction lens never protrudes from the Pentax Optio W60, yet it covers focal lengths from 5mm to 25mm (approximately 28mm to 140mm in 35mm format). This range allows the camera to capture a wide variety of scenes including expansive landscapes, architecture, and group photos in confined spaces as well as close-up telephoto shots of subjects. A Digital Wide function merges two shots into one image for ultra-wide-angle image capture (equivalent to a focal length of 21mm in 35mm format).

The Pentax Optio W60 also accompanies users to new aquatic depths. With improved design and construction of the shutter button and controls, as well as reinforced, airtight joints, the Optio W60 allows underwater photography up to 30 percent deeper than previous Pentax waterproof models. In addition to the JIS Class 8 waterproofing standard, the camera is JIS Class 5 dustproof against dirt, sand and dust and operates in extreme temperatures as cold as 14 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 10 degrees Celsius).

The Pentax Optio W60 feature list it’s photo-amateur-proof too:

Now even less than the suggested retail price (US $ 299) so check the final price by clicking here!

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 10MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle MEGA Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD

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May 17, 2009

The new Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 features 10.1-megapixels, a 25mm ultra-wide-angle lens and 12x optical zoom, meaning it has added 2x optical zoom to the award-winning TZ-series camera, yet reduced its size. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 also features a Leica DC Vario-Elmar lens and High Definition (HD) video recording ability, known as AVCHD Lite.

It’s not often that we see a whole new video format being introduced on a digital camera, but that’s what Panasonic has done with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3; as well as being a well specified 10-megapixel still camera, it’s the first digital camera to shoot high definition video in the new AVCHD Lite format.
Camcorder fans may recognize the first part of the name (AVCHD is the format that many high def camcorders shoot in), but the Lite part is new.
AVCHD lite is a subset of the full AVCHD standard, which means that the ZS3 shoots 720p video (which is lower in resolution than the 1080i that most dedicated camcorders shoot) that can be watched on a HDTV and edited in many video editing programs, such as Apple’s iMovie.

In fact the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 is the world’s first digital camera to feature HD video recording in “AVCHD Lite”.
Compared with the conventional Motion JPEG format, AVCHD Lite allows longer recordings with breathtaking HD visual and audio quality.
This combined with a well-considered control interface, which includes a dedicated movie recording button on the camera’s back panel, makes the ZS3 a hybrid model that performs admirably for both still and motion image capture.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 packs a LEICA DC VARIO-ELMAR lens with 12x optical zoom into a compact body.

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 also expands Panasonic’s popular Intelligent Auto (iA) mode with the addition of Face Recognition–a feature that “remembers” faces from previous shots. When a registered face appears in the frame, the camera will prioritize focus and exposure to capture it beautifully. With Face Recognition, when a familiar face is recorded several times, the camera will prompt the users to register the face. Once registered, if the face appears into the frame again, the camera will display the name specified for that person and prioritize focus and exposure so that the registered face is bright and sharply focused.

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Polaroid t833: a cool and affordable 8MP Waterproof Camera

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May 14, 2009

A great camera and it’s waterproof!
For sure when you think of waterproof digital cameras you wouldn’t think of such a small compact camera.
The POLAROID CTA-00833W is small enough to fit easily into your pocket or purse for easy access.
It’s a great camera for summer too, you can take it to the pool, beach, even out in the rain. Also the waterproofing will protect it against other things like sand and food (which happen to meet happily in everyday life).

This is not just a simple point and shoot waterproof camera either, like most are. You get a 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, 24 different shooting modes and you can even shoot video with it.

The POLAROID CTA-00833W it’s now US$ 141 (38% off regular price!).

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Sony DPF-V900: the perfect 9-Inch Digital Photo Frame

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May 13, 2009

The Sony DPF-V900 9″ Digital Photo Frame is the perfect way to view and share your memories in brilliant, high-contrast color on a 9″ LCD Screen.
You’ll enjoy fast response, direct input from most digital cameras and memory cards: supported memory cards include Compact Flash, SD and, of course, Sony’s Memory Stick Duo.
Plug-and-play operation is simple and the Sony DPF-V900’s built-in direct HDMI Output even lets you hook up to your compatible HDTV for giant-screen slideshows.

There is also a supplied remote control, slideshow viewing, clock/calendar modes and wireless Bluetooth capability with optional accessory to let you display photos from Bluetooth devices and camera phones.
Auto image rotation and the auto orientation sensor detect whether the DPF-V900 frame is sitting horizontally or vertically and automatically rotate images.
The Sony DPF-V900 decodes and displays up to 48-Megapixel and 100MB images, including JPEG, TIFF, BMP, and RAW file types!

Sony DPF-V900 feature quicklist:

Act now, get the Sony DPF-V900 online and save money!

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