Canon have just launched another one of their specialist astophotography cameras providing “a modified infrared filter and a low-noise sensor with heightened hydrogen-alpha sensitivity”. Given that this isn’t the first astro camera that Canon have launched there must be a market for it I guess! It’s pretty cool that they would make such a specialist product though.
If this is your thing then B&H have the camera ready for pre-order already.
Nikon has unveiled the new D800 today which features a 36MP full frame sensor along with all of the video function improvements we saw on the previously announced D4. In an interesting twist, Nikon will also be offering a D800E which is identical except for the omission of the anti-aliasing filter. This should provide increased sharpness in that variation, but at the expense of possible aliasing on patterned subjects. With the enormous processing power needed to deal with a 36MP image it comes as no surprise that the D800 is capable of a lower fps burst than it’s predecessor. 4fps in FX mode and 6fps in DX mode. It’s somewhat puzzling to see that they have also opted to go for two different flash card mediums and notably excluded the XQD format that was introduced in the D4. A photographer who purchases a D4 and a D800 as a backup will have to carry three types of cards and readers with them!
Getting around the deficient audio in DSLR video production is always a tricky problem for one reason or another. There are several ways to do it , depending on which camera you are using but it also depends on whether you want to shoot separate audio tracks and sync in post using Plural Eyes , or whether you want to record straight into the video track on camera. The latter route will never be as high quality but sometimes you just don’t have time for the extra step in post of syncing and managing the audio files. Of course the first step to better audio is just to use better microphones and those all have XLR outputs on them so you need a way of connecting XLR’s to your camera. A popular solution has been the ZOOM H4N and it’s been good at that price point though it was never really designed for this use. The H4N is several years old now, predating the so-called DSLR revolution in fact, and was designed to record music, both live and at line level through 1/4″ plugs from guitars. One of the problems with it is the sensitivity of the 1/4″ line in signal is not at a typical line in level so inline pads are required as well as xlr-1/4″ TRS conversion of you want to record a line level signal and bypass the pre amps in the H4N. For me, no line level XLR input on the H4N is a big shortcoming for the flexibility of it’s usage.
The Tascam DR-100 was also used by quite a few people instead of the H4N but the original version also lacked the line level input that I would like to see. Tascam has just recently started to ship two new recorders though that BOTH feature mic and line level XLR inputs. The updated MKII version of the DR-100 and the brand new DR-40 which now takes over from the H4N as the most affordable XLR recorder on the market at around $200. Let’s take a look at their main features:
Samson’s audio products have cropped up a few times on my site and for good reason, they represent good value for money. I reviewed the Zoom H1 recently and found the sound quality to be very good but the $99 price tag left the build quality a little to be desired. The Zoom H4N has been mentioned several times as well and has become a somewhat ubiquitous accessory for DSLR budget film making with it’s 4 channel control. Samson have today updated their H2 model to a new H2N which looks to be a great middle lineup addition. Priced at $199 and set to go on sale in September it seems as though this would stand up to a little more wear ad tear than the budget H1. The H2N has a confusing array of 5 on-board microphones and many modes to implement them. Probably best to watch the video below to understand a little more!
Browsing some websites and forums this morning I noticed a lot of discussion about the new Canon 60D and how it compares with the 7D. I can understand this, at first glance it might seem like the 60D has made the 7D somewhat obsolete but that really is not the case. A closer look at the specs reveals a camera that more carefully fits into the “advanced amateur” category than previous XXD line cameras because of course the 7D did not exist when the 50D was released. The camera that is best for you will depend partly on your budget (there is a $400 price difference) but also partly on your intended shooting medium. Video or photos ? This question is a new one that has to be considered with all of today’s cameras, as if we needed more right?! Many potential buyers will want to shoot both but I would wager most have a preference for one or the other. There is also the consideration that these days there are plenty of film makers who are looking to add HDSLRs to their shooting and often they do not care for the photo features. UPDATE: B&H has the 60D in stock right now while they last!! Continue reading »
If you have taken more than a passing interest into the video capabilities of your DSLR camera then you will probably have thought about getting some sort of viewfinder for the LCD screen. With the DSLR cameras lacking the ergonomics of traditional video camera design, such viewfinders are probably the most useful accessory to aid video shooting. Not only do they permit easier manual focusing with a clear view of the screen, but they also add stability to hand held shooting with an extra point of contact to your body. Continue reading »
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