Gordon Laing has shared another episode of Retro Reviews, this time reviewing the 24-year-old Sony Mavica FD5, one of Sony’s earliest digital cameras that recorded cameras directly to 3.5” floppy discs.
The Mavica FD5 was released in 1997 and retailed for around $ 600. While not the first Mavica camera, it was the first digital Mavica camera. As Gordon explains in the 13-minute video, the selling point of the FD5 was its use of the ubiquitous 3.5” floppy disc as a storage medium. Whereas most other digital cameras in the mid-to-late 1990s either used built-in storage or more expensive (and sometimes proprietary) storage solutions, Sony opted to go for a solution that didn’t require most consumers to go out and purchase additional hardware.
Naturally, this solution made for a rather large, square-shaped camera. But, aside from its brick-like ergonomics [insert Sony ergonomics joke here], Gordon suggests the camera is fairly intuitive and straightforward due to its almost entirely auto nature (the only adjustable setting was exposure compensation +/- 1.5EV in .5EV increments). However, there are a few user experience quirks, such as the camera displaying only the numbers of images captured, not how many remain until your 1.4MB of storage is used up.
Below is a collection of sample photographs captured by Gordon with the Mavica FD5, used with his permission:
At the heart of the FD5 was a CCD sensor that was carried over from Sony’s line of digital video cameras and offered a whopping .3MP (640 x 480 pixels) of resolution. Gordon notes the camera applies rather aggressive JPEG compression to the images in order to fit 20–40 60KB photographs onto a single 3.5” 1.4MP floppy disc. The fixed focal length lens on the FD5 is a 47mm equivalent with a slider on the front of the camera for activating a macro lens that popped in front of the main lens.
The FD5 uses Sony’s FP-530 batteries, which were rated for up to 500 shots per charge. However, reviewing images and keeping the rear LCD display on for extended periods of time dramatically cuts into that shot count.
As always, Gordon’s video coincides with a written Retro Review of the camera, which you can read over on CameraLabs. You can find more of his Retro Reviews on Gordon’s DinoBytes YouTube channel and find his other photography work on his camera review website, CameraLabs.
The post Tips for Buying Used Camera Gear appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Tom Mason.
If you’re shopping on a budget, then buying used camera gear is a great idea.
Modern digital cameras are updated on a regular basis, so the used market is full of cameras looking for a new home. Used cameras are a great way to upgrade your gear without breaking the bank (and they often offer fantastic value for the money, too).
But when looking at secondhand gear, not all of it will be up to scratch. Not everyone cares for their gear, so you must exercise consideration and caution.
Below are some pointers to make sure you get the best bang for your buck when buying used gear. That way, you can update your cameras, lenses, and accessories for a fraction of the original price!
Buying used cameras
Cameras are complex machines, so there are a few key indicators to look for when shopping for a secondhand body.
Shutter count
The shutter count of a camera is simply the number of times the shutter has been fired in its lifetime.
(The shutter count is also known as the number of shutter actuations.)
Generally, the shutter count will give you a great indication of the amount of use a camera has seen, similar to checking the mileage on a car. Cameras are rated for shutter durability, with enthusiast models often rated around the 150,000-shot mark, and professional models rated at 300,000 shots or higher.
When browsing, low shutter counts often indicate less heavily-used items. Fewer than 10,000 shots on a camera that is 2-5 years old is very low, with the normal amount being around 30,000-50,000.
If a camera has a very high count of 100,000 or more, it’s probably best avoided, especially because this number will also give you a little insight into the owner’s use of the camera. Higher-count cameras may have seen professional use (and a harder life), while lower counts indicate casual consumer use.
So how do you find out a camera’s shutter count?
The number is often provided when cameras are being sold secondhand. But if you’re not sure, you can find it out a few ways, depending on the model. Check out this article for guidance: Finding Your Camera’s Current Shutter Actuations.
Camera checks
When looking at a used camera, there are a few things you can check to get a better understanding of its condition.
