Photography Bay

Digital Camera News, Reviews and Tips

Canon Dust Delete and Mapping for Video Files

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Canon has a Dust Delete Data process in its recent EOS DSLRs.  Essentially, this process records where the sensor dust is located on your camera’s image sensor and appends that information to each image file.  This file appendage is then interpreted by Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software and applied to the imported images in order to automatically remove dust spots from your images.  Canon says this is for RAW and JPEG images only – not H.264 video files.

The recent surge in video recording capabilities for DSLRs like the Canon 5D Mark II, Rebel T1i and Canon 7D have made it apparent that similar technology is needed for video files.  As far as I can determine, this technology is not available in-camera yet.  From my limited knowledge of video post-processing, it is possible to remove dust spots, hot pixels and the like from video files, but it is not an ideal solution and must be done in post-processing.  However, that is something that Canon aims to change. [Read more…]

 

Nikon D300s Videos

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Here’s a few videos that show off the new Nikon D300s and give you a little taste of what you can expect from the video capabilities.

I don’t know that we needed the subtitles on the last one; however, it was nice to see a little more of a home cooked version of video from the D300s. More info about this camera is available on Photography Bay’s Nikon D300s Reviews and Resources.

Panasonic HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100 High-Def Camcorders

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PANASONIC ADDS TWO NEW HD CAMCORDERS TO ITS LINE -WORLD’S FIRST AVCHD MODELS WITH A 3MOS SYSTEM

New High Definition Camcorders Offer Increased Manual Functions for More Creative Use and Intelligent Auto Mode to Make Shooting More Intuitive

Secaucus, NJ (June 18, 2008) – Panasonic today expanded its High Definition (HD) suite of products, with the announcement of two new full-HD camcorders, the HDC-SD100 and HDC-HS100, the world’s first* AVCHD camcorders with a 3MOS system which provides superb video image quality. The HDC-SD100 records to SD Memory Card, and comes packaged with a 8GB SDHC Memory Card as a standard accessory, while the hybrid HDC-HS100 records to both SD Memory Card and to its internal 60 GB* hard drive. Both models include manual functions for the user wanting more precise control over zoom, focus, iris, shutter speed and white balance. The models also include Panasonic’s new Intelligent Auto (iA) mode, an intuitive set of technologies that automatically activate, making video shooting an easy, seamless process. [Read more…]

Samsung NV24 HD Reviews and Resources

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Samsung’s NV24 HD was announced at CES on January 6, 2008. The NV24 HD features an 8.1 megapixel image sensor with an ultra-wide, 24mm Schneider lens and 3.6x optical zoom. The NV24 HD also features Dual Image Stabilization, which combines both Samsung’s improved and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) and Digital Image Stabilization (DIS). When selected, OIS and DIS work simultaneously to help curb shake-induced blur in your photos.

The NV24 HD gives shooters the ability to record video in 720p high-definition at a maximum frame rate of 30fps. Shooters can also take advantage of a movie stabilizer and optical zoom while recording video and with Samsung’s Successive Recording mode, can pause, and then resume filming without having to save the clips as individual files. Additionally, the NV24 HD utilizes H.264 compression, a codec for high definition video that has become an industry standard and iPod compatible. To enjoy the NV24 HD’s high-definition video on an HDTV television, users have to dock the camera into a proprietary Samsung HDMI CEC (Consumer Electronics Control) cradle (sold separately). When the HDMI CEC cradle is connected to a high-definition Samsung digital television, users can navigate the NV24 HD’s menu using their TV’s remote control.

The NV24 HD features face detection autofocus and a special Self Portrait mode. The new Self Portrait mode is a unique functionality that takes the guessing out of taking a self portrait. By utilizing Face Detection technology, the NV24 HD automatically detects the user’s face, adjusts focus and exposure, and will only allow a photo to be taken if the subject is centered in the frame.

Situated on the back of the NV24 HD’s brushed black, stainless steel body is Samsung’s Smart Touch user interface. Smart Touch enables easy navigation of the camera’s comprehensive feature set by simply sliding a finger across the control buttons positioned around the camera’s 2.5″ LCD screen, which will automatically brighten or dim depending on the current lighting situation. For reviewing and sharing images with others, the NV24 HD also features an intuitive Multi-Slide Show. With Mutli-Slide Show, end users can playback their images using five different slide transitions and can also have their images set to scroll to the camera’s preloaded music or their own favorite MP3 files.

Samsung NV24 HD Reviews

Let’s Go Digital

The serious photographer will appreciate the focal range and will perhaps be attracted to the 24mm wide-angle. As for sharpness, the lens center offers superb sharpness, whereas the edges suffer from blur which needs improvement.

PhotographyBLOG

At the point and shoot level there are more reliable alternatives for its price and headline specification. However, the Samsung NV24HD’s more esoteric features – including the funky photo styles, placed right at the fore of its operation – are indeed fun and less run-of-the-mill than many, meaning it feels churlish to bash this model with too large a stick.

Where to Buy

If you’re buying online, I recommend sticking with Amazon, B&H Photo or Adorama. These three vendors are reliable, trustworthy and generally have the best (legitimate) prices.