New Products at Think Tank Photo - Pixel Pocket Rocket Mod and Tablet Case

Our friends at Think Tank just announced the release of new products aimed at enhancing your workflow and increased mobility.  Free gift with $50 purchase.  

Modular Pixel Pocket Rocket is an evolution of my favorite memory card carrier.

 Think Tank Photo’s new Modular Pixel Pocket Rocket (PPR) is belt-mountable, which enables you to easily whip out CF and SD cards and to keep them securely and conveniently at hand when shooting. The Modular PPR is easily secured by a sturdy hook-and-loop panel to any Think Tank Photo modular belt or to any belt.  It holds six CF cards and three SD cards, as well as other small accessories, such as a smart phone or lens cloth.

App House 10

The App House 8 and the App House 10 are two hybrid bags for quick access to a small or standard-size Apple tablets and can be used either as shoulder bags or mounted on belts. Streamlined and secure, their small size, removable shoulder strap, and double-lock belt-mount make it practically effortless for you to carry and access your tablet and stay connected around town or when traveling.  Key features include: Dedicated pockets for carrying a smart phone, device accessories, plus other small items; a dedicated, easily accessible smart phone pocket with soft liner; and an internal organizer with elastic and zippered pockets for connection cables, card readers, power cables, portable charger, pens, or other personal items.

What are the free gifts with purchase?  

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Cinetics Axis360 Motorized Pan Tilt Slide on Kickstarter

The hugely successful Cinetics company which brought us the original CineSkates Camera Dolly Wheels is at it again on Kickstarter.  They now have a complete solution for budding time-lapse photographers and cinematographers to do it all.

Check out their kickstarter campaign.

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Best Travel Pocket Camera for 2013

I get asked this periodically - as I'm sure many photographers get asked all the time.  And the simplest answer is - the one you've got with you.  For most people, its their smartphone.

But, for those of us that want an actual separate physical camera for the best quality may want to consider what I feel is the best pocket travel digital camera overall: Sony DSC-RX100M II.

Why is it the best overall for me and many people?

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First Impressions - Canon 70D DSLR

I started my photography career with an old, manual Contax with 50mm Carl Zeiss T* lens SLR in school.  When I graduated onto my first DSLR in 2003 with the Canon 10D, went to the 1D series, skipped the 20D, 30D, 40D; got the 50D, but skipped the 60D. Now I have the newest 70D.  That's a lot of Ds!

This 70D is the first Canon in a while that really impresses me on almost all levels - its better than I expected.

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Sony's QX100 Smart Phone Camera Attachment Preorder

Sony fuses their best pocket digital camera technology from the Sony DSC-RX100M II into your iOS / Android device and calls it the QX100.  Benefit?  Well you use your phone's internals with the awesome sensor so you get the best instagram pics!

Sony DSC-QX100 Smartphone Attachable Lens-Style Camera, Carl Zeiss 3x f/1.8 Lens, 20.2MP

 

Sony DSC-QX100 Smartphone Attachable Lens-Style Camera, Carl Zeiss 3x f/1.8 Lens, 20.2MP

It will set you back $498 though.

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Lytro Sunset

Turned out better than I expected, especially since I had very little control of the exposure.  Note that this is a 'living' picture that offers little bit of additional exploration since its very one dimensional.  I'm learning a bit more how to handle some of the limitations of the camera, but I'm starting to lose interest.  Throw this technology into the next iPhone and I'll be all over it.  One can hope.

Isn't Wireless Tethering an Oxymoron?

It is but I want to do it.

Eye-Fi Pro Cards allow wireless transfer and upload of images and videos.

I shoot a lot of photos and videos every month so I'm always on the lookout for tools that will help me with my workflow to get out the video reviews shot and posted.  I'm also thinking about a more suitable view for my unboxing and first look videos and decided that a combination of Point of View along with a secondary angle is the best way to go.

I have been using Eye-Fi Wireless SD Cards to get the photos and videos automatically transferred online (as backup).  The main limitation is that I have limited control over what it does, and that the Eye-Fi does not help me during the shoot (other than some sort of estimated geo-tagging).  For me its use is more about sharing, transferring images/video after the shoot.  Eye-Fi does not help me start, stop, press shutter button, focus, etc. but it was never meant to.

So to handle the POV section I plan to have a Canon EOS Rebel T5i on a boompole from up top so I need a remote solution to frame and focus while I'm doing my thing.  Sure, the articulated screen definitely helps, but an iPad or laptop screen with control would be better.  Yes, I can tether, but a portable iPad would be so much easier!  So I think I've found some reasonable ways to do this.

I'm looking at two different solutions:

  1. CamRanger Remote for Nikon & Canon DSLR Cameras
  2. HyperDrive iUSB PortCamera
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Goodbye G1, You Have Done Your Job

I sold my Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1 yesterday.  It was my very first micro 4/3 digital camera and it featured almost everything I had wanted in an ILR at the time.  Fantastic control, beautiful screen and viewfinder, small package, and 4/3 lens compatibility with a Four Thirds DSLR Lens Mount Adapter

It was so good, it won the PopPhoto Camera of the Year Award.

I paid around $800 for it back in 2008, sold it for $100.

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Digital Cameras 101

TWIT network's Know How video channel recently featured an episode on how Digital Cameras work.  Pretty good for people who know nothing about how cameras work or what the Tv, Av, S modes mean on their DSLR.

 

I recommend the following cameras for beginners that want to get into serious photography:

Canon EOS Rebel T4i Digital SLR Camera Kit with Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II Lens

Panasonic - LUMIX G5 161-Megapixel Digital Compact System Camera with 14-42mm Lens

Nikon D3200 24.2 Megapixel Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm NIKKOR VR Lens, Black & Nikon 55-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED AF-S DX VR II Vibration Reduction Lens USA

 

Free Test Drive of ThinkTank Photo Retrospective Camera Bags

This is one of those rare opportunities to test drive a fantastic photographer designed messenger style camera bag. 

I'm a huge fan of think tank photo camera bags, but have never quite made the jump to try their messenger style bags simply because I still cannot make my mind on which size to get. Now, I can order multiple sizes, try them all out, and return everything but the one that I feel fits my current gear set up.  

No risk!

Click here for more details.

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