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THE question is being asked, will the Alpha 700 match the rich colour rendering of the Konica Minolta 7D and 5D? These cameras had identical colour profiles, and were in turn very similar to the Dimage A1 and A2. The Sony Alpha 100 proved very different. Here’s my best attempt to explain why.
Click to continue reading “KM’s unique 7D/5D colour vs. the rest”
PRODUCT shots of the Sony Alpha 700 have been released, and are shown here to our standard web page size of 600 pixels or smaller.
TEMPORARY website pages on the afternoon (GMT) of September 5th managed to leak the entire specification sheet and several new PR images of the advanced amateur Alpha model, along with its name - the Alpha 700. You wouldn’t pick a wife or husband on the basis of their on-paper specification, so remember, the only way to partner up with a DSLR and be happy is to try it in your hands first.
Weybridge, 22nd August 2007 - The stylish, slimline Cyber-shot T Series from Sony gains two feature-packed new models that make it easier than ever to grab great pictures (reads a press release issued by Sony UK).
Click to continue reading “Cameras which shoot when you smile”
DUE to be launched on Monday August 20th to the press, and to reach the shops a month later, the new Canon EOS 40D anticipates some of the rumoured features of the Sony AA (Advanced Amateur) project also known as the A300. It also leapfrogs the more conversative rumours.
To save a few dollars, whoever assembled a double page advert for Sony-sponsored photo workshops which (I gather) has just appeared in the US magazine Popular Photography went to cheap online stock library iStockphoto and downloaded this image:
Click to continue reading “Stock image clanger in Sony-sponsored advertorial”
More work went into this page than you think! While it was possible to get an idea of Sony’s lenses and cameras planned for 2007-8 from the group image, the individual press images have all been shot to different scales.
Click to continue reading “Sony’s future Alpha lenses and cameras”
THE Konica Minolta Maxxum/Dynax 5D colour modes and conversions are like a whole box of film choices in one roll. This article was written using the 5D in 2005. The modes of the Sony Alpha 100 are similar, but the colour palettes will vary from these results.
Click to continue reading “Colour modes and conversions (5D)”
I SELL digital images through Alamy, the on-line photo library. When an original piece of art is out of copyright, and displayed in public or by an owner permitting photography, the ability to get a good quality reproduction copy on the spot without lights, tripod or flash is valuable. Some 8 per cent of my overall Alamy images sales over the past four years have been of signs, notices and labels - disproportionately high, compared to the actual number of such shots. As someone has commented, editors like pictures which tell their own story, and sometimes have words in the pictures does just that.
Click to continue reading “How anti-shake aids art exhibit shooting”
THE FIRST QUESTION anyone asks about the Sony GPS-CS1 device is whether it will work with their non-Sony digital camera. The answer is ‘yes’ but you may need to buy some extra software, as it only comes with software to link up to Sony Picture Motion Browser. If you can ensure that you buy the product sold as GPS-CS1KA it should include a copy of this software in full. If you buy the product coded only as GPS-CS1, it may have nothing apart from a patch-updater program you are supposed to use with your existing Sony installation. So make sure you know exactly what you are buying (there appears to be no price difference, and very few retailers are making any distinction between the two bundles). There seems to be no reason to continue offering the kit with the updater only.
Click to continue reading “Sony GPS-CS1 tracker and software”
When Konica Minolta’s photographic division closed in April 2006, the Minolta Club of Great Britain (operated by Icon Publications Ltd) acquired a mix of older stock, some dating back as far as 40 years, but much from the late MD and early AF era. We have priced these competitively, after studying international prices and availability, and our stock levels. All prices include VAT (UK and Europe only) and postage (to anywhere in the world, by Airmail Small Packet post). You will receive full invoice documentation, which is attached to the outside of the package in case customs wish to confirm contents and value.
KMB-1 Backpack bag - reduced to £29.95 UK only (£23 + postage inc VAT - closeout bargain!). We still have three cartons of these bags remaining and they take up a lot of storage space. I’m keen to clear them out so we have cut the price in Photoworld magazine. Readers have now had a chance to respond if they want one, so we are extended the offer to this internet page as from Nov 28th. I have also added a single Europe/World price of £39.95 - zero VAT export tax-free covers the additional £7 postage cost for destinations outside Europe.
The KMB-1 backpack bag is a bit of a legend - it is small, intended for a mini outfit not a world trek, but extremely well designed with a clever spring-loaded, button operated retracting shoulder strap that acts as a grab handle when stowed.
