Tag: photography

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Imaging

Panlight sets the plan right to remotely position cameras and flashes

Professional photographers use a beefed up flash system for extra light. They’ll set up these speedlight flashes and then move around to get the best shot. Unfortunately, to adjust the flash, they have to lower down the stand, angle the flash properly and hope it’s in the right position.

Panlight uses a remote control to adjust the speedlight for you. From up to 100 feet away, the photographer can move the flash up and down 180 degrees and 360 degrees around. In addition, Panlight offers the perk of being able to attach your camera to it in order to control that remotely as well. This will let your DLSR reach new heights of photography without having to climb a ladder. This product works with standard tripods and camera stands. It can support mirror-less cameras up to two pounds. To power, use four AA batteries.

This is certainly a nifty device that will help tons of photographers. Weddings in particular are difficult to photograph because there’s so much going on. A remote control will certainly make the entire process easier. It’s too bad, though, that Panlight is powered by batteries. A rechargeable battery would make more sense. However, there’s always the possibility of running out of juice in the middle of a wedding, in which case spare AA batteries would come more in handy than having to recharge. For £95 (~$149) backers will receive their very own by March 2015. The UK made Panlight is looking to raise £23,000 (~$36,000) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Imaging

MagSphere and MagBounce flash diffusers mellow the harsh

Photographs are important to us. They document the best moments in our lives, they inform us of what’s going on in the world and they keep our memories alive. That’s why bad photographs are the enemy. No one wants a giant shiny forehead front and center in their wedding portraits. That’s why the folks at MagSphere have come up with a way to calm your flash down for more flattering light. It fits over the MagMod, a flash modifier, and looks like frosted glass. MagSphere dims and softens light so that it spreads in a more flattering way instead of tacking itself to your every flaw. Best of all, it includes a gel slot so that colored light is also possible if you want to get really fancy.

The similar MagBounce, also included in the campaign, is an open version of MagSphere that increases the size of your flash by 300%. It still softens the light, but expands it as well for when you need some extra shine. For more detailed information on all things light, visit the campaign.

Usually, a product that is only compatible with a certain brand, as the MagSphere and MagBounce are with the MagMod, seems a little inconvenient. However, backers don’t seem to mind, flocking to this campaign with support. Similar products we’ve seen on Backerjack, like the Flekt, offer light diffusion, but are limited in their options. They work to expand light, much like the MagBounce does, but few aim to soften light, like the MagSphere. For $79, backers will get one MagSphere and one MagBounce. Higher reward tiers offer the MagMod, a smart move on the part of the creators, for estimated delivery in February 2015. These light diffusers hope to raise $50,000 on Kickstarter.

Categories
Imaging

Lumera adds Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and remote control to your DSLR

For photography enthusiasts, every opportunity for a snapshot means making a decision. With the ever-present smartphone, pictures can be taken anytime, anywhere and shared immediately with location information and other data. However the quality of these pictures, even with more megapixels, never holds up to what can be done with a professional grade camera.

Lumera is a camera accessory with the design to bridge this gap. attaching to the bottom of any camera with a tripod screw, Lumera offers one-button sharing to various social networks or cloud storage sites. When paired with the Lumera Android or iOS apps, Lumera can do even more, including wireless aperture control, time-lapse settings, and more. Lumera uploads either through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth LE 4.0, and is OpenSource and Openhardware friendly to allow for the potential of even more unique features later in development.

If the camera’s memory card is getting too filled up with photos, Lumera has an additional USB port built in to allow for the connection of any USB storage device to store any overflow photos. As of right now, Lumera only officially supports certain Nikon and Canon cameras, but offers a survey where the development team can confirm whether the camera is supported or begin working on support for it. Lumera Labs needs $90,000 CAD (~$80,000 USD) to engineer the product’s design, complete the apps, and get Lumera certified. Lumera will be out in May 2015 to those that pledge $170 CAD (~$150 USD).

Lumera’s features are all more or less offered by using a Wi-Fi enabled SD card like Eye-Fi, but offers the freedom of flexible hardware and ideally limitless storage through the USB port. Professional photographers who demand the most from their equipment will love the sharing features without sacrificing quality, but only the most dedicated will need to keep Lumera on hand.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories Imaging

Stand-Pod slips a phone stand and mini-tripod into your wallet

For those times when a person wants to use their iPhone for a selfie or be in the photo or video they are making with friends, the only way to do that is to have a stranger hit the button for you. That’s why Stand-Pod was created. The small phone mount allows the user to position their phone, set it up in an ideal location and use their delay to create those photo or video memories. Stand-Pod is compatible with a wide range of phones. It appears to fold flat when not in use and is made of high resistant polypropylene plastic, so it should be pretty easy to tote around. Stand-Pod should provide some hardy competition for ClearShot, which is now on the market. This campaign seeks to raise $45,000 CAD (~$39,900 USD) by December 12, 2014. For $16 CAD (~$14 USD), backers get the single pack Stand-Pod with an expected delivery of March 2015.

