Instagram 2.1, which launched at the end of last week, has fixed up the frankly horrible interface of v2.0, and added in some significant new features. Other things — like the proliferation of scantily-clad ladies and (normally-clad) pets in the “popular” section — remain just the same.
Best Buy Predicts 42-Inch “Apple HDTV” In Customer Survey
A rumored Apple television set has received just as much — if not more — attention than the company’s upcoming iPhone 5 in recent months, but the questions we’ve all been asking about its specifications have been answered… by Best Buy.
The retailer has been issuing surveys to its customers to obtain feedback on potential new products and services, but many were surprised to find details on a 42-inch “Apple HDTV,” which will apparently be available for $1,499.
Pentax Unveils Compact K-01 Mirrorless Camera
Pentax just announced a new interchangeable lens digital camera, the K-01. Like a lot of mirrorless cameras these days, the idea is to create something smaller than a DSLR, without sacrificing image quality or the flexibility to swap lenses when you need to.
The Next iPod Nano Will Probably Let You Snap Pictures [Report]
Apple did nothing towards changing the design of the iPod nano last September, but it could have something special up its sleeve for this year’s refresh. A series of images that have surfaced in Taiwan revived rumors the next device will feature a 1.3-megapixel camera, allowing you to snap impromptu photos while you’re on your morning run.
The Most Talked-About Gadget at CES Was Probably This Ultra-Cool Fuji Camera [CES 2012]
My colleagues here at Cult of Mac, PR reps completely unrelated to Fuji or anything photographic, random showgoers whose snippets of conversation I intercepted — everyone seemed to be talking about it. Even the very air at CES seemed to be pulsating with the word “Fuji.” Of course, they were all talking about the enigmatic, neo-retro Fuji X-Pro1.
MiVue’s iPhone POV Mounting System Attempts To Replace The Need For a GoPro [CES 2012]
LAS VEGAS, CES 2012 — I hate having three different cameras to address various situations in life – iPhone for when I’m lazy, DSLR when I want to pretend I know how to take pretty pictures, and a GoPro for when I’m doing something adventurous. Thankfully it looks like I’m going to be able to discard at least one of those cameras from my bag now that the MiVue is in existence.
We Get Hands-On With The New Nikon Flagship D-SLR, The D4 [CES 2012]
LAS VEGAS, CES 2012 – At CES last year, Nikon booth-guy Lindsay wasn’t subdued, but he definitely wasn’t as rambunctious as he was tonight when I got him talking about the new D4. Let me tell you, this guy really loves the D4. I’m a fan too though, so it was fun getting him to walk us through some of the camera’s new features.
This Is It, We’re Going In…CES 2012 Preview Wrapup [CES 2012]
The behemoth Consumer Electronics Show is upon us. By tomorrow, press-only showcases will already begin revealing this coming year’s tech magic (the show floor opens for everyone else on Tuesday).
We’ve been drawing aside the curtain as much as we were able in the form of previews throughout this past week. For those who missed them — and for the rest who want a quick recap as we plunge into the show — here’re the big highlights going in.
iPad 3 May Be Getting The iPhone 4S’s Cameras + FaceTime HD, But Won’t Be Total Redesign [Rumor]
What do we know about the iPad 3? It seems almost definite at this point that it will be slightly thicker than its predecessor, feature an A6 chip and a Retina Display when it is released in late March or April, but if iLounge‘s Jeremy Horwitz’s Twitter account is anything to go on, it might also be packing much better cameras.
CES 2012 Preview: Exciting New Pro DSLRs and Mirrorless Cameras, Same Boring Point-And-Shoots
I’m wearing a big shimmering wrap on my head with a jewel in the middle. There’s incense going, and I’m now ready to make these CES 2012 camera predictions: new pro DSLRs from Nikon and (possibly) Canon will reign supreme; it will be another good year for small mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras, like the new Nikon 1; and in-point-and-shoots, I see more of the same blah.
I also see this year’s PMA show (Photo Marketing Association) being combined into CES, bringing with it imaging accessories galore — but that’s not a prediction — it’s on PMA’s website.
CES 2012 Preview: Expect New Full Frame Flagship Pro DSLR Cameras From Nikon
Nikon fans, rejoice! Word on the street says the Nikon mothership is going to announce a new flagship professional-grade FX (full frame) DSLR camera, possibly two, at its Thailand headquarters during their January 6th “The Image You Are Waiting For” press event. And if the rumors are true, you can bet Nikon is going to be showing off their new baby on the floors of CES, and we’ll be there to cover it.
