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Posts Tagged ‘SX70’

This dead Polaroid SX-70 was rebuilt as a fully functional digital camera

27 Jun

Josh Gross, a managing partner at design and development studio Planetary, has published a writeup detailing the conversion of an old defunct Polaroid SX-70 into a fully functional digital camera. The finished product retains the same external design as the original, but the innards have been heavily modified to include a Raspberry Pi Zero W and CCD sensor.

Gross details the rebuild in a blog post on his website, where he explains the project’s trickiest aspect was fitting the CCD and lens camera assembly into the Polaroid’s head. The original focus wheel and exposure wheels stayed intact, as well as most external components.

Moving on from the lens assembly, Gross says he removed the Polaroid camera’s Fresnel mirror and replaced it with a small 6.3cm (2.5in) screen in order to provide a live image preview. The screen assembly and battery were mounted within the camera’s film storage area, and the rest of the components were added.

One of the final images captured with the finished product.

Gross used OpenCV and Python on the software side for processing and displaying images. Size constraints required the use of a fisheye lens, so Gross used software to remove the fisheye effect for more authentic final images. Overall, he explains the project took 8 months of ‘on-and-off’ work to complete. Below is a full gallery of images shared with permission from Gross:

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‘Was there a point to it? Absolutely not,’ Gross says in his writeup. ‘Was it fun? Hell yeah.’

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon offers new developer kits for EOS bodies and PowerShot SX70 HS

05 Jan

Canon users who want to develop applications for their camera will be able to do so with new expanded SDK and API kits just announced by the company. The release updates the existing EOS Digital SDK (Software Development Kit) and introduces a new Camera Control API (Application Programming Interface) that is compatible with the new PowerShot SX70 HS bridge camera.

The kits allow users to develop their own methods for triggering and controlling some settings of compatible cameras, and in the case of the SX70 HS for controlling the powered zoom lens. As the new Camera Control API ‘features an agnostic operating system’ it can be operated from almost any platform, so will be compatible with a wide range of control devices from smartphones to desk top computers. The current ED SDK is only compatible with Windows and Mac environments.

The new version of the ED SDK, that adds the SX70 HS to the list of compatible cameras, is available now on the Canon Developers Website, while the Camera Control API will be released in March.

Press release:

Canon Europe Announces New SDK and API Package for Developers and Integrators

Power your enterprising vision with Canon PowerShot SX70 HS,
the first product supported in 2019

Canon Europe, a world leader in digital imaging solutions, announces the release of its new camera API package, offering a range of resources to developers. The combined EOS Digital software development kit (SDK) and all-new Camera Control API (CCAPI) create unique opportunities for developers and software engineers to take advantage of select Canon cameras and lenses, launching with the PowerShot SX70 HS.

Many developers have already benefited from Canon SDKs, enabling them to integrate Canon cameras and lenses in their solutions and control them remotely, wired via USB. Such applications include photo booths, robotic / automated units, event photography and recording, mass portrait / passport and photogrammetry systems.

The EDSDK benefits will allow users to control Canon cameras remotely from a Mac or PC and use the same code across all compatible Canon cameras. To take advantage of multi-platform support on select models[1] for fast development, the new CCAPI features an agnostic operating system, allowing wireless usage in any environment, such as Windows, Mac, Android, iOS or Linux.

Key EDSDK/CCAPI functions include:

  • Detecting, connecting/disconnecting the camera
  • Checking and changing camera settings, including time
  • Remote shooting
  • Downloading/erasing images, formatting cards

“We are delighted to be expanding our EOS Digital SDK to the PowerShot series[2] and provide a tool that enables control of the camera and its power zoom remotely”, said Yuko Tanaka, ITCG Product Marketing Director. “In addition, the new Camera Control API is based on Internet Protocol, making it compatible with all operating systems”.

The PowerShot SX70 HS is Canon latest premium bridge camera, that delivers a truly portable and versatile shooting experience. The camera features a powerful 65x optical fixed lens zoom, equivalent to a 21–1365mm focal length. It also has DSLR-style looks and handling, a 7.5cm Vari-Angle LCD screen, 20.3 Megapixel sensor and 4K Ultra High Definition video. The PowerShot SX70 HS is an ideal all-in-one camera, capable of handling all types of shooting scenario, without the need to carry multiple lenses.

Camera API Package Availability
The camera API package is a release driven by business users’ feedback and is part of Canon’s commitment to deliver convenient solutions to developers and integrators. The EOS Digital SDK is available for immediate download at www.didp.canon-europa.com.

The Camera Control API will be available from March 2019 via the Canon developer’s website.

For more information on the Canon PowerShot SX70 HS, please visit:
https://www.canon-europe.com/cameras/powershot-sx70-hs/

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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Canon PowerShot SX70 offers 65X zoom lens, 4K video and CR3 Raw support

21 Sep

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Canon has introduced its latest superzoom camera, the PowerShot SX70 HS. Its equivalent focal range of 21-1365mm hasn’t changed, but the sensor, image processor, viewfinder and video capabilities have been greatly improved.

The SX70 has a 20.3MP BSI-CMOS sensor paired with Canon’s latest Digic 8 processor. The lens remains at 65X (almost half that of Nikon’s new P1000,) with a maximum aperture range of F3.4-6.5. The new image processor has improved the effectiveness of the camera’s image stabilization system according to Canon, which can now reduce shake by up to five stops. The Digic 8 also brings along support for Canon’s CR3 Raw format, which has smaller file sizes than the previous CR2 format.

While the design of the camera isn’t radically different from that of the SX60, there are three notable changes. First, the electronic viewfinder is now OLED with 2.36 million dots, compared to LCD with 922k dots. There’s also an eye sensor that wasn’t present on the SX60. Second, there’s now a zoom switch on the lens barrel. The final change is a ‘deprovement’: the hot shoe on the SX60 is gone on the SX70.

The SX70 HS can shoot bursts at 10 fps with focus locked or 5.7 fps with continuous AF. UHD 4K video can be captured at 30p with a bit rate of 120Mbps. The SX70 continues to offer a microphone socket. The camera’s wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The PowerShot SX70 HS will ship at the end of November for $ 549.99.

Press Release

Zooming With Features: Canon Introduces Latest High-Power Zoom Digital Camera, The PowerShot SX70 HS

Latest Edition Provides 65x Optical Zoom, High-Resolution Electronic Viewfinder and 4K Video

MELVILLE, N.Y., September 20, 2018 – It’s a common saying that good things come in small packages and today, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, demonstrates this with the introduction of the new PowerShot SX70 HS compact digital camera. Featuring a 65x Optical Zoom Lens (equivalent to 211-1365mm1), 20.3 Megapixel2 CMOS imaging sensor and 4K video capabilities, the PowerShot SX70 HS camera is an ideal fit for anyone who wants powerful optical performance in a compact package. With a minimum focusing distance of 0cm3 and a zoom up to 2730mm1 (with ZoomPlus), the PowerShot SX70 HS allows users to create beautiful close-ups and stunning wide shots without changing lenses.

“In this day and age, cameras are becoming smaller while the desired list of features continues to grow,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Canon continues to be committed to incorporating the latest features in our compact cameras and the new PowerShot SX70 HS is our very latest version, providing the dynamic combination of a compact body, powerful zoom and robust features that photo and video enthusiasts alike will love.”

The PowerShot SX70 HS features a 0.39-inch, approximately 2.36-million dot, high-definition OLED Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) for clear, crisp representation of what the lens is seeing. This camera also features 4K video shooting and frame grabbing,4 and is the first Canon point-and-shoot camera compatible with the latest RAW format (.CR3). With the addition of a new eye sensor, the camera automatically switches to the EVF display simply by bringing the camera up to the eye. Additionally, the inclusion of built-in Wi-Fi®5 and Bluetooth®6 technology offers quick and easy sharing, making the switch from smartphone photography to the PowerShot SX70 HS camera simple and fun.

The DIGIC 8 processor enables the PowerShot SX70 HS camera to achieve five stops of IS with dual-sensing image stabilization (IS). Even during handheld shooting, IS allows users to take pictures with minimal worry about camera shake. The camera also features high-speed continuous shooting at up to 10 fps. A Zoom Framing Assist button on the side of the lens barrel enables quick adjustments of the view angle, which is especially useful during telephoto shooting. With a large grip for comfortable, stable shooting and an EOS-like user interface, the PowerShot SX70 HS will make it easy for artistic vision to come to life in the hands of photographers at any level.

Availability and Pricing

The PowerShot SX70 HS will be available for purchase in November 2018 for an estimated retail price of $ 549.997.

1 In 35mm format.

2 Image processing may cause a decrease in the number of pixels.

3 From the end of the lens, wide-angle only.

4 Frame grabbed images on the camera cannot be trimmed. Other than 4K movies, frame grabbing of Full HD or HD movies is not possible.

