Hot off the press, Apple just released Mac OS X 10.4.11, otherwise a minor update to the last OS release. I haven't upgraded to PantherCheetahLionLeopard yet (since Yale has a site license and I have to wait until I'm back in the USA) -- but the big thing about 10.4.11 is that it supports the Microsoft Presenter Mouse 8000 -- which I've blogged about before.
Yippee! Keynote here I come!
For more: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=306297
I hadn't seen this blogged in English...
In May, Sony and Matsushita announced an interim high-definition recordable format for portable consumer camcorders. Called AVCHD the system uses 8cm recordable DVD disks (650nm laser). The compression avoids HDV's long-GOP (with its 0.5 second dropouts) instead preferring the MPEG4 AVC (aka H264) used in BlueRay.
Screen formats 1080/60i /50i and /30p and 720/60p/50p/24p are all supported. 1080 is really 1920x1080 rather than 1440x1080 although that is supported as well. Sampling is 4:2:0. Sound is AC3 (5.1) with bitrates of up to 640kbs or Dolby Diital (1.5Mbs on two channels). The max system bitrate is 18Mbps which gives a min record time of 10 min, although you can downgrade this to get more play time. On the average setting, you get around 20 minutes per disk.
Although the system uses standard DVD recordable disks, they won't playback on standard DVD players unless the firmware is upgraded to support AVCHD (unlikely).
The big question is: Why????
Data from the June 2006 Video Salon magazine in Japan.
I was editing some footage of an interview I shot with an emeritus faculty here when I discovered to my delight that iMovie HD suddenly supports 25p/30p progressive HDV input.
Since when?!?!?!?!
I had shot the interview with my Canon XL-H1 and forgot to reset the frame-rate from 30p to 60i. I only realized this when I got back home and started to edit. I was adjusting settings and turned off the HDV->DV downconvert on the XL-H1 and was astonished when iMovie was happy to suck in the 1080i/30p footage without problem. A quick check of the Help file and it states that 25/30 frame progressive modes are supported.
Since when??!?!?!?!?
NitroAV is now selling a 2-port FireWire 800 card for the MacBook Pro for $89.95. This fixes the main flaw of the MBP 15" -- the single FireWire 400 port. It uses the new ExpressCard/34 slot.
MacWorld reports that Apple's Final Cut Pro Studio now formally supports the XL-H1.
Apple has released the 17" MacBook Pro (keeping the ugly moniker). It looks great with the 2.16 ghz Intel Duo Core processor and dual-layer DVD+R (DVD-RW) support and both FireWire 800 and 400 ports. I'm bummed that the ExpressCard is still the 34 mm size (which precludes Compact Flash adapters) and that the screen size is 1680x1050 which means that it can't show 1080i/1080p natively.
I'm saving my research funds until the next revision of the 15" since the 17" is too big to take to the field. I hope when they "refresh" the 15" that they'll add back the dual FireWire ports, add dual-layer support, and give us the 54mm ExpressCard option.
Hasselblad has announced the 503CWD - a digital back for the Hasselblad 500 and 200 series. Quite exciting:
The only problem -- the price... estimated at around $10,000 (with 503CW body).
At the PMA convention, Panasonic has announced their formal entry into the interchangeable lens DSLR category with the Lumix DMC-L1. It uses the interchangeable 4/3 (four-thirds) system lens mount, so technically it should be able to mount lenses from any other manufacturer who is participating.
Although it looks like a rangefinder, it's actually a DSLR (none of the holes above the lens mount are for viewfinders). The body styling, though, is reminiscent of the Konica Hexar RF. In any case, the Lumix DMC-L1 has the following features:
Leica has announced its first 4/3 system lens, the Leica D Vario-Elmarit 14-50mm f/2.8-3.5 ASPH, which will be the standard lens for the DMC-L1, but could be used with any other 4/3 camera.
Just when I was about to spend $400 to get the MicroTrack 24/96 despite its many bugs (proprietary lithium-ion battery; 30V phantom power), Roland comes to the rescue with a new model also priced at $400: the Edirol R-09. The various blogs have picked up on it already, so read previews at CreateDigitalMusic.com and Transom.
On first glance it seems ideal: runs on 2 x AA batteries (NiMH ok), uses SD memory cards up to 2 gig, can record 24 bit x 48khz, and can use external mics or line-in as well as its own built-in stereo electrets.
