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Panasonic announces the LUMIX GF5 EVIL camera
Panasonic has announced the release of the LUMIX GF5 EVIL camera. It features a new 12.1-megapixel Live MOS sensor and redesigned Venus Engine, which the company claims produces exceptional resolution, image rendering and color reproduction. It has a maximum of 12800 ISO sensitivity and a combination of 3DNR (3D Noise Reduction) and MNR (Multi-process Noise Reduction) . In common with other LUMIX G series camera, it has Contrast AF, with the addition for the GF5 of full-area focusing. Lastly, it can record 1920x1080 60i HD video in AVCHD format.
The GF5 will be available “later this year” at a price of $599.
Nick Hope adds demo reel to forum
Nick Hope of Bubble Vision has added his show reel to the forum. Intended as a showcase for his stock footage, the reel features marine life and other underwater subjects from Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Indonesia, Fiji and Tonga. It consists of high-definition HDV video footage in 1080-50i and 1080-60i shot with the Sony HVR-Z1P camera. Nick used AviSynth and QTGMC to combine 1080-25i and 1080-30i footage into a single production at 720-30p.
As you might expect from demo reel, the images are spectacular. If you can, it is best viewed in HD.
LUX resort announces Maldives Underwater Festival
The LUX Maldives resort on South Ari Atoll will host the first “Underwater Festival” in the Maldives from 14 - 20 May 2012. Amongst other activities, this will feature underwater photography sessions with award-winning photographers including Pascal Kobeh and Junji Takasago, free-diving courses and night diving using equipment that will capture fluorescence. In addition local expert and marine biologist, Chiara Fumagalli, will present workshops and forums during the festival.
Rafa Herrero posts stunning pilot whale footage on the forum
Rafa Herrero has posted a stunning trailer for his documentary “Isora, story of a pod of pilot whales” on to the forums. The film tells the story of the life of a pod of pilot whales living in the waters around the Canary Islands, as well as their environment and the other creatures within it. The film was shot on a Panasonic HVX-200 over the past year and the full film will be released at the end of 2012.
Sony announces the NEX-FS700U slow motion camcorder
After much speculation, Sony has announced the NEX-FS700U (700E in Europe). It is a bigger sister to the popular FS-100 which shares the same E-lens system and a similar form factor. By default the camera will shoot 1080P at 24/25/30/50 and 60 fps to cards using AVCHD 2.0. The camera will have also super slow motion capabilities at 1080P at 240fps, or up to 40x slow motion at lower (as yet unspecified) resolutions. Most interesting perhaps is a commitment from Sony to provide a firmware update to allow the NEX-FS700U to output 4K bitstream data over 3G HD-SDI when used with an optional Sony 4K recorder.
The camera will be available in June at a quoted price of “less than $10,000”.
London Dive Show 2012
The London International Dive Show 2012 was held over the weekend on 31 March and 1 April at London’s ExCel exhibition center. Underwater image making was strongly represented, with the Photozone hosting a series of talks and lectures throughout both days, with manufacturers and retailers showing off their products to the public. Wetpixel’s Associate Editor Alex Mustard presented a talk offering advice about how to win photographic contests as one of the keynote speakers for the event, and manufacturers representatives attended from all over Europe, Asia and North America.
Wetpixel’s Adam Hanlon, with much assistance from Alex Mustard were on hand to cover the show for those of you who couldn’t be there.
African Diver issue 22 available for download
The April/May 2012 issue of African Diver features an article about nudibranchs and, closely related, macro photography. In addition there are stories about Port St Johns and gannets, both key players in the sardine run. Activism by “The Black Fish” talks about illegal drift netting in the Mediterranean and the featured photographer is Ivan van Heerden.
Issue 22 of African Diver is available as a free download in pdf format.
Kenko produces extension rings for EVIL cameras
A German site, Photoscala (via Google translate), has announced that Kenko has released an Extension Tube Set consisting of two extension rings for use with EVIL cameras. The 10 and 16mm rings give close-focusing macro capabilities, can be used singly or stacked and are compatible with Micro 4/3s or Sony E-mount cameras and lenses. Crucially, they give electronic control of both focus and exposure, making them a feasible alternative for use inside underwater housings.
The set will be available in April at €216 ($290).