The photographs should explain what this bag is all about. Price are £29.95 to the UK, £39.95 to Europe or worldwide.
The basic bag price is now only £19.57 net of VAT. It weighs just under 1,750g packed and postage varies from £12 to £19 for Europe and World purchases - non-trackable, non-signed for. If you want trackable and signed for, European postage can be as high as £32 (Spain, Italy, Greece etc - northern Europe is a bit cheaper) and world, £36.
This is the retractable shoulder/grab strap function shown in action. The reel-holding unit interferes with camera removal and you have to learn how to do this; the camera is turned 90 degrees so the handgrip end emerges over the flap, before you try to lift it out. If you try to pull a 7D out without first turning it like this it is difficult. But - for the same basic reason - the camera is extremely secure in this pack. It could fall out of a car with the bag unzipped and the contents would not be likely to spill out.
This is how the backpack strap stows. It can also be detached and hidden entirely in the laptop pocket. This bag is small enough to wear as a chest pack. Strap it on backwards when working, normal way when walking. The straps on this bag are very generous, and it may be loose on the smaller frame even with full tightening (alteration not too difficult). Main point - it’s not going to be difficult to wear even for the largest photographer.
And this shows the front flap pouch, and how it lowers to get to the main camera compartment without fully opening (your gear can not fall out with it on your back if you forget to do up the zip).
Finally, you can see that there is a back pocket for a laptop which is generous in size for a Powerbook 12 inch, and at each end, two small pockets ideal for batteries (or laptop AC adaptor). What will this bag hold: tested by me - Dynax 7D with 28-75mm lens - perfect fit in the centre space, lens down. 17-35mm or 11-18mm, with hood, laid sideways, right hand end. Clear space between camera grip and lens well maintained. Left hand divided compartment - lens up to 75-300mm D; 3600HS(D) flash. Would take 5600 with a smaller lens, or would take large lens alone with divider removed. 70-200mm SSM fits, with the divider placed above the one to the left of the camera, to ensure no rubbing. Tight fit but goes. You can’t get the camera out without removing the lens first if you try to fit a real monster like this in the bag. Side pockets will hold 6X NP400 batteries total, front pockets 8X AA, CF cards etc.
UK order - £29.95 including VAT and post:
Europe or Worldwide order - £39.95 (inc VAT Europe, tax free elsewhere, including post to any part of the world (click button BELOW not above):
For X1 owners, we have two different cases. Both seem to be popular. The first one featured here has a lengthy model number CS-DG 104 BK which you read on the pack in the photo. It’s made of a kind of reinforced hitec synthetic, with an almost denim-like grey texture. To keep things simple, this is £10 ($20) posted anywhere - again, to anywhere in the world.
The alternative doesn’t come packaged. It’s a real leather case, and my own favourite. Made for the X1 it will also fit the XG, XT, X31, X21, and X20. These are loose, maximum packaging is a polybag, but they are all identical real leather with the embossed logo. They have a belt loop which is sewn, not openable, so once on your belt, they can not easily be lost or filched. Again, our price is £10 ($20) including postage and packing to anywhere in the world. My mobile phone is living in one of these right now. They are also a good billfold or change wallet.
This leather case is made for the Dimage G500, G600, G400, G530 and similar shaped cameras. It costs £10 ($20) including worldwide post.
It is also an excellent belt case for items like flashguns, or lenses such as the 24-105mm or 50mm macro; it will fit the 11-18mm or 17-35mm with lens hood attached and reversed. It is a perfect case the the 3600HS(D) flashgun - an exact fit, and the battery pocket inside even fits the shoe stand. In fact, as a lens or flash case, with belt loop or shoulder strap option, this is much better than many alternatives. It costs £10 ($20) including postage.
Photoclubalpha has a range of items still available following the closure of Konica Minolta (UK) Ltd’s camera division in April 2006. Individual items can be found on our eBayshop, where we consider that quantities are too limited to list them for general sale (risk of selling out and being unable to cancel the entry in time to prevent more sales). eBay offers the ability to set a quantity of stock which reduces as the items are sold.
