YugaTech Christmas Gadget Guide 2014: Cameras

You’ve seen the past few days our smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, and laptop holiday gadget guides. Today, we’ll discuss cameras of all shapes, sizes, and uses — in hopes that they win your hearts and pockets this holiday season.

ChristmasGuide2014-A6480

It is no doubt that cameras are still the best option to take better shots that will sure make your moments last a lifetime. With cameras, there are a lot of form factors that you can choose from: There are point and shoot digicams for light and easy operation, action cameras for the adventurous, mirrorless shooters for the weight-conscious professionals, micro four-thirds, and dSLR cameras. Let’s get started, shall we?

Prices may subject to change without prior notice. Our basis for the camera prices are the ones we’ve seen on malls, and from the brochures and price lists from camera companies, unless otherwise linked to an online website.

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For starters, who just want a fancy camera on their pockets or fancy buying a digicam but on a budget, the cheapest you can find on the market now are Nikon Coolpix L29 (Php 3,690) and Sony CyberShot DSC-W800 (Php4,499, Electroworld). Samsung has the DV150F which has a secondary screen and WiFi for easy selfie capturing and sharing over the internet. At the same price range, you can get a Canon Ixus 155 (Php5,998).

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Let’s go a little higher.  Canon has the Powershot SX700 HS, a compact camera designed for travelling and is built with both NFC and WiFi, retailing in stores for Php16,998. Sony DSC H40 is a digicam that can be mistaken as a DSLR cam and can be yours for Php16,999.  A compact, rugged, waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof digital camera with built-in WiFi in the name of Nikon Coolpix AW120 is selling for Php19,990. We also have the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Camera selling for Php21,900. A couple of bucks more, and you get the FujiFilm FinePix X20, a classic-looking point-and-shoot worth Php23,990. If you still want more, then there are the Sony RX100 Mark III (Php44,999) and the Fujifilm X100T (Php64,990).

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PlaygroundCam100_2

Do you want to do more adventure next year? Action cameras are the ones that suit your needs. If you are up for an affordable action camera, the cheapest you can actually get now is the Qube X-Cam which retails for Php3,990 and Kodak PixPro Mercury (Php3,995, SM Department Store). If you’re not convinced with buying that, you can get ones we have reviewed such as the Playground Cam100, which is worth Php5,600. GoPro also released its own entry-level action camera, the Hero, which is on sale right now at Php7,990.

goPro2014

Spending a lot on a great camera designed to shoot fast-paced outdoor activity is can actually be an investment in the long run. Sony‘s got is own action cam, the HDR-AS100V, priced at Php20,999 (Electroworld). The GoPro Hero 4 Black and Silver are some of the most expensive ones you can find, and they sell for Php 25,990 and Php20,990, respectively. There is also the Garmin Virb Elite which is being sold for Php25,590 online.

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Z-Nikon-J4-Black

For those who love to change their lenses and hold a camera a fraction of a DSLR’s weight, then a mirrorless camera may be what you need. There’s the all-plastic Samsung NX2000 (Php18,500), the Panasonic Lumix GX1X equipped with the company’s highly regarded touchscreen interface (Php19,400), the compact and colorful Canon EOS M (Php22,998), the extremely small and light Nikon 1 J4 (Php36,100), Sony‘s NEX 5RY with a Hybrid Auto Focus technology (Php37,700, includes two lenses) and the A6000 which claims to have the fastest AF performance amongst interchangeable lens cameras (Php39,999), and the mid-range FujiFilm X-E2 (Php66,500).

Still have more money to shell out? Luxury camera brand Leica just came to town in time for the holidays, and we checked that the Leica T costs around Php90,000 for the body alone. The cheapest lens you can but? A 18-56 lens worth around Php80,000.

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lumix gx7

In this category, only two camera makers have been successful in making the Micro Four Thirds system: Panasonic and Olympus. We have the Panasonic Lumix GX7, arguably the company’s most enthusiast-focused mirrorless camera yet (Php67,924), and the Olympus OM-D E-M10 which is great for outdoors (Php49,295).

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Nikon D810 (web)

*Prices indicated include the lens included in the kit package, unless otherwise specified.

For those who are very serious and want to take capturing moments to another level, a DSLR Camera may be good for you. These are full-range photography equipment though, and it can cost as much as a hundred thousand pesos if you’re really serious on your photography stuff. If you’re looking to try one without hurting your wallets, the cheapest you can get now are the entry-level Canon EOS 1200D (Php21,998) and the Nikon 3200D (Php24,400).

