Currently folks are talking about the D3000 replacement to be called the D3100. The D3000 is Nikon’s current entry-level DSLR – replacing the much loved D40/D60 models. The D3100 looks to add video with one serious new feature, continuous Auto Focus while filming. Now some of you may not realize it but all current Nikon and Canon DSLRS that shoot video only focus when the shutter is half pressed and the focus is noisy and on the slow side. If the rumors are true those moving up from P&S, and this what the D3100 will be aimed at will be quite happy.

Other features -

• 10 MP CMOS sensor
• HD video: 1080p/24 and 720p 30/24
• AVCHD video codec
• In camera video editing capabilities
• 3fps (same as D3000)
• will be sold with the 18-55mm lens

For those of you thinking that your current P&S has more Mega Pixels than this model please remember that the sensors in DSLRs are much larger providing higher quality images especially at low light.  The D3000 does a decent job in low light now and I expect this model will improve at least slightly on that.

I still usually lean toward the Canon entry level cameras simply because of the infocus body motor issue.  The D3000, D5000 will not auto focus with some nikon lenses – there are plenty of lenses still to choose from that will AF on those cameras but the one that is great for learning – the nifty-fifty (50mm)  does not.

How interested in this camera are you?

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Sony’s first consumer camcorder with interchangeable lenses.

Details -

• Interchangeable lenses – E series lenses, such as the E16mm ($250) & the E18-55mm ($300), also Zeiss and Sony lenses
• 14-megapixel still shots at 7 fps
• Electronic viewfinder, and a swiveling 3-inch LCD.
• Large, quad-capsule spatial array stereo microphone with high directivity.
• Stores video on either Sony’s Memory Stick Pro Duo or SD, SDHC or SDXC memory cards.
• Price – $2,000

The APS size sensor gives the NEX-VG10 a 1.5x magnification factor for stills (slightly more for video), meaning a 200mm lens will function much like a 300mm lens for stills.

Lots of video folks have been jumping on the 7D and 5D Mark II – so lets take a second and compare.  The sensor size is comparable to the 7D so we can expect similar low light performance, doubtful that it will be better than the 5D Mark II which is very impressive.   But for two grand you get a video system that is ready to go with the nice LCD swivel and a quad mic.  The 7D is about $400 less but you need to buy a decent mic ($150) and if you will really be doing dedicated video  you would want to add the Zacuto Finder ($265) and you come out the same minus a nice LCD swivel.   So far on paper the VG10 looks like it is a great option for shooting video, Still shots at 14MP should be decent too.   We will have to wait till September when the hands-on reviews and tests start rolling in.  Feel free to leave your thoughts and predictions below.

Previews
Engadget had a brief hands on – generally quite positive review/preview.

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Comparing Three Popular DSLRS in the $800 – $1800 Range

Canon T2i – $899, Body only $799 | 18MP | 1080p @ 30fps | 29min 59 sec or 4GB movie clip limits |  9 point focus | 3.7 fps| 95% Pentamirror | 3″  1,040,000 pixels LCD | 18.7 ounces

My thoughts: offers all the video capabilities of the 7D at ~$800 less, SD Card memory(cheaper than the compact flash used by 7D), smaller/lighter body (some may not like the feel).  You lose the faster FPS of the 7D, the more precise AF abilities of 7D, and D90, the wireless flash control and a highly customizable control scheme.  Bottom line – this is more than enough camera for most folks. If you are primarily looking for a video camera I see little to no reason to buy the 7D over the T2i.  Put the dollars you save buying the T2i toward a nice lens. Note: as of May 04 the T2i is out of stock on Amazon and most reputable resellers so there is a bit of price gouging happening.

DPReview says: Quite simply, taken as a whole, it is the best camera of its class that we’ve ever seen, and one of those rare cameras that won’t look out of date in a couple of years’ time. (April, 2010)

Canon 7D – Body only $1599 | 18MP | 1080p @30fps | 29min 59 sec or 4GB movie clip limits |  19 point focus | 8.0 fps | 100% Pentaprism | 3″  920,000 pixels LCD | 28.9 ounces

Offers excellent ergonomics in weatherized body and control scheme that is highly customizable, external mic port for high quality sound, wireless flash control (allows remote triggering of 430ex and 580ex flashes), bright viewfinder(absolute pleasure to look through) with 100% coverage, battery life is approx 1000 shots

My thoughts: if you are making money from photography gigs, especially ones where you plan to use off camera flashes or are shooting sports and need the faster FPS you should consider  this camera, it is a stellar camera but it is hefty and solid and most folks reading this would be better off buying T2i and putting the savings toward lenses.

DPReview says: It offers excellent image quality in all shooting situations and an impressive speed of operation, combined with very good build quality and ergonomics. Both its specification and the results of our testing make it a very easy recommendation. (November, 2009)

Nikon D90 – w/ 18-105 lens $1021, Body only $749 | 12.3MP | 720 @ 24fps | 5min clip limits | 11 point focus | 4.5FPS | 96% pentaprism | 3″  920,000 pixels LCD | 21.8 ounces

My Thoughts: The D90 is an excellent photographic camera and the body only price is an amazing value. If you already have Nikon lenses it is a no brainer of an upgrade.  The build quality and ergonomics sits between the T21 and the 7D.  Where the D90 falters is video, Video is max 720 resolution, no external mic port, clips are limited to 5 minutes (which isn’t as bad as you might think) and video suffers from the jelly effect (straight lines look wavy when the camera is in motion) more than the T2i or 7D

DPReview says: After using and testing the D90 extensively, it’s hard to think of a better enthusiast-level camera. (October, 2008)

Which one should you get?