When it rains, it pours.... Konica-Minolta has just announced its withdrawal from the camera and photography business -- including digital photography. They are transferring most of their camera assets (including their digital Maxxum SLR series) to Sony. It's not surprising given that they lost JPY7,300 million on revenue of JPY117,000 million in FY2005 in their camera business.
Cameras: In camera business, we have reached an agreement with Sony Corporation(Sony), having numerous image sensor technologies such as CCD and CMOS, to jointly develop digital SLR cameras in July 2005. In order to continue to have our customers use Maxxum/Dynax lenses, and to maximize possibilities of the optical, mechanical and electronics technologies accumulated through development of SLR cameras in the years to come, we came to the conclusion that it was best to transfer assets concerning camera business to Sony. Since then, we have been negotiating with Sony, and as a result, we have reached an agreement with Sony to transfer a portion of assets regarding digital SLR camera system to Sony*1. In this relation, we have decided to withdraw from camera business*2, such as film cameras and digital cameras, within Konica Minolta Group as of March 31, 2006.Sony is planning to develop digital SLR cameras compatible with Maxxum/Dynax lens mount system, so that the current Maxxum/Dynax users will be able to continue to use them with Sony’s digital SLR cameras. In addition, we will consign camera service operations for Konica Minolta, Konica,Minolta brand cameras and related equipment to Sony.
Photography: In today’s shrinking photographic market represented by color film and color paper, we have been considering to scale back and to continue photo business at an appropriate size; however, when we foresee the photographic market, it is quite difficult to maintain profitability in this field, and we have decided to withdraw from photo business. As schemed below, we will, as much as possible, avoid causing any inconvenience in providing products to our worldwide customers in the course of withdrawal.
Konica was Japan's oldest camera and photographic supply company. Minolta was one of the stars of the postwar camera boom. It will be sad to see both leave the market.
In other news, Pentax is merging with Samsung.
Willem-Jan Markerink notes on the EOS mailing list that there is a EOS EF L 24-105mm recall. This is newly released MSRP $1249 prosumer lens that is attracting a lot of interest from photographers such as Fred Miranda because of its compact size and stellar optics. From his posting:
>From http://www.eos-magazine.com:xxxxxxxx
EF 24-105mm RECALLAccording to Canon USA, there is a problem with early production
units of the EF 24-105mm f4L IS USM lens. There is an unacceptable
level of flare in certain conditions, most noticeable at the wide
zoom and wide aperture settings.Only lenses with a serial number under 1000 are affected. You will
find the number engraved on the rear of the lens. It is not always
easy to see - we find that it helps to shine a light at an angle
across the rear of the lens to increase the texture, and use a
magnifying glass. The number is prefixed by 'UT' (which indicates the
factory of manufacture).If you live in the USA, starting 14 November 2005, Canon will repair
free-of-charge, any affected lenses. Other countries have yet to post
information, but check their web sites over the next few days, or
contact your local Canon Service Centre.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Nikon has just announced its new DSLR, the 10.2 megapixel Nikon D200. It retains the 1.5x DX crop factor, which Nikon has stated will remain a standard for Nikon digital SLRs. It can shoot 5 fps and maintain this speed for 22 RAW/NEF shots or 37 JPEG/FINE shots. It's squarely aimed against the EOS20D (8.2mp) but with an estimated shipping date of "Spring 2006," is it too little too late for Nikon?
Apple has come out with a product called Aperture that looks to directly challenge Adobe's Bridge preview and Camera Raw input hegemony. From what I've seen on Apple's website, it looks like a killer app (see http://www.apple.com/aperture/quicktours/), doing just about everything a documentary photographer would want to do. It isn't Photoshop but it's lightweight and fast and does the types of color correction, photo library management (the biggest thing for me), and formatting output that I need to do. It's retailing at $499 for civilians and $149 for academics. I've placed an order, but shipping is 6-8 weeks. Phooey!
Luminous Landscape has a wonderful review of the new Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS lens. It sounds like a winner, except for the slightly increased barrel distortion. Contrast and resolution apparently is higher. The new lens was released this October and has the new 3-stop IS; increased weatherproofing; increased contrast/stray-light control; and features 18 optical elements (3 aspherical) in 13 groups.
I have the old EF 28-70mm f/2.8 L lens and while I'm generally happy with it, it does suffer slightly wide open at wide angles in the corners. I was thinking of replacing it with the new 24-70mm L lens, but for fieldwork, it looks like the 24-105mm f/4 L IS is a better choice since it is smaller (83.5mm Dx 107mm L), lighter (670g), and has longer range. The MSRP is ¥145,000, B&H has it for $1249.
