The Current Range of HDSLR and ILML Cameras

An updated and expanded edition of Going Beyond Stills:  HDSLR and Interchangeable Lens - Mirror-less (ILML -because we hate referring to them as EVILs)  Cameras is now available.  You can view it by clicking on the "image" embedded below. 

Open publication - Free publishing - More sony

A Wish List for HDSLR Camera Features? Or Reasonable Expectations?

Both the gift-giving holiday season and CES 2011 have come and gone: The E-PL2 was the only ILML (Interchangeable lens – Mirror-less) camera announced at CES; and there were no HDSLR announcements made. It leaves one wondering if the heavy consumer focus of CES was a deterrent for camera makers to introduce important but niche HDSLR/DSLR product, opting instead to focus on more mass market compact cameras and camcorders; or if the technologies they are considering for HDSLRs/DSLRs are still under development or are being tweaked. There were, nevertheless, some interesting features shown on some of the compact and advanced cameras introduced that may be included on more cameras in the future.


I have long said that if you want to get a preview of coming attractions on HDSLR/DSLR cameras that one needs to look at the mass consumer camera models. Live view, filter options, and video were features in these cameras before they found their way into HDSLRs/DSLRs. Think about it, the easiest way to get people to trade up to newer, more capable and more expensive models, is to include features they are accustomed to. Working photographers may also have an affinity for products which give them a technological edge.

So, here are a few features included on some of the recently announced cameras that would be nice to see on HDSLRs of the future:

• Kit lenses or a range of lenses optimized to perform silently while auto focusing/continuous auto focusing during video capture.

• Stereo audio capability while recording video;

• Variable frame rate speed recording options: The Fuji FinePix HS20 super zoom, an advanced camera model, offers variable/high speed movie recording options tied to resolution choice; from 30 frames per second at 1920 x 1080 to 320 frames per second at 320 x 112.

• Built in Wi-Fi: If a feature like this can be included in a under-$200 Samsung sh100 compact…

• Larger OLED touch screens (like the 3.5” screen on Sony’s TX100V Camera.)

• The ability to capture stills and video simultaneously like several of the newly announced Sony compact cameras which have Dual Rec Mode. As of this writing, the Panasonic GH2 is the only HDSLR/ILML camera with the ability to simultaneously record stills and video without video interruption.

And why not look to some recently introduced camcorders to see if there are some features that might make sense for HDSLRs as well.

Canon introduced two new camcorders the XA10 Professional Camcorder and the Vixia HF G10 and after reviewing the specs for both camcorders, it seems that the only two features they are missing for some movie camera enthusiasts are interchangeable lens capability and an APS-C or full frame 35mm-sized sensor. That of course is a different discussion. But the feature, in addition to the 3.5” 922,000 dot LCD, that would be most interesting to have on an HDSLR would be their Touch and Track /Touch Autofocus and Touch Exposure features/system. With Touch and Track, you select the point of interest on the Touch Panel LCD and you will have the subject in focus, regardless of where in the frame the subject moves during the shot. Touch Focus, you can pinpoint a specific area to focus on anywhere in the frame; Touch Exposure enables exposure to be locked or compensated for an area you specify. One can only hope that the camcorder and still imaging design teams are communicating and working together on some things.

There is a nice demonstration of Touch Autofocus on the Canon Vixia HF G10 Features Page: Click here to view. Once there, click on Touch&Track on the features list to bring up the demonstration.

It will be interesting to watch how things develop.

New Post Coming the Week of 1/17

Hey friends and readers,
I hope the Holiday season was a good one for you.  I'm Finishing up a new HDSLR related post which will be be published early next week.  In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the recent post in our sister blogs: 

HD Imaging and a Few Thoughts Post-CES 2011 at http://hdhd411.com/
and
Going Beyond Stills:  Is it the HDSLR or Other Things that Really Matter at: http://beyondstills.com/
Best Regards and Happy Imaging!

