Economic Research: December 2012

Monday, 31 December 2012

Canon 5d

The Canon 5D Mark II’s illustrious career is coming to an end. The DSLR, which Canon Rumors calls “Quite possibly the most popular and influential DSLR in history,” has been added to Canon’s official list of discontinued EOS products over in Japan. The 5D Mark II shook up the DSLR market when it was announced back in September 2008. The 21.1-megapixel full frame camera was the first in the Canon EOS line to offer video recording capabilities, pioneering the HDSLR movement that has exploded over the past few years. The Nikon D90, announced one month earlier, was actually the first video-recording-enabled DSLR on the market, but it only captured footage at 720p. The 5D Mark II one-upped the D90 and saw much wider use due to the fact that it was the first DSLR to offer 1080p. Before long, photographers and videographers around the world were buzzing with excitement as the camera saw more and more acceptance as a serious filmmaking camera.

Canon 5d

Lensbaby

If you've ever wished you could learn about all of the creative possibilities the Lensbaby offers, this is the book for you! Seeing subjects with a new perspective is at the heart of the Lensbaby experience, and with the essential information found in this book, you'll be able to take your creative exploration to the next level. Written by Lensbaby Guru Corey Hilz, Lensbaby: Bending Your Perspective starts off with an overview of each lens in the Lensbaby suite. Then comes the fun stuff! Packed with tips on composition and techniques for capturing your best images, you'll be immersed in the wonderful world of Lensbaby in no time. On nearly every page you'll find a full color image created by a Lensbaby expert to inspire your own shooting. You'll also find complete coverage of all of the Lensbaby accessories, from the Optic Swap System to a macro kit, creative aperture discs, and a super wide angle lens. With this gorgeous and practical book by your side, you'll never see the world in the same way again.

Lensbaby

Fuji Camera

The Fujifilm X-F1 Compact Camera is the 5th camera in the popular X-Series. This camera is marked like the rest of the series by a reminiscent return to the heyday of camera design (In my opinion, of course) with leatherette accents and simplified manual controls. This model is the most compact of the bunch, even smaller than it’s slightly bigger brother the X10. With a collapsible lens system paired with a unique on/off switch design and a clean minimal physical design, this camera has a market among the style-savvy and photographer nerd in all of us. Not to only sing its praises, as this camera does have some room for improvement, also a seeming trend in the X-Series of cameras. Like all its siblings, this camera has some quirks that make it loveable and despicable all at the same time. This camera feels good in your hand. Unlike most compact cameras covered in plastic this model has a solid metal feel accented by the faux leather wrap for a nice comfortable weight and grip. With a very small tab on the back to help with thumb placement and the leather trim, this camera is quite snug in your hand at all times. I used the X-F1 without a wrist strap the entire time and never felt like I was in danger of losing hold of the camera.

Fuji Camera

Fujifilm X10

The Fujifilm X10 is the company's first entry into what is becoming an increasingly crowded enthusiast compact camera segment. The proliferation of smartphone camera use - coming at the expense of traditional compact camera sales - sees manufacturers showing a welcome interest in catering to the needs of enthusiasts. These users often desire a second 'carry-anywhere' camera but still value direct access to photographic controls and demand image quality significantly higher than that of entry-level point and shoot models. As such, the selection of high-end compact cameras like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 andOlympus XZ-1 has grown to include large-sensor fixed lens models like the Canon PowerShot G1 X and most recently, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100.

The X10 is Fujifilm's attempt to entice advanced shooters willing to pay a premium for higher image quality and specs in a very small, if not pocketable package. Its retro design aesthetic bears the DNA of the company's X100 and X-Pro1 models with a magnesium alloy body, sleek rangefinder-inspired design and a wealth of external dials and buttons. The X10's innards are as progressive as its exterior is nostalgic.

Fujifilm X10

Fujifilm X10

Nikon D200

The D200's 10-megapixel imager, solid magnesium weatherproof body, 11-point auto-focus system, clever ergonomics, deep feature set, rapid continuous shooting, dedicated 31 buttons and switches, superb performance and advanced system attributes have made it the best-selling Nikon DSLR for professionals and advanced enthusiast photographers. There has never been a camera with so much inside that's affordable by so many photographers. It has, for instance, a built-in intervalometer that is smart enough to shoot a bracket of shots at each interval, making the most professional time-lapse animations possible at major motion picture resolutions and beyond. The eBook tells you all about it--and many other juicy techniques--in much greater depth than the camera manual. Case in point: That full-circle fisheye image--it's a genuine Nikon fisheye optic and produces stunningly sharp images if you know how to adapt and use it. Nikon's own people were unaware of how to fit this to the D200 until they read our D200 eBook.

Nikon D200

Nikon D200

Nikon Coolpix Aw100

The Coolpix AW100 was a bit of a surprise entrance from Nikon when it was announced in August 2011, being the company's first waterproof compact camera. Up against the likes of the Panasonic FT series and the Olympus Tough cameras, the AW100 needed to stand out on paper and in performance. The AW100 has a few aces up its sleeve. The big one is how attractive it is compared to its fellow tough camera compatriots. It's a slimline design, which can moonlight as a regular compact, with just enough bulges over the lens and side door to prove that it has what it takes to get in on the action. It also has a built-in GPS, can go down to 10 metres underwater and be dropped from 1.5 metres without any ill effects. For snow bunnies, it can also withstand up to -10 degrees Celsius. Weighing just 178 grams, the AW100 is significantly lighter than many other rugged cameras on the market.

Nikon Coolpix Aw100

Nikon Aw100

You live to be “in the moment,” so anything that brings back the rush is worth it. The Nikon COOLPIX AW100 is waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof, so you can take it on all of your extreme adventures. It packs a 5x Zoom-NIKKOR ED glass lens and a 16.0-MP CMOS sensor to record low-light and fast-action photos and Full HD (1080p) movies. Life on the road deserves GPS + Electronic compass, so the AW100 has these too. Add a 3-inch monitor, our new Action Control for easily adjusting settings when wearing gloves plus a range of in-camera special effects, and you've got a camera as rugged as you. Start saving those action-packed memories—every view and heartbeat. The AW100 can handle all that Mother Nature can throw at it. Take it diving to depths of up to 33-feet. Shoot at temperatures as cold as 14° F. And don't sweat drops of up to five feet. Whether it's in your hand, mounted to a surfboard, clipped on a backpack or attached to a scuba tank, every twist, splash, dive and crash can be recorded in both still and Full HD (1080p) movies. Plus, Nikon's new Action Control brings fast and easy operation to gloved hands. The AW100 lets you capture every thrilling moment from inside the action—not the sidelines.

Nikon Aw100