By Chris Scott Barr

DSLRs are vastly superior to their point-and-shoot brethren when it comes to the quality of the picture taken. Unfortunately there is one area where the DSLR will always fall short in comparison, and that’s portability. The nature of these cameras means that they are always going to be bulky. That’s okay, because we’re willing to sacrifice portability to get that perfect shot. Of course that doesn’t mean we can’t find easier ways to carry them around.

This Loop from Luma is an interesting take on the camera strap. It’s designed as more of a sling, which is worn across the chest, allowing your camera to rest conveniently at your hip. What’s more, is that there are a variety of ways that you can attach it to your camera. Sure, you can use the existing strap loops, but if those don’t suit your needs, you have other options. One attachment allows you to mount the strap using your tripod mount (while not blocking access to your mounting screw). Another puts the point of contact on the lens (if you’re using a large telephoto lens). Comfort and convenience in the form of this strap will run you around $70.

[ Luma ] VIA [ inStash ]

We have talked a lot about the Pentax K-x and K-7 DSLR cameras around here. The K-x is the long running entry-level DSLR from Pentax that comes in all sorts of wild colors and designs. The camera rarely gets and update with new features though.

Pentax has announced that a new firmware is available to download for the K-x that brings the camera to version 1.02. The big feature (and only new feature) that the new firmware brings to the mix is compatibility with SDXC cards. Pentax has also announced a new firmware for the K-7.

The firmware update for the K-7 brings the device to version 1.11 and it also adds support for SDXC memory cards. That is also the only new feature added for the K-7. The only downside to the support for SDXC is that neither camera supports the faster UHS speed class.

Via DPReview

Sony has announced a 5-inch clip-out LCD preview display, the CLM-V55 LCD video monitor, intended to give DSLR videographers a change to see their footage in higher resolution than most camera screens provide. The 800 x 480 panel has a tilt/swivel mount that fits onto an auto-lock accessory shoe or ISO shoe, is powered either by an independent battery or AC adapter, and hooks up to the camera itself via HDMI.

It’s not just a dumb LCD screen, however; there’s a pixel magnification mode which ofers an enlarged view of a selected portion of the Full HD image, together with a colour peaking function that highlights the edges of accurately-focused areas of the video image. Meanwhile there’s adjustable aspect ratio (16:9/4:3), volume, brightness, contrast, colour tone (phase), colour temp and auto dimmer.

A mono speaker – and headphone jack – together with a sun hood round out the main specs. No word on pricing, but the Sony CLM-V55 LCD video monitor will go on sale in March 2011.

Press Release:

Clip-on LCD monitor from Sony for HD video shooting with Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras 13 January 2011

CLM-V55 gives big, high-resolution view of video footage

• Clip-on LCD monitor attaches to DSLR camera
• Large (5″) WVGA panel offers superb high-resolution view while shooting HD video
• Tilt/swivel for comfortable viewing at any angle
• Colour peaking and pixel magnification for precise focus confirmation

A new clip-on LCD monitor from Sony gives DSLR camera owners a bigger, better view of their footage while shooting HD video.

The CLM-V55 is a portable video monitor featuring a high-resolution WVGA (800 x 480) (5”) LCD panel. Attaching easily to most Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras and compatible HD camcorders via the supplied adaptor, it displays video footage during shooting/playback with excellent clarity and a wide viewing angle.

The clip-on screen tilts and swivels to any angle for comfortable framing in any position – even self-shooting when you’re in the picture.

The CLM-V55 is loaded with pro-style features to help photo enthusiasts and videographers shoot high-quality HD video footage with their Interchangeable Lens Digital camera.

Pixel magnification mode assists with accurate focus confirmation, giving an enlarged pixel-perfect view of a selected portion of the Full HD image. It’s complemented by a colour peaking function that highlights the edges of accurately-focused areas of the video image.

An intuitive control wheel allows quick, positive adjustment of a wide range of monitor settings without interrupting shooting. Adjustable parameters include aspect ratio (16:9/4:3), volume, brightness, contrast, colour tone (phase), colour temp and auto dimmer. On-screen markers aid precise framing by giving precise indication of a TV’s 16:9 or 4:3 actual display area. The LCD monitor’s on-board mono speaker is complemented by a headphone jack for accurate audio monitoring during shooting.

The CLM-V55 attaches easily to a wide range of Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras from Sony and other manufacturers that support HD video shooting. The supplied adaptor simplifies mounting on any camera or HD camcorder that features an auto-lock accessory shoe or ISO shoe. Signal connection from camera to monitor is via the supplied HDMI cable, while power can be supplied using a battery pack or AC adaptor (both optional). The CLM-V55 comes with a detachable LCD hood for more comfortable viewing when shooting outdoors in bright sunlight.

The CLM-V55 LCD video monitor by Sony is available from March 2011.

Samsung is pushing hard into the DSLR market, announcing many products, the NX11 will be the top of the line and will feature Samsung’s new i-Function lenses. The device will replace the older NX10 and will be one of the first devices compatible with with the new i-Function range of lenses which offer up the ability to change shooting settings with the press of a button on the lens itself.

The device will ship with an 18-55mm i-Function zoom lens and will be fully compatible with the company’s new wide array of lenses. Around back of the device there is a 3-inch AMOLED display with an electronic viewfinder and the device will sport both a built-in flash and hotshoe.

