flatchicken.com

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]

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.

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.

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 ..

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

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!

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):

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.