Professional Cameras for Photography

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
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
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
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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
September 1, 2012

Hi-Tech Studio: Pro Backup Cameras

Think about going mirrorless for your go-anywhere, anytime camera

By Staff
The old photo adage “The best camera is the one that’s with you” especially applies to pros who are in the business of content creation and realize that having a camera with them at all times is advantageous. For a long time, the choice was to lug your big pro DSLR everywhere, buy a lower-end DSLR that was still pretty bulky or get... Read more
July 1, 2012

The Game Is Changing

4K resolution and the ability to pull high-res still frames from full-motion capture are creating a paradigm shift in photography

By Staff
For years, professional still photographers used still cameras and pro cinematographers used movie cameras. Then came digital, and with it a conversation began about the possibility of "convergence," meaning a single camera that could do still and video capture. Early on in the digital age, video camcorders added the ability to grab a still,... Read more
May 1, 2012

Two New Superstars For Still & Motion

The Canon EOS 5D Mark III and the Nikon D800 may be the perfect pro multimedia cameras for their combination of performance, price and features. See their similarities and the surprising differences.

By The Editors
The incorporation of HD video in DSLRs was a game-changing event in 2008. Suddenly, still photographers were reimagining what it was possible to do with their cameras. It seemed like a door that no one had ever seen before had suddenly been thrown open to reveal a completely unexplored facet of image-making. The Nikon D90, closely followed by the Canon... Read more
December 1, 2011

RED For Still & Motion

With cameras that are making an impact in Hollywood, RED is poised to become a major player with its Digital Still & Motion Camera technolog

By Staff
DSLRs are the primary tools of professional photographers, so we naturally feel like any feature or technology that’s built into them is a feature of which we should be masters. In 2008, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II came onto the scene and perhaps accidentally launched still photographers into the world of motion. When filmmakers picked up on the... Read more