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Unexpected Use for an iPhone – Camera Viewfinder

Accessories, Cameras, Industry news, Technology No Responses »

Dec 072010

At Photokina 2010, Alpa of Switzerland unveiled an accessory for their Alpa 12 line of scale focused rangefinder cameras. The Alpa iPhone Holder allows you to use your iPhone (3/4 & iPod Touch) mounted on your Alpa 12 camera. From their website:

The new ALPA iPhone® holder allows the technophile photographers using their iPhone® 3/4 and iPod touch® (later also others) a secure and firm mounting of their device on top of an ALPA. It fits all ALPA 12 models. It can be used in several positions:

horizontal, symmetric
horizontal, minimum prallax
vertical, minimum parallax

Possible applications:

electronic viewfinder (ALPA recommends apps like “Viewefinder Pro” or “ProCamera”)
as GPS logger
as control unit for electronic shutters and the like
as digital notepad
other apps are under development

Price:

Expected price: USD 606.00/ EUR 479.00

I want this rig…

DXO Shootout – Pentax 645D vs Hasselblad H3DII-39 vs Phase One P40+

Cameras, Photo Essay 1 Response »

Oct 252010

With the release of the Pentax 645D in March 2010, the blogosphere has been abuzz with speculation as to how well the new, (relatively) low-cost entry into medium format digital would fare against the established leaders in the field. To this end, I browsed the DXO website and came upon data for the 645D. I was tipped off to this information via Nikon Rumors, who did a comparison of the 645D and the Nikon D3x.

So with a little deft browsing, I whipped up a quick comparo of the 645D vs Hassy H3DII-39 vs Phase One P40+. Here is the overview page. There will be an analysis after the jump.

AMERICAN PHOTO MAGAZINE NAMES PENTAX 645D AN EDITOR’S CHOICE 2010

Cameras, Industry news, Photography 1 Response »

Oct 122010

THE LONG-ANTICIPATED MEDIUM-FORMAT DIGITAL SLR TO APPEAR AT PDN PHOTOPLUS 2010 AND WILL SHIP TO THE UNITED STATES BY DECEMBER

GOLDEN, CO. (October 12, 2010)…PENTAX Imaging Company confirmed today that the long-anticipated PENTAX 645D medium-format digital SLR camera will ship to select U.S. dealers and pre-order customers by December 2010 in limited quantities. PENTAX also announced that the camera has received an AMERICAN PHOTO MAGAZINE EDITOR’S CHOICE 2010 award in the November/December issue.

Pentax 645D News

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Sep 252010

The Pentax 645D has been flying off the shelves in Japan (the only country where it is sold, for now), and Pentax announced that they will begin shipping this wundercamera in Europe and the UK on December 1, 2010.

In an interview with PDNOnline, Ned Bunnell, president of Pentax USA, stated:

“We’re going to start to bring the 645D into the States in late November or early December but that’s based on availability,”

“We’re still fighting fairly significant back orders in Japan.”

Bunnell added that the 645D will be on display at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City at the end of October 2010. “PhotoPlus is where we’ll make our big splash,” he said. Bunnell stated that when the camera does go on sale in the US, customers will receive one-on-one support from Pentax.

“What we’re saying is, if a photographer buys this camera, we will provide that photographer with direct contact to one of our support staff in Golden, Co. It’s different from if you bought one of our traditional cameras in the past when you got a support group. In this case, you’ll have a name.” Pentax plans to officially announce this new 645D support plan at PhotoPlus Expo.

I will personally be attending PhotoPlus again this and will be bringing you more coverage of this fascinating new camera.

More Pentax 645D news after the jump.

Hasselblad Marketing Frenzy at Photokina 2010

Accessories, Cameras, Industry news, Lenses, software, Software, Technology, Trade Shows 1 Response »

Sep 232010

Hasselblad marketing went into overdrive today with six major press releases and two backgrounder releases. They announced everything from a new entry-level H4D-31 system priced at

€9,995, a limited edition Ferrari H4D, two new lenses, a new digital back for the V System, a preview of a 200Mpx (you read that right) sensor, an H4D firmware update, three new versions of Phocus including versions for the iPhone/iPad and a light version called Phocus Quick.

