From 28 to approx September 18 I'll be away for a long trip to Norway and Sweden. In these weeks, I'll have no internet access. I'll try to reply to every question on the forum and to every e-mail when I come back! 

I have added new photos to the galleries Flora - Trebbia Valley, Macro - Trebbia Valley III, Macro - Trebbia Valley and Fauna - Other Birds III.

Nikon has announced two new amazing cameras! The new Nikon D3 has a 12 megapixels fullframe sensor (yes! the Nikon FF camera has arrived!), 9FPS at full resolution, ISO 100-25600 (yes - 25600, it is not a typo!), a whole new 51-points AF, live view (with AF capability), 900,000pixels 3" screen an much more. It will be available from november at US$ 5000.

The Nikon D300 instead has a 12 mp APS-C sensor, 8 FPS (with vertical grip), the same big screen with live view, weather sealed body and ISO 100-3600. The is no doubt that the new Nikons are impressive!

Nikon has announced five professional lenses: the amazing 14-24 f/2.8 AFS and the 24-70 f/2.8 AFS zooms, and the VR version of all big superteles: 400 2.8 VR, 500 f/4 VR and 600 f/4 VR.

I have concluded the 1D3 review with four full size samples and the conclusions. The image quality is amazing, really good even at high ISO - even ISO 3200 has relatively low noise!

Canon 1D Mark III - samples and conclusion

The new Canon 1Ds Mark III has arrived! The new camera has a 21 megapixel fullframe (24x36mm) CMOS sensor, 5 FPS x 15 RAW or 45 JPEG, 3" LCD screen with live view, 14 bit RAW, Digic III and Anti-dust. The price (body only) is US $ 8000. Canon has also announced two new lenses: the consumer 18-55 f/4-5.6 IS and the professional 14mm f/2.8 L USM II.

Full details about 1Ds3: Canon 1Ds Mark III Announcement and Specifications

The new Canon 40D has arrived! The new camera has a 10 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, 6.5 FPS x 17 RAW or 75 JPEG, 3" LCD screen with live view, 14 bit RAW, Digic III and Anti-dust. The price (body only) is US $ 1299; it will be available from september.

Full details: Canon 40D Announcement and Specifications

I'd added new photos to the gallery Macro - other places II!

The AF is one of the most talked features of Canon 1D3: while it promises big improvements, many users have reported AF issues, in particular with fast moving subjects in bright light. I have updated the 1D3 review with the autufocus test:

Canon 1D Mark III - Autofocus 

I have updated the 1D3 review with more info about the body and the new tecnologies of this amazing camera!

Canon 1D Mark III Review - Body and Technology 

I have the 1D3 in my hand and I'd just updated the 1D3 page with a in-depth comparision with the 20D on ISO performance, from ISO 50 to 6400:

Canon 1D Mark III ISO Performance (vs Canon 20D) 

In photography forums and review you will often see the term "100% crop". What does it mean? A 100% crop is a crop, not resized, from the full size image. If you want too see a detail of a photo at full resolution, you have two possibilities: you can show the entire photo at full resolution (but it is not recommended for internet, since it would take some time to download), otherwise you can show just a small portion of the photo. In other words...

The new article is online: What is a 100% crop?

The new top of the line Canon camera has arrived. The 1D Mark III is a killer camera for sport and nature photographers - it offers an unpreceded 10 FPS continuous shooting speed with a 10 megapixels APS-H (1.3x) sensor. Other major innovations include a new autofocus system with 19 cross-type AF sensors, ISO 50-6400, anti-dust system and 3.0" LCD with live view. Does it delivers what it promises? I'm going to publish a detailed review next week, when I'll have the camera in my hands (thanks Marco!); in the meantime, you can learn more about the 1D3 in this concise preview.