D-SLR

For those eager to start making their own digital star trails I've posted a step by step guide along with some sample images I made during a recent trip to Joshua Tree on the B&H blog site, bhinsights.com. You can read the whole article online.

Canon has some great instant rebates (read discounts) running from now through November 24th on camera and lens kits with the Canon EOS Rebel XS, Canon Rebel T1i, Canon T2I and the amazing Canon Rebel 7D through B&H.

Nikon has announced a flurry of new lenses and cameras, some of which are shipping and some of which can be pre-ordered. B&H has been kind enough to pull information on all the new lenses together on one page for your convenience and also made it easy to take advantage of all the current Nikon Rebates by placing them together as well.

In the continuing barrage of new digital cameras, Canon has fired the most recent shot with the new 60D mid-range consumer/prosumer D-SLR--a solid upgrade to the popular 50D. With a stunning 18MP sensor firing away at over 5 frames per second the Canon certainly doesn't have entry level specs. One nice twist (if you'll pardon the pun) is the addition of a fully adjustable LCD, typically only found on video cameras and some point and shoots.

You can drool over the Canon 60D page at B&H, but it isn't expected to ship until September. Canon estimates the sale price as $1099. You can read the full release online.

New NIKKOR Glass Yields an Unprecedented Seven Lenses Released to Date in 2010

MELVILLE, N.Y. Aug. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nikon Inc. announced four new lenses to the legendary NIKKOR line to meet the needs of all types of photographers, from those looking for the ideal lens for capturing memories of the school play to pro glass that captures client work in the studio. The new AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR, AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S 85mm f/1.4G deliver the optical excellence and stunning image quality that consumers have become accustomed to with AF-S NIKKOR lenses. Nikon's optical engineering experience and devotion to extraordinary standards of excellence have contributed to the strength and legend of the NIKKOR brand. With the addition of these four lenses, 2010 has seen the introduction of a total of seven new NIKKOR lenses, reinforcing Nikon's role as the world leader in optics.

Nikon has just rolled out a very useful firmware update for most of their Pro D-SLR line (except the D3S which presumably already has these improvemnts). The new firmware includes support for CF cards up to 64GB, improved Auto White Balance, some focus options and my favorite which sets the time from a GPS clock. You can download it from the Nikon USA site. For more details...

Sony today introduced three new D-SLRs, ranging from the value priced A500 (APS-C sized sensor, 12MP for $749 list) up to the breakthrough A850 at a stunning full-frame 24MP for less than $2000. With these trend-setting prices is Sony ready to take on Nikon and Canon for leadership in the high-end of the camera market?...For the last 50 years various other brands have tried to challenge the hegemony of Nikon and Canon. One by one they have all fallen by the wayside, unable to overcome the tremendous distribution networks, product quality and breadth and customer loyalty of Nikon and Canon.

The  Nikon D300S delivers a feature packed update to the venerable Nikon D300. It features HD Video and dual slots. Highlights include:

Nikon's D5000, announced a few weeks ago, is slated to begin shipments next week. The breakthrough 12MP D-SLR features video like its big brother the D90 (it has (720p HD video) but has added a moveable LCD for improved convenience shooting video and will be available for almost $200 less--at an estimated $730.