Phantom v1610 cam can shoot up to one million frames per second

For when 24 fps isn’t enough, the Phantom v1610 high speed camera comes along with a mind-blowing frame rate. The v1610 sits at the top of Phantom’s collection of cameras, including models like the Phantom v10 and Phantom HD Gold (which was used to film the fantastic CupCake Cannon video). When set to 1M fps, however, the video resolution will be cut to an eye-popping 128×16.

A 128×16 seems a bit impractical. If you’re setting up a movie theater for ants and similarly sized creatures, then that resolution would be ideal. At a full resolution of 1280×800, the v1610 can shoot 16,000 fps. That’s more than enough frames for a super slow video, and it the size won’t require squinting.

The v1610 has three options for high-speed internal RAM: 24, 48, and 96GB. When set to 96GB, shooting at full speed and full resolution will yield a 4.19 second clip. Shooting a full length movie at that rate will take a great deal of time, but the video would be beautiful.

Nikonians rejoice, the Nikon-F mount is the standard lens mount for the v1610. There is an option for the Canon EOS mount, PL-mount, and C-mount. Unfortunately, a lens is not included.

The camera looks like a miniature version of the one-man submarine used in deep see exploration. Of course, it’s a mighty powerful pseudo-submarine camera.

What would you record at 1,000,000 fps?

See more at Vision Research, via Wired

Rollei to offer 3D digital camera

Do you love how stereoscopic 3D technology has changed the way the consumer electronics scene worked this year? Perhaps you’re sick of listening to arguments on which 3D viewing technology is best, and just want to get on with your life, but one thing’s for sure – 3D is here to say, and it isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Rollei too, wants to have a say in the world of stereoscopic 3D, and they are certainly not pulling any stops with their latest digital camera, the Power Flex 3D. Of course, that will be accompanied by a digital picture frame as well that does 3D, bringing a complete feast for your eyes. Rollei’s new 3-D devices are equipped with the special Parallax barrier display technology, which allows you to view 3D images and videos without the need to wear a dorky looking pair of glasses – now how about that?

The new Rollei Power Flex 3D will allow you to produce your own piece of video art, where a couple of simultaneously operating CMOS image sensors will capture 3D images with a maximum resolution of 2592 x 1944 pixels. As for videos, those can be captured for all eternity in brilliant HD quality (not full HD though, so that means you will just have to settle for 720p) that is recorded at 30 frames per second. As for the 2.8-inch LCD display, it boasts a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, letting the images appear in a manner where each of the two viewer’s eyes will see a slightly different image that will then be automatically assembled into a 3D image.

As for the Rollei 7-inch digital picture frame design, it will display 3D images with a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels – not exactly the highest count out there in the market, but at least it is a start. Each purchase will ship with the Blaze Video Magic 3.0 software that will help 2D images transform into 3D images using but a few mouse clicks on the computer. The frame itself comes with a black decorative pattern, making it stand out from the crowd no matter where you place it. The Rollei Design and Power Line 3D Flex 3D will hit the market from the end of next month onwards at €299.95 each, making us wonder whether we will see this puppy at CES 2011 or not.

Samsung NX11 being prepped for release

Samsung is certainly making some headway when it comes to the world of digital cameras, and the NX11 is no exception. After all, the Samsung NX11 holds one of a feature set that is not too different from Samsung’s first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, the NX10, and to add to its advantage, it is compatible with the new i-Function lens which was rolled out to go along with the NX100, also from Samsung. As for the NX11, this puppy will come complete with an 18-55mm i-Function lens, alongside a couple of new i-Function lenses, a 20mm pancake and a 20-50mm zoom silver color lens. Now that’s a pretty strong lineup of lenses for a digital camera that is not from the DSLR stable, which is quite impressive to say the least.

Just what does the i-Function lens offer? It will deliver the perfect picture at the fingertips of all photographers by offering an exceptionally easy method of controlling the camera. For the typical camera user, they will wrap their hand around the lens when holding the camera, but the new i-Function system enables photographers to naturally use their left hand to change the camera’s advanced settings courtesy of a button built into the i-Function lens, all without having to take the camera off the target. For example, you can toggle between shutter speed, aperture, EV, WB, and ISO in a jiffy using the i-Function button or ring on the lens, translating to easier and quicker configurations while shooting.

