RTUNE Technology provides the following benefits:
The totally unofficial HH Digital Camera Buyers Guide first posted November 9, 2003 Back to HH
July 20, 2004
Ya I know I did something on the HH nav page between these but this is big day for Lumix fans.
New Panasonic FZ models announced
All available late summer 2004
DMC-FZ3
3-Megapixel,1/3.2” CCD $399.95 US
Replacement for the FZ1/2, this even smaller model is a clear ergonomics improvement,
for as cool as the FZs are, the handle a bit clunky. Much larger hand grip is
surrounded by softer corners, a nice looking camera, that just might fit in
a big pocket. Image size is 3MP. Still 36-420 2.8 Leica zoom with improved focusing
times, faster start-up and new burst mode of four frames-per-second until the
card is full!!! You can save images in TIFF format, a spectacular move that
will allow most anyone to open and manipulate in basic photo programs without
the headaches of filters, plug-ins, etc. for various RAW formats. Cool! Autofocus
has been improved from three to nine points as well the inclusion of a flash
assit is also something many FZ users had expressed as a 'must ad'. Looks like
a winner at $400.
DMC-FZ15 4-Megapixel,1/2.5” CCD $499.95
DMC-FZ20
5-Megapixel,1/2.5” CCD $599.95
5MP upgrade of FZ10 includes "till the card is full" burst mode, which
is currently a bit of a question, so we'll hold off until this possible deal-breaker
is confirmed. All three cams feature new VenusII engine that basically runs
the entire camera. Big grip on right side looks very good, but may or may not
be perfect as shutter button retains FZ10 position. At this price range with
fast startup, unlimited burst mode, 5MP, hot shoe, 36-420 2.8 stablizied...though
possible not completely optical already has some talking of degraded quality
as in a digital camcorder. A smokin $600 camera, that if given a tilt viewfinder,
would be as close to all around perfect as this level of the industry can do
right now...depending on the burst mode. Look for 20x wide angle lens
(24-480!!!!) on next model 6-12 months from now.
Then there is the new 3CCD Panasonic MiniDV camcorder that can also shoot 4MP
stills, 1.5mp at 30fps!
That's my next toy before a Lumix.
April 17, 2004
The first owner report of the much anticipated Kyocera M410R is here with a link to pics. Not bad images at all, and with a near instant on, big zoom and 3 fps ability I would love to try one out. As usual not a perfect cam, but one to surely put on your list of drag cams. I am picking up a Nikon D70 kit for Rich Carlson next week from manager Ian Lewelan at London Drugs in White Rock. I'll get to play with it next weekend at MRP giving me my first opportunity to try out a DSLR. Could be scary. I will post samples for certain.
No new cams on the immediate horizon. Look to Aug/Sept for the next gen digicams to be announced with availability a few months later.
A few things I have discovered which video made me forget was that zooming and refocusing drag racing with a still cam is reeeeally tuff! For this reason, the 4fps burst of that FZ1 I use is darn near perfect, for by the time that one second is up, the car is so close to me, I don't have a hope of zooming out, refocusing and framing another shot anyway. When this puppy hits $200 US I'm getting another for backup. Then again if the FZ10 ever goes down in price, I'll seriously take a look at it too.
March 8, 2004
Here's a link to the newest digcam hack. Look for Muvo2 listings Somebody figured out the new Muvo2 mp3 player than costs $200 has a 4GB ($500) hard drive inside it that, when properly formatted (and it's not all that easy) works in the new wave digicams that support FAT32. Remove the 4GB and replace it with a smaller much cheaper drive and you save well over a couple hun...US. Makes you wonder how much companies are making off selling these things...Can u say ripoff?
March 2 2004
Well well well. This is for all you family point n shooters. Ses all these new, pretty 8 mega pixel cams for about a grand US. Do yourself a BIG favor, get last year's 5 mp version, save enuf to get at least a one gig card and don't sweat a drop. It's becoming all too clear that the mega pixel war is worse than the computer gigawhatever one. Bigger is is proving to be NOT better as at 5mp these 'little' sensor cams are as good as current technology allows.
I'm still MORE than happy wth my lil 2mp Panasonic and have no urge to update until Xmas at the earliest. The Kyoceria you see below is not yet available, but we'll let you know when the early buyers start to post pics and views. Should be interesting as other 'Kyo' cams are said to EAT batteries, but shoot fast...and uh just ok images.
Hang in there, feel free to ask questions as to what is the best cam for your needs, and we can't wait to show up at LVMS with what we are sure will be the cheapest, smallest cam in the place.
