Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP Waterproof Digital Camera

Posted on January 30th, 2010 by deshot


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Fujifilm FinePix Z33WP 10 MP Waterproof Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Green) (Electronics)

List Price: $159.95 USD
New From: $121.99 In Stock
Used from: $122.00 In Stock


The FinePix Z33WP is Fujifilm’s first waterproof digital camera. No longer do you need to worry about damaging your camera in less than optimum shooting conditions. The FinePix Z33WP ensures you’ll never miss capturing any of life’s precious moments, any where, any time, under any conditions, and be able to share them easily with your extended network of friends and family members.

The 10-megapixel FinePix Z33WP is ready for any adventure including underwater activity up to 10 feet. The Z33WP uses a Fujinon 3x optical zoom lens, has Fujifilm’s ‘Automatic Scene Recognition’ SR AUTO mode, and features a 2.7-inch, 230,000 pixel resolution LCD screen.

Product Features

  • 10.0-megapixel resolution for large, photo quality prints
  • Waterproof up to 10 feet
  • 3x optical zoom; 2.7-inch LCD screen with Micro Thumbnail View
  • Blog Mode with 12 editing functions
  • 50 MB built-in memory; capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)

Handy features:

  • Face Detection Technology: Operating in tandem with automatic red-eye removal, the FinePix Z33WP identifies up to 10 human faces in a scene, and sets the correct focus and exposure, regardless of where subjects are located within the frame.
  • Automatic Red Eye Removal accents the aforementioned features by lending an extra touch to that group shot. The Z33WP automatically checks for red eye and self-corrects it in each and every person in the photo, saving time on post-editing.
  • Couple and Group Timer Modes: Working in conjunction with Face Detection technology, detects two faces in ‘Couple Timer Mode’ and up to four faces in ‘Group Timer Mode’ in a frame.
  • One Touch MOVIE Button: Capture VGA quality movie clips at 30 frames per second with sound to capture all of those once-in-a-lifetime moments.
  • Battery Life: The long-life rechargeable Li-ion battery (up to 200 shots) allows for extended use without worrying if the camera is going to last for the duration of the trip.
Pros:
  • The function buttons are tops – easy to find and press.
  • With tapered edges, the camera goes in my pocket easily.
  • Movie audio surprizingly good.
  • Multiple digital pixel settings – as low as 100 KB for photos at the lowest setting – I e-mail my dad photos, he has dial-up so short attachments are critical.
  • Photo quality color and resolution is good, including macro.
  • LCD display is good, even in strong sunlight
  • Menu choices are fairly intuitive.
  • Battery life seems good so far.
  • SD card – not that many waterproof cameras allow the use of the common SD card.

Cons:

  • Indoor shots are have noise.
  • No hardcopy, comprehensive manual, just an unbound, brief multifolded paper. The comprehensive manual is on a CD. Then again, if you are around water, FUJI may figure youaren’t going to take a paper manual with you.
  • Propriety USB cable for downloads – yet another cable to keep seperate from a dozen other propriety cables me and my family has.

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Vivitar ViviCam 8400 8.1 MP 2.4-Inch TFT LCD Screen Underwater

Posted on January 30th, 2010 by deshot


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Vivitar ViviCam 8400 8.1 MP 2.4-Inch TFT LCD Screen Underwater Digital Camera (Electronics)

List Price: $199.99 USD
New From: $84.99 In Stock


Vivitar’s ViviCam 8400 is waterproof up to 10 meters underwater! 8.1 Mega Pixels,featuring a 2.4″ TFT LCD screen, and has a 8x Digital Zoom. Includes a built-in microphone,64M Nandflash Built-in memory and,10-20 sec self-timer. Comes with a USB/AV cable, Wrist Strap and Camera Pouch.

