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Sigma's fp L is a tiny full-frame camera with a 61-megapixel sensor
Sigma has unveiled what it calls the "world's smallest and lightest single lens mirrorless camera," a claim that's easy to believe in looking at it.
Square absorbs Viewfinder team, picks up some ex-Googlers in the process
If you're in the market for a few more engineers, you could go through the rigamarole of posting a listing on some job site -- or you could just pick up a whole team. The small staff behind photo-sharing app Viewfinder will be setting up shop in Square's New York offices, including co-founders Spencer Kimball and Peter Mattis, who'd previously done time at Google and created image editor GIMP. While Square's engineering blog happily talks up the fact that the move will effectively triple the company's NYC staff, no mention is made regarding the fate of Viewfinder itself, which may not bode well for the future of the app.
Viewfinder for iOS is a unique way to share photos and memories
Viewfinder (free, with some in-app purchase options) is a bit like the Photo app in iOS, but on steroids. With your permission, It takes your image library and arranges it by time and location. All photos remain private and only you can see them unless you choose to share them. Nothing is uploaded to the cloud, although the app requires a free account. Photos you share with others can be shared by them to others, so keep that in mind before you use the sharing options. You can import contacts from your phone, from Gmail, and Facebook. Once contacts have been imported, Viewfinder shows you which friends have also set up an account on Viewfinder. In-line messaging and commenting are supported for creating communities around your photos. None of this sharing is done online -- everything stays within the app, except the communications out and back that is managed by Viewfinder. The app gives each user 1 GB of storage, and the developers are happy to sell you more. Viewfinder Plus (5 GB of storage) is US$1.99 a month. Viewfinder Pro (50 GB) is $9.99 a month. In practice, most people won't use either paid option. Some of the features found in Viewfinder will be in iOS 7 when it comes out later this year, in particular the better organization of photos by date and location. iOS 7 will even separate panoramas into a specific album. Of course Apple has the Photo Stream feature now, but I find it to be cumbersome to use when trying to share images with others. Viewfinder is not a universal app, and I tested it on an iPhone running iOS 6. It worked as expected with no issues. It failed on iOS 7, and even helpfully popped up a note saying that iOS 7 was not supported yet. Viewfinder is a nice app with appropriate privacy and the ability to build photo communities. It does have some feature overlap with iOS 7, but it also performs some functions that won't likely be part of iOS 7. The app requires iOS 5 or later, and is optimized for the iPhone 5. %Gallery-194250%
Photojojo takes iPhone photography old school with the Viewfinder
Photojojo is one of our favorite spots to pick up useful and sometimes wacky accessories for iPhone photography, so whenever I see an email from the company it's the first one that gets opened. Today's mailing brought news that should bring a smile to DSLR owners who prefer using their camera viewfinder to that annoying screen on the back -- it's the iPhone Viewfinder (US$30). The purpose of this little accessory is to make it much easier to frame your iPhone photos when it's extremely bright out. Working in concert with the free Daylight Viewfinder app, the iPhone Viewfinder sticks to your iPhone screen with suction. You then extend the viewfinder, put the eyecup up to your eye and shoot away. While you may be subject to hoots of derision from your friends when you use the iPhone Viewfinder, you'll have the last laugh with your perfectly composed award-winning images.
