Nikon Announces D300s SLR

Since Nikon’s introduction of DSLR video in the D90 last year, many photographers have been eager to see what Nikon unveiled today: the D300s.

It’s Nikon’s first professional D-Movie-equipped DSLR. The rugged new D300s offers 720p HD video, allows for autofocus while recording, and supports an external stereo microphone (built-in microphone included).

Nikon has also refined many of the camera’s still capture capabilities. The key improvements:

• Dual card slots (SD and CF)
• 7 frames-per-second Continuous shooting
• Quiet shutter release mode
• 5-frame bracketing of Active D-Lighting
• Dedicated Live View button

The Nikon D300s is now available for pre-order at Calumet Photo. Place your order now to be one of the first to own this revolutionary advance in the Nikon line.

Yikes! NHK Showcases an 8k Resolution Video Camera

We’ve got pictures and videos for this article but none will convey the realism of this new technology – it is so crystal clear it almost hurts to look at. Feature this: the camera shoots at a resolution of 8k, and is displayed on their Ultra High Definition TV System, with 4320-scanning lines (7680 x 4320 pixels). The video with this article captures the demo on NHK’s wide-screen display, already “downgraded” to a 4k resolution by NHK for use on their convention based wide-screen. We used a HD camera for this video, which brings us down to 1280 x 720, and God knows what your computer screen is doing to the images. (I guess, as the saying goes, you had to be there to truly appreciate the view).

A second demo station at NHK featured another aspect of their revolutionary technologies: video capture at 10,000 frames per second. The demo video was dramatic, displaying a water balloon in the process of a needle-induced burst. The video was replayed in slow motion, with so much detail that the audience, (us), could see the thin rubber of the balloon peeling back while the ball of water remained intact, hanging in mid-air suspension for a seeming eternity, then denigrating into thousands of droplets scattering to earth.
The camera can record with frame rates of up to 1 million frames per second.

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5K EPIC camera from RED

This 5K camera has a full frame S35mm Mysterium X sensor matching 35mm film resolution. The RED 5K EPIC tops out at 100 FPS, features HD-SDI, 2-XLR inputs, HDMI, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0. Like the Scarlet you can also control it using WiFi.

Owners of the RED ONE will be happy to know that RED will allow you to trade in your camera for for a full $17,500 credit towards the EPIC when it ships in 2009, Pricing is said to be about $30,000.

Red announces Scarlet mini 3K camcorder

Red announced its smallest camera yet 3K Scarlet. This teeny camera has a 3K resolution and is based on a 2/3″  Mysterium X sensor, capable of 1 to 120 frames per second and records to dual CompactFlash cards supporting up to 100MB per second of REDCODE RAW HD video.

It features a 4.8″ LCD, 8x RED zoom lens, HDMI, HD-SDI, FireWire 800 and USB 2.0 connections. The camera is also compatible with many of the RED ONE accesories. You can even control the camera via a WiFi Connection.

Price should be under $3,000 and be available early 2009.

Panasonic releases pricing on the AG-HMC150

This camera is the newest in the family of AVCCAM line cameras and is capable of 1280 x 720 and 1440 x 1080 recording using the MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 codecs. You will also find native 16:9 1/3″ 3CCD imagers, and has a digital signal processor with a 14-bit A /D conversion and 19-bit processing.

Like many other Panasonic cameras the AG-HMC150 is equiped with a 13x Leica Dicomar zoom lense with optiacal image stabilization.

The camera has 4 quality modes – PH (average 21 Mbps/Max 24 Mbps), HA (approx.17 Mbp), HG (approx. 13 Mbps) and HE (approx. 6 Mbps). … Continue Reading

Sony brings OLED viewfinder to Pro HD Cameras

Sony is unveiling its first color professional camera viewfinder using Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) Technology.

The HDVF-EL100 is an 11 inch display and is Sony’s first non-consumer application of an OLED panel. Consumer OLED displays were introduced in January, and continue to generate strong demand.

“High-definition acquisition requires extremely precise focusing, allowing the operator to accurately see contrast and color levels when framing a shot,” said Rob Willox, director of Sony Electronics’ content creation group. “This new viewfinder is a perfect example of our unique ability to leverage the innovation and expertise from one part of our company and apply it in another area to meet customers’ needs. … Continue Reading

JVC GY-HD200 gets 1080/50i and 60i output

JVC announced a new feature for the GY-HD200 by adding 1080/50i and 1080/60i output though the FireWire connection. The 1080i footage is not recorded to tape, but when combined with a hard disk recorder such as the DR-HD100 you will be able to capture in 720P or 1080i in native QuickTime or M2T files.

The new feature is not a firmware upgrade. Customers who purchased a GY-HD200 since February 1, 2008 will be eligible for an upgrade. All other owners will have to stick it out with 720P or buy the new camera.

The product name has been updated to GY-HD200UB and is available immediately, and is $5995 with 16:1 Fujinon lens or the body only for $5695.

New Panasonic AG-HPX170 P2 Pro Camcorder

Panasonic announced another new camera today at NAB 2008, the AG-HPX170 P2. The new camera records exclusively to solid state P2 cards, now available with capacities up to 64GB. The AG-HPX170 can record in up to twenty different formats, 1080i and 720P HD and SD in DVCPRO HD, 480i, DVCPRO 50, DVCPRO and 480i in DV, with 16:9 and 4:3 aspect ratios. It is also capapble of frame rates from 12fps to 60fps for fast or slow motion effects. With two P2 card slots you have the capability to shoot 128 minutes in the highest quality setting (DVCPRO HD) when using two 64GB P2 cards.

The AG-HPX170 is expecting to ship this Fall, and will be covered by a 5 year limited warranty from Panasonic. No word on pricing yet.

Here is the full press release:

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New Focus FS-5 Revealed

Focus Enhancements today announced that it will showcase its new, ultra-portable FS-5 Direct To Edit (DTE) recorder at NAB 2008.

The FS-5 is designed to be used with many popular HDV and DV cameras. However, it features a 50% weight reduction and a 60% reduction in size compared to the FS-4. It also features a new low-power and fan-less design providing a 3 hour record time, using one removable Li-Ion battery pack.

Other major changes include a newly designed user interface and a 320 x 240 color LCD, but like the previous models you can not play back video.

… Continue Reading

Toshiba’s IK-HD1 is world’s smallest HDTV Camera

Toshiba imaging’s IK-HD1 3CCD HDTV Camera is the worlds smallest HD camera head, at only 1.6 inches square and 2.3 ounces. It may be small but it sure packs a punch with it’s native 1920 x 1080 sensor capable of 1080i at 30fps.

The camera features a 1/3″ 3CCD design so were not too sure how well it works in low light, it is targeted for television production so it will most likely be used only in controlled lighting and requires a control box that can be mounted remotely up to 90 feet away to operate.

No word on pricing or availability yet, after NAB we should have more information.