Author Archives: bobatkins

MINOX Digital Classic Camera DCC 5.1

With the new Digital Classic Camera 14.0, MINOX now presents a 14 megapixel edition of this classic. Designed in fascinating detail and with a sophisticated stylish format the new Digital Classic Camera MINOX DCC 14.0 is a true example of first-class German engineering from the fifties.

What’s this? Looks like a digital Leica for $239!…Don’t get too excited though. It’s a 1/3 scale “replica” that suggests a 1950’s Leica. The lens is fixed, though there is a 4x digital zoom and it shoots VGA video too. The camera has a 2″ LCD and takes SD memory cards. The fixed lens is equivalent to around a 40mm lens on a full frame 35mm camera – ideal for street photography?. You can’t beat it for cuteness though and at $239 it won’t burn a huge hole in your wallet!

Pre-order from B&H for $239

You can also get the earlier 5 MP version which looks much the same for only $169.

5.1MP Minox for $169

via MINOX – Visible Innovation: Description Digital Classic Camera DCC 5.1.

New Hampshire bill proposes aerial photography ban

“…Neal Kurk (R), member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives since 1986 has recently sponsored HB 619-FN to make aerial photography illegal in their state, which many are considering a look into the future. States are currently struggling with how to deal with advances in drone technology, particularly mini-drones, fueled by fears not only that the federal government is using drones…”

via Aerial photography ban proposed for all but government – AGBeat.

Comet PANSTARRS – finally!

I finally manages to see and get a couple of quick images of Comet PANSTARRS. I first tried on March 9th from a dark location with a clear horizon, but no luck. Since then it’s been cloudy but tonight it was clear and I got this shot around 8pm (one hour after sunset) as the comet was starting to disappear into the trees from my less-than-ideal local viewing site (click on image for slightly larger version). Couldn’t see it with the naked eye, it was just visible in binoculars, but it showed up pretty well on the images. To the naked eye there was nothing there! This shot was taken using ISO 6400, a shutter speed of 0.6 seconds using a 300mm lens at f4.0. Focus wasn’t perfect since I was fumbling around in the dark and rushing to get an image before the comet wen’t down behind the trees. The weather forecast here in NJ isn’t good for comet viewing with no really clear skies for the next 10 days, so unfortunately it will be a while before my next image. Over the next month the comet will grow fainter, though it will move higher in the sky which will allow visibility later in the evening under darker skies.

“Making the invisible visible” – the ISS Image Frontier

Canon Spring 2013 Products Announcement

Looks like something is coming from Canon. Nothing from Canon USA yet, but the above is from Canon China. My Chinese is non-existent, but my friend and colleague Shun Cheung (ShunCheung.com) tells me that it’s an invitation to attend Canon’s product announcement on March 22nd and that the president of Canon China will be present.

Note that China is 13 hours ahead of the US east coast, so that morning in China on March 22nd is evening in New York on March 21st.

There will also be a Canon press conference on March 21st at 10am in Prague. That would be 4am on the 21st in New York.

So it looks like we will hear from Canon on Thursday March 21st about new products for the Spring. Obviously they are going not to say exactly what products ahead of the event, but I would not be at all surprised to see a new crop of Powershot digicams, a successor to the EOS 60D (EOS 70D?), an update or addition to the EOS-M line and perhaps a lens or two. Eventually the EF 200-400/4L IS USM Extender is going to be released. It’s been around in development for years and I actually played with one last fall in New York, so sooner or later they must be intending to sell it! I won’t be able to afford one but I’m sure there will be people waiting in line for it once it’s available.

Samsung NX1100 mirrorless

Samsung seem to have accidentally revealed details of the NX1100 by posting a user manual on their website before actually announcing the camera. I’m sure the announcement will come soon, but it looks like the NX1100 will have a 21.6MP sensor, ISO to 12,800, JPEG and RAW images, 1080p HD video at 24 or 30 fps with stereo audio, contrast detection AF and a burst mode of up to 30 fps. No price in the manual of course!

Vizelex RhinoCam for Sony NEX E-Mount Cameras

RhinoCam couples either a Pentax 645, Mamiya 645, or Hasselblad V medium format lens with a Sony NEX series camera. The built-in Composition Screen enables photographers to preview the composed shot. The lens remains firmly in place while the RhinoCam’s moving platform positions the NEX sensor for multiple precisely-positioned exposures

via Vizelex RhinoCam for Sony NEX E-Mount Cameras.

Adobe Photoshop Touch for your Phone

Photoshop for your phone. What will they think of next…at least it isn’t $600!

Adobe® Photoshop® Touch lets you quickly combine images, apply professional effects, and share the results with friends and family through social networking sites like Facebook — all from the convenience of your iPad or Android™ tablet, iPhone or Android phone, and iPod Touch.

via Adobe Photoshop Touch | The new tablet app for creative photo editing

New Canon Rebates – March 2013

Canon have extended some EOS body/lens rebates and introduced some new ones, so no there are rebates on the EOS 5D MkIII, EOS 6d, EOS 7D, EOS 60D, Rebel T4i, Rebel T3i, Rebel T3 and EOS-M. With the Rebel bodies and the EOS-M you have to buy a lens too, but with the others you have the option of buying the body only or a kit with a lens. This new program runs through March 30th 2013

The current lens and speedlite program also runs through March 30th 2013.

Canon Rebates – 2013

Nikon COOLPIX A – APS-C compact digicam

More new announcements from Nikon. This time a full APS-C sensor compact digicam with a 16 MP sensor and a 28mm (equivalent) f2.8 lens. The only downside? It’s listed at $1099.95. That’s a lot for a fixed lens camera with a relatively slow prime. If you want the viewfinder too it’s an extra $449.96. The question is would you buy this or an APS-C mirrorless interchangeable lens camera like one of the Sony NEX series with a similar prime? You can get a Sony NEX-5R for $548 and a Sony 16mm F/2.8 for $248. Of course the Coolpix A is a little smaller, butthen there’s always the Canon Powershot G1x with an almost APS-C sensor and 28-112mm lens which is also f2.8 at 28mm and is selling for $699.

The coolpix A is neat, but it would have been even neater with a f1.8 or even an f2 lens. Of course then it would have to be bigger which I guess would spoil it as a “pocket” camera, not to mention make it even more expensive.

Unlike any other COOLPIX camera, the new COOLPIX A is equipped with a DX-format CMOS sensor that enables users to achieve superior image quality previously only possible with a Nikon D-SLR. The combination of this 16.2-megapixel DX-format sensor and ultra-sharp prime NIKKOR lens firmly positions the COOLPIX A as the reigning flagship camera in the COOLPIX line.

The all-glass 18.5mm (28mm equivalent) prime lens has an f/2.8 aperture, allowing users to shoot with a shallow depth of field to blur backgrounds for professional-looking photos. Even when the sun goes down, the lens offers the ability to turn a fleeting glance into a flattering moonlit portrait with just a press of the shutter. Always ready for the spontaneous moment, the camera’s quick AF performance and 4 frames-per-second (fps) burst help users to consistently capture any moment with outstanding image quality.

via Nikon’s Newest Advanced Performance COOLPIX Cameras Provide Incredible Quality and Control for Those Serious About Capturing Stunning Images.