February 14
Kyoceria
M410R Press release & more info
RTUNE Technology provides the following benefits:
With Kyocera’s RTUNE Technology, users are able to:
February 13
We knew this small company had it going when they released a small 3x zoom pocket cam last year that would shoot three frames per second until the sd card was full. This was unprecedented in consumer level digicams, so today we drooled at the announcement of "the ten times optical zoom four megapixel M410R which can shoot 3.3 frames per second or 2.0 frames per second with auto focus, both directly to the SD card and without limit if the card is fast enough". This is what I have been waiting for, and although it's not stabilized, the lens and motor drive alone make this piece stand above anything else in it's class BY FAR. There is NOTHING remotely close short of the $1000 (without lens) Nikon D70 DSLR. There is simply not a consumer level (re: affordable) Sony, Canon, Minolta, Nikon...you name it cam, that can shoot this fast, for this long. This is the kind of camera you'll want and need to shoot drag racing. Even though we have not seen any further details, this is very, very cool. Pics here.
February 12
As the big PMA Show opens in Vegas today all the major camera makers have released info on their new models. The biggest problem is that there are so many, you really do have to be part scientist to recall what they all are and what features each one has. One thing I did notice as I quickly went over the specs of each one, and it's not good news for budding Steve Reyes' (and if you know who he is give yourself a pat on the back), for drag racing photogs where a motor drive is essential. The power of the drive is much more important than the quality of your glass, as a 'pretty good' picture caught with a fast drive and a cheap lens is still better than a no picture at all cause your drive was too slow. And just like cars, faster is better. Few know that so many of those amazing pro sports pics are the result of an 8 frame-per-second, four second blast, not a 'lucky' one shot deal...well sometimes, but not very often.
Not one of the new cams have a drive in the (minimum for racing) three frames-per-second range. Only the new Nikon D70 DSLR has this and it does it at a lower resolution than the high end mega buck bodies. So it is I'm planning on staying with my little Panasonic FZ1 (now down to $288 US). Many of the new top end all-in-ones feature an 8mp sensor. You better start saving for the storage space now, plan on cropping a LOT, and doing BIG enlargements. If all you do is 8x10s (8.5x11) or view on screen then 2-4mp is plenty. I know I've said this before, but I cannot say enuf that 8mp is overkill and a marketing ploy just like megahertz in computers. My P4 1.3 does everything I need, including high end, professional level photo editing. About the only use for fast computers is video editing or gaming...and I don't own a single video game.
If you need a camera now, go out buy one and be happy. It will take awesome pictures once you learn how to use it. If you can wait, do it. Just don't buy it the day before you need to use it for something important, as all digicams have a learning curve, the trick, higher end models, an often steep curve.
For details on the many new cams Go here for info or here or here
Want the camera I have? From everything I have been able to find, this company is safe to purchase from. At this price it's a steal and the best bargain out there right now by far.
LP
February 6
If you're looking to buy a new digital camera now is NOT the time to buy. Wait a few weeks. Details of a number of new cameras are slowly being leaking all over the web. For drag race fans this should be the year long zoom minis become much more numerous. Canon will release a slew of new pieces from the top level on down, including a long lens mini possibly with Stabilization. Look for official word Monday. Images and details of the Minolta A2 and Z2 are already out there with those not slated to be officially announced for another week, while their much-heralded DSLR with stabilized body is said to only work with new generation lenses. If so your 'old' Minolta glass will be all but worthless. Much of what will be introduced over the next couple of weeks will not be available for a month or more, so if you can wait, you can either get a new one or last month's model at a considerable discount.
January 29 2004
Nikon takes a big whack at the digital market.
New Canons and Nikons ARRIVE!
With a pair of the biggest shows of the year just around the corner, the silly season for camera nuts is in full swing. Nikon and Canon have both made fabulous DSLR and more announcements in prep for the upcoming Las Vegas Photo Marketing Show in February. The Nikon to this writer is clearly in the "how can I live without one of those" category. From an entry level DSLR that SMOKES the DReb to maybe the most perfect portable image bank available to software surprises Nikon has updated much of their line the past couple of weeks. A revamp of the 5700 to 8 mega pixels, but still with a lousy motor drive, do not make for the best drag racing cam.
Details of a new Canon high end DSLR were leaked to the world when somebody at Canon France screwed up late last night and posted a bunch of stuff...along with words and pics of two high end L zooms. They didn't stay up long, but thanks to cache sites everybody knew what was coming. One review site actually posting a pic of the new camera well before the official Canon release time. The official word came from Canon early this morning when they introduced a powerhouse EOS DSLR that will set you back well over $4000 US...hence the first reason we don't even care what the name of it is let alone the stats...
With the release of the Nikon D70 you KNOW this new Canon will be worth a grand in two years...or less, so make your purchases wisely.
It is the much rumored Minolta release that many are awaiting. Will it have a stabilized body? It will have to possess something akin to the 7fps drive of the 7hi for it to come close to the new Nikon which features a jpeg mode of 3 frames per second up to 144 frames or better quality for 12 frames. That's the kind of performance I've been waiting for in a low price DSLR. The new mega buck Canon will shoot highest quality 8.5 fps for almost 50 frames. My FZ1 will do 4fps for seven frames.