First, remove the body cap and inspect the inside of the camera around the mirror, focusing screen, and lens contacts. Look for any signs of damage, oil, or gunk that has collected in these areas.
Inspect inside the camera, paying special attention to the mirror and focusing screen; look for any sign of oil or residue.
Oil can indicate that the mechanisms of the internal parts are not functioning correctly, sometimes due to the camera being bumped or dropped. Look for any oil around the sides of the internal section. A small flashlight can be a big help here.
Remember to hold the camera face-down as much as possible to reduce the risk of contamination from dust and dirt.
When inspecting a camera, try to hold it face down.
If you have a lens on hand, it’s worth taking a test shot to look for any issues with the sensor.
Set the camera to f/16 to f/22, point it at a bright subject (a white wall or the sky), and shoot a frame. Play the image back and zoom in on the LCD screen to look for any marks and scratches.
Dust spots are not a huge problem, as a simple sensor clean can take care of them. But lines can be evidence of a scratch on the sensor (which means that the camera is best avoided).
What to look for in the test shot.
General wear and tear
Of course, it’s also important to look for any external signs of damage. Small scratches, scuffs, and marks should be expected, but heavy blemishes can indicate that the camera has been dropped. Rubber grips often start to come off with heavy use, but these can be replaced at a low cost.
Outside grips often become worn and unglued. As long as there are no signs of a drop, these are a simple and cheap fix.
Remove any protective screens or filters to look at the true body and lens in order to assess the damage.
Look externally for any signs of bumps and scrapes. Often, cameras will have a few marks, but major dents may be evidence that the camera has been dropped.
Buying used lenses
Camera lenses are expensive, so secondhand options are a great alternative to buying new.
Once again, however, there are a few things to look for when making a purchase.
Lens blemishes
When inspecting a lens, you’ll want to check both the external and internal optics.
Externally, look for any scratches or chips on the glass. Tilting the lens toward the light can help you make sure the optics are in great condition.
Note that, even if a lens has a front filter, it may not be optically perfect. So unscrew the filter and check the true front element to be sure.
Often, lenses will show signs of wear on their focus or zoom ring and the external barrel. Simple rubbing is normal and isn’t usually a concern.
Moving on, inspect internally for dust and mold. Shine a small light inside the lens and look for any particles. Most lenses will have small dust spots, but look for any large patches or seemingly smeared areas, as these will indicate whether the lens has any fogging or other internal issues.
Look through the optics to ensure they are clear of dust and mold.
Heavy dust and mold in a lens are to be avoided. The hundreds of particles inside this lens offer a perfect example of what not to buy.
Using a small flashlight, inspect inside the lens, paying particular attention to the aperture blades. Any evidence of oil may indicate the lens is functioning less than perfectly.
Aperture blades
On the rear of the lens, you’ll find a small lever that you can push to open the aperture blades. Do this, and check if the blades are snappy and without any stickiness that could be a sign of collected oil.
Using the lever, you can manually operate the aperture for a better sense of the lens’s functionality. Check that the aperture blades are snappy when they open and close.
Look through the lens with the iris fully open, once again checking for any particles or oil spots.
Open up the lens’s aperture to aid inspection.
Sharpness
Check the lens sharpness using a test chart. These patterned charts are easy to find online, and they can be stuck on a wall and used to quickly evaluate a lens.
Here’s how it works:
Mount the lens on a camera, then put the camera on a tripod. Focus on the test chart, then fire the camera using a remote release or the self-timer (to make sure you don’t create any camera shake).
Check the shots on your camera LCD (or, if you can, on the computer). Zoom into 100% to be sure of focus. Of course, some cameras and lenses will need fine in-camera adjustments for perfection, but any wildly unsharp tests may indicate a lens has been dropped or is out of alignment.
It’s also a good idea to test the full aperture range and look for sharpness from edge to edge. Even at f/2.8, the center of your test image should be relatively sharp.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to look for any external marks or blemishes when performing these tests, turning the focus and zoom rings to check for any stickiness or grating sounds.
With those checks done, you’ll have a good indication of whether the lens is up to scratch (and worth purchasing!).