Apart from that, the NX11 also delivers usability, with a change in the grip design that makes shooting a whole lot easier and more comfortable. With a lens priority mode dial, it will definitely simplify the search for the best mode for each lens. It doesn’t really matter if you’re going to shoot photos of large groups or panoramic pictures, it requires just one press-and-sweep motion. Other hardware specifications include a built-in flash and built-in electronic VGA (640×480) viewfinder and a 3.0” AMOLED LCD display. The price to pay? $649 which will come bundled with a zoom lens.

Panasonic AG AF100 offers an above average video recording experience

Are you looking to be a budding filmmaker, and have the ambition to be one of the top movie makers when you grow up? Well, if that is the case and the answer is in a definite affirmative category, then you might be interested to know that Panasonic has rolled out its AG AF100 camcorder, making it the industry’s first professional micro 4/3-inch video camcorder that have been specially optimized for high-definition video recording. Of course, the price is not going to be cheap, as it has been listed at $4,995 which puts it out of reach for most of the working class since it is not an essential item, but then again, the AF100 does offer a new level of affordability for HD motion image quality. We will look into the AF100 in greater detail in the extended post.

Capable of affording the depth of field and field of view that is similar to that of 35mm movie cameras in a more affordable camera, where it will target the film and video production communities. The AF100 won’t find it a challenge to deliver film-like shallow depth of field and the wider field of view of a large imager, carrying with it the flexibility and cost advantages of a growing line of professional quality, industry-standard micro 4/3-inch lenses, filters, and adapters. Not only that, it also offers the capabilities of a full HD 1080/720 production camera, delivering superior video handling, native 1080/24p recording, variable frame rates, professional audio capabilities, and compatibility with SDHC and SDXC media.

According to Jan Crittenden Livingston, Product Line Business Manager, Panasonic Solutions Company, “The design of the AF100’s advanced, custom-designed 4/3-inch sensor affords depth of field and field of view similar to that of 35mm movie cameras in a more affordable camera. What’s more, Panasonic engineering ingenuity has resolved the aliasing and moiré that has haunted the DSLR shooter. In fact, the AF100 was based on what we heard from and saw customers doing: purchasing DSLR cameras because they liked the look of the image, but then agonizing over all of the workarounds required to achieve an acceptable high definition recording.”

All purchases of this 3.5-pound AG-AF100 will be accompanied by a three-year limited warranty, as long as you register the camera with the PASS customer support program.

Kodak Adds two more HD cameras to its pocket line

I love CES. So many new announcements for new toys. And this one is great for those loving to capture the moment with a pocket video camera. Kodak is adding two new HD cameras to it’s line of great pocket camcorders.

The first is a very slim PlayFul, which will sport the usual autofocus and image stabilizaiton, but also smart face tracking and full 1080p HD video. And the dedicated SHARE button sends video directly to media sites like Facebook, Youtube and Flickr via USB and your PC. It’s available in silver, blue-silver, purple-silver and blue-black.

Kodak has upgraded it's rugged Playsport camcorder

The next is an upgrade to the Playsport camera. In addition to similar features in the Playful, the Playsport also has low light performance, shock and waterproof (to a depth of 10 feet) design, and a cool feature on it’s LCD which adjust automatically to the lighting conditions it faces. The Playsport is available in Black, Red, Green, White and Aqua.

Both cameras record to SDHC up to 32GB. Look for them in the Spring with a cost of $150 for the Playful and $180 for the rugged PlaySport.

Casio TRYX camera unveiled at CES 2011

There’s always a few stars at CES 2011. These are the products that get billboards devoted to them at the Las Vegas Convention Center, and one of them was the Casio TRYX.

Since the digital camera market is flooded, it becomes very hard to come up with a camera that defies the usual conventions. The TRYX is that camera, as it has a very cool body. See how it flips out of its frame? The frame then becomes the handle of the camera for one hand, which really frees the user up from snapping photos with the other hand. The frame also allows the TRYX to work as a tripod.

