Saturday, July 5, 2008

Happy 4th!

Friday, July 4, 2008

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Clapperboard Clock

gadget4all.comTake one, 3..2..1..ACTION!!
It is a stylish clock that designed in a clapperboard shape. It displays Hour, Minute, Second, Tenth Second, Date, Month and Year. It is also an alarm clock which can be put on your bedside and you can stop the alarm by pressing the clapperboard. It is a great decor at home or a useful and innovative gift for your friends!

Price: US$ 67.00
Shipping: US$ 10.00
Price : US$77.00"


Friday, May 2, 2008

Sony TG3E: world's smallest 1080i camcorder

Sony TG3E: world's smallest 1080i camcorder unboxed, sized-up with 720p champ


Get a load of what just arrived at the doorstep of our European HQ -- the world's smallest 1080i camcorder, Sony's TG3E. Otherwise known as the TG1 in the US, this pup is small and sturdy and definitely looks the part of a Full HD (as it's defined for camcorders) 1080i shooter. Hell, Sony somehow managed to turn that boxy design into something sexy to hold. However, Sanyo's 720p Xacti DMX-HD700 (in red) still trumps the TG3E in size and weight. Unfortunately, it gives up significant lines of resolution in the process and uses inferior materials to boot. We'll be back later with a full review of this pup as soon as we find a nice, tropical island which can pamper this beast in the luxury a $900 camcorder deserves. So until then, check the gallery and call out in the comments with any questions you'd like us to tackle.



(Via Engadget.)


Monday, April 28, 2008

DXG-569V HD camcorder available for $169

DXG-569V HD camcorder available for $169


While DXG has few aspirations to taste or quality, they sure know how to price this stuff. The new DXG-569V HD cam can shoot 1280 x 720 video at 30 fps, captures 5 megapixel stills and sports a 3-inch foldout LCD, all for the bargain basement price of $169. Naturally, that video quality probably won't be putting RED ONE out of a job, and you'll need to supply your own SD card to make the magic happen, but if that doesn't dissuade you, you can swipe one from a Radio Shack shelf in silver or black as of today.

(Via Engadget.)


Friday, April 18, 2008

Sanyo's Xacti DMX-CA8 waterproof camcorder drips VGA weak sauce

Sanyo's Xacti DMX-CA8 waterproof camcorder drips VGA weak sauce

Not much to get excited about here unless you've got a thing for shooting 640 x 480 VGA video underwater. Shipping in May for a bit less than $500, Sanyo's latest waterproof Xacti packs a 5x optical zoom and 8 megapixel CMOS sensor for stills and MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 video recordings at 60fps to SDHC media. It also carries JIS IPX5 and IPX8 waterproof ratings which means it'll go to a depth of 1.5-meters for up to 1-hour without electronic seizure. Video riot after the break.

[Via Impress]

Thursday, April 17, 2008

How-To - Super softbox

How-To - Super softbox



Udi sent us this how-to for a very high quality photo softbox - looks quite professional and worth the effort -

This is a DIY project I have had in mind for a while now. When I purchased my studio flash heads, they came with a couple of small softboxes. Although I prefer to use translucent umbrellas whenever I can (small, light, easy to transport), there are times when a softbox is a better solution. While I could use the studio head softboxes in some circumstances with my small strobes, there was no way of effectively holding the flash in place without a lot of jerry rigging. To this end, I wanted to design a softbox that would be light, reasonably strong and durable, adaptable (double diffuser, grid attachment, barn doors etc.) at a later date and have a quick and easy way to mount the flash.
Aluminum tape is oh so very handy!- Studio Photography - The Best Softbox Ever


[Read this article] [Comment on this article]"



(Via MAKE Magazine.)


Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Blackmagic USB Recorder

Blackmagic USB Recorder

Blackmagic's new USB recorder features analog component, NTSC, PAL and S-Video inputs to help you record video from various and store it on your computer for future reference without taking up additional bulk on your desk. In addition, it is also capable of capturing video directly from YouTube, allowing you to view all those hilarious clips away from your computer on a compatible portable media player of choice. The pocket-friendly Blackmagic USB Recorder will ship this July in standard and SDI versions that retail for $119 and $299, respectively.