In addition to the NX11, Samsung will also launch two new i-Function lenses – a 20mm pancake and a 20-50mm zoom lens. The device along with the new lenses currently have no release date or pricing, but if the NX10 can serve as any precedent for pricing, we should expect the camera to retail for around $600.

The video quality you can get from a DSLR that can record video in HD is very impressive giving the capability to make really good photos and video with one go. The catch that some are finding when they are trying to make pro level video with the DSLR is that it’s hard to zoom smoothly in manual zoom mode that DSLR cameras support.

Nikon has filed for a patent that outlines a cool new DSLR lens that has both manual zoom and electronic zoom modes the manual mode would allow the shooter to zoom quickly when taking still shots where being smooth isn’t a factor. The same lens would have an electronic zoom mode.

That electronic zoom mode would allow for smooth zooms that look professional and are easy to perform. Where this patent will come into play is unknown. The patent app was filed on June 3, 2009 and published last week.

As patent application illustrations go, Canon hasn’t exactly pushed the boat out this time, but there’s enough to see that the company is interested in how digital cameras and cellphones might one day talk among themselves. In an application titled “Communication Device and Control Method Thereof“, Canon outlines a system whereby NFC – or another short-range wireless technology – could be used to turn your cellphone display into an ad-hoc viewer for content on your digital camera, as well as transferring content across or updating settings.

As soon as the camera and phone are moved within wireless range, the processors in each bump heads and figure out the exact capabilities on offer: so, if your phone has a data connection, you may be offered uploading functionality to put your pictures onto Flickr or another online gallery. Meanwhile, Canon expects the same wireless negotiation protocols to be used in other hardware, such as printers, so that moving the camera close to a printer would offer task-specific choices such as producing thumbnail previews or whole-page images.

Considering we’re seeing a push for NFC in mobile devices by Google, with Android 2.3 and the NFC hardware in the Nexus S, together with companies like Apple seemingly looking to the short-range wireless as well, this could well be a useful system for getting DSLR content online more easily and without a computer.

Way back in 2007 we talked a bit about the Quik Pod device that was for small point and shoot cameras. The Quickpod is a monopod that you can attach your camera too so you can get a photo of you and others without having to ask someone for help to shoot the photo.

The company has announced that it has a model for DSLR cameras as well now and that the Quik Pod is now longer and can be extended to more than four feet high. The only downside I can see to this thing for shooting pics is that you can’t see what you are shooting on most cameras since the lens will be facing towards you rather than the LCD.

It will be hard to align the image since you can’t see the viewfinder or screen. The Quik Pod for DSLRs is $49.95 and can be purchased now. The normal Quik Pod is under $30 and is available now as well. Check out a video below of the Quik Pod for DSLR users.

Tamron is a big name in the aftermarket lens world making lenses for just about all the DSLR cameras on the market. Tamron has announced its latest lens offering and the new lens claims to be the world’s smallest and lightest 15x optical zoom lens and is the first from Tamron to use Piezo Drive AF also known as PZD AF. The lens has 15x zoom and covers a focal range of 18-270mm.

The lens uses the piezoelectric autofocus motor and is made for DSLR cameras with APS-C size sensors. The lens has a 62mm filter diameter and has vibration compensation image stabilization. It has the first standing wave ultrasonic motor that Tamron has used for DSLR lenses. Along with the 18-270mm, focal range the lens has F/3.5-6.3 specifications and will be offered for Nikon and Canon cameras.

The lens for Nikon and Canon cameras will hit Japan on December 20. Tamron will offer the lens with a Sony mount later. The Sony mount lens will not have the VC image stabilization system. The lens weighs 450g and is 88mm in length. Pricing is unannounced at this time.

You have a phone, you have a DSLR, yet although you love them both equally, the two pretty much never speak. This failure in capturing synergistic value is now at an end, however, thanks to the BlueSLR Bluetooth dongle and its accompanying iOS app. Compatible with iPhones (down to the 3G model), iPod touches (second generation and above), and iPads, this remote control system will let you manually trigger your Nikon‘s shutter release from a distance of up to 300 feet. There’s also GPS tagging, if you’re into that sort of thing, and a toggle in the app for adjusting exposure length. The app itself’s free, though the dongle will set you back a mighty $149. At least it communicates via Bluetooth, which won’t require line of sight like Nikon’s own IR remotes. Compatibility is set to expand to include Canon DSLRs and Android and BlackBerry smartphones in the future, but if you’ve already got a D5000 and an iPhone 4 lying around looking wistfully at one another, you can pre-order your BlueSLR at the source link below.

BlueSLR dongle and app turn your iPhone into a DSLR remote shutter release originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 06:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pentax has outed another in the company’s range of unusually colored DSLRs, this time a limited edition of 100 rainbow K-r cameras. Supposedly the result of customer demand, on the inside it’s the same 12.4-megapixel shooter previously offered in white, black and red, complete with a 3-inch 920k dot LCD display, 6fps shooting for up to 25 frames, in-camera HDR editing and a 100 – 25600 ISO range, but on the outside it’s an eye-catching (if not eye-watering) array of colors and a matching lens.

That lens, incidentally, is a PENTAX-DA 35mm F2.4 prime, though obviously you can use any existing sober black lenses you might already have. The odd head attached to the hot-shoe blocks the pop-up flash, Pentax warn, which seems a somewhat odd compromise to make in the name of style.

Still, we’re sure Pentax has done its sums and worked out that there are enough interested parties to account for the mere 100 units when they go on sale in early January 2011. Sticker price will be 99,800 yen ($1,203).