In addition to this framing technique, the TRYX has a unique LCD screen that “puts all camera controls right at the user’s fingertip”. It has a touch shutter that can focus on an area or subject in the frame and capture it.

As for the specs, the TRYX is a 12.1 Megapixel job with a CMOS sensor, dual core processors, and Casio’s EXILIM ENGINE HS. The video is the expected 1080 at 30 fps. Other features include Slide Panaorma which allows for 360-degree panoramic images. It also has slow-motion video for speeds of up to 240 fps. It is also connected for social networking for photo-sharing on Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube, provided it is connected to a computer.

You should be able to get the TRYX in April 2011 for about $249.99.

Sony CLM-V55 clip-on LCD monitor

Fancy a clip-on LCD monitor for your DSLR camera? Well, that is what Sony intends to deliver with their spanking new Sony CLM-V55 clip-on LCD monitor. This will offer DSLR camera owners a brand new option to view their footage while shooting HD video, sporting a bigger area for your eyes to feast upon. To put it basically, the CLM-V55 is a portable video monitor that boasts a high-resolution WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) 5” LCD panel. It is easily attached to the majority of Interchangeable Lens Digital cameras and compatible HD camcorders courtesy of its supplied adapter. According to Sony, it is capable of displaying video footage during shooting/playback with excellent clarity and a wide viewing angle.

The clip-on screen can tilt and swivel to virtually any angle for comfortable framing in any position, even if you decide to indulge in a little bit of self-shooting. While it might be a whole lot more suitable for amateurs as well as budding photographers, the CLM-V55 will also not come up short since it is loaded with pro-style features that will help photo professionals and videographers shoot high-quality HD video footage with their Interchangeable Lens Digital camera.

Pixel magnification mode assists coupled with accurate focus confirmation will deliver an enlarged pixel-perfect view of a selected portion of the Full HD image. This is further complemented by a colour peaking function which will highlights the edges of accurately-focused areas of the video image. There is also an intuitive control wheel that enables quick, positive adjustment of a wide range of monitor settings without having to interrupt your shooting session. Adjustable parameters will comprise of aspect ratio (16:9/4:3), volume, brightness, contrast, color tone (phase), color temp and auto dimmer. On-screen markers are available to aid precise framing by giving precise indication of a TV’s 16:9 or 4:3 actual display area. The LCD monitor’s on-board mono speaker will also be complemented by a headphone jack for accurate audio monitoring during shooting. Want to pick this puppy up? While we don’t know how much it will cost, the CLM-V55 LCD video monitor will be out this March.

Hot Wheels get some camera action

We have seen some neat developments in Hot Wheels cars recently. For example, there were those miniature R/C cars the size of regular Hot Wheels cars.

I suppose someone decided to give those tiny cars even more of an upgrade with Mattel’s Video Racer. The Video Racer has a small video camera that is able to record 30 to 60 frames per second, as it is speeding down the racing track or the kitchen counter.

When the racing is done, the user has the option of watching them. This can be done on a tiny LCD on the underbelly of the car, or the footage can be downloaded to a PC or laptop via USB. It doesn’t look like an SD card is an option, but it really should be.

After all the video footage is downloaded, it can be pasted together to make the Speed Racer sequel that will probably never be made. Now youngsters will know what it feels like to be behind the wheel of a Hot Wheels car! Something tells me it is not as thrilling as the real thing.

You should be able to get this particular toy this Fall for about $60 each, which includes the USB cable.

My Review of the 3M Shoot and Share Camera Projector

The Shoot and Share by 3M is a combination of the currently popular brand of “candybar” design cameras like the Flip and a pico-projector.

These two come together to make a product that allows the user to snap a 5 Megapixel picture or shoot a 720p (1280 x 720) video, and then immediately project it on a big screen. Any blank wall will do, and the image can be as large as 65 inches on its diagonal.

The Shoot and Share is powered by a USB that also allows for easy downloading to a computer. It is capable of about 20 hours worth of video, which is about 32GB.

The button configuration is quite interesting, and resembles a telephone keypad. In fact, my eight-year-old daughter thought it was a phone when she first saw it. The configuration makes usage rather instinctive, and I was shooting and filming in seconds as soon as the thing was charged. Then I hit the projector button to make me feel like I was watching a movie in the theater.