(Via Ubergizmo.)


Monday, April 14, 2008

Panasonic launches 64GB P2 card

Panasonic launches 64GB P2 card, AJ-PCD35 ExpressCard adapter

Now that you're already penning a purchase requisition for one of those fancy new P2 HD camcorders, you might as well toss a couple of Panny's new 64GB P2 cards (model AJ-P2C064) and its AJ-PCD35 ExpressCard adapter on there, too. Yep, Panasonic has chosen NAB Show 2008 to double up on its current 32GB P2 card and to introduce a five-slot P2 memory drive with an ExpressCard interface. Put simply, the latter can hold all five cards from a fully-loaded VariCam 2700 / 3700 camcorder (or any other P2 rig) and give users the ability to upload content on the go with their ExpressCard-equipped laptop. Regrettably, the company didn't bother doling out dollar figures just yet, but we'd go ahead and file 'em both under "expensive."


(Via Engadget.)


Sony's Full HD PMW-EX3 camcorder outed at NAB

Sony's Full HD PMW-EX3 camcorder outed at NAB

Filed under: ,



As the
HD camcorder onslaught continues, Sony is making sure it doesn't get left out by showcasing the PMW-EX3 in Las Vegas. Aside from handling interchangeable lenses, this cam also features a trifecta of 0.5-inch CCDs with Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) resolution, native 24p support, XDCAM HD EX recording on dual SxS cards, HD-SDI output, USB / 4-pin FireWire sockets and an optional 60GB disk recorder that plugs in via a SxS slot. Of course, we seriously hope you're planning to put this on the studio's plastic -- after all, it's not like you want that $13,000 charge hitting your card, right?


(Via Engadget.)


NAB: Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 supports Sony XDCAM EX

NAB: Adobe Premiere Pro CS3 supports Sony XDCAM EX

At NAB Adobe also announced native support for the Sony XDCAM EX camera format in its Premiere Pro CS3 video editing and production software. Premiere Pro delivers a file-based workflow without transcoding or rewrapping, providing a software-only, tapeless High Definition (HD) workflowófrom capture to output. Adobe will demonstrating the Sony XDCAM..

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)


Friday, April 11, 2008

Video: Sony's TG1 / TG3E 1080i -- world's smallest camcorder unboxed, previewed

Video: Sony's TG1 / TG3E 1080i -- world's smallest camcorder unboxed, previewed

Filed under: ,
Whether you call it the HDR-TG3E (as it's known in Europe) or the HDR-TG1 (as it's been dubbed everywhere else), it's still the world's smallest 1080i camcorder. Tracy and Matt got their hands on an early unit for all your unboxing and first-impression pleasures. They're already "very impressed" with the "fabulous" image quality when viewed on their 50-inch plasma. Don't let the Queen's English and SCART adapter fool you, this is pretty much exactly what you can expect to land Stateside next month. Click through for the moving pictures then hit up that read link for a more detailed analysis -- looks like Sony's got themselves a winner.

 


(Via Engadget.)


Thursday, April 10, 2008

Software update...Pro Apps Update 2008

Software update...Pro Apps Update 2008 Software update. 6.0.3 FCP 3.0.3 Compressor Nothing yet for motion or Color. :("



(Via finalcutpronews.)


Canon Quietly Releases XL H1S and XL H1A

Canon Quietly Releases XL H1S and XL H1A, Lowers H1 Series Price [Camcorders]


Updates look to be disappointingly minor, with more studio output options, expanded image control, Speedlite shoe mount, and the ability to record external in XLR mics at the same time. The spec-similar 20X HD zoom lens has also seen an update for improved manual controls/ergonomics. But the biggest component, the three 1/3 inch, 1.67 Megapixel CCD Image Sensors along with Canon's proprietary DIGIC DVII HD Image Processor—seems to be a complete rehash of the XL H1—a camera that's now over two years old.


Oh, and the bonus for forking over $3,000 more for the XL H1S?

"The XL H1S model provides expanded connectivity by incorporating HD-SDI (SMPTE 299M)/SD-SDI (SMPTE272M) output with embedded audio and time code, providing a raw, uncompressed 1.485 Gbps signal for demanding live production environments, SMPTE Time Code input and output terminals, and a Genlock output terminal for multi-camera shooting situations."


Outputs and Genlock.


Here are the full details:




CANON'S NEW XL H1S AND XL H1A HD CAMCORDERS PROVIDE ADVANCED FEATURES

FOR ENHANCED CONTROL AND OPERATION

New 20x HD Video Lens, Enhanced Image Control and Other User-Requested Refinements Serve the Needs of Event Video, Documentary Filmmaking and Pro Markets



LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 10, 2008 - Building on the success of its acclaimed XL H1 High Definition (HD) camcorder, Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging technology, has introduced the new shoulder mount XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders, which include new advanced features requested by professional users for improved operation and image control.



Canon's new XL H1S and XL H1A camcorders, which will be on display at the 2008 NAB Show (Booth #SU3020), feature an updated Canon 20x HD Video Lens with three independent manual adjustment rings (focus, zoom and iris), as well as enhanced manual focus and zoom control. Additionally, the XL H1S and XL H1A incorporate an expanded array of controls for customizing the image, display, and operation to match individual needs. Utilizing the industry's most affordable digital video recording media - HDV tapes - both models are ideal for such long-form production applications as wedding and event videography, digital filmmaking, documentary production and media education.



Both the new XL H1S and XL H1A deliver superior HD image quality with their Genuine Canon XL interchangeable lens system, three 1/3 inch, 1.67 Megapixel CCD Image Sensors, and Canon's proprietary DIGIC DVII HD Image Processor. Both models also feature a durable six-pin IEEE 1394 terminal, providing a more robust connection to external hardware.



The XL H1S model provides expanded connectivity by incorporating HD-SDI (SMPTE 299M)/SD-SDI (SMPTE272M) output with embedded audio and time code, providing a raw, uncompressed 1.485 Gbps signal for demanding live production environments, SMPTE Time Code input and output terminals, and a Genlock output terminal for multi-camera shooting situations.



"The new XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders continue to meet the needs of producers, event videographers, and digital cinematographers with superior Canon optical and imaging technology, and with the most cost-effective medium for high-quality HD video capture and storage, which is HDV tape," noted Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "Canon's unsurpassed quality is seen in our broadcast HDTV lenses and the Canon EOS digital photography cameras. This know-how directly benefits the quality of Canon professional and consumer HD camcorders. Recently, our consumer camcorders claimed the number-one position in total high definition camcorder unit sales above $200 in both January and February of 2008, according to The NPD Group's Retail Tracking Service."



New Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III

Leveraging Canon's expertise as a worldwide leader in optics, the XL H1S and XL H1A feature a redesigned Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens equipped with Canon's XL lens mount. The XL lens mount enables users to interchange lenses, such as Canon's optional 6x wide-angle lens, Canon EF photographic lenses, and many other lenses for specialized image capture. The XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders' new Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III offers independent manual zoom, focus and iris rings, which can operate simultaneously. These rings have been redesigned for easy access and comfortable operation. Other innovations of the lens include: three sensitivity settings for the manual focus ring; fast and slow zoom speeds; smooth movement when starting or stopping zooms; and selectable rotational angles between the tele and wide ends of the lens zoom. Simultaneous zoom and focus control are also possible in either Manual or Auto Focus mode. The new Genuine Canon 20x HD Video Zoom Lens III incorporates aspherical lenses to reduce flare and fluorite lens elements to minimize chromatic aberration. Additionally, the lens features Canon's SuperRange Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) system, which corrects camera shake instantly on hand-held shots at full telephoto, shots taken from a moving vehicle, or other challenging situations.