Here’s a lens sharpness target. You should use a large version of this type of chart to test a potential purchase.
Where to purchase used camera gear
If you’re struggling to find high-quality used camera gear, here are a few suggestions:
Camera shops
Lots of camera retailers offer some secondhand stock as well as new cameras. Buying from a dealer has its advantages, because items are often checked before being added to the inventory, plus they’re often serviced before they’re sold.
Also, most dealers will have a return policy, so if you find any faults, you can exchange the used gear for a full refund. Many of the better dealers offer warranties on used gear that range from three months to a year, which will give you excellent peace of mind when purchasing.
Of course, one of the downsides of buying from a dealer is the increased price. Used kit bought from outlets often costs more than gear bought from private sellers – so you must decide if it’s worth that added peace of mind!
Ebay and private sellers
Purchasing from private sellers directly offers the best chance to find a bargain. Some people sell their gear at far below the market value. If you know what to look for, and are confident about the quality and genuine nature of the sale, you can often get an excellent deal.
It pays to be wary when shopping for used camera gear, though. Be suspicious of any deal that looks too good to be true, or of buyers who will only accept cash in person. Using PayPal or PayPal alternatives offers an additional layer of protection (one that’s very important in online sales).
Of course, private sellers generally won’t offer a warranty, but that is a risk you take to get a bargain.
Buying used camera gear: Conclusion
Buying used camera gear is all about taking your time to search out a bargain. Carefully study the used gear you’re considering, whether it’s from a dealer or a private seller, and look out for the telltale signs of damage.
Assuming you use careful consideration and do a thorough inspection before buying, the used market is a fantastic way to trade up your gear at a fraction of the cost of buying new.
And this, in turn, gives you money to buy additional kit – or even better, a trip or two on which you can use it!
Now over to you:
Have you ever bought used camera gear? What was the experience like? Share your thoughts, as well as any tips or tricks for purchasing used gear, in the comments below!
The post Tips for Buying Used Camera Gear appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Tom Mason.
Award-winning artist and director Lynette Wallworth released her documentary Awavena in 2018 to critical acclaim. The project’s director of photography, Greg Downing, utilized numerous cameras during production, including the specialized Canon ME20F-SH multi-purpose camera.
Awavena follows the first female shaman of the Yawanawa tribe in the Amazonian rainforest. As part of the film, the crew documents an Ayahuasca vision quest and represents this experience using real footage captured in incredibly low light and CGI. Downing, with the aid of the ME20F-SH, captured footage of fluorescent insects and plants in nearly no light, something that Canon believes could have proven impossible for other cameras.
This week, Canon shared a video going behind the scenes with Downing and the ME20F-Sh camera. You can view this below.
If you’d like to view the trailer for Awavena, it can be seen below. Awavena is Wallworth’s second mixed-reality VR film, following up on the Emmy-winning film, Collisions. Wallworth says, ‘We engaged DP Greg Downing from XRez to film in the Amazon and brought the eminent Australian fluorescent biologist Dr. Anya Salih, my longtime collaborator, along on the shoot so we could film the previously unseen world of forest fluorescence as part of the vision sequence.’ Wallworth’s full artist statement about Awavena can be read here.
While the Canon ME20F-SH camera is getting a bit long in the tooth, its technical specifications and features continue to impress over five years since it was announced. The camera utilizes a 2.26MP CMOS image sensor, which was originally announced all the way back in 2013. The sensor has pixels measuring 19?m, allowing for 1080/60p video capture in light levels as low as 0.0005 lux at a gain setting of 75 Db, which is equivalent to over ISO 4,000,000. The ME20F-SH supports Canon’s EF and EF-S lenses. While Awavena represented Downing’s first experience with the ME20F-SH camera, he has long relied upon Canon cameras for his work and has been a longtime Canon Professional Services member.
Canon ME20F-SH camera
This is not the first time footage from the ME20F-SH has been featured on our site. In 2016, Ben Canales recorded video of the Perseid meteor shower using the camera. You can see that footage below.
