Camera Price Buster Blog – cameras, photography and anything else!

Announced today is the new Canon EOS 60D.  Headline features: 18 Megapixel APS-C sensor, 5.3fps, ISO range 100-6400 extendable to 12800, Full HD video, 9-point AF system and the iFCL metering system from the EOS 7D.  

The 60D also has one of those swivelly LCD screens too, I think a first for the EOS range, and an integrated Speedlite transmitter to wirelessly control other flash units (again this is a feature from the 7D).

There is support for SDXC memory cards, providing up to 2TB of storage, aimed no doubt at people shooting HD video.  For more details see the Canon 60D press release.

It sounds like a great little camera (if not ground breaking), and I’m interested in just how good the HD video is.  Given the overall spec, I’m wondering if people thinking about a 7D will have second thoughts – afterall, it seems to have several of the features that made the 7D so desirable.

I couldn’t see a release date or RRP anywhere, but you can preorder the Canon EOS 60D for £1099 from Warehouse Express. 

I’ve started the 60D price comparison listings, including the Canon EOS 60D body and various 60D lens kits.

I’ve been updating some of the shop listings on my site this mroning, and was surprised to find one shop already listing the Nikon D3100 and D95.  Although the D3100 seems almost a certainty following some leaks, the rumours of the D95 are not so firm.  Obviously I won’t add a live listing until the cameras are actually announced by Nikon!

I was fascinated by the Panasonic announcement of the first 3D lens for the Lumix G Micro range.  On the face of it, the idea of a 3D still image seems a bit limited as you couldn’t get a 3D print made.  But when you think about it, how often do people get prints at all anymore?  As we shift more and more to electronic viewing of images, on monitor/TV etc, I guess  3D stills start to make more sense. I wonder if we’ll see, for example,  a 3D canon lens that can be used with a 5D mkII?

Canon have announced the new EOS 7D, a new APS-C 18 megapxiel camera.  Other interesting features include 8fps and 100% veiwfinder.  And a built in speedlite transmitter for wirelessly controlling external speedlite flashguns.  For the full details see the Canon site.  Due October for £1699.99.

Three new lenses are also coming, the most interesting being the new 100mm macro featuring Canon’s new “Hybrid IS”.    Unsurprisingly it is rather expensive at £999.99, a shame as I want one!  Also due in October.  Looks like I’ll be busy updating my listings later in the month, with the new Nikon and Sony releases too.

Three new Sony digital SLRs have been announced.

The Sony Alpha 850 is full frame and 24.6 Megapixel.  Impressive spec, and they say it will be available at a “compelling price” – but I’ve not seen what the UK price will actually be.  Read the press release here.  It should be with us in September.

The Alpha 500 has 12.3 megapixels, and 5 frames per second.  The Alpha 550 has 14.2 megapixels and up to 7 fps.  Both feature a tilting screen, and Quick AF Live View with face detection.  Both will be available from the end of October.

Update: The D300s and D3000 are now available, and I’ve just completed the initial listings for them:  the Nikon D300s body listing is here, and the D3000 body listing is here.  There are also listings for the D3000 VR lens kits.

Nikon have announced two new digital SLRs.

The D300s appears to be an upgrade of the curent D300.  It has the same excellent 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor.  New photography features include 7 frames per second shooting and.. erm…actually, I’m not sure what else there is.   Dual CF and SD card slots sounds useful.  And if you want to shoot video with your SLR, then you can record HD video with “external stereo sound input”.  But in terms of photography, there isn’t much new here as far as I can see – not necessarily a bad thing as the original D300 was excellent.  Maybe I’m missing something - read the press release for yourself here.   Nothing to indicate pricing or release date yet, but Warehouse Express, for example, are offering it on preorder for £1499.99 at the time of writing, with a couple of free extras – see here.

The new D3000 is positioned at the other end of the scale, being described as Nikons “simplest, most accessible DSLR to date”.  It has a 10.2 megapixel sensor and 3fps.  Nothing too exciting, but it will no doubt produce good results for an entry level SLR.    Again nothing in the press release regarding pricing or release date that I can spot, but again you can already pre order it from £429.99 at Warehouse Express and for £499.00 at Jessops wtih some freebies thrown in.

This is a strange one:  you can currently buy the Canon EOS 500D lens  kit (with the 18-55mm lens) for less than the 500D body at Warehouse Express.  The lens kit is £695 wherease the body only 500D is £719.  This values the EF-S 18-55mm IS lens at -£24, even though they sell the lens on its own for £143.

Now, the body only option comes with a free card and bag, but you have to wonder just how “free” these items really are?

Jessops have informed me that they will have stock of the Canon EOS 500D available on Monday 20th April.   Presumably other shops will be getting stock sh0rtly. 

This has slightly caught me out, as I was expecting it to be released a little later.  I’ve started the listing for it today:  the Canon EOS 500D Body is listed here, and the lens kits are also available.  I’ll get the listings completed as soon as I can.

Announced today, here is what they have to say about it:

Nikon UK is pleased to announce the introduction of the AF-S DX NIKKOR 10-24MM F/3.5-4.5G ED lens, a NIKKOR DX-format ultra-wide-angle zoom lens that boasts a focal range starting at 15mm equivalent in FX/35mm format.

At a very affordable price, this new lens offers a superior build quality making it a great addition to anyone’s Nikon system. It is perfect for users wanting to shoot scenes that require a wide angle perspective effect such as in a small room, or for shooting architecture and landscapes.

Read more at the Nikon site.

Nikon have announced a new digital SLR, the D5000.
Headline features are a 12.3 Megapixel DX sensor, HD movie recording and a rather unusual swivelly LCD screen.

Recommended prices are as follows: Body Only RRP: £719.99, D5000 + 18-55 VR kit: £799.99.
Available from 1st May 2009.

At this price, and with this sort of gimmicky feature set, I’m not too clear who it is really aimed at.   I mean, really, how often do you take pictures with your DSLR without using the view finder?  If only one of the manufacturers would concentrate on something genuinely useful in the photographic sense, such as a dramatic increase in dynamic range. 

Anyway, enough of my comments.  The Nikon press release has this to say:

Nikon UK is pleased to announce the D5000, its latest digital SLR camera that is perfect for capturing family fun and developing the skills of photography hobbyists. Packed with features that make taking pictures easy and fun, this camera stands out above the competition with its unique Vari-angle LCD monitor, allowing you to shoot easily from almost any angle.

The D5000 inherits the D90’s groundbreaking HD movie capability, Nikon’s proprietary D-Movie function, and extensive in-camera editing features to enhance images. Coupled with the wide choice of scene modes, 12.3MP sensor and high-sensitivity that ranges between ISO 200 and 3200 (which can be extended to ISO 100 and ISO 6400 equivalent) for shooting in a wide range of lighting conditions, this camera makes it easier than ever to take great quality pictures.

Read more here at the Nikon site.

Canon have also announced the Speedlite 270EX flash, which is a replacement for the Speedlite 220EX.  The main features are the zoom and bounce flash head, but presumably it has no swivel function.  Expected pricing is £149.99 RRP inc. VAT, avaialble early May.  For details visit the Canon UK site.

For a little more (currently £172), you can get the 430EX which includes a swivel head, so I assume the selling price for the 270EX will be well below the RRP.  I’ve always struggled to imagine why anyone would buy the 220EX instead of the 430EX – so much so that I never bothered to list the 220EX.  If anyone wants the 270EX listing, then give me a shout!