GoPro iOS app is finally available, adds live viewfinder and remote controls for action cameras
GoPro owners have had a long wait, but the company's iOS remote app (Android "coming soon") is finally available and ready to work for those possessing both an HD Hero2 camera and WiFi BacPac accessory. While the hardware will cost you the app itself is free, and adds capabilities including remote control of all of the camera's settings, monitoring of battery life and storage space, date / time sync with your mobile device, live remote preview so you can see what you're shooting in real time and also access to GoPro's Photo of the Day / Video of the Day channels. Along with the app, GoPro is releasing the Protune firmware update that will let cameras record at a higher 35Mbps bitrate, 24fps and adjust the video for a different cinematic look. Still, it is a v1 release and while our reader Khena reports it's stable, it does have some rough edges. Currently you can't access or view any recordings already stored on the camera or control more than one camera, although GoPro says those features are coming, while other gripes include delay between the camera and the app's "live" viewfinder that can be as much as five seconds and the inability to preview the ProTune settings while recording. That's a bit frustrating after the wait for the app to arrive, but in an action camera market suddenly teeming with competition, they may be enough to keep GoPro fans from switching to another any time soon. Check out a quick tutorial video and press release after the break, or hit the link below to grab the app from iTunes (make sure your camera and BacPac are updated to the latest software first.) [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sony Alpha A99 poses for someone else's camera, no optical viewfinder in sight
Technical details of Sony's rumored Alpha A99 have been overflowing. The actual camera, however, has been elusive until now. A press photo just spotted on Xitek (and passed along to Sony Alpha Rumors) is believed to be authentic and speaks volumes about Sony's pro camera strategy: as shown, there's no obvious space for an optical viewfinder, hinting that the company's full-frame shooter is going with an OLED-based electronic eyepiece like that of its crop-frame A77 precursor. The image doesn't show much more than that and a conspicuous orange ring to remind us that we're gazing upon an Alpha, but it's tough to ignore that more compact (and hopefully lighter) body. Whatever the cosmetics are like, rumors now assert that the 24.3-megapixel, translucent-mirrored A99's early September release has been locked down to September 12th; if that's true, it may give photographers as much reason to be happy that day as phone buyers.
Nikon confirms woes with D4 and D800, joins Canon in high-end doghouse
Okay Nikon owners, stop laughing at your 5D Mark III cronies for their leaky problem. That might be a drip in the pail next to your own worries -- namely, possible "lock-up", focus and viewfinder hitches on your D800 or D4. Nikon verified that a "small number" of units of both DSLRs can lock up and become unresponsive, but until there's a permanent patch you can prevent this by disabling both highlight and RGB histogram displays. The company also verified that a "run" of D800s is suffering from a viewfinder bug, although it has yet to confirm another emerging problem with autofocus in some units, which apparently requires a factory fix. So, if you've noticed any of this with your pricey new D800, or really pricey D4, your best bet might be to reach out to your Nikon repair center post-haste. And don't let the Canon guys see you. [Thanks, Thinh]
Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 remote viewfinder hands-on (video)
At last night's launch of the US-bound Galaxy Player 4.2 -- also known elsewhere as the Galaxy S WiFi 4.2 -- we had the opportunity to try out Samsung's remote viewfinder with the WiFi-equipped WB150F digital camera we saw at CES. The free app -- which runs on Android and iOS devices -- provides select Samsung shooters with a wireless viewfinder and remote. We noticed a minor amount of lag with the live video stream but the controls (shutter, zoom, flash, timer, image size) were quite responsive. Pictures can even be geotagged and saved to both the camera and the remote device. Unlike its predecessor, the WB150F becomes a WiFi access point instead of relying on the app to create a hotspot -- something that's generally limited to phones that allow tethering. While Samsung was showcasing the app on the Galaxy Player 4.2, it works on most Galaxy devices and installs on other Android handsets too (like our HTC One X). Peek at our gallery below and hit the break for our hands-on video.
Ask Engadget: using an iPad as a remote viewfinder?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from is from William who is looking for an solution to the problem of badly designed public spaces. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Hi guys. I'm getting married in a church with a weird split-hall design. The result is that half of the attendees won't be able to see the ceremony at all! I'm wondering if I could hook up my Canon Rebel T3i up to my 3rd-generation iPad and use it as a quick-and-dirty closed-circuit display? There's no WiFi in the location, so it has to be a wired solution too. Please help me!"It's an interesting request and that's why we're here: solving those problems that three minutes on Google just can't. So, dear friends, what say you? Wish the soon-to-be-wed couple all the best by adding a helpful solution to the comment feed and spread a little joy.
MicroOLED viewfinder delivers 5.4 megapixels in 0.61-inch monochrome display
Photographers who've spent years looking through the window of a high-end optical viewfinder may never find an electronic version that fully satisfies them. But this new MicroOLED EVF may get us closer than ever to an acceptable digital replacement for the TTL OVF, which will never find a home in modern-day compacts and mirrorless ILCs. Developed with military and medical-industry heads-up displays and digital camera viewfinders in mind, the new microdispay is able to deliver a 5.4 megapixel (2560 x 2048) monochrome image, or 1.3 megapixels in full 16-million color -- all in a 0.61-inch diagonal panel. The display boasts a top contrast ratio of 100,000:1, 96-percent uniformity and 0.2 watts of power consumption. There's no word yet on when the new tech will start popping up in enterprise devices and digital cameras, or how much of a premium it'll carry for electronics manufacturers, but it looks like we're closer than ever to having an excellent electronic alternative to the optical viewfinder. Jump past the break for the full PR from MicroOLED.
