There have been numerous rumors regarding Canon Technologies in their line of imaging products. Let’s break them all down piece by piece. In the case of DIGIC V, apparently this will be powering the next Canon DSLRs. The mob is expecting for a better noise reduction and of course notable processing speed. Aside from this, there’s still another brand new feature we’re trying to figure out. If you are looking forward for any PowerShot G12 replacement in 2011 well, you better keep looking as there is not expected to be a replacement this year.

Probable announcement for 2011 are quite blurred as we have not been receiving any information at all. But don’t lose hope yet as it is suggested that this was to ensure Canon could meet the production demands that are fast-approaching for the Christmas holiday season. We understand that this might make a stir in the market if disclosed anything too early. Canon also flat out said “Canon will announce a new camera when it’s done and not a minute before”. Canon has no desire to announce a camera and it not be available for 2-3 months.

Nikon’s mirrorless camera is now causing a ripple in the pond after a picture of the prototype camera leaked. But in the case of Canon’s Mirrorless, R&D like Nikon’s is still ongoing and not much if anything has been leaked yet.

On to Lens Rumors the 2011 edition of Popular Photography had a reference to an EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS II which has had people speculating of an update to this very popular lens from Canon however it has been widely dismissed and considered a typographical error. For one point, any 24-70 with IS wouldn’t be designated with “II”.

Mirrorless cameras made a boom in the globally in 2010 as it surged fivefold to 2.1 million sold units with the production of mirroless cameras by makers of high-end cameras like Sony, Samsung and Panasonic. On the other hand, Nikon and Canon the worlds top 2 makers of cameras are missing this opportunity for technology advancement.

It has been known that Nikon will be venturing down the same path when Nikon’s president revealed that the company was working on a concept camera that may or may not use a mirrorless system, much like the Micro Four Thirds favored by Olympus, or Sony’s NEX series a year ago.

The model-picture of this most-awaited additional camera to land in the array of mirrorless camera options was leaked on the internet and there have been a lot of speculations regarding its specifications. But what camera lovers would want to know is the cost of Nikon’s mirrorless camera.

According to Nikkei’s report via Reuters, Nikon’s mirrorless camera + lens combo has an estimated cost between 70, 000-100,000 yen or between 900-1,300 USD. As projected in these estimates, the suggested retail price in the US will be slightly lower than the MSRP in Japan. If this is the case then Nikon's new Mirror-less camera will be more than expensive than its competitors’ cameras, for example the Sony NEX-5N, Panasonic G3 and Olympus E-PL3 kits costs roughly US$699 while the Pentax Q and Samsung NX200 kits cost US$799 and US$899 respectively.

Although Nikon stressed the indefiniteness of these price rumors since it has not made any announcements yet, this was stressed in another article published on Nikon Corporation and stated “Nikon understands that some article appeared in the media regarding Nikon’s imaging product. Please note that Nikon has made no announcement in this regards.”

More recent rumors are now suggesting that the Nikon Mirrorless camera will be called the Nikon X810 and will feature a 10.1 megapixel sensor as well as an F type mount, that is used in some of Nikon's existing camera bodies.

Rumor has it that Canon will not be making any new Canon DSLR camera announcements for the rest of 2011 as CanonRumors has just reported.

According to the site which focuses on speculations regarding Canon technologies and information, most insights they receive fail to imply a Canon’s DSLR announcement for 2011. This further suggests that a new full frame body from Nikon is also not on the cards

Furthermore, the nonexistence of any media preparation as a marketing advancement for a 5D mark III or 6D such as what was prepared for the recent launch Canon's 40mm macro and 50mm f/1.8 lenses and judging from the number of events for the much anticipated mirror less camera which undoubtedly give nothing or even subtle proofs of its launching further suggest that a new full frame body will not be announced any time soon

Although they have added that there are definitely numerous rumors of prototype bodies out there, these bodies are not expected to be announced or even released until 2012

CanonRumours suggests that the reason for no new Full Frame body this year is simple, following the Japanese Tsunami Canon wanted to ensure they could meet the production demands of Christmas without having to ramp up for a new product such as the rumored to be released Canon EOS 5D Mark III 

It was also flatly said that “Canon will announce a new camera when it’s done and not a minute before”. Having said that, these last few statements made it not certain of the said rumor for one fact that Nikon always have a new product released in the October-December timeframe.

