This looks like a pretty interesting gadget, for those noobs that claim they can’t live without a liveview LCD on their camera and they don’t want to buy the Evolt E-330 from Olympus.

Anyway for the noobs Zigview just made it a bit easier for you digital SLR owners to frame your shots with their new and improved Zigview S2 Digital Angle Finder. Like last year’s offering, the S2 attaches to your DSLR’s viewfinder to display a live video feed on that large, 2.5-inch “high-resolution” LCD. Thing is, this screen can be detaced from the main unit allowing you to view the subject and fire the shutter from any angle up to 10-meters away (via extension cable). That screen also includes a TV-out, 9 area TTL motion sensor, and interval timer for all sorts of clandestine possibilities.

It should be available this month for £250/$466USD.

More info on the Zigview here.

Would be neat for macros indeed!

This is the camera I’m currently recommending people when they ask me what to get for a ‘bridge’ or ‘prosumer’ camera.

Image from dpreview.com

These are the range of cameras with advanced features, superb lenses and usually 10x or 12x optical zoom, similar in this range are Canon S3 IS and the Sony H2 or H5.

Once again this is still THE best camera in the range, but has high ISO problems as with all Panasonic cameras, I hope they take a leaf out of the Fujifilm book and stop racing for more megapixels and start going for image quality and high ISO performance.

The perfect blend right now would be a Panasonic camera (Best usability and lenses, best picture quality in bright light) and a Fuji SuperCCD (Best detail capture and by FAR the best high ISO performance, it can almost equal a Nikon D50 at ISO 1600).

Anyway back to the FZ-50, here are some reviews and info if you have this in your wishlist.

Specifications

• 10.1 megapixels
• 12x optical zoom / 2-4x digital zoom
• Auto and manual focus
• Auto and manual exposure
• JPEG and RAW file formats
• ISO 80-3200
• Secure Digital storage (32MB SD card included)
• Movie mode, with sound
• Lithium-ion battery

The first review to come out was DPReview:

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review

Others:

Photography Blog - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review

CNET - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50S (silver)

Camera Labs - Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 Review

Personally I think the Alpha can’t fight, the only advantage it has is the in-body anti-shake system which frankly isn’t as effective as having it in the lens.

Image from dpreview.com

Having IS/VR in the lens means you can see the effects through the viewfinder and it’s more accurate as it’s tailed to the lens (each one having different focal lenghts, different aperture and different setups with more/less blades and elements).

Having tried the Alpha out the picture quality is ‘ok’ for an SLR type cam, but its not very exciting, the latitude or dynamic range doesn’t seem very great and the controls aren’t super accessible.

I’d go for the Canon 400D or the Nikon D80 everytime, if you have the budget of course get the D80 as it’s the superior cam but does cost more.

Also remember when you are buying a camera you are buying into a system, the bodies will come and go, what you will spend money on is accessories and lenses.

Sony lenses are expensive and hard to find, the second hand market is next to zero and finding anything for Konica-Minolta mount in Asia is hard.

KM was pretty popular back in Europe but it’s not here in Asia.

Anyway here is some info if you are considering getting a mid/entry level dSLR and specifically the Sony Alpha A100.

Reviews

DPReview Extensive Sony Alpha A100 Review

DCRP Review: Sony Alpha DSLR-A100

Imaging Resource: Sony Alpha A100

Camera Labs Sony Alpha A100

Comparisons

EOS 400D / XTi vs Nikon D80 vs Sony A100 - Camera Labs

Sony Alpha A100 Compared to the Nikon D80 and Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi / 400D Digital SLR’s

Photo Contest will be at 2pm on 28th October 2006.

Theme: Models with latest Digital Cameras Catwalk
Venue: 1 Utama LGF Oval (New Wing)

This is in conjunction with Shong Lee Digital SLR and Imaging Fiesta from 26th-29th October 2006 from 10am-10pm.

If you have any queries eg prizes please call Shong Lee at 03-77109822 as the above is all the information available to me.

I shall try and make it there.

Hmm perhaps a good option rather than the Canon Powershot A710 IS.

Seems like a nice camera and I’ve seen some excellent pictures taken with it, anyone using this model yet? It’s fairly new, has a nice metal finish and feels solid.

You can find some example pictures here.

One down side is once again another camera that lacks manual controls, 10x optical zoom and VR (Vibration Reduction) though, plus the quality of Nikon lenses I’m already a Nikon user, so it’d be good to stay on the ‘dark’ side.

The price is around RM1399, similar to the Powershot.