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Robovie-mR2's puppy dog eyes make it the perfect spy
This Robovie isn't a dexterous grabber, a powerful computer or a walking tank like its Vstone counterparts. No, at first blush, the Robovie-mr2 is just your average designer Japanese cutebot, albeit one with an iPod Touch for a heart, but that's exactly why this one foot tall bot makes the perfect spycam. No one would suspect it hides 18 servo motors, a miniature CCD camera, speakers and microphone inside its demure, puppy dog exterior (hear it speak Japanese after the break), much less that you can directly control every movement over WiFi. And even should they catch your Robovie eavesdropping, they'd be hard pressed to execute a being with such powerful charm. Hit up the gallery if you don't believe us -- this robot knows just how to beg for its life. %Gallery-88939%
Leica M9 taking pre-orders for its body only
Got nearly $7,000 in spare change and a lust for magnesium-bodied digital rangefinder cameras? Then we've got the solution to your itch, dear friend, as Leica has just let the M9 out to dance with credit cards in the courting ritual colloquially known as a pre-order. Claimed as the world's smallest full frame digital shooter, the latest Leica sports an 18 megapixel sensor, a new cover glass that eliminates the need for IR filters, dual image processors, and a 2.5-inch LCD. You'll have to be really sure this shooter is for you, though, because the quoted price is for the body only, and the lenses won't come cheap either. Still, this is the Leica stuff we care to see -- not some silly 24 carat-skinned Limited Edition homage to the unholy.
Samsung TL210 and TL205 bring DualView to entry level shooters
Most manufacturers have yet to offer even one camera with a front-facing LCD, but that hasn't stopped Samsung from adding two more models to its growing range. Having started the DualView antics with its TL220 and 225 variants, Sammy is now augmenting the line with the TL205 and 210 which, in spite of their lower numbering, possess a feature the older cams do not. Using the new hardware, you'll be able to compose video as well as stills on the 1.5-inch front LCD, an added bit of functionality that should go over well with the target audience of party-loving hipsters. The TL210 also boasts optical image stabilization, a larger back-mounted display (3 inches versus 2.7), better optical zoom (5x versus 3x), and higher-res video recording (720p versus 640 x 480) than its junior sibling, though the two shooters share a 12MP CCD sensor. They do lose out on the haptic feedback touchscreens of their elder brethren, but that should make it easier for Samsung to price the new TL models aggressively when they're released in March this year. Then again, if you really want the cheapest of the cheap, you can grab one of Samsung's entirely unremarkable new SL600 or SL50 variants, whose PR blurb you can check out after the break together with more on the TL hardware. %Gallery-81303% %Gallery-81304%
Nobel Prize in Physics shared by CCD inventors, fiber optics pioneer
It's not every year that the Nobel Prize in Physics falls within our scope of coverage, but this year turned out to a big exception, as the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has deemed it fit to recognize two breakthroughs in the fiber optics and digital photography. The first of those (and half of the $1.4 million prize) goes to Charles K. Kao, whose work in the mid-60s getting light to travel long distances through glass strands made the fiber optic cables we have today possible. The second half of the prize is divided between Canadian Willard S. Boyle and American George E. Smith, who both worked at Bell Labs in Murray Hill, New Jersey, and invented the so-called charge-coupled device semiconductor, better known to anyone that has ever looked at a digital camera spec list as a CCD.[Image courtesy Nobelprize.org]
Prosilica's GE1910 camera brings Kodak HD sensor together with GigE Vision standard
If you're looking for HD resolution in an industrial app -- you know, so your work rig can be on equal footing with your home one -- last month's introduction of the Kodak KAI-02150 HD CCD sensor may have caught your attention. But not everyone is into developing cameras from sensors, so Prosilica has kindly done that lifting for you with its new (but almost as forgettably named) GE1910 camera. The GE1910 puts the Kodak sensor into a C-mount lens body up front, a Gigabit Ethernet interface (GigE Vision standard) around back and a host of camera control features between (binning, shutter, IP configuration, etc.). Surely you can find a work-related requirement for this kind of hardware, right?
Sharp's SH-01A 8 megapixel flip packs a 28-mm wide angle lens and Dolby Pro Logic II
Sure, the US has fancy-pants capacitive touchscreen phones out the wazoo, but Japan's superphones still dominate when boiled down to a base, spec-for-spec comparison. Take this new Sharp SH-01A clamshell for example, just revealed by the FCC. It sports a 28mm wide-angle lens with 8 megapixel CCD sensor and, according to rumor, Dolby Pro Logic II surround sound for your microSD stored media. Remember, FCC testing doesn't mean it'll be sold between the left and right coasts -- this flip is likely just being certified for US roaming whenever it's finally announced for NTT DoCoMo in Japan.
