Canon announces 2011 ship dates for new family of Canon L series EF lenses

Canon U.S.A. has announced  a collection of five L series EF lenses ranging from an 8-15mm fisheye priced at $1,399 to a 600mm F4L priced at $11,999. The EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens, scheduled to ship in July, offers a 180 degree diagonal angle of view for EOS SLR cameras for full-frame and APS-C digital cameras, and 180 degree circular fisheye images for full frame EOS cameras.

Canon’s EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM features improved image quality, image stabilization, and durability and now features two fluorite lens elements for improved image quality and reduced chromatic abberation, according to Canon. It weighs in at 82.9 oz and is priced at $6599 with availability scheduled for August 2011.  Canon’s EF 400mm F/2.8L IS II USM lens, ideal for sports such as soccer and baseball, is the fifth generation of this lens and also uses two fluorite lenses for better image quality and reduced chromatic abberation. It weighs in at 135.8 oz and is expected to ship for $10,499. The EF 500mm F/4L IS II USM is targeted at both sports and nature photography as well as photojournalism. It is also built around two fluorite lens elements and weighs in at 112.5 oz. It is expected to ship in December with an estimated retail price of $9499.

Canon's EF 600mm  f/4L IS II USM Lens

Canon's EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

The new line of cameras is rounded out by Canon’s EF 600mm  f/4L IS II USM Lens, targeted at wildlife and photojournalism. It features a pair of fluorite lens elements and weighs in at 138.3 oz. It is expected to ship in December with an estimated retail price of $11,999.

No other information was provided on the new line of L lenses.

http://www.usa.canon.com

TiltShift Video 2.2 ships for iOS

TiltShift Video 2.2 from indie developer Fidel Laines enables you to add tilt shift video effects directly to your iPhone 3GS/4, G/4G iPod touch or iPad/iPad2 videos, giving them the miniature look. Version 2.2 adds four new languages and gives you the capability to adjust playback speed, image saturation, contrast, brightness, vignetting, start and end titles, fades, soundtrack, and a blur adjustment feature that lets you adjust strength and smoothness. TiltShift Video 2.2 provides constant feedback as you edit, giving you glimpses of what the video will look like based on the settings that you choose. It supports videos of any aspect ratio and video resolution up to 1280×720 and as small as 192×144.

TiltShift 2.2

TiltShift 2.2 enables you to create the miniature effect with your iPhone videos

System Requirements:
iPhone (3GS or 4), iPod touch (3rd or 4th Generation) or iPad (1 or 2)
Requires iOS 4.1 or later
Universal Application
3.1 MB

TiltShift Video 2.2
$1.99
App Store under Photography category

http://itunes.apple.com/app/id395953517

QuickPix 1.2.1 for iOS review

For those who are not satisfied with the standard camera controls that ship with the iPhone (or iPad), Two teeth Technologies has an application called QuickPix that makes the standard camera 100 percent better. Now in version 1.2.1, QuickPix offers a range of features and settings that enable you to better control the camera. I reviewed the app on an iPhone 3Gs, but it works with the iPhone 4, iPad 2 and iPod touch with camera. Your icons will vary based on the device you use. On an iPhone 3Gs, when you launch the app, there are four icons on the main display; the familiar video camera and still camera icons, the Photo Browser icon that resides between the two, and a settings icon in the upper right corner.

QuickPix 1.2.1 photo browser

QuickPix 1.2.1 photo browser

Settings include Special modes, which feature RapidFire Mode (hold the still button for burst capture), VideoPix mode, which enables you to capture still images while in video mode; and QuickPic mode which is a setting to automatically take a photo when QuickPix in launched.

Camera mode features a Focus Lock feature which locks the focus after a tap; Exposure Lock, which locks the exposure after a tap or double tap; and White Balance lock, which locks the White Balance on tap.

QuickPix 1.2.1 camera settings

QuickPix 1.2.1 camera settings

The final user adjustable settings deal with the interface. You can change to a Grid setting, which gives you grid based viewing; Pinch to zoom, and Display zoom slider. When you pinch to zoom the slider moves accordingly. Or you can just use the slider. When you take a photo, a picon appears between the video camera icon and the camera icon. Press down on the picon and the Photo Browser opens within the QuickPix application. Rather than navigate with a swipe of your finger, you navigate by pressing the arrow buttons. There is also a custom button mode that enables you to change the look of the video camera and camera icons. These range from a flip out viewfinder video camera, to a hand sketched model.