In today’s increasing developments for technology and the possibility for even file viewing to be just a click away has been made achievable already. There are several file formats DSLR offers that once transferred to the computer unit may not be viewed right at once. You would then wonder why there has to be several file types when they are all the same Digital SLR cameras. Eventually, that’s because of the quest to achieve a more appealing photo or even a video file. Microsoft introduces its Camera Codec Pack in two available files for download. You may already choose from its 32-bit MicrosoftCodecPack_x86.msi or MicrosoftCodecPack_amd64.msi which is 64-bit in size.

Here goes the list of supported device for this software:

o Canon: EOS 1000D (EOS Kiss F in Japan and the EOS Rebel XS in North America), EOS 10D, EOS 1D Mk2, EOS 1D Mk3, EOS 1D Mk4, EOS 1D Mk2 N, EOS 1Ds Mk2, EOS 1Ds Mk3, EOS 20D, EOS 300D (the Kiss Digital in Japan and the Digital Rebel in North America) , EOS 30D, EOS 350D (the Canon EOS Kiss Digital N in Japan and EOS Digital Rebel XT in North America), EOS 400D (the Kiss Digital X in Japan and the Digital Rebel XTi in North America), EOS 40D, EOS 450D (EOS Kiss X2 in Japan and the EOS Rebel XSi in North America), EOS 500D (EOS Kiss X3 in Japan and the EOS Rebel T1i in North America), EOS 550D (EOS Kiss X4 in Japan, and as the EOS Rebel T2i in North America), EOS 50D, EOS 5D, EOS 5D Mk2, EOS 7D, EOS D30, EOS D60, G2, G3, G5, G6, G9, G10, G11, Pro1, S90

o Nikon: D100, D1H, D200, D2H, D2Hs, D2X, D2Xs, D3, D3s, D300, D3000, D300s, D3X, D40, D40x, D50, D5000, D60, D70, D700, D70s, D80, D90, P6000

o Sony: A100, A200, A230, A300, A330, A350, A380, A700, A850, A900, DSC-R1

o Olympus: C7070, C8080, E1, E10, E20, E3, E30, E300, E330, E400, E410, E420, E450, E500, E510, E520, E620, EP1

o Pentax (PEF formats only): K100D, K100D Super, K10D, K110D, K200D, K20D, K7, K-x, *ist D, *ist DL, *ist DS

o Leica: Digilux 3, D-LUX4, M8, M9

o Minolta: DiMage A1, DiMage A2, Maxxum 7D (Dynax 7D in Europe, α-7 Digital in Japan)

o Epson: RD1

o Panasonic: G1, GH1, GF1, LX3

Unlike some other products, this software does not have a warranty but it is totally free. Codec Pack supports operating systems Windows 7 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 only. You may download it here for free: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26829.

Microsoft has released a new Camera Codec Pack (16.0.0652.0621) allows users to natively view RAW picture files in Windows Explorer, Live Photo Gallery, and other software based on WIC or Windows Imaging Codecs, from a wide range of cameras

Below are the system requirements for downloading the codec pack:

• processor speed of 1.6 GHz or higher
• minimum resolution of 1024 × 576
• at least 1GB RAM
• Windows 7 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Operating Systems

This new camera codec pack can be downloaded from the following location:
http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=26829

The following device formats are supported by the Microsoft Camera Codec Pack:

Canon: EOS 1000D (EOS Kiss F in Japan and the EOS Rebel XS in North America), EOS 10D, EOS 1D Mk2, EOS 1D Mk3, EOS 1D Mk4, EOS 1D Mk2 N, EOS 1Ds Mk2, EOS 1Ds Mk3, EOS 20D, EOS 300D (the Kiss Digital in Japan and the Digital Rebel in North America) , EOS 30D, EOS 350D (the Canon EOS Kiss Digital N in Japan and EOS Digital Rebel XT in North America), EOS 400D (the Kiss Digital X in Japan and the Digital Rebel XTi in North America), EOS 40D, EOS 450D (EOS Kiss X2 in Japan and the EOS Rebel XSi in North America), EOS 500D (EOS Kiss X3 in Japan and the EOS Rebel T1i in North America), EOS 550D (EOS Kiss X4 in Japan, and as the EOS Rebel T2i in North America), EOS 50D, EOS 5D, EOS 5D Mk2, EOS 7D, EOS D30, EOS D60, G2, G3, G5, G6, G9, G10, G11, Pro1, S90