There is no doubt now I'm glad I went with the FZ1/2. The new DSLRs are now there for me with motor drive abilities like this new Nikon has. I will most definitely let the bugs get worked out by the early buyers, watch the price tumble by Xmas, then see what the rest are selling, for Autumn will be Rebel update time...I doubt I will ever sell my first digicam, for that reason alone. The fact it is sooo small is another. My dream of the teenie tiny camera with the big lens and the big pixel count is still a few years away. I fear I will soon be forced into a big ole DSLR, but I'll hold out as long as I can.
January 2
Surprise, surprise...Pfister bought a digicam. So wadda ya think? Rebel?...nope. Sony 828?...haven't even seen one yet. One of those price droppin' A1s???....nada. Then it must be a Panasonic Lumix FZ10!! Close. I just got a 'Boxing Week' special bright silver Panasonic Lumix FZ1.
That's correct, the camera that originally got my attention nearly one year ago was a toy/tool I simply could not pass up. The reasons were many, so if you're a techno geek and really don't have a hell of a lot to do right now please read on.
My number one criteria has always been size, and there is simply no more a king of small than the diminutive FZ1. Although I have still not handled the heralded Sony 828, it was obvious if I was going for something that big I would have purchased a Rebel.
The A1 was really nice, but I use a long lens a LOT. The FZ1 goes
from 35mm to 420mm. At just 200mm, the Minolta was just too under-powered for
my use. And it's 3 frame burst mode really sucked. After going on and on about
the new FZ10, once I actually got one in my hands...I dunno, it just didn't
do it for me. Nearly as large as the Rebel, it's size basically sold me on a
DSLR.
The reasons were many that I chose last year's model for next year's photography. First was price. I finally found it actually in stock in my town at a price very close to what the low priced American Internet sellers had it for...$200 off the regular Canadian price. Another reason was the burst mode. For all but the $1500 US (without lens) Canon 10D (3 fps for nine frames) the little Pana has one of the best burst modes out there. The Rebel is 2.5 fps (frames per second) for a maximum (and measly) four frames. The A1 three frames, the FZ10 same as the the FZ1, a half decent 4fps for SEVEN frames. None of these are even close to what a film cam will do...or the Minolta 7hi, but everything considered, the FZ1 is about as good as it gets. Other digicams such as the Minolta Z1, the Fuji s5000 have modes that capture action almost as fast, but they are very quirky (to me). I gave up on those two designs long ago. Finally the FZ1's stabilized lens design...one of the best out there and as good or better even than some of the low end DSLR lenses.
About the only thing the FZ1 is very weak at is flash power, but once again a small bit of work and that is no problem. A cheap digital slave unit will allow me to ad my big ole Canon strobe....that I saved for the Rebel. And yes it syncs at all shutter speeds.
One last item helped make up mind was that I feel the FZ1 has less noise at high asa than many other low end digicams. This includes it's big brother the FZ10. I also didn't mind getting the silver model over the much more preferred black body as it will maybe stay a bit cooler in hot weather...something that has caused some problems with various digicams at certain times.
My dream of a DSLR was constantly in my thoughts the past few weeks. The one thing that stuck in my head was that I would definitely end up spending at least two grand...on essentially a cam for web use. That's nuts. I also didn't want a big fancy new toy horning in on my video business. I could see it now, me out there shooting still pics half the day with the new toy, the videos being neglected...my business suffering. Not a good scenario.
I've been shooting my brains out with the little guy for a few days now and simply love it. This thing is so small you don't even realize it's hanging around your neck. It's almost pocket size, and decked out with it's rather large alien-looking lens hood (see pic) has a look that (for those who crave such things) will have every camera nut in range checking it out bigtime.
Update: It only took me about 48 hours to decide I could do my first ever digital camera firmware hack. Thinking of how cool it was in the 50s when Jack Williams took a new Merc off the showroom floor home to chop it's roof off, I decided to trash my warrantee and magically turn my 'auto only' FZ1 into a manual control FZ2. After reading as much online info as I could I decided to give 'er...I know own a kustom kamera...and baby, it works perfect! My FZtoo now has full manual control of shutter speed and aperture, along with a few other goodies. This is too cool. If anyone out there has an FZ1 I highly recommenced this hack...uh upgrade. NOW my new toy is really ready for the digs! Oh ya...I tried out my camcorder wide angle lens and it to fits fine...a bit large, almost as big as the camera itself, but it gives me about a 16mm super wide that is simply amazing.
I am one very happy camper, and you should be too as it's mainly for drag racing and this site.
In closing I would like to thank the Hoerner Family of Spokane, who back last summer, presented me with a cheque to "help with some of my expenses". That cheque proved to be the exact amount this camera cost me. Todd Hoerner wrote to me: "Since my dad passed away, each year we do something in his name as a reminder of our appreciation to someone who represents the sport he so much loved."
I thought long and hard how to spend that money, but it eventually became obvious. I cannot think of a better way to remember this great drag racer, and thank this terrific family, than presenting photographs of northwest drag racers. It's a heck of a way to start a new year off eh?
If you have any questions feel free to contact me.