Camera Battery Blog

Built-in Projector, Nikon S1000pj Camera Issued

August 4th 2009, Nikon announced to issue COOLPIX S1000pj camera for Sony NP-BG1, Canon BP-511, Kodak KLIC-5001., this camera not only with mini body but also with powerful photo function, and it possess the strong projection function.

To use the built-in projector of this digital camera battery, you only need to touch one button, then you can project the photo or video on a flat wall, the image dimension can reach 40 inch in maximum. It can project photos one by one, or match the music to play it like lantern slide. It also accompany with a portable projector bracket, and a remote control which can operate the projector and release shutter function.

COOLPIX S1000pj camera adopts a 5 optical Zoom-Nikkor lens, with 28mm wide-angle that cover 3cm microspur shooting ability, the camera use a 12.10 million pixel transducer, Nikon EN-EL3E.

Compared to a common camera, 12.10 million pixel, 28mm wide-angle and 3cm microspur shooting ability and EN-EL9 are not very high, but it integrated a projector, and support to play at 40 inch, anyhow it is quite practically.

Last week we had the Nikon 5000D for a spin here Nikon D5000, the Review, today we’ll try our best to review its direct competitor, the Canon Kiss X3, better known in Europe as 500D or Rebel T1i in North America.

Canon Kiss X3/500D/Rebel T1i) Specs
- Tamron AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 & Canon EF 24-105mm F/4.0
- 15.1 Megapixel resolution
- Large single-plate CMOS sensor
- Full HD 1080/20p and HD 720/30p with HDMI output
- 3.0” LCD
- ISO Range : from 100 to 3200 (Up to H2 12800).

First Impression
As a longtime Canon user and owner of a four year old Canon Kiss X (350D), playing with the Kiss X3 was not much different. Canon makes sure to keep as much as possible the “Kiss” experience all along our DSLR history, and any old Kiss users will quickly master the new Kiss X3 and powered by Sony NP-BG1, Canon BP-511, Kodak KLIC-5001.

This said, having a new 15.1” sensor, thesame one found on the Canon 50D, as well as a MUCH larger LCD, forced Canon to slightly redesign the X3s body. The first noticeable change comes from the lower end of the camera where the flash is located, giving it a larger bump. The Kiss X3 looks somewhat like a Canon 5D without all the amazing performance of the first generation 5D.

Despite some basic design changes, the Kiss X3 is still a compact DLSR, Canon  design the Kiss Series to be mainly used by women, which tend to have smaller hands than men, giving some a funny sensation when handling it. It’s is true compared to 20/30/40D battery grip, your pinkie finger may not have much room on the Kiss X3’s body… This can be quickly fixed if you invest in the battery pack.

Let’s Shoot Some Pictures Baby!
One of the main advantage of a DSLR is the ability to change lenses, and since we have several for Canon DSLRs we tested the Kiss 3 with four different ones. Today our test will use a cheap but polyvalent Tamron AF18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 as well as the more professional Canon EF 24-105mm F/4.0 (offered in the Canon 5D MKii Pack). Sony NP-FC11

As youcan see below, there is a HUGE difference between these lenses, not only in terms of price but also in quality. I was quite surprised during our low light test of not being able to get a sharp photo in ISO 100 either with the Canon or Tamron lens… Extremely puzzling when you know the camera was on a VERY stable tripod and that my AF point was in the center of the subject Canon BP-2L14 . I really can’t explain why each time I shoot in ISO 100 the Kiss X3 didn’t provide good results in low light.

If I tested the camera with several lenses, I mainly played with the 24-105 lens, and the comparison below is for reference only if you will decide to invest in a future lens for your camera
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I covered several press events and used the Kiss X3 Canon NP-E3 , and my first surprise was it performed better in low light and high ISO than the Canon 30D. Sharper colors, image, the Kiss X3 impressed me with its picture quality. I really felt a huge step forward using the Kiss X3 compared to the 30D.

Definitely the Kiss X3 does not disappoint when it comes to photos, and don’t be scared to boost your ISO in low light. At ISO 400 to 800 you’ll get some pretty decent pictures without a flash Canon NB-4L . Try it, you’ll be surprised.

