PREVIEW: Sony’s new action POV camera

http://blog.sony.com/povcamera

Big news for the POV Camera Market, things are about to be shaken up big time!!

Sony is developing a brand new POV camera and the stats are pretty hot. Sony has given us a sneak peak of this device.  Straight from http://blog.sony.com/povcamera 

Our hearts are beating, our blood is flowing, our adrenaline is pumping. Here’s why: Sony’s developing a new type of hi-def wearable video camera for POV and action sports filming, and we’re giving you – our stellar fans – the first look at the device!

Profile shot of the POV Camera, easy to navigate.

Simple buttons to start and stop recording.

Carl Zeiss Tesser Lens baby!

Simple housing, Should withstand the extremes very well.

Going to be amazing!!!

Here is a quote from the Sony Blog:

The video camera is tiny and lightweight, but it houses Sony’s hallmark SteadyShot^®image stabilization technology, Exmor^® R CMOS image sensor, and an ultra-wide angle Carl Zeiss® Tessar® lens.
That means, whether you’re shredding major powder, jumping out of a plane, or kayaking through an epic waterfall, you’re capturing super high-quality video of it to show off to your family and friends. And there’ll be ruggedized and waterproof housings available so the camera can do its job in even the most extreme environments.
We’ll keep sharing updates and details about the product so be sure to stay tuned.

Tags: action sports, Carl Zeiss Tessar Lens, compact, exmor R CMOS senor, extreme, filming, hi-def, high definition, point-of-view, POV, video camera

Macro Photography using Extension Tubes - What are Extension Tubes?

There is something magic about Macro photography that we all love doing and using the right equipment delivers amazing results that can take your breath away. 

A Macro Lens can start at about $500 up to $1500 or even more, and this is where we introduce Macro Extension Tubes, they turn any lens into a macro lens for life size photography. Macro Extension Tubes have very exciting results for half the cost of a new lens.

Auto Extension Tubes

Manual Focus or Auto Focus Extension tubes are available, for most subject you shoot Manual Focus is easier because in Auto the camera might have trouble finding focus so close.

Each Tube has a multiplier effect on the minimum focusing distance.

For Example the Canon EF-S18-55mm IS Lens has a minimum focus distance of 0.25m you can get:
1.5x = 0.16m
2x = 0.125m
3x = 0.083m.
1.5+2+3x = 0.027m




So you get get so close to anything at all. This is how close you can get without the tubes:

This is how much closer you get using the tubes:

1.5x Tube

2x Tube

3x Tube

1.5x + 2x + 3x Tubes

Come in for a free demonstration at Macarthur Camera House.

Secrets to Helping Kids to Photograph their Story

Kids love playing with what we are playing with, it is how they learn. We have seen too many parents buy a 'cheap' camera for their children because of the fear they'll break it. 
Children have a great "eye" for photographing the world as they see it, giving them a cheap camera sometimes can limit how they tell the story they want to share. We don't want to give our kids an expensive camera, they could break it or lose it, so what do we do?
At Macrthur Camera House we have been recommending Tough cameras to parents for a long time, most are shock proof, waterproof, dust and freeze proof.

Olympus TG-820 - photo from www.olympus.com.au 

There are several on the market that you can choose. All of them take a great photo and now take decent movies to tell the best stories. Olympus, Nikon, Panasonic, Canon, Fujifilm, Pentax, Sony just to name a few. Each has their own features and fit most niches.
Now you can give your young ones something to tell great stories and not worry about them breaking it. From swimming to running through muddy puddles, kids get to be kids and share their story. 
Just imagine the DVDs you can send to their grandparents for Christmas.


Nikon have come out with a great little camera for kids, the S30. Designed especially for the way children hold a Camera and it is inexpensive.  
View our blog on it here: http://macarthurcamerahouse.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/nikon-s30-i-am-limitless-kids-camera.html

http://mynikonlife.com.au/gear/digital-compact-cameras/s30

Large buttons, simple layout and user-friendly interface

The COOLPIX S30 features a unique symmetrical design with buttons placed and sized to make it really simple to use. The lens and LCD monitor is placed in the middle of the camera, which lets kids hold the camera without their hands getting in the way. The large LCD monitor gives you a clear, easy to understand view of the cameras functions and the camera goes from power-up to still image or movie shooting mode with dedicated buttons.

• Making your photos fun to view and shareThe built-in album-making feature of the COOLPIX S30 lets you create scrapbooks for quick access to your favourite pictures. And you can create original slide shows with animated effects and music to enjoy with friends or family. You can even add two voice messages to each picture and share them with a friend or loved one.
• HD movies and easy auto modeCapture all the fun and colour wherever you go, the COOLPIX S30 lets you record full 720p HD movies.

The Dangers of Picking the Wrong Camera: Macro Photography using Extension Tubes

The Dangers of Picking the Wrong Camera: Macro Photography using Extension Tubes
Simon has written a blog about how to use Macro Extension Tubes.