From H(d)SLRs in Motion:

2nd Edition of Beyond Stills, e-Book for HDSLR Users, Now Available

The revised and expanded second addition of the e-book Beyond Stills: HDSLR Motion Capture for the Non-Filmmaker is now available. The second edition includes a more general discussion of HDSLR and interchangeable lens - mirror-less camera settings and operations regardless of brand, as well as discussion of the including menus, movie settings, and operations of Canon and Nikon HDSLRs including the Canon 60D, the Nikon D7000 and the D3100. The First section of the book focuses on the Camera - operations and settings; Part 2 of the book focuses on accessories to help facilitate motion capture; and the third section focuses on motion capture techniques. The book includes exercises which will better allow you to understand how your camera will behave under different shooting conditions. Additionally, the Interactive Resource Guide, which allows readers to access product and other information from manufacturers and was originally a separate publication, has been incorporated into the e-book. To view a video preview of the content, click on the thumbnail in the video bar to the right.
For more information or to buy Beyond Stills, click here .

A free copy of second edition of Beyond Stills is available to all those who have proof of purchased the first edition. If you purchased the first edition of the book from this site, your download instructions will be sent to you directly. If you purchased the book from the iBook Store, please contact me at Info@theimagician.com.

Be sure to check out the available Premium Content on the Beyond Stills site.

2010 Holiday Ideas To Take Your Imaging Beyond Stills

Recently, I've gotten numerous e-mails from people asking about accessorizing their HDSLR for motion capture.  So I decided to put together a little "guide" of  holiday gift ideas that includes some of my favorite "affordable" HDSLR accessories and gear:  With the exception of the cameras, most items listed are below $200.   I actually own and use every piece of equipment listed.  Additionally all the equipment is available at B&H. 

If you want to see the gear upfront and personal and you have any question about this gear, gear in general or HDSLR motion capture, join me on Thursday December 2 from 11to 1 in the B&H Event Space.  For more information or to register for the event click here.

The revised and expanded 2nd Edition of Beyond Stills:  HDSLR Motion Capture for the Non-filmaker will be available shortly.  The Second Edition has been revised and expanded to include a more general discission of camera settings and controls regardless of brand, as well a sections which cover the menus and movie controls for the latest Canon and Nikon releases. Much of the information and the links to product Websites that was formerly included in the seperate Interactive Resource Guide have been incorporated in the second edition. A notice will be posted here when the book is available. In the meantime, please enjoy idea guide!     To view the guide, click on the publication embedded below.

Open publication - Free publishing - More stabilizers

The Recoil: A Sub-$100 Shoulder-mount Stabilizer from Ikan

                                                             Image Courtesy of Ikan

There is a lot to like about the Recoil, a shoulder mounted stabilizer from Ikan: It is light; portable; offers three points of body contact; and best of all, is attractively priced at just under $100. The Recoil is made of a resin composite which accounts for its light weight and durability. The Recoil consists of a padded shoulder hook-arm/adjustable chest pad assembly, a long base plate, a short riser base plate, and a grip. According to Ikan, when using just the long base plate, the Recoil can support a load of up to ten pounds. The beauty of the recoil is that the base plates and grip offer a degree of customization for users. By way of example, I have mounted the short riser in the reverse of what is shown in the Ikan instruction guide in order to shorten the distance between my eye and the LCD display. The Recoil also can be used in conjunction with Ikan’s Element Fly series of stabilizers offering the ability to accommodate additional accessories that Ikan offers such as lights, monitors, and their Friction Focus.

Photographer Ron Herard puts my Recoil through the paces with a Canon 60D onboard (above and below.)

The thing I really appreciate most about the Recoil is the fact that the adjustable chest pad allows one to achieve a tight fit whether you are wearing a tee shirt or a sweater or an over coat. No matter what apparel I have had on, the Recoil fits snuggly and provides enough stability that I have had no problems adjusting my camera with minimal to no discernable shake. I do want to add that the chest pad may not be universally appreciated by all users: Some people will like it and others will not. From my perspective, it is the combination of the shoulder hook and chest brace assembly coupled with your hand placement, either on the camera or on the handle, that make this stabilizer so effective. As snugly as the Recoil may be adjusted to fit you, it is not intended to be used hands-free.

The one concern I do have about the Recoil is the durability of the foam used for the shoulder and chest pad. It is very dense, but a substantial amount of the chest pad is outside of the support plate. After thinking about this concern, I’ve decided to cross that bridge if and when it happens.
The Recoil has a MSRP of $99.99. In addition to the items previously mentioned, the Recoil comes with a storage/carrying pouch and an additional piece of foam for use between the base plate and some camera models.

For more information on the Recoil, visit http://www.ikancorp.com/



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