The one drawback I found was that the camera didn’t have a flash, so good lighting is a requirement. It also only has 14 MB of internal memory, and the microphone is only mono.

However, if you want some quick picture-taker and projector, this is one (but not the only) option. You should be able to get the Shoot and Share at the 3M site for about $300.

Poco PRO - the credit card-sized 14-megapixel compact digital camera

With cameras pretty much standard equipment on mobile phones nowadays, a lot of people don’t bother with the extra hassle of carrying around a separate one, even if it means sacrificing picture quality for convenience. While we can’t comment on the picture quality, the Poco PRO from Iain Sinclair certainly seems to tick the right boxes in the specs department and won’t be too much trouble to cart around thanks to its credit card-like dimensions.

In a magnesium chassis measuring just 85.5 x 54 x 5 mm (3.36 x 2.12 x 0.19 in) and weighing 65 g (2.29 oz), the Poco PRO manages to cram in a 14.6 megapixel autofocus CMOS sensor, 2-axis gyro controller and 2.4 inch AMOLED 240 x 320 pixel (QVGA) display. There’s also a built-in piezo speaker, twin microphones with noise cancellation, 3.5 mm jack and some DSLR type manual shooting controls such as mechanical shutter and continuous variable aperture.

Not satisfied with laying claim to the title of the world’s smallest 14-megapixel digital still camera, the Poco PRO can also capture full 1080p video at 60 fps. Using a 2x2 binning process, whereby groups of pixels (in this case four) are combined to form larger single pixels, the camera is able to offer improved low light performance because the resulting new pixel contains all the light from the original four pixels.

The camera comes with 4GB of internal storage, which can be expanded via microSD cards of up to 32GB. There’s also an optional microSD Wi-Fi card available for wireless transmission of images and video to a PC.

The device is charged via a micro USB3 cable, which also provides HDMI output to a HDTV via an optional HDMI connector.

Iain Sinclair is taking reservations for the Poco PRO now ahead of its planned June 2011 release. It is priced at GBP200 (approx. US$307).

Via The Gadgeteer

Microsoft SenseCam concept now available as Vicon Revue

Microsoft has licensed its SenseCam technology to UK-based Vicon Motion Systems, so that the company can manufacture the device as a memory aid. Worn around the neck, the forward-facing lens of the Vicon Revue snaps a few photos every minute and stores them on the internal memory. The shots can then be used later to help those suffering from recall problems to piece together life events.

Microsoft has been working with a number of clinicians and university researchers over the past five years to learn more about how its SenseCam technology can be used to help those with memory problems. In one such study at the UK's Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, a woman with severe memory impairment found that looking through images captured by the technology improved her recall of events. Encouraged by early results such as this, the Redmond giant has licensed its technology for manufacture as the Vicon Revue.

The 65 x 70 x 17mm (2.55 x 2.75 x 0.66-inch), 94g (3.31oz) device captures whatever is in front of the wearer through a wide-angle lens, taking a couple or three shots every minute or so to effortlessly create a visual account of where you've been and what you've been up to. The photos are recorded to 2GB of onboard memory until the user loads them into a computer running the supplied photo viewing software, via mini-USB.

The Revue features a temperature sensor, infrared motion detector, multi-axis accelerometer and 3-axis magnetometer (compass). There's a privacy button that temporarily halts the snapping so that wearers are not caught on camera in embarrassing situations, such as going to the toilet. The battery is said to offer 12 hours of continued use, and is recharged in about two hours.

While Vicon Motion Systems sees its main market being those who require visual memory aids (it could well have saved Guy Pearce's character in the film Memento a whole lot of tattoo pain), it will also suit the personal user who wants to create a blow-by-blow event log or time-lapse video for blogs or social networking sites.

However, carrying a price tag of GBP500 (US$775), the Revue may be priced out of the autobiographical-photo-diary domain by the likes of Looxcie.

The latter is a good deal cheaper and benefits from more onboard memory, wireless data transfer and is able to capture and playback real-time – as opposed to time-lapse – video. Being worn over the ear, it's also more likely to record everything that the wearer sees rather than just what's in front of them.

