Gadget Zone » Digital SLR

Get better shots with the Portable Photo Studio – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:28:20 +0000

Get better shots

There have been other versions of this type thing before, specifically one from Hammacher and Schlemmer. However, you’re likely to appreciate this version a bit better if for no other reason than it is $30 cheaper. Cheaper is always a major bonus. Especially if you’re picking this up to get better photographs on items you’re attempting to sell. The less you spend on supplies, the more profit you’ll make on your products. This tiny studio collapses for easy storage, so when you don’t need it, it’s easily tucked out of sight.

The set includes the photo lightbox, two 35 watt photo lights, a 6 to 7 inch mini-tripod and then a zippered nylon carrier to store it all within. The camera in the picture is of course not included with the set. You’ll tragically have to find your own camera to use with it. The miniature studio will keep your pictures from being blurry, diffuses lighting, creates a clean background and reduces harsh shadows that would normally be created. The entire set will cost you $49.99 from Think Geek.

Canon’s 5D Mk. II to get manual video control – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Thu, 28 May 2009 08:09:56 +0000

Canon’s 5D Mk. II

When Canon released the 21 MP 5D Mk. II complete with 1080p full frame video, serious videographers were drooling. And after seeing such shorts as “Reverie,” by professional photographers using the video feature to shoot some serious cinematic imagery, the chief complaint was that the 5D Mk. II’s video feature was purely automatic. That there was no ability to control manually the exposure or shutter settings for the video feature, was always a thorn in professional videographers side. No more. According to CNet, a firmware update for the $2500+ camera body is coming which will give photographers the keys to the video kingdom.

The basic reason why Canon left out manual control for video was simply because they considered video to be the “icing on the cake” to the core feature of the camera, which was obviously to shoot digital still images in high resolution. But they did such a great job with the quality of the full frame 1080p video that 5D users were screaming for Canon to release the manual hounds.

“This new firmware will accommodate a great number of user requests for manual exposure control in the EOS 5D Mark II video mode. Manual exposure control while shooting video on the EOS 5D Mark II is expected to make a big impact with cinematographers and videographers using the 5D Mark II for high-end HD video production,” Canon said.

The ability to control the ISO, f stop and shutter settings for the 5D Mk. II will allow the camera to become a serious cinematic contender for budding filmmakers on a budget. The new firmware update will be available next month.

Canon 5D Mark II new firmware enables video manual controls – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Wed, 27 May 2009 09:39:02 +0000

Canon 5D Mark II

Wow, I never thought that would happen and I think I just wet my pants. Canon has today revealed a big upgrade to EOS DLSR 5D Mark II, unleashing the long-awaited manual controls on video capture mode! The new firmware, to be released next week, will permit manual adjustments on aperture, ISO as well as shutter speed when recording movie – a huge deal for DSLR video fanatics if you ask me.

Vivitar V3800N makes a return – Gadget Zone

Gadget — Mon, 25 May 2009 03:17:11 +0000

Vivitar V3800N

Just when you thought that analog digital cameras were dead and buried due to the proliferation of digital cameras all over the world, along comes the Vivitar V3800N from Sakar International that aims to make a splash in the non-digital camera world by offering a noteworthy device without breaking the bank in the process. The Vivitar V3800N is a formidable piece of hardware, where the manual 35mm single lens reflex model will come in varying prices between $169 and $199, depending on what you want to include in the package. It will go totally old school, utilizing the classic focal plane shutter that inspired the term ’shutterbug’ all those years ago.

Before we delve a little further about this manual camera, here is a little history lesson. The V3800N had been all but discontinued before Sakar purchased the Vivitar brand last year, and only resumed volume manufacturing of the camera due to overwhelming response on both retailer and consumer sides. After all, the retail market has had a dearth of a comparable camera for many a year already, making in all but impossible for folks who want to pick up core photography skills including setting aperture and mechanical shutter controls to pursue their interests further. Hence, the dusting off of the 3800N’s production lines to keep it going when everyone else prefers the digital format.

The re-release of the Vivitar V3800N is also part of Sakar’s “big picture” strategy to leverage the reputation of the 71-year-old Vivitar brand to expand its footprint in the camera business. After all, Vivitar was founded before World War II in 1938, and has an extremely strong brand name to leverage upon, making great cameras on both the digital and film fronts. Currently, their digital camera line includes entry-level VGA cameras to 12-megapixel monsters with zoom optics that works for both the amateur and serious digital photographer. Each Vivitar V3800N you pick up will come with either a 50mm lens or a 28-70mm zoom lens, depth-of-field preview, bright viewfinder with split-image focusing, multi-exposure capability, 10-second self-timer, and X Contact hot shoe for add-on flash. It features shutter speeds of 1 to 1/2000 sec, accepts ISO 25-3200 film speeds. You will be able to pick it up in three different configurations – with a 50mm lens, with a 28-70mm zoom lens, and with a 50mm lens bundled with a flash, UV protective filter, roll of black and white film, and a rugged gadget bag.

Gadget Zone » Digital SLR

Get better shots with the Portable Photo Studio – Gadget Zone

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Canon’s 5D Mk. II to get manual video control – Gadget Zone

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