Payments are made through Paypal, for convenience. You may have to register with Paypal. We have been using this method for several years now without any security issues arising. While we normally despatch very rapidly, this is a one-man business as far as handling the orders goes, so any orders which are urgent should be accompanied by an email to david@photoclubalpha.co.uk
Please note this section is UNDER CONSTRUCTION - only bags & cases has been completed
Small accessories
Filters
THE LENSBABY was a novelty item when first introduced as a low-cost meniscus lens mounted on a flexible concertina tube with an SLR mount-fitting at the other end. Like the Diana or Holga cameras sometimes used by professionals to capture a feel of post-modern grunge, it used aberrations creatively.
Click to continue reading “The Lensbaby 3G creative zonal focus tilt-swing lens”
TESTING the flash options most widely sold for the Minolta/Sony unique hot shoe system became a necessity after the launch of the Alpha 100. Despite the reliability of automatic TTL off-the-film flash metering ever since Minolta first introduced it with the Auto Electroflash PX series in 1981, things began to go wrong with the shift to digital SLRs.
Click to continue reading “Flash choices for the Alpha DSLRs”
HAODA FU has been supplying alternative focusing screens for the 5D and A100 since 2006 and for many other makes before this. While the Alpha system DSLRs are not intended to have user-changeable screens, it is relatively easy and risk-free.
Click to continue reading “The Haoda split-image/microprism screen”
I CARRY a camera everywhere, because you never know when a good photograph is round the corner. I also just grab the camera from my office, and rarely think to check the settings. Today, I managed to shoot everything with Super Steady Shot (Anti-Shake) carefully switched off on my Alpha 100.
DxO OPTICS PRO 4.1 is the latest version of a clever raw file processor which includes lens lookup tables to auto-correct distortion, vignetting and chromatic aberration. It also lets you alter the look of Dynax or Alpha images so they match popular films - or other DSLRs by Canon and Nikon!
Click to continue reading “Want your Alpha to look like an EOS?”
NORTHUMBERLAND AND THE BORDERS
Hotel based, 7 nights
Free minibus travel to & from destination
Saturday 10 November to Saturday 15 November 2007
During this week we will explore the superb coastline and inland landscape of unspoilt Northumberland. The beaches on the north east coast are some of the loveliest in the U.K., but as well as these, there are the Cheviot Hills, Roughting Lynn waterfall and several castles. The week will include a visit across the causeway to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) and either Les Mclean, or David Lane will lead a landscape workshop on one of the days, as well as giving an evening talk. There will be plenty of subject matter to photograph, and the evening social activity will, as with all Quest trips, include showing and sharing our own work.The minibus will leave Sussex early Saturday morning, and will collect passengers en route where this is practicable. This may be at your home or nearby, but if you live far off the route, special arrangements will be made.
Price £645, single supp. £50. (deposit £100), 8 – 10 places.
Price includes full board accommodation, with packed lunch. Price is based on sharing a twin room. Single room accommodation is available but a supplement of £60 is payable. If you require a single, you must make this clear when booking, Minibus travel is free from pick up, put down, and for travel during the week.
A 2008 programme will be listed shortly!
Contact detailsLight and Land
Tel: 01432-839111.
Email: contactus@lightandland.co.uk
Web: www.lightandland.co.uk
Inversnaid Photography Centre
Tel: 01877-386254.
Email: info@inversnaidphoto.com
Web: www.inversnaidphoto.com
Duncan McEwan directly
Tel/Fax: 01505-612673
Email: mcewan@dunarden.fsnet.co.uk
Web: www.dmcewanphotography.co.uk or contact:
Duncan McEwan
Dunarden, Horsewood Road
Bridge of Weir
Renfrewshire PA11 3AT
Colin Westgate’s QUEST workshops, sponsored by Photoworld, are now based at Stable House, 2 Carriers Close, West Mersea, Mersea Island, Essex CO5 8NY. Tel 01206 384584. Mobile 07887 887101. To receive the 2008 program, email questphoto@btinternet.com
We have a Photoworld day in Edinburgh on February 10th 2008, to which all Photoclubalpha registered members are welcome (it is strictly by prior arrangement, so please do not turn up on the day). It starts at 10.30am and ends around 4.30pm, and will be held at Edinburgh Photographic Society. Please email david@photoclubalpha.com for a copy of the programme and information on how to contact Duncan McEwan, the organiser, to arrange admission. There is a small fee for refreshments.
Icon Publications Ltd sponsors Colin Westgate’s QUEST series of photographic workshops, photo shoots, and photo holidays in the UK. A full year’s program is available by contacting Colin directly. He is a long-term Minolta system user and one of the UK’s best tuition organisers, recruiting the help of top names including Les McLean, John Blakemore, Clive Tanner, George McCarthy and others. Many of Colin’s chosen course leaders are Fellows of the Royal Photographic Society which he has been actively involved with for a long time.