User-Definable Operation

The new camcorders provide users with an unprecedented range of image/color settings, camera-control functions, and viewfinder display choices. Video can be captured and output in multiple frame rates to meet the demands of diverse production assignments. These frame rates include: 60i for mainstream production; 30F for perfect frame grabs or Web delivery; and 24F for emulating the look of motion-picture film. Canon's Factory Service Center can also provide an optional upgrade to add 50i and 25F frame rates. The camcorders can be switched in all frame rates between 1080-line 16:9 aspect ratio HD video and 480-line 4:3 aspect ratio SD video (or 576 lines in 50i or 25F mode).



Both the XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders provide Total Image Control for customizing image and color settings, with a total of 23 custom presets available for image-quality adjustment, with the range of image color presets extended from +/-9 to +/-50 steps for fine-tuning the picture (an important feature for achieving the visual subtleties favored by cinematographers). Custom image pre-set files can be stored to an onboard SD/SDHC Memory Card and shared with another Canon XL H1S, XL H1A, or with Canon XH G1 and XH A1 HD camcorders for seamless multi-camera production work.



Custom camera functions and operation settings total 21 items and 33 sub-items for achieving creative "looks" for footage. Among these new functions are: "shockless" white balance for smooth, color-accurate dissolves between two pre-set white balance values (adjustable from 2000K to 15000K); the ability to increase gain in 0.5dB increments from 0dB up to +18dB, and there is also additional -3dB and +36dB settings. A selective noise-reduction function is available for reducing the noise in targeted color areas, which is important for blue/green chroma-key applications in special effects work and for shooting insufficiently illuminated backgrounds.



Using the custom display settings feature, a camera operator can tailor the display to their shooting style. These include 22 items and 40 sub-items for selection of status information that can be shown in the XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders' 2.4" combination EVF/LCD monitor.



Audio Capture and A/V Connectivity

User-requested refinements in the XL H1S and XL H1A audio capabilities include: two-channel audio performance; two built-in XLR terminals with separate audio-input sensitivity settings; the ability to simultaneously record sound from an external microphone and the supplied internal microphone; line output level switching; an audio (manual) limiter; a new metal headphone jack for reliable connectivity. Another important new feature is embedded audio (and SMPTE time code) in the XL H1S HD camcorder's uncompressed HD-SDI/SD-SDI digital output via an industry-standard BNC connector.



Other improved connections on the XL H1S and XL H1A HD camcorders include an external LCD monitor output for critical focus confirmation on an optional larger monitor simultaneous RCA and BNC video output for added monitoring and dubbing convenience, and a photo-flash accessory shoe to support use of Canon EX Series Speedlites.



The new Canon XL H1S HD camcorder is scheduled to be available in early June for an estimated retail price of $8,999, and the XL H1A, which will have an estimated retail price of $5,999, is scheduled to be available in mid-July.










"



(Via Gizmodo.)


Wednesday, April 9, 2008

FireWire goes to 1.6 Gbps

FireWire jumps to 1.6 GbpsFC39342E-2073-4206-8DF5-ACBB2A7F16D3.jpg
Symwave, a semiconductor maker, has announced the FirePHY-1600, which doubles the speed of FireWire to 1.6 Gbps. Current FireWire 800 only manages 800 Mbps.



FirePHY-1600 is fully backwards compatible with Firewire 400 and FireWire 800, and the speed increases are dramatic. According to Macworld, Symwave says that in under 5 seconds, you can transfer 1,000 4 megapixel photos. Of course, this is possible at 1.6 Gbps, which is the maximum throughput. Actual throughput will be less on average.


Given that FireWire is an Apple-introduced standard, it would be nice to see Apple first on the bandwagon for Firewire 1600, at least in their Mac Pros.


(Via Appletell.)


