The video benefited from Magbanua’s wide arsenal of lenses. According to him, it features no color grading or even lighting whatsoever. Here’s the video description, edited for clarity:

We wanted to document something truly Filipino and came up with the idea of shooting a “Perya”. There really is no direct equivalent in English. It’s not as grand as a carnival, not as permanent and posh as an amusement park, there are no pumpkins nor cows in competition like a country fair. It is what it is—a Perya.

Shot in 1920 x 1080 at 24p. Transcoded to XDcam codec. Edited in Premiere Pro CS3.

No color grading was utilized. No additional lights used.

Lenses:

• 16-35 mm 2.8
• 17 mm TS
• 35mm 1.4
• 50 mm 1.4
• 85mm 1.4
• 100 mm 2.8 macro
• 70-200 mm 2.8

I’m no professional photographer, but all I know is that the 7D’s video quality definitely outdoes the Canon 5D’s. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch the above video in full-screen mode, fool.

Post from: The Gadget Blog

Photos Courtesy Nikon USA

Nikon DS3

• Base ISO Range from 200 to 12,800, expandable from 100 to a staggering 102,400!
• 9 frames per second at full resolution
• 720p HD video recording with stereo microphone input
• Same amazing low light ability can be applied to movies
• 12.1 mp FX-format full frame CMOS sensor
• 51 point AF system, 3D Matrix metering and Scene Recognition System
• $5199.95 estimated selling price
• Scheduled for a November 2009 release from “authorized Nikon resellers”

Nikkor AF-S DX Micro 85mm F/3.5G ED VR lens

• VR II for up to 4 stops of correction
• Internal focusing design
• Use of an ED glass element
• 1:1 life-size reproduction ratio
• $529.99 estimated selling price
• Scheduled for a December 2009 release from “authorized Nikon resellers”

All I know is that integrating video capture capability into a $5000 camera is the least Nikon can do. Professional-level gadgets were never known for their value-for-money proposition (mostly), but every extra feature makes multiple digits seem more reasonable.

Post from: The Gadget Blog

Anyways, the classic design of an SLR causes camera shake—even if said camera is perched securely on a tripod. That’s because in an SLR, the mirror which allows the user to see the image literally through the lens flips up when the shutter is pressed, allowing the camera’s sensor or film to save the picture. Unfortunately, that action also creates vibrations that cause camera shake and lead to lower-quality pictures, no matter how small these vibrations are.

We have the Japanese to thank for this discovery. They were able to develop a tool for measuring even the slightest movement. Here were their findings:

The resolution of an SLR camera was substantially reduced to 1/4 or lower by the mirror shock (vibration generated when the mirror bounces up).

Next, it was confirmed that the vibration generated by releasing the shutter remains even when a picture is taken after a certain period of time from the mirror lockup to prevent a mirror shock.

Then, the Nishi Lab and Tani Electronics found that camera shake significantly worsens when a lighter tripod (approx 1.5kg) is used. Also, they conducted a quantitative investigation about the influence of the installation direction of the tripod.

So what’s the point of all this? Well, one of the researchers summed it up quite nicely: “”There is no point in enhancing resolution unless we take some measures to reduce the vibration of a camera unit as a whole including a tripod.”

I’m curious though: does this mean point and shoot cameras, which presumably use smaller parts that move less, experience less camera shake when perched on a tripod?

(image from Wikipedia)

Post from: The Gadget Blog