In 2017, Canon outfitted an industrial done with the ME20F-SH all-purpose camera for nighttime surveillance. That video can be seen here.
As PetaPixel notes in its coverage of Awavena, the ME20F-SH has been used to record the aurora borealis in real-time and record bioluminescent coral over 1,000 feet beneath the ocean’s surface. You can check out these videos below:
The post 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Used Camera Gear appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
I’ve bought a lot of used gear over the last decade.
Cameras.
Lenses.
Batteries.
And more.
A lot of those purchases turned out great. Some of them I still use to this day.
But a large chunk of the used purchases I made?
Trash.
In fact, in my more naive years, I was forced to return over 50% of the gear that I purchased. There were just so many problems: sand in focusing rings, stains on the front element, shutter buttons that couldn’t communicate with the shutter. (Oh, and my least favorite: Fungus inside the lens. Doesn’t that just make you shiver?)
And here’s the kicker:
I bought all of this gear through respectable buyers, who described the equipment as in “excellent condition,” “flawless,” “perfect,” “like new,” – you name it.
It got so bad that I considered leaving the used market entirely and just buying new. But I resisted.
Why?
Used camera gear is a real bargain – if you buy carefully. This is why I took all of my negative gear-buying experiences and turned them into a process for making sure I purchased good used gear.
At the core of that process is a series of questions. Questions that I’m going to share with you today. Some of the questions are for you, the buyer. Others should be posed to the seller before you put any cash down.
Are you ready to discover how to buy used gear effectively?
Let’s get started!
Question 1: Are you buying from a reputable seller with a money-back guarantee?
This is the number one most important thing that you should do when buying used gear.
Purchase from a seller that you trust – and that gives you an enforceable money-back guarantee. You don’t want to purchase a camera online, only to find that it’s full of water damage and sports a cracked LCD.
This means that buying used through Amazon is fine. All of their products are backed by Amazon month-long guarantees.
Buying used through eBay is also fine. Ebay’s buyer protection ensures that you’re not going to get ripped off in such an obvious fashion.
But this makes most forums (if not all forums) off-limits. If the forum doesn’t have a serious money-back guarantee that’s honored by the site itself, then stay away.
This also makes in-person sales off-limits, such as those done through Craigslist. Sure, you can inspect the item upon receipt, but what are you going to do when you get home, put that lens under a light, and realize it’s filled with an army of fungus?
It’ll be too late, and your seller may not be so receptive to a return.
So just don’t do it. Instead, use sites like Amazon, eBay, B&H, or KEH, which all have clear money-back guarantees.
Question 2: Does the seller include actual pictures of the gear?
Sellers not including pictures is a big warning sign, especially on a website like eBay, where pictures are the norm. It should make you ask: Why doesn’t the seller want to show off their “excellent condition” item? Is there something they’re trying to hide?
Another red flag is only showing a stock photo. These are easy to spot; they look way better than anything that a casual, eBay-selling photographer would have taken, and there tends to be only one or two of them.
If you like the price and everything else checks out, then go ahead and shoot the seller an email, asking for in-depth pictures of the item. If the seller refuses, then it’s time to look elsewhere.
You might come across some sellers who are offering many units of the same item (e.g., five Canon 7D Mark II’s). In this case, they likely have shown a stock photo, or a photo of one item, because they don’t want to go through the effort of photographing each piece of kit.
In such cases, you should message the seller and ask for pictures of the exact item that you’ll be purchasing. It’s too easy, especially with these big sellers, to end up with an item that you’ll have to send back.
Question 3: How many shutter actuations has the camera fired?
(Note: This section is for buying cameras.)
First things first: A shutter actuation refers to a single shot taken with a camera.
Every camera has a number of actuations its shutter is rated for. Once the shutter has reached around that point, it just…fails. While you can get the shutter replaced, it generally costs enough that you’re probably better off buying a new camera body.
If you want to know the shutter actuation rating of any particular camera, you can look it up through a quick Google search.
Of course, the shutter rating isn’t a hard and fast rule. There are some cameras that go far beyond their predicted shutter count, and there are some cameras that fail far sooner. The shutter count is just an average.
