Thursday 29 April 2010

Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Review


Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Review, March 2009



Canon's popular superzoom range of cameras began with the release of the PowerShot S1 IS back in 2004, and has been incrementally upgraded each year with more features and more pixels, with the last update being the PowerShot S5 IS announced in May of 2007. In September of 2008 Canon announced dual successors to the S5 IS. The cheaper of the two models is the Powershot SX10 IS, which features a 10 MP CCD sensor behind a 20X image stabilized lens, with the more expensive camera - the SX1 IS - adding RAW mode, a CMOS sensor, faster continuous shooting speed, and HD 1080p video recording.


Canon pioneered the use of CMOS sensors in digital SLRs (starting way back in 2000 with the EOS D30) - and they have long been used in cheap imaging devices (such as mobile phones and no brand 'keychain' digicams), but until now they haven't made their way into mainstream compact cameras. The reason has been simple; they just haven't been good enough. CMOS sensors have more circuitry built into the chip itself than CCD sensors, leaving less room for actually capturing light. This isn't a problem when you're working with a sensor with a large surface area, but at very small sizes it means lowered sensitivity - and that means noise and all the image quality problems associated with removing it.


Any problems with CMOS on large (DSLR) sensors were fixed long ago, and it is now the dominant technology in all but the cheapest models. The quest to fix them for smaller sensors has taken a lot longer, but it's one that continues because the possibilities offered by the on-chip processing capabilities of a CMOS sensor are simply too enticing for camera manufacturers to ignore (quite aside from the fact they use less power and are, in theory, a lot cheaper to mass produce). The SX1 IS, along with Sony's HX1 and the Ricoh CX1, is the first in a new wave of CMOS-sensored 'serious' compact cameras, and though few claims are being made about how the use of CMOS will affect image quality per se, they all sport unique features (high speed capture, HD movies, clever image stacking modes) which are only possible because this technology.


Like every camera in this range since the original S1 IS, the SX1 is designed to be a 'hybrid', combining stills and movie photography in a single device (the S1 IS was one of the first cameras to feature a dedicated Movie record button). But the use of a 16:9 format screen and viewfinder - plus the use of a CMOS sensor capable of full 1080p capture - means that the SX1 is unique in the range (and different to the SX10) in that it gives almost as much weight to movie capture as it does stills.


PowerShot SX1 IS vs PowerShot S5 IS - key changes




  • Higher resolution sensor (10MP vs 8MP)

  • New 28 - 560 mm equiv lens

  • Digic 4 processor (S5 IS was Digic III)

  • Larger, higher resolution LCD screen (2.8 inches vs 2.5 inches)

  • HD movie recording at 1080p (1920 x 1080)

  • 'My Menu' system


  • Greatly increased continuous shooting (burst) speed

  • RAW file format is back






Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F1.7 ASPH



Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F1.7 ASPH Review

Andy Westlake, September 2009






The Panasonic Lumix G 20mm F1.7 ASPH was announced earlier this month as the natural companion to the compact Lumix DMC-GF1 Micro Four Thirds camera, alongside a Leica-branded 45mm F2.8 Macro (the camera is also available with a 14-45mm kit zoom). The H-H020, as Panasonic curiously likes to call it, is a large maximum aperture 'normal' prime in a very compact 'pancake'-type body. It gathers a stop and a half more light than Olympus's M. Zuiko Digital 17mm F2.8 pancake (which is only marginally smaller), and is therefore sure to be of interest to E-P1 owners who want to shoot in low light using a lens well-matched to that camera's size.


The F1.7 aperture is impressively fast for a pancake lens, and to achieve this Panasonic has managed to squeeze a 7 element, 5 group design into that compact barrel, including two aspheric elements to help reduce distortion and chromatic aberration. There's a 7-bladed aperture system, using curved blades designed to give an attractive, smooth effect to out of focus highlights. Rounding off the spec is a minimum focus distance of just 20cm. However it's worth noting, that unlike many of Pansonic's lenses, this doesn't have built-in optical image stabilisation.


