Revenue From DSLR sales Dropped 43.6% between January and February

Pretty bad news coming from Japan, check this out. DSLR companies trying to push new models to lure more customers, while the market keeps shrinking from month to month.

DSLR manufacturers rushing to put out new models as camera market takes a beating

The digital single-lens reflex camera's market is getting tough. There are signs that the once-thriving market for digital single-lens reflex cameras (DSLRs) may be slowing down, according to newest market research data.

While pricing for DSLRs is less aggressive than that of compact digital cameras, manufacturers are still striving to boost sales, in hopes of additional sales of lenses and accessories.

However, according to the Camera and Imaging Products Association, revenue from DSLR sales has dropped 43.6 percent between January and February.

Also, according to market research firm BCN, while unit sales for March are up 29.3 percent, successive price drops mean that revenue has only gone up by 5.9 percent.

While BCN says there are various factors causing the disparity, it explained: "Between November and February, while sales did increase, these were for cheaper products, such as older models, causing the phenomenon of negative growth for the same month the previous year. Sales in the DSLR market are not progressing as well as they did before."

Manufacturers are now rushing to add new features to their cameras in order to pump up sales further. Panasonic's Lumix DMC-GH1K, a beginner-oriented camera with the ability to shoot high-definition video, goes on sale this month, with a similar offering from Nikon next month.

Canon has said that in the current economic environment, it doesn't expect a major surge in sales but recognizes underlying demand for the cameras and hopes to attract customers with new products.

Via Mainichi Daily

Gigapan Epic 100 DSLR-friendly Panorama Shooter Launched

The GigaPan Epic 100 comes with fully integrated software, the GigaPan Stitcher, which automatically combines photos to create gigapixel panoramas and uploads them to GigaPan.org. Specially designed to fit larger point and shoot cameras, the Epic 100 is also compatible with several small DSLR cameras. The Epic 100 can support a camera and lens combination of up to 3 lbs. See below for a complete list of features.

Check out the details on the Gigapan Epic 100 page and the Gigapan compatible camera list.

Buy a GoPano Panoramic Optic with PhotoWarp 2.5

Via Gigapan, CrunchGear

Pentax K20D Firmware Update v1.03 Released

Pentax has released a firmware update for its K20D digital SLR camera. The new version, 1.03, improves operation of the Shake Reduction (SR) function of the camera.

Pentax's in-body image stabilization technology, SR includes a built-in sensor in the camera body that identifies hand movement and compensates by moving a free-floating image sensor. This technology allows photographers to take photos at considerably slower shutter speeds, and improves the quality of photos taken in dusk or low-light situations.

Download and install the firmware from the Pentax support website.

Buy a Pentax K20D 14.6MP Digital SLR Camera with Shake Reduction (Body Only)

Via DigitalCameraReview

Leica S5 Concept Design

Stefan Radev has a post on Yanko Design where he conceptualized the Leica S5, his version of a followup to the S2 announced last year. He explains that the design for the shooter is to emit harmony and at the same time show the technological advances of the new S system.

While it looks pretty much like any other dSLR, Radev's specifications for this camera is every gearhead's dream. He envisioned a 50-megapixel sensor, 3-inch 950k-dot LCD and onboard image stabilizer. Within the shooter are also a GPS receiver for geotagging and wireless LAN for transmitting images to computers. To keep up with the trend of top-notch dSLRs, the designer also added an HD video-recording feature into the S5.

Buy a Leica D-Lux 4 Digital Camera (Black) and support this blog.

News via cnet Crave via Yanko Design

Nikon D5000 DSLR previewed: HD Movies, Hinged LCD, Scene Recognition, Live View, New Battery

Imaging-Resource has a hands-on preview of the Nikon D5000. Most important features: HD Movies, Hinged LCD, Scene Recognition, Live View, New Battery, 12.30 Megapixels, 2.7 inch LCD, EXPEED image processing system, 1,280 x 720 resolution movies @ 24fps, optional GP-1 GPS Unit for geotagging, Auto Active D-Lighting.

Built on a smaller frame, like the D60, the Nikon D5000 takes up the top position in Nikon's consumer SLR camera space, and joins a small set of competing digital SLRs that offer HD movie recording: the Nikon D90, Canon 5D Mark II, and Canon T1i; and though not strictly an SLR, the Panasonic GH1 will also be considered by many looking for an interchangeable lens digital camera.

Since the Nikon D5000's 12.3-megapixel CMOS sensor is said to be the same as the D90's, we expect it to have excellent imaging characteristics. ISO ranges from 200 to 3,200, with a Lo 1 setting of 100 and a Hi 1 setting of 6,400. Nikon's EXPEED image processing system should easily handle noise suppression and image optimization with the somewhat slow four-frame-per-second frame rate.

Buy a Nikon D60 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

Check out the D5000 preview at imaging-resource.com

Secret Nikon L (lens database) firmware update rumored

nikonrumors.com site has an entry about an upcoming firmware update for Nikon DSLRs.

L firmware? L like language database? No, we have that already. Lens database? Yes, it is a lens database introduced for the first time with the Nikon D90 DSLR according to David Busch (he is the author of several photography books). The L firmware is suppose to “allow more sophisticated distance integration” provided by current and future Nikon lenses. Read the whole story on his blog.

Via Nikon Rumors

Canon Rebel T1i preview

The major new feature of the EOS 500D / Rebel T1i, and undoubtedly the one which will gather the most attention, is its HD video recording capability – indeed it’s only the second Canon DSLR to offer the facility after the high-end the EOS 5D Mark II. Unlike any model in the existing Canon EOS or compact range, the EOS 500D / T1i offers a choice of HD video recording quality from 1080p or 720p, the latter allowing longer recording times. This is a considerate and very welcome feature, although frustratingly the 1080p mode only records at 20fps compared to 30fps for the 720p option. Canon explained to us this was due to the limitations of the two-channel readout of the sensor. Perhaps it would have been better to avoid a compromised 1080p mode altogether and the negative comments it has received though, and just concentrate on what will almost certainly be a great-looking 720p mode.

Check full text at Camera Labs.

Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR reviewed

Gordon Laing at cameralabs.com has posted a review of the Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR general purpose wide angle telephoto zoom DSLR lens, make sure you also check out the full details and his other reviews, great stuff over there.

The DX 16-85mm VR is clearly a well-featured general-purpose lens, but the Nikkor range is not short of alternatives for DX-format bodies. Beyond the existing DX 18-70mm, the standard D80 and D90 kits came with good quality 18-135mm and 18-105mm lenses, while the DX 18-200mm VR remains one of the best super-zoom options around; even the DX 18-55mm kit lenses deliver respectable quality. None may boast the 24mm equivalent coverage of the DX 16-85mm VR, but the question is whether there’s sufficiently compelling reasons for owners of DX-format Nikon bodies to switch to this model instead?

Buy a Nikon 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX ED VR Nikkor Wide Angle Telephoto Zoom Lens for Nikon DSLR Cameras

Read the full Nikkor AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR review at cameralabs.com.