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TI’s Picoprojectors Start Production

February 19th, 2008. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

This has got to be the coolest technology I’ve seen in a long, long time. TI apparently has been working on DLP “pico projectors” that are slated to make their way into cell phones by late 2008. Simply AWESOME.

From CrunchGear:

TI’s DLP picoprojectors are real and have started production

Remember those microprojector chips TI was working on? The ones that could potentially implant tiny DLP picoprojectors into mobile phones? They’ve entered production and should “hit the street”, as we bloggers say, sometime in the middle of this year. That means they might — just might — make it into production models in time for the Xmas season.

You know you want to project video from your iPhone. I know I do.

Texas Instruments’ Pico chipsets go into production - projection coming to mobile phones in 2008? [Tech Digest]

(another) Sigma APO 200-500 F/2.8

January 30th, 2008. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

Hmmmm .. looks like Sigma has released *another* whopper of a lens at the PMA this year. However, the main thing that caught my attention, was that they released it LAST year too! This year it seems to be green instead of black, and have its own battery instead of its own display. The quality they both seem to share is being FRIGGIN HUGE (16kg?!).  Mysteriously enough, neither of these behemoths are listed on Sigma’s website.

Sigma 200-500 f/2.8 EX DG

from DPR - News

Pre-PMA 2008: As part of Sigma’s bumper lens launch, it has announced what might be the ultimate wildlife lens. Sigma claims the APO 200-500 f.2.8 is the world’s first lens to offer an f/2.8 aperture at 500mm focal length. It comes with an “attachment” to give users a handy 400-1000mm f/5.6 option. The lens (which is cosmetically reminiscent of a piece of military hardware) weighs nearly 16kg and uses a dedicated Li-ion battery to provide power for focusing and zooming. It will be available in Sigma, Canon and Nikon mounts.

40D Back in Action!

December 28th, 2007. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

Pro Photo called today to let me know my Canon 40D was ready to be picked up after being repaired by Canon. The service note included was ridiculously inadequate “cleaned affected parts/works fine”. That’s it. I’m wondering what parts go so dirty after three months that the camera would stop working? Before sending it in, I did the basic cleaning of the lens contacts (which showed no signs of dirt anyway), to no avail. I’m a little scared that I’m going to have to send this thing back in periodically for the same issue. I’m not sure what I need to change about my use to prevent this from happening again. This could get expensive after warranty runs out, not to mention I’d be SCREWED if this would have happened at one of my paid gigs out of town.

Also, the camera was missing the battery I included in shipping. Luckily Pro Photo handled this VERY well, and just handed me a brand new battery off the shelf. Feeling a little disenchanted with Canon right now. 150,000 shutter actuations my ass.

Canon 40D - ERR 99 :(

November 23rd, 2007. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

Well, I’m not sure what’s up with my Canon 40D right now. After just 3 months and ~15,000 shutter actuations, it’s dead. I put a fresh battery and any one of my lenses on, and things are OK for the first few shots. After 5 or so pictures, the buttons on the top of the camera stop working. Then, the shutter button stops working, and ERR 99 appears on the readout. After taking the battery out, putting it back in, the error is cleared. And then it’s good for a few shots before ERR 99 again

Looks like I have a trip to make to Pro Photo Supply in Portland to see what they can do for me. I’m out of the 30 day return period, but still within Canon’s 1 year warranty. I’m wondering if I should have just bought the camera at a Best Buy, along with the extended warranty. At least they’d just swap me over the counter for a new one.

Update: Pro Photo says I have to send it back to Canon, and it should take at least 4 weeks to return

Update: Because Pro Photo sent the camera in, there is no way for me to call Canon to check on the service status

Update: 5 weeks and $14 in shipping charges later, I have my camera ..

Eye-fi Wireless SD Card Reviewed by DPR

November 1st, 2007. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

There have been several mentions of Eye-fi’s new SD card for digital cameras, but to be honest, I was thinking “vaporware” the entire time. This slick $99 piece of hardware adds wi-fi to ANY digital camera supporting SD media, and includes 2GB of storage to boot. All of my past (and present) Canon SLRs have been CF, so it looks like I miss out big time on this one. Why no CF version!?! I’ll buy one TODAY! Check out DPR’s great review, or the official website - http://www.eye.fi

Hello, Canon 40D!

September 1st, 2007. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

Got a call today from Pro Photo Supply in Portland, OR telling me that my Canon 40D is now in stock. Quick trip downtown, and the camera is now in-hand! I’m glad I got my name on the waiting list, as there were several people in the store checking out the display. On several occasions, I heard over my shoulder, “sorry, but we don’t have any in stock”.

Fav’s: 10.1MP (cropping and big prints); compact and lightweight (compared to 1D), HUGE 3.0″ display (with zoom on playback! - not found on 1D); controls and menus very similar to 1-series, pop-up flash (not found on 1D); user defined shooting modes (nice to have HDR bracketing ready to go at a moment’s notice); battery lasts FOREVER; I can choose battery grip or no-battery grip depending on how big I want the camera to be

Hates: my 1GB CF card holds only 70 shots; my semi-wide angle lenses (28mm) are no longer semi-wide angle (1.6x crop compared to 1.3x); no ai-servo focus sensitivity adjustments; no battery grip included (yeah, that one is a stretch)

All in all, I’m really excited about this camera!