Product Features

  • 8.1 MP resolution with choice of 5 digital camera resolutions settings- 8M,5M, 3M, 2M and 0.3M
  • 2.4 inch TFT LCD screen
  • Movie mode. Digital Video resolutions (without sound) 640×480 (VGA), 320×240( QVGA).
  • 64MB Internal Flash memory, and supports SD Card memory compatible up to 8GB.
  • 8x Digital Zoom

Pros:
- Water resistant up to 30 feet!
- Supports an external SD memory card in up to 8GBs in size!
- Uses AA size batteries.
- Reasonably large LCD screen on the camera at 2.4 inches.
- Can record photos AND video.
- Comes with an adjustable wrist strap so it’s easy to secure to your wrist–however, should it come off your wrist the bright yellow color of this camera makes it easy to spot to retrieve unlike the blue model.
- Sinks somewhat, so you won’t have to deal with too much resistance to keep it staying underwater.
- Has the screw hole on the camera’s base for mounting to a tripod.
- When powering off the camera it clearly displays “Bye-Bye” on the LCD screen.
- Easy 1 touch “Mode” button to switch between capturing still photos or video.
- Lightning bolt button easily lets you change from auto-flash, flash (for all photos), or no-flash.
- Can take photos with Super Fine, Fine, or Normal settings.
- Although the camera is 8.1MP, you have the choice of shooting photos in the following resolutions (8M, 5M, 3M, 2M, 0.3M)-This can be great if you’re limited on how much space is on your memory card.
- You can adjust the white balance in Still Photo mode OR in Video mode. It defaults to “AWB” (auto white balance) but if you know how you’re lighting will affect your photos you can change it between Auto, Day Light, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Cloudy.
- There are 3 Color Effect options to shoot photos in: Color, Sepia and Monochrome.
- There’s the option of changing the exposure setting from (-2.0 to +2.0): -2.0, -1.5, -1.0, -0.5, Auto, +0.5, +1.0, +1.5, +2.0
- It offers a Self Timer of either 10 seconds or 20 seconds.
- Date stamp is optional.
- A “Burst Snapshot” feature allows you to set up the camera to take 3 continuous images as you move the camera.
- Video’s are recorded in *.AVI format which are compatible with most Windows type movie-maker programs (ex: Windows Movie Maker, Corel VideoStudio, and many others)
- You can change the resolution of the video recording from 640×480 or 320×240. AND change how many frames per second it records (15fps or 30fps)
- You can “lock” the pictures you’ve taken to prevent them from being accidentally deleted.
- A Rotate option allows you to rotate photos taken at a 5M resolution or lower, on the camera.
- English not your primary language? No problem. There are 7 language options to choose from on the submenu: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese.
- You can set the light frequency from 50Hz to 60Hz.
- The beep/buzzer sound on the camera isn’t annoying loud, but you can disable it if you’d like.
- Comes with a USB/TV-out cable so that you can play back your photos on the TV or even take photos or video’s while hooked up to the TV! Just use the USB cable provided, plug the small end into the camera and then the yellow jack to your yellow jack on your TV, and then turn on the camera! (I’ve never had this feature before and I think this is awesome!)

Cons:
- There is a very apparent shutter-lag.
- The locking/closing mechanism on the camera for the area where the SD card and battery compartment is feels a little cheap to me.
- Buttons on the camera seem a little stiff to press down on, this is probably due to the type of engineering required for this type of cameras purpose.
- The Vivitar 8400 is a little larger and heavier than my Samsung S700.
- There’s no lens cap to protect it when not in use.
- No separate “delete” button function.
- After taking a picture, there is very little delay and it disappears very shortly off the LCD screen so there’s no time to check it.
- No sound on Video recordings which I think is a bummer given that the lower grade model-though priced higher (seen here: Vivitar VIVICAM-6200W 6.0
- No regular viewfinder like on standard cameras so that you don’t use up battery power with the live-view LCD screen.
- When switching from auto-flash, flash (for all photos), or no-flash mode using the lightning bolt sometimes it “hangs up” and gets caught switching and the screen will go blank and a blue light beside the screen will flash.
- The Rotate option does not allows you to rotate photos taken at the highest 8M resolution, on the camera.
- The 61 page user manual is on the CD that comes with the PhoTags software.
- The Photags Express software is not compatible on Macintosh computers.
- Does not come with batteries.