Video Mode
The Canon 5D MK II is a stunning camera for both photos and videos, and with the good photo results that I had with the Kiss X3, I expected to have some fun with the video mode… Honestly, once I played with this baby’s video mode in both 1080/20p and 720/30p, I was pretty disappointed with the results. Ok, the Kiss X3 lets you get the AF in the video mode, but this AF mode is slow like a dead snail and you’d better get use to focusing manually. The result is just acceptable like the Nikon 5000D, the Kiss X3 is far from impressive and FAR behind a camera like the Panasonic GH1.

Like the 5000D and the Canon 5D MK II, the Kiss X3 only records audio in mono, but unlike the 5D MK II, the Kiss X3 doesn’t have an microphone input.

Marketing bullshit… Sorry to Canon engineers here, but despite what Canon says 1080/20p is just plain useless… 30p is the basic for camera video, 24p is just perfect for cinema like video Olympus Li-12b , but 20p… what the hell is this for?

If you really want to shoot video Canon NB-4L , better put the 720/30p mode on your camera you’ll get better results with ok video.

Conclusion:
I’m very happy with overall photo quality of the Kiss X3 (500D, Rebel T1i). While I can’t explain the weird ISO 100 result in low light, the camera will give you great photos most of the time, there’s no doubt about it. The video mode on the Kiss is like on the Nikon 5000D Casio NP-30 , a real deception and I would have prefered both Nikon and Canon to give me a GPS module rather than a weak video mode.

Another deception is the aging UI, similar to the 5D MK II or 50D, the X3’s UI would be better with a Nikon 5000D like UI to give the new DLSR user a better understanding of each function without having to refer to the manual.

PS: To any Kiss X3 500/ Rebel T1i owners, if you could please shoot in low light at ISO100 on a tripod to check if you have the same problem we had. This would be great, coz we’re not sure if this is a problem on all X3s or only our review unit. In Japan they often send you review units with Beta firmware so we never know.

Yeah, I know the Nikon  D90 is far from being new, but since Nikon was kind enough to let us play with their DSLR for a week and since I never had the chance of touching one before, I decided it would be worth it to check this baby out and to write a little review.

Nikon D90 Specs
- AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G (IF) lens with optical image stabilizer
- 12.3 Megapixel resolution
- DX-format CMOS image sensor
- HD 720/24p with HDMI output
- ISO Range : 100 to 6400

First Impression:
As a heavy user of Canon  DSLRs, it’s always a bit difficult to jump on another DSLR (whatever brand it is), and after many years using the same brand you tend to build some bonds difficult to break… However, I admit that I’m amazed by the D90… Really, the Nikon D90 has nothing to be ashamed of compared to a 40D or 50D Canon BP-511 Canon NP-E3  . Once you get used to Nikon’s grip and your hands learn how to hold it(an important factor in choosing a DSLR), and the D90 feels like a powerful weapon ready to be fired… With an excellent built quality in different domains like the obvious selection of material but also with its overall ergonomic and a brilliantly informative LCD monitor, the D90 provides you only what other high ends models offer as Nikon EN-EL3 .

To give you two little examples, the first is with the large LCD, and more presicly with the huge amount of information that it provides like the deadly accurate battery meter icon. Rather then being divided in two or three different marks between NP-BG1, the D90 offers five in total. This may sound stupid for some, but as far as I’m concerned I loved knowing exactly how much battery life I have left when I’m shooting for a long period of time.

Another convenient feature is the quick settings resets that can be operated directly from the camera body without the need to go through all the menus. Just press the two control buttons marked with a green dot for a few seconds and VOILA! Your camera is back to default as the Canon NB-4L battery power off , perfect if you happen to be like me and still a bit lost in some setting, or if share your camera with people who love messing around with settings… (This feature is also available on various other Nikon cameras.)

Let’s Shoot Baby
Now that our hands have learned how to hold the D90, and once we set the various settings, it’s time to shoot like a maniac. Here as well I was surprised by its speed… I mean REALLY fast, faster then a Canon 40D… Once you set the correct ISO, shutter speed and so on Casio NP-30  Olympus Li-12b  Olympus Li-40b  Sony NP-FC11 , you’ll be amazed at how snappy the D90 can be… Another surprise was how easy it is to shoot in low light at ISOs like 200… As you will see below and with our photo sample, at dawn and ISO 200 whether you’re holding the camera or not, the results are pretty impressive.

