There were so many new camera & lens intros this week that we couldn’t cover them all. So here’s a recap of the major news…

We told you of the Nikon D3100 & their new projector point & shoot, the S1100PJ  and their seriously sweet glass (see the posts below). We also told you about Canon’s new EOS 60D  (ditto). Canon also introduced 4 new lenses and 2 new teleconverters (1.4X & 2X) this week. Leading off is the EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens, which is the world’s widest fisheye zoom lens, providing professional photographers and cinematographers with a unique optical tool for capturing 180º angle-of-view shots on all EOS Digital SLR cameras. (Photo below of the 8-15mm fisheye lens courtesy of Canon USA)

Photographers looking for a broad focal length range with excellent image quality will enjoy their first L-series 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, the new EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM lens, delivering outstanding sharpness, contrast and color fidelity in a compact, lightweight form factor. Canon also  introduced two new versions of its popular super telephoto lenses, the new EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM and EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM super-telephoto lenses delivering incredible image quality at all apertures for photojournalists, sports and wildlife photographers. For folks looking to push their L-series Canon telephotos to the limit, Canon also upgraded its two popular extenders with the new Canon Extender EF 1.4x III and Extender EF 2x III for additional telephoto reach, exceptional clarity & additional weather proofing. You’ll also notice that the latest Canon L-series telephoto lenses and extenders will have a more neutral white tone compared to earlier models. This new shade of white will be used with all L-series telephoto lenses and extenders beginning in the second half of 2010.

We just tweeted a video of the 8-15mm F4 fisheye zoom in action, but since you’re here, here’s the same post from the Canon Pro Network : http://bit.ly/cYlhkt . For prices and availabilty on these upcoming items, please check out www.canonusa.com

There also was news from Sony,which announced 3 new Alpha cameras and lenses this week. These new DSLR’s are being hailed as “game changing” cameras with exceptional feature benefits. Headlining their intros is The A55, which received the “Gold Award” from DP Review. The Gold Award is an exceptional achievement for Sony following in the legacy of Minolta, in developing and manufacturing innovative imaging products.  A key feature is the ability to shoot at 10 frames per second in full resolution, as well as the ability to continuously focus while in the video mode which a majority of other DSLR’s do not have the capability of doing.  Those who have seen and experienced the A55 believe this will be one of the best selling DSLR’s in the upcoming holiday season.

The many features of the A55 include a 16.2MP APS-C Exmor HD CMOS sensor SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization with continuous auto focus in video, a 3.0” tilt 921k  Xtra Fine TruBlack LCD (16:9 aspect ratio),  Translucent Mirror Technology & AVCHD 1080i video capture with phase detect AF. To see see their GOLD AWARD winning review, please click onto the following link:  http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyslta55/.  The A55 will be available in mid-October with an estimated price of $750 for the body (A55 photo courtesy of Sony).

As time & space allows, we’ll also tell you about new products from Olympus, Panasonic and Casio as these and the other manufacturers prepare to to show all their new wares at Photokina, the world’s biggest trade fair for the photoimaging industry which takes place in Germany next month.

As we expected, Canon announced some new items this morning, including their latest addition to its world-famous EOS series of Digital SLR (DSLR) cameras – the new EOS 60D. Replacing the EOS 50D, the EOS 60D is designed for photographers who want to take their skills to the next level, offering high performance, a series of creative features, a Vari-angle LCD screen and enhanced ergonomics – empowering photography enthusiasts to capture outstanding stills and Full High Definition (HD) video for unique, creative results.

With an 18 Megapixel APS-C sensor, the EOS 60D offers high levels of detail and a magnification of 1.6x the focal length of the lens to capture poster-size images in a variety of aspect ratios. Canon’s powerful DIGIC 4 technology rapidly processes image information captured from the CMOS sensor’s four-channel output, providing outstanding colour reproduction, as well as high-speed shooting at 5.3fps in bursts of 58 full-resolution JPEGs.

A standard ISO range of 100-6400 is extendable to 12800, providing smooth images with minimal noise in low light conditions. A 9-point, all cross-type autofocus (AF) system also provides swift and accurate focusing, with an extra-sensitive centre point for lenses faster than f/2.8, allowing photographers to artistically employ a shallow depth of field during portraiture or for more atmospheric shooting.

The EOS 60D features Canon’s iFCL metering system, first introduced with the acclaimed EOS 7D, with a 63-zone Dual-Layer sensor.  Information on subject location is gathered from the Auto Focus system, and is combined with color and luminance readings for consistent accurate exposures whatever the situation. The Integrated Speedlite transmitter also provides in-camera control of multiple EX flash units for more creative lighting & a new 3.0″  vari-angle wide LCD monitor (similar to the G11)  features a 3:2 aspect ratio and a 1,040k dot resolution, providing added flexibility and allowing photographers to view their images in incredible detail.

The Canon EOS 60D Digital SLR camera is scheduled to be delivered to dealers toward the end of September, and will be sold in a body-only configuration at an estimated retail price of $1,099.00. It will also be offered in a kit version with Canon’s EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens at an estimated retail price of $1,399.00. To see Canon’s press release and more details, click onto the following link to dpreview.com:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/1008/10082620canoneos60d.asp

There’s more details (and a pix) to come, along with news of their other intros, which include 4 new lenses!

Point & Shoot Basics Class tonight at 7, here at the store.