More to come, I’m sure!

Canon 35 F/1.4L

August 30th, 2007. Published under People, Photography Gear. No Comments.

After realizing that the Canon 1D MKIII was a little too much for my wallet to chew, a good compromise looked like a Canon 40D and some new lenses to cope with the 1.6x crop factor on the new sensor.  The Canon 35 F/2.0 was a major workhorse for me, accounting for probably 40,000 photos taken at National Racquetball events.  Through some research on Fred Miranda, I quickly noticed the 1.4’s benefits of faster USM, sharper photos, and of course an extra stop of light (extremely crucial for low-light sports - like racquetball).

I quickly sold the 2.0 to a colleague, and turned to a “WTB” ad on craigslist to find a primo copy of the 1.4 locally.  Within about 5 mintues of posting the ad, I had a reply from a local photographer wanting to sell his mint copy at the right price.  Needless to say, this lens didn’t dissapoint.  Solid metal construction, tack sharp photos, and wonderful contrast have turned this into one of my favorite Canon primes.

Here is my son learning how to compose with the Digital Rebel (taken with a Canon 1D MKI, F/1.4, 1/30, hand-held):

Canon 40D

August 20th, 2007. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

All of the internet gossip has been confirmed, as Canon finally drops official word on its newest offering, the Canon 40D. I’ve been stashing my pennies away for the 1D MKIII, but I think a small dose of reality is starting to set it. By in large, I don’t get paid much for any of my work. I think it’s time to reality check dropping $4500 on a camera. The Canon 40D has a list of IMPRESSIVE features, and will probably hold its own on 90% of the work I do.

My name has just been added to wait list for one of these bad boys at Pro Photo Supply, in Portland, OR!

Canon EOS 40D, previewed

As anticipated Canon has today announced the successor to the hugely popular EOS 30D digital SLR. Enter the EOS 40D, headline improvements are a more robust build with weather-proofing, ten megapixel CMOS sensor, DIGIC III and 1D style menus, 6.5 fps continuous shooting, three custom user modes on mode dial, 3.0″ LCD monitor, Live View with optional mirror-drop auto-focus, larger brighter viewfinder with interchangeable focusing screens, much shorter viewfinder blackout and a quieter mirror mechanism, a all new AF system with all nine points cross-type with F5.6 or faster lens and a new optional combo vertical / WiFi grip. UPDATED: Detailed preview posted.

Sigma APO 200 - 500 mm F2.8 lens

March 8th, 2007. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

Holy Schnikies! I was reading on DPReview this morning about a new Sigma lens - the APO 200-500 F2.8. This seems to be somewhat of a follow-on to Sigma’s 100-300 F/2.8 (which got good reviews), but this time the focal range extends to an AMANZING 500mm at F/2.8. All I can say is WOW. The article mentions that price and weight have not been announced, but that thing is absolutely GINORMOUS. I’d guess price in the $5,000 range, but I’ll guess we’ll have to see ..

Sigma APO 200 - 500 mm F2.8 lens

PMA 2007: Sigma has today announced one massive beast of a lens; the APO 200 - 500 mm F2.8 EX DG. This lens is stated by Sigma as being the worlds first Ultra-Telephoto Zoom Lens that offers an impressively fast F2.8 maximum aperture through its range. The lens also features and LCD panel with a readout of focal length and subject distance. If 500 mm isn’t enough reach a dedicated 2x Tele Converter is supplied with the lens as standard and changes it into a 400 - 1000 mm F5.6. Combine that with a typical APS-size 1.5x FOV crop on a digital SLR and you’ve got either 300 - 750 mm F2.8 or a 600 - 1500 mm F5.6 (better have a good tripod). No news on price, availability or weight yet.

Canon EOS-1D Mark III, 10 mp, 10 fps

February 21st, 2007. Published under Photography Gear. No Comments.

Houston, we have landed. I’ve been hanging onto my Canon 1D MK1 for a while now, and there’s no doubt it’s a great camera. However, for many situations I regularly shoot it, I’m beginning to run into some limitations. Today at the PMA, Canon introduced the 1D MK3, which looks like a KILLER rig. I’m not too excited about the 10 fps; but 10MP, ISO6400, and a huge 3″ LCD with live preview are another story. Now I just need the $4000

Ok folks, I’m officially open for business. Please contact geoff@flatchicken.com for all of your portrait (studio / outdoor / kids / pets); engagement; wedding; sports; landscape; and other photo needs!

Click below for the full story from DPReview.com ..

Canon EOS-1D Mark III, 10 mp, 10 fps

Pre-PMA 2007: Canon has today announced the latest iteration of their EOS-1D digital SLR. The Mark III has a ten megapixel APS-H (1.3x FOV crop) CMOS sensor and can shoot at ten frames per second. It features the updated DIGIC III image processor, a new 19 area Auto Focus system, up to ISO 6400 and a 3.0″ LCD monitor (with a live view feature). The Mark III should ship in April for US$ 3999.

Update: Engadget has posted a hands-on from the PMA