MIC Gadget has announced the release of a Compact Flash (CF) card reader that can be fitted to an iPad or iPad 2. The reader plugs into the dock connector port on the iPad and is compatible with all UDMA and non-UDMA CF cards. It reportedly supports read/write speeds of up to 133MB/s.
It is available now for $29.90.
The first SNUPS photo shoot out is to be held at three venues in the Philippines. These are: Anilao from May 20-24, Dauin from May 27-31 and Cebu from June 3-7 all this year. This is the first year of what is planned to be an annual competition, and the use of three venues will allow the marine biodiversity of the Philippines to be showcased.
SNUPS re offering a discounted early entry for the event, and this is available now.
Atomos has announced the release of the Ninja and Samurai touchscreen HD recorder, monitor and playback devices. These capture video direct from the camera in an Apple Pro Res format onto 2.5” hard disks. The Ninja can capture from any camera with an HDMI output, whereas the Samurai can capture from cameras with a HD/SD SDI stream as well. Video can be imported from the devices via FireWire 800 or USB 2 and 3 into a computer for editing.
The Ninja is available now at $995 and the Samurai will be available in the summer at $1495.
The 2011 London International Dive Show as held at the ExCel center, London over the weekend of 26/27 March. A new feature for the show this year was the Imagezone; a dedicated area for underwater imaging comprising trade stands and seminars, lectures and talks. Industry members attended from all over the world, making the show an important one for underwater image makers worldwide.
Wetpixel Associate Editors Adam Hanlon and Alex Mustard were on hand to report on the event.
Gates Underwater Products has launched a housing for the Canon XA10 camcorder. The XA10 has a native 1920 x 1080 sensor, which means larger pixels giving an excellent image quality, superior low light capability and improved white balance at depth. The XA10 housing provides access to two function-assignable buttons as well as the full camera control menu via the infra-red remote. It also has a large 3.5” hi-res LCD screen that remains open and acts as a viewfinder underwater.
Availability will be early May. Please contact Gates Underwater Products or a dealer directly for more information and prices.
The Sony NEX-FS100 is is an interchangeable-lens camcorder featuring a Sony E mount and a super 35mm sized Exmor CMOS sensor. Sony claims that: “The new sensor is designed with outstanding exposure latitude and sensitivity” for high-definition footage that’s free of “image artifacts typical of HDSLRs”. Capable of 1920x1080 60P recording at 28Mbps, it enables HDMI output with embedded time code for 4:2:2, and also offers simultaneous recording to an optional HXR-FMU128 flash memory unit and an SD or MS memory card. The Sony NEX-FS100 NXCAM has a retail price of $5,850 and will be available in May.
Sony has also unveiled the HXR-NX70, a dust proof and rain proof professional HD camcorder, which will be available in June at a retail price of $3,200. The NX70 incorporates an ‘Exmor’ R CMOS sensor to deliver superior low-light footage and offers enhanced manual controls.
Dyron has announced the release of a new macro lens, two dome ports and several new lens adaptors. The Double Macro M77 lens features dual coated lenses to limit distortion and the company now also offers an adaptor that allows any M77 threaded lens to be attached externally to Subal, Ikelite, Hugyfot or Seacam macro ports. This gives the option of adding an external diopter, or the Double Macro M77, to increase magnification to these ports. We have one on its way and will be reviewing it soon. Other new ports include a small hemispherical optical glass dome port for Ikelite and Nauticam housings. The dome is suitable for use with most fish-eye lenses.
Lastly, Dyron has released an AD (Inon) mount adaptor for the Recsea S90 and S95 housings.
Sealux has announced the release of the CD7000 housing for the Nikon D7000 camera. It features access to the following camera controls: ON-OFF, display illumination, release knob, mode, plus-minus correction key, front adjustment wheel, AF/AE lock, multi-function selector, AF-pre-measuring field selection with enlarged key distance. AF-measuring field control, white-balance, ISO-adjustment, keys for replay, delete, menu, protect, picture index, detail enlargement, OK, info and LiveView. The left side is equipped with zoom or manual focusing, release and flash exposure correction.
The camera is carried on a special saddle and fitted inside the front part of the housing. It comes with one iTTL electric flash socket as standard. The housing is available to order now, and costs 2,033.00 euros.
Apple has announced an update for Aperture, bringing the program to version 3.1.2. This aims to improve overall performance, and includes some specific fixes for known issues. These include: Addressing an issue that prevented referenced images from being reconnected in the library, fixing issues that made the computer cease responding whilst using brushes and displaying incorrect white balance values for some images. The fix also upgrades the compatibility of exported XMP Sidecar files with third-party applications.
The update is free for Aperture 3 users; and is available via Software Update or the Apple support site.
Steve Douglas presents a review of the GoPro BacPac LCD monitor. In it, he highlights that the GoPro HERO HD camera has opened up new creative opportunities for filmmakers, but this has been frustrated by the difficulties of trying to compose and frame subjects without a viewfinder or monitor. The new monitor can be easily retro-fitted to exisiting GoPro HERO cameras, and is supplied with housing backs that allow the existing underwater housing to be adapted for use with it. Steve concludes:
“With their new LCD BacPac, GoPro has succeeded in fulfilling GoPro owners wishes and married them to a low-cost solution.”