QuickPix 1.2.1 interface settings

QuickPix 1.2.1 interface settings

In use
QuickPix adds more capabilities to the standard camera that ships with Apple’s mobile devices. It gives the camera the capability to shoot in rapid succession, up to two pictures per second on the iPhone 3Gs and 4, 14 pictures per second on the iPad 2, and six pictures per second on the iPod touch. It has a built in Focus Lock, White Balance Lock, and Exposure Lock, giving you more control over what the camera outputs. And you can capture still images while shooting video. For $0.99, QuickPix 1.2.1 adds more than enough functionality to the iPhone’s camera. Now if it could only improve the image quality on the iPad 2.

QuickPix 1.2.1 is a very cool app for those who take lots of pictures with their iOS devices. Super LIKE.

Focus Lock

Focus Lock

Exposure Lock

Exposure Lock

Two Teeth technologies
QuickPix 1.2.1 for iOS
$0.99
http://twoteethtechnologies.com/

Capture more images faster with QuickPix 1.2.1 for iOS 4.1

Two Teeth Technologies’ QuickPix 1.2.1, enables iPhone, iPod touch and iPad owners with a camera to capture images from the camera on their device at a faster rate than the standard camera. The company says that QuickPix 1.2.1 can capture images on the iPad 2 at 14 pictures per second, six pictures per second on the iPod touch, and two pictures per second on the iPhone 3Gs and iPhone 4. Other features to the application include the capability to take still images while shooting video. System requirements are an iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod touch, or iPad 2 running iOS 4.1 or later and 4.6MB free space on your device. It is available at the App Store for $1.99.

QuickPix 1.2.1

QuickPix 1.2.1 increases your iPhone's picture burst rate

Two Teeth Technologies’ QuickPix 1.2.1
$1.99
http://twoteethtechnologies.com

Photo Privacy for Mac removes your image metadata

Do you want to limit the kind of private data that appears in your photos that you upload with your Mac to the Internet? cocoaWithChurros (I know, peculiar name, but they are from Spain), offers Photo Privacy on the Mac App Store. Photo Privacy removes the metadata that appears in all digital camera photos. It creates safe copies of your photos with that private information removed, such as where the photo was taken. This gives you some level of peace of mind that your private image data is not on the Internet.

Photo Privacy for Mac

Photo Privacy for Mac

The main features of the utility include the metadata removal tool (GPS, EXIF, IPTC data), an easy to use interface according to the company, and support for RAW (RAW support is read-only. RAW files are converted to JPEG files), JPEG, PNG, GIF, and TIF.

Supported Languages:
* US English, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish

Minimum Requirements:
* Mac OS X Version 10.6 or higher
* 2 MB Hard Drive space

Photo Privacy for Mac
$1.99
Mac App Store

http://www.cocoawithchurros.com/

Nikon D5100 DSLR offers full time auto focus video capture capabilities

Taking a cue from Canon’s EOS 60D and Rebel T3i, and surpassing both cameras in some regards, Nikon announced the D5100, ($799.95 body only, $899.95 including 18-55mm VR lens) a 16.2 megapixel Digital Single Lens Reflex camera that features a 3-inch 921,000 resolution, swivel type vari-angle LCD display that features a 1000:1 contrast ratio. The camera at the above mentioned price point is targeted at consumers who are looking for a bit more flexibility in their DSLRs image capture capability.

Nikon's D5100 offers full time auto focus video capture capabilities

Nikon's D5100 offers full time auto focus video capture capabilities

Other features include full high-definition video capability at 24 and 30 frames per second with full-time auto focus and stereo sound,  special effects mode that includes night vision (with up to 102,400 ISO), color sketch, miniature effect, and selective color, an 11 point autofocus system, built-in high dynamic range, 100-6400 ISO sensitivity, and 4 frames per second burst rate. The camera is expected to ship in mid April 2011. For more information, visit http://www.nikonusa.com

Nikon D5100
$799, $899 with 18-55 VR lens
http://www.nikonusa.com

GoPro’s 3D Hero Modular System ships at $100

GoPro’s new 3D Hero System was announced today with pricing for the system, excluding cameras, at $100. This system, which still requires a pair of 1080p HD Hero cameras, priced at $259 each, is touted as the 3D solution that will democratize 3D video capture. The modular design includes the 3D Hero Water proof housing, 3D Hero Synchronization cable, Skeleton door which the company says offers optimal sound capture in non-wet environments, 3 pairs of Anaglyph glasses, helmet front mount, two flat and two curved adhesive mounts, and the GoPro CineForm Studio 3D editing application as a free download. The 3D Hero System is five inches in length by 2.5 inches tall and works with already existing GoPro mounting accessories. For more information, visit www.gopro.com

GoPro 3D Hero

GoPro 3D Hero Modular System
$100
www.gopro.com

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