5 Compatible with iOS® versions 8.4/9.3/10.2, Android™ smartphone and tablet versions 4.1/4.2/4.3/4.4/5.0/5.1/6.0/7.0/7.1. Data charges may apply with the download of the free Canon Camera Connect app. This app helps enable you to upload images to social media services. Please note that image files may contain personally identifiable information that may implicate privacy laws. Canon disclaims and has no responsibility for your use of such images. Canon does not obtain, collect or use such images or any information included in such images through this app.

6 Compatible with select smartphone and tablet devices (Android™ version 5.0 or later and the following iOS® devices: iPhone 4s or later, iPad 3rd gen. or later, iPod Touch 5th gen. or later) equipped with Bluetooth® version 4.0 or later and the Camera Connect App Ver. 2.0.30. This application is not guaranteed to operate on all listed devices, even if minimum requirements are met.

7Availability, prices and specifications subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set be individual dealers and may vary.

Canon PowerShot SX70 HS specifications

Price
MSRP $ 549
Body type
Body type SLR-like (bridge)
Body material Metal, composite
Sensor
Max resolution 5184 x 3888
Image ratio w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels 20 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors 21 megapixels
Sensor size 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm)
Sensor type BSI-CMOS
Processor Digic 8
Color space sRGB
Color filter array Primary color filter
Image
ISO Auto, 100-3200
White balance presets 6
Custom white balance Yes
Image stabilization Optical
CIPA image stabilization rating 5 stop(s)
Uncompressed format RAW
JPEG quality levels Fine, normal
File format
  • JPEG (Exif v2.31)
  • Raw (Canon CR3)
Optics & Focus
Focal length (equiv.) 21–1365 mm
Optical zoom 65×
Maximum aperture F3.4–6.5
Autofocus
  • Contrast Detect (sensor)
  • Multi-area
  • Center
  • Selective single-point
  • Tracking
  • Single
  • Continuous
  • Face Detection
  • Live View
Autofocus assist lamp Yes
Digital zoom Yes (4x)
Manual focus Yes
Normal focus range 5 cm (1.97)
Macro focus range 0 cm (0)
Number of focus points 9
Screen / viewfinder
Articulated LCD Fully articulated
Screen size 3
Screen dots 922,000
Touch screen No
Screen type TFT LCD
Live view Yes
Viewfinder type Electronic
Viewfinder coverage 100%
Viewfinder resolution 2,360,000
Photography features
Minimum shutter speed 15 sec
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 sec
Exposure modes
  • Program
  • Shutter priority
  • Aperture priority
  • Manual
Built-in flash Yes
Flash range 5.00 m (at Auto ISO)
External flash No
Flash modes Auto, on, slow sync, off
Continuous drive 10.0 fps
Self-timer Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Spot
Exposure compensation ±3
Videography features
Format MPEG-4, H.264
Modes
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 120 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 60p / 60 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
  • 1920 x 1080 @ 30p / 30 Mbps, MOV, H.264, AAC
Microphone Stereo
Speaker Mono
Storage
Storage types SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I supported)
Connectivity
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMI Yes (micro HDMI)
Microphone port Yes
Headphone port No
Wireless Built-In
Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth
Remote control Yes (via smartphone)
Physical
Environmentally sealed No
Battery Built-in
Battery description LP-E12 lithium-ion battery & charger
Battery Life (CIPA) 325
Weight (inc. batteries) 608 g (1.34 lb / 21.45 oz)
Dimensions 127 x 91 x 117 mm (5 x 3.58 x 4.61)
Other features
Orientation sensor Yes
GPS None

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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MINT SLR670-S Noir is a refurbished Polaroid SX-70 with added auto modes

17 Nov

MINT has launched a refurbished and upgraded Polaroid SX-70 camera, dubbing it the SLR670-S Noir. In addition to all the features of the original Polaroid base model, MINT’s updated version includes A100 and A600 auto modes for using SX-70 film and ISO 600 film. 

According to MINT, its refurbished camera features ten shutter speeds with speeds up to 1/2000sec, two shutter options for long exposure, a focusing distance of 26cm to infinity, and a three-year warranty for maintenance. The camera itself is priced at $ 675, though a ‘Starter Pack’ with limited accessories is offered at $ 765 and an ‘Ultimate Package’ is offered at $ 869. It isn’t clear how many of these refurbished cameras MINT has available.

Via: The Phoblographer

Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

 
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