Cameras

In this day and age, you’re likely to have a hard time walking down the street and not seeing a camera somewhere. If it isn’t held by the shutter-happy tourist in short shorts, it’s the CCTV camera mounted at the entrance of the local subway station. How does one maintain anonymity? Staying in? No! You put on fabulous privacy-protecting glasses under development by Japan’s National Institute of Informatics. The shades are designed to block facial recognition algorithms in use by many of today’s cameras. Eleven near-infrared LEDs block facial features like eyes and nose (though, of course, traditional sunglasses block your eyes as well). The LEDs can’t be seen by human eyes, so you wouldn’t be blinding every person you look at.When seen on camera, the subject emits bright white light from their faces. “By placing light sources mostly near dark parts of the face, we’ve succeeded in canceling face detection characteristics, making face detection fail,” says the invention’s presenter. Not all cameras are sensitive to infrared light, so the inventors are also testing out reflective materials. It may be a silly idea, but what’s interesting is that we’ve come this far to develop solutions like this to protect our privacy. We’ve come to expect to see cameras of all forms in our daily lives. They truly are ubiquitous. (via DigInfo via Engadget)

From Spider Holster: Ingenious Modifications Provide Quick, One-Handed Access for Easy, Safe Lens Swapping. Ithaca, NY (PRWEB) June 19, 2013 - Spider Holster, (http://www.spiderholster.com) a company specializing in unique holster-style camera carrying solutions for photographers, today announced the launch of its newest accessory, the SpiderPro Large Lens Pouch. Designed for the Pro-grade 70-200 mm zoom lenses with the hood attached, the pouch’s unique design provides superb quick-draw accessibility while maintaining optimal lens protection. All purchases will also include the Spider Monkey accessory holster (a retail value of $20.00), which is fully compatible and clips to the pouch exterior. Ideal for photographers that are looking to maintain a hands-free workflow while eliminating the tangle of shoulder bags and neck straps, the SpiderPro Large Lens Pouch includes some ingenious modifications on traditional top-load lens cases. To improve accessibility and enable swapping lenses safely with one hand, the SpiderPro Large Lens Pouch features a water resistant vertical zipper that runs down the middle. Where traditional lens pouches barely allow enough clearance to wrap fingertips around the large diameter of the lens, the expandable mouth of the Spider Holster pouch enables the photographer to comfortably reach all the way in and take a firm grip of the lens at the mid-section. This expandable zipper opening also allows for a much easier insertion of Pro lenses with the hood attached, as the photographer no longer needs to reverse the lens hood or change the lens’s configuration. Included with the Large Lens Pouch is the Spider Monkey accessory holster, which is specially designed to safely clip to the outside of the pouch. The photographer can then expand their carrying options by quickly attaching all Spider Monkey accessory line offerings (light meters, speedlights, battery packs) and future items such as lens pouches, rain covers and more. The SpiderPro Large Lens Pouch also provides a unique solution for the rear lens cap, saving time and hassle when exchanging lenses while keeping the rear lens cap secure while not in use. With a secure Velcro attachment point, the SpiderPro pouch easily hangs from any belt, allowing for rotation when not in use. The modular nature of the solution means photographers can quickly scale the carrying system up and down to meet their gear needs for any shoot. Crafted using both tough Cordura and flexible Neoprene, the pouch also offers flexibility and strength to safely carry and accommodate various lenses. “As our product development is conducted by professional photographers, we are able to envision how carrying solutions will work for wedding and event photographers on the job. It was this insight that led to the initial invention of the Spider Holster, and has informed all of our product development since,” said Shai Eynav, President of Spider Holster. “When our customers came to us with a desire to hang a lens pouch from their Spider Belt, we were determined to better the issues we saw with pouches available at the time, and the result was the SpiderPro Large Lens Pouch.” Features of the Spider Pro Large Lens Pouch include: Expandable pouch opening allowing for quick and safe access to lensesBuilt-in solution for tethering the rear lens cap while changing lensesA removable pouch lid that can fold back and out of the way when quick access is necessary to protect contents from the elementsSpider Monkey accessory holster clipBuilt in features to add Spider Monkey clip and full accessory lineFolds flat for ease of travelAccommodates third party industry standard beltsThe base SpiderPro Large Lens Pouch, which includes a Spider Monkey accessory holster clip, will carry an MSRP of $75.00. The product will be available for purchase at Spider Holster authorized dealers. B&H carries Spider Holster products.