If you want a DSLR that’s not that bulky, Canon EOS 100D, at 407 grams, is a capable DSLR lightweight which costs around Php33,998. Nikon’s D3300 comes at a close second with 460g for Php26,900. The Sony SLT-A57 may be within this price range as well at Php28,999, but it isn’t as lightweight as the other two.

D810 Back (1080)

With mid-range DSLRs, we have the Sony Alpha SLT-A77V (Php59,999), the Canon EOS 70D with built-in WiFi (Php63,998, 18-55mm lens), and the Nikon D7100 with two SD card slots (Php64,900, 18-105mm lens).

As for full-frame flagship cameras for professionals, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, which boasts of up to 6.0 frames per second, could be yours for Php190,998. The Nikon D810, which also has dual SD card slots and shoots up to 7 frames per second, costs Php151,000 for the body alone. On the other hand, Sony has the SLT-A99V, which takes pride of its Dual-AF System, is priced at Php120,999.

That’s it for our Camera Christmas Guide this year, folks. Got an amazing camera that’s not on this holiday list? We’d love to hear your suggestions at the comments section down below.

Ronnie Bulaong contributed to this post.

The post YugaTech Christmas Gadget Guide 2014: Cameras appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

Playboy, Hello Kitty, and Leica threesomes for a camera

What would happen if you combine Hugh Hefner’s soft-porn empire, a Japanese kawaii character for kids, and a camera manufacturer? You get the ultra-limited edition Leica C.

playboyleica

We’ve seen some limited edition cameras from Leica before, but this one will make a lot of people have a second look at the device. The camera, basically a Leica C, is imprinted with a winking Hello Kitty holding a camera while wearing the iconic Playboy bunny ears.

This uncommon collaboration began from the minds of a French online store Colette. The collector’s item is now on sale for $1200 (approx. Php53,000 — pretty steep, but the original Leica C will already cost you about Php31,000). Along with the camera are other Playboy x Hello Kitty products including smartphone cases, speakers, lighters, lollipops, and many other random merchandise.

Here are some of Leica C‘s specs:

12.1MP 1/1.7-inch Live MOS sensor
Leica DC Vario-Summicron 6-42.8mm f/2-5.9 lens
1/4000 shutter speed
80-12800 ISO
1920 x 1080 video recording
Wi-Fi
3-inch 920K dots LCD monitor

“People thought I was crazy, but now everyone agrees they look amazing together,” said Sarah Andelman, founder of Colette, as interviewed by Style.com.

The reason why this specific model is rare (aside from the fact that there’s not a big chance of a Playboy/Hello Kitty combo to happen again) is because only 10 cameras were produced for this edition. So if you’re a camera collector and would like to secure your own ‘Playboy Kitty’ camera, then head on over to Colette’s website right away.

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5 Biggest Lenses Ever Built

Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, think again. In this segment, we’ve ranked the five most outrageously sized, non-military lens in the face of the earth. Warning: Lens-envy imminent.

In the world of photography, a lens’ size isn’t always everything. As a matter of fact, there’s no need for a lens to be any bigger than it has to be. However, in order to achieve greater reach, while maintaining a relatively fast aperture, manufacturers are left with no choice but to make their products bigger and heavier as is the case for the lenses on this list.

5. Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM – the first on our list is this 1200mm prime lens from Canon. It’s the second lightest among the bunch, tipping the scale at only 36.37lbs. I made it sound like this bad boy’s a paper weight, but I bet you’ll agree with me once you see the other three bazookas that made our list.

canon 1200mm

Canon didn’t disclose how many of these lenses were made and sold, but it’s been rumored that there are only more or less 20 units in existence. This lens was first released two decades ago with an MSRP of $89,579. However, because of its rarity, the price of the lens inevitably went up with the most recent one sold for $120,000 at B&H Photo Video in New York City.

Focal Length: 1200mm
Aperture range: f/5.6 to f/32
Construction: 10 groups / 13 elements
Diaphragm blades: 9
Minimum focusing distance: 14 meters/45.9”

4. Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG – Sigma wasn’t joking one bit when they tagged this monster “NO OTHER LENS LIKE IT”. That tag line couldn’t have said it any better as it currently holds the title as the fastest 500mm lens in the world.

sigma 200-500mm

Of course, in order to achieve such feat while maintaining the highest possible image quality, Sigma had to make some adjustments on the lens’ body, resulting to a behemoth lens that’s both compatible with full-frame and APS-C cameras. Give it a military-inspired paint job and you have yourself a lens that’s worthy of the term BAZOOKA.