Here is a Flickr slideshow with all of the press images. The full press releases will be after the jump.

Size Matters: Leaf Unveils 80 Megapixel Aptus-II 12

Cameras, Industry news, Photography, Trade Shows No Responses »

Sep 202010

TEL AVIV, Sept. 20, 2010 – Leaf Imaging today introduced the world’s highest resolution, one-shot medium format digital camera back. The Leaf Aptus-II 12 (and Leaf Aptus-II 12R with internal rotating sensor) delivers the world’s highest-quality image capture. It is both a major technical advance and another important illustration of the benefits of medium format camera technology – namely, the ability to support a very large image sensor, with enormous light sensitivity and high dynamic range.

Mamyia, Phase One and Profoto Introduce V-Grip Air

Accessories, Cameras, Industry news, Photography No Responses »

Aug 232010

ELMSFORD, NY, COPENHAGEN, TOKYO, and STOCKHOLM, August 23, 2010 – Mamiya and Phase One, leaders in open platform medium format digital

camera systems and solutions, and Profoto, the light shaping company, today announced the Mamiya/Phase One V-Grip Air. This is the first product resulting from these companies’ collaboration.

The Mamiya/Phase One V-Grip Air is not only the first vertical grip with a built-in wireless flash trigger; it is also the first and only wireless flash sync solution for a medium format camera system that is capable of delivering sync speeds as fast as 1/1600s. The new V-Grip also offers owners of Phase One and Mamiya 645DF cameras more shooting styles, and delivers longer camera battery life through power integration and easy firmware upgrades.

Mamiya Introduces New DM40 Large-Sensor DSLR

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Mar 012010

Elmsford, NY – March 1, 2010 – Mamiya today announced the addition of the new Mamiya DM40 to its lineup of professional large-sensor DSLRs. Featuring a resolution of 40 megapixels with a peak capture rate of .8 seconds per frame and a sustained capture rate of 60 frames per minute, the Mamiya DM40 is the industry’s fastest large-sensor DSLR.

The heart of the DM40 system is the new “DF” camera-core technology, developed by Mamiya, featuring two user-selectable shutter systems: leaf or focal plane. In demanding daylight situations, photographers can use predictable high speed flash synchronization to fill-in or overpower even the brightest ambient light on one of three new leaf-shuttered lenses designed by Schneider-Kreuznach and manufactured by Mamiya. The lenses – available in focal lengths of 55mm, 80mm, and 110mm – deliver an effective maximum flash sync speed of up to 1/1600th of a second. For more conventional situations, photographers can choose any one of 15 other world-class Mamiya optics, from 28mm to 300mm APO, designed for use with the cameras’ focal plane shutter system.

Also newly announced, the Mamiya DM40 Digital Back will be available for those customers who wish to obtain the latest in high-speed and resolution digital capture for their existing Mamiya or large format camera. Supported cameras include: Mamiya 645AFD series, 645DF, Mamiya RZ series (via optional adapter), Mamiya RB series (via optional adapter), and 4×5 view cameras (via optional adapter).

Specifications Highlights

CCD: 44 x 33mm, 40 Megapixel

Largest file size: 240 MB 16 bit TIFF

ISO: 80-800

Capture rate: 0.8 sec/frame

Digital imaging user interface: 6x7cm LCD touchscreen

Pricing and Availability
The Mamiya DM40 DSLR kit will be available in the U.S. at $21,990, including Mamiya 80mm f.2.8 D lens. The Mamiya DM40 Digital Back, also available in the U.S. at $19,990. Both are expected to be shipping in March, and include Capture One and Leaf Capture software.

For more information, visit www.Mamiya.com

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