Posts archived in On the Intertron

Canon have released the specs of their new Canon EOS 1D Camera, and it looks particularly nice:

  • APS-H Size Sensor (NB: NOT Full-Frame, see below “1D vs 1Ds”)
  • 10.1 Megapixels
  • 10 Shots/sec, for about 110 JPEG Photos
    (Note: They tested on a 1GB CF Card, I assume that with a faster and larger card, you might get more)
  • Weather sealing (as per all 1D and 1Ds)
  • ISO 100 to 3200 (plus expansions to ISO 50 and ISO 6400)

The significant improvment in shots-per-second (10 shots per second, Up from 8.5 on the 1D Mark II), even with larger file sizes (10.1Mpx, up from 8.2Mpx on the 1D Mark II) is due to having two “DIG!C III” image processing chips running in parallel.

The sensor is also very very low noise – even at ISO 3200, the image appears to be almost as good as that from my 20D on any setting. So, when Canon say that the ISO 6400 setting is “highly usable”, they’re not bluffing.

They have added some other features - like a “Live Preview” - i.e what you get on a Point-and-shoot camera by default. It’s not something I’ve been particularly hanging out for on a DSLR – at least, not since I got used to using an SLR anyway.   The larger preview screen, however is probably more useful. Even if the pro’s do call it “chimping“.

 Lets just hope that Canon finally included the current ISO setting in the TTL preview, something several others have complained about before.

Oh – and go gawk at the sample images.  Oh, and all (bar one) of the samples were taken with L-series lenses - some of them worth over AUD$11,000.

EOS 1D vs EOS 1Ds

A lot of people get confused when talking about the Canon EOS 1D and Canon EOS 1Ds.  Here’s the differences:

 

Canon EOS 1D (Mark III)

Canon EOS 1Ds (Mark II)

Sensor Size (Physical)

APS-H – 28.1 x 18.7 mm

Full-Frame – 36x24mm

Pixels

10.1Mpx

16.7Mpx

Continuous Shooting Speed (Single Burst)

10 Shots/sec (Approx 110 JPG)

4 shots/sec (Approx 32 JPEG)

Price (AUD) (Source) RRP $6,499.00 RRP $12,999.00

There are, of course – other differences – but these are the major ones. Both models have weather sealing too.

Basicly, the 1D has always been aimed more at the sports and wildlife photographer or papparazzi type - those that have little time to get the right shot, and no possibility of a second chance.  i.e the ultimate in “spray and pray” photography.  

The 1Ds has been aimed more at fashion and others that need very large exposures, but don’t want to, or can’t use a digital medium-format camera. Plus, if you have a significant investment in EOS lenses, you don’t want to go re-purchasing them all again for a medium-format.

Go watch the video – very cool!

DEMO.com D’FUSION® – Total Immersion

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The Perfect Combo

Hasselblad – the ultimate high-end camera maker – have released their new medium digital camera, the H3D-31. Photographyblog (appropriately enough) covers the Hasselblad press release, and gives us some specs. (Thanks to Engadget for linking)

It’s a 31 megapixel (no, there’s no decimal place in there)  digital, with a 48mm (full-frame for medium-format) sensor. It’s slightly cheaper than it’s 39 Megapixel bigger brother, at around USD$25k.

In related news, A-Data have released a 128GB solid-state disk with a SATA interface. (Via Engadget, too) Small enough to whack a dozen or two in a photography lab server, coupled with some rediculously fast SATA-RAID controllers.  I’m practicly drooling at the thought.  ‘Course, it could also be integrated into a smart-phone device. 

Hello, Nokia, are you paying attention? Yes, you need to put one of these and a nice fast processor (like an XScale @ 624mhz?) in your next smartphone, thanks.

Actually, my ideal smart phone would be having an upgraded version of Windows Mobile 5 (with WPF and .NET Compact Framework 3.0 support built in) an XScale or similarly fast processor, dedicated video hardware, 8GB+ storage, 3-4Mpx Camera + VGA Video Camera, and WCDMA (3G on 850Mhz) support.  Then they could set-loose some smart developers & designers and really kick some major backside in the smartphone department.

Microsoft and the National Australia Day Councils are running a promotion called “Look up and Smile“. (via MSDN Australia)

Basically, Microsoft is purchasing a bunch of satellite time on Australia day, and taking large snapshots of Australia for their Live Maps service. People are being encouraged to do things that’ll be visible from space (so – I expect there’ll be large banners, and writing on the sand etc).

As part of it, there’s a photography competition – but make sure you read the fine print before you submit an entry.

“By submitting an entry, each entrant grants to the Sponsor and the National Australia Day Councils an exclusive, irrevocable royalty-free, transferable worldwide right, in all media (now known or later developed) to use, publish, alter or otherwise exploit their entry.”

So, if someone submits an entry – they can never: Publish the photo on their web site, print/sell/give the photo away to another party (friends, family, or the school newspaper). Even if Microsoft and the National Australia Day Councils decide not to use it/give you a prize.

Most people probably won’t be concerned about the fine print – after all, Microsoft and the National Australia Day Councils are hardly going to sue you for putting the photo up on flickr or sending it to your friends via email. Then again, stranger things have happened.

Also – how would you feel if Microsoft decided to use your image, or part of it in a major worldwide campaign (or distributing it in Windows or another product as a “sample” image), even if you didn’t win a prize.

Thanks, Microsoft, but no thanks.

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Hidden Imagery

The Men of PodtechThe Men of Podtech   Hosted on Zooomr

This photo is from CES 2007, taken by Thomas Hawk. Does anything strike you as… strange/out of place? 

No, not the geek wearing dark glasses. How about the finger gestures being given by the woman on the left?  Smiling whilst saying “F….. you”.  Subtle.

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Lizard Wallpaper

##NOLIGHTBOX##Well, I’ve fiddled with the images in Adobe Lightroom (very very cool app – highly recommended) – and l’ve created 1920×1200 version of the lizard wallpaper.

Feel free to resize/resample.  If you want it in a larger res – give me a shout, I’ve got this particular image in upto 2658×1661, or I could re-crop it out of the 16:10 ratio and get up to 3504×2336. (All 8.2 Megapixels)

While I was in Sydney, we (Mitch and I) went to the Chinese Gardens at Darling Harbour.  It’s not my first visit, but it is the first time I’ve had the camera with me.

There’s a stack of different animals living around the gardens – turtles, lizards, and ofcourse – tons of Chinese carp.

 

I could see this little sequence unfolding — the girl moved faster than the lizard.

 I picked up this book at a book sale while I was in Sydney. The cover image (left) is what caught my eye initially.

The book contains a number of interviews with (as the title suggests) War Correspondents and Photojournalists, many of whom should be well known to anyone who’s watched/listened any amount of ABC News over the last 50 years. Monica Attard,  Marie Colvin, and many others.

It’s a really interesting read (for me), and brings to light a lot of the things I really hadn’t thought about, that went on behind the scenes.

If you can, check it out
ISBN: 9781740512602 / 174051260X

{NYE2006} Sydney Harbour Bridge For the observent/stalker types, you’ve probably already noticed the photos I put up last night of the NYE fireworks

I’m off to Sydney for a few days — taking photos etc.

Back some time after 1st Jan, so – see you then.