dSLR Dad

Well, that didn’t take long (just over an hour). Sony of America has just announced the A200 at CES 2008. I still stand by my previous post in regards to competitiveness. It will come in two kit versions:

DSLR-A200K ($700): body with a Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 ED Zoom Lens

DSLR-A200W ($900): body, Sony DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6, and a 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 lens.

Both models ship in February. (more…)

This is pretty typical of the Pre-PMA scoops. Thanks to Newsdesk in Sweden, we have another early press release from Europe. My Swedish is a little rusty, but it looks like the 10.2 MegaPixel Sony A200 is a very minor model update from the A100. Notable upgrades are as follows:

• Screen size increases from 2.5 to 2.7 inches. My guess is that a 3″ screen could not be placed into the same chassis, too bad.
• ISO100 – 3200 equivalent. That’s fine, but hopefully the image quality from ISO 200 to 800 was improved.
• All 9-points in the Autofocus system are now cross-type. This helps improve motion tracking. Not sure if any are f/2.8.
• Burst Capability is still 3fps with a disappointing 6 shot RAW buffer.
• All dials are now black. Chrome is so 2007.

I hope I’m missing something here, because it looks like the only real upgrades are cosmetic. This may be a problem for Sony as both the Nikon D40X and Canon Digital Rebel XTi should be upgraded at PMA2008. This could place the A200 further behind in this market segment, which is disappointing for all of you Minolta dSLR Dads. (more…)

Sony has released a new firmware revision to their A700 dSLR (Amazon, B&H Photo)

Benefits over firmware version 2:

• Resolves an issue where the Access Lamp remains lit and the camera stops responding when several pictures are taken in rapid succession.
• Resolves an issue where powering the camera off while in “MR” mode may cause some registered settings to carry over to other shooting modes.

Additional benefits over other firmware versions:

• Sharper images for pictures taken under low contrast conditions
• Reduced noise for pictures taken at ISO 3200
• Improved flash control for objects closer than 1 meter with non ADI controlled lenses

You can visit the download page here.

Digital Photography Review has posted their review of the 12 MegaPixel Sony Alpha A700 12.24MP dSLR Camera.

The Alpha 700 was introduced as a complementary model to the Alpha 100; aimed more at the serious amateur and semi-professional photographer it enters a segment of the market which is buzzing with new models (EOS 40D, D300 and E-3). The A700 clearly has a lot of Minolta DNA (more…)

Doug Brown, Contributor and event photographer, has posted his field report of the Sony Alpha A700 dSLR (now shipping).

The A700 is a beautifully crafted photographic instrument. In my time with it I grew quite comfortable with the camera and found it’s output to be very dependable.
It’s tough, ergonomically well designed, intuitive to use (more…)

The following is part seven of a much larger dSLR Dad Holiday Gift Guide:

If you’re not looking for a new bag, how about a great accessory that anyone can use, the Pee Wee Pixel Pocket Rocket from Think Tank Photo. It stores four Compact Flash cards and three Secure Digital cards in an even smaller, more compact package. Can be attached inside of Think Tank Photo products or to your clothing.  That way, it just doesn’t fall out of your pocket, lost forever.  It can also hold business cards in the front face.  Available for just $13.50. Note, the slightly larger Pixel Pocket Rocket comes standard with quite a few bags (including the one I bought).

The following is part Six of a much larger dSLR Dad Holiday Gift Guide:

Think Tank Photo is a company that has burst onto the scene and come out with products that meet the needs of both professional and serious dSLR Dad’s alike. They carry any number of shoulder or belt bags, rugged airport carry-on, or their fantastic modular system. You can download a copy of their catalog (more…)

Press Release:

To help celebrate the holiday season, we at Think Tank Photo will be giving away one of our camera bags every day for a month, starting on November 16. All you need to do is click here and you will be directed to a very simple form where you can register to win in this random drawing. [Note: the only bag not eligible to be won is our Airport Security roller and you may enter only once.]
We also have holiday coupons and special offers that we’ll be announcing throughout November and December, so be sure to sign up.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TRLGRDv7ik]

Ben Willmore, from Inside Digital Photo TV, has posted a video detailing his use of Think Tank Photo’s Modular Belt system. If you haven’t heard of Think Tank Photo, they are a relatively recent company that specializes in making fantastic storage solutions for photographers. For all you dSLR Dad’s out there who have never been happy using a photo backpack to shoot (since it has to come off your back) while you’re also trying to chase your kid(s) around, you should really check them out.

I’ve been using their Speed Freak Belt Pack for almost 6 months now and I love it. It can hold my 20D with a wide angle + lens hood on one side and a stowed 70-200mm f/2.8 right beside it. The belt system also accepts other modular components, so you add different lens pouches depending on your situation that day. Plus, the belt tucks into a side pouch so you can also use it as a shoulder bag.

You can also check out Ben’s blog to get coupon code WS-055 for a free extra lens case or gadget bag on your order.