Camera Blog

So we’ve all seen the new Nikon D3s, and we all agree that it’s the best PJ camera body out there. Right? Right.

Nikon's newest PJ tool

Insane ISO levels, 9fps, top-of-the-line autofocus, and all of the other features that we’ve come to expect for a high-end professional body. There are already thousands of whiny camera enthusiasts complaining about the lack of 1080p video who don’t understand that they’re largely mistaken that the 720p MJPEG is “not good enough”, but as usual they don’t realize that the videos that this thing will take in warzones, candid interviews, and on-the-spot news locations will end up as a tiny YouTube-sized stream on the web, and not on CNN’s HD broadcast.

Nikon knows that it can’t compete with Canon in video right now, so they’re sticking to what they know best and by the looks of it they’re doing a hell of a job. The biggest question that this raises is: What will Canon now come out with in response? This is Canon’s opportunity to go all-out with the best crossover still/video camera that they can possibly muster. An XLR input, an option for RAW 1080p or 2K video, full manual controls, and a form factor somewhere between a dSLR and a camcorder.

Now is your chance Canon. Nikon made their game plan pretty clear here and we’re all waiting to see if you have the smarts to match it.  Let’s see you split your professional line into 2 segments: the D3s competitor, and the indie-filmmaker’s dream-come-true.

This is a review of the much-anticipated Sigma DP2 compact camera that was released in May, 2009.

I hope to make it clear in both broad strokes and in great detail why this camera is: revolutionary, a hopeful sign of things to come, a success, and a big steaming pile of compromises.

Please read on for the full review.

Here’s a hint: It’s not the high-def resolution.

This video looks great for 3 reasons:

1. Tripod
2. Slow-motion
3. Manual exposure

If it were a ‘green box’ hand-held shot at 30fps you wouldn’t look twice.  Sure the framing is nice and the subject matter is pretty darned aesthetic, but it’s the extra thought that went into the production that makes this what it is.

Think of it this way: the above video is the equivilent of a well thought out dSLR shot, whereas most of the high-def footage floating around from people’s camcorders is the point-and-shoot type.

The next time you’re out filming your friends and family remember to take your time, frame your shots as if they were still photographs, and put your camera on a tripod.

(Footage is from the new Panasonic GH1)

It was only a matter of time before the video world’s heavy-hitters started to come out with direct responses to RED’s 4k RED ONE (and the upcoming Scarlet and Epic bodies), and JVC seems to be leading the march.