Oh! Gizmo

By Andrew Liszewski

So maybe you’re not a cameraman on a budget, and DIY hardware like the Nintendo DS based Open Camera Controller we posted earlier doesn’t appeal to you. In that case you might want to check out Gitzo’s new toy. The company is known for their brilliant carbon fiber tripods, monopods and other photography gear that’s well out of my price range, and I’m sure their new Athena remote camera head, which was shown at the CP+ 2010 Exhibition in Yokohama this past weekend, will continue in that tradition of awesomeness and expensiveness.

According to Gizmag, the remote controlled Athena allows photographers to mount their camera in places too dangerous or inconvenient for them to stand. The gimbal is controlled via software running on a PC, which not only lets the photographer adjust the camera’s various functions and settings, but also lets them remotely pan, tilt and roll the head. Of course having a modern DSLR with live-view capabilities is pretty much a requisite if you want to remotely reframe a shot, but odds are if your job requires gear like this, you’ve also got the budget for the latest and greatest in camera equipment. Official pricing and availability hasn’t been announced yet, but I’m sure it will be posted to Gitzo’s website once it’s back on its feet.

[ Gizmag - Gitzo's Athena: the cameraman that can go anywhere ]

By Andrew Liszewski

It’s not as easy as opening up the App Store and shelling out $2.99, but if you’ve been disappointed by the limitations of other DSLR camera controllers on the market, you’ll probably like the fact that the Open Camera Controller is not only extremely robust, but it’s also free… kind of. Created by the chaps at HDR Labs, in conjunction with Steve Chapman, the OCC is based on a Nintendo DS which is essentially a touchscreen controller with 8 hours of battery life, and is designed to serve as the perfect camera remote, at least for their particular needs.

In addition to providing more robust exposure bracketing, an intervalometer and even the ability to trigger the shutter based on loud sounds, the Canon, Olympus and Sigma-friendly OCC can be expanded with almost limited functionality by other open source apps as they become available. Unfortunately HDR Labs doesn’t plan on selling the Open Camera Controller, but they have provided detailed instructions on how to make your own, in this case creating the interface cable from an old GBA WarioWare: Twisted cartridge. There’s some wiring and soldering involved, so the project isn’t for the faint of heart, and technically it’s far from free, but how many other DSLR controllers let you play a game of Mario Kart DS on your break?

[ HDR Labs - Open Camera Controller ] VIA [ Pocket-lint ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Remember the Canon zoom lens thermos we brought you last week that was exclusively given out to members of the press at the Olympic Press Center in Vancouver? Well it turns out in the very near future they’re not going to be so exclusive. You can actually pre-order one now from Canadian photography store Vistek for $29.99 (Canadian dollars of course) and they’re expected to be available around mid-April. Quantities will be limited though, so if you saw my post last week and were kicking yourself for missing out on getting one at the Olympics, you’ll want to act fast.

[ Vistek - Canon Thermal Travel Mug EF 70-200 f/4.0 L IS USM Lens ] VIA [ Doobybrain ]

By Andrew Liszewski

For those of us who missed the Olympic festivities in Vancouver, particularly members of the press, here’s another reason to be bummed. Apparently Canon was giving out these cool travel mugs that look like one of their 70-200mm L-series lenses at the Olympic Press Center, and Microsoft’s Josh Weisberg managed to score one. Sadly, since I don’t seem to see any of them listed on eBay, it seems the lucky few who got one aren’t willing to part with them, even for a profit.

[ PDNPulse - Swag Alert!: Canon White Lens Coffee Mug ] VIA [ CrunchGear ]

By Gaurav Kheterpal

Rumors suggest that Canon is leaving no stone unturned for a February launch for its EOS 60D DSLR and the Canon 550D/600D. No doubt that Canon has been feeling the heat of the competition from Sony with its point-and-shoots waterproof cameras and Nikon with its swivel-screen displays.

The Canon 60D may inherit 50D’s metallic body and 15.1 MP resolution but it’s likely to have an improved sensor and offer low-light sensitivity. The new Rebel would be of a smaller size than the existing Rebel T1i and would be capable of at least 720p30 video.

Watch out for Canon’s possible announcements at PMA Photography Expo on 20th February, 2010 for more.

[ Canon ] VIA [ TFTS ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Don’t let a little inclement weather put a damper on your next photography outing. Think Tank Photo’s Hydrophobia Flash 70-200 SLR rain cover can accommodate a professional sized SLR camera with up to a 70-200 f2.8 lens attached, protecting it from rain, snow and even blowing sand. It’s got a clear flash tower that can be popped up allowing you to still use a strobe, a handy retainer loop for securing a hanging strap, a clear back window for chimping your digital camera’s LCD display and even oversized sleeves on each side for keeping your hands and forearms dry during operation. And depending on how much your camera cost, the Hydrophobia’s $145 price tag will either seem like a drop in the bucket or a hefty (though completely worthwhile) investment.

[ Hydrophobia Flash 70-200 SLR Rain Cover ] VIA [ Wired Gadget Lab ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Forget about heading to the Serengeti, or even your local zoo, if you were hoping to get some experience photographing wild animals to impress the editors at National Geographic. This Safari Photo Shoot simulator is as close as you can get to the perils of wildlife photography without ever getting up off the couch.

You don’t even need to spend the money on an expensive DSLR since it includes an infrared camera that keeps score of how many animals you shoot. Now real photographers who’ve been chased by elephants or attacked by cobras might scoff at the lack of any real danger in this simulator, but the warning on Buy.com (”CHOKING HAZARD Small Parts. Not for children under 3 years. CHOKING HAZARD”) makes it pretty clear the Safari Photo Shoot is not all fun and games. $28.47 from Stupid.com.

[ Safari Photo Shoot ] VIA [ Nerd Approved ]

By Andrew Liszewski

With an LCD display just 2.5 inches in size, don’t think of the Gigtube from Aputure as an upgrade to your DSLR’s own LCD display, since it’s probably far from it. Think of it more as an extra useful remote control. It connects to your camera’s video out and USB ports and allows you to monitor a live feed (if your camera supports live view) or snap and see a photo immediately after you’ve taken it.

The 2 meter extension cable means you won’t be able to wander far from your camera when using the Gigtube, but it does seem handy for properly framing shots in situations where you can’t easily look through the viewfinder or check the LCD. A built-in rechargeable battery should keep it running for about 3 hours of continual use, and it’s available from various online retailers, like Amazon (Adorama), for about $200.

[ Gigtube DSLR Remote Viewfinder ] VIA [ The Red Ferret Journal ]

By Andrew Liszewski

So I realize that CF’s days are numbered, and SD will eventually win the flash card war, but for now compact flash manages to stay just one step ahead of secure digital when it comes to storage capacity. Well maybe a few steps to be exact, given Panasonic just announced a 64GB SD card, where as Silicon-Power just revealed their new 128GB CF model. The 400X card features write speeds of up to 90MB/sec allowing it to file away your monstrous RAW shots as fast as you can snap them, though there’s no word on how quickly it will snap away your hard earned cash.

[ PR - Silicon Power Announces World’s First 400X 128GB Compact Flash Memory Card ] VIA [ Mobile Magazine ]