Well, I had another try. Again I got lucky with a clear patch of sky in the west about an hour after sunset. This time I took several image sequences and the image above was made by stacking 8 images together. The sky is getting a little darker now the comet is a little higher and can be seen longer after sunset. There are a number of stars in the image now. Again shot with a 300/4L lens on an EOS 7D. Each exposure was around 2 seconds at f4 and ISO 3200.
Here’s a second sequence:
Samsung have applied for a trademark on the name “Android NX”. Now “NX” is the name Samsung use on their line of mirrorless cameras and “Android” is, well, it’s Android, the operating system used on smartphones and tablet computers. Samsung have an Android powered “point and shoot” (compact digicam), but Android on a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera would be an advance.
What’s so special about an Android based camera? Well, you can write an App for that. If your regular camera only lets you bracket 3 images, you’re stuck with it. If your Andorid powered camera only has a 3 image bracket and you want 5 images or 7 images or 19 images, you could in principle write and App to do that. You could write an App for stop motion imaging, or one that took a shot when something moved into an area of focus. There’s almost no end to what it’s possible to do in principle given access to the hardware in the camera via Android. Not to mention playing “Angry Birds” on your camera or listening to music, the radio or podcasts while recording your position using GPS and uploading your images to Facebook via WiFi or even 3G or 4G wireless.
Is such a camera in development? Who knows. Samsung may just be staking out the territory in case they decide to make one. They certainly have a lot more Android development experience than the major traditional camera companies do (like Nikon and Canon). Samsung make some of the world’s best selling Android powered smart phones.
Look like we should see information on the new Canon products released around 1am New York time tonight (i.e. 1am on 3/21/13).
Stay tuned for the full release after 1am EDT. That would be around 7am local time in Eastern Europe, 9am in Moscow, 2pm in Tokyo
Managed to get a brief glimpse of comet PANSTARRS again tonight through a break in the clouds just after sunset. Using a 300mm lens on an EOS 7D and a shutter speed of 2 seconds at f4 and ISO 3200 the comet recorded quite well. Any longer exposure resulted in blur due to the earth’s rotation. It’s getting a little higher in the sky, moving slowly towards the north and becoming fainter, but there’s still a good chance to see it in binoculars over the next week or two.
It looks like word has leaked out about a new Canon EOS DSLR ahead of Canon’s scheduled press conference on the 21st. The Best Buy website briefly listed details of a new camera. While there is absolutely no guarantee that these details are accurate, or even that a camera will be announced soon, the odds are that the details are substantially correct.
via New EOS DSLR on the way? EOS-b? EOS-100D? – Bob Atkins Photography.
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!
You can also get the earlier 5 MP version which looks much the same for only $169.
via MINOX – Visible Innovation: Description Digital Classic Camera DCC 5.1.
“…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.
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.
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.