Nikon has announced its new flagship DSLR D3 and APS DSLR D300. After reading their spec., I suddenly had a thought about switching to Nikon system. (However, just last 1~2 sec)
D3 spec:
New 12.1mega pixel FULL FRAME CMOS sensor by Nikon
ISO 200-6400 (expendable to ISO25600, WOW!!!)
New EXPEED image processor
New 51 point AF System (Canon 1 series only 45 point)
New CAM3500 Metering System
Frame Rate at 9fps in FF mode, 11fps in crop mode(5mgea approx.)
Dual CF card slot
3″LCD with 922,000 pixels (Canon’s only 230,000 pixels)
Liveview

The D300 is much like its big brother, only two things are different
12.1mega pixel CMOS sensor
6fps without grip and 8fps with grip(This is incredible! even 1D MKIIn has only 8.5fps(now I can say “only 8.5″ lol))
others are just like D3, 51AF point, cam3500, 3″LCD with 922,000 pixels, liveview.
Oh, and D300 has a 100% coverage viewfinder, SWEET!!!

Nikon also announced several lenses today. The list are here.
I can smell that Nikon wants to challenge Canon in the sports field because of their fast DSLR body(both are fast!) and 400, 500, and 600 VR lenses. Let’s see who is the winner in Olympic 2008. It is gonna be fun!!!

*Image rights remain to Nikon.

1DS MK III:
* 21.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
* Large 3.0-inch LCD display with Live View and seven brightness settings
* 5 fps at shutter speeds 1/500 second or faster (for bursts of up to 45 Large/Fine JPEGs or 15 RAW images)
* sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; 45-point AF; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
* Powered by LP-E4 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF, SD, or some SDHC memory cards

USD $7,999. Available: End of Nov. 2007.

40D:
* 10.1-megapixel CMOS sensor captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints
* Large 3.0-inch LCD display with enhanced Live View and broadened color gamut
* 6.5 frame-per-second continuous shooting capability (for bursts of up to 75 Large/Fine JPEGs or 17 RAW images)
* sRAW mode; 35-zone metering system; integrated Self-Cleaning Sensor Unit
* Powered by BP-511A, BP-511, or BP-512 lithium-ion battery pack; stores images on CF cards

USD &1,299. Available: Aug. 31th.

Canon EF 14mm f2.8L II USM Lens
Designed primarily for discerning landscape and architectural photographers, the Canon EF14mm f2.8L II USM lens is ideally suited to the EOS-1Ds Mark III’s full-frame capability. Measuring 3.7 inches in length and weighing in at under 23 ounces, this ultra-wide angle L-series prime lens is well corrected for rectilinear distortion, provides a 114-degree diagonal angle of view, and delivers high-speed autofocus with higher image quality overall including superior peripheral image quality, compared to its predecessor, the stalwart EF 14mm f2.8L USM lens.

While its large diameter, high-precision aspherical and UD elements, optimized lens element positioning, and flare and ghost-reducing lens coating ensure that this lens delivers the top optical performance in its professional class, Canon has added other features photographers have been asking for–improved dust and water resistance incorporated around the mount, switch panel and focusing ring, and a round aperture that creates a nice background blur and makes it easier to recognize an out-of-focus scene in less than brightly lit conditions. Furthermore, Canon has created a new lens cap specifically for the EF 14mm f2.8L II USM that is held to the lens by a stopper.

Available: End of Sep..

40D達每秒6.5張和連拍至17張的性能蠻不錯的，對拍鳥或運動的攝影師或許是一個較低成本的選擇（相較於1D MK III)。
35 zone metering system似乎是新開發，不過對有經驗的攝影老手來說再加上數位當道，這東西就不是那麼重要了（至少我自己是這樣認為）。
若是對30D的玩家來說，40D看似並無太大的吸引力；不過對20D的使用者若有想要升級，到是個不錯的選擇。

至於1DS MK III，看看就好～XD

*All the image rights remain to Canon Inc.

Photos are screenshot from Sigma website.

you believe that all digital cameras capture all colors?

you satisfied with sensor that detects one color per pixel?

you believe that all RAW data is created equal?

if you could have fundamentally better technology, would you settle for added, improved functions instead?

the truth will soon be revealed…

SIGMA SD 14, September 26th 2006 at Photokina

=======================

Sigma，相信有使用副廠鏡頭的朋友們應該都知道這個名字。Sigma的鏡頭在副廠鏡中不論在成相品質或價格一直都有不錯的評價，也就是所謂的高C/P產品，唯一令人詬病的就是外觀塗裝和大部分鏡頭並沒裝載超音波馬達以及二手價格差，但是這些並不影響Sigma鏡頭在市場上的銷售。在前幾年DSLR剛起步時，Sigma也推出了SD9/10兩部DSLR相機，最令人激賞的是Sigma所使用的sensor是來自foveon這間公司所提供的X3 sensor。目前大多數的數位相機感光面是只有一層，並且由紅藍綠下去以馬賽克方式排列而成，而綠色的部份佔了兩格，所以每一個點都只能擷取到”部份”的光線。Foveon X3最大的特點就是他的感光元件是由3個layer所組成並且分別擷取藍，綠，紅這三個光的原色。讓每一個pixel都能真正的擷取到正確的顏色。雖然Foveon X3在SD9/10上已經應用，不過由於硬體方面和電子技術相較於當時的其他一線大廠並沒有什麼競爭力，很可惜的無法在市場上佔有一席之地。但是小弟曾經看過一個韓國攝影家使用SigmaSD9/10這兩部相機所拍的很多照片，那種色彩的表現和光影層次及細節真的是會令人窒息！！非常期待在Photokina出現的SD14會有什麼更驚人的表現。

Spec:
1010 megapixel CMOS sensor
DIGIC II image processor
Instant power-on time: 0.2sec
Continuous Speed: 3fps (Up to 27 JPEG or 10 RAW frames)
2.5″ TFT LCD, 230,000pixels
9 point AF
Picture Style
ISO 100~1600
Dust Reduction (Super Sonic Wave Filter)(Same as Olympus???)

(more…)

前幾天在富士網站看正片，在發現Velvia停產同時的消息，也讓我找到一個不錯的網站。是富士軟片在推廣他們的底片所特別製作的一個網站，裡面所有照片都是用富士軟片所拍攝的作品，主題是世界的森林。很值得一看，基於copyrights的立場我就不拉圖過來了，不過真的很漂亮，大家一定要去看看！FLASH網站也製作得很用心！

推薦: 森林編號No. 12的日本SHIRAKAMI

今天看到了一個令我震驚的消息，就是富士公司宣布由於原料取得的不易，他們決定不再生產Velvia的正片（這可是我最愛的正片啊！富士！！！）生產作業已於平成17年底全部完成，預計庫存量平成18年底（也就是2006年）將會售完。原文摘自富士官方網頁：

“平成2年の発売以来、15年間に渡り数多くのプロ写真家およびアマチュア写真愛好家の方々からご愛用いただきましたVelviaですが、主要原材料の一部が調達困難になり、誠に残念ではございますが平成17年末をもちまして最終製造とさせていただきます。販売終了見込みは平成１8年末頃の予定です。”

Source:
http://fujifilm.jp/personal/film/reversal/index.html