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TECH WATCH
The wait is over
Digital Camera Makers Heed Call for Wide-Angle Imaging
New cameras capture all of a home’s features in one shot.
BY MIKE ANTONIAK
As handy as digital cameras are for taking pictures from the field, users often share a common frustration—the inability to take wide-angle shots to capture all the features of a room or a house in one standard-size photo.
Real estate professionals who have experience with film photography know a wide-angle lens is necessary to convey what the property looks like. But until now, digital camera vendors have been slow to respond, concentrating on building cameras for the broadest spectrum of users rather than buyers with a specialized need, like wide-angle photography. Those who want to take wide-angle shots have had to purchase optional add-on wide-angle lens converters, if available for their camera model.
That’s all changing, thanks to the arrival of a new class of compact cameras equipped for wide-angle imaging right out of the box as well as digital SLRs. In fact, most camera makers already have or will soon offer at least one model with a wide-angle setting as a standard feature. Many have just announced this fact within the last two months.
But first, here’s some information for those of you who would rather adapt your existing camera than buy a new one with a wide-angle feature. If you own a traditional single-lens reflex camera (SLR)—the standard for amateur and professional 35mm photography—you can add an accessory lens, which will give you many more options for the types of pictures you can take. For wide-angle imaging, a lens described as equivalent to a 28mm lens would be adequate.
If you have a traditional compact or point-and-shoot camera that you’d like to adapt, you’ll need to buy an accessory lens adapter, which fits over the lens that’s permanently fixed to your camera body. Lens adapters aren’t available for every camera model, so check with your vendor or the camera manufacturer to see if wide-angle imaging is an option. Another good source for adaptor lenses is after-market supplier Tiffen.
New Cameras Have Built-In Options
But if you’re in the market for a new camera and want wide-angle photography, you now have many choices. You’ll likely find one of the new wide-angle compacts will meet your needs; they’re easy to use and adaptable to most photo situations. The wide-angle lens feature is found on the mid- to high-end range of current models, with prices starting around $300. You may also want to add an auxiliary flash for shooting interiors.
If you’re serious about photographic pursuits and want the full range of creative options, a digital SLR makes more sense. The important thing to remember here is that when you buy a digital SLR you buy a kit. The camera body is just the starting point of a system you’ll build over time with additional lenses, filters, and accessories like that extra flash. However, some new SLRs come with a wide-angle add-on lens as part of the basic package.
It’s good to get hands-on experience with several cameras before buying. Your best source is either a camera specialty store or consumer electronics retailer, which will offer a selection of wide-angle cameras from several vendors.
Here are some new models either in stores now or expected to arrive within the next few months. Check vendor Web sites for more details and information on all of their wide-angle offerings.
- PowerShot S70 by Canon. At $599.99, this compact camera has a 3.6x, 28-100mm zoom lens and 7.1 megapixel (MP) image sensor. Canon also has announced three new wide-angle lenses for its EOS Digital Rebel SLR camera.
- FinePix E-Series by Fuji. New this summer, this line of three E-Series compact digital cameras features wide-angle 28mm optical zoom lenses. Prices range from $299.99 for the FinePix E500 to $499.99 for the E550.
- Maxxum 7Dby Konica Minolta.This new digital SLR gives users a choice of two wide-angle zoom lenses: a 17mm to 35mm and a 28mm to 75mm. Pricing hasn’t been announced.
- CoolPix 8400by Nikon.This high-end compact, priced at $899.95, features a 3.5x 24-85mm wide-angle zoom lens and an 8MP image sensor.
- EVOLT E-300 by Olympus. This model includes a 3.2x 28-90mm wide-angle zoom as part of the basic package. Pricing hasn’t yet been set on this 8MP camera, which is expected to hit stores in December.
- *ist DS by Pentax. The newly announced camera and companion wide-angle 18mm-to-55mm zoom lens is a downsized version of an SLR. Pricing on the lens and camera body will be announced when they ship in November.
Previously by Antoniak:
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