Cool fx

Cool fx is the definitive set of color and black and white film/photographic looks for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This unique software is brought to you from the folks at Tiffen, recognized for their product and engineering excellence earning two Technical Achievement Awards and a Scientific and Engineering Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, as well as an Emmy Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. If anyone knows film and photography, it’s Tiffen.

Using 172 visual presets, Cool fx simulates a variety of color and black and white photographic looks, diffusion, motion picture film stocks and optical lab processes. Cool fx is made up of Black & White, Color, Diffusion, Grain, and Temperature preset groups.

Enhance your photos with Cool fx, just like Hollywood cameramen and visual effects artists do!

Whether you are an amateur or professional photographer, Photo Fx’s visual workflow and easy to use tools will help you create stunning images.

Now you can fix your image with Cool fx before you email it from your iPhone and iPod Touch – you don’t need your computer.  It’s as easy as 1-2-3. Choose it, Edit it, Send it!

Source: Tiffen

BBC reveals stunning sample footage shot with TyphoonHD4 camera

by Donald Melanson, posted May 7th 2009 at 4:17PM

The BBC has already proven itself to be quite the source for some impressive HD images, but the network’s Natural History Unit looks to have really outdone themselves for their forthcoming South Pacific documentary, which makes use of a modified, $100,000 TyphoonHD4 camera. Of course, those exact modifications appear to be a closely-kept secret, but it has apparently been outfitted with a special underwater housing designed by German high-speed camera expert Rudi Diesel, and the camera itself is able to shoot in high definition at 20 times the speed of a normal HD camera, which results in some pretty amazing super slow motion footage. You can get a taste of that after the break but, trust us, you’ll want to head up the read link below to really get a sense of what this thing is capable of.

[Via SlashGear]

SDXC Massive Storage, Incredible Speed

 

The next-generation SDXC (eXtended Capacity) memory card specification, pending release in Q1 2009, dramatically improves consumers’ digital lifestyles by increasing storage capacity from 32 GB up to 2 TB and increasing SD interface read/write speeds up to 104 MB per second in 2009 with a road map to 300 MB per second. SDXC will provide more portable storage and speed, which are often required to support new features in consumer electronic devices and mobile phones.

A 2 TB SDXC memory card can store 100 HD movies, 60 hours of HD recording or 17,000 fine-grade photos. Faster bus speeds will enable professional-level recording in compact consumer camcorders and increase the number of frames shot in a second with SDXC cameras.

The faster bus speeds in the SDXC specification also will benefit SDHC, Embedded SD and SDIO specification

Source: SD Association

Sony updates its camcorder lineup

Source: CrunchGear

by Matt Burns on January 7, 2009

The HDR-XR520U will be the king of Sony’s consumer regime when it drops in March for $1500. This puppy is loaded with 1080p recording, 12 MP still shot, built-in GPS receiver and NAVTEQ maps, but most importantly, a 240GB HDD takes care of all the HD recording. That means 101 hours of 1080p in LP mode. That’s a lot.

The rest of the XR lineup sport nearly the same specs just with smaller hard drives – and prices. The HDR-XR500U ships with 120GB HDD at $1300. THe HDR-XR200U loses some processing power but retains the 120GB HDD and ships for $1000.

The standard-def models are going to start out at $400 for the DCR-SR41 with a 60GB HDD. $50 bucks more gets you 80GB in the DCR-SR87. Both of these are launching in February.

Flash memory ‘corders are getting an upgrade in March. The DCR-SX60 comes packing with 16GB memory embedded with a Memory Stick Pro Duo slot for even more memory. $370 in March. The DCR-SX41 is ’bout the same thing except it has 8GB and $300 price.

Sony isn’t done with DVD either. Some peeps still like to hold their memories. Whatever. The DCR-DVD650 is dropping in February for $300. It is loaded with a 60x optical zoom which is impressive.