Kodak's new CCD brings HD to industrial applications
If your day job involves some CCD imaging, Kodak wants to bring some HD excitement to your 9-to-5 with its KAI-02150 (the name alone says "buttoned-down") CCD sensor. The interline transfer sensor reads out its 1920x1080 pixels at 60 frames per second and boasts high dynamic range (64dB) needed for many industrial applications. Engineering samples are available now, which will give you a few months to retool your microscopy/machine vision/imaging science application with eye-popping HD before production hits its stride in Q4 2008.
Kodak rolls out new image sensors at Photokina, one for Leica's S2
We noticed that the writeup for Leica's newly unveiled S2 made mention of a new Kodak sensor, but we'll leave it to Kodak to do the boasting. Sure enough, the outfit responsible for this atrocity has rolled out a few new image sensors at Photokina 2008, one of which -- the KAF-37500 -- proudly resides in the aforementioned S2. The company is showcasing sensors for medium format rigs such as the Sinar HY6-65 (KAF-31600) and Hasselblad H3DII-50 (KAF-50100), though quite honestly, it spends more time gloating about what manufacturers it's partnering with than describing the technology. Oh well, so long as it keeps Kodak from focusing on its pathetic point-and-shoot lineup, we'll keep smiling.
Modder adds CCD eyepiece to binoculars, Bill Belichick seems interested
Oh sure, you've been able to buy digital camera-equipped binoculars for years now, but finding one that does video (particularly with the camcorder you already own) has been a continual struggle. Thanks to one engineering soul, you can forge ahead with your plans to video all sorts of sights by adding a CCD eyepiece to any 'ole set of binoculars. Once installed, you simply hook up your camcorder (hope it has video in), mash record and get to gazing. Be careful what you look for, though.
Olympus announces 360-degree CCD sensor prototype, surveillance firms drool
Around this time last year, we got wind of CCD-based projectors and cameras from Olympus that were outfitted with a curious "axial symmetrical free curved surface lens." Now, said company is finally providing a few details about its current prototype, which essentially enables 360-degree photographs to be taken. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on perspective), the sensor isn't quite ready to be pushed out into the world, but as you can certainly imagine, it'll likely make a B-line for surveillance outfits just as soon as it's ready.[Via AkihabaraNews]
Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, bee-friendly edition
As the saga continues, we've got yet another flip-flopped story rolling through in regard to the toxicity (or not) of cellphones to our environment. Just under a fortnight ago, a report based on an (admittedly lacking) research study claimed that Colony Collapse Disorder within bees was being encouraged by cellphone radiation. As expected, the researchers began living a life filled with Q&A sessions about the data, and now the "truth" is coming out. Essentially, the scientists are claiming that their data was "misinterpreted," and that the study actually looked at DECT phones and base stations, which transmit a "different frequency than mobiles." Furthermore, another member chimed in and boldly stated that their "studies cannot indicate that electromagnetic radiation is a cause of CCD." So that settles it -- until the next round of bickering begins, of course.[Via Guardian]
Samsung's "world's smallest" 8.4 megapixel CMOS sensor: so long CCD?
Chalk up another world's smallest title for Samsung this morning with this, their new 8.4 megapixel CMOS sensor. By implementing extended photo diode technology, Samsung has managed to squeeze higher light sensitivity and saturation levels into less space. According to Samsung, their new sensor's high signal-to-noise ratio results in the equivalent image quality found in today's CCDs while using one-tenth the power. As such, Sammy expects it to "quickly replace" the CCDs used in mobile phones, camcorders, and even digital cameras. Yeah, they wish. We'll find out soon enough as this CIS hits mass production in the second half of 2007.
Kyocera also felled by faulty CCDs
Oh noes! It seems Kyocera has failed to escape the CCD fate that has recently befallen eight of Sony's Cyber-shots and four of Nikon's Coolpix cameras. Kyocera has just announced that its Finecam M400R, M410R and SL400R cameras, released in March 2004, are all at risk for CCD defects and failures. In response, Kyocera is providing free repairs to any such cameras until March 2010, and is also offering free checkups to such affected models. Kyocera isn't saying who's responsible for the CCD manufacturer, but the similarities to the problems and causes in the cases of Nikon and Sony mean its most likely the same CCDs: defective Sony manufacturing strikes once again.
Nikon fesses up to new CCD malfunction problems
The Great CCD Failure of 2005 doesn't look like it's going to be Nikon's last. The camera manufacturer has just discovered a similar flaw in its Coolpix 5400, 5000, 4500 and 3500 shooters, and surprise, surprise, the manufacturing flaw is from the very same CCD manufacturer to blame for the last debacle. The official blame is on "CCD soldering degradation caused by aging" which means moisture and heat slowly wears down the CCD and kills the camera in its prime. Nikon got advanced warning of the problem by noticing an increase of malfunctions in a particularly hot and humid area in summer 2006. After some voluntary tests, Nikon noticed the CCD problem had reemerged, and is offering up free CCD replacements for victims -- like last time you might be seeing abnormal colors, distorted images or even no images. No word on how exactly to go about that, but we suppose Nikon isn't too terribly hard to track down.
