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Nikon patent app details lens with manual and electronic zoom, videographers rejoice
We reckoned it was only a matter of time, and sure enough, it seems as if the engineers at Nikon are already one step ahead of everyone else. For those who've attempted to shoot video on a conventional DSLR, they've most likely ran into one problem in particular: zooming. It's fairly difficult to manhandle a D3S under ideal circumstances, but try holding it steady while also keeping a firm grip on the zoom and focus dials. Without a camera rig, it's essentially impossible to get anything more than novice captures, complete with oodles of blur and more Jellyvision than you could shake a butter knife at. If all goes well, the next Nikkor lens you purchase may make the aforementioned tragedy just another comical part of history. Nikon is apparently dreaming of a single lens that can be zoomed both manually (for still photography) and electronically (for video), and better still, there's nothing stopping this from also supporting the outfit's sure-to-be-forthcoming EVIL line of mirrorless cameras. Then again, it's not like a patent application dictates a near-term release, but if we all cross our fingers in unison and pledge allegiance the Big N, who knows what kind of magic could happen.
Apple's iPhone 3GS gets two more handheld video mounts
Look, it's not like Apple's iPhone 3GS is really equipped with the necessary hardware to shoot your next feature film, but given the high-profile nature of the device, it's no surprise to see a veritable cornucopia of video mounts making their way onto the scene. Just weeks after a completely over-the-top shoulder mount emerged, we've now got a pair of handheld grips ready for the amateur crowd. Both Zacuto's ZGrip iPhone Pro and OWLE's BUBO are designed to steady one's shot when capturing clips with Apple's freshest handset, though we tend to prefer the dual grip design of the latter. Hit the read links below for more information on each, and jump past the break if you're looking for samples to absorb before you buy. Oh, and yes -- both are guaranteed to draw unwanted stares and cause intense embarrassment when used.Read - Zacuto's ZGrip iPhone Pro [Via TUAW]Read - OWLE BUBO [Via iClarified]
Pentax gets official with 14.6MP K-7 DSLR: HD movies, HDR mode
After digesting loads of scuttlebutt here lately, we're elated to see that Pentax has finally come clean with its new K-7 DSLR. The 14.6 megapixel shooter packs a rugged magnesium alloy body and arrives with an HD movie mode that captures video at 640 x 416, 720p (1,280 x 720) or 1,536 x 1,024 -- all at 30fps. Needless to say, that's more than the D90 and D5000 offer (both top out at 720p), and while Canon's T1i does 1080p, it does so at just 20fps. There's also an HDMI port, a 3-inch Live View LCD, in-camera lens correction, shake reduction and an improved dust reduction system. The real kicker, however, is the High Dynamic Range (HDR) capture mode, which snags a trio of images, then combines them in-camera to widen the exposure gamut. The body alone should ship in July for $1,299.95 -- which is notably more expensive that recent wares from Canon, Nikon and Sony -- and you can peek the full slate of specifications just past the break.
Ask Engadget: Which digicam takes the best video?
We know, we know -- a camera is only as good as the images it produces, but this week's Ask Engadget question revolves around an oft overlooked video function. (Psst... feel free to shoot over your own inquiry to ask at engadget dawt com, but only after you check out Jonathan's question below.) "What's a good camera that takes great quality video for at least 30 minutes (yes, I know I'd have to buy an extra memory card)? So many of the cameras I've messed with have a limit on how much you can record in one session, even if you have enough storage space. Thanks!" Here recently, a few cameras have surfaced with 720p video capabilities, and there's a plethora of options if VGA is good enough. What camera is best for snagging those candid videos that inevitably end up on YouTube / Facebook / etc.? Don't lead the man astray, now.
Nikon's D90: the DSLR for HD junkies?
Here we have it folks: the world's first mid-range DSLR to shoot 720p. A heavenly product for high-def junkies, wouldn't you say? After all, how could anyone who appreciates tightly packed pixels even the slightest not be into shooting 720p clips from their DSLR? Unfortunately, it's probably not that cut and dry. For starters, Nikon engineers decided that Motion-JPEG was the way to go, and as we saw on the PowerShot TX1, that very decision kept it from being absolutely amazing. Even if you've got a memory card capacious enough to handle the format (which chews through free space pretty rapidly), do you really think this camera is an acceptable replacement for your HD camcorder? We're all about gadget consolidation, but we're curious as to who all is really ready to ditch their current setup for this. Any takers?[Thanks, Stephen]
Patent details DSLR "Movie Mode," your compact shooter could be out of a job
While the advanced processing, glass and sensors of DSLRs has made them a likely candidate for video capture for some time now, a few technical obstacles have stood in the way. All that could be changing, though, with this DSLR "Movie Mode" patent from Japanese inventor Hiroshi Terada uncovered by Photography Bay. The wide-ranging patent addresses trouble spots such as AF focus speed and tolerance, and the auto-cropping DSLRs perform during AF adjustments, but most interesting is the mirror. The patent suggests a mirror that lets through 70% of light, while reflecting the other 30%. Reflected light can be used for continuous AF, while transmitted light is captured on the camera's primary sensor. This mirror configuration also allows live view while shooting stills. There's no telling when we'll start seeing this in cameras, or if any major manufacturers have even licensed it yet -- or have developed similar systems -- but it does seem clear that DSLR movie shooting is fairly inevitable. [Via Photography Bay]
