The Kiso Observatory observation dome (Photographed with an ultra-large-scale, ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensor amid illumination of 0.1-0.3 lux)

Canon has developed an ultra-large-scale, ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensor with a chip size measuring 202 x 205 mm which is installed in the Schmidt telescope at the University of Tokyo’s Kiso Observatory, Institute of Astronomy, School of Science (Kiso-gun, Nagano prefecture). It has been used to record video at approximately 60 fps, resulting in the successful video recording of faint meteors.

The ultra-large-scale, ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensor (left) alongside a 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor

The device is approximately 40 times the size of a full frame sensor in a DSLR and makes possible video recording in dark conditions with as little as 0.3 lux of illumination or the level of brightness during a full moon.

PRESS RELEASE

Canon ultra-large-scale, ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensor makes possible wide field-of-view video recording of meteors with equivalent apparent magnitude of 10

TOKYO, September 15, 2011—Canon Inc. today announced that an ultra-large-scale, ultra-high-sensitivity CMOS sensor developed by the company has enabled the video recording across a wide 3.3° x 3.3° field of view of meteors with an equivalent apparent magnitude of 10.*1 The sensor, with a chip size measuring 202 x 205 mm, the world’s largest*2 surface area for a CMOS sensor, was installed in the Schmidt telescope at the University of Tokyo’s Kiso Observatory, Institute of Astronomy, School of Science (Kiso-gun, Nagano prefecture).

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Getty Images, the official Photographic Agency to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), will be deploying a team of approximately 60 renowned and award-winning sports photographers working around the clock to capture a record 30,000 images at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A “handful” of these photographers will shoot only in 3D.

PRESS RELEASE

GETTY IMAGES TO CAPTURE LONDON 2012 GAMES IN 3D

Getty Images will be the official photographers at next year’s games, showcasing our unique 3D imagery

London, United Kingdom – 2 September, 2011 – Getty Images, the official Photographic Agency to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has announced that it will shoot the London 2012 Olympic Games in stunning 3D. This will be the first time Getty Images has shot the Games using this technology and Getty Images is deploying a handful of 3D-dedicated photographers to ensure the best still shots are captured.

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From photowalkthrough

Fast forward to the 2:14 min. mark to see the pinhole camera which uses any 5×4 film holder. The camera’s body itself is made from injection moulded ABS finished with a very durable non-slip coating, features tripod mount positions, two built-in spirit levels, and an accessory mount. Get this: “The accessory mount won’t necessarily be used for a flash. We’ve found that a lot of people liked to use their iPhone as a digital viewfinder. If there’s demand, we might even build our own, custom-made iPhone holder.” Amazing! A pinhole camera that uses the iPhone as a viewfinder!

The first version of Harman’s pinhole camera will be available with a focal length of 72mm, with future plans to release a 110mm and 150mm version, depending on demand. Also in the planning is a version of the pinhole camera with no pin hole! Apparently, some users want to create their own irregular shaped pin holes. Go figure!

Visit www.ilfordphoto.com.

Read the article at: bjp.

Publishing for a tablet like the iPad introduces new challenges that are different from those faced when publishing for print. There are no double spread and every image has the same format, potentially leading to a dull presentation. Journalists are learning to integrate stills with audio, video, text, blogs, maps and graphics. Where before you had an editor and knowledgeable designer to set it up for you in print, now you have to do it pretty much all by yourself as well as hire an expensive programmer to code your app.

Photojournalist Kadir van Lohuizen publishes his in-depth stories on the iPad using the vía PanAm iPad app, bypassing traditional media and using the iTunes store to underwrite much of the costs of publishing and delivery.

Other photojournalists are using other apps and the problem with the Apple app platform quickly becomes apparent: each person has to build an app from scratch, which is an expensive affair. None of them believes their apps will become a financial success and feel lucky if they break even. An estimate is that they’ll need to sell between 20,000 and 30,000 apps just to break even.

Learn more about vía PanAm iPad app.

Read the article at: bjp.

Sony NEX-C3

“The Sony NEX-C3 produces DSLR image quality with extremely low noise, and performance is impressive.”