Oddly enough, this lens is the lightest among the pack, weighing marginally lighter (34.6lbs) than the one above it. Although its $32,000 price tag is not something that’s within reach for most of us, it’s actually quite a steal particularly to those who are into wildlife and sports photography.

Focal Range: 200-500mm
Aperture range: f/2.8 to f/22
Construction: 13 groups / 17 elements
Diaphragm blades: 9
Minimum focusing distance: 78.7-196.9”

3. Leica APO-Telyt-R 1600mm f/5.6 – It’s no secret that Leica brand has been synonymous to quality and premium price. These two traits couldn’t be any more evident in this $2M lens which was custom-built for Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Thani, the former minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Qatar.

leica 1600mm

This 132-pound camera sports a bayonet-type mount that snugs perfectly into a Leica R-series camera. Because of its sheer size and weight, shooting with this lens requires a durable tripod. And as rumor would have it, Sheikh Al-Thani customized a 4-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz and turned it into a mobile tripod for his two-million-dollar lens. Talk about fancy, eh?

Focal Range: 1600mm
Aperture range: f/5.6 to — (unspecified)
Construction: Unspecified
Diaphragm blades: Unspecified
Minimum focusing distance: Unspecified

2. Zeiss APO Sonnar T* 1700mm f/4 – The term bazooka is often used to describe a humongous lens. However, coining this optics as a bazooka is an understatement as it’s more like a Torpedo than a missile-firing-weapon.

zeiss sonnar 1700mm

Much like the lens before it, the APO Sonnar T 1700mm f/4 is commissioned by one hella rich customer who has a particular taste for long-distance wildlife photography. The name of the person who bought this gigantic lens was never disclosed, nor the price he/she paid to acquire it. However, it’s been speculated that the wealthy photography aficionado also hailed from Qatar as suggested by the Arabic markings and the State of Qatar emblem on the side of the lens.

Focal Range: 1700mm
Aperture range: f/4 to — (unspecified)
Construction: 13 groups / 15 elements
Diaphragm blades: Unspecified
Minimum focusing distance: Unspecified

1. Canon 5200mm f/14 – from Bazooka, to missile, now a Cannon Canon. Rounding up our list is the granddaddy of all prime telephoto lenses – the Canon 5200mm f/14 lens – which holds the title as the world’s largest SLR lens.

canon 5200mm

A combination of glass and lens, this massive lens’ aperture is controlled not by turning a dial or pulling down a lever, but by inserting an ND filter near the rear element. And with a reach that’s approximately a tenth of what the Hubble Space Telescope’s capability, this lens is constructed to zero in on a subject as far as 52 kilometers away.

That is, of course, if you’ve mounted a full-frame camera to it. However, if a dSLR camera with a cropped sensor was attached to it, say Canon EOS 7D, the lens should give you an eye-popping 8,320mm reach.

Here’s the Canon 5200mm f/14 in action:

It’s believed that only three of these Titans were ever built. One of those was posted on eBay a while back with a forty-five grand asking price. Given the rarity of the lens, I’d assume that some rich shutterbug would take it in a heartbeat, but it seems that Sheikh Al-Thani and the other guy who owns the lens #2 (which is probably the same guy) were not into Canon.

Focal Range: 5200mm
Aperture range: f/14 to – f/32
Construction: Not specified
Diaphragm blades: Unspecified
Minimum focusing distance: 4716”

Image Credit 1,
Image Credit 2, Image Credit 3, Image Credit 4

The post 5 Biggest Lenses Ever Built appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

5 Biggest Lenses Ever Built

Just when you thought you’ve seen it all, think again. In this segment, we’ve ranked the five most outrageously sized, non-military lens in the face of the earth. Warning: Lens-envy imminent.

In the world of photography, a lens’ size isn’t always everything. As a matter of fact, there’s no need for a lens to be any bigger than it has to be. However, in order to achieve greater reach, while maintaining a relatively fast aperture, manufacturers are left with no choice but to make their products bigger and heavier as is the case for the lenses on this list.

5. Canon EF 1200mm f/5.6L USM – the first on our list is this 1200mm prime lens from Canon. It’s the second lightest among the bunch, tipping the scale at only 36.37lbs. I made it sound like this bad boy’s a paper weight, but I bet you’ll agree with me once you see the other three bazookas that made our list.

canon 1200mm

Canon didn’t disclose how many of these lenses were made and sold, but it’s been rumored that there are only more or less 20 units in existence. This lens was first released two decades ago with an MSRP of $89,579. However, because of its rarity, the price of the lens inevitably went up with the most recent one sold for $120,000 at B&H Photo Video in New York City.

