Nikon announces astrophotography specialist D810A

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BY Unknown 15:45 0

Nikon announces astrophotography specialist D810A

Nikon has launched a modified version of its D810 DSLR, the D810A. This version is targeted specifically at those who do astrophotography and features a modified infrared filter for that.

Most cameras have an IR cut filter that is designed to allow only those wavelengths of light that the human eye can see, so that the resulting image looks similar to what it looks to the human eye. However, the light emitted by far away stars and galaxies are often well beyond our visual range, and in order to capture them properly, you need a camera designed specifically for such application.

The D810A IR cut filter has been optimized to allow transmission of the hydrogen alpha spectral line, resulting in four times greater sensitivity of the 656nm wavelength. This lets you capture the red hues of diffuse nebulae and constellations in greater clarity. Due to the alterations to the filter, the D810A is unsuitable for regular photography, as anything other than pictures of the night sky will come out with a reddish hue. Due to this, the D810A is a very specific tool, for those who are very serious about astrophotography.

Nikon D810A (left) vs Nikon D810 (right)

Other than the IR filter, the D810A also lets you set shutter speed from 4 seconds, all the way to 900 seconds (15 minutes), along with the usual Bulb and Time settings. The ISO sensitivity has also been expanded from ISO 200 to 12,800 (expandable up to 51,200). There is also an electronic front curtain shutter mode, which uses the electronic front curtain on the sensor as the shutter instead of the mechanical shutter, as it helps reduce the minor camera shake that can occur with the mechanical shutter.

Other than that, the D810A is identical to the D810, including having the support for NIKKOR lens. You can also attach it to a telescope using lens adapters.

The Nikon D810A will be available in May 2015, with the pricing being announced later.

Canon unveils new upper-midrange 760D and 750D DSLRs

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BY Unknown 04:05 0

Canon unveils new upper-midrange 760D and 750D DSLRs

Riding its unveiling spree of the new full-frame 5DS and 5DS R and its second ever mirrorless camera in the EOS M3 Canon is also announcing its midrange and upper-midrange DSLRs in the Rebel T6s and T6i (that’s 760D and 750D outside the US).

The two cameras come as successors to the Canon 700D and offer a higher resolution 24.2MP sensor (over the 18MP of old), a new Hybrid CMOS AF III, 19-point all cross-type AF system (probably borrowed from the Canon 70D), 7560px RGB+IR metering sensor as well as built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, which is the first for the Rebel series.

The Canon 760D is the more interesting of the two. While it shares the sensor, DIGIC 6 processor, AF system, screen and battery of the 750D it adds a top panel LCD (usually found in upper-end DSLRs), a quick control dial on the back, a horizontal level guide and added manual controls for video.

Canon 760D

The 750D does without the aforementioned add-ons but retains the articulating 3″ 1m dot touchscreen, the 24.2MP APS-C sensor, maximum shutter speed of 1/4000s and 5fps burst (the same as their 700D predecessor).

Canon 750D

Both new cameras will become available at the end of April. The Canon 760D/T6s will be priced $849.99 for the body only and a hefty $1199.00 with the EF-S 18-135mm STM kit lens. The Canon 750D/T6i will sell for $749.99 for the body only, $899.99 with the EF-S 18-55 STM and $1099.00 with the EF-S 18-135mm STM lens.