Epson: RD1
Leica: Digilux 3, D-LUX4, M8, M9
Minolta: DiMage A1, DiMage A2, Maxxum 7D (Dynax 7D in Europe, a-7 Digital in Japan)

Nikon: D100, D1H, D200, D2H, D2Hs, D2X, D2Xs, D3, D3s, D300, D3000, D300s, D3X, D40, D40x, D50, D5000, D60, D70, D700, D70s, D80, D90, P6000

Olympus: C7070, C8080, E1, E10, E20, E3, E30, E300, E330, E400, E410, E420, E450, E500, E510, E520, E620, EP1

Panasonic: G1, GH1, GF1, LX3
Pentax (PEF formats only): K100D, K100D Super, K10D, K110D, K200D, K20D, K7, K-x, *ist D, *ist DL, *ist DS

Nikon D5100 Reviews are already starting to pop up around the internet from the a few of the big sites that that have been under NDA and promised not to reveal any details until the official Nikon release.

So what did they have to say about the Nikon D5100?

What Digital Camera

So, what do we make of it all? The D5100 looks like hot competition for the Canon 600D and, in terms of upgrade over the previous D5000, there are plenty of new features to look forward to.

CNET UK

The entry-level D5100 digital SLR is Nikon's follow-up to the D5000, offering 1080p video capture and simplified controls. It looks like a promising camera.

DPReview

The D5100 has a very similar 16.2MP CMOS sensor to the excellent one seen in the D7000 but, understandably, loses out on that camera's high-end build and feature-set. So there's no wireless flash control, magnesium alloy build or 39-point AF system but the underlying image quality looks to be the same.

Photo.Net

The D5100 appears to be another strong addition to Nikon’s consumer DSLRs. It maintains the small size and light weight similar to the earlier D40, D60, D3000, D3100 and D5000, but its electronics are updated to a DX-format sensor that is the best among current Nikon DSLRs and a high-resolution LCD screen that can swivel.

Amateur Photographer

When shooting in live view the D5100 has improved the contrast detection so allow faster focusing. This is a noticeable improvement but from my brief use it still lags behind the phase detection speeds.

Note: the Nikon D5100 is already available for pre-order at some retailers see here Nikon D5100 Pre-Order

Some online retailers are already offering Nikon D5100 pre-orders at their websites. The team here at DSLR Answers believes this camera will be a hugely popular and sought after entry level DSLR, so get your order in quick or risk a long wait.

Below is a list of the current pre-order pages

The Nikon D5100 Amazon pre-order pages:

Nikon D5100 Body US - $799.00
Nikon D5100 Kit (with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens) – US $899.00

Nikon D5100 Body Adorama - US $799.00
Nikon D5100 Kit Adorama - US $899.00

Nikon D5100 Body B&H Photo - US $799.00
Nikon D5100 Kit B&H Photo - US $899.00

Note this page will be updated over time as more online camera retailers put up their pre-order pages, so you can bookmark for easy reference.

The Nikon D5100 features:

• 16.2 Megapixels
• 3 Inch Vari-Angle 921K Resolution LCD Display
• 1080p HD video recording with full time autofocus
  
• User selectable in camera effects that can be applied to both video and photos
• 11 Point Autofocus system
• Low light shooting mode
• ISO Sensitivity 100-6400
• Built-in speedlight flash with i-TTL
• 16 Automatic Exposure Scene Modes
• In-Camera HDR (High Dynamic Range)

Nikon Canada today announced the release of both the Nikon D5100 DSLR and ME-1 Microphone, and as expected and reported here at DSLR Answers the Nikon D5100 will feature:

• 16.2 Megapixel Sensor (same sensor that is found in the D7000)
• 3 Inch Swivel LCD Display
• 1080p HD Video Recording with full time autofocus
• In Camera  effects that can be applied to photos and videos

The Nikon ME-1 Microphone, is the perfect companion for any Nikon HD DSLR camera owner that shoots video, the Nikon ME-1 Microphone features a 3.5mm stereo jack, therefore it supports any Nikon with a 3.5mm phono jack,. The Nikon ME-1 Microphone attaches to a Nikon’s flash shoe.