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ZEISS Apo Sonnar T* 4/1700 – The World’s Largest Telephoto Lens

Posted on January 11th, 2010 by deshot

Never before has the world of photography seen such a lens. The ZEISS Apo Sonnar T* 4/1700 was developed by Carl Zeiss for a customer with very high demands and a special interest in long distance wildlife photography. To achieve the highest possible image quality, the customer decided on the Hasselblad 203FE 6×6cm medium format camera and ZEISS lenses as the best combination for his special needs.

At a focal length of 1700mm and a speed of f/4, this project even challenged the manufacture of the optical glass. The delicate, special glass types required for this unique design had never been cast before in such huge dimensions. Some of the resulting lens blanks weighed more than 25 kg (55 lbs.) and were valued more than a luxury sedan! Turning these blanks into the finished lens elements added even more to their value.

The design of the ZEISS Apo Sonnar T* 4/1700 required new lens assembly techniques and quality assurance methods never before applied in photo lens production – even by Carl Zeiss’ normally high standards. The finished lens weighs a staggering 256 kg (564 lbs.), placing unique demands on the focusing mechanisms. To address this issue, Carl Zeiss developed a totally new way of operating a telephoto lens, including servo controlled aiming and focusing systems like those used in large telescopes and similar instruments for astronomical scientists.
Drawing from its expertise in developing and producing satellite and space optics, as well as ultra-high resolution microlithography lenses for semiconductor fabrication, Carl Zeiss was happy to accept this challenge.

The resulting Carl Zeiss Apo Sonnar T* 4/1700 lens consists of 15 optical elements in 13 groups. It is the largest telephoto lens ever produced for civilian photographic purposes and a testament to the precision design and manufacturing capabilities at Carl Zeiss.

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Seitz 6×17 Digital Camera

Posted on January 11th, 2010 by deshot

Unique medium format resolution

What few thought possible has now come true: wide-format digital photography. With a resolution of 7,500 pixels vertically and 21,250 pixels horizontally this camera creates a 160 million pixel image.

This substantial resolution makes it possible to create high quality reproductions. A variety of different formats is possible: 6×6, 6×9, 6×15 or a full 6×17 panorama. No limits for high definition photography!

Features:
* 160 million pixels in one second!
* Min. exposure speed of 1/2000 sec. (per pixel) – images full of speed, motion and life!
* A seamless digital panorama without stitching in a few seconds – because time is money!
* Unique medium format resolution (60mm, 7,500 pixels vertically)
* World-class large format lenses of Seitz/Schneider, Linhof 617 or Fuji 617
* Outstanding image quality in virtually all light situations:
- 16-bit per channel (48-bit RGB) colour depth
- anti-blooming
- low noise
- dynamic range of 1:2,600 (11 f-stops)
- Seitz image optimisation algorithms
* New colour TDI sensor specifically developed for professional photography and exclusively for Seitz
* Very user-friendly software with very advanced features
* Latest technology in tablet PCs for image control, display and storage
* Possibility to remove the Seitz D3 digital scan back from the Seitz 6×17 Digital and to use it with the Roundshot D3 camera
* Full control over the raw workflow with possibility to load, convert and optimise raw images in the Seitz Roundshot D3 software, camera raw (Photoshop) or Lightroom
* Full aluminium body for absolute robustness and resiliance – a design to fall in love with!

