The Nikon D3 detailed preview has been released shortly after the Nikon D300 Preview came out as expected.

Still no reviews of either camera, but that’s no surprise.

The Canon EOS 40D came to market extremely fast though, I think Canon is trying to win back some market share before the monster Nikon D300 comes out.

The specs are awesome as from the first release.

• First ever Nikon DSLR with a Full-Frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor (coined FX format)
• 12.1 megapixel full-frame sensor (8.45µm pixel pitch)
• ISO 200 - 6400 (with boost up to ISO 25600)
• Also supports DX lenses, viewfinder automatically masks (5.1 megapixels with DX lens)
• 5:4 ratio crop mode (10 megapixels, up to 9 fps, viewfinder masked)
• 14-bit A/D conversion, 12 channel readout
• Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
• Super fast operation (power-up 12 ms, shutter lag 41 ms, black-out 74 ms)
• New Kevlar / carbon fibre composite shutter with 300,000 exposure durability
• New Multi-CAM3500FX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
• Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
• Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
• Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
• Picture Control image parameter presets (replace Color Modes I, II and III)
• Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
• Nine frames per second continuous with auto-focus tracking
• Eleven frames per second continuous without auto-focus tracking
• Ten / eleven frames per second continuous in DX-crop mode (AF / no-AF)
• Dual Compact Flash card slots (overflow, back-up, RAW on 1 / JPEG on 2, copy)

The professional Nikon D ’single digit’ series of digital SLR’s started life back in June 1999 with the groundbreaking D1. Groundbreaking because it was the digital SLR which broke Kodak’s stranglehold on the digital SLR market and fundamentally brought prices down to a level which most professionals could afford (around the US$5,500 mark). Since then we have seen a steady progression of this line of cameras, while the core values of a high quality full size body with integrated grip have remained the line split into two halves, one targeted at high resolution photography the other high speed sports type photography (lower resolution but faster continuous shooting); the X and H suffixes. It’s been almost three years since Nikon introduced a completely new digital SLR with a new sensor (the D2X) and there has been much anticipation that Nikon’s next move would be a full-frame chip.

You can find the full Hands-on Preview from DPReview here:

Nikon D3 Hands-on Preview

There are also some new high ISO shots released.

Nikon D3 FX Format Digital SLR High ISO Image Samples

Pentax DSLR cable shutter release from hands-free cell phone kit

I’m trying to get into HDR photography, which usually requires some very long exposure shots. The best way to do this is with a tripod and a shutter release. I got the tripod off Craigslist, but the shuuter release was too expensive for me, so I set off to make my own.

Step 1 - Materials & Tools

To keep this on the cheap, I kept it minimal. The most expensive item was the hands-free phone kit; on sale for $10. Check the comments. One was found at a dollar store. $1!

1x Hands-free cell phone kit IMPORTANT: The DSLRs take a 3/32″ stereo plug. See the picture for details.
2x Momentary buttons (two colors)
1x Mini micro switch
1x Enclosure, for me a wonderfully ironic 35mm film canister

Plus:

• Extra Wire
• Tape
• Tools:
• Drill & bits
• Soldering iron and solder
• Wire stripping tools

Step 2 - Break open the mic

Be destructive, but gentle

You may not get the same model kit, so some experimentation is required. Inside the microphone box was a tiny circuit board hooked to 4 wires. I plugged in the kit to my camera for testing. Don’t worry, there’ s no current in these wires. I took my knife and shorted various combinations and observed the results. I found that two are ground wires, and the other two have functions:

Red: focus
White: shutter
Copper: ground
Blue: ground

By connecting the Red to a ground, the camera focused. Wonderful news.We will now make button to do this work for us.

Step 3- Solder up the connections

Using the diagram below from Roger Cline, Assemble and solder your buttons and switch. Test it often to avoid mistakes. When you’re done, protect from short circuits with some tape.

Step 4 - Make an enclosure

Here I used an empty 35mm film can from the girlfriend. I used the recycle symbol on the bottom to perfectly align my three controls and poked holes for drilling. Then using a similar bit to the one recommended on the button packaging, I drilled 3 holes.

Step 5 - Mount stuff

This may be the trickiest step. Maneuver the three controls toward their respective spots. A long pair of needle-nosed pliers help out a lot. Also, the switch has a little groove that the washer uses to stay straight. You’ll have to see it. It can be tricky. Tighten them all down and you’re set. Test again of course.

