Open source camera could revolutionize photography

"Stanford photo scientists are out to reinvent digital photography with the introduction of an open-source digital camera, which will give programmers around the world the chance to create software that will teach cameras new tricks.

If the technology catches on, camera performance will be no longer be limited by the software that comes pre-installed by the manufacturer. Virtually all the features of the Stanford camera – focus, exposure, shutter speed, flash, etc. – are at the command of software that can be created by inspired programmers anywhere. “The premise of the project is to build a camera that is open source,” said computer science professor Marc Levoy."

And now for a little fun - let's put a DSLR into a blender!

Sony puts out a new cheaper full frame camera

If you've been yearning for a 24+ megapixel full frame camera, and you can find $2000 in your sofa cushions, then Sony's got the camera for you. It's the new little brother to the Sony A900. The only things you take a ding on are slower burst and a 98% viewfinder.

Canon 5D mirror and shutter in slow motion

Look at that mirror bounce around! This video shows why shooting in Mirror Up mode is a good idea.

Also, once the mirror is up, you can see the gap in the shutter as it moves downward. The leading side of the gap is the first (front) curtain, the trailing side is the second (rear) curtain. The sensor gathers its light as the gap passes over it. This is the exposure. The faster the shot (at a given ISO), the narrower this gap is. For best results, have a lens attached.

Review on Inkjet papers

Imaging Resource reviews Mediastreet's inkjet papers. Worth a look.

1 Hour Video: The Art, Science and Reality of HDR Imaging

Canon has a new "entry level" camera

15 megapixels. It can shoot 1080 HD movies. It can go up to ISO 12800. It's the Canon HD Rebel T1i / EOS 500D.

Another way to share pics and other files (Mac only)

Free RAW Editor For You Lucky Mac Owners

I came across a thread in dpreview which pointed out that there is a free and very capable RAW editor for Mac users, called RPP (RAW Photo Processor).

Now this is just ridiculous

Coming soon? A 2 terabyte SDXC card? Are they serious?!?

A Beautiful High Def Video Shot on a Canon 5D Mark II

According to ProPhoto Magazine, this slick looking video short was conceived and shot in 14 straight hours, and edited in 3. Reverie, by Vincent LaForet.

PhotoAnswers, a good new link added

Here's a worthy addition to our already great selection of links, PhotoAnswers. Be sure to check out the video section, there are reviews and tutorials there.

Extract embedded jpeg images from RAW files

You've probably opened a RAW file and then saved it as a jpeg, or even done this as a batch process. Did you know that jpeg images are already embedded in every RAW file? Yep, it's true. And did you know that there is a free piece of software that you can download to extract those jpegs? Well, you do now. You can read about it here, and you can download it here. I tried it, and it works.

Hitler Rants about the cost of the new Nikon D3x

Interesting shots I came across

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10 Last Photos

Interesting.

RED's Camera System is Now Official

In an earlier post, I posted a link to information on a new high end camera system by RED. Well, the system is now official!

Esoteric article on Noise, Dynamic Range and Bit Depth

Here is a good article for the freakishly intelligent. In it, you'll find everything you'd ever want to know about noise, dynamic range, and bit depth, complete with bewildering charts and inscrutable diagrams. Here's hoping one of us will be able to absorb and digest this, and be willing to regurgitate it in an understandable form for us at a future meeting.