Wazopia: The Web Blog of Jim Fisher

Vidtography?

The camera world stood still last week with Canon's announcement of the new 5D Mark II. Sure, it's got a new 21 megapixels sensor and all the other cool features from the new 50D like sensor cleaning and SRAW. But two new features are the real frosting on the cake:

1. Low noise ISO up to 6,400 (expandable to 25,600)
2. Full 1080 resolution at 30fps HD video capture

First, the low noise ISO: Canon sensors have always been great at dealing with noise in low-light levels but some of the new Nikons have made vast improvements and have superseded the Canon specs. The new 5D MK2 sets a new standard for all cameras. You can easily set the ISO at 800 or 1600 without a worry. Even the 1600 or 3200 ISO settings look pretty clean as well. This will be a welcome feature for those who suffer shooting sports in the twilight.

Second, is the big bomb, is a feature that will significantly blur the lines between photographer and videographer. The 5D Mk2 will provide in one unit both a professional still camera and a full resolution HD camera. It's like having a top camera with a Canon VIXIA HF10 built in! Add the wide array of Canon lenses and you have a terrific video capture system.

What a great camera for photojournalists! Now they can shoot video. You can see them with two 5D Mk2's, one blasting stills and the other rolling video. One set of lenses, same batteries, accessories, light camera bodies, etc.

To get an idea of what's possible take a look at Vincent Laforet's video using the new Canon 5D MK2. Vince is a Canon Explorers of Light photographer and had access to a 5D MK2 for the weekend.

Lost in all this was the new Canon G10 an upgrade to the super-cool G9 which is not even a year old.

So everything has changed this past week. Canon got the message from the Nikon challenge over the last year and has brought out some outstanding products. Let's see what they do with the 1Ds line next.

Labels: 5D mark ii, camera, canon, High Def, Laforet, video

Sunset on Lake Chautauqua

Fisherman in boat casting lines in Lake Chautauqua.

Sunset falls behind boatload of fisherman in Lake Chautauqua, NY

Closeup of craggy tree in front of sunset.

Another craggy tree with sunset in background.

All images taken with Canon G9 camera.

Labels: boat, camera, Canon G9, fishing, image, Lake Chautauqua, New York, sunset

Camera Tossing (gulp!) sort of

How did this get started? I read an online article about "camera tossing". It had to do with the package art for Adobe Acrobat. The boxes had these cool, twirly Spiroscope-like images. The story said they were created using a technique called camera tossing.

Flickr has several groups discussing this technique and some of my favorite desktop wallpapers have come from this site.

Take some time and review these sites and check out the images to learn more. I did and after sitting with my Canon 5D and 24-105mm L lens on my lap I said no way is this thing going out of my hands. No camera tossing for me.

But, while taking a hike through South Chagrin Reservation, I had an epiphany (it took awhile) about how to simulate a camera toss while still hanging onto my camera. I use a handstrap instead of a neckstrap on my camera. I could fling the camera loosely in my hand without worrying about letting it loose. My fling pattern could be better controlled and perhaps my results could be more predictable. Here are some results. Enjoy!