Half-Frame Cameras, Olympus Classic Collectibles

A half-frame camera is a film format camera that uses only half the frame size of a standard exposure film for each shot. For example, where the normal frame size of a 35mm film is 24x36mm, images recorded in half-frame is 18x24mm. With these half-frame camera, one can fit twice as many pictures onto a standard roll of film. For example, 72 exposures on a 36-exposure roll, 48 on a 24-exposure one, and so on.

By using the half-frame format, Olympus was able to reduce both the weight and size of the Olympus Pen. The cameras featured a simple rear-winding mechanism, D-Zuiko lenses which are established for their image quality, attractive design and extremely easy to use. The Pen was a compact mix of innovative ideas that triggered the half-frame camera boom of the 1960s and 1970s...

• Half-Frame Cameras, Olympus Classic Collectibles

Sony Alpha A230, A330, A380 Digital SLRs

Looks like the new Sony Alpha Digital SLR range is finally official. The Alpha DLSR-A230, A330 and A380 will replace the A200, A300 and A350 respectively, but still preserving Sony's three-tier strategy for their entry-level DSLRs.

The lowest-priced A230 differs from the middle-priced A330 by the viewfinder and the tiltable LCD, plus the A330 will be available in brown. Except for its higher resolution sensor - 14 megapixels vs. 10 megapixels - the A380 is otherwise identical to the A330. These models now comes with dual memory slots, one of which takes SDHC cards and the other Sony's proprietary Memory Stick Duo...

• Sony Alpha A230, A330, A380 Digital SLRs

26x Super Zoom Digital Camera, One of a kind

A super zoom digital camera could be the answer if you are looking for a digital camera suitable for sports or wildlife photography. Super zooms are digital cameras that are equipped with lenses capable of zooming in from wide angle to 10x or longer, equivalent to about 400mm (relative to film camera) or longer, well within of a super telephoto lens.

Leading in this super zoom range is the recently launched Olympus SP-590UZ 12MP Digital Camera with 26X Wide Angle Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD whic comes with an extremely versatile zoom lens can capture extraordinary images at virtually any distance

The Olympus SP-590UZ comes with a bright, f2.8-5.0 lens that gives you the equivalent (film camera) of 26-676mm focal length. Get close to the action with the compact 26x super telephoto zoom or grab in the landscape with the wide-angle (26mm) setting...

• Olympus SP-590UZ 12MP Digital Camera

Panasonic Announces Prices for DMC-GH1

Panasonic has announced recommended prices and availability for the Lumix DMC-GH1 Micro Four Thirds camera. The camera as a kit with the Lumix G VARIO HD 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH/O.I.S. lens will sell for a suggested retail price of $1499.95 in the US.

Seems that the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH1 is the only system camera in the world currently with exchangeable lenses that is able to record video with continuous silent focus without hardly any delay, giving Panasonic gains all the credit by being the first to introduce this type of functionality.

Availability is from June 2009, but it looks like that the US market will only receive the camera in black:

• Panasonic Lumix Digital SLR and Compact Cameras, 2009

Into The Deep, Black and White Photography

Are you well versed with black-and-white photography? Black and white photography is inherent in its own beauty that you just can't get from color images. The images are pure, pristine, sharp and sometimes surrealistic.

As an art form, it is plain and simple. From the deep dark richest blacks to the crisp clean clear whites, it tells a story. With its gentle gradations of gray, it holds our attention and makes us want to see beyond the surface.

In it's current content, you can do black and photography in two forms, as a film purist using black and white film on film cameras or as a digital photographer using your digital cameras with or without the help of digital image post-processing software. Easy-to-use Art Filters and Multiple Exposure capability that are built in right into the digital camera bodies now are also making it easy for black and white photo enthusiasts to enhance or edit images so they’re worthy of posting on the gallery wall.

Learn more:

• Into The Deep, Black and White Photography