You’re already well aware of what GigaPan’s wild camera robot is capable of when its in masterly hands, but have you ever wondered if such a device is practical for folks who don’t have excellent seats for events such as Presidential inaugurations or the Arirang Mass Games? We’ve been toