IniLabs, a spinoff from the Neuroinformatics Institute at the University of Zurich, has developed a new sensor, known as the VS128 DVS, which eliminates many of the limitations of conventional cameras.

Rasterized images require a comparatively large amount of time and energy for processing because of all the redundant information they collect. The VS128 eliminates the need for expensive post-processing and compression by never acquiring redundant information in the first place. The key to achieving this is to do away with conventional frames and instead convert the information in a visual scene to a more supple currency — spikes.

Via: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/164908-new-camera-sensor-borrows-human-retina-tech-to-capture-images-at-1000-fps

http://www.inilabs.com/products/dvs128

Harold House

Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company Ltd changes its company name to Ricoh Imaging Company Ltd.

The change will be effective from 1 August 2013. Pentax will be brand for all DSLR, interchangable lens cameras and binoculars. Ricoh is brand for compact cameras and new technological innovations.

More and more good news.

The film is located here: http://www.ekkofilm.dk/shortlist/film/dewey-the-musical-/ Both views and votes count positively.

Thanks, Magnus

Rokinon is thrilled to announce the release of its 16mm T2.2 Cine lens in September, 2013. The Rokinon 16mm is a wide-angle lens for DSLR and mirrorless cameras in both the APS-C and Micro Four Thirds formats.

This lens allows for an impressive range of depth of field, with its fast T2.2 aperture. With a smooth operating manual focus, the 16mm offers pristine sharpness and clarity. It is ideal for shooting landscapes, architecture and interiors, as well enjoying unique perspectives and close-ups with shallow depth of field.

The 16mm T2.2 Cine lens features de-clicked apertures and follow focus compatibility, which is ideal for video. The lens is constructed with a solid build, using 13 optical elements in 11 groups with 2 aspherical lenses.

Rokinon is proud to provide a wide range of mounts. The 16mm T2.2 lens will be available in Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Sony, Canon M, Fujifilm X, Sony E, Samsung NX, as well as Micro Four Thirds cameras.

Rokinon continues its mission of “Excellence for Less.” See these great lenses at a Rokinon dealer near you or at www.rokinon.com.

http://www.thephoblographer.com/2013/08/02/magic-lantern-is-hacking-the-canon-7d/

Conversion cost itself is $80-$250 + all shipping + very long time.

To be short, they offered buyout service at discount to all new popular lenses (with instant buy requirement :-) ).

If somehow you do not like ebay you can use such option.

Panasonic is pleased to announce a number of seminars being held this weekend with Hugh Hastings, the former Official Photographer for Chelsea FC. A professional photographer with a career spanning over 40 years, Hugh will be discussing why he swapped his DSLR for the Lumix DMC-GH3 and accompanying lenses.

With a notable photographic career including being the Official Photographer for Chelsea FC for a decade, being the first photojournalist to work with approval behind-the-scenes at a major English football league club, and creating the Official Photographic Archive for Chelsea FC, Hugh has also been involved in corporate promotions working as a Director of Nigel Mansell’s sports marketing consultancy, as well as writing a young adult novel named ‘High Tide’. Today, Hugh lives by the sea in Cornwall and specialises in Coastal Lifestyles photography, as well as encompassing location shoots, property, portrait work, lifestyle and industrial clients in addition to media work.

With a broad spectrum of experience, Hugh looks forward to covering the following topics in the seminars;

• Why Hugh changed from a DSLR to Lumix G
• Hugh’s photography career
• Hugh’s current work, shot with the Lumix GH2/GH3
• Working with Chelsea Football Club
• Q&A session about equipment

These one hour seminars are free to attend and will take place at Jessops London Oxford Street store on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July, at 11am and 3pm.

Spaces are limited so please register your interest by emailing events@jessops.com with the subject line Lumix G or contact the store directly 129 – 131 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2HU Tel: 0207 434 3586

OT: CB 'Oh God, now I will do best better photos'.

http://www.neverwet.com/

http://www.dailypaul.com/292096/adobe-doing-the-dirty-with-the-nsa

......now when I tried to download the white paper, mega tried to dump a large file onto my computer ...much larger than the pdf ...so I declined .....so I have to admit to not reading it as yet , but I'll look for another source.

http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/160052-worlds-first-telescopic-contact-lens-gives-you-superman-like-vision

Leuven, Belgium – June 18, 2013 – Imec presents a CMOS image sensor capable of capturing 12-bit 4,000x2,000pixel progressive images at 60 frames per second (fps). Based on a stagger-laced dual exposure, the image sensor developed with Panasonic, was processed using imec’s 130nm CMOS process on 200mm silicon wafers to deliver high-speed and high-quality imaging, at reduced output bit rate.