Focal Length: 1200mm
Aperture range: f/5.6 to f/32
Construction: 10 groups / 13 elements
Diaphragm blades: 9
Minimum focusing distance: 14 meters/45.9”

4. Sigma 200-500mm f/2.8 APO EX DG – Sigma wasn’t joking one bit when they tagged this monster “NO OTHER LENS LIKE IT”. That tag line couldn’t have said it any better as it currently holds the title as the fastest 500mm lens in the world.

sigma 200-500mm

Of course, in order to achieve such feat while maintaining the highest possible image quality, Sigma had to make some adjustments on the lens’ body, resulting to a behemoth lens that’s both compatible with full-frame and APS-C cameras. Give it a military-inspired paint job and you have yourself a lens that’s worthy of the term BAZOOKA.

Oddly enough, this lens is the lightest among the pack, weighing marginally lighter (34.6lbs) than the one above it. Although its $32,000 price tag is not something that’s within reach for most of us, it’s actually quite a steal particularly to those who are into wildlife and sports photography.

Focal Range: 200-500mm
Aperture range: f/2.8 to f/22
Construction: 13 groups / 17 elements
Diaphragm blades: 9
Minimum focusing distance: 78.7-196.9”

3. Leica APO-Telyt-R 1600mm f/5.6 – It’s no secret that Leica brand has been synonymous to quality and premium price. These two traits couldn’t be any more evident in this $2M lens which was custom-built for Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Al-Thani, the former minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage of Qatar.

leica 1600mm

This 132-pound camera sports a bayonet-type mount that snugs perfectly into a Leica R-series camera. Because of its sheer size and weight, shooting with this lens requires a durable tripod. And as rumor would have it, Sheikh Al-Thani customized a 4-wheel drive Mercedes-Benz and turned it into a mobile tripod for his two-million-dollar lens. Talk about fancy, eh?

Focal Range: 1600mm
Aperture range: f/5.6 to — (unspecified)
Construction: Unspecified
Diaphragm blades: Unspecified
Minimum focusing distance: Unspecified

2. Zeiss APO Sonnar T* 1700mm f/4 – The term bazooka is often used to describe a humongous lens. However, coining this optics as a bazooka is an understatement as it’s more like a Torpedo than a missile-firing-weapon.

zeiss sonnar 1700mm

Much like the lens before it, the APO Sonnar T 1700mm f/4 is commissioned by one hella rich customer who has a particular taste for long-distance wildlife photography. The name of the person who bought this gigantic lens was never disclosed, nor the price he/she paid to acquire it. However, it’s been speculated that the wealthy photography aficionado also hailed from Qatar as suggested by the Arabic markings and the State of Qatar emblem on the side of the lens.

Focal Range: 1700mm
Aperture range: f/4 to — (unspecified)
Construction: 13 groups / 15 elements
Diaphragm blades: Unspecified
Minimum focusing distance: Unspecified

1. Canon 5200mm f/14 – from Bazooka, to missile, now a Cannon Canon. Rounding up our list is the granddaddy of all prime telephoto lenses – the Canon 5200mm f/14 lens – which holds the title as the world’s largest SLR lens.

canon 5200mm

A combination of glass and lens, this massive lens’ aperture is controlled not by turning a dial or pulling down a lever, but by inserting an ND filter near the rear element. And with a reach that’s approximately a tenth of what the Hubble Space Telescope’s capability, this lens is constructed to zero in on a subject as far as 52 kilometers away.

That is, of course, if you’ve mounted a full-frame camera to it. However, if a dSLR camera with a cropped sensor was attached to it, say Canon EOS 7D, the lens should give you an eye-popping 8,320mm reach.

Here’s the Canon 5200mm f/14 in action:

It’s believed that only three of these Titans were ever built. One of those was posted on eBay a while back with a forty-five grand asking price. Given the rarity of the lens, I’d assume that some rich shutterbug would take it in a heartbeat, but it seems that Sheikh Al-Thani and the other guy who owns the lens #2 (which is probably the same guy) were not into Canon.

Focal Range: 5200mm
Aperture range: f/14 to – f/32
Construction: Not specified
Diaphragm blades: Unspecified
Minimum focusing distance: 4716”

Image Credit 1,
Image Credit 2, Image Credit 3, Image Credit 4

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