The full press release from Nikon Canada can be read below:

"Mississauga, ON, April 5, 2011- Today Nikon Canada announced the new16.2 megapixel Nikon D5100 digital SLR, designed for those ready to stepup and be artistically expressive with a versatile camera. The NikonD5100 digital SLR houses a host of new and innovative features aimed atgiving photographers the tools to shatter creative constraints and tellstories with amazing image quality and stunning HD movies.

Designed to enhance the shooting experience, the Nikon D5100 includesan impressive new 3-inch, sharp 921,000-dot Vari-angle LCD screen andfull 1080p HD movie recording with full-time autofocus. The 16.2megapixel D5100 is also the first Nikon digital SLR to provide in-cameraeffects that can be applied to photos and movies, putting more tools ofcreative expression at the users fingertips.

Our newest digital SLR offers a wide range of options users can applyto photos and videos as they shoot, or in-camera after the shots havebeen taken, transforming them into works of art, said Gregory Flasch,National Advertising and Communications Manager at Nikon Canada Inc. Thein-camera Special Effects Mode presents many creative possibilities, allat the twist of a dial. Its like having 24-hour access to a digitalediting studio.

Ready for the Adventure of Life

The D5100 allows photographers of all levels to confidently execute newand creative ways to tell stories with amazing colour and clarity.Whether shooting over crowds or down low from a toddlers point of view,the swing-out style, Vari-angle LCD screen makes it easy to compose andshare great images. Displaying even the most subtle details withclarity, the super sharp LCD has a 1000:1 contrast ratio and 921,000-dotresolution with the ability to pivot 180 degrees horizontally andvertically.

To further test creative boundaries, photographers can take advantageof the D5100s in-camera Special Effects Mode. Applied to either stillsor D-Movies, these innovative effects are easy to implement and add ahigh level of creativity. By selecting the Effects position on the modedial located on top of the camera, photographers can easily applyeffects such as Selective Colour and choose up to three differentcolours while the remainder of the scene is converted to monochrome.Colour Sketch creates photos and a stop-motion movie in a colourfulsketched drawing style, while the Miniature effect records photos andhigh-speed movies to bestow a feeling of a mini-scale scene.

To record photos in extreme lighting conditions or to produce movieswith a gritty appearance, the new Night Vision mode calls upon Nikonspro digital SLR low-light technology to offer extreme low-lightcapability by enabling the camera to shoot up to a super-high 102,400ISO. In addition to the Effects mode, users can create photos withamazing tonal range by selecting the high dynamic range (HDR) functionwithin the camera. With this selected, the D5100 will automaticallybracket up to three exposure stops with two images in rapid successionto produce a finished photo with an amazing range of midtones andhighlights that wouldnt otherwise be possible in a single shot.Additionally, Active D-Lighting can be selected and combined with HDRfor even more dramatic effects.

The versatile Nikon D5100 digital SLR will motivate shooters to furtherexplore creativity with its advanced camera features including fullmanual controls (P,S,A,M on the mode dial) offering the ability tomanage the cameras aperture and shutter speeds. Once a photo iscaptured, photographers have the flexible retouch menu at their disposalto apply additional in-camera effects and editing options includingcolour and filter effects, red eye correction and NEF (RAW) processing.

The remarkably wide ISO range of 100-6,400 (expandable to a staggering25,600 ISO) allows photographers to shoot confidently in outdoor andindoor low-light situations, even handheld with low noise. Inchallenging lighting conditions such as when a subject is backlit,Nikons Active D-Lighting feature keeps shadows and highlights consistentfor even exposures.

To further unleash creativity, the Picture Control system allows thechoice of Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, or Landscapesettings to apply a personal look and feel to pictures, and theversatile Scene Modes let photographers choose from Portrait, Landscape,Child, Sports, Close-up or Night Portrait for stunning results in justabout all possible lighting conditions.

Create Full HD Movies

The Nikon D5100 captures full 1080p HD movies with full-time autofocus.Users can quickly switch focus modes to stay with the action through avariety of AF functions, including Face Priority which can track up to35 human faces, Subject Tracking and normal or wide-area autofocus. Toactivate movie mode and Live View, a new switch is positioned on the topof the camera near the shutter button for improved ergonomics and easieraccess.

The D5100 digital SLR offers variable frame rates and resolutions, andcan record 1080p at a cinema-like 24 frames per second (fps).Alternatively, for playback on HD devices, it can record at 30 fps or aweb-friendly 720p at either 24 or 30 fps. All clips can record for up to20 minutes in the AVC-HD H.264 codec. Once recorded, movie clips can betrimmed in the camera to save time in post-production. Whether utilizinga wireless or hot shoe-mounted microphone such as the new ME-1, soundcan be recorded via the stereo microphone input for professional audioresults. Captured movies can be easily shared via HDMI output, andcontrolled remotely with HDMI CEC compatibility.

Superior Image Quality

The 16.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor is capable of capturing imagesthat erupt with colour, offering amazing sharpness and clarity to createimages and full HD movies even in low-light conditions. Coupled withNikons exclusive EXPEED 2 TM image-processing engine, images are broughtto life with vivid colours and amazing contrast, accurate exposure andlow noise levels resulting in brilliant image quality. The EXPEED 2 TMengine also drives the quick 11-point AF system on the D5100 to providefor rapid focus acquisition even on fast-moving subjects. When shootingaction, split-second shutter response and four frames per second burstrate make sure no moment is missed, forever putting to rest the story ofthe one that got away.

Whether shooting lush wilderness landscapes or an urban skyline, theD5100 utilizes Nikons exclusive Scene Recognition System to analyzesubject information from a database containing more than 30,000 imagesto optimize focus, exposure, i-TTL flash exposure and white balance. Toassist in creating amazing imagery, the Scene Recognition System readsdata from the 420-pixel 3D Colour Matrix Meter RGB sensor that examinesthe scenes brightness and colour data then optimizes the camerasperformance prior to the actual exposure.

An entirely greater world of creativity will open up to photographerswhen adding versatile AF-S NIKKOR lenses to the equation. With a widerange of focal lengths and versatile features, AF-S NIKKOR lenses helpto create a variety of photo perspectives to images and movies such asthe ability to isolate subjects with a shallow depth of field or zoomclose to the action from afar. Combining the D5100 digital SLR withNIKKOR lenses also delivers the sharpness essential for HD movies, andNikons innovative Vibration Reduction (VR) II technology helps toeliminate the effects of camera shake.

New ME-1 microphone

To address the needs of the ever growing community of shootersabandoning their video cameras for the versatility of a digital SLR,Nikon now offers the ME-1 stereo microphone. Engineered specifically fora digital SLR, the new ME-1 microphone attaches to the hot shoe and hasnoise dampening components designed to minimize noise resulting from AFoperation. The microphone also has a low-cut filter to reduce wind noisenot already blocked by the wind screen. Designed with digital SLR usersin mind, the ME-1 also features a cable stop to keep the cable out ofthe way when using the camera, and reduce instances of noise fromunintentional contact. Because it utilizes a standard 3.5mm stereo jack,the ME-1 is ideal for the D5100 and other Nikon HD movie capable digitalSLRs such as the D3s, D300s, D7000 and the COOLPIX P7000.

Availability and Pricing

The Nikon D5100 digital SLR camera is scheduled to be available atAuthorized Nikon Canada Dealers beginning late April 2011 at aManufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $899.95 for a kit thatincludes the AF-S DX Zoom-NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens.

The new Nikon ME-1 microphone is scheduled to be available atAuthorized Nikon Canada Dealers in May 2011 at a MSRP of $159.95.

Exclusive Canadian Warranty

Nikon Canada offers an exclusive two-year warranty for the D5100purchased from an Authorized Nikon Canada Dealer. Additionally, NikonCanada offers a five-year warranty for all NIKKOR lenses purchased froman Authorized Nikon Canada Dealer. Consumers investment is protected byNikon Canadas warranties with in-Canada service.

The first images of the Nikon D5100 have hit the internet, and it seems that Nikon Romania jumped the gun in tweeting a link to a release for the D5100, the tweet and press release has since been removed.

All as I can imagine is an angry phone call from Nikon HQ to Nikon Romania demanding the removal of the tweet and press release, or perhaps this was a Nikon marketing stunt?

Source: NR

Sources close to DSLRAnswers are reporting that the announcement of the Nikon D5100 is hours away.

Specifications of the Nikon D5100 are expected to be as follows:

• 16.2 Megapixel Sensor
• 11 Auto focus points
• 1080p HD video recording mode
• Swivel LCD Screen
• Use the EN-EL9 Battery  

We are not the only online publication reporting this, with other camera rumours sites also receiving the same tip offs, we are told to expect this announcement either on the  5^th of April 2011.

The Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS II USM lens is the successor to the hugely popular EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM, Canon’s super fast telephoto this  new Canon L series lens features a 23 element in 19 groups that has been totally re-designed from its predecessor, which includes 5 ultra-low dispersion (UD) elements that produces high contrast images with less chromatic aberration.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens retails for US $2499   (Australian Visitors Check Price Here ) 

Key features of the Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS II USM

• L type telephoto zoom lens
• 4-stop Image Stabilizer for blur-free shots
• Five UD lens elements help to drastically reduce chromatic aberration
• Robust build with superb handling
• Close focusing distance of 1.2m (3.9ft)
• Ring-type USM with high-speed CPU for silent, high-speed AF

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM telephoto lens has an increased magnification of 0.21x along with a reduced minimum focusing distance of 1.2 meters (3.9 ft)

This lenses improved high-speed focusing system is perfect for the sports photography where every split second between shoots can make mean missing the perfect shot, this combines with a vastly improved Image Stabilization system that provides the equitant of around four stops of shutter speed with two modes of image stabilization (Mode 1: for stabilizing in all directions still subject, Mode 2: stabilizing both vertical and horizontal camera shake for following shots)

In the ruggedness stakes this lens is truly designed for a fair amount of punishment with a 100% dust and drip proof structure preventing water or dust from entering the camera or lens when used in conjunction with a weatherproof body.

This lens is equipped with a Focusing Distance Range switch (1.2 m/3.9 ft to infinity or 2.5 m/8.2 ft to infinity) that provides for faster focusing when shooting within that focusing distance range.

Accessories

The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens is accompanied with the new ET-87 Lens Hood and Ring-Type Tripod Collar B (W), as well as the new LZ1326 Lens Case

This lens is recommended for:

Like the other telephoto zooms within the Canon L-series lens range, the EF70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM is a versatile lens with a multitude of uses. Shooting portraits, landscapes, sport action and wildlife all fall within the capabilities of this impressive telephoto zoom lens.

This lens is compatible with the following L series lens accessories (sold separately):

• EF12 II Extension Tube
• EF25 II Extension Tube
• 500D Close-up Lens
• Canon 77mm Filters

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM Lens retails for US $2499   (Australian Visitors Check Price Here ) and we recommend checking each of the reputable online retailers below, by clicking on each of the below buttons to find the cheapest and to check stock availability

Australian visitors we recommend the great online retailer:

Nikon USA have announced several great Camera and Lens Discount Rebates, the rebates can save you anywhere up to $250 off of the already cheap price that the various Internet retailers already have in place on a variety of Camera and lens combos.

An example of the current instant rebates are as follows:

These rebates end on 30 April 2011 so be quick before it ends or they run out of stock

If you are after the cheapest price we recommend you go to each of the below reputable online retailers, simply click on each of the logos below to check the rebate price for that retailer.

Manfrotto have just released a tripod head that is perfect for photographers with DSLR cameras the likes of the Canon EOS 5D Mark II for shooting both video and still photographs. The Manfrotto 055 MAG PHOTO-MOVIE HEAD Q5 MH055M8-Q5 head is perfect for the professional or enthusiast photographer wanting to dabble in some video.

The Manfrotto 055 MAG PHOTO-MOVIE HEAD Q5 head incorporates all the features you could want in a tripod head for shooting either still or video shots.

Operation is extremely simple with a selector switch allowing the mode to be changed between Photo and Video mode.

When switched to Photo mode this head provides accurate speed when composing a shot in any direction. The new design and fluid head provide the freedom of a ball head with precise and smooth controlled movement. When video mode is selected you get precise and fluid pan and tilt, along with all the other features you would expect from a Video head including friction control.

The current Recommended Retail Price on the Manfrotto website is: US $390

Specifications for the Manfrotto 055 MAG PHOTO-MOVIE HEAD Q5

The Manfrotto 055 MAG PHOTO-MOVIE HEAD Q5 retails for US $390.00,  but we have found you can find it alot cheaper from the following retaliers, we recomend you check prices at each store listed below to obtain the best price.  