Photoworld Club Scottish Regional Organiser Duncan McEwan - himself one of the UK’s most highly regarded experts - runs a series of courses in Scotland which are open to photographers from all round the world. He works in conjunction with Charlie Waite’s Light and Land programme, and with the Inversnaid Photographic Centre on Loch Lomond. Duncan is a stock photographer, author, lecturer and exhibition judge. He has used Minolta throughout his career. Each year in early March he organises an open day for Club members at the Edinburgh Photographic Society which is attended by 40-50 photographers and with guest talks and discussion of submitted images.
For many years Camera Repair Workshop, based in Milton Keynes close to the original Minolta UK service department, handled the repair of classic SRT, X, Vectis and later film cameras for Minolta UK.
They have obtained many of the spare parts and KM’s stocks of older ‘cannibalisation cameras’ like 7000 and 8000i. Their proprietor is David Boyle, and his two technicians are Minolta trained. As an independent repairer they will specialise in film and digital, and hold parts going back to models like the XM. The Dynax 9 is an exception, previously serviced by a special European centre, and must be sent to JP (see post on UK official details). No VAT is chargeable at present, and they offer Photoworld magazine subscribers a 10 per cent discount on prices which they say are already better than former retail repair charges. This enables the club to continue with its 10 per cent service and repair discount offer.
The Photoworld Camera Check scheme will be operated by Camera Repair Workshop, though in absence of Konica Minolta’s former bulk shipping arrangements, the return carriage costs have increased and a charge of £25 per camera/standard lens combination is now required.
Your equipment is bench-tested for shutter speed, metering, focusing and aperture accuracy, externally cleaned and adjusted (this includes mirror box and film track, and all accessible parts or adjustments). If performance is below standard, a quotation will be issued for optional servicing. A certificate is completed showing the test results and functions checked, and returned with the camera. Camera Repair Workshop were actually responsible for most of the Club Camera Check work, and hold a stock of original ‘Minolta Club’ certificates along with all the necessary bench testing equipment.
They are based at:
Unit 9, Wharfside, Bletchley, Milton Keynes MK2 2AZ.
Telephone 01908 378088, fax 08712 427677.
Email: cameraworkshop@tiscali.co.uk
Here’s a thought for today, in the absence of Microsoft’s new Vista operating system. Don’t want to break the Dell which does all necessary PC stuff and seems happy on XP Home Edition, even if that makes people laugh. The last pre-Intel Mac OS and presumably the current Intel incarnation have a Find function in the ‘Finder’, not exactly analagous to Windows Explorer but the system’s interface for all operations and present no matter what you do.
This ‘Find’ function has been amended at some point to go right into the EXIF data
E-Books from Gary Friedman are user guides, mines of information and all-round treasuries of inspiration for Alpha owners - see www.friedmanarchives.com for details and how to buy them either as a physical printed book, or a download. His e-Books include:
dPreview
dPreview is recognised as one of the most important camera test sites on the web. While some visitors complain of bias, we do not believe that is the case, and Phil Askey’s test report on the Alpha 100 while missing a few minor plus points was very fair. This report also showed that the Sony Alpha 100 has (and still has) the highest extinction resolution of all the 10.2 megapixel class DSLRs. dPreview has now covered the Alpha 350 and 200 as well as the 700, a different staff writer covering each camera.
Phil has also done a review of the Alpha 700.
Alpha 200 review - Alpha 350 review
Raw converters
Sony Alpha owners will find that Adobe Photoshop CS2/3 and Photoshop Elements 4.0/5.0/6.0 include a good .ARW raw file converter in the current version of Adobe Camera Raw 3.x/4.x (anything later than 3.4 will process Alpha 100 .ARW files, 4.3 or later is needed for .ARW2 files from the A700/200 and is much improved over the first compatible version, 4.2, so upgrade your installation if you are still using 4.2). Earlier versions will not handle Alpha files. 4.5 handles 350 files well.
