We all knew after the announcement of the 5D Mark III there would be a price drop on the Mark II bodies. Your new prices are $2199 (body only) and $2999 Body + 24-105mm F/4L.
Panasonic GH2 (Body) Deal Blast
This camera needs no introduction. Even as a consumer based camera, people love to put it up against cameras like the RED, FS100, AF100, and even Canon's latest C300. With the right hacks, it really does some amazing quality. Normally this camera body on Amazon and B&H is still found for about $900 dollars (seen here)
Aputure Magic Rig / Polaroid Rig
Neil writes in and shares another small price drop on those small target shooter style Aputure Magic Rigs a.k.a. Polaroid Rigs. We've seen them drop down to an average $68 dollars, and now they're down to about $58 via eBay (click here). [Thanks Neil].
That's coming from overseas China, but for USA customers, if you add an extra dollar you could have it shipping from the US for $59 + Free Shipping via Amazon (click here).
Polaroid Rig / Aputure Magic Rig Target Shooter style Stabilizer
New – Opteka SteadyVid Pro Stabilizer
Opteka throws in a new Video Camera stabilizer with a fully adjustable top stage and upgraded 3 axis gimbal. Looks pretty similar to the Steadicam Merlin. The lower weights (stainless steel?) look almost exactly like the ones used in a real Steadicam Merlin (seen here), and the specs say it can handle up to 5lbs of camera.
Unlike the Merlin, it does not appear to fold up, but adds an adjustable front counterbalance weight. Of course nobody should expect the build quality to be up to par with a real Steadicam Merlin, but how well will this new stabilizer actually perform? The Steadicam Merlin will run you about $800 dollars (click here), and the new Opteka SteadyVid Pro runs just under $180 (click here).
Opteka SteadyVid Pro Video Stabilizer
Deal Today – Canon T3i Kit
Well now that you saw what Canon has to offer this time around in their camera line up, you might not be considering the expensive options, so today you could save about $200 dollars off of a brand new Canon T3i kit. There's an instant discount available at both B&H (seen here) and Amazon (seen here)
Canon T3i with 18-55mm IS Lens Kit
Canon 5D Mark III / Speedlite 600EX-RT Pre-Order
And there you have it, the new Canon 5D Mark III and already available for pre-order. From the images, it looks like a cross between a 5D Mark III, 7D, and a 60D (no flip out LCD screen). From the 7D you can see the dedicated photo/video switch and joystick knob, and on the left top it looks like the locking dial from the Canon 60D.
Product Highlights
22.3MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
3.2" Clear View High Resolution LCD
DIGIC 5+ Image Processor
61-Point High Density AF
Full HD 1080/30p and 720/60p Formats
Built-In HDR and Multiple Exposure Modes
Extended ISO Range (50-102400)
Up to 6.0 FPS Continuous Mode
Dual CF and SD Memory Card Slots
Durable Magnesium-Alloy Construction
Additional photos and specs are available at the Pre-Order page (click here).
Canon 5D Mark III - Pre Order
Along with the new Canon 5D Mark III announcement, Canon releases a new 600EX-RT Speedlite flash system that works on Radio waves (not infrared). Communication over Radio is going to be a big hit on wireless trigger companies like Pocket Wizard and Radio Popper. If things work out well with the new flashes, I can finally say goodbye to my Radio Popper PX system....
FilmCity Follow Focus X1 w Whip and Lens Gear
Anyone got input on the new FilmCity X1 Follow Focus? It's another budget follow focus starting around only $90 bucks. The X1 mounts to standard 15mm rails, includes a lens gear and whip, looks to be reversible, and also looks like the indicator can be adjusted (not sure). Claims to be an all metal build (except for marking disc and knob). What's up with the blue accent colors? eBay has got all the details and other images (click here).
FilmCity Follow Focus X1 w Whip Lens Gear
Metabones Canon EF to Sony Adapter
Excited about the new Canon 5D Mark III announcements? It's been rumored all over the web that they may have an official statement by end of the week - possibly this Friday. Although I might be excited about better video quality, I have to admit there's a part of me that already knows this new camera will still have it's limitations around video. Canon makes no secrets about purposely limiting their DSLR line of cameras so that it doesn't cannibalize their true high end video line.
Still waiting for this final camera to be released from Canon, i'm on hold about the FS100. Once I know the specs on the Canon 5D Mark III, i'll have a better idea on which direction i'll be going for the next year. With Canon's EF or EF-S lenses, aperture needs to be controlled electronically. Having invested in so many Canon EF lenses, if you wanted to adapt it to the MFT cameras, you could use something like the RedRock Live Lens adapter (seen here).
NEX-FS100UK Super 35mm Sensor Camcorder
One solution to using Canon EF lenses on a Sony E-Mount is the Metabones adapter. This adapter translates the controls in a Sony camera to communicate with a Canon lens. The first release of this adapter had issues with cameras like the Sony NEX-7, so I held off until things got squared away. The latest firmware version 2.0 in the adapter now supports the NEX-7 so you'll be able to control the aperture values in the lens direct from the camera. It's a rare piece right now, and are constantly out of stock over at their website (found here).
If you're trying to adapt lenses to a smaller Micro Four Thirds or Sony E-Mount there are cheaper Fotodiox Adapters (like these)
Metabones Lens to Camera Adapters
New – Sony HX10V HX20V HX30V Digital Cameras
Who doesn't love the Sony HX9V? It's a fairly small pocketable camera that provides a full 1080/60p and probably the best image stabilization you'll find in a point and shoot. The Sony HX9V was such a great camera, that we decided to use it for our entire coverage at PMA at CES2012.
Hard to believe, but Sony has made a good thing even better with the announcements of a few new cameras including the HX10V and HX20V. The HX9V had 16x Zoom, while the new HX20V has an incredible 20x zoom. They've even managed to make upgrades to the already impressive Image Stabilization, and enhanced Digital Zoom quality. You'll have to skip towards the end of the video (above) to get information about the new cams. Both HX10V and HX20V digital cameras are already available for Pre-Order.
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX10V Digital Camera
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V Digital Camera
If all that is not enough for you, they're even throwing in an HX30V camera with 20x Optical Zoom and built in Wi-Fi. While most camera phones lack the features of a solid Point and Shoot camera, the Wi-Fi addition in the HX30V lets you take advantage of all it's features and then sync up with your smart phone so that you can immediately share it through your Photo Galleries and Social Networks (Instagram?).