Now, when you look at camera listings online, you’ll see that shutter actuations are reported about fifty percent of the time.
But the other fifty percent of the time, there will be no mention of them.
This is for three possible reasons:
The seller doesn’t know about the importance of shutter actuations.
The seller can’t figure out how to determine the shutter actuations for their camera.
The seller doesn’t wish to share the shutter count because it won’t help the sale.
I would never buy a camera without knowing its shutter count. Therefore, I recommend reaching out to the seller and asking.
If the seller refuses to share the count, then let the camera go. If the seller claims they don’t know how to view the shutter count, explain that they should be able to find it easily, either within the camera itself or through a website such as https://www.camerashuttercount.com/.
If they still won’t give you the count, then don’t buy. It’s not worth risking it.
Question Four: Does the lens have any blemishes on the glass, fungus, scratches, haze, or problems with the focusing ring?
(Note that this is for purchasing lenses.)
This is a question to ask the seller, and I suggest you do it every single time you make a purchase.
Yes, the seller may be annoyed by your specific question. But this is a transaction; it’s not about being nice to the seller! And I’ve never had someone refuse to sell to me because I annoyed them with questions.
In fact, what makes this question so valuable is that it often forces sellers to actually consider the equipment they’re selling. Up until this point, the seller may not have really thought about some of these things. So it can act as a bit of a wake-up call and make the seller describe the item beyond “excellent condition.”
When you ask this question, make it clear that you want a detailed description. You genuinely want the seller to check for scratches on the glass, fungus in the lens, problems with the focusing ring, and more. You don’t want a perfunctory examination.
Unfortunately, there will still be some people who don’t do a serious examination, or who lie in the hopes that you won’t notice the issues (or be bothered enough to make a return). But asking the question is the best you can do.
Question Five: Has the seller noticed any issues with the item in the past?
This is another question to ask the seller before you hit the Buy button. It’s meant as a final attempt to determine whether the item has any issues.
In this case, by asking about the item’s past.
Unfortunately, there will be sellers who have had an item break repeatedly – but, as long as it’s working at the moment they take the photos, they’ll give it the “perfect condition” label. Fortunately, many sellers will still be honest with you. If they’ve had a problem with the item, they’ll say.
So it’s definitely worth asking – just to be safe.
5 Questions to ask before buying used camera gear: Conclusion
Now that you know the five most important questions to ask before buying used camera gear, you’re well equipped to start buying gear online.
Yes, you’re still going to run into the occasional issue, but if you’re careful, and you think about these crucial questions to ask before buying used camera gear…
…the number of issues will be far, far lower.
And you’ll be able to effectively take advantage of used camera equipment!
The post 5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Used Camera Gear appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
A news report from NHK World-Japan claims a crazed fan used eye reflections in images uploaded to social media, among other things, to track down a famous Japanese pop star’s condominium in Tokyo where he allegedly assaulted her.
The report claims Hibiki Sato admitted to figuring out which train station the star left to walk home by studying the light direction visible in some of her videos, as well as a reflection of the station visible in her eyes in an image she uploaded to social media. Equipped with those details, Sato allegedly waited at the station for the pop start to arrive, followed her to her residence, and assaulted her.
Though the situation is bizarre, the idea of high-resolution images inadvertently revealing information via eye reflections isn’t new. In 2013, for example, a study published in PLOS revealed that it is possible to extract images of identifiable bystanders from eye reflections captured in high-resolution images. The technique was presented as a potential tool for helping law enforcement gather data as part of investigations, but it’s clear the concept can be used by anyone for nefarious reasons as well.
Photographer and self-described ‘space nerd’ Cole Rise has detailed his creation of a replica of the Hasselblad camera used by NASA’s Apollo 11 astronauts. The model is precise down to the finest details, including the camera’s serial number and labels. The creation process, as explained by Wired, was a lengthy one, involving the acquisition of a Hasselblad Apollo camera prototype, NASA archival photos and more.