Categories
Imaging

Intrepid large format camera ditches digital, embraces gorgeous photos

Many new digital cameras use filters and special techniques to make the photos they take look vintage. There’s something about old photographs that evokes a sense of nostalgia and old world charm into our minds. The Intrepid 4X5 Camera is a redesigned version of an old camera model, updating technology that is over 100 years old. Made out of wood, the camera is lightweight and can be folded up easily for maximum portability. Intrepid is a film camera and uses the 4×5 format because of its depth and clarity of image. In digital format, 4×5 would be considered HDR to give digital lovers a sense of its sharpness. It’s able to capture both portrait and landscape photographs. While this British camera looks very cool and the campaign shows the magnificent images it can produce, many may opt for the convenience of digital with some old-time filters instead. Lenses and film are sold separately which also may act as a deterrent for backers. Still, camera enthusiasts will surely appreciate the mix of old and new technology to make a cool final product. Another bonus: the bellows come in different colors! One Intrepid will cost backers £129 (~$203) for delivery in March 2015 (not a bad price at all). Intrepid is looking to raise £27,000 (~$42,500) on Kickstarter.

Categories
Imaging

fps1000 keeps the price low for the super slow-mo pro

If you haven’t yet seen the YouTube video of a shark shooting out of water as it goes after its prey, you should — it’s a beaut. But that piece of fantastic videography wouldn’t have been possible without the wonders of high-speed imaging, something that would be more widespread if it weren’t for the complex setups and intense memory demands of the equipment necessary to capture it. Just a 1 second video at VGA resolution and 1,000 fps requires an incredible 400 MBytes of very high speed memory  — and that’s just on the lower end of things!

Compelled to find a more accessible solution, inventor Graham Rowan labored to create the fps1000, a super portable camera capable of taking videos of between 75fps and 18,000fps. The camera also features a touch screen LCD screen along with the standard C mount so that a wide variety of lenses can be equipped. There are three different versions of the fps1000: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Their prices range from £349 to £999, which may still seem pricey but is much better than comparable setups. With the campaign having blown past it’s funding goal of £20,000, many seem to agree.

Categories
Imaging

Cubee puts an Instagram twist on the classic photo cube

CubeeNow favorite old photographs can light up the night without the use of a computer monitor. How? Cubee takes the old 1970s photo cube idea and gives it a new twist with some back lighting, a USB hookup and an Instagram app. Users get to select five of their favorite photo memories from their Instagram account, and include them in their order for the 21st century update on the old cube. Favorite photos can’t be directly uploaded from a mobile device or computer yet, but Cubee aims to change that in the future. Backers can get theirs for $25 with an expected delivery of December 2014.

Categories
Cell Phone Accessories

A bright idea, SSim helps you see your smartphone in the sunlight

SSimTaking outdoor photos with a smartphone on a sunny day can mean it’s nearly impossible to see what’s being shot in the viewer. the spyglass-like SSim works to create a space over the smartphone photo window that blocks out sunlight glare that washes out the image one is trying to view on the flat smartphone screen. While a bit awkward-looking, it actually seems to be a great solution to a longtime problem for those who are smartphone photography enthusiasts. For $28, backers get one product with an expected delivery of October 2014.

Categories
Imaging

Lightcase backdrop brings a pro look to small item photos

lightcaseFrom eBay to Etsy, people are making money by selling small or unique items,. But when sellers have a whole catalog to choose from, taking quality, consistent photos can be challenging. Similar in concept to the Foldio, the Lightcase is a fold-out housing that can be used to take quality, well-lit pictures from above or in front, and then can be folded down into something size of a sheet of paper. Using frosted polypropylene, the Light Case takes natural light and diffuses it evenly, resulting in a sharp, clear photo. The hole at the top of the Lightcase is lined up with a smartphone camera so the phone can lay flat and take the picture with stability. Online sellers and everyone else can get a Lightcase in June 2014 for $36.

Categories
Connected Objects Imaging

Send real photos from anywhere in the world with LifePrint

The Premise. Photo sharing has never been easier with the growth and ease of using social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and even Snapchat. While it’s great to see photos of your family, friends, and favorite activities all around the world, almost all the photos we see are through a screen. Tangible photo albums and pictures are mostly things of the past because printing out high quality photos isn’t really convenient on a traditional home printer, and going to a convenience store just takes too much time.

The Product. The LifePrint is a compact wireless printer built for your smartphone that allows you to send and receive high-quality photo prints to anyone in the world instantly. Just like your typical social networks, you can connect to your family and friends who mean the most to you. But instead of posting it for them to “Like” on a computer screen, you can send them a picture they’ll love with the LifePrint. The sentiment of a hard copy photo is now much more accessible because the LifePrint only requires a cellular connection. A 3G connection is all that you need to open up the LifePrint app and print from anywhere in the world; it’s unclear what the monthly charge would be for the LifePrint’s connectivity.

The Pitch. LifePrint really pays close attention to the small details and the importance of visuals in its crowdfunding video. The video and the page show how the LifePrint is a portable and efficient way to make photos special again by making it clear how easy it is to share and receive photos with your network from anywhere in the world.

The Perks. There are two separate versions for Android and iPhone devices, but each costs the same at $99 for the early bird price. This is actually one of the better deals you can get on a portable photo printer, and especially one that has the capability to print anywhere like the LifePrint. That pledge comes with 10 photo prints, but if you want more, you can get the LifePrint with 100 photo prints for $145.

The Potential. LifePrint looks like a great bridge for sending photos to friends and family, particularly those who want something with a bit more permanence than a SnapChat product. The clunkier and more expensive LG PD233 Pocket Photo Printer and the Polaroid CZA-20011B PoGo Instant Mobile Printer both work over Bluetooth, which means your phone has to be in range in order to print a photo. However, other products that allow remote photo display and printing, such as the Presto printer and The LifePrint’s ability to connect people through photos means a lot more people will be hanging photos of their loved ones on their actual wall—not their Facebook wall.