Planet82's CCD sheds new light on night time photography
Snapping super-secret spy pics of unreleased products is hard enough as it is without having to worry about blinding flashes tipping off the guards to our dubious activities. Thankfully, Planet82 has announced a CCD chip dubbed the SMPD -- Single carrier Modulation Photo Detector -- which may be the answer to all our problems. The chip's sensitivity is claimed to be 2,000 times higher than your standard sensor, and it's this vast increase in performance that allows it to capture images without the need for flash. No word yet when these chips will make it into consumer cameras and brighten up all our nightshots, but with some of the crappy pics we've taken, it can't come soon enough.
HDTV finally comes to head
This is what we have been missing in the HDTV game. We have seen HDTV cameras in newsrooms, studios, helicopters and even on the bow of a speed boat, but we have yet to see HDTV by way of one of these helmet cams. For good reason too as who would want one of those monster cameras on their head? But thanks to Iconix, we should start seeing nausea-inducing high-def shots from peoples noggins real soon. They have produced a super-miniature 3CCD 720p/1080p cam. This little boy weighs in at the super-duper-light weight class at 2.3oz and is less then two inches square. But this small package comes with a price; a $16,000 price. Still, who can put a price on even more high-def action?[via DVguru]
DALSA ships 111 megapixel CCD
Don't expect to see one of these in a commercial DSLR anytime soon (especially now that Mamiya has left the game), but a division of DALSA Semiconductor has successfully manufactured and delivered a 111 megapixel image sensor that's only been topped on these pages by the 500 megapixel monster inside Fermilab's Dark Energy Camera. Putting even the highest-resolution bacteria-based cam to shame, the new 4-inch-square CCD features an array of 10,560 x 10,560 pixels, and was developed in conjunction with Semiconductor Technology Associates to aid the U.S. Naval Observatory's Astrometry Department in precisely determining the position and motion of celestial objects. While you probably can't afford to hire DALSA to build another one of these just for you, there's at least one option on the market that will give you the hundred-plus megapixel bragging rights you seek without breaking the bank: Better Light's 144 megapixel E-HS medium format backing, which, while technically only capturing 48 megapixels per color (and taking at least 66 seconds to do so), should still be enough to impress even your EOS 1Ds Mark II-sporting friends.
Prototype device detects, disables digital cameras
Proving once again that "outdated technology" still has its place among today's high-tech products, old-school film cameras may soon be the only shooters not rendered ineffective in the face of a new device that promises to identify and disable their digital counterparts in secure environments. Currently still in the prototype phase, the device developed by researchers at the Georgia Tech College of Computing's Interactive and Intelligent Computing Division uses its own set of digital cameras along with a scanning laser to inspect a given area for telltale signs of CCD imagers (shape, size, reflectivity), and subsequently shoots out concentrated beams of light to overwhelm the sensors of offending gadgets. Although the device is still unable to accurately detect camcorders whose CCDs are set farther back from the lens than regular still cameras, once that obstacle is overcome, this technology is expected to be deployed by governments and businesses as an anti-espionage technique or in movie theaters as a way of combating piracy. See, you thought you were ahead of the game with your ten megapixel cameraphone, but it's actually the spies and pirates equipped with those old medium-format Pentaxes who will soon rise to the top of their respective professions.[Via Dvorak Uncensored]
Olympus Stylus 810 reviewed
C|net just layed mits to the 8 megapixel Olympus Stylus 810. In their review of this weatherproof (not waterproof) shooter with image stabilization, c|net calls the 810 a "very good" camera with "solid" image quality. Sure, noise is the "biggest problem" with the 810 -- quite visible at ISO 400 until becoming a "distinct texture" by the time you reach IS0 3200. However, the reviewer still considered the quality "acceptable" when compared to the alternative of dark and blurry shots taken under low lighting conditions. But by now, no one should really expect the small CCDs found in these compact shooters to perform any differently, right? Notably, the camera suffered from an "easily washed-out" LCD when used in sunlight which is potentially crippling at times due to the lack of a glass viewfinder. Still, the $349 cam pulled a 7/10 rating largely due to its hot (for a compact) burst mode capable of 12 shots in about 2.6 seconds (at 3 megapixel resolution) and generally good image quality. Still, if you're looking for an 8 megapixel camera, you can probably do better.[Via Digital Photography Blog]
Micron Technology's new CMOS enables 30 shots a second, 720p video
A new CMOS imaging chip being developed by Micron Technology will allow digital cameras to capture as many as 30 shots a second, and will also enable video capture at an unprecedented 720p. The eight megapixel sensor -- whose pixels are only 1.75-microns across -- needs to be throttled down to two megapixels in order to achieve that 30 shot figure, but even at maximum resolution it is able to capture an impressive 10 shots per second. Don't expect to see cameras sporting the new chip right away, though, as mass production is not scheduled to begin until the first half of next year, meaning consumer products may not be available until as late as 2008.[Via Cnet]