Recon Instruments partners with Contour, makes MOD Live into ski slope viewfinder
As if capturing your downhill plunge in full HD and tracking your positioning coordinates wasn't enough, Recon Instruments and Contour are teaming up to make their respective, extreme slope accessories work in tandem. Slated for release in the coming weeks, the Camera Connectivity app for MOD Live allows feeds sent from a Contour+ or ContourGPS helmet cam to display on the goggles' 14-inch virtual 428 x 240 display, giving gnar enthusiasts easy access to recording and settings options. But that's not the only cross-tech handshake being announced here. The company also plans to make the various info (altitude, speed, temperature, etc.) collected by its Android-powered mask available to iPhone 4S users, although you'll have to wait until year-end for that feature to launch. So, if you fancy yourself a connoisseur of the powdery white stuff or even the ski slope version of Bond, be sure to pack these Q-approved goodies and download that app before your next trek to Vail. Official PR after the break.
Lomography LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker hands-on (video)
"Unique and precious pieces of movie art." That's what Lomography is promising to deliver with the LomoKino Super 35 Movie Maker -- the company's very first movie camera. Announced earlier this month, the LomoKino is hardly a technological game changer. In fact, it's anything but. Much like every other camera to come off of Lomography's assembly line, the Movie Maker is entirely analog. Users must spool their own 35mm film and manually operate the device's crank to capture images at a frame rate of three to five frames per second, with a shutter speed of 1/100 second. From there, you can either send the film off to get developed and digitally formatted, or cut it yourself and scan it into your movie editing software of choice. You won't find any sound, many frills, or, for that matter, a ton of convenience, but that's also the idea -- to return filmmakers to the roots of early silent cinema, with a pared down device that reignites some of the photographic mystery lost with the dawn of the digital age. For those too young to remember the analog era, just think of it as a physical manifestation of Instagram, minus the "insta" part. And the results can be pretty stunning, as many in the Lomography community have already demonstrated with collections of hauntingly silent, washed out shorts. With our curiosity piqued, we decided to stop by Lomography's boutique in Paris to learn more about the LomoKino. Check out our hands-on gallery below, and click past the break for our initial impressions. %Gallery-139288%
ContourGPS Connect View app hands-on
The $350 ContourGPS sits among the top-tier of consumer-friendly helmet cams, but it's always posed one major problem: you can't really tell where it's pointing. Sure, it shoots a pair of wicked lasers out of the front, but it's always a challenge to gauge the extents of its 135 degree lens. We knew there was a secret trick in there waiting to be unleashed, which we got to play with at CES, and now here it is. Contour has released its Connect View functionality for iOS, letting you view live footage from the camera right on your phone. Keep reading for our full impressions. %Gallery-120293%
Contour launches Viewfinder App, lets your iPhone talk to your ContourGPS (video)
Helmet cam aficionado? Contour's ContourGPS currently has the greatest range of connectivity options, and one of those options, Bluetooth, is finally good for something. The company has just flipped the switch and deployed its Viewfinder app that we last saw at CES, which allows iOS devices to pull live video from the camera, even if it's still stuck to the side of your head and covered in mud. Users can also tweak camera settings in real-time, which is a huge step forward over the previous process that required tethering the cam and booting up some software. However, there is a catch: to use the device you have to install a little card, called a ConnectView, into your camera. This sucker will set you back $29.99, though we're told the upcoming Android release of the app will be able to do without. Unfortunately, that version won't be along until an unfortunately vague "Spring," but the iOS flavor is a free download right now in the App Store.
Lego viewfinder created for Sony NEX-5, lincoln log enthusiasts feel left out
Do you spend your days pining for a viewfinder with some Danish building-block flair for your shiny new Sony NEX-5? Well, your camera woes have been solved -- while appealing to your childlike aesthetic sensibilities -- by a DIYer who fashioned just such a viewfinder out of some Lego blocks and parts from an old CD-ROM drive. Its complexity doesn't quite match that of an all-Lego camera, but it's a slick little solution for those who want to add some pizazz -- and functionality -- to Sony's favorite not-quite-Micro Four-Thirds shooter. Hit up the source link to see how to build one for yourself.