Specs:

Manufacturer Seitz Phototechnik AG
Lenses (interchangeable)
- on Seitz lens board
- on adaptor plate		 - Schneider or Rodenstock large format lenses
- Linhof Technorama 617 or Fuji 617 large format lenses
Focal lengths from 90mm to 250mm
Shift +/- 15mm shift of lens
Size of 6×17 image 7,500 x 21,250 pixels (60mm x 170mm)
Total resolution 160 million pixels
File sizes raw (16-bit): 307 MB, tiff (48-bit): 922 MB
Time for 6×17 scan 1 sec. at full resolution
Exposure range from 1/2′000 sec. to 10 seconds
Exposure control automatic or manual
Sensitivity control By selection of TDI Stages (1x, 2.5x, 5x, 10x, 20x) or by
amplification of gain (ISO/ASA equivalent: 100, 200, 400, 800)
Image format up to 6×17; adjustable vertically and horizontally
File format raw (16-bit): .dng, tiff (48-bit), jpg (24-bit), exr (32-bit)
Camera body*
- dimensions
- weight		 width: 465mm, height: 175mm, depth: 95mm
4.5 kg (camera 3.3 kg, Seitz D3 digital scan back 0.6 kg, battery 0.6 kg)
Camera control with connected 32-bit or 64-bit computer (Intel Mac OSX 10.4 or 10.5, Windows XP or VISTA)
Tablet PC (optional)

- dimensions

- weight

 Motion Computing Tablet PC J3400 with Intel Core 2 Duo Prozessor (4 MB Cache, 1.4 GHz, 800 MHz FSB), 1,024 x 768 pixel colour touchscreen (digital pen) outdoor readable (180° viewing angle), 60 GB SSD disk for fast data saving, 2 – 4 GB RAM, up to 7.4 hours operation with 2 batteries, Gigabit Ethernet connection to the camera

323 x 231 x 23 mm (12.7” x 9.09” x 0.90”)

1.8 kg
Image transfer Gigabit ethernet
Power supply (camera) 12V 4.5A NiMh battery
Power charger Universal speed charger 110-220V

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Red Digital Camera – 4K RED One Camera

Posted on January 11th, 2010 by deshot

Jim Jannard, founder and CEO of Oakley, known for its sun glasses, wanted a compact and durable HD camera. Oakley is well-known for its relationship with sports, so this wish was not too surprising. Jim’s idea did not find any friends at broadcast equipment manufacturers such as Sony, Canon and JVC.

Left with his idea, Jim founded RED Digital Camera, a company that aimed to create a high-resolution “Beyond HD” camera that can capture the fast pacing world of sports – in an affordable way.

The first product, RED One, does not yet achieve this goal, but is an indication of what we can expect to see from this company in the future. The compact and durable HD camera should come with the upcoming debut of RED Scarlet, a “pocket-sized” professional digital video camera. (More details about the Scarlet will be released at this year’s NAB convention in Las Vegas – lectures starting on Friday, April 11th.)

In this story, we will focus on the experience of assembling RED One, one of the most fascinating video cameras you can buy today.

High-end HD camcorders

Typical high-end HD camcorders have 2.1M pixel sensors and record with 3:1:1 color sub-sampled video at up to 30fps. RED offers the Mysterium ™ Super 35mm cine sized (24.4×13.7mm) sensor, which provides 4K (up to 30 fps), 3K (up to 60 fps) and 2K (up to 120 fps) capture, and all this with wide dynamic range and color space in 12 bit native RAW. At 4K, that’s more than 5 times the amount of information available every second and a vastly superior recording quality.  In addition, you get the same breathtaking Depth of Field and selective focus as found in film cameras using equivalent 35mm P/L mount lenses. Mysterium ™ boasts greater than 66db Dynamic Range thanks to its large 29 sq. micron pixels. And 12,065,000 pixels deliver resolution that can only be called Ultra High Definition.

Modular Design

Shoot lightweight EFP style (body around 10 lbs., in rugged aluminum alloy) or load it up to shoot a feature film. Options include RED-RAIL™ mounting accessories that “grow” the camera body. Configure for tripod, crane or long lens applications. High-resolution RED LCD and EVF monitors come equipped with advanced tools for framing, exposure and focus. The RED ONE™ body and RED-RAIL components provide numerous mounting points to allow hundreds of optional RED and third party accessories… some that haven’t even been dreamed of yet. Choose between the convenience and durability of recording directly to Compact Flash, in-camera, or outputting signal to RED FLASH DRIVE or RED DRIVE (RAID) for even longer recording options.

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