Dumitrana, Romania-based astrophotographer Maximilian Teodorescu recently got his hands on an 1800mm f/12 Maksutov telescope and decided to put it through its paces this past weekend. He decided to test out the imaging quality by using it to photograph the International Space Station passing in front of the moon in broad daylight. The beautiful photograph above is what he ended up capturing. In the past Teodorescu had captured a number of photographs of the ISS’ silhouette passing on front of the Sun or the Moon, but this time the space station was fully illuminated — in fact, it was even more bright than the moon in the background. The Sun was still hanging at around 26 degrees above the horizon at the time. The original, uncropped photograph Teodorescu shot the photograph using a Canon 550D looking through the telescope. It was an ISO 800 image with a shutter speed of 1/1250s. Spaceweather writes that the ISS passes in front of the face of the moon for just “a fraction of a second” (around 0.6 seconds) as it orbits our planet at 17,000 miles per hour. Teodorescu looked up exact transit times using CalSky and then used his reflexes to nail the shot. After seeing the photograph being shared online, actor George Takei, best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu in Star Trek, commented on Facebook: “My goodness, from this angle it looks like a certain starship I once flew.” You can find a larger version of this photograph over on Teodorescu’s blog. (via Spaceweather via Imaging Resource) Image credits: ISS photograph by Maximilian Teodorescu and used with permission. Enterprise image courtesy of the National Air and Space Museum

B&H has the Domke Rolling Propack 217 camera bag for $84.99 (reg. $199.99) now through June 30. Check it out here at B&H Photo. Copyright/DMCA Notice: The RSS entry was originally published on Photography Bay and is protected by copyright laws. It is unlawful to (a) edit, modify, alter, or create derivative works of the text, content or links supplied by Photography Bay, (b) use any robot, spider, scraper, other device or manual process to monitor or copy any content from the Photography Bay RSS feed, (c) sell, retransmit or commercially exploit the Photography Bay RSS feed, headlines or content in any manner except as expressly permitted in writing by authorized representatives of Photography Bay, (d) incorporate advertising into or the placement of advertising associated with or targeted towards the Photography Bay RSS feed or (e) use the Photography Bay RSS feed for any unlawful purpose or in violation of the rights of others. RSSID#794326 Related posts: Think Tank Photo Airport TakeOff Rolling Camera Backpack iPhone Camera Rolling Shutter from Inside Guitar Think Tank Photo Announces Logistics Manager Rolling Photo Gear Case

foliopic users can now integrate Akismet spam protection to help combat spam on their website.

The Samsung NX300 compact system camera appears to be a very promising entry in the mirrorless market. In fact, with this model, Samsung is serving notice to the old-school camera makers that they're in the market to stay, and a force to be reckoned with. The extensive testing, vetting and double-checking that we do for our reviews often results in a rather exhaustive review process, sometimes making it a long time between our receipt of a camera and the posting of the final review. Moving forward, we'd like to take you along... (read more)

From AdoramaPix: After 13 years of photographing weddings, Libby of Studio 32 Photography is finally retiring. She's seen it all from ecstatic couples to stiff couples, from rainy days to bright days. In all of her weddings, there were 5 key strategy points which alleviated a lot of the stress and confusion between the bridal couple and the photographer. Join her as she shares with you the 5 steps to better communication and pictures. Date: Wednesday, June 26Time: 9:00pm EST Register here.

Canon USA has issued a product advisory for the Canon 1D X and 1D C cameras due to wear caused by insufficient lubrication. The wear can result in AF failures and blurry images in the viewfinder. Read the full product advisory from Canon below. Thank you for using Canon products. This notice is to proactively inform our customers of the details of the phenomena described below along with Canon’s support actions. Because we value the trust our customers have placed in us, we are dedicated to continuously improving product quality and delivering industry-leading service and support. We offer our sincerest apologies to any customer who may be inconvenienced. Affected Products EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera EOS-1D C Cinema EOS Camera Phenomena In some units of the models listed below, there is a possibility that the following phenomena may occur due to wear caused by insufficient lubrication within the camera’s driving mechanism. 1. AF searches but does not lock in on the subject. (Caused by minute particles produced by wear mentioned above.) 2. The image shown in the viewfinder is “blurry” or “not steady”. (Occurs if wear progresses.) Potentially Affected Products 1. EOS-1D X: If the sixth digit of the serial number is “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “5”, “6” or “7”, the phenomena described above may occur. 2. EOS-1D C: If the sixth digit of the serial number is “1”, the phenomena described above may occur. NOTE: If the camera’s battery compartment contains one of the markings illustrated below, the camera is NOT affected by the phenomena described above even if the sixth digit of the serial number is one of the numbers mentioned above.     Markings of UNAFFECTED cameras An “A” mark A black mark on the silver bracket Support Potentially affected cameras will be inspected and repaired free of charge. If you own one of the potentially affected cameras please contact our Customer Support Center. This information is for residents of the United States and Puerto Rico only. If you do not reside in the USA or Puerto Rico, please contact the Canon Customer Support Center in your region. Please register the EOS-1D X and the EOS-1D C. By registering, we will be able to notify you via email when service updates are available. Thank you, Customer Support Operations Canon U.S.A., Inc Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera Contact Information for Inquiries Canon Customer Support Center Phone: 1-800-OK-CANON 1-800-652-2666 TDD: 1-866-251-3752 Email: carecenter@cits.canon.com For additional support options: www.usa.canon.com/support Canon EOS-1D C Cinema EOS Camera Contact Information for Inquiries Canon Customer Support Center Phone: 1-855-CINE-EOS (toll free) 1-855-246-3367 TDD: 1-866-251-3752 Email: CinemaEOS@cits.canon.com For additional support options: pro.usa.canon.com/support Copyright/DMCA Notice: The RSS entry was originally published on Photography Bay and is protected by copyright laws. It is unlawful to (a) edit, modify, alter, or create derivative works of the text, content or links supplied by Photography Bay, (b) use any robot, spider, scraper, other device or manual process to monitor or copy any content from the Photography Bay RSS feed, (c) sell, retransmit or commercially exploit the Photography Bay RSS feed, headlines or content in any manner except as expressly permitted in writing by authorized representatives of Photography Bay, (d) incorporate advertising into or the placement of advertising associated with or targeted towards the Photography Bay RSS feed or (e) use the Photography Bay RSS feed for any unlawful purpose or in violation of the rights of others. RSSID#794326 Related posts: Canon Rebel T4i Product Advisory Warns of Defective Rubber Grips Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM AF Problem – Product Advisory Canon Rebel T4i Product Advisory – EXIF Errors