T2i unless you have specific and justifiable reasons for the 7D. D90 if you have Nikon lenses or have friends/family with nikon lenses you can borrow.

Want cheaper options? Read my Short/Sweet DSLR Guide

Need some lens recomendations? Read My Canon Lens Guide | Nikon Lens Guide [coming soon]

Feel free to leave comments or your thoughts.

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Latest rumors regarding Canon’s newest P&S:

60D Specs

• Articulating screen
• Metal body, similar To 50D
• Upgraded 15.1mp APS-C Sensor
• 720p/1080p Video at 30fps
• Electronic Level
• New battery & battery grip
• Price about $1190

550D/600D Specs

• Articulating screen
• Body smaller than 500D
• Upgraded 15.1mp APS-C Sensor
• 720p Video at 30fps
• Price about $799

What do you all think of Articulating screens?  Love em, hate em?   Are these cameras worth waiting for?  Rumored release date in late spring/early summer

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P&S cameras are getting faster, and increasing HIGH-iso performance – case in point, Canon’s S90.   EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) cameras are coming on strong (i.e. Panasonics’ GF-1) but are still very price with smaller lens selection.  So for the time being at least DSLRs do have advantages – here are a few

DSLR Advantages:

• Fast- from cold start to picture taking DSLRs are king and time is measured in milliseconds.  And fast from shot to shot, many DSLRS can take several high quality images in less than a second.
• Battery life is exceptional in most DSLRs with numbers between 500-1000 depending on flash use. A good P&S approaches 300ish
• A control scheme that lets you change common settings without wading through menus. I am comfortable enough to change most of my commons settings by touch alone because the buttons are smartly placed and work well.
• Interchangeable lenses allows your camera to specialize in any type of photography- going from exceptional wide angle to incredible macro if you have the lenses.
• High ISO performance, this means that in low light you can take clear crisp pictures without a ton of grain(noise).
• External Flash – The ability to add an external flash to your setup can do more for your pictures than any other accessory including lenses.
• Complete manual control including hour long shutter length if desired.

DSLR disadvantages:

• Bulky/heavy, DSLRs are large, often heavy and will not fit in a pocket or even a small purse
• They are hard to hide, related to the above, and scream “look at my camera, steal my camera”
• Lenses can be as, or even more, expensive than the original camera
• You can get dust on the sensor, or in the lenses, this has been better addressed in recent bodies though

I have a DSLR recommendation guide and a P&S recommendation list

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CES saw a slew of new camera, new camera technology and accessories announced this year. I highlight some of the more interesting below.

The megapixel race has slowed and dare I say plateaued (this is a good thing) with camera manufacturers focusing on new features and better low light performance. Sure a good number of the models announced feature 14MP but we have been there for over a year now and some models announced are still at 10MP. Don’t get starry eyed about these 14MP cameras. Personally I would take a quality 10MP sensor, or even 8MP sensor over 14MP any day.

(more…)

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External Flash-

If you don’t have one these can do more for the quality of your indoor, and outdoor, shots than any other upgrade/accessory.  Both Nikon and Canon offer fairly inexpensive but excellent flashes that allow you to bounce the light of the ceiling.  The result is bright, evenly lit photos without your subjects looking washed out or getting red-eye.

Canon
Canon Speedlite 270EX Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras $130

Canon Speedlite 430EX II Flash for Canon Digital SLR Cameras $250

Nikon

Nikon SB-400 AF Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras $115

Nikon SB-600 Speedlight Flash for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras $218

In both cases the more advanced/expensive flash gets you faster recycling times, greater range/power and more detailed control.  If you are not likely to be using the flahs in professional settings the cheaper of the two will be fine.

Tripod-

I already have a post about a wonderful, feature laden tripod for only $45

Accessories-
Transcend 8 GB SDHC Class 6 $23 Easy stocking stuffer,stop worrying about running out of room, especially if you have a newer camera that shoots HD video.

Eye-Fi Share Video 4 GB Wi-Fi SDHC $64 This is one of those accessories that makes me feel like I am living in the future. Not only do you get 4GB of space on a standard sized SD card you also get Wi-Fi that lets you wirelessly upload pics as you take them to your computer and/or a handful of photo sharing sites online. One of the best uses of these cards is to hook your computer to your TV, run a slide show of the upload folder and as you are taking pictures of the party/fun they will appear on the TV slideshow – blowing your guests minds!

Waterproof your P&S DicaPac WP110 145X95mm Small Alfa Waterproof Digital Camera Case with Optical Lens (Clear)

Filters-

Another cross post – Filter information and links

Books-

For years I have been recommending Bryan Peterson’s Excellent “Understanding Exposure” He now has a second book Bryan Peterson’s “Understanding Photography Field Guide: How to Shoot Great Photographs with Any Camera” that looks to be very helpful

Another book getting rave reviews The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You: iPhone Photography by Chase Jarvis (Voices That Matter)

More Ideas-

Waterproof housing, Pro-membership on Flickr, Smugmug, a photobook of their best images, Gift Cards, something fun from Photojojo.com

I will add more ideas in the coming days!

Leave your thoughts in the comments.

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