Pre-Photokina: Nikon Announcements

Nikon has announced a variety of interesting new FX format (full-frame) lenses, starting with a big, beautiful new 85mm lens, the Nikkor AF-S 85mm f/1.4G (Nikon details).  While the old AF 85mm f/1.4D was (and still is!) certainly a very good lens optically, it seems to frequently require an in-body AF adjustment to focus accurately with different cameras when shooting at near wide-open f-stops.  Initial reports indicate that the new AF-S version is more accurate across differing bodies and, on top of that, it also boasts Nikon's excellent Nano-Crystal lens coatings for excellent contrast and resistance to flare in challenging lighting conditions. The price will be a bit higher than the old 85mm, coming in at $1779, but not too bad when compared to the competition.

Pre-Photokina: Canon Announcements

Canon has announced a slew of cameras, lenses and one DSLR in advance of the Photokina trade show as follows...

Canon EOS-60D  ($1149 - Canon Press Release)

In a nutshell, the 60D is an 18MP DSLR that is a combination of features found in the 7D and 5D Mark II, in a less expensive and more consumer oriented plastic body.  I would look at the 60D as more of a “Pro Rebel”, so maybe that will give you an idea where Canon is going with it and, like the Rebel series, it also takes SD and SDHC cards, not CompactFlash. However it will also support the upcoming larger and faster SDXC standard.  It does look as though the EOS-7D is indeed the “true” successor to the 20D/30D/40D/50D series.  The 60D has also lost the wonderful “focus point joystick” that all the previous cameras in the series had, and now relies on a more awkwardly positioned and conventional “D-pad” controller that happens to be inside the rear control wheel.  Until I have a chance to handle a 60D, I won't know how good (or bad) this arrangement really is, but to me it definitely seems to be a step backward from an ergonomic standpoint.

Special: Digital FOCI 8" Album ($149.95)

We have a clearance sale on some 8" Portable Digital Photo Albums from Digital FOCI.  Regular price was $269 and the clearance price is $149.95! While supplies last only...

Armed with a high-res 800x600 pixel LCD and bound in a soft leatherette, the Digital Album also sports 4GB of internal flash memory as well as slots for CompactFlash, SD/SDHC/MMC, xD, Memory Stick and MS Pro cards, so you can download or view images to it from pretty much any camera and it makes a perfect presentation tool for those times you don't want to lug around a full-blown laptop.  Not only does it support standard JPEG, BMP, GIF and TIFF files, it will also open RAW images from a wide selection of digital SLRs.

Gallery: 2009 Abbotsford Airshow

Canadian Snowbirds Demonstration Team - 2009 Abbotsford Airshow

Nearly a full year late (just a day shy), I finally finished editing my 185 selects and posted photos from the 2009 airshow at the Abbotsford International Airport. This year, it looks as though I will have to miss it due to other commitments, but after the 1800+ photos from last year, amounting to 35GB worth of images, maybe it's best that I take a year off!

Gallery: 2009 Abbotsford International Airshow (4 pages)

SALE! Nikon SB-900 Speedlight

We have lots of stock on the excellent top-end flash from Nikon, the SB-900, and have decided to put it on sale.

While our current stock lasts (or until the end of August), you can get it for the great price of $485!

Contact us if you want to take advantage of this sale!

NEW Hasselblad Promotions!

The following prices are in US dollars. For an accurate quote with current pricing in CDN dollars, please contact me. These promotions will be running from August 1st to September 30th, 2010.

H4D-40/Lens Promotion
Purchase an H4D-40 (with or without a 80mm lens) and be eligible to purchase any one HC or HCD lens of your choice at 25% off. Promotional lens purchase must be included on same order as the H4D-40.

H4D-50 Instant rebate
Purchase an H4D-50 (with or without a 80mm lens) and receive an instant $3,000 rebate as follows...

H4D-50 (without 80mm lens)
MSRP: $28,995
Promotional Price with rebate: $25,995

H4D-50 (with 80mm lens)
MSRP: $30,995
Promotional Price with rebate: $27,995

In addition, H4D-50 cameras purchased under this program will eligible for an upgrade to the H4D-60 for the difference in MSRP. Upgrade orders must be placed by October 31, 2010 to be eligible for this offer.

Canon DSLR and Lens Rebates Extended!

Canon has once again extended their instant rebates, this time until the end of August. Here is the list!  There are some video and P&S rebates as well, but these are the main ones. One item not on the list is the 1D Mark IV body, which also has a $300 instant rebate. For details click...