Now it is also important to notice that the quality of your picture not only depends of the D90 Laptop battery. Granted I’m a genius, sorry an master artist, in photography (just kidding here ), but it’s very important to get the proper lens to fit on your D90. For instance, our camera was fitted with the following lens : AF-S DX VR Zoom Nikkor ED 18-200mm F3.5-5.6G (IF) lens with optical image stabilizer that provides better pictures that the usual DX 18-105G VR kit.

The same applies if you use Tamron or Sigma lenses.

Check the sample picture I took for yourself and you too will be impressed by this baby. Just to give you an idea for Discount laptop battery, I was using ISO 200 in daylight and ISO 320 at night (around 7:00pm in Japan)…

Nikon D90 Sample Photo for Review, Origianl Size, Resized sample can be found below.

NIKON D300s REVITALIZES THE STANDARD AND MEASURE OF AGILE, PRO-LEVEL DX-FORMAT D-SLR DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE

MELVILLE, N.Y. (July 30, 2009) – Today, Nikon announced the D300s digital SLR battery grip, combining professional-level performance with agility and enhanced D-Movie capabilities to deliver a new benchmark for creative versatility. Engineered to leverage proven Nikon technologies, including a 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor and 51-point autofocus system; the addition of HD video capture; and faster 7 frame-per-second (fps) continuous shooting, the Nikon D300s balances form factor, performance, versatility and reliability for serious photo enthusiasts and professionals.

The D300s retains the photographer-friendly features of the critically acclaimed D300, while enhancing speed, versatility, and agility of the DX-format for a wide variety of photographers, including advanced enthusiasts, wedding shooters and photojournalists. The D300s digital camera battery can record HD video clips and high fidelity audio with an external stereo microphone input, offering users a D-SLR with full multimedia capabilities. Dual card slots afford users the ability to seamlessly record stills and video to one CompactFlash™ (CF) and one Secure Digital™ (SD) card separately, while one-button Live View, a new Quiet Shutter Release mode and Active D-Lighting bracketing help users to capture stunning images like never before.

“Today’s photographer demands excellence and value from high-performance digital SLRs – and the Nikon D300s delivers,” said Edward Fasano, general manager for Marketing, DSLR battery grip System Products at Nikon, Inc. “It’s no secret that more photographers need to gather multimedia content. In addition to proven technologies, such as the 51-point autofocus (AF) system and 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor, we are more than confident that the D300s’ HD movie mode, along with a host of additional performance enhancements, will broaden the appeal of the camera to those seeking exceptional still image quality and video versatility.”

The Benchmark of Speed, Performance and Reliability
Whether on the front lines of spot news or behind the scenes at a spring wedding, users of the D300s can record HD video clips at 720p resolution with a smooth cinematic 24 fps rate. In addition, the D300s also records high fidelity audio—either with the convenient built-in microphone or by using the external stereo microphone input. Photographers can trim video length on the fly and apply Picture Controls to video, modifying the tone and color. Additionally, users can autofocus while recording video, using contrast detect AF, and do so while composing on the D300s’ bright three-inch 920,000-dot LCD screen.

Nikon’s applauded AF system, with 51 high density focus points, performs even faster and more accurately on the new D300s. The Multi-CAM 3500DX AF module uses 15 cross type sensors to provide unparalleled focus performance across the frame. The D300s offers multiple focus modes, including single-point AF mode, and a dynamic-area AF mode, where users can select from nine, 21 or 51 AF points with 3D tracking. Additionally, the added Face Detection System lets users instantly zoom in on a human face in playback mode on the high-resolution LCD monitor to check critical focus.

The Nikon and canon digital camera battery exclusive and newly-accelerated Scene Recognition System (SRS) further refines Nikon’s AF performance and light metering. In conjunction with the 3D Color Matrix Metering II system, the SRS uses precise color and brightness information from the 1,005-pixel RGB sensor to propel AF, auto exposure, i-TTL flash control and auto white balance to unprecedented accuracy.

The renowned 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor in the D300s delivers extraordinary image quality with EN-EL7  and low noise throughout the entire ISO sensitivity range from 200 to 3200 (Lo-1 at 100 and 6400 at Hi-1). The D300s captures image data using 14 bit A/D conversion, processed through a 16-bit pipeline for optimal performance, resulting in images with sharp details and smooth tonal gradations.

