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Yes, it’s been a while since we’ve posted a submission to our Photo Critique section. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have some great shots for all of you critics out there to offer up your opinions.

Today’s photo is the first HDR entry to land in our inbox. It comes to us from Al Dixon who says:

“This picture was taken in June of 2008 and is my first attempt at an HDR image.  It was shot at approx 6am just south of Stony Plain, AB with my Nikon D40 and Nikon 18-200 Nikkor lens.  The image consists of 5 exposures layered together using PhotomatixPro3.  The resulting image had a vignette effect applied with Lightroom.
Thanks in advance for your time and input.”

So we’re calling you out photographers! Offer up your thoughts, constructive criticism, tips, praise… we (along with Jim) want to know what you think!

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It’s a camera. It’s a projector. It’s… both?

Nikon has announced the Coolpix S1000pj – the first compact camera with a built-in VGA projector (640 by 480 at 30 fps). It’ll capture 12-megapixel images, standard def. video – which it can then project on a screen up to 40″ wide at a 640×480 reslution – features a 2.7″ LCD and offer 5x optical zoom.

Using Nikon’s own pico-projector technology, the camera will also feature an embedded speaker for audio playback, a wireless remote and projector stand as well as in-camera softeare that allows for themed slideshows with transitions, special effects and music.

Gearlog has posted some great renderings of the camera’s inner workings here.

The Coolpix S1000pj is set to be on the shelves this September.

:: source ::

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See that? One contest wraps up and another has already launched. That’s just the way the folks at Vistek roll…

Capture Canada is Vistek’s Summer photo contest that asks you to capture an image that expresses what Canada means to you. There are over $12,500 in prizes to be won, so get out there and start shooting.

In addition to one Grand Prize Winner, there will also be First, Second and Third prizes awarded in 5 different categories (that’s a total of 16 great prize packages!)

What’s up for grabs, you ask? Two Louis Garneau bikes, a Nikon D500 kit, Canson & Moab photo paper, tripods, R-Straps, presentation boxes, camera bags, memory cards and more!

Need some ideas? Here are the 5 submission cateogies that might help spark some inspiration:

• Canadian Expression – Fine Art
• Faces of Canada – People
• Canadian Horizons – Scenery
• Urban Canada – Cities
• Canadians Having Fun – Misc.

(Need a bit more detail? Check out the categories in depth.)

Submissions will be accepted until Sept. 13, so enjoy your Canadian summer and send us your photos!

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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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If you’re going to pick up the new Nikon D90, you’ll most certainly be interested in this new 18-105 f3.5-5.6 DX VR lens. Designed to go hand-in-hand with the D90, this DX-format, high-power 5.8x zoom lens has a 35mm format focal length equivalent of roughly 28-160mm.

Useful in a broad range of shooting settings (from wide-angle landscapes and interiors to portraits and medium-range sports), it features a built-in Silent Wave Motor, giving you speedy & accurate autofocus while keeping you stealthy & unobtrusive.

The built-in Vibration Reduction lets you take sharper handheld pictures while you shoot at shutter speeds up to three stops slower than would otherwise be possible. And the high-performance optical system features an ED glass element and an aspherical lens element.

Get the full details on the Nikon AF-S 18-105mm lens.

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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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