The 40mm-equivalent angle of view may initially appear unusual, but this is in fact a 'perfect normal' lens, with a focal length equal to the sensor diagonal. This means that it renders images in a very neutral fashion, free of the 'perspective distortion' associated with wideangle or telephoto lenses. While this focal length was historically less common than the ubiquitous 50mm prime on 35mm cameras, it still occupied an honorable niche as the standard lens for a number of high-quality compacts, including the Leica / Minolta CL. Indeed with that 45mm F2.8 macro and an upcoming 14mm F2.8, Panasonic appears to be positioning the GF1 as the spiritual successor to the likes of the CL and the Contax G series - as a high quality portable camera system for serious photographers. Let's see if the pancake's image quality can live up to such lofty ambitions.


Click here for our preview of the Panasonic DMC-GF1



Headline features



  • 20mm 'perfect normal' fixed focal length; fast F1.7 maximum aperture

  • Ultra-thin, lightweight design 

  • 'Focus by wire' manual focus system

  • Micro Four Thirds mount for Panasonic Lumix G and Olympus Pen systems



Angle of view


The picture below illustrates the lens's angle of view (taken from our standard position):










20mm (40mm equivalent)

Foreword / notes


If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital
Photography Glossary
before diving into this article (it may help
you understand some of the terms used).


Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based
on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review
before making any decision. Images which can be viewed
at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom
right corner of them, click to display a
larger image in a new window.



To navigate this article simply
use the next / previous page buttons or jump to a specific page by using the drop-down list in the navigation bar at the top of the page. You can support this site by ordering through the affiliate links shown at the bottom of each page (where available).


This article is protected by Copyright and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.


Dpreview use calibrated
monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make
out the difference between all of the grayscale
blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should
be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also
A, B and C.







Pentax announces Optio M90 5x zoom compact










Pentax has announced the Optio M90, a 5x zoom compact camera. The lens on the 12 megapixel camera offers a zoom range equivalent to 28mm to 140mm. Pentax says it includes improved face recognition, along with smile capture, blink detection and twenty scene modes. The M90 features a 'soft-feel' rubber finish over an aluminium body. The M90 will only be available in Europe.


Press release:


5x Wide-angle Zoom, Smooth touch, Smooth price




PENTAX Imaging Systems is pleased to announce the launch of the PENTAX Optio M90, a standard-class, lightweight compact digital camera that is equipped with advanced basic functions.


Thanks to its ease of use, the Optio M90 is the perfect choice for a variety of photography scenes and modes.  Key features include a sophisticated metal rubber coated soft-touch exterior, a high-definition sensor of approximately 12.1 megapixels, a large and easily-viewable 2.7’’ LCD monitor, as well as an upgraded optical wide-angle 5x zoom. Furthermore, the Optio M90 has been designed to produce beautiful photography with minimal effort through a variety of upgraded features including aan improved face recognition function, smile capture and blink detection modes, and further advancement of the scene modes – 20 in total, including the Auto-Panorama, Backlight and Copy modes.



The Optio M90 is also available in two colours, black and burgundy red, allowing users to select their preferred style.


Major Features



1. Wide-angle optical 5X zoom lens in a compact body


The Optio M90 features
a very compact body that fits into the palm of a hand and houses an optical wide-angle 5 times zoom, where an angle of view equivalent to approximately 28mm to 140mm in 35mm format can be achieved. This angle view makes it possible to capture a  full group of people or whole architecture in the frame, without needing to step backwards, and to zoom further when taking photos of landscapes, commemorative photos and portraits. The Digital Zoom of 5x extends the zoom range to enable high-magnification zoom photography equivalent to a maximum of approximately 25x.




2. New soft and sophisticated texture

The Optio M90 is stylish and detailed in design with an aluminum alloy body coated by a soft-feel rubber texture.


3.   Approximately 12.1 effective megapixels for high-definition images

The effective pixel count of the Optio M90 amounts to a high definition of approximately 12.1 megapixels. In addition, clear and high-quality images can be achieved through a high-performance PENTAX lens. Clear prints of detailed areas, are possible even when photos are stretched out to large sizes.




4. Automatic functions for easy camera operation

The Optio M90 features the advanced Auto Picture mode, which automatically selects the most appropriate shooting mode for a given subject or scene by detecting the subject’s lighting and other conditions. In addition, there are another 20 scene modes, which include the Auto-Panorama mode for composing photographs into one panoramic picture, a Backlight mode to capture perfect pictures even with sun in the background, a Copy mode , which acts as a mini-scanner, and a Auto-tracking mode to follow and focus on the subject even if it moves out of the centre of the frame.  


