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Insert Coin: Quikdraw targets lens fumblers and multiple camera packers (video)
In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line. Carrying an extra camera body just to avoid scrambling for another lens seems a bit silly, no? Quikdraw wants to run that convoluted method out of town with a holster system that lets you carry Canon or Nikon lenses on your belt and change them in around five seconds. The holder start in a locked vertical position, and to attach a lens you just bayonet it into place, securing the glass and allowing the holder to be lowered. To liberate that fresh prime, you tilt it up and give it a twist, freeing it and locking the carrier in the "ready" position at the same time. Admittedly, packing a gaggle of lenses around your waist may brand you as an overzealous camera geek, but we suspect that those in the market for such a product would hardly care about that. So far, the company has wrangled around $40k towards its $100,000 goal -- if you want to ante up $75 to get one in an EOS or F-mount, draw a bead on the source below.
Padcaster SLR lens mount for iPad now available: priced at $149 or $189 for Lenscaster combo
Those who were quite amused by the revelation of that Padcaster back at this year's NAB might want to start prepping their wallets, as the creator's announced it's now shipping the filmmaking iPad companion. Notably, during our first encounter with the Padcatser, we were told it'd be selling for "about $200" once it was released -- but, as it turns out, the SLR lens-mounting peripheral is being priced at a decent $149, while $40 more gets you the Padcaster / Lenscaster combo. That being said, it's also worth noting the company's dubbing this as a "special pricing" and for "a limited time only," with no word on when such promo will be running out. Either way, you can grab one now at the source link below, though it appears you'll have to wait between 2-4 weeks for it to show up at your lovely doorstep.
Padcaster / Lenscaster lets you mount SLR lenses on iPad, we go hands-on at NAB (video)
Think people look ridiculous shooting stills or video with an iPad? Try throwing an SLR lens into the equation as well. Manhattan Edit Workshop founder Josh Apter developed the Padcaster as an inexpensive solution for mounting an Apple iPad on a tripod. And why would you want to do such a thing? With 1080p video capture, built-in LTE and a on-board editing suite, such a device makes for an excellent on-the-go all-in-one, letting you shoot, cut and transmit video with a single package. One major aspect of visual storytelling that the tablet doesn't excel at, however, is emphasizing details with blurred backgrounds, along with magnifying your subject with optical zoom. Enter the Lenscaster. This universal lens mount lets you use a standard 35mm adapter to attach any SLR optic to the iPad camera, enabling a small variety of hardware-driven optical effects, including shallow depth of field, manual focus and a zoom option that doesn't result in detail loss. Apter took the Padcaster and Lenscaster along on a demo shoot in New York City's Union Square, interviewing passersby with a Cinevate 35mm lens adapter, 85mm f/1.4 Carl Zeiss lens and a Sennheiser MKH-60 shotgun mic, all mounted to a Padcaster-equipped new iPad. The mounting duo may note be visually appealing from a physical perspective, but the resulting footage does look convincing -- you can see it in full after the break. The Padcaster's aluminum frame even doubles as a DSLR cage, letting you assemble a pro rig complete with camera, lens, mic and lights after removing the urethane iPad insert. The designer is also working on an iPad insert, though the tablet-sized contraption may prove to be overkill when paired with a pocketable smartphone. The Padcaster will be available soon for "about $200," while the Lenscaster attachment should ship for an additional 60 bucks. You'll also need to factor in a magnification optic to compensate for the distance between the iPad and the lens, along with a 35mm adapter, both of which are not included. The device is also unable to take full advantage of the iPad's resolution, creating black borders around the image, which you'll notice in the sample video, positioned just below our hands-on video right after the break.
Voigtländer adapter expands lens pool for Micro Four Thirds cameras
Granted, this was totally expected, but we can't possibly be more excited to see such a peripheral emerge before the Micro Four Thirds segment even has a chance to blossom. Cosina, parent company of Voigtländer, has just introduced a new adapter which aims to make Micro Four Thirds cameras (you know, like Panasonic's Lumix DMC-G1) compatible with a slew of existing Voigtländer, Leica and Carl Zeiss lenses. Unfortunately, we're told that the device is mechanical only, which could cause issues with some of the more advanced features that require tight knit camera-lens communication. Head on past the break for a full list of suitable lenses, and feel free to ping your favorite Japanese importer with a mailing address and at least ¥19,800 ($205).[Via Wired]