Step 6 - Test and troubleshoot

So this step is kind of unnecessary if your buttons work.But if they don’t work, don’t fret. Be very patient, take it apart, and test your soldering again. That’s always where it fails.

Also when you coil all the extra cable into the canister, use a bit of tape to keep the complicated end of your project inside the can.

Below is a picture of the shutter release in action!

by eagleapexon Mar 13, 2007

DIY Shutter Release for your Canon DSLR

by cline&company

Here is a very simple diagram for a DIY Shutter Release for your Canon DSLR. See Chris’s Link in the comments section for Pentax instructions.

What you’ll need.

(1) One - 3/32” Stereo Audio Plug (MUST BE STEREO, NOT MONO)
(2) One – Small Toggle Switch
(3) Two – Momentary Switches (SET TO OPEN)
(4) Wire – Small Gauge Insulated wire w/ at least 3 insulated wires within the main outer insulation. (I used 20’ basic telephone wire and only used 3 of the 4 wires in it.) (length depends on how long you would like your shutter release to reach.)
(5) Wire – Small gauge scrap wire, for wiring switches
(6) One – Project housing or Something to mount your switches on

Wiring

The long end that comes out of the bottom of the Audio Plug is where your ground wire (black) needs to be soldered. This wire will go to each of your switches as shown in my diagram.

The audio plug will have 2 small areas for your last 2 wires. The area nearest the plug, is the area where the Auto Focus wire (green) will need to be soldered. The other end will go to one of your Momentary switches.

Next the small area next to the ground tab and below the auto focus area is where you’ll solder the Shutter Release wire (red). This wire will go to both the Toggle switch (blub lock/release) and also the last momentary switch(single release).

Lastly, attach all your switches to a small project housing and you are finished.

It is a pretty simple project and shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes from start to finish. I think I have about 8 bucks wrapped up in mine and it works like a dream.

PhotographyCorner.com and ImageAlign.com are proud to announce the PhotographyCorner.com 2006 Photograph of the Year contest.

The PhotographyCorner.com 2006 Photograph of the Year contest begins today (December 19th, 2006) and runs until the end of January, 2007. The Sponsors and Prizes can be viewed on the Photograph of the Year main page, as well as the Rules and the Timeline of the contest.

Before Submitting a Photograph, make sure you are aware of what pieces of information are required with your submission (explained on the How to Submit a Photograph page), as well as what limitations there are as to what photographs can be submitted.

All the information you need is available here:

PhotographyCorner.com 2006 Photograph of the Year Contest

The details on how to submit your entry can be found here:

Photograph of the Year Submission

The only way to submit a photograph to the PhotographyCorner.com 2006 Photograph of the Year contest, is to email the photograph to poty@photographycorner.com. The photograph must be attached to the email (not linked to it in a gallery or flickr, etc).

FRIM is organising a photography contenst based on the theme ‘Nature’.

This contest is divided into two sections: Pictures taken in and around FRIM (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia), and nature-based images (any location). It is open to those aged 13 years and above. Closing date for entries is Nov 30th.

It was advertised in The Star recently.

Contest details in brief:

- 2 categories;

1)Pesona Frim (scenery from FRIM campus only);
2)Kesegaran Alam (scenery of nature) (free style)

- Photos should be originals (not enhanced digitally or by special effects)

- Closing date on 30th Nov 2006

Contact

You can call this number for more details:

Contact Person: Penyelidikan Perhutanan Malaysia (FRIM)
Phone no: 03-62797526

I have the Leica M8 in my hands. Once the weekend is done, I shall write a review for Click! Magazine for this wonderful specimen of photographic equipment.

What makes a Leica so special? Well some people say it’s a photographic tool that’s not only robust and superbly made and finished… but also one with no compromise in optical quality. It is said that a Leica M series camera allows one to walk around with a portable camera and produce lovely images with unflinching German technology whilst enjoying the sparse Teutonic design.

What makes a Leica so special, I ask again? It’s also got to do with the intangible quality of the package. Leica M cameras make you WANT to go out and shoot. This is the new M8… Leica’s first true digital rangefinder camera… and if you want my review and photos from it, you will just have to make sure you buy the next issue of Click! Magazine