General and News

The Great Camera Shootout 2011: Episode Two

Elenion — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 05:43:56 +0000

It is finally out.
I'd like to see how the gh2 performs between these monsters!

http://www.zacuto.com/the-great-camera-shootout-2011/episode-two

Nikon, video, and small mirrorless cameras

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 01:51:23 +0000

Nikon Professional Services recognizes that more and more professionals are using D-SLR cameras to shoot high-end video and we think this area has the potential to grow exponentially over the next few years. As part of our ongoing efforts to meet the needs of our members, we are creating ways to help professionals showcase their work and support Nikon photographers exploring and currently shooting video.

Via: ByThom.com

Some smart manager appeared at Nikon and wrote this. This is all I can say. :-)

As you may know Nikon will announce mirrorless cams with 2.7x sensors.
It is easy to prove as we can see m43 bashing (like constant motto of "no progress if m43 sensors in last two years" in each and every post) from Thom lately and fairy tales on how 2.7x sensor will be good.
Nikon is afraid, very afraid. Problem is that fans do not realize main ideas standing behind 2.7x sensor.

First idea. Price. All Japanese companies are now focused on small, less buttons and as cheap as possible in production cameras. Small sensor helps here.

Second and main idea. Most probably sensor resolution will be picked on such level that will render all but few best existing lenses unusable for photo usage. So you'll need to buy new ones from Nikon in any case. And you won't need to explain, like Sony, why you dont have AF adapters for old DSLR era lenses.

Samsung Working on DSLR-like Bokeh for Compacts

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:17:57 +0000

In a recently published patent application, Samsung disclosed an invention that puts shallow depth-of-field capabilities into tiny, point and shoot cameras. Samsung gets there by using dual lenses in a single camera and using that second lens in a rather novel way.
While the primary lens is capturing the full-resolution image, a secondary lens and sensor captures another image with the sole purpose of evaluating the relative distances of areas in the image. (In some configurations, the camera may actually be a 3D camera, while in other configurations, it may truly be a secondary lens and sensor.) Then, the camera merges the data with the primary image to create a depth map and applies a graduated blur based on this depth map.

Source: http://www.photographybay.com/2011/07/19/samsung-working-on-dslr-like-bokeh-for-compact-cameras/

Panasonic Lumix division, it is time to change!

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 07:26:22 +0000

If other divisions can do it, why can't you?

http://developer.vieraconnect.com/

P.S. And I must say that they are not alone, all major TV manufacturers introduced or plan to introduce similar approach for their TV sets.

AVCHD Format Version 2.0 licensing started

Mihuel — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:34:37 +0000

"The AVCHD Format has been updated to Version 2.0 by adding new specifications
for 3D and 1080/60p,50p. New trademarks; "AVCHD 3D", "AVCHD Progressive" and
"AVCHD 3D/Progressive" are introduced."

from : http://www.avchd-info.org/

New GH2 firmware leak

EOSHD — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 07:10:26 +0000

Just had an anonymous email with a link to download from Mediafire version V1.0E of the GH2 firmware from a Panasonic service centre. http://www.eoshd.com/content/3328

Firmware links:

http://www.mediafire.com/file/cwok7orwdegp2pg/GH2_V10E.zip
http://www.filefactory.com/file/cc28149/n/GH2_V10E.zip

Focus free technology

lenuisible — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 07:43:23 +0000

not new, but maybe available shortly on compact cameras. Let's wait and see the quality that can be achieved, not clear yet :

http://www.lytro.com/science_inside

http://www.lytro.com/picture_gallery

Nikon Working on Preset Focus Pulls for Future Cameras

lenuisible — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:40:55 +0000

Interesting patent :

http://www.photographybay.com/2011/06/17/nikon-working-on-preset-focus-pulls-for-future-cameras/?awt_l=Gfcpl&awt_m=K2Z8JzH2Uv62xu

Concept camera

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:13:14 +0000

More info - http://www.artefactgroup.com/wvil/index.htm

One year anniversary!

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:56:37 +0000

Exactly one year ago first message considering Panasonic GH1 appeared on other forum.

This year we are starting our own forum.

With focus on content and usability. And, of course, new hack projects.

Interesting post about SSD

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Thu, 26 May 2011 11:09:21 +0000

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/2011/05/the-hot-crazy-solid-state-drive-scale.html

General point that they are hardly reliable due to cheap MLC chips (especially if you have small space left and XP or Vista without TRIM).
I also can't go back to HDD as main sytem drive.
Author also thinks that it'll be more reliable techology in the future. It won't be, at least in near future. 25nm flash is much much worse :-) But cheaper.
Moral is pretty simple, buy few 2Tb drives and backup all on them (or even use dedicated home server for this).

Thom Hogan's GH2 mini review

stefanos — Mon, 09 May 2011 17:05:36 +0000

"Panasonic GH-2. So much different, so much the same. I'm still trying to get my head around the GH2. While we've got a new sensor, touch control, and a host of other "changes," what I'm getting out of it in images and video looks a lot like a GH1. (Of course, I hacked my GH1 to get better video out of it.) Given the low clearance prices of the GH-1 these days, I'm very tempted to say "just buy the GH-1." In short, the GH-2 doesn't feel like a "2" to me. More like a " 1.1" or "1.2." But that's okay, because Panasonic's distribution and sales in the US is so screwed up you're not going to find one on your dealer's shelves anyway. And if you do, something else you want with it will be missing (hey Panasonic, where's my AC adapter?). As much as I like the GH-1/GH-2, especially for video, I can't recommend it to anyone here in the US. Maybe it's different overseas somewhere, but here Panasonic has moved from shooting themselves in the foot to something of a gut shot. Skip."

I think he's got some valid points and it's a bit more from a photographic standpoint, but I disagree about the GH2 video mode looking a lot like GH1. There are significant improvements in GH2 video in quality as well as features(ETC, hdmi etc) making it a very good (but not amazing step-up). But.... we all know about a little something that will make it an amazing step-up....:)

Thom strikes again

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Wed, 11 May 2011 18:18:36 +0000

This will be my thoughts about his highly provocative piece titled "Message Sent Versus Received".

Generally, from my pov it can be concluded to three simple facts.
1. Companies must add more special advanced analytics who'll interpret sales differently to actual numbers (because supply problems, wrong showcase design, etc)
2. Companies must introduce special weighting techniques. As real ppofessionals must count about 25x times compared to simple lemming who just bought this mirrorless camera and clearly do not have any photography skills.
3. Video must be removed from cameras, as it prevents camera to be pure professional tool to take stills (less clear, so you must read previous notes to get it)

My opinion about all of them - here companies are right and Thoms is wrong.
Btw, usually photo professionals are wrong in any relatively long term thing and managers learned it badly.

Future of SD card controller

Mihuel — Mon, 09 May 2011 04:47:48 +0000

I'm not computer guy so maybe my question will be ridiculous for somebody, but who cares ?
I found this : http://uk.eye.fi/products/prox2 , so can I use this with wifi connected hard disk ? Of course in the future there will be gear with USB3 or thunderbolt but I'm thinking of improvement of existing hardware. Can We use sd port to send data from camera to hard disk or computer by p.e. Ethernet ? http://www.sdcard.org/developers/tech/sdio/

Panasonic planning to cut 17,000 jobs

Vitaliy_Kiselev — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:15:54 +0000

Analysts said cutbacks were needed to ensure the company would be able to compete successfully against South Korean and Chinese rivals.

See more at - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/13218920

My comment.
We'll see more cuts in the future. 15.3% March sales slump in Japan also do not help.
Panasonic life will be tougher and tougher. I expect especially big hits in pro department.