NASA engineers had heavily modified a Hasselblad 500 EL camera for the Apollo 11 mission, including adding motors, removing the focus screen and mirror, and adding heat-resistant aluminum paint, among other things. Rise spent four years working on his replica of this camera, a process that involved machining many of the components himself, in addition to salvaging select parts from a broken Hasselblad MK-70 camera.
In addition to the modified Hasselblad 500 EL camera, the Space Camera Co. website also shows his replica of NASA’s Hasselblad 500C camera, which had been modified by NASA engineers in collaboration with an RCA contractor. Rise worked on his 500C replica before the Apollo 11 camera, saying on the Space Camera Co. website:
By going through the tedious process of remaking this camera, you begin to uncover its secrets and the thought processes that went into making it space-worthy. It was the seed that eventually cemented Hasselblad’s relationship with NASA as the de facto space camera maker. And it was the project that taught me the skills required to eventually make a functional lunar camera.
Rise is making multiple 500C replicas for private collectors and creating a documentary that details his work. Rise’s website lists the Apollo 11 Hasselblad camera replica as currently on display in Le Marais, Paris.
Photo credits: Photos by Cole Rise, used with permission
The post Photo “Stolen” From Art Gallery, Used on Magazine Cover Without Permission appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
Last week, The Big Issue published an interview with renowned filmmaker David Lynch.
And the magazine put a headshot of David Lynch on the cover.
All of this would have been fine…
…except that the headshot of David Lynch wasn’t actually a headshot at all.
Instead, it was a photo of a framed David Lynch photo. The original was taken by Nadav Kander and displayed as part of a gallery exhibition.
In other words, a photographer attended Kander’s exhibition, took a photo of the framed David Lynch portrait, and the photo ended up on The Big Issue’s front cover. Note that this thoroughly violates copyright law, as Kander has ownership over all of his gallery images.
Kander vented his frustrations via Instagram:
[A] ”photographer” goes to one of my exhibitions and photographs my framed print of David Lynch…Unbelievable blatant copyright infringement. Sad behaviour and more. I would never have wanted this photograph sold.
View this post on Instagram
READ THIS: a”photographer” goes to one of my exhibitions and photographs my framed print of David Lynch. He uploads this picture to a stock site called Alamy. Now this week The BiG Issue which is a magazine in the U.K. publishes a interview with David and buys this despicably shot picture of my photograph, crops in and uses it on the cover of the mag this week. Unbelievable blatant copyright infringement. Sad behaviour and more. I would never have wanted This photograph sold…So photographer who did this, kindly call my studio and we should talk. My alternative is to just go up an avenue that is less than pleasant for you. I wish now I had not got your name taken down off the BI site. Then all could have seen you and “your picture”. My god I work hard to make my work what it is… but this is doubly insulting because added to this your site states clearly that permission should be sought before using your work!!! Go figure. #copyright #copyrightingringement #impissedoff
A post shared by Nadav Kander Studio (@nadavkander) on
How it happened
But how did this happen? How did The Big Issue, a reputable magazine, end up with a stolen photo on its cover?
As it turns out, The Big Issue did not purchase the David Lynch image directly. Instead, the image came from the stock site Alamy, which sold the image to The Big Issue.
The Big Issue writes, in response to Kander’s anger:
Hi Nadav, we’re very sorry you feel aggrieved. This image was sourced by the art team. They discovered it on Alamy. It’s a great image that we felt would help move the magazine. We told Alamy what we were doing and neither tried to pull the wool over anybody’s eyes nor get away without paying.
The first we discovered about the issues with the image was when your agency got in touch at the start of the week. Clearly, Alamy have some explaining to do. We would never intentionally do this. As an organisation that serves the complex needs of thousands of our vendors each year, we understand the need to meet emotional distress with sensitivity. We hope this goes some way to explaining the situation. If you would like to discuss further, please DM us.
This apology would probably be fine, putting the blame squarely on Alamy and the photographer. Except that it turns out the stock image purchased by The Big Issue is different from the image that appears on the magazine cover.
