Amateur Photographer

Most people who know me personally are sure that because I’m a technology freak, I’m going to jump on the 3D bandwagon as soon as possible. I’m not, and as a matter of fact, I heven’t really kept up on the topic.

Right now, due to movies, 3D is still an event. Watching a large screen in 3D is a kick, but Personally I wouldn’t want to put on special glasses for every movie out there. It’s OK on occasion.

I can see why the big multi-produict companies  such as Sony, Panasonic and Samsung are pushing the technology. They can leverage their other tangible assets (cameras, camcorders, game consoles, blu-ray) tp get more 3D TVs into the home, but there are problems.

• First, those glasses. Do my friends want to wear them to watch my TV, and how many of them will I have to buy?
• Second – In a movie theater, seating is setup optimally so that everyone is more or less sitting directly in front of the screen. Here at home I have seating for six (nine if I really need to crowd them in), but only three would be in direct line of site to the TV. What is 3D going to look like  for those that have to sit to the side of the TV (assuming I could afford nine pairs of glasses)?
• Third – Programming. Right now you have mainly blu-ray movies and Sony PS3 Games. I’m sure gamin would be great in 3D. If 3D takes off, TV sports would be early adopters, but in reality, how much will 3D add to regular series television?
• Shoot Now – Watch Later

The photo on the left is either a 3D conversion lens attached to a Panasonic TM700, or a new 3D consumer camcorder. We’ll know for sure on July 28th. I would love to shoot 3D photos and video, and I could go out now and buy the equipment I need.

Even without a 3D TV, My personal 3D material could still be viewed in 2D, so compatibility isn’t an issue. However, I don’t want to spend money on a technology that may or may not become popular with the public.

Heck, most of my friends still don’t own an HDTV yet, but at least HDTV is a normal extension of the old TV. You can buy an HDTV to replace your old system, turn it on and it doesn’t change how you watch TV; it’s just better than before. However, current 3D technology places restrictions on the viewing habits of consumers with its requirements. Why pay more money for a technology that can’t be shared by visitors to my home?

If you’re an enthusiast photographer/videographer, you probably own an upper level “consumer DSLR or Video Camera: Nikon D90, Canon 50D, Sony CX550, Panasonic TM700, etc. No matter what you own at this level, you have to deal with some sort of menu system that replaces dedicated buttons found on higher-end models. Before you go on a shoot, it is relatively easy to sit at home and customize any camera for the type of shooting you do, but how easy is it to make quick adjustments when you you are on a shoot?

DSLR

By a good margin, my favorite “quick adjustment System” for a DSLR in the field was my Olympus E410. The shot above is the “advanced” adjustment screen, but you can use a simpler screen  that has basic settings.

Using the system is very easy. You make selections using the directional buttons on the back of the camera, and then either press the OK button to go to a deeper menu, or for very fast adjustments you turn the main control dial to change settings. Once I got used to this system, I loved it, and it was very quick to use. In contrast, adjusting my Nikon D90 is not as quick, because it is harder to see (and sometimes remember) what the icons on the display mean. The Nikon adjustment features are good, just not as quick to use as the Olympus system.

In contrast, the worst system on a shoot is my Olympus C-8080 Compact Camera. I’ve mentioned before that it takes great pictures, but it by far has the most confusing and non-intuitive  button layout and menu system of any camera (still or video) that I own.

VIDEO

I really haven’t found a menu system on a upper level video camera that has easy adjustment in the field. What amazes me is that most of the upper level cameras don’t include a dedicated button for the most important feature when shooting: exposure lock and compensation. Unlike a DSLR (most have dedicated exposure lock and compensation buttons anyway), the feature is a must-have on a camcorder, even if you are shooting static scenes. If someone walks into a static shot, you don’t want your exposure to change if they cross in front of a light source. When doing crane, dolly, or panning shots, it’s important that exposure stay locked.

I mentioned in my Panasonic TM700 post last week, that my Sony HC1 has an exposure lock button, with a compensation lever next to it. Every upper level consumer video camera should have this feature.

Of course, most video cameras allow locking exposure if  you go into the menu system. On my Canon HF10 this may require anywhere from 2-4 clicks of the joystick, which is ridiculous for such an important feature. My TM700 is a little better. requiring two taps on the touchscreen, but this does require that you use the LCD screen, which is a hassle if you’re trying to setup a shot with the EVF. However, the large control ring is good, and I’m liking it more as I get familiar with the camera.

Tags: dslr, menu system, Photography, Video

This promo also has actual sound recorded by the on-camera microphone system. The video below is in HD. You may wqnt to pause and let it fully load before playing

Tags: camcorder, demo, hd, nex-vg10, preview, promo, Sony, Video, Videography

In 2005, Sony revolutionized the consumer camcorder market with the introduction of the HC1. The HC1 shot HD video in the HDV MPEG-2 format, and although priced at $2000 was a huge success. Sony quickly followed with the smaller HC3, and then Canon released their HV10, and later the beloved HV20 and 30 models.

Today, Sony announced the world’s first interchangeable lens consumer camcorder, the NEX-VG10, based on their new NEX mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras, which currently consist of the NEX-3 and NEX-5.

Similar to the Micro 4/3 system, the NEX mirrorless system allows for smaller lenses and bodies, but with a larger sensor than any normal compact-size camera. Put in perspective, the sensor on the NEX-VG10 is twenty times larger than the sensor on most consumer camcorders. The sensor is also larger than Micro 4/3 and offers of 1.5x crop factor, compared the the 2X factor of Micro 4/3. The larger sensor should increase dynamic range and allow for better depth of field effects for those who like to pull focus. Currently the NEX series consists of three lenses: 18-55 (kit lens for the NEX still cameras), 16mm prime, and the 18-200 kit lens for the VG10. These are E-Mount lenses, and with an adapter the camcorder can also use the larger A-mount lenses of the Sony Alpha DSLR system.