Via Popular Science

XTC200 and 300 - the latest high-def actioncams on the market

Midland Radio has announced two new HD actioncam models in its XTC wearable video camera line. The XTC200 and XTC300 HD actioncams join the XTC100 standard def model announced in January. The XTCs have a similar form factor as the VholdR Contour HD or Drift Innovations HD170, with a small rugged chassis that can be mounted on a helmet, goggle strap, handlebars, or wherever you want to capture your extreme action.

The XTC200 shoots 720p HD video, and the XTC300 shoots 1080p. The older XTC100 offers standard def (480p). All three units weigh just 3 ounces (93 grams) each, and feature a single large button for controlling power and recording.

In addition to the standard black XTC models, Midland also offers camouflaged versions in the XTC150 (standard def) and XTC350 (HD). These models are aimed at hunting and other outdoor pursuits.

Each XTC actioncam comes with strap, goggle, handlebar, and universal mounts. Additional mounts are available including a suction-cup mount, visor clip, tree mount, and bow mount. The XTC actioncams are not waterproof, but Midland does offer a submersible case.

The XTC200 and XTC300 are powered by built-in rechargeable lithium battery packs. The XTC100 uses two AAA batteries. The units accept Micro SD memory cards, and feature USB 2.0 ports.

There are dozens of actioncams on the market these days. While XTC actioncams do not have some of the more advanced bells and whistles found on cams such as the Gobandit GPSHD or the Oregon Scientific ATC9K, the XTCs seem to offer a solid set of features for outdoor enthusiasts and extreme sports nuts.

• XTC100 and XTC150: Standard def (480p) 640 x 480, 30 FPS. 4:3 aspect ratio. 140-degree wide-angle lens. Accepts up to 32 GB Micro SD card, 15 minutes per 1 GB (AVI).
• XTC200: HD (720p) 1280 x 720, 30 FPS. 16:9 aspect ratio. 140-degree wide-angle lens. Accepts up to 32 GB Micro SD card, 13 minutes per 1 GB (MPEG-4).
• XTC300 and XTC350: HD (1080p) 1920 x 1080, 30 FPS. 16:9 aspect ratio. 140-degree wide-angle lens. Accepts up to 32GB Micro SD card, 11 minutes per 1 GB (MPEG-4).

Pricing and availability for the XTC200 and XTC300 HD actioncams have not yet been released, although we did find one online retailer selling the 300 for US$315. The XTC100 is currently available for around US$100. For more information visit MidXTC.com.

360-degree music video pushes the boundaries of interactive content

We've written before about 360-degree video (here demonstrated with an awesome interactive video that puts you in a base-jumper's shoes) - it's effectively like watching a video in Google Street View mode, where you can look any direction you like using the mouse. Now, Dutch 360-degree video company yellowBird has announced a hookup with YouTube that lets users post 360-degree videos in their YouTube channels. And the first major production is a 360-degree music video clip that challenges the role of the film director and stretches the boundaries of interactive entertainment.

In filmmaking, it's more or less the job of the director to use his camera to frame the action so your attention is pointed in the right place at all times to support the story that's being told. But with video cameras slowly creeping into most cellphones, it seems more and more people just want to use video to capture the vibe of a place they're in to share with others that aren't there.

360-degree video is a highly immersive tool that achieves this goal exceptionally well. The viewer is free to let their attention wander around the environment and soak up the atmosphere, choosing either to watch what's going on, or swivel around to see how other people in the area are reacting to it.

yellowBird (their capitalisation, not mine) is an end-to-end 360-degree video company, offering equipment sales and hire, editing assistance, live 360-degree video event coverage and hosting of the large video file streaming services you need to get these videos out onto the web. The company has recently announced a hook-up with YouTube allowing channels to embed yellowBird streaming content.

One of the first videos to really make use of the technology is a music video by Professor Green for his song "Coming to Get Me" - filmed on yellowBird gear and presented in the YouTube channel for Doritos UK.

The unique challenges of working in the 360-degree format forced director Chris Cairns to find new ways of moving a user's attention around the environment, and it resulted in a clip that can be played back several times, each time adding detail to the viewer's understanding of the scene.

