Full frame shooting and HD movie capability, anyone?

With the launch of its successor to the EOS 5D – the EOS 5D Mark II – Canon gives us the world’s first compact full frame digital SLR.  Not only does it boast a 21-megapixel CMOS sensor & DIGIC IV processor along with an expanded ISO range of 50-25,600, the EOS 5D Mark II supports Live View shooting & full 1080p HD video capture at 1920 x 1080 resolution for up to 4GB per clip with HDMI output for HD viewing of stills and video. Add to that a sweet 3.0″ Clear View LCD that features high-resolution 920,000 dots/VGA & you’re looking at far more detail than any previous EOS Digital LCD has provided.

Adding to crystal-clear shooting capability is it’s self-cleaning sensor unit – an Integrated Cleaning system designed specifically for the Mark II’s full-frame sensor (it even features a fluorine coating – the super-slippery chemical used in making Teflon – to help repel dust from its surface).

An increased battery capacity is part & parcel with this new incarnation as well – so you’ll be able to shoot for longer – a great thing when you can shoot at 3.9 frames per second continuous shooting.

Get the full details on the EOS 5D Mark II.

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Well, it’s been 2 years since Nikon gave us the D80. And now… amidst much speculation and rumour, along comes the Nikon D90.  This is a camera that will appeal to everyone, from the first-time DSLR user to the serious amateur wanting more in-depth photographic control but without the cost and weight of a D300.

While the D90 seems to have some nifty new bells & whistles, it’s more of an update than a full-on replacement. The most exciting and talked about bell (or whistle, depending on how you view these things) is the fact that it’s the world’s first digital SLR with a movie mode. We’re talking D-Movie 720p HD clips with sound, people!  

In addition to a new 12.3 MP CMOS sensor, the D90 shares the D3/D300/D700′s awesome hi-res 3″ LCD. But the LCD isn’t the only exciting update it shares with its pricier cohorts. Formerly exclusive to the D3 and D700 DSLRs, this baby features an EXPEED image processor, low-noise imaging from ISO 200 through 3200, a 4-frequency ultrasonic sensor cleaning system & an 11-point AF system with Face Priority and Nikon’s Scene Recognition System.

Did we mention the 96% viewfinder coverage, live view and continuous shooting at up to 4.5 frames per second? And what DSLR with movie mode would be worth its salt without HDMI output? The D90 also features some nifty creative controls (in addition to a few standards, like Red-eye Reduction, Image Overlay and Monochrome effects) including a Fisheye effect and Straighten & Distortion control.

Get the full details on the Nikon D90.

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Not to be left behind, Canon has presented to the masses it’s replacement to the EOS 40D… the EOS 50D (didn’t see that coming, did you?)

Mainly targeted against the Nikon D300, the EOS 50D holds quite a few significant improvements over the 40D. For starters, it features a 15.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, as well as a faster DIGIC 4 processor. It has an ISO sensitivity that’s expandable to 12800 as well as a 3″ VGA LCD monitor with a Live View mode that offers 3 AF modes. And since we’re on the subject of the LCD – this one rests comfortably on par with the latest high-end Nikons and the Sony A700 due to its resolution increase from 230,000 dots to 920,000. The Live View function has also been tweaked to include a Quick Mode AF, Live Mode AF, and a Face Detection Live Mode AF that can detect up to 35 individual faces within the camera’s frame.

In addition to a Quick Control screen that allows instant access to the most commonly-changed settings, the 50D features a new Creative Auto mode that offers automatic focus and exposure – while still allowing creative tweaks to settings such as background sharpness.  It also has a continuous shooting capability of 6.3fps, in bursts of up to 90 JPEGs with a UDMA card – making it ideal for low light conditions & great for sports or wildlife photography (or those concerts where you can manage to get your gear past security).

The 50D also features an Integrated Cleaning System to prevent dust & other floaties from collecting on the sensor’s low-pass filter.

Get the full details on the Canon EOS 50D.

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The compact, professional, 12.1 megapixel, full-frame (FX format) Nikon D700 is a new addition to Nikon’s full-frame roster (okay, it’s not so much a roster as a duo – since the D3 is its only other companion). To look at it, the D700 could be twins with the D300 (but with a larger viewfinder). Internally, however, the D700 is pretty much identical to the D3, except for a slightly slower shutter (5fps up to 8fps with the MB-D10 battery grip). Oh and there’s the small matter of the sticker price: the D700 runs about $2,000 less than the D3.

While it doesn’t share the same price tag as the D3, it does share the same broad sensitivity range – running between 200 and 6400 ISO, with low and high modes extending it to between 100 and 25600 ISO. It also shares the same CMOS sensor coverage (a 36.0 x 23.9 mm area), Multi-CAM 3500FX autofocus sensor module (featuring 51 AF points) & hi-res 3″ LCD monitor with tempered glass – providing a 170° viewing angle.

The D700 also has a few features noticeably absent from the D3: Image Sensor cleaning (sensor shake), more flexible hard button programming, virtual horizon in Live View and different DX mode indication on the focusing screen.

The D700 is also the first pro Nikon DSLR to have a built-in flash.

Get the full details on the Nikon D700.

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