We’ve added another Sony Alpha NEX-C3 [QuickPrice Check] review to our Reviews Matrix.

ePHOTOzine has published their review of the Sony NEX-3, an Interchangeable Lens Camera (“compact mirrorless DSLR”) with a 16.2MP EXMOR APS HD CMOS sensor, 3.0-in. tiltabe LCD (921k-dot), iAUTO, PASM, Scene Modes, Sweep Panorama, clip-on flash, Anti Motion Blur, Manual Focus, Background Defocus, Picture Effect, Hand-held Twilight Mode, Peaking function, supplied detachable flash, Continuous Shooting at 5.5fps, Auto HDR, Dynamic Range Optimizer, RAW, Anti-Dust Technology, and HD 720p Movie 1080 x 720 @ 30fps. The NEX-C3 has a Dual Format Media Card Slot that accepts Memory Stick PRO Duo™/Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo™ and SD/SDHC media (Class 4 or higher recommended).

You can read the Sony NEX-C3 Review @ ePHOTOzine.

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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 / FS22

“The [Panasonic] FH7 was designed for beginners, casual photographers, and snap-shooters [and] is capable of consistently capturing excellent images with little or no effort on the part of the shooter.”

We’ve added a new Panasonic DMC-FH7 [QuickPrice Check] Review to our Reviews Matrix.

DigitalCameraReview has posted their review of the ultra slim Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 / FS22 with 16.1MP resolution (1/2.33-in. CCD), 4x wide-angle optical zoom (28-112mm equiv.), optical Image Stabilization, 3.0-in. (230k-dot) Touch Screen LCD, Intelligent Auto, P, Sonic Speed AF, and HD 720p Movie 1280×720 at 24fps.

Read the Panasonic FH7 / FS22 Review @ DigitalCameraReview.

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The Canon zoom lens must have been dropped from a dirigible, small airplane or helicopter from a high altitude, high enough for the lens to fall at terminal velocity (200+ mph) and made a 6-in. hole in a Califirnia woman’s hanging roof. Thankfully (for the woman, the photographer and, I guess, for Canon), the lens did not hit anyone on the ground.

via robgalbraith

In an interview with asiaone, Alfred Schopf, the global chief executive of Leica Camera, reveals his reticence to follow the design route taken by Sony with its compact mirrorless NEX cameras: “They have compact bodies and huge lenses in front. I feel a little bit stressed by that design, to be honest.”

On Leica’s expected mirrorless, he reveals that Leica is carefully considering the image sensor and features to offer. His comments can be interpreted two ways: that the Leica mirrorless will offer 1) a sensor size between the X1′s APS-C and the M9′s full frame, or 2) a sensor size between what cellphones offer and the X1′s APS-C.

“We are at the borderline of compact-system cameras already, with the Leica X1 and Leica M-System, and it’s pretty obvious that, at one point, we are going to offer something in between.”

#1 does not make much sense, so we are leaning toward a sensor size smaller than APS-C, which would be a shame seeing how Leica has mastered the use of both the APS-C and full frame sensors in its cameras. On the other hand, if Leica rebrands Panasonic, or joins the (Micro) Four Thirds consortium, it would put its seal of approval on that format and make it a de facto standard. Come on already, give consumers the freedom of choice of mixing and matching cameras and lenses!

Read the article at: asiaone.

Note that the Micro Four Thirds from Olympus and Panasonic are such a hit in Japan that the whole compact mirrorless DSLR category is referred as such in the article.

via leica rumors

Sony NEX-7

“I predict that the NEX-7 will be one of the hottest cameras of the coming year, and is going to really put other camera maker’s feet to the fire when it comes to offering an attractive mix of image quality, features, size, build quality and price.”

We’ve added another Sony NEX-7 [QuickPrice Check] hands-on preview to our Reviews Matrix.

Luminous Landscape has published their hands-on preview of the Sony NEX-7, an Interchangeable Lens Camera (“compact mirrorless DSLR”) with a 24.3MP Exmor™ APS HD CMOS (23.5 X 15.6mm) sensor, built-in 0.50-in. XGA OLED EVF (Electronic viewfinder) (2,359k dots), 3.0-in. tiltabe LCD (921k dots), Tri-Navi manual conmtrols, iAUTO, PASM, Scene Modes, Sweep Panorama, Anti Motion Blur, Manual Focus, Background Defocus, Picture Effect, Hand-held Twilight Mode, Peaking function, built-in pop-up flash, hot shoe, Continuous Shooting at 10fps, Auto HDR, Dynamic Range Optimizer, RAW, Anti-Dust Technology, and Full HD 1080p Movie 1920 x 1080/60p AVCHD 2.0 with stereo sound and full manual control.

You can read the Sony NEX-7 First Impressions @ Luminous Landscape.

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