Specifically, the David Lynch photo-of-a-photo acquired by The Big Issue showed a clear frame, as well as an information plaque. It also included shadows that fell across the glass:
But The Big Issue cropped out the frame and the information plaque, apparently oblivious to the photo’s illegal nature.
(Since then, the photo has been removed from The Big Issue’s website, as well as from Alamy.)
So…
Who do you think is to blame for this fiasco?
Is it the fault of the photographer, who took the picture and sold it to Alamy?
Is it the fault of the stock agency, Alamy, who put the photo up for sale on its site? Or is it the fault of The Big Issue for using a questionable photo in the first place?
Let me know right now in the comments!
Featured image photo by Samuel Zeller on Unsplash
The post Photo “Stolen” From Art Gallery, Used on Magazine Cover Without Permission appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jaymes Dempsey.
During the launch of Apple’s new hardware and software yesterday at the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2019 an unreleased 8K Canon video camera was used to capture high resolution footage to demonstrate the quality of the new Pro Display XDR. The video camera was mounted on a robotic arm and was feeding the Apple display with 4:4:4 ProRes 8K raw video via an Atomos Shogun, according to tech YouTuber Jonathan Morrison who live streamed from the event.
During his video the Apple rep refers to the camera on the robotic arm as an ‘unreleased 8K Canon camera’ and from the clips it is easy to see it is designed in the style of the company’s C series. Interestingly, it appears to be mounted with a Sigma 18-35mm T2 in the EF mount. The relevant portion of the video is at roughly the 10:55 mark in the video below:
Canon has featured 8K demonstration cameras and displays in the past at its Canon Expo events, but this is the first time it has allowed the technology to be shown outside of the ‘showcase’ environment, and in a body form that we would recognize.
Last summer, a Kickstarter campaign raised funds for moldable, eco-friendly plastic sticks called FixIts. The product is billed as a DIY tool that enables anyone to easily mold durable plastic into whatever little gizmo or component they need, similar to Sugru, but more eco-friendly. The FixIts sticks are now available to order in orange, black, and white colors.
FixIts sticks can be used creatively for a number of projects, and that includes potentially being used to create small custom camera gear mounts and accessories. In addition, the biodegradable plastics can be used to fix broken gear, such as creating a replacement tripod foot, repairing a bit of missing plastic or reinforcing a weak cable.
The product is similar to other moldable plastics; users only need to put the stick into a cup of hot water, wait for the plastic to soften, then mold it into whatever shape is desired and let it cool down. These created components can be heated and used again to create different objects.
FixIts are available now in three-stick packs $ 8.53 / £6.50 / €7.62.
The nonprofit U.S. organization Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) published a video that gives viewers a brief look behind-the-scenes at its vehicle crash test photography. During the five minute video, which was published in 2015, IIHS VP of Media Operations and Production Pini Kalnite walks viewers through how the organization produces its high-quality crash footage and images, including everything from its custom-built lighting array to its high-speed cameras.
Kalnite explains the IIHS’ Vehicle Research Center (VRC) is ‘more than a scientific laboratory,’ also doubling as ‘a specialized production facility where we produce footage and pictures’ for engineers. The nonprofit created its VRC with the intention of producing high-quality content.
The VRC is similar to a Hollywood sound stage, according to Kalnite, who explains that the facility includes a grid ceiling capable of holding a custom-built light system that outputs 750k watts of diffused light. The organization uses high-speed digital cameras with cinema-quality lenses to capture ultra-slow-motion videos and still images.
In addition to the high-speed video cameras, IIHS also uses high-resolution cameras to capture images of the crashed vehicles, as well as digital cameras that record footage at regular speeds. Though Kalnite doesn’t detail any of the models used in the production, the video briefly reveals a Hasselblad camera as the source of the VRC’s crash action shot and post-crash photos.
‘The images we produce are more than just tools to help engineers understand what happens in a crash test,’ Kalnite explained. ‘They’re also a vital part of our communications effort.’ The organization’s content has appeared in major movies, news broadcasts, and advertisements.
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