Fujifilm's X100 hybrid viewfinder demoed on video, gets us all sorts of excited
Imagine a retro-styled, Micro Four Thirds-sized compact camera with an optical viewfinder. Now, imagine that same camera having a switch that throws all sorts of useful data into your line of sight. That camera is Fujifilm's Finepix X100, and that viewfinder is real. Back at Photokina, the mockup we ran into didn't have a functioning viewfinder, but with just two months until the $1,000 beaut is released into the wilds of America, it's not too shocking that our brethren over at Engadget Spanish managed to come across a (mostly) functional one at CES last week. Eager to show the world exactly what a hybrid viewfinder looks like when being flipped on and off, they shoved a camera up against the OVF and toggled the new mechanism -- it's downright luscious, and it's waiting for you in the video just past the break.
Contour adds Live Viewfinder to its ContourGPS helmet cam, real-time streaming to smartphones
The Contour family of helmet cameras are among our favorite, their little lasers making it a little easier to figure out just where the heck they're pointing. Not as nice as the integrated screen as on the Drift Innovation HD170, but rather less bulky. Soon you won't have to worry about lasers with the upcoming Live Viewfinder feature. As it turns out, the $349.99 ContourGPS doesn't just have a GPS chip inside, there's Bluetooth connectivity in there somewhere too. This enables the little cameras to connect wirelessly to your Android or iOS device and send some video its way. At least, that's the theory, as the apps aren't ready for consumption yet, though we're told iOS is coming first sometime this summer. It looks like you won't be able to tap into the camera's storage, this will exclusively work like a viewfinder, but that gives us something to hope for in coming releases. This extension is coming later this year, but we're hoping to check it out a lot sooner than that. Stay tuned.
Fujifilm explains how its X100 hybrid viewfinder works, we nod and pretend to understand
If you just tried to tell us the FinePix X100 was a bog standard digital camera, we'd still probably pay any price for those amazing retro looks, but Fujifilm has more in mind. Specifically, the X100 harbors an all-new viewfinder setup, that can switch between a full-on optical view (something that's currently impossible in similarly sized Micro Four Thirds cameras), and an electronic viewfinder. The optical mode also includes overlaid shooting data, which isn't typical for a straight compact viewfinder (since it's looking through its own lens, not the camera's main lens). You'll have to read Fujifilm's full-on explanation to really know what's going on here -- it gets a little technical -- but basically there's a half mirror prism that lets the mini LCD project info on top of the optical image that's coming through to your eye, but that half mirror prism becomes a straight up mirror when the viewfinder's front lens is blocked, allowing for a full electronic image of the actual image being captured by the lens to bounce to your eye. See? That wasn't so difficult. We don't know what we were so worried about.
Viewfinder for iPad now available
Viewfinder for iPad is now available on the App Store. I plan to offer a fuller review and an interview with its developer, Fraser Speirs sometime in the next few weeks. For those who aren't familiar with Viewfinder, it is a search front-end for Flickr. Viewfinder will let you filter for certain licenses (such as Creative Commons), and gives you easy access to the proper links to use for attribution. Viewfinder does not connect to your Flickr account. It doesn't upload pictures, and it won't let you view your friends' timelines. It's meant to help you find pictures on Flickr. We've mentioned Viewfinder for iPhone before, but this is an app which definitely benefits from iPad's larger screen. You could just use Flickr.com on the iPad for this, but Viewfinder makes it faster, better looking, and easier. If you spend a lot of time on Flickr, it's definitely worth the $9.99 asking price. Viewfinder will save a history of your downloads, making it easier to go back and find or verify license types and links to the images.
Hasselblad creates 40 megapixel H4D-40 medium format camera, wants $20k for it
Tough though it may be to believe, Hasselblad's 39 megapixel H3D II actually came out in 2007. Yeah, last decade. In other words, it's about time we saw a true successor hit the market, and with PMA just about ready to get going in Anaheim, the bold and beautiful H4D-40 is making its grand entrance. Boasting a 40 megapixel sensor, this medium format behemoth -- which we spotted in a leak late last month -- also features a "True Focus" AF system and ships with an 80mm lens and a viewfinder. The kit is said to be shipping now across the globe for $19,995 (or €13,995 / £12,995 on that side of the pond), which should make choosing between a new shooter and a public college education remarkably difficult.