Nice iPhone – Would You Like A Camera With That? [Concept Apple Stuff]
This is/will be/will never be the iCam, an un-product from the mind of Antonio De Rosa that combines a sleek future maybe-iPhone and a chunky interchangeable lens camera system.
The Avengers Was Partially Shot Using An iPhone! [Video]
On May 4th 2012, Marvel is scheduled to culminate its last four years of superhero movies with The Avengers, the Joss Whedon helmed ensemble super hero movie starring Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Chris Helmsworth as Thor and Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow.
But did you know that parts of The Avengers were shot on an iPhone? Yup. Apple Fans Assemble!
Weird Focus-Later Digital Camera Goes On Pre-order, But Only Works With Macs For Now
This is the Lytro, a bizarre and radical new concept in digital photography that lets you snap an image now, and worry about focusing it later.
Pre-orders just opened today, and you can grab one for as little as $399 (I’ll take two!). But before you click the order button, make sure you have a Mac – because Lytro doesn’t work with Windows computers yet.
Nikon Announces Mirrorless Nikon 1 Cameras
Nikon just announced a new range of mirrorless compact cameras under the name “1“.
Panasonic’s Lumix G3 Is A Micro Four Thirds That Focuses Like An iPhone
Looking for a new camera with the look and power of a DSLR, but in a smaller digicam footprint? You might want to check out Panasonic’s new Lumix G3 Micro Four Thirds.
Crazy New Rumor Says iPod Nano Will Dump The Sports Clip For 1.3MP Cam
Supposedly, what you see on the left here is the new iPod Nano, complete with 1.3 megapixel camera and with the clip removed. Consider us skeptical that Apple would ditch the Nano’s sports cred for anything as utterly superfluous as camming yet another camera into people’s pockets.
Casio Unveils The Sexiest-Looking Camera We Think We’ve Ever Seen [CES 2011]
LAS VEGAS, CES 2011 — The TRYX could have been designed by Jonny Ive’s evil twin brother: It’s charismatic and completely striking — but in a dark, angular way. I really couldn’t believe my jaw was dropping over a camera’s looks when I first saw it up close, but that’s exactly what happened. The TRYX’s form factor also has one really cool trick up it’s sleeve: the rim of the case swivels around and turns the whole thing into a sort-of tripod. It’s very slick, and it feels and looks satisfyingly well-designed.
Casio has made sure to back up the good looks with substance, and absolutely stuffed the 12-megapixel point-n-shoot with equally stunning performance too: Ultra-wide angle 21mm lens; HDR; touch-screen controls; the ability to capture seamless, 360-degree panoramic images with a single sweep; some sort of high-speed zoom system (which we didn’t get to try out); even a self-timer that’s motion-activated; and arguably the most impressive function: the ability to capture slow-motion video at 240 frames per second.
It’s coming in April, and it’s yours for $250. Press release with full specs here.
Canon Announces PowerShot G12 with 720p HD Video and HDR
Canon has just updated their excellent PowerShot G-Series of pro-level point and shoots, and while the new G12 doesn’t offer too much that is new over its predecessor, it’s still an easy camera to recommend to the amateur photographer looking for a bridge camera to an eventual SLR.
The G12 is now Canon’s top-of-the-line point and shoot, boasting a 10MP CCD (a wise choice given that sensor’s size: anything more than 10MP is just inviting graininess), lots of manual dials for exposure and ISO control, a swiveling 2.8-inch LCD display, image stabilization and a bright f2.8-4.5 lens capable of 5x zoom.
In these respects, the G12 is identical to the G11, but new to the feature set is the ability to record high-definition 720p video, as well as stitch together three different exposures for HDR photos, just like the iPhone 4 under iOS 4.1 can do.
Like the G11 before it, expect the G12 to cost $499 when it launches in October. If you’re a casual photographer looking to get more serious about the hobby, I can heartily recommend the G12: two generations ago, the PowerShot G10 was the camera that first awakened my own interest in more seriously pursuing photography, and I’ve loved this entire product line ever since.
The Phone-O-Matic: An iPhone, an SLR lens and some duct tape
Through a glass viewed darkly, if not even muculently: the iPhone camera stinks.
To be fair, that’s not entirely Apple’s fault. While there are certainly better camera sensors out there than the one Apple chose to install as the retina in their little iBall, there’s a clear correlation between sensor size and image quality when it comes to digital cameras, and you can only make a cell phone’s sensor so big.
Nothing to be done about the sensor then. But like a fly hovering over hamburger, gadget tinkerer Bhautik Joshi had a seemingly stupid question buzzing around in his brain meats: can you improve the quality of the images the iPhone takes by attaching an old Canon SLR lens?