Pentax Optio RS1500

“As far as budget compacts go, the RS1500 is a fun and capable performer [...] for beginners.”

We’ve added a new Pentax Optio RS1500 [QuickPrice Check] Review to our Reviews Matrix.

TechRadar has published their review of the Pentax Optio RS1500, an entry-level ultra compact with 14MP resolution (1/2.33-in. CCD), 4x wide-angle optical zoom (27.5-110mm equiv.), 3.0-in. LCD (230k-dot), Auto Picture mode, Program AE, Face Detection, Interchangeable Cosmetic Skins, and HD 720p Movie 1280×720 @ 30fps.

You can read the Pentax Optio RS1500 Review @ TechRadar.

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Digital imaging technology has “graduated” from interesting to practical as a gang member apparently used a tiny spy camera hidden in his sleeves to capture the order of cards in a card game. It’s all pretty high tech, involving transfering the images to a PC, analyzing it in slow motion to figure out the order of the cards in the deck and relaying the information back to the members waiting at the table.

Read the article at: popsci.

From ashomsky

There was a time when only scientists could watch what actually happens when we fall or hit a golf ball, a baseball, etc. It required sophisticated and expensive high speed cameras to film the event and then play it back at regular speed for extra slow motion. For example, this video of people falling from their skateboards is filmed at 500fps to 1000fps with a Redlake N3 high speed camera (which is priced around $30K).

However, if you are on a budget, you can get a high speed digicam (e.g. Casio Exilim EX-ZR100 [QuickPrice Check]) for a couple of hundred dollars ($299.99) and be your own sports coach (though the image size will be quite small at 224×64 pixels).

via gizmodo

Related Link:

• Vision Research Phantom v1610 Shoots At 1 Million fps
• Photron Gallery

Every Summer, my family takes the obligatory trip to the Toronto Zoo. This year, we went a bit too early, but did not have to fight the crowd. The “wild” animals exhibits are often a letdown because, unless you get to an exhibit when it is feeding time, you are most probably going to be able to catch only a glimpse of the animals sleeping in the shade and not doing too much. The one tiger we did see was pacing around, looking a bit crazed, and we felt pretty sad overall that we could not simply watch the animals in their natural habitat via hidden cameras. I suspect the zoologists of the future would be doing just that: studying the animals in the real wild using technology such as camera-equipped drone airplanes, hidden robotic cams, bird cams, etc.

Meanwhile, we have the local zoo and Jeff Wignall over at Black Star has a great idea for those who want to practice their “wildlife” photography: do it at the zoo! It’s not quite the same, yet similar.

You’d probably want a telephoto lens here to isolate the animal from its not-too-wild surroundings.

Read the article and view the great pictures at: Black Star.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25

“One of the best point-and-shoot deals on the market, and should please casual shooters who want great-looking pictures, more zoom than the average camera, and in a convenient size that will travel anywhere.”

We’ve added a new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25 [QuickPrice Check] Review to our Reviews Matrix.

digitalcameraHQ has posted their review of the ultra slim Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH25 with 16.1MP resolution (on a 1/2.33-in. CCD), 8x wide angle optical zoom (28-224mm equiv.), optical Image Stabilization, 2.7-in. (230k-dot) LCD, Intelligent Auto, Intelligent ISO, Intelligent Exposure, Scene Modes, and HD 720p movie 1280×720 @ 24fps.

You can read the Panasonic FH25 Review @ digitalcameraHQ.

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From beepsnrays

via The Daily What

This digital photo exhibit by Austrian artist Andreas Franke is attached to the Vandenberg shipwreck off Key Westship’s weather deck with strong magnets so as not to damage the ship. Trouble is, the 522-foot former military ship, now temporariy turned into an art gallery is lying at a depth of 93 feet under water.

Read more about the photo exhibit at: keysnews.

via photoblog

One Degree from Vincent Laforet on Vimeo.

Vincent Laforet attaches a Canon 600mm F4 EF lens with a 2X converter to a RED Epic using the (yet to be released) Canon lens adapter. The resulting focal length on the cropped sensor of the Red is approx. 3400mm (equiv.), for a roughly one degree angle of view. The video is shot at 4K, 120fps in RAW.

Read more about the video at: vincentlaforet.com.

via fstoppers

Billed by its designer as “the new operation system for professional cameras,” the Appcam is really a camera concept that features at least 8 “professional mechanical scroll wheels.” As the above picture shows, there’s a scrollwheel for setting ISO, one for WB, a third one for Image Quality, etc. for a total of 8 (there’s one more at the top you can’t see here). The goal is to access the camera menu as little as possible.

What is interesting is that the designer quotes Ken Rockwell as motivation for this design. I wonder what Ken think?

What do you think? Do we need a dial for every important setting?

Read more about it and view more pictures at: Appcam.

via Photo Rumors