The Optio M90 also features the upgraded Face Detection AF & AE function, as well as the Smile function which automatically releases the shutter the instant it detects the subject’s smile, and the Blink detection mode, which warns the photographer when the subject’s eyes close at the time of shutter release.




5. Other features

1)  Large 2.7-inch colour LCD monitor with approximately 230,000 dots, treated with AR (Anti-Reflection) coating to minimise reflections

2)  High-sensitivity anti-shake mode of ISO 1600, to minimise camera shake and subject shake at indoor events and for fast-moving subjects


6)  Movie-clips of 640x480 pixels, 30 frames per second

7)Camera supplied with a Lithium-ion battery and a charger

8)  The Multi-Burst shooting mode: takes 16 VGA-size pictures at a maximum speed of approximately 14.6 images per second and creates a contact sheet


9)  Arcsoft MediaImpression 2.0 for PENTAX image viewing, editing and filing software included (compatible with latest operation systems, including Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6)


Dimensions 9.9 x 5.8 x 2.3cm

Weight (excl li-ion batt) 116g


Price


RRP £199.99


Availability

Mid June 2010

Nikon announces 200-400mm f/4 ED VR II










Nikon has announced the AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 ED VR II, a revised version of its super telephoto zoom lens. The VR II version gains an improved image stabilization mechanism, nano crystal coating and the A/M focus mode that has appeared in recent Nikon lenses. The VR II supersedes the original VR lens, launched in 2003. It is expected to go on sale in May 2010, for a estimated price of $6,999.95/ €7400.00.


Press release:


Ultimate versatility with Nikon's AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II






Amsterdam, The Netherlands, April 27th 2010 – Nikon Europe today announces a new super telephoto zoom lens – the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II.  This lens replaces the highly acclaimed AF-S Zoom NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G IF-ED VR and features the new generation of Vibration Reduction technology (VR II), Nano Crystal Coat and a new A/M mode, making it an ideal, versatile choice for sports and wildlife photographers. This type of super telephoto zoom lens remains unique on the market and reflects Nikon's continued dedication to innovation and quality in the industry. 


The evolution of this lens reflects Nikon's commitment to developing a range of products tailored to photographers' needs, and it strengthens the line-up of high-performance NIKKOR lenses.



Zurab Kiknadze, Product Manager Lenses, Accessories & Software, Nikon Europe says: ”Rapid advancements in optical technology and Nikon's continued dedication to provide class-leading products have resulted in recent updates of pro grade lenses. Through its additional features and improved specifications, the AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II delivers the ultimate results and enables even the most demanding of pro photographers to shoot without compromise.”


Sharper images with improved handling


The AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II features second generation built in Vibration Reduction (VRII), providing the ability to shoot at shutter speeds up to four stops slower so sharper images can be achieved when using the camera for hand-held shooting.


In addition, the new A/M mode added to existing M/A and M modes enables autofocus priority even if the focus ring is being handled during shooting.


Reduced ghosting and flare



The AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II now incorporates Nikon's exclusive anti-reflection Nano Crystal coat, which drastically reduces ghosting and flare, along with four ED glass elements to minimise internal reflections and aberrations. This delivers rich, high contrast images even under testing lighting conditions.


This lens features an autofocus with a built-in silent wave motor to ensure fast and quiet focusing. The AF-S NIKKOR 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II has a tough magnesium body, incorporating weather and dust sealing and lens protective glass, to withstand the effects of dust and moisture in the toughest of shooting conditions.


Weighing in at only 3,360g, while providing great flexibility in telephoto shooting, this new lens is a practical alternative to carrying several large telephoto lenses. The lens is supplied with a high quality Ballistic, backpack style carry case, allowing for easy and safe transportation.




Tuesday 27 April 2010

Canon Vixia HF M31 Camcorder Review

Front




The front of the Canon HF M31

Right




The right side of the Canon HF M31

Back





The back of the Canon HF M31

Left




The left side of the Canon HF M31

Top




The top of the Canon HF M31

Bottom




The bottom of the Canon HF M31


In the Box




The Canon HF M31 and included accessories

 

Thursday 22 April 2010

Browser - Plugins, Addons & E-mail Client + Tools



Avant Browser - Mirror Link
Avant Force - 1.85MB (Freeware)
Browser yang memakai engine Internet Explorer dan mengubahnya menjadi browser yang user-friendly dan gampang untuk digunakan. - Avant Browser is a standalone application designed to expand features provided by Internet Explorer.