Check the music video out here in HD.

The video is also slated to appear as an iPhone app that can be navigated using finger swipes to control the camera angle.

It's a fascinating look into a new type of media that could only take off online, where every viewer is an individual and wants control of what they're watching.

Oh, and for the record, if you want to learn more about yellowBird or get in touch with them to hire some gear, you'll have to visit what we'd rank right up there as one of the worst business URLs we've ever encountered: http://www.yellowbirdsdonthavewingsbuttheyflytomakeyouexperiencea3dreality.com

New infrared camera delivers significantly better resolution

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new infrared imaging system that delivers a 16-fold increase in resolution over long wavelength infrared radiation (LWIR) cameras currently used in industrial, security and nighttime surveillance applications. Based on a type of semiconductor called a Type-II InAs/GaSb superlattice, the IR camera is mercury-free, more robust, cheaper to produce and can collect 78 percent of the light showing temperature differences as small as 0.02° C.

Superlattices, or quantum well structures as they are also known, have been known about for many years, but it has taken until now for the materials to be better understood and utilized. Superlattices are a layered periodic structure of two or more semiconducting elements each with a thickness of only a couple of nanometers. They are thermal conductors that use photon diffusion and scattering to determine heat variations. Superlattices are broken into three types according to their chemical composition with type-II formed from layers of Indium (In), Arsenic (As), Gallium (Ga) and Antinomy (Sb).

"Type-II [superlattice] is a very interesting and promising new material for infrared detection," Professor Manijeh Razeghi from the Center for Quantum Devices in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science said. "Everything is there to support its future: the beautiful physics, the practicality of experimental realization of the material. It has just taken time to prove itself, but now, the time has come."

Using the Type-II InAs/GaSb superlattices as an alternative to existing LWIR cameras the researchers have been able to achieve a 16-fold increase in the number of pixels in an IR image. Current LWIR cameras are based on mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) materials, but the Type-II superlattice is mercury-free, more durable, and stands to reduce camera cost once the technology is commercially manufactured.

"Not only does it prove Type-II superlattices as a viable alternative to MCT, but also it widens the field of applications for infrared cameras," Razeghi said. "The importance of this work is similar to that of the realization of mega-pixel visible cameras in the last decade, which shaped the world's favor for digital cameras."

Their results were recently published in the journal Applied Physics Letters.

Via Northwestern University

Researchers develop genuine 3D camera

Cameras that can shoot 3D images are nothing new, but they don't really capture three dimensional moments at all - they actually record images in stereoscopic format, using two 2D images to create the illusion of depth. These photos and videos certainly offer a departure from their conventional two dimensional counterparts, but if you shift your view point, the picture remains the same. Researchers from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) hope to change all that with the development of a strange-looking camera that snaps 360 degrees of simultaneous images and then reconstructs the images in 3D.

The researchers have created two prototype models, both inspired by the multi-lens eyes of insects like the house fly. One has a lens head about the size of an orange and features over a hundred camera lenses - like the ones used in mobile phones - and the other about the size of a golf ball and sporting 15 lenses. Unlike the stereoscopic photographic or video cameras with a front facing lens setup, the prototypes are able to record images from all around them.

The lenses point out through a hemispherical frame and are positioned in such a way that each image captured overlaps slightly on its neighbors. Sophisticated algorithms built into a dedicated hardware platform then judge the actual distance between the camera and subjects in the frame and merges the many gigabits of photographic information captured at 30 frames per second into a 360 degree panorama.

"With this invention, we solved two major problems with traditional cameras," said Professor Pierre Vandergheynst. "The camera angle, which is no longer limited thanks to the camera's ability to film in 360 degrees and in real time; and the depth of field, which is no longer limiting thanks to the 3D reconstruction."

The researchers report that images are captured in real time and without distortion and that users can choose to snap a single shot from a particular lens or have them all work together to produce the 360 degree, three dimensional panorama.

The team's Professor Yusuf Leblebici said that the "work is likely to change the entire field of image acquisition, with a huge range of potential applications" including movie-making and immersive games design.