The number of pixels on image sensors in video and still cameras keeps increasing, along with the frame rate and bit resolution requirements of the images. 4K2K will be the next-generation broadcasting format, offering an increase by a factor of two in both horizontal and vertical resolution compared to current state-of-the-art High Definition TV.

The image sensor chip is a floating diffusion shared 4T pixel imager, with a pitch of 2.5 micron and a conversion gain of 70 μV/e-, which allows for both a classical rolling shutter or stagger-laced scanning mode. The 4K2K 60-fps imaging performance is realized by 12-bit column-based delta-sigma A/D converters. The stagger-laced scanning method improves imaging sensitivity and realizes a 50 percent reduction in output data rate by alternating the readout of two sets of horizontal pixel pairs arranged in two complementary checkerboard patterns. Additionally, the overall power consumption of the imager is less than two Watts.

“This is an important milestone for imec to demonstrate our capability to co-design, prototype and manufacture high performance CMOS image sensors in our 200 mm CMOS fab,” commented Rudi Cartuyvels, Senior Vice President Smart Systems & Energy Technologies at imec.

http://www2.imec.be/be_en/press/imec-news/imecpanasonic4k2kimager.html

Via: http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/MAG/vol49-1/paper02.pdf

Here's the full text from http://www.fujifilm.com/news/n130611.html

Fujifilm and Panasonic jointly develop an organic CMOS image sensor technology using organic photoelectric conversion layer

Offers Industry's highest* dynamic range and sensitivity for vivid and texture-rich images June 11, 2013

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Shigehiro Nakajima) and Panasonic Corporation (President: Kazuhiro Tsuga) have developed organic CMOS image sensor technology that uses an organic photoelectric conversion layer with a photoelectric conversion property at the light receiving section of an image sensor to achieve performance beyond that of conventional image sensors**. Applying this technology to the image sensors of digital cameras and other imaging devices expands its dynamic range*** and enhances sensitivity*4 further to prevent highlight clipping in bright scenes and capture a dark subject with vivid colors and rich textures.

The industry has put into continuous efforts to explore image sensor technologies for increasing their number of pixels. This has dramatically improved sensor resolutions, but, in order to further boost image quality, it is necessary to expand the dynamic range, enhance sensitivity and prevent cross-talk or color mixing between pixels. Panasonic took advantage of its semiconductor device technology to boost image quality for its high-performance image sensors. Fujifilm, on the other hand, has developed highly-reliable organic photoelectric conversion layer with high absorption coefficient to be used on a sensor's light receiving section instead of silicon photodiode5 in its effort to build a new image sensor technology. In the latest collaboration, Fujifilm and Panasonic have combined Fujifilm's organic photoelectric conversion layer technology with Panasonic's semiconductor device technology to jointly develop an organic CMOS image sensor that outperforms conventional image sensors. The new organic CMOS image sensor offers the industry's highest dynamic range of 88dB, advanced sensitivity 1.2 times more sensitive than conventional sensors** and broader range of incident angle6 to enable the production of more sensitive and compact cameras with better image quality. The two companies will promote the application of this organic CMOS image sensor technology to a wide range of products including security cameras, in-vehicle cameras, mobile device and digital cameras.

Fujifilm and Panasonic will present the research results at the 2013 Symposium on VLSI Technology (VLSI2013) to be held in Kyoto on June 11, and the 2013 International Image Sensor Workshop to be held in Utah, U.S.A. on June 15.