Flash Player (IE)
Adobe Systems Inc - 1.45MB (Freeware)
Adobe Flash Player is the high performance, lightweight, highly expressive client runtime that delivers powerful and consistent user experiences across major operating systems, browsers, mobile phones and devices.

Flash Player (Non-IE)
Adobe Systems Inc - 1.45MB (Freeware)
Adobe Flash Player is the high performance, lightweight, highly expressive client runtime that delivers powerful and consistent user experiences across major operating systems, browsers, mobile phones and devices.

Flock
Flock - 10.39MB (Freeware)
Flock is a free web browser that makes it easier than ever to share photos, stay up-to-date with news from your favorite sites, and search the Web.

Google Desktop
Google - 1.74MB (Freeware)
Google Desktop gives you easy access to information on your computer and from the web. It's a desktop search application that provides full text search over your email, computer files, music, photos, chats and web pages that you've viewed.

Google Web Accelerator
Google - 1.55MB (Freeware)
Google Web Accelerator is an application that uses the power of Google's global computer network to make web pages load faster. Google Web Accelerator is easy to use; all you have to do is download and install it, and from then on many web pages will automatically load faster than before.

Internet Explorer
Microsoft Corporation - 14.74MB (Freeware)
Internet Explorer 7 includes advancements in security and browsing experience for end users, functionality and compatibility for developers, and manageability for corporate network administrators.

Maxthon
Maxthon International Ltd - 2.88MB (Freeware)
Maxthon Internet Browser software is a powerful tabbed browser with a highly customizable interface. It is based on the Internet Explorer browser engine (your most likely current web browser) which means that what works in the IE browser will work the same in Maxthon tabbed browser but with many additional efficient features.

Mozilla FireFox - Mirror Link
Mozilla Organization - 6.38MB (Open Source)
Browser terbaik yang ada saat ini mengalahkan popularitas Internet Explorer dengan segudang add-on yang memukau dan sekuriti terbaik yang di-update terus menerus. Browser ini juga didukung oleh Google.

Netscape - Mirror Link
Netscape - 5.77MB (Freeware)
Browser yang memiliki pengaman terhadap virus dan spyware (ada antivirus dan antispyware) yang terintegrasi di dalamnya. - Netscape began by trying to make an Internet that users found easy to use.

Opera - Mirror Link
Opera Software - 4.69MB (Freeware)
Browser yang memiliki segudang fitur dan merupakan salah satu browser terbaik dan tercepat di dunia. - A full-featured Internet browser, Opera includes pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, integrated searches, and advanced functions like Opera's groundbreaking E-mail program, RSS Newsfeeds and IRC chat.

Program Portable Untuk di Flash Disk, PC & Laptop (New)

Program
portable adalah program yang tidak perlu di-install dan bisa langsung
digunakan. Dengan semakin menjamurnya flash disk, program jenis ini
sangat populer di kalangan netter atau pengguna komputer yang kerjanya
suka berpindah-pindah.

Berikut program-program portable
tersebut:

AbiWord
Portable
(Word Processor)
- Program pengganti Microsoft Word ini sangat populer digunakan di
kalangan pecinta program portable.

ClamWin
Portable
(Antivirus) -
Antivirus portable yang satu ini sangat digemari kalangan netter. Selain
sifatnya gratis, antivirus opensource ini cukup powerful. Bisa
diintegrasikan ke antivirus lain seperti PCMAV.

CoolPlayer+
Portable
(Audio Player)
- Program yang fungsinya hampir sama seperti WinAmp adalah program
portable yang digunakan untuk memutar program Audio. Dengan user
interface yang sederhana, program ini sangat mudah untuk digunakan.

FileZilla
Portable
(FTP Client) -
Full fitur FTP client portable ini cocok digunakan oleh webmaster yang
sering berpergian. Cukup membawa Flash Disk, program ini bisa dijalankan
dimana saja.