Toshiba to showcase "world's smallest HDTV camera" at NAB

Toshiba to showcase "world's smallest HDTV camera" at NAB

4-2-08-ik-hd1.jpg
Granted, Toshiba Imaging's IK-HD1 3CCD HDTV Camera may not matter much to the consumer as-is, but we're all about the progress. Ready to make its grand, er, wee entrance at NAB Show later this month, the aforementioned unit touts the planet's "smallest" HD camera head (1.6-inches; 2.3-ounces), which should give program producers in tight spots one less reason to not capture content in high-def. In that vein, Tosh even notes that its ability to capture at 1,920 x 1,080 at 30fps makes it "highly suitable for reality TV (you getting this, producers?), specialty broadcast, sports, news and commercials." We know, this totally opens the door for an HD version of Punk'd, but hey, you can't win 'em all.

[Via Engadget Spanish]

MCE QuickStream DV - Portable, FireWire DV Capture Drive

MCE QuickStream DV - Portable, FireWire DV Capture Drive"


The revolutionary MCE QuickStream DV, now in its second generation, has re-engineered the entire Digital Video (DV) workflow by completely eliminating the inefficient, time consuming step of transferring (or capturing) DV footage from your DV camcorder tapes into your Mac or PC non-linear editing (NLE) system... The lightweight, portable, self-powered QuickStream DV connects directly to your DV camcorder and captures your DV footage to its miniature high performance hard drive on-the-fly, straight from your camcorder's FireWire port, in your choice of ready-to-edit file formats (.mov, .avi, .dv, and others) while you are shooting! When done shooting, simply unplug the QuickStream DV from your camcorder's FireWire (IEEE 1394, i.LINK, etc.) port and plug it into your computer system's FireWire port and your DV footage is ready for editing and/or viewing... IMMEDIATELY!

Adobe Media Player 1.0 released

Adobe Media Player 1.0 released

Adobe today announced the immediate availability of Adobe Media Player 1.0 software.


Adobe Media Player can provide high-quality playback of streamed, downloaded or locally-stored video in the Adobe Flash format.
For the first time, you can download video outside the browser in the Adobe Flash format, which can be viewed in 1080p, 720p or 480i video display resolutions with the most advanced audio quality.
You can also subscribe to television shows and other online video content and then automatically receive new episodes of the shows as they become available.
To help you discover new content, a broad, searchable catalog of shows from leading media companies and networks is available and it is expected that it will continually expand to include video from additional broadcasters, studios and independent producers.

(Via I4U News.)


Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Flickr Video Launches!!!

Flickr Video Launches!!!


Flickr Video Launches - A Unique ExperienceD9143CA4-FF8C-4C23-B1C3-44DD10C03180.jpg

Flickr users can now add video clips alongside their photos, a much requested and much anticipated feature that has been promised for over a year.


The puppet version of Shel Israel graciously kicked things off for us by announcing the new feature in the Flickr Video below.


(Via TechCrunch.)

Final Cut Server released

Final Cut Server released



1AC8331D-1453-49DF-B7EA-C5434544050E.jpgAfter countless delays and the cancellation of Apple's booth at NAB 2008 (which starts next week), many of us assumed Final Cut Server would never materialize. However, today's store-closing Tuesday update changed all of that, and the product is out and available immediately. It's nearly a year late (it was announced at NAB 2007), but we'll take it!

Apple's press release describes Final Cut Server as, "a scaleable server application...allows searching across multiple disks and SAN volumes and enables viewing, annotation and approval of content from anywhere using a PC or Mac(R)."

The cross-platform nature of the client software is a huge win for production houses that are not fully Mac-ified. Even if your whole production suite is Mac, being able to login from a PC to search media clips or access media from a PC in your Final Cut workflow has great potential.

Read on for the rundown of the specs and system requirements for the server and client software.

(Via (TUAW).)


Friday, March 28, 2008

Friday, March 7, 2008

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

smiles everyone....smiles


freezing on the yoga shoot....

tech talk #4


check out my weekly geekly column -
Tech talk 4

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

tech talk #3


check out my tech column - TechTalk

Saturday, January 19, 2008

dacra - design distrct


A video I produced during Art Basel 07 was of Craig Robins and his art gallery/office. He loved the piece and asked if it could appear on their website. Check it out - Dacra

"Hi JD: I love it. Craig"