Sound

Finally, a manufacturer has addressed the awful audio quality of consumer camcorders. The VG10 has a four element stereo microphone system specifically geared to gather more focused sound, placed above the camera along with the EVF, and it looks like you can use a windscreen/deadcat. In addition the camcorder offers a microphone jack.

Buttons – Photo Features – Other Stuff

I’ve never seen so many dedicated buttons on a consumer level camcorder. The less one has to go into the menu sytem, the better.

For photos the VG10 will shoot 14 megapixel stills, and should offer the same picture quality of the NEX-3 and 5 cameras. There is an Auto HDR feature and burst mode, but there isn’t a lot of information right now on how extensive the photo features are, compared to the NEX-3 and 5.

There’s also a hot and cold shoe. The hot shoe is probably Sony Proprietary, but the cold shoe should be standard size.

Sony has chosen to strictly adhere to the AVCHD format, and the camera shoots in 1080i, with a 24mbps rate. You’ll find no progressive modes at all, which for me is the one disappointing omission of the camcorder.

Thoughts

Will consumers be attracted to an interchangeable lens camcorder? If the success of the micro 4/3 cameras are any indication, than I certainly think so. The much larger sensor, 24mbps framerate, very useful 27-300mm kit lens (in 35mm terms) , coupled with a good onboard microphone makes this a most compelling system. It should be a great hit with enthusiasts and low-end indies, as well as an excellent B-Cam for others.  I have no doubt that Sony will follow this model with a more traditional consumer camcorder with less buttons and in-body microphones, but I think interchangeable lens models in the consumer camcorder market are here to stay. I think the VG10 is priced exactly right, and certainly offers more features than 2005’s HC1.

It will be interesting to see if Panasonic responds with a consumer camcorder in micro 4/3 format. They’ve already announced a $6000 pro micro 4/3 model. It’s possible we could see a consumer micro 4/3 camcorder as part of Panasonic’s 2011 model lineup next spring.

Whjle Panasonic can compete with Sony in this new consumer market, right now Canon and JVC are left out. JVC doesn’t have a digital camera division, but it would be possible for them to adopt one of the mirrorless formats from Sony, Panasonic/Olympus, or Samsung. Canon, of course, would not adopt another format, and while they are the leader in DSLR video at the moment, so far there aren’t any hints that they are developing their own mirrorless format.

Sony has now redefined the “prosumer camcorder market with the VG10. I know I’ll be keeping a close eye on how the camcorder rates in tests, and how it affects Sony’s competitors.

Tags: camcorder, canon, hd, jvc, mirrorless, nex, panasonic, Sony, vg10, Video, Videography

I purchased my Nikon D90 the first week it was released in 2008. The camera was a big improvement over my Nikon D70s, and almost two years later the D90 is still a top seller, and for good reasons.

My favorite upgrade from my D70s is the great high ISO performance you can squeeze out of the D90. With the D70s, I rarely shot at ISO 800, but I’ve used ISO 1600 quite a bit on the D90, with impressive results. The VR kit lens is also a cut above most kit lenses and offers a nice 18-105mm focal range. Skin tones look good, and landscape shots have a much punchier look than the older model.  There is also much more control over color and tone, with an improved menu system.

Honestly, I probably wouldn’t be thinking about upgrading to the replacement model, but the DSLR landscape has changed dramatically since 2008, a change made possible by the inclusion of a Video mode in the D90.

In other posts on this blog I’ve bemoaned the rather poor look of video from the D90, and it’s very awkward control. Truthfully, if I didn’t already own 6 lenses for my Nikon cams, I would have switched to the Canon 5D MKII, just for its video feature.

In the case of the D90 replacement, there’s not a whole lot Nikon can do to improve the model within the market the camera is aimed. There will be the inevitable megapixel increase, even better ISO performance, and maybe a slight frame rate increase, as well as a flip-up LCD screen. I can’t believe Nikon is going to let Canon and Panasonic eat their lunch in video performance, so I’m hoping the new model finally does video right.

Video on a DSLR may not be an important feature for most photographers, but even with the great footage I shot with my Panasonic TM700 camcorder on my recent trip, I really wished I could have used the wide lenses that I have for my D90.

IF Nikon doesn’t come through with a compelling replacement for the D90, there’s always The replacement for the Panasonic Lumix GH1. Panasonic has said that one of the main upgrades for the GH2 will be improved video performance, which was already decent on the GH1.

Having stated above that I wouldn’t upgrade to the Canon because I didn’t want to switch systems, why would I make the Panasonic in addition to my Nikon system?

Up until last March I did own two systems with my Olympus E410 and two kit lenses. I sold it to my brother who gave it to my nephew for his birthday.

The Lumix Micro 4/3 system cameras are getting good reviews,  The cameras and lenses are smaller than those for the Nikon and Canon DSLRs, but I can also purchase adapters that will le t me use some Nikon lenses, or borrow the lenses for my Olympus E410. I can even purchase a lens that is wider than my Sigma 10-20mm so I can get those epic shots when I need them.

The new Nikon and Panasonic models should be released within the next three months. I’ll be following reviews and checking out as much sample video footage as I can. I’m not in a hurry to upgrade or invest in another system, so if either new model isn’t compelling enough in video performance I won’t mind waiting until even better models are released in a couple of years.

Tags: d90, dslr, gh1, gh2, lumix, Nikon, panasonic, Photography, Videography