GIMP
Portable
(Image Editor)
- Program untuk mengedit foto atau image (gambar) yang bersifat open
source. Mudah digunakan dan dapat dijalankan di dalam Flash Disk.

KeePass
Portable
(Password Manager)
- Free/open-source password manager ini sangat berguna untuk melindungi
Flash Disk kita dari tangan-tangan yang tidak bertanggung jawab.
Terdapat beberapa bahasa yang dapat digunakan untuk memproteksi Flash
Disk Anda.

Mozilla
Firefox, Portable Edition
(Web
Browser)
- Program browser yang populer di berbagai platform
hadir dalam bentuk portable yang bisa dibuka dengan Flash disk dan tidak
perlu di-install ke dalam komputer.

Mozilla
Sunbird, Portable Edition

(Calender & Task)
- Program untuk kalender dan task schedule.
Cocok digunakan bagi netter yang kerjanya suka mobile, cukup bawa flash
disk saja atau laptop untuk menggunakan program ini. Bisa di install ke
dalam PDA atau HP juga, yang memiliki Windows mobile.

Mozilla
Thunderbird, Portable Edition

(E-mail)
- Program e-mail yang sangat populer setelah Outlook
Express. Bisa diintegrasikan dengan browser Firefox ataupun dipisah.
Dengan program ini, netter bisa mengecek e-mail di komputer manapun yang
ada internet, cukup bawa flash disk saja.

Notepad++
Portable
(HTML Editor) -
Pengganti Notepad Windows yang memiliki fitur-fitur yang biasa digunakan
untuk mengedit HTML atau program berbasis Web.

OpenOffice.org
Portable
(Office Suite)
- Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheet), Impress (presentations),
Base (database utility), Draw (drawing). Pasti netter sudah tau dong
program pengganti Microsoft Office ini... ^^

Pidgin
Portable
(Messenger) -
Instant Messaging gratis ini bisa menjalankan AOL Instant Messenger,
ICQ, MSN Messenger, Yahoo! - Cocok digunakan oleh netter yang males
meng-install program Messenger atau yang suka bermain nge-chat di
warnet.

Sumatra
PDF Portable
(PDF reader)
- Program pembaca file PDF gratis ini cukup powerfull dan aksesnya cepat
dibanding PDF buatan Adobe (Adobe Reader), mungkin karena sifatnya yang
tidak perlu di-install.

VLC
Media Player Portable
(Audio
Video Player)
- Pemutar Audio Video yang sangat populer di
kalangan pengguna internet dan pengguna program portable. Dapat memutar
video dengan ekstension MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, XviD, WMV, mp3,
ogg,  dan masih banyak lagi. Dapat digunakan untuk memutar DVD,
VCD, dan video yang digunakan untuk streaming.



---------------------------------------------



Application Suite Standard
- Aplikasi portable dengan AutoRun ini
berisi bundel software Mozilla (FireFox, Thunderbird, SunBird),
OPenOffice (Word, Calc, Impress, Base, Draw), ClamWin, Pidgin, Sumatra
PDF dan 2 buah games - Download 113MB - Total Instalasi 350MB.


Application Suite Light
- Aplikasi portable dengan AutoRun ini
berisi bundel software Mozilla (FireFox, Thunderbird, SunBird), AbiWord,
ClamWin, Pidgin, Sumatra PDF dan 2 buah games - Download 35MB - Total
Instalasi 100MB.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

15 Photoshop Tutorial Untuk Text Effect



Photoshop merupakan salah satu software pengolah grafis yang paling populer. Dari keperluan untuk mengolah foto dari kamera digital sampai dengan membuat desain profesional, semuanya bisa Anda lakukan dengan menggunakan Photoshop.



Untuk Anda yang sedang belajar atau pun sedang memperdalam tentang Photoshop, pada artikel ini kami memilihkan 15 tips dan tutorial yang berhubungan dengan text effect.


Simple, Sleek & Stylish Text Effect




Typographic Concept Poster



Old School Type - Line Gradients



Kaboom! Exploding Text



Fire with Glossy Reflection



Scanline Text Effect



Colorful Glowing Text Effect



Spectacular Flaming Meteor Effect



Advanced Glow Effects



Graffiti



3D Flowery Text Effect



Smooth Glass Type



Swirl Text



Dramatic Text on Fire Effect



Icey Styles