The Nikon D5000 is bit of a step up from your standard entry-level DSLR. It has the same sensor size as the D90 and D60 (but with the same megapixel count – 12.3 – as the D90) and features video capture and a spiffy 360-degree twist articulating LCD. So not only can you shoot with the versatility of Live View shooting, you can get a comfortable shot from pretty much any shooting perspective.

As with the D90, the D5000 includes Nikon’s D-Movie function that allos you to shoot JPEG movie clips. This particular model captures clips at 1,280 x 720 – which means you can play them back with high quality results on your HDTV.

Key features include:

• 12.3 megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor
• D-Movie Mode with Sound
• Vari-Angle colour LCD monitor
• 19 Auto-exposure Scene Modes
  
• One-button Live View
• Continuous shooting as fast as 4 frames-per-second
• Low noise ISO sensitivity from 200 to 3200
• Built-in image sensor cleaning
• 11-point autofocus system with 3D Focus Tracking
• Auto Active D-Lighting
• In-camera Retouch image editing
• Picture Control Settings for personal image control
• Nikon 3D Colour Matrix Metering II
• Durable, high precision shutter
• GPS geo-tagging (requires the optional GP-1GPS unit)

The Nikon D5000 will be available in May, and you can pre-order yours now.

Get more info on the Nikon D5000.
Get more info on the Nikon D5000 with AF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G VR DX Lens.
Get more info on the Nikon D5000 with AF-S 18-105m DX Nikkor f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens.

Continue reading...

Vistek is proud to present the exclusive Canadian launch of the new Intuos4 from Wacom!

In 4 sizes (ranging from a compact 3.8 x 6.2″ to a hearty 12″ x 19.2″ active area), the new Intous4 features the new Wacom Tip Sensor, 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity, customizable ExpressKeys ™, and a multi-function touch ring.

With a new design and features inspired by members of the professional creative community, Intuos4 redefines the pen tablet experience. The Intuos4 pen captures the most subtle nuances of pressure, allowing you to dynamically adjust exposure, brush size, opacity and more. User-defined ExpressKeys activate frequently-used shortcuts and modifiers, while the accompanying illuminated ExpressKey displays on the medium, large and extra large models provide a constant reminder of each key’s function. The finger-sensitive Touch Ring quickly controls up to 4 different functions such as canvas rotation, zoom, scroll, brush size and more.

Check it out here or drop by our Toronto location in two weeks to check it out in person!

Location: Vistek – 496 Queen Street East (3rd floor)
Date: Tuesday, April 7/09
Time: Noon – 4pm

Continue reading...

In addition to its 12.1-megapixel sensor & 3x optical zoom, the PowerShot D10 is waterproof up to 33 feet, cold resistant to -10°C (14°F) and shockproof up to 4 feet (I still wouldn’t recommended dropping it from a glacier face). This little gem sounds like the perfect vacation accessory – regardless of where your passport takes you. The blue faceplate can be changed for one of three replacement front covers that come in orange, gray or a funky camo print. There’s even a handy dandy carabiner strap so you can be hands-free when the occasion calls for it.

But this rugged point & shoot is about more than its ability to withstand harsh environments & look good. The high-resolution images you’ll snap can be enlarged up to 13″ x 19″ and you’ll never miss a shot with all its easy-to-use features. Canon’s acclaimed Optical Image Stabilizer Technology (that automatically detects and corrects camera shake) is joined by Smart Auto Mode (a handy feature that determines subject brightness, contrast, distance and overall hue & then choses – from the camera’s 18 possible shooting modes – the most appropriate one for the task.) Who needs guess work when you’re on holiday, right?

People shots are extremely easy with this camera as well thanks to features like Face Detection (which detects up to 35 faces in a shot, then adjusts key settings for optimal results with natural-looking skin tones), Blink Detection (which lets you avoid those wretched closed-eye shots), and Face Self-Timer (which actually takes a shot when an extra face is detected in the frame – making group photos a snap.)

Check it out for yourself!

Continue reading...

It used to be if you wanted your photos and artwork gallery wrapped, it involved a lot of time & money – not to mention outsourcing it to your local framing shop. Now, with Hahnemuhle’s easy-to-use DIY system: Stick and Stretch, you can have professional-quality gallery wrapped prints in no time.

This innovative product allows you to Gallery Wrap your Canvas or other laminated images quickly and cleanly and without the use of any special tools. The system consists of easy-to-use fastening components and stretching frames to accommodate most popular imaging formats.

With two versions (Standard & Pro) that run the size gamut from 8″ to 60″ in length – you’ve got all your bases covered… and can have your photos and prints ready to hang in a high-end format in a matter of minutes.

Check out the variety of Stick and Stretch products for yourself!

Not sure you’re ready to set your own skills to task?  How does a Stick & Stretch seminar tickle your fancy?

 Loading ...

Continue reading...

For a limited time, Vistek is promoting 2 special offers on complete Phase One Camera Systems with FREE Phase One Digital Lenses.

As part of the Buy the Best – Get the Rest promotion, you can save up to a whopping $16,000! Seriously. No, really… we’re not kidding.

• Purchase the Phase One P 30+ Kit and receive 3 free Phase One digital lenses … at no extra charge.
  or
• Purchase the Phase One P 45+ Kit and receive 5 free Phase One digital lenses … at no extra charge.

This offer is valid until March 31/09, so dont dawdle. You don’t want to miss out.

Want in on the savings or just want to know more? Go HERE!

Continue reading...