You can also convert .ARW raw files from the Sony Alpha 100 into Adobe .DNG (Digital Negative) universal raw files, readable by earlier versions Adobe Photoshop 7, CS and Elements 3. Please note that downloading auto-updates for Photoshop does NOT automatically update the raw converter, and this must be done as a separate, manual download. There are two download options, both entirely free, for the DNG converter and the ACR 3.x/4.x plug-in (which requires CS2/3 Mac/PC; or PSE 3/4 for Mac, PSE 4/5 for Windows; and is not compatible with earlier versions):
Adobe Lightroom, a dedicated raw file conversion and ‘digital asset management’ utility, which is a complete stand alone product including A100 conversion, can be purchased from:
http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshoplightroom/
There’s a great Mac-only raw file developer for the A100, A700, A200 and previous Konica Minolta DSLRs - RAWDeveloper from Iridient. This is really fast, allows scaled exports, has superb noise reduction and is a highly professional workflow solution.
Another alternative is Silkypix Developer Studio, a Japanese developed raw file converter, which has something in common with Sony’s Image Converter SR, and will - again - handle both the new A700/A200 and A100 file formats and previous Minolta and Konica Minolta raw files, for those with mixed systems. This is available in both Windows and Mac versions.
Bibble, a popular commercial multi-format raw converter and browser utility, now supports the Alpha 100/700/200. We have had some problems with scaled-up output showing unwanted raster-like patterns, but for normal size files BibblePro offers NoiseNinja which is one of the best ways of dealing with the Alpha 100’s rather strong high-ISO noise levels.
DxOptics Pro also now supports some Konica Minolta/Sony DSLRs and includes automatic correction for a few Minolta/Sony lenses. This deals with chromatic aberration, fringes, curvature of lines and vignetting of brightness towards the corners of the field, and it is especially useful with digital format zooms. They do not appear to have fulfilled the promise of serious support, and are concentrating on the obvious cashcows of Canon and Nikon ownership percentages. The latest v5.2 update brings the Alpha 700, 200 and 350 into the fold with an odd set of lenses but omits the 300 entirely.
An excellent top-level raw .MRW/.ARW converter, if a little hard to master, is Capture One Pro made by Phase One, the Danish digital medium-format back manufacturer. The good news is that if you buy a SanDisk Extreme III memory card right now (as from October 16th 2006) a version normally costing $99 called CaptureOne Pro LE is included on the card free of charge. You can also download trial software, and upgrade this LE version to the full product, by visiting Phase One’s website. The latest versions are good at handling high ISO noise but Phase One is fairly slow to add new camera models.
Recently, a Mac-only converter came to light, RawPhotoProcessor. This is simple and deep. It reveals a lot about the image through reading the makernote and metadata comments hidden in each file. It is fast and small. It has no noise reduction beyond simply chroma blurring, and no sharpening option.
http://www.raw-photo-processor.com/RPP/Downloads.html
Another commercial program we really like - it has a very good interface - which works well with the 5D, 7D and A100 but awaits A700 addition is LightZone from Lightcrafts Inc. This is a feature-laden full image management system which can match Aperture or Lightroom on most levels and even replace Photoshop for some work.
http://www.lightcrafts.com/download/download.html
This program is not very well marketed internationally, yet. Of all the commercial offerings it has the most potential, I think, for cross-platform universal application. It is apparently JAVA-based.
A good PC-only raw converter, small enough to run on palmtop devices and Origami platform machines, is RawTherapee. This independently written experimental converter has won many converts amongst Alpha 700 users, as it offered support right from the start and overcame most of the smurrging issues present in high ISO detail:
Let us know of any other raw converter links, and I will add them.
Support and resources
For legacy support and information on Konica Minolta photo-digital products, we currently recommend the website below, which has not disabled all its downloads of software, firmware, etc: http://ca.konicaminolta.com/support/americas/
For information on the Sony Alpha system and the new Sony Alpha 100 DSLR, the UK Sony site now has some really excellent resources in place. Use the High Bandwidth option if you possibly can, and expore both ‘Assignments’ and ‘Equipment’: http://www.sony.co.uk/nextlevel
The bimonthly magazine for freelance photographers, f2 Freelance+Digital, has a dedicated website where many PDF articles can be downloaded. We have included on this site many PDFs from our Photoworld magazine. f2 magazine moved to new publishers from the October/November 2006 edition, but our website remains operational. Registration is necessary but paid subscription is only required to access the archives of older articles - new editions are free for two months to all comers, subscribers can download from well over 100 previous articles: http://www.f2photo.co.uk/
You can view a selection of full size, 10.2 megapixel images taken with the new Sony Alpha 100 on David Kilpatrick’s pBase pages. At the last count there were over 70 examples and the Alpha images had clocked up over 100,000 views. There’s lots of technical information on the tests, examples, and comparison present on these pages. These include comments, captions and EXIF shooting data: http://www.pbase.com/davidkilpatrick
There is an independent Minolta M-AF forum and website, Dyxum, which offers many useful resources including lens tests and storage card speed comparisons. Unlike dPreview, Dyxum does not ban participants for being associated with specialist websites like Photoclubalpha, and has kindly promoted and helped us in the past: http://www.dyxum.com
Yahoogroups include one dedicated entirely to Minolta which in practice is used by Sony Alpha owners as well - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Minolta/. There is also a Yahoogroup called SonyAlpha, at least until Sony’s legal dept ask them to cease and desist: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SonyAlpha/.
