Digital Photography Review has some samples from a beta of Sigma’s upcoming and LONG-awaited large-sensor compact DP1.

From what I can tell having a very quick look at these is that the detail as you’d expect with a Foveon sensor, and the dynamic range looks pretty too. Colour aberrations look pretty controlled in that lens too, as is lens flare, including when the sun is right in the shot.

Also to be expected, but nice to see pretty much confirmed is the very low noise on the ISO 800 sample. What little noise there is looks like “nice noise” too – nothing to make you recoil. That’s the main conflict of compact cameras for me: the times when I really need something smaller to shoot with is also exactly when I need good high ISO and/or low-light performance, like in a bar or club.

Yet another item for the Gearlust list! <sigh>

Gearlust. I’m going to need more money in 2008 I think.

Axiotron’s ModBook looks pretty nice and now it’s shipping.

At least this gearlust more or less obviates another.

As everyone knows, photography is 10% photographer, 10% equipment and 80% lighting (or something like that) proving again the 80-20 rule I suppose. Then again, lighting’s 80% can largely be answered by equipment or more precisely its correct application.

Anyway, the point is that there’s not much difference between shots with an SLR and a good compact if the lighting is good. (Not taking in to account responsiveness, speed and all that…) I’ve done this twice in the last few days, setting up a couple of 285HV’s with umbrellas in the first case and bounces off a low-ish white-ish ceiling in the second case. The shots from the 20D and the GX100 aren’t that easy to tell apart.

This is “sensible” gearlust though! Still waiting for these to be available in Europe for something like a reasonable price. UK: £350 (c. $700!) when it’s under $500 across the pond.

As a dog on TV once said: “I want one!”

From the product page: “The Nova Solar Camera / Gear Bag gives the photographer an extra power source in the great outdoors. The large cavity bag can handle a digital SLR camera and 3 lenses with room for more accessories. The bag features adjustable dividers and foam to customize the interior to fit your specific camera gear needs.”

Engadget: Canon China spills beans on new DSLR. It looks sort of interesting, with its full-frame 10.1 megapixels and ultra-sonic dust removal. Nothing amazing, though, really. (And am I the only one not following these Canon EOS DSLR naming conventions?)

What looks more interesting, though, is the new EF 50mm f/1.2L USM lens also announced, along with the EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM, which as far as I can tell, a lot of people have been asking for (the IS part, of course…)

[UPDATE: So, it turns out it's an APS-C sensor...]

Predictably, DPReview have got the hands-on preview.

Buy Epson P-2000 at Amazon.