From Adobe: Creative Cloud Subscriptions Hit 700 Thousand; Adobe Marketing Cloud Bookings Grow Over 25 Percent SAN JOSE, Calif. — June 18, 2013 — Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today reported financial results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2013 ended May 31, 2013. Second Quarter Financial HighlightsAdobe® achieved revenue of $1.011 billion, within its targeted range of $975 million to $1.025 billion.Diluted earnings per share were $0.15 on a GAAP-basis, and $0.36 on a non-GAAP basis.Operating income was $111.3 million and net income was $76.5 million on a GAAP basis. Operating income was $247.3 million and net income was $182.9 million on a non-GAAP basis.Adobe ended Q2 with 700 thousand paid Creative Cloud™ subscriptions, an increase of 221 thousand when compared to the number of subscriptions as of the end of Q1 fiscal year 2013.Adobe Marketing Cloud quarterly revenue was $229.6 million, with bookings growth of greater than 25 percent.A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP results is provided at the end of this press release. Executive Quotes“Our Q2 results reflect our leadership position in Digital Media and Digital Marketing,” said Shantanu Narayen, president and chief executive officer, Adobe. “Creative Cloud is revolutionizing the creative process, and Adobe Marketing Cloud is quickly becoming the platform of choice for the world's leading brands, advertising agencies and media companies.” “Adoption of Creative Cloud continued to accelerate and we drove strong Adobe Marketing Cloud bookings growth in Q2,” said Mark Garrett, executive vice president and chief financial officer, Adobe. Adobe to Webcast Earnings Conference CallAdobe will webcast its second quarter fiscal year 2013 earnings conference call today at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time from its investor relations website: www.adobe.com/ADBE. A copy of Adobe management’s prepared remarks, including financial targets and conference call slides, has been posted to Adobe’s investor relations website in advance of the conference call for reference. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP financial targets is also provided on the website. Forward-Looking Statements DisclosureThis press release contains forward-looking statements, including those related to the transition of our business as we migrate to a subscription model, adoption of Creative Cloud and growth in revenue and bookings for Adobe Marketing Cloud solutions in our Digital Marketing business, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: failure to develop, market and distribute products and services that meet customer requirements, introduction of new products and business models by competitors, failure to successfully manage transitions to new business models and markets, including our increased emphasis on a cloud and subscription strategy, fluctuations in subscription renewal or upgrade rates, continued uncertainty in economic conditions and the financial markets, difficulty in predicting revenue from new businesses and the potential impact on our financial results from changes in our business models, and failure to realize the anticipated benefits of past or future acquisitions. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, please refer to Adobe’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2012, and Adobe’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q issued in fiscal year 2013. The financial information set forth in this press release reflects estimates based on information available at this time. These amounts could differ from actual reported amounts stated in Adobe’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for our quarter ended May 31, 2013, which Adobe expects to file in June 2013. Adobe assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update these forward-looking statements. Financial DocumentsCondensed Consolidated Statements of Income (PD

The Wi-Fi Alliance is finally kicking off a certification program for routers, adapters, and other wireless networking gear based on the IEEE 802.11ac draft standard. The organization has a strong track record when it comes to ensuring that networking products will be interoperable even when the standards they’re based on have yet to be finalized, so this is a positive development. As it did with the 802.11n wireless networking standard, the IEEE is taking its sweet time to ratify the 802.11ac standard. In fact, the responsible working group isn’t expected to finish its work until November, and final ratification isn’t expected until February 2014. That lengthy timeline hasn’t stopped manufacturers from shipping 802.11ac gear, of course; products based on the draft standard have been on store shelves since August 2012. But buyers haven’t had any assurances that those products will work together. The 802.11ac-based Asus RT-AC66U is one of the fastest routers we've ever tested. So why is the certification program launching now? “We want to ensure that the standard is substantially mature,” said Wi-Fi Alliance senior marketing manager Kevin Robinson in an embargoed interview last week. “There is work that we have to go through to ensure interoperability, and [we’re] fielding a test bed to certify that.” The Wi-Fi Alliance launched a similar certification program back in 2007 for networking equipment based on the draft 802.11n standard. Unlike that effort, however, the 802.11ac certification program will not acknowledge the standard’s draft status and is being described as simply “Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ ac.” To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here