Lost among the announcements of the D3100 & PowerShot S95 last week were the intros of some really great new lenses by Nikon. First, we have a full frame equivalent to Nikon’s popular 18-200mm zoom for their DX cameras, the AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

Building on the popularity and versatility of broad focal range lenses, the new AF-S 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR is Nikon’s first FX-format lens with a 10.7X zoom range for enthusiasts and professionals. The new 28-300mm is the all-in-one optical solution that is ideal for travel, landscapes, portraits and capturing distant subjects. The 28-300mm VR lens is optimized for edge-to-edge sharpness on both FX and DX-format D-SLR cameras, and has an equivalent focal length of 42-450mm when attached to a DX-format D-SLR. It’s optical formula includes two ED glass elements that effectively minimize chromatic aberration, even at the widest aperture settings, and three Aspherical Lens Elements that virtually eliminates coma and other aberrations at wide aperture settings as well. This high performance lens also incorporates an M/A Focus Mode Switch that enables quick changes between manual and autofocus operation, and Internal Focus (IF) providing fast and quiet autofocus without changing the length of the lens while retaining working distance through the focus range. As I said, sweet…

And for those prime lens lovers out there, we have the new AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G ED.  A highly anticipated lens for professional photographers with no room for compromise, the new AF-S 85mm f/1.4G ED is an ultra-fast classic portrait lens boasting amazing picture quality, high performance and the ability to create dramatic background effects (bokeh). This lens is engineered for professional portrait, studio and wedding photographers wanting to shoot at fast maximum apertures while retaining the highest performance. The 85mm lens is also well suited for portraits and low-light shooting situations because of its ability to create a shallow depth of field with exacting sharpness and detail. The AF-S 85mm f/1.4 is optimized for edge-to-edge sharpness on both FX and DX-format D-SLR cameras, and features two focus modes, M/A (manual-priority autofocus) and M (manual) to further enhance versatility and adapt to a shooters needs. Additional features include Internal Focus (IF) that allows the lens to focus without changing the barrel length, Nano Crystal Coat to reduce instances of ghosting and flare, and a rugged construction build to endure aggressive field use.  Also sweet…

The AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR zoom lens has an estimated selling price of $1299.95. The ultra-fast AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.4G has an estimated selling price of $1699.95. These  lenses will be available starting in mid September 2010. For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com. Later this week, we’ll tell you about a 4th lens Nikon introduced and some anticipated new intros from Canon, Sony & Olympus.

As expected, Nikon and Canon made new camera introductions this morning, and they’re good ones!

We’ll start with Nikon. This morning, Nikon introduced the D3100, its new entry-level offering and Nikon’s first DSLR that can record full 1080p HD videos. Successor to the popular D3000, it has a 14.2 CMOS sensor and a 3 inch LCD. It also features Live View shooting, a wider ISO range The 14.2-megapixel D3100 has powerful features, such as the enhanced Guide Mode that makes it easy to unleash creative potential and capture memories with still images and full HD video. Like having a personal photo tutor at your fingertips, this unique feature provides a simple graphical interface on the camera’s LCD that guides users by suggesting and/or adjusting camera settings to achieve the desired end result images. The D3100 is also the world’s first D-SLR to introduce full time auto focus (AF) in Live View and D-Movie mode to effortlessly achieve the critical focus needed when shooting Full HD 1080p video. ( 100-3200, expandable to 12,800) & loads of other upgrades. Nikon also introduced a wider range VR zoom lens, a AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm VR lens, which gives users super-telephoto zoom capability for an affordable price. This is a perfect complementary lens when combined with the AF-S 18-55mm VR kit lens, and is great for capturing images of sports and wildlife around town or on vacation.

The D3100 D-SLR camera outfit, including the versatile AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens, is scheduled to be available beginning in mid September 2010, at an estimated selling price of $699.95.  The AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED VR lens will be available starting in September as well for an estimated selling price of $399.95. For more information, please visit www.nikonusa.com.

As for Canon, they introduced the Powershot S95, an advanced, compact digital camera for photographers looking for outstanding low light performance and manual control in a pocket-sized body. Succeeding the highly-acclaimed PowerShot S90, the new model offers improved handling, greater levels of manual control, HD movie capabilities, the HS System and Hybrid IS – providing a powerful feature set capable of superb image quality in all shooting conditions.

 The ultra-slim, ultra-intelligent S95 is loaded with all a serious photographer’s must-haves, including a bright f/2.0 Wide-Angle Lens and professional-style control ring  for intuitive manual control. Canon’s HS SYSTEM is on board for spectacular performance and image quality in low light. And, new for a compact, the S95 incorporates Canon’s Hybrid IS for blur-free shooting even close-up. You’ll shoot stunning 720p HD video with stereo sound, then watch it immediately on your HDTV with the simple HDMI connection. There’s also a new HDR mode that combines three shots at different exposures into one photo with better highlights and shadows.

We expect the S95 to ship by early September with an estimated street price of $400.00 Fore more info, please go to www.canonusa.com

The week’s not over, so if there’s another camera introduction (or 2), we’ll let you know tomorrow. In the meanwhile, we’ve got our Intro to DSRL class tonight at 7, right here at the store.

As the end of summer 2010 comes upon us, it also brings to us a week of new camera introductions for availability this fall. The first salvos have come from Nikon, which today unveiled a 2nd generation Coolpix with a built in projector & really cool new features and a inexpensive point and shoot camera with 720P HD  video & VR for under $180!  Here’s the scoop from Nikon’s press release: