Professional Cameras for Photography

May 1, 2013

Ultimate-Resolution Cameras

When it comes to resolution, for most pros some is good, more is better and too much is just right

By The Editors
There’s more to image quality than just pixel count; color reproduction, dynamic range and low-light/high-ISO performance quickly come to mind. But the more pixels an image sensor contains, the more detail its images can reveal, and the larger you can blow them up before the pixels themselves become visible to the eye (or the more you can crop... Read more
May 1, 2013

Street Shooters

Catch the decisive moments like a modern Cartier-Bresson with a dedicated street camera

By The Editors
Street photography was first made famous by Henri Cartier-Bresson and his focus on movement and the typical Parisian. It spread to America where Robert Frank developed a raw expression outside of mainstream photography, often linked with the Beat Movement. This fresh street style was noted for its spontaneity, intimacy with the subject and interesting... Read more
March 1, 2013

What’s New In Medium-Format Digital

When nothing short of maximum resolution and image quality will suffice, medium-format digital is still at the top of the pyramid

By The Editors
The death of medium format has been greatly overstated. It’s true that 35mm-sized DSLRs are much more common among pros, but that’s always how it’s been. Medium-format digital, like medium-format film, has a dedicated cadre of users for whom these tools are the perfect choice. That’s because their image quality, under the right... Read more
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January 1, 2013

The 4K Range

From the high-end, state-of-the-art RED EPIC DSMC camera to the midrange SCARLET and Canon Cinema EOS-1D C to the recently introduced GoPro HERO3, the 4K world is getting more crowded for photographers who are expanding into motion

By Staff
The convergence story continues to evolve. Pro photographers need to be ever more aware and fluent in motion capture, whether your goal is to create narrative films or to shoot motion vignettes as added benefit for your clients. For motion capture, the current mainstream format is commonly called "full HD"—1920×1080 pixels—but in... Read more
December 1, 2012

35m Leica Compared to Modern Cameras

New small, but highly capable cameras give street shooters and photojournalists some interesting options for making top-quality images

By The Editors
Henri Cartier-Bresson was a brilliant photographer who saw the potential of the 35mm Leica M camera for capturing intimate and decisive moments. That Leica changed everything, for photojournalists, in particular. An extremely compact body using 35mm movie film and capable of rendering crisp, clear, sharp photographs, the Leica was nothing short of revolutionary.... Read more
December 1, 2012

New Sony SLT- A99V

The world’s first full-frame translucent mirror camera is a professional tool with a robust mix of high-end features, a 24-megapixel sensor and powerful, pro-level HD video capabilities

By The Editors
The SLT-A99V is Sony’s first full-frame TMT (Translucent Mirror Technology) camera. Rather than employing a moving mirror as conventional DSLRs do (and having to flip it up and down so light can get to the viewfinder for composing, then to the sensor for exposure), the SLT cameras use a fixed, semitranslucent mirror that passes the majority of... Read more
November 1, 2012

New Trends In Pro DSLRs

Is the end nigh for all formats except full frame?

By Michael J. McNamar
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to predict the trend toward increasingly affordable full-frame digital SLR models. Based on the popularity of the new full-frame Nikon D600 and Canon EOS 6D (both priced at $2,099, body only), it’s likely that a new full-frame HDSLR model will break the $1,000 price point within a year or two. But does the... Read more
November 1, 2012

Hi-Tech Studio: High-Speed Still Photography With SLTs

Sony’s Translucent Mirror Technology makes high-speed shooting with phase-detection AF affordable

By Staff
The notion of hybrid cameras and hybrid shooting wherein you’re capturing full-resolution still frames at 24, 30 or 60 fps is a hot topic for professional photography. We’ve devoted a fair number of pages to it in DPP over the past couple of years, and we’ll continue to do so as the technology improves and becomes ever more accessible... Read more
November 1, 2012

Sony Alpha Nex-7: The Camera That Exceeds Expectations

A large, high-resolution APS-C sensor and full HD video capability in a compact package

By Staff
The Sony Alpha NEX-7 makes an ideal companion to your pro Sony DSLR. The compact form factor is perfect for occasions when you want something less conspicuous or for situations when you need to really lighten up. Using the optional LA-EA2 adapter, the NEX-7 can use all of your Sony Alpha lenses, and you get full-time, fast, accurate phase-detect AF.... Read more
September 1, 2012

The Quest For Ultimate Image Quality

The complex relationship between cameras, sensors and noise—bigger resolution, large sensors and huge pixels won’t necessarily lead to improved image quality

By David Willis
Quantum efficiency in photography is offered as a sum measurement of the effective use of incoming light information. Unlike heavily compromised direct comparisons between image noise, sensor formats and resolutions, quantum efficiency factors in all of the variables along the image chain for a direct and unbiased comparison of noise performance, as... Read more