The folks at Sony have come up with an ingenious method of securing our mobile devices from theft or unauthorized use. They’re developing a new finger vein authentication technology, called mofiria, that could effectively lock up our laptops & cellphones and keep them safe from intruders… only to be unlocked by an near-infrared scan (via a CMOS sensor) of the veins in our finger!

This Mofiria technique uses a unique method where a CMOS sensor captures scattered light inside the finger veins. The vein pattern is extracted from the captured image and data from this pattern is compressed to store in the memory on a mobile device. The authentication accuracy is less than 0.1% for “False Rejection Rate”, and takes only about about 0.015 sec when using a personal computer CPU or about 0.25 sec with a cell phone CPU.

The Sony website says that, compared with other biometric authentication techniques, vein authentication technology is more accurate & harder to forge since (obviously) it uses veins which are inside the human body.

Look for this technology in commercial applications at some point this year.

Read more about mofiria here.

Continue reading...

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Canon had a new lineup of camcorders to unveil and, with 5 new High Def  & 5 Standard Def camcorders set to hit the market, they’re making sure they’ve covered all their bases for 2009.

In addition to Canon’s core imaging technologies, these newest to the family include some new features for enhanced image quality and
added flexibility. A new image processor (DIGIC DV III) is featured in
select VIXIA models along with 8.0 Megapixel photo capture, Video
Snapshot Mode, Genuine Canon Face Detection Technology, and an advanced Auto Exposure system round out this new lineup.

New to the Standard Def lineup are:

• FS22, FS21 and FS200 Flash Memory Camcorders
• DC410 DVD Camcorder
• ZR960 MiniDV Camcorder

The FS200 records directly to an SDHC memory card, while the FS22 and FS21 Dual Flash Memory camcorders incorporate 32GB and 16GB, respectively, of internal Flash memory and allow recording directly to an SDHC memory card. The DC410 DVD Camcorder records straight to DVD while the ZR960 MiniDV Camcorder records directly to MiniDV.

New in High Def:

• VIXIA HF S10, HF S100, HF20 & HF200 Flash Memory Camcorder
• VIXIA HV40 HDV Camcorder

The HF S100 & HF200 record  to an SDHC memory card while the HF S10 & HF20 give you a choice: record to a 32GB internal Flash drive or directly to an SDHC memory card. The VIXIA HV40 HDV Camcorder: replaces the VIXIA HV30 and allows you to capture & record 24 progressive fps to a HDV tape.

Canon Canada plans to release these to the public throughout 2009 with prices being announced at a later date.

Full details can be found on the Canon Canada website.

Continue reading...

Impressed with your 4, 8 or 16GB memory card? Get ready for them to look like (seriously) small potatoes…

The SD Association — intent in their mandate to set a new standard for
storage with its SDXC memory cards — announced, at the International CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, a new SD technology that will support  memory capacities up to 2 terabytes. And, no – that’s not a typo.  The new SDXC specification provides up to 2 terabytes storage capacity and accelerates SD interface read/write speeds to 104 megabytes with plans to ramp it up (in the not too distant future) to 300 megabytes per second.

Set to change the face of digital storage, this large-capacity card will hold 4,000 RAW images (the uncompressed mode used by pro photographers) and 17,000 of the fine-mode used by most consumers. It’ll also enable camcorders to provide longer, professional level HD video recording with a small form factor.

And the larger capacity and faster transfer speeds will allow cell phone users to, essentially, turn their phones into tiny media centres.  A 2TB SDXC memory card can store 100 HD movies, 60 hours of HD recording or 17,000 fine-grade photos.

No SDXC products currently exist, but it’s assumed that SDXC compatible cameras and camcorder will be featured at CES next year.

More on the SD Association

Continue reading...

The next generation of pro-end printers from Epson have arrived — and they’re as impressive as the hype surrounding them.

The 24″ Epson Stylus Pro 7900 & the 44″ Epson Stylus Pro 9900 both combine the existing MicroPiezo TFP™ print head with the new Epson 10-colour UltraChrome® HDR (high dynamic range) pigment ink system – effectively delivering a higher level of print quality, increased performance (with speeds almost twice as fast as previous models), and the widest color gamut ever from Epson Stylus Pro printers.

So, what’s so new about the HDR inks? Well for starters, all-new orange and green inks that, when combined with the AccuPhoto™ HDR screening technology, considerably expands the colour gamut. Matte black is also included on-board and can be auto-switched with photo black. Which means greatly enhanced photographic print quality with exceptionally fine photographic blends and transitions, and highly accurate highlight-to-shadow detail.

An optional integrated spectrophotometer with mounting device using the latest X-rite technology makes these two ideal for commercial proofing applications.

Don’t take our word for it – check them both out yourself.

Epson Stylus Pro 7900

Epson Stylus Pro 9900

Continue reading...

No, that’s not a typo. This bad boy really sports 60 Megapixels (60.5, to be exact). It hasn’t hit the shelves yet (late 2008 is what’s been announced), but the new P65+ from Phase one will be the first full frame 645 medium format camera system and digital back.

The P65+ has a sensor measuring 40.4 X 53.9mm, which means 20% greater coverage than some previously announced full frames – which, as it turned out, were still sporting a 36 x 48mm sensor. This means 20% higher resolution for the same pixel density, and the ability to utilize existing and future 645 format wide angle lenses at their intended coverage.

Just as exciting as the sensor size and resolution, the P65+ will also feature variable resolution. The exact specs haven’t been made public by Phase One… but being able to scale your pixel and file size is a pretty big deal!

What else has it got?

• Open platform
• 16 bit captures
• 12.5 stops of dynamic range
• Shooting speed of up to 1 frame per second
• ISO 50-800

Find out more & stay up-to-date on new developments!

Continue reading...