Italian accessories brand Manfrotto has announced a new model in the 190 range of tripods that is lighter and more compact than others in the series. The Manfrotto 190Go! is designed for traveling photographers and those working on location who require an eye-height tripod that packs away to take up as little space as possible. Read more
Tag: lightweight
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ARRI announces the ALEXA Mini 4K UHD, a lightweight carbon fiber cinema camera
We don’t normally write about thirty-thousand-dollar cinema camera, but the ARRI ALEXA Mini caught our eye. This digital motion picture camera packs a whole lot of firepower into a super compact, carbon-fiber body. The specs also foreshadow what me might expect in future consumer-level cameras, in terms of video capabilities. Read more
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Nikon introduces lightweight FX 300mm f/4 and updated DX 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 ED zoom
Nikon has taken the wraps off of two new versions of existing lenses in its NIKKOR lineup. The AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II and AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR are introduced for the Consumer Electronics Show 2015, underway tomorrow in Las Vegas. Read more
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Future Materials: Lightweight Carbon Fiber Architecture
[ By Steph in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]
The buildings of the future might just look as lightweight as a spiderweb, seeming as if they could blow away at any moment, while actually being incredibly strong. In the past, architects had to choose between delicate looks and durability, but the development of new composite materials unveils all sorts of possibilities. The c-LITH research project demonstrates the strength of digitally fabricated carbon fiber filaments stacked in small sections.
The team created a prototype that’s 14 feet tall and 8 feet wide at the base, yet uses only 30 pounds of material. It’s made of 143 wound carbon fiber filament ‘bricks’ that can be scaled up for architectural production. The use of carbon fiber has been fairly limited in architecture, as it usually comes in panels like those used for airplanes, and isn’t exactly cost-effective.
Michigan-based architecture firm Area used inexpensive cardboard molds to create the sections using carbon fiber filament pre-pregnated with epoxy resin to keep it malleable until baked. They built their own low-heat oven to cure the sections at 260 to keep the cardboard from catching fire. Once finished, the pieces were soaked in water so the cardboard could be removed.
The resulting bricks are stacked into a tetrahedral geometric shape, and pins connect the components, making them easy to assemble and disassemble. The designers see the possibilities as virtually endless, and it’s fun to imagine what could be made with this material at a larger scale.
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[ By Steph in Conceptual & Futuristic & Technology. ]
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Lightweight ‘Airbeams’ Frame Inflatable Geodesic Dome Tent
[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Products & Packaging. ]
Derived from crystal structure of diamonds and geodesic domes of Buckminster Fuller, these all-weather structures are astonishingly strong but incredibly light at the same time.
Created by Heimplanet, the Maverick grew out of a previous iteration, The Cave, which was similarly structured, eschewing solid poles in favor of an impressive custom airbeam system.
Made to withstand winds of over 100 miles per hour, each section of the all-weather Maverick can be separated from the next chamber when deployed. As a result, the entire structure can be inflated at once but a failure in one segment does not cause the deflation of the whole.
More about the materials: “The airbeams are built with a resistant double-layer construction: an extra airtight TPU (thermoplastic urethane) bladder keeps the air inside for a long time. An outer jacket made of a high-tenacity polyester fabric ensures extra stability, protection and durability.”
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New York studio Snarkitecture covered the Design Miami tent at Art Basel with giant inflatable white sausages made of vinyl, for a stalactite-like effect.
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[ By WebUrbanist in Design & Products & Packaging. ]
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Giotto’s launches ‘Air’ range of lightweight tripods
Giotto’s has announced four new lightweight and compact tripods designed for travel. Coming in both aluminum and carbon fiber models, they all feature four-section legs for portability, a Y-shaped center column and include a carrying case. The new ‘Air’ tripods will retail from £180-£334 ($ 301-$ 559). Learn more