Hasta La Gadget!

Photography has come a long way since its beginnings, but there are still some amazing things to be discovered by looking at how things worked back then. Inspired by the early days of photography, this lens has been re-engineered from one that was invented in the 19th century.

The team of Lomography have released their Petzval lens, which is supposed to replicate the lens that was originally invented by Joseph Petzval in Vienna, Austria, in 1840. It will work with Nikon F-mount and Canon EF-mount DSLRs.

The original Petzval lens was used to create beautiful portrait shots, and the new lens keeps the same strong color saturation, depth of field, bokeh elements, etc for which the lens was lauded.

Lomography launched their project as a Kickstarter campaign, and it’s been wildly successful so far. They’ve already amassed over $833,000 versus their goal of $100,000 – so this lens will definitely be made. There are 25 days left of funding, but you’ll have to pledge $400(USD) to get yours.

The eyes might be the window to one’s soul, but music – music is the key to unlocking one’s heart, as music has proven to be an extremely potent memory trigger for many of us. Some of us associate certain songs with various moments in our lives, ranging from the sad to the joyous, and you can be sure that music is here to stay, just as how it had shaped various societies and empires over the past few millennia. Having said that, artists are always on the lookout to produce new kinds of music from yet untested methods, and it is in this spirit of experimentation that led a certain Benjamin Von Wong to use an entire bunch of SLR cameras so that they can deliver a symphony that is stirring to the photographer’s soul (and other curious onlookers, too, I am sure).

Benjamin Von Wong enlisted the assistance of Nikon Professional Services (NPS) and composer Andrew Kesler, where an estimated $30,000 worth of camera gear (from Nikon, of course) was then used to create a song. All 14 cameras were used in the making of the “Nikon Symphony”, where most of these were part of the Nikon range of the D4 all the way through to the D5200.

The sounds were created by playing with different functions of the camera, and these functions would range from Live View switching on and off to the mirror flipping up and down, where even some of the annoying camera beeps do make their way into this composition.

What are some of the other zany ways that you can think of when it comes to creating new kinds of music via the clever use of everyday items? It would certainly take a creative spark, and I a quite sure that from now on, someone else might want to recreate the Nikon Symphony using other digital cameras to see which version sounds better. Heck, it might even end up as some sort of guerrilla ad warfare, don’t you think so?

Source
[ $30,000 Nikon DSLR “symphony” creates music for the soul copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Canon’s “game changing” autofocus system on the new EOS 70D has been detailed, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, promising the smoothness of a dedicated camcorder with the image quality and lens flexibility of a DSLR. Billed as “revolutionary” by the company, the Dual Pixel system marks Canon’s concession to the increasing number of photographers wanting to frame using the LCD rather than the traditional viewfinder, with a new CMOS that can simultaneously capture images and perform phase-detection AF.

Canon’s system takes the same core approach as existing phase-detection auto focus. In both, the light entering the camera is split, and the difference in the focus point position between the two images is measured and analyzed to calculate the adjustments needed for focus.

Traditionally, a separate phase-detection AF sensor is used to perform those measurements; in Canon’s new system, however, the image sensor itself does the measurements, at the same time as capturing image data. That’s because Canon uses two photodiodes for each pixel: used side-by-side during focusing they work as the phase-difference sensor, while during image capture they’re combined to act as a single pixel in the final frame.

Overall, that means continuous autofocus throughout video recording, with support for tap-to-focus on the EOS 70D’s 3-inch touchscreen. Canon also offers face- and object-tracking, and argues that – while purists might choke at the thought of framing with anything other than the viewfinder – by switching to the Live View LCD even low-light situations are clearly visible.

Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF overview:

The result is a camera that’s significantly swifter to autofocus than its predecessors, with Canon claiming the EOS 70D can lock 30-percent faster than the Hybrid CMOS AF II system in the EOS Rebel SL1. In fact, for most purposes it’s “nearly instantaneous” Canon says.

The first camera to support the Dual Pixel CMOS AF will be the EOS 70D, which is expected to ship from September. However, we’re fully expecting Canon to roll the system out to other models in due course.

Canon EOS 70D overview:

Canon EOS 70D Dual Pixel CMOS AF “revolutionary” system detailed is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
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When it comes to DSLRs, I guess you could say that for most of the ordinary, average Joes out there, it is a straight battle between Canon and Nikon, as advertisements from both camps have certainly set up a very enticing “battle”, so to speak. Canon is back this time with a hard hitter of theirs, which would be known as the Canon EOS 70D, which we will look at in closer detail right after the jump.

The Canon EOS 70D is one DSLR that will target photo enthusiasts who want to take the next step in the right direction after moving on from their entry-level digital SLRs. It will boast of an innovative new Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, delivering instant and precise focusing of video in addition to still images, while also providing outstanding image quality and performance courtesy of its new 20.2 megapixel APS-C Canon CMOS sensor and Canon’s superb DIGIC 5+ Image Processor.

With Canon’s newly-developed Dual Pixel CMOS AF, this phase-detection autofocus (AF) technology that is located on the camera’s image sensor plane, it will allow users to capture video with the new EOS 70D while offering quality that is close to one found on a dedicated camcorder. Dual Pixel CMOS AF would make use of a revolutionary CMOS sensor, where the entire gamut of effective pixels are able to perform both still imaging and phase-detection AF simultaneously, helping you achieve dramatically improved AF performance compared to other EOS cameras when you are undergoing Live View shooting, as well as when shooting video.

The Canon EOS 70D DSLR would also come with an integrated wireless transmitter that will offer users several connectivity options so that they can share their images in a jiffy. You will of course benefit from the free EOS Remote app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play store, letting you wirelessly transfer photos and videos from your camera to an iOS or Android-powered device. The Canon EOS 70D will play nice with the entire range of Canon EF and EF-S lenses, in addition to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards. It is tipped for a September release this year at $1199.00 for the body alone, while those who want an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens to accompany it will have to fork out $1,349, or $1549.00 to have it come with the EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens.

Press Release
[ Canon EOS 70D DSLR announced copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Looking to capture professional-quality video on the cheap? You’ve probably considered a DSLR, but for many users, an interchangeable-lens camera might not be the best pick. Camcorders and higher-end video rigs typically offer far more powerful autofocus capabilities, and while Digital SLR footage can look great, if you’re not tweaking the lens manually, things might not go as smoothly as you’d hope. Canon’s setting out to change that, with its brilliant new EOS 70D. On the surface, this 20.2-megapixel camera doesn’t venture far from its 60D roots, but internally, it’s an entirely different ballgame.

At the core of the 70D’s modifications is what Canon’s calling Dual Pixel CMOS AF. Essentially, the sensor includes twice the number of pixels in a (very successful) attempt to improve focusing. There are 40.3 million photodiodes on the sensor, and when they’re all working together, “it’s like 20 million people tracking the focus with both eyes,” as Canon explains. The result is camcorder-like focusing for both stills and video, when you’re shooting in live view mode. During our test with a pre-production sample, the device performed phenomenally, adjusting focus instantaneously when snapping stills, and quickly but gradually when recording video. Join us after the break for a closer look.

Filed under: Cameras, Canon

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