SAMSUNG INTRODUCES SIX NEW DIGITAL CAMCORDERS AT CES 2009

LAS VEGAS, N.V., January 7, 2009 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today unveiled six new digital camcorders at the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company further solidified its leadership in the high-definition category with the announcement of five new full-HD models and introduced its next generation YouTube™ compatible compact digital camcorder. Several of Samsung’s new camcorders introduced at CES 2009 are also among the first to feature internal, flash based Solid State Drives (SSD), providing higher capacity, and faster, more durable onboard memory.

H-Series: HMX-H100, HMX-H104, HMX-H105, HMX-H106
Samsung’s H-Series of full-HD digital camcorders set a new standard for style and performance. The HMX-H106, Samsung’s new flagship full-HD digital camcorder, is the world’s first to feature an internal 64GB SSD (as of January 5, 2009). Samsung’s renowned SSD technology offers a substantial advantage over the use of Hard Disk Drives (HDD) in a digital camcorder, providing consumers with higher performing and more durable internal memory. Samsung’s SSD technology is more lightweight and compact, operates silently with very low heat emission, and features no moving parts, which significantly reduces overall power consumption and enhances reliability. No moving parts also make SSD technology more durable and resistant to shock and vibrations. Additionally, Samsung’s SSD technology is faster than HDD, including quicker boot-up and read/write speeds which is required for the amount of data recorded in full-HD resolution. When actively reading and writing data, Samsung’s SSD technology consumes approximately 1/8th of the power of a comparable HDD (estimated value with 3GB/second, 2.5 inch HDD, 5400 RPM).

The HMX-H105 and HMX-H104 offer 32GB and 16GB SSDs, respectively, and like the HMX-H106, also allow consumers to expand memory capacity using an SD/SDHC memory card. The HMX H100 does not feature an internal SSD and requires the use of a SD/SDHC memory card.

The new H-Series full-HD digital camcorders also utilize H.264 compression, which significantly increases recording time. At full-HD resolution and when set to fine mode, users can record up to three hours directly to the 16GB HMX-H104, six hours to the 32GB HMX H105, and an unparalleled 12 hours to the 64GB HMX-H106.

Each of the new H-Series full-HD camcorders feature a 1/4.5″, 2.2 mega-pixel CMOS imaging sensor, a 10x optical zoom, high-quality Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD lens, and Optical Image Stabilization to help counteract shaky video and blur. Samsung’s new H-Series camcorders also offer a direct connection for an HDMI cable, further simplifying the way HD video is viewed on an HDTV and eliminating the need for proprietary docking stations. Consumers can also utilize the camcorders to take more than just stunning high definition video as each offers the ability to capture 4.7 mega-pixel digital still photos.

SMX-F34
Samsung’s newly introduced SMX-F34 is the company’s next generation YouTube™ compatible compact digital camcorder. Building on the success of the well received SC MX20, the SMX-F34 offers users substantial battery life of up to three hours, world class Schneider optics, as well as added features and functionality, including built-in memory, digital still photo capability, and Samsung’s 42x Intelli-Zoom. Significantly more reliable than a standard digital zoom which negatively affects the quality of the image, Samsung’s new Intelli-Zoom allows users to go beyond the camcorder’s 34x optical zoom without sacrificing image quality.

The SMX-F34 features a memory card slot for SD/SDHC and 16GB of internal flash memory. Thanks to H.264 compression, users can record up to eight hours of standard definition video when using the 16GB built-in memory.

The SMX-F34 offers a high-performance CCD sensor that delivers a resolution of 720×480, and features a Web & Mobile shooting mode that allows users to record in the exact format and resolution required by YouTube™, resulting in faster upload times to the Web when sharing video with friends and family online. An additional feature that separates the SMX-F34 from its SC-MX20 sibling is its ability to capture digital still photos. A dedicated Photo mode allows consumers to use the SMX-F34 camcorder as a digital camera, snapping 800×600 resolution images.