* Performance of the light receiving section of image sensors, as of June 11, 2013 according to Panasonic data.
** Estimation from Panasonic image sensors
*** Range of light that can be recorded (ratio between the brightest and darkest areas recorded)
*4 The sensitivity of image sensors refers to the conversion ratio of light into electric signals. The greater the sensitivity is, the clearer you can capture low-light scenes.
*5 A type of photo detector that senses incident light, installed for each image sensor pixel to convert light into electric signals
*6 Range of incident light angles for efficient conversion into electric signals

Overview of the newly-developed organic CMOS image sensor technology

A conventional image sensor consists of a silicon photodiode for capturing light, metal interconnect, color filter and on-chip micro-lens. The newly-developed organic CMOS image sensor technology uses organic photoelectric conversion layer with high absorption coefficient instead of the silicon photodiode, reducing the thickness of the light receiving section down to 0.5 microns, i.e. one severalth of the thickness of a silicon photodiode. This structure provides the following benefits:

(1)Industry's highest dynamic range of 88dB to prevent highlight clipping and produce a vivid and texture-rich image even in low light

Panasonic's semiconductor device technology has improved the signal saturation value*7 by four folds compared to that of conventional image sensors. Coupled with the newly-developed noise-cancelling circuit, the sensor technology provides the industry's highest dynamic range of 88dB, preventing highlight clipping in bright scenes and capturing a vivid and texture-rich image in low light.

    *7 The maximum amount of electric signals that can be handled. Receiving a signal greater than this value leads to highlight clipping.

(2)1.2 times higher sensitivity than conventional sensors to capture clear images even in low light

The transistors and metal interconnects in each pixel, fabricated using Panasonic's semiconductor device technology, are coated with photoelectric conversion layer, developed using Fujifilm's organic material technology. The area of the light receiving section becomes limited in conventional image sensors because of the existence of metal interconnects and the need to form light shield film to prevent light incidence into areas other than the photodiode in each pixel. However, the organic CMOS image sensor technology coats the sensor with organic film, which can harvest all the light received on the sensor. This boosts sensor sensitivity by 1.2 times compared to conventional sensors to deliver clear images even in low light.

(3)Range of incident angle expanded to 60 degrees for faithful color reproduction (See the image sensor illustrations above)

The thickness of the organic film with high absorption coefficient, developed by Fujifilm, has been reduced to just 0.5 microns, or one severalth of the thickness of silicon photodiode in the light receiving section. Since the conventional silicon photodiode measures at least 3 microns in depth, the range of incident angles was limited to around 30 – 40 degrees. The thin film, achieved with the organic CMOS image sensor technology, has enabled the expansion of this range to 60 degrees, efficiently utilizing light entering at an angle for faithful color reproduction with no color mixing. It also gives greater flexibility in lens designs, facilitating the reduction of overall camera size.

(4)Offering high reliability for broader applications

Fujifilm has developed a process technology to produce inorganic films for protecting the organic film. It prevents the entry of moisture and oxygen into the organic film to safeguard it against performance degradation. The sensor technology has cleared reliability tests involving the application of stress such as temperature, humidity, electrical voltage and light, paving the way for the use of the organic CMOS image sensor in a wide range of applications. 

It's kind of funny when you think of the thousands who are losing sleep over whether ProRes on the BMPC, at 4x that data rate(?), is "good enough".

At the Computex trade show in Taipei, Intel showed a key-shaped prototype 128GB thumb drive that plugged directly into a computer’s Thunderbolt port. The drive required no cable and resembled flash drives in size.

This is one of the first thumb drives demonstrated using Thunderbolt connectivity, which is the fastest technology available to transfer data between computers and peripherals, said Oren Huber, a Thunderbolt engineer at Intel Israel.

Via: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2040903/intel-shows-worlds-fastest-thumb-drive.html

Looking at presentation slide and using first grade math we can get their estimates for mirrorless cameras.

For 2013 it is about 530 thousands.

For 2014 it is up to 710 thousands.

Macbook Pro with & w/o Retina Display

Mac Pro

OSX Mt. Lion

Discontinued 17" laptops. No new Imacs (yet).

I like the new MBP w/Retina. (w/Ivy Bridge) MacPro is a minor update. No USB3/Thunderbolt. Was hoping to see new Imacs.

Available at:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/shop_mac/family/macbook_pro

In 2006, Panavision refinanced its outstanding debt and got more than $300 million in credit facilities from Credit Suisse. Faced with a downturn in movie and TV production, the financially troubled company was forced to do more debt restructuring in 2010 that caused the company's then-largest stakeholder Ronald Perelman to give up a controlling interest.