Canon have announced that they intend to release a new firmware for the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, from all reports the firmware ver 2.03 is expected to be released around 16 March 2010 add will include various Video recording mode features such as 24 & 25 frames per second recording.

As follows:

NTSC:

• 1920×1080 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)
• 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
• 640×480 : 30 fps (changed - actual 29.97 fps)

PAL:

• 1920×1080 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)
• 1920×1080 : 24 fps (added - actual 23.976 fps)
• 640×480 : 25 fps (added - actual 25.0 fps)

Other features will include:

• Video histogram display for video shooing in manual exposure, shutter priority & aperture priority
• A fix for the manual sensor cleaning issue (communication issue after manual sensor cleaning)
• Manual adjustment of the sound recording levels
• Shutter Priority and aperture priority mode added to the exposure modes for video recording
• Change of audio sampling frequency from 44.1 KHz to  48 KHz

The full press release from Canon can be read below:

London, 2nd March 2010 – Canon today pre-announces the release of a firmware update for the multiple award-winning EOS 5D Mark II. Originally announced in late 2009, the update adds 24* and 25 frames per second (fps) recording to the camera’s EOS MOVIE video function, and will be available as a free download from the middle of March.

Developed following feedback from photographers and cinematographers, Firmware 2.0.3 further enhances the EOS 5D Mark II’s excellent video performance. The addition of new frame rates expands the camera’s video potential, providing filmmakers with the ability to shoot 1080p Full HD footage at 24fps (actual 23.976fps) – the optimum frame rate for cinematic video. 25fps support at both 1920×1080 and 640×480 resolutions will allow users to film at the frame rate required for the PAL broadcast standard, while the new firmware will also change the 30fps option to the NTSC video standard of 29.97fps.

A new histogram display for shooting movies in manual exposure, shutter-priority (Tv) and aperture-priority (Av) have been added, and exposure modes will also be available in movie mode. Improved audio functionality will allow users to set sound record levels manually using a sound-level meter displayed on the LCD screen. The audio sampling frequency has also been increased from 44.1KHz to 48KHz, providing the optimum audio signal typically required for professional or broadcast material.

With its full frame CMOS sensor and compatibility with Canon’s wide range of premium lenses, the EOS 5D Mark II is already recognised for its outstanding HD video performance. Launched in September 2008, the camera immediately created a wide range of new possibilities for photographers and videographers, and the addition of new frame rates and manual audio levels extends those possibilities even further – allowing movie makers to shoot stunning movies to suit practically any creative purpose.

Extreme sports photographer Richard Walch was one of the first to be given the chance to use the newly updated EOS 5D Mark II to shoot the snowboarding movie “I Love My Friends”. Commenting on the EOS 5D Mark II’s video performance, Richard said: “The addition of the new frame rates opens up a whole new range of possibilities. If you’re a cinematographer, independent film maker or just enthusiastic about making your own movies, get out there and give it a try”.

Download Available March 16, 2010 we hear: http://www.canon.com/eos-d/

If Canon had any doubts about how well the Canon EOS 5D Mark II would sell during this economic crisis, all of those doubts would have disappeared long ago, some 3 months after first hitting the shelves the Canon EOS 5D Mark II is still in short supply. This US$2700 camera with its ultra sharp HD Video Recording and Low light performance, is every photo and tech geeks must have, Just do a search in Twitter for “5D Mark II” you will see tweet after tweet of reports of proud new 5D Mark II owners who would not swap it for the world.

So why is during this economic down turn people are still willing and able to fork out US$2700 (US$3500 with lens) for this, is there a segment of the community who are unaffected or don’t expect the crisis to affect them, or is it the economic crisis is over reported in the media?

It’s a hard one to call, but whatever the reason Canon really hit the nail on the head with the 5D Mark II, both in terms of marketing and the features/specs.

If you are still trying to buy a Canon EOS 5D Mark II Adorama have been shipping quicker than all other Camera retailers and I have been told they are expecting another shipment very soon, which is not yet fully allocated to customers, so get in and order quick before they are allocated.

Buy Now - Canon EOS 5D Mark II (Body Only) US$2,699
Buy Now - Canon EOS-5D Mark II Digital SLR Camera Body Kit with EF 24-105L Image Stabilized Lens US$3499