The SMX-F34 will be available in four colors, including Midnight Black, Sunset Red, Galaxy Silver, and Deep Ocean Blue, all with silver trim, and will feature Samsung’s exclusive swivel hand-grip, which effortlessly adjusts for regular and low angle shooting.

HMX-R10
Samsung’s new HMX-R10 is a CMOS-based full-HD digital camcorder that raises the bar for digital still photo capability. In addition to the ability to record full-HD video, consumers can also capture high-quality, nine mega-pixel digital still photos. The HMX-R10 also sets a new standard for ergonomics, featuring a unique form factor that allows users to hold the camcorder more comfortably. Thanks to the lens being angled at 25 degrees, the user can grip the camcorder in a more relaxed manner and record their subjects with ease, further reducing the stress on one’s wrist. Users can also benefit from a 5x optical zoom and swiveling 2.7 inch touch screen LCD.

Source: Gizmodo

Do you believe the Canon 5D Mark II is going to change the world of filmmaking as we know it?

EOS 5D MARK II Camera “REVERIE” Behind The Scenes

You should see this behind the scenes that Award winning photographer Vincent Laforet, made with the test he did on the EOS 5D MARK II Camera

Behind the scenes Link

Sample Video: EOS 5D Mark II from CANON Digital Learning Center

Actually, I am with out words, this will change the cinematography industry for ever, and will make a change on the design of future HD cameras, just check out the video, you will have your moth open just by seen it.

Link to the Video

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet Tested the Canon 5D Mark II for 1080HD

Article by: Gizmodo

Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet was one of the first people to get his hands on the most coveted camera on the planet, Canon’s 5D Mark II. He talked to us a bit about the breakneck stills-and-video shoot he put together in just a few hours to see what this camera can really do. You can catch a glimpse of the incredible results here and why Laforet says that it’s the “best camera ever” that will “redefine the industry.” Yes, what you’re looking at are screencaps of the video from his site.

 

It’s not the camera’s still photography performance that Laforet says is a game-changer, as duly impressive as it is—he says it matches what your “natural eye in can see the worst light” which is “a big deal.” It’s the video, which he says—only half-jokingly—makes him “never want to shoot another still photo.”

You’re only getting a diluted taste of it here. Laforet noted that this DSLR obliterates the video quality of Canon’s dedicated HD XH-A1, especially in low-light. Laforet says that for the first time ever, using a DSLR or any other camera was “not a struggle at all,” even “at night, outside, in a city” which can be the among the most challenging lighting situations of all. 

It’s the cost that makes it a revolution, and a boon for indie filmmakers. With $25,000 worth of SLR lenses, Laforet and his small crew were able to perform comparably to what would take at least several hundred thousand dollars worth of motion picture camera lenses (and some of those you can’t even buy). 

Laforet is a photographer; he has no professional film experience and had never used the 5D Mark II before, yet was able to storyboard, cast, shoot and edit the clip in just two days, with less than 12 hours notice. In particular he noted that dumping the MPEG-4 video takes way less time than it would with an actual HD camera. The only issue that would stop a person from shooting a TV pilot solely with this camera is sound matching, he says. If that’s covered, you’re gold.

Here’s a leaked YouTube version of the video, which does not do it the justice it deserves, but still looks good:

You can read the full and interesting test at Vincent Laforet Web site

D90 and HVX side-by-side test

Video By: Chronicle Project

Video Link

I just saw this very useful test, I think is a very useful test to know what we can speck from the NikonD90, the HVX has more quality, there is more gamma but doesn’t have a lot of depth of field, for that you have to add a additional mount to add lenses, but the NikonD90 has the ability to change lenses and that makes it a very useful camera to get a very good depth of field for telling stories, but look closely because you can notice a little bit of digital grain on the face of the model, there are more saturated colors on the NikonD90, but the HVX has more gamma and way less digital grain, I think is still better camera than the Nikon one.

I hope someone does a test with both cameras, with good colors, perfect white balance, and probably in a studio soon so we can notice more details on them both.