Now, Wilmington Trust, National Association, the successor collateral agent to Credit Suisse, has filed papers in New York state court and says Panavision is $1.7 million past due.

Via: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/supplier-hollywood-cameras-loan-default-563573

Original link below:

http://panasonicprovideo.tumblr.com/post/52189473132/new-organization

Everybody seems to be sharing video these days - at higher resolutions than ever. This always-increasing demand has helped expand growth and adoption of Intel's Thunderbolt™ technology in 2013, especially for the video editors creating the best and richest content. Originally brought to market in conjunction with Apple*, Thunderbolt is now a standard feature of Mac* computers sold in the market today. The last year has also seen the PC industry get on board in earnest, as Thunderbolt is currently included on over 30 PCs and motherboards worldwide, including on more than a dozen new 4th generation Intel® Core™ processor-based products. In addition, there are more than 80 Thunderbolt-enabled peripheral devices, covering everything from storage drives, expansion docks, displays, and a myriad of media capture and creation hardware. More than 220 companies worldwide are developing Thunderbolt-enabled products, and that's only going to increase.

At the video geekfest National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show in April, Intel announced plans for an important advancement in Thunderbolt technology – the upcoming controller codenamed "Falcon Ridge" running at 20Gbs, a doubling of the bandwidth over the original Thunderbolt. Named "Thunderbolt™ 2", this next generation of the technology enables 4K video file transfer and display simultaneously – that's a lot of eye-popping video and data capability. It is achieved by combining the two previously independent 10Gbs channels into one 20Gbs bi-directional channel that supports data and/or display. Current versions of Thunderbolt, although faster than other PC I/O technologies on the market today, are limited to an individual 10Gbs channel each for both data and display, less than the required bandwidth for 4K video transfer. Also, the addition of DisplayPort 1.2 support in Thunderbolt 2 enables video streaming to a single 4K video monitor or dual QHD monitors. All of this is made possible with full backward compatibility to the same cables and connectors used with today's Thunderbolt. The result is great news for an industry on the cusp of widespread adoption of 4K video technologies.

"By combining 20Gbs bandwidth with DisplayPort 1.2 support, Thunderbolt 2 creates an entirely new way of thinking about 4K workflows, specifically the ability to support raw 4K video transfer and data delivery concurrently," says Jason Ziller, Marketing Director for Thunderbolt at Intel. "And our labs aren't stopping there, as demand for video and rich data transfer just continues to rise exponentially."

Professionals and enthusiasts alike will be able to create, edit, and view live 4K video streams delivered from a computer to a monitor over a single cable, while backing up the same file on an external drive, or series of drives, simultaneously along the same device daisy-chain. Backing up terabytes of data will be a question of minutes, not hours. And finally, since Thunderbolt 2 is backwards compatible, original investments in cables and connectors continue to pay off while supporting dramatically improved performance. Thunderbolt 2 is currently slated to begin production before the end of this year, and ramp into 2014.

Via: http://blogs.intel.com/technology/2013/06/video-creation-bolts-ahead-%E2%80%93-intel%E2%80%99s-thunderbolt%E2%84%A2-2-doubles-bandwidth-enabling-4k-video-transfer-display-2/

Not only is the graphene sensor 1,000 times more sensitive to light than current imaging sensors found in today's cameras, it also uses 10 times less energy as it operates at lower voltages. When mass produced, graphene sensors are estimated to cost at least five times cheaper.

How the Graphene nanostructure works Asst Prof Wang came up with an innovative idea to create nanostructures on graphene which will "trap" light-generated electron particles for a much longer time, resulting in a much stronger electric signal. Such electric signals can then be processed into an image, such as a photograph captured by a digital camera.

The "trapped electrons" is the key to achieving high photoresponse in graphene, which makes it far more effective than the normal CMOS or CCD (charge-coupled device) image sensors, said Asst Prof Wang. Essentially, the stronger the electric signals generated, the clearer and sharper the photos. "The performance of our graphene sensor can be further improved, such as the response speed, through nanostructure engineering of graphene, and preliminary results already verified the feasibility of our concept," Asst Prof Wang added.

via ScienceDaily