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Oh to be rich…

If you are wondering what camera I would be shooting with if money was no object, look no further. The new Leica S2 DSLR camera system is probably the finest piece of photographic equipment I have seen in some time. The body alone will run in the neighborhood of $23,000. The S2 features a 37.5 megapixel, 30×45mm sensor and a sapphire glass monitor. Being smaller and more hand-held than medium and high format cameras of it’s quality makes it much easier to use for the professional photographer on the go. Here is some more information I found online about the new digi.

Some good sample images found HERE by Robert Grischek.

Some more information about the release on DPREVIEW.

The time has come when I can honestly say I think I am going to be purchasing a new camera body. My trusty Canon 1D Mark IIn has been wonderful but I feel like it’s time has reached an end. Canon just launched their new EOS 5D Mark II camera body boasting 21.1 delicious megapixels. The list of features this camera comes with is vast. It features a completely redesigned CMOS sensor with ISO sensitivity up to 25,600. Night photographers, eat your heart out. As if that wasn’t enough, the camera is capable of shooting Full HD quality video, yes video at 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second. What else you ask?

- Addition of Canon’s EOS Integrated Cleaning System
- 3.0-inch Clear View LCD screen with VGA resolution
- Automatic peripheral illumination correction, utilizing detailed EF lens information to optimize JPEG images straight out of the camera
- Magnesium alloy body with better environmental protection
- Full frame
- Maximum 310 large JPEG images in a single burst
- ISO 100-6400 (expansion from 50-25,6000)
- 9 AF points + 6 assist AF points

Price should be right around $2,699 but I am hoping for a little less. I wonder how much I can get for my 1D Mark IIn, anyone looking? Let me know.

Testing out this twitstamp.

I was really hoping that Canon was going to release a replacement camera body for their 5D, but no. Instead they launch yet another “prosumer” body for the professional amateurs of the world. I can’t knock the new body completely though just because it’s not what I want. The features are promising and vast. 15.1 megapixels of goodness and a 3.0-inch Clear View LCD on the back will keep those Nikon D90 fanboys at bay. What was I hoping for? 16+ megapixels, 3.0-inch LCD, Full-Frame sensor, internal cleaning system, super clean high iso images and more which all should be available whenever Canon gets off their asses and replaces the 5D. For more on the new cam, visit DPreview.com. 

Canon sent my office some loaner Powershot G9 cameras the other day and I have been messing around with one of them since. For a point and shoot camera this thing is a beast (meaning feature rich). A great deal of people are on the lookout for good small point and shoot cameras and I think this is one you should definitely consider. 

A few of the features I have enjoyed are…

RAW file capability
Full line of Manual controls just like your DSLR
Decent flash power
Better than average low light performance (1600 ISO)
Can produce good prints up to A3 size
12megapixels
The 6x optical zoom works great
The massive 3.0-inch screen on the back is great
Dedicated ISO button (not found on many P&S cams)
Hot Shoe built to work with Canon flash units or Pocket Wizards

Not the cheapest point and shoot digital out there at $479 but one of the most feature rich. The images look far better than any other P&S I have used including my Canon Powershot SD800IS I keep on me at all times. I will give the edge to my SD800 on size though the G9 isnt as slim and tiny. If you are looking for something that gives you more than a full auto mode and want to step your pic game up a bit without getting into a DSLR give it a try at your LCS (local camera store).

Click here for a review of the camera on dpreview.com.

If you are a traveling photographer then you probably already read about the new rules set down by the FAA and DOT about carrying lithium batteries you can travel with. These new rules will become effective January 1, 2008. Basically the press release says that passengers will no longer be able to take spare lithium batteries in checked luggage unless they are installed into devices such as your camera body or laptop. If you plan on bringing anything with lithium batteries on the plane they also need to be installed into devices or you can have spare batteries as long as they are carried in plastic bags.

They say they are doing this to prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires. Okay, how many times has this happened does anyone know? I did a little googling and did find this story about a Dell laptop exploding into flames but I am pretty sure its very rare. Where the actual press release is unclear though is how they are going to have the TSA agents trained to know what is allowed and what is not. I am still doing research but it seems like consumer/prosumer batteries such as the batteries in a Canon 20D/30D/40D/5D or Nikon D200/D300 are not part of this new rule. Batteries found in cameras like my Canon 1-Series bodies or Nikon D3/D2x bodies are going to be watched. As you and I both know TSA Agents are just a notch above your average fry cook at Burger King so how are they going to be able to look at our gear and say what’s what?

I headed on over to my favorite traveling photographer’s blog to see what Fish had written about these new rules. As expected, he already has a plan to make getting past TSA Agents easier. Head on over to his blog to read more.

I have to say I am not very happy about this. I am all for making travel a safe and friendly environment but professionals need to be able to do their jobs. Let’s see what happens when the new year rolls in and people start getting stopped in security lines. Soon, we will have to place everything we bring on to planes in small plastic bags including the clothes we wear.