A busy forum is well established at Dynaxdigital - http://www.dynaxdigital.com/
Carl Garrard and T E Morrison have set up a site called Alphamountworld which offers forums, reviews and articles and will be reporting from major trade shows in the US. Carl is also going to post articles from his show visits or press invites to Photoworldalpha.
A useful group with a strong photography emphasis is UKExpert - forums and galleries and many further onwards links. It was a pleasure to meet Andy from UKExpert at the Sony Alpha 700 launch, and great to know that Sony value the presence of independent opinion-formers.
There is a photo sharing site (by far the most popular web activity for photographers!) at Shootalpha.com. This is, after all, what camera clubs and even august professional associations do - share their pictures and pass generally not unkind comments on them to each other, with the occasional bit of constructive crit. Do not expect to encounter the photo equivalent of Simon Cowell stalking the gallery pages, you will be welcomed as a beginner and find your level quickly. There is also an active forum.
Dealers and spares
At Icon Publications Ltd we now have just a selection of Minolta glass filters; MD/AF hard lens cases (many types); Dynax branded original camera straps; Minolta leather cases ideal for iPhones, iPods etc; and Vectis BPS-1 battery base grips for the Vectis S-1.
Former Minolta Club administrator Adrian Paul has his own specialist business selling spares, accessories and smaller hard-to-obtain products from the Minolta and Konica Minolta ranges, and will be offering Sony Alpha system products in future. The Photostore is a mail-order business only and Adrian offers a fast, excellent standard of service and knowledge: http://www.photostore-uk.com/
Lens rental is also available from the Photostore in the UK, but applies only to Photoworld magazine subscribers, and full details are printed in each magazine. There is a new Alpha lens rental service operating in the USA - http://www.alphalensrental.com/index.html.
In New Zealand, the Sony Service Centre for Alpha is http://www.phototronic.co.nz/ - they are also dealers, an ideal one-stop shop for purchases and repairs, run by a former Minolta UK Ltd service department staff member.
Pro dealers Calumet have the Alpha system now as a main line, after decades of sidelining the Minolta mount. This is very important and will put the Alpha in front of Britain’s working professionals: http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/.
London Camera Exchange Colchester is now a Sony ACE dealer and has committed to supporting this website and our magazine. Manager David Jenner will always try to offer the best deal to Photoclubalpha members! Email them on colchester@LCEgroup.co.uk or call 01206 573444.
To find out about the values of used cameras, visit the Monark camera price guide site - http://www.cameravalues.com/
Thank you for visiting the photoclubalpha.com site. If you would like to receive future information by email from Sony UK about the Alpha system, and news of future developments for the former Minolta Club of Great Britain, please email david@photoclubalpha.com using the heading ‘Add to Alpha mailing list’.
THE NEW Tamron 18-250mm has some importance to Alpha system users. It is almost certainly the optical basis for the forthcoming Sony SAL 18-250mm version, and as a APS-C 13.7X zoom with an equivalent 27-375mm (in full frame terms) range is uniquely suited to the SSS-enabled Dynax 5D, 7D and Sony Alpha 100
Click to continue reading “Tamron 18-250mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II IF-LD”
Shortly before the June 6th 2006 worldwide launch of the Sony Alpha digital SLR system the European press learned that major title editors would meet in Marrakesh for the unveiling of the Alpha 100. No-one anticipated being driven miles into the desert-like countryside of Oued Nfis for the experience of a night under canvas after witnessing feats of Berber horsemanship and a massive pyrotechnic intro! Read David Kilpatrick’s original report from the Summer 2006 edition of Photoworld magazine.
Click to continue reading “Sony Alpha 100 June 2006 launch report”