The D300s also incorporates Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED™ image processing with EN-EL3 . EXPEED image processing uses an accumulation of sophisticated Nikon intelligence and technologies to ensure impeccable quality for both still images and movies, while also achieving high-speed processing and low power consumption. When using the included EN-EL3E  and EN-EL5  Li-Ion rechargeable battery, photographers can achieve as many as 950 shots under normal shooting conditions. The optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 extends shooting comfort and supports three types of batteries: R6/AA-size batteries, along with Nikon’s Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e and the EN-EL4a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery. It combines added stability with extended shooting of up to 2,950 shots*1 per charge and enables faster high-speed continuous shooting at up to 8 fps*2.

The reinforced magnesium alloy body is lightweight, ruggedly constructed and comprehensively sealed and gasketed against the elements at key points, and the shutter has been proven to a demanding 150,000 cycles. Additionally, the D300s employs the Integrated Dust Reduction System countermeasures that combat the accumulation of image-degrading particles on the optical low-pass filter.

World Class Versatility
With the D300s, Nikon introduces the ability to bracket Active D-Lighting (ADL). By localizing tone control, ADL restores shadow and highlight detail typically lost in high contrast situations, such as backlit subjects or while outdoors with strong sunlight. ADL bracketing provides users with the ability to bracket up to five frames of ADL strength to help ensure perfect contrast throughout the frame, putting an end to the guesswork behind the shot with a bride’s intricate white dress and a groom’s tuxedo in the same frame, for example.

Additionally, the D300s features two memory card slots—one CF and one SD, used simultaneously in a variety of configurations to match users’ preferences. Among the many options available, stills and video can record to separate cards or slots can be assigned for JPEG and RAW recording. The D300s offers “overflow” or “backup” modes, and when shooting D-Movie clips, it allows you to select the slot containing the card with the most available capacity. Users can also copy and paste files between cards.

Also added to the D300s is a Quiet Shutter Release mode, which substantially reduces the sound of the mirror while shooting with . Quickly accessed by selecting “Q” on the release mode dial, this feature is ideal for the photographer who wishes to remain unobtrusive.

To further expand versatility, users have the ability to fine tune their images using Nikon’s Picture Controls to adjust sharpening, brightness, contrast and color hue. The D300s offers users four presets including Standard with , Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome; while Landscape and Portrait settings can be downloaded from the Nikon website. While the D300s offers a versatile built-in flash with wider coverage for a 16mm lens, the camera is also compatible with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System and is capable of controlling up to two groups of remote units as a master / commander for Advanced Wireless Lighting EN-EL3e is used for camera body, together with Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a and Battery Chamber Cover BL-3 for the Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10.

System Expandability
In addition to compatibility with more than 60 NIKKOR lenses and a broad array of system accessories, the D300s will also perform well with the recently announced AF-S NIKKOR 70-200 f/2.8G ED VR II and the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200 f/3.5-5.6 ED VR II lenses.

Price and Availability
The Nikon D300s camera body will be available at Nikon Authorized dealers beginning in late August 2009 at an estimated selling price of $1799.95.** For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

About Nikon
Nikon, At the Heart of the Image™. Nikon Inc. is the world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo imaging technology and is globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for its award-winning consumer and professional photographic equipment. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories; Nikon COOLPIX® compact digital cameras; COOLSCAN® digital film scanners; 35mm film SLR cameras; Nikon software products and Nikon sports and recreational optics. For the second consecutive year, Nikon D Series digital SLR cameras are recognized as “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with digital SLR cameras, Two Years in a Row, Tied in 2008.” according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 and 2008 Digital Camera Usage and Satisfaction StudiesSM. Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its legendary F-mount lens-mounting system. Only Nikon has sustained an original lens mount for such an extraordinary period, ensuring that photographers can continue to leverage their previous investments while still taking advantage of new innovations. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-UX or visit http://www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers to the Web’s most comprehensive photo learning and sharing communities.

*As determined in Nikon performance tests
**Estimated selling price listed is only an estimate. Actual prices are set by dealers and are subject to change at any time.

*1 Based on CIPA Standards. When Rechargeable Li-ion Battery

*2 Based on CIPA Guidelines. When Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a and Battery Chamber Cover BL-3 are used for the Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10, all of which are sold separately.