The project is a collaborative project between the EPFL's Signal Processing Laboratory - who authored the algorithms to calculate the distance between the camera and subjects and those tasked with assembling all of the images into one 360 degree panorama - and the Microelectronic Systems Laboratory - who developed the apparatus and took care of the processing needs.

UNDERABOVE dual lens camera concept snaps the best of both worlds

Waterproof cameras or underwater housings are great for capturing action above or below the waterline, but what if you want to capture both at the same time to provide a greater context for your underwater shots? That’s where the UNDERABOVE concept comes in. It’s a dual-lens buoy-style camera that bobs on the surface of the water positioning one wide-angle lens above the waterline and one lens below to let aquatic shutterbugs capture the best of both worlds.

The UNDERABOVE features a symmetrical body made of polypropylene, with the top half filled with air and the bottom half filled with water so it straddles the waterline. There’s also an LCD display located halfway up the device’s central sphere that provides a view of both the underwater and above water camera views and which can also be used for viewing previously taken shots. There’s also two flashes, one for each lens, and a timer for taking self-portraits.

The UNDERABOVE from Han In Kyung took out a 2010 red dot design concept award and looks like it would be the perfect addition to a pool party or for some truly unique beach holiday snaps.

Via Yanko Design

Shirtpocket 3D Video Camcorder

The Only Shirtpocket 3D Video Camcorder.

This is the only shirtpocket camcorder that records video in three dimensions to provide a true stereoscopic viewing experience. The camcorder's two lenses work in unison with its 3 MP image sensor to record slightly differing images which are interlaced to create a video anaglyph--a 3D video. Videos are recorded in 640 x 480 pixel resolution as AVI files. A 4 GB SD card (sold separately) stores up to four hours of video or 2,000 3D still images (JPEG). The camcorder's 3-1/4" TFT display shows content in 3D (no glasses required), and movies can be viewed on the included media player's 7" screen because it is overlaid with a parallax barrier that displays video in 3D without the need for 3D glasses (content is transferred to the media player with an SD card).

Media player includes speakers and a headphone jack. The camcorder can also shoot standard (2D) movies and pictures for display on the media player in 2D. Includes USB cable for copying content onto a computer. Its rechargeable battery provides two hours of operation from a six-hour charge; the media player uses an included AC adapter.

Camcorder 4-1/2" H x 1-1/2" W x 3-1/2" D. (6 oz.); media player 8-1/2" H x 9-1/2" W x 5-1/2" D.

Olympus limited edition Ferrari Digital Camera

Olympus has announced the Ferrari Digital Model 2004, the second in the Ferrari Digital Model 2004 series of Olympus cameras to be officially sanctioned by Ferrari. Based on the all-new Olympus AZ-1 compact digital camera, the aluminium body is finished in Ferrari Red and is graced with the famous 'Prancing Horse' logo. Special features that are unique to the Ferrari Digital Model 2004 include the camera's start-up sound and startup screen display. The startup screen features a photo of a Ferrari F2004 Formula One racing machine, while the start-up sound is the sound of a Ferrari engine.

The Ferrari Digital Model 2004 comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and autographed photos of Ferrari F1 team drivers, Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello, a CD-ROM containing photos of the five-year period, 1999-2003 in which Ferrari won the Constructors World Championship Title and a special presentation box with the Ferrari logo embossed on the lid.

Only 10,000 units of the Ferrari Digital Model 2004 will be available worldwide. In Australia, the Ferrari Digital Model will have an RRP of AUD$1099 and will be available in late July 2004.

Ferrari logo adds US$10,000 to the price of Hasselblad H4D

Just how much value does Ferrari's logo add to a product? Hasselblad's latest announcement seems to answer that and we're not sure if it reflects well on either brand. The EUR13,995 (US$18,531) Hasselblad H4D is the flagship product of the best known medium format imaging marque and has been purchased by tens of thousands of the world's elite photographers because it delivers digital SLR functionality with extraordinary imaging quality. Now the company has announced two identical cameras that don't come in silvery grey. For an extra EUR1000 (US$1324), you can have one of a limited run of 100 stainless steel H4Ds. There's also a Ferrari Limited Edition camera which is identical except for a carbon fiber display case, its Ferrari "rosso fuoco" color, and the unmistakable Yellow Prancing Horse Racing Shield. Hasselblad will make 499 units of the limited edition camera, selling them for EUR21,499 (US$28,473.61). That's US$9,938 more than an identical product – a premium of more than 50% extra for the display case … and the logo.

Ferrari is one of the best recognized upmarket brands in the world thanks to its legendary F1 racing exploits and exquisite, bleeding edge road cars. Such is its reputation and the prohibitive (at least to the average person) cost of its cars, it has developed a large following of well-heeled fans who proudly wear the Prancing Horse insignia as their personal badge of success – and Ferrari has found that those same people with extraordinary levels of disposable income, are more than prepared to pay a premium to display their bourgeois tastes (its badge) on other items such as laptops, surfboards, stereo speakers, clothes ... and a growing range of upmarket merchandise under its Official Ferrari Licensed Product regime. Ferrari's latest partner in this endeavor is Hasselblad, though at least in my humble opinion, Hasselblad's quality is no less than that of Ferrari.

So I can't really come to grips with Ferrari and Hasselblad teaming up to create what the press missive claims to be a “brand new model” – we first spied the H4D Ferrari Limited Edition at Photokina in Koln in September, though at that stage the unannounced price was rumored to be in the vicinity of what we considered a price-gouging EUR19,000 and we elected not to cover the product because it was identical to the standard H4D. Finding that the Ferrari version of the camera now has a price tag of EUR21,500 left me speechless. Are Ferrari aficionados so passionate about the Ferrari name that they'll pay ten large for the privilege of displaying it on an entriely unrelated product? Or are they sad creatures with more money than sense who derive self-worth from the brands they wear?

Yes, the H4D Ferrari Limited Edition comes in a beautiful carbon fiber display case with a glass top adorned with the same Ferrari Racing Shield, but I cannot understand why anyone would pay an extra US$10,000 for a limited edition that only sports cosmetic changes.

Does Hasselblad feel it can't sell enough cameras with just its own name?

Panasonic announces Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic has announced the successor to one of the highly sought after Micro Four Thirds shooter to date known as the Lumix DMC-GF1, which is the logically named Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2. This compact mirrorless camera is also Panasonic’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens system camera, where it will feature a built-in flash to boot.

The Lumix GF2 will play nice with lenses from the Micro Four Thirds standard, which means the system is not only small but compact, and yet will not compromise ease of operation or image quality. Not only that, the Lumix GF2 will also be able to work with Panasonic’s new 3D interchangeable lens, which is the LUMIX G 12.5mm/F12, letting you snap 3D photos without missing a beat.

Just how much more compact do you think GF2 has become? Well, its size was reduced by approximately 19% in size and approximately 7% in weight, and managed to do so while retaining its signature built-in flash. Seems to be a future-proof camera of sorts to us, considering it is able to handle 3D lens. Thanks to a newly-designed user interface, the Lumix GF2 is a snap to use, and will make room for anyone and everyone to set the focus or shutter release with but a touch of the fairly generous 3-inch LCD display.

Whenever you lock on to a subject by touch, the Lumix GF2 will go on and track the subject with the AF tracking function, never mind if the subject starts to move around, making life a whole lot easier. Of course, this doesn’t work if you’re trying to shoot a Formula 1 car in full glory, but it works great with little children running around at a party. Not only that, you can choose from a wide range of AF (Auto Focus) modes such as multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face Detection, and AF Tracking.

All of Panasonic’s Lumix G-Series DSLM cameras will be equipped with the highly-efficient Dust Reduction System, and the GF2 is no exception either. Should dust get inside the camera when you change lenses, a supersonic wave filter is located in front of the Live MOS sensor to repel dust and other particles by vibrating vertically around 50,000 times per second.

Boasting a quality and solid aluminum body, the Lumix GF2 will come in black, silver, white, and red shades alongside the following kit options: DMC-GF2C – 14mm F2.5 Lens Kit and DMC-GF2K – 14-42mm Zoom Lens Kit. No word on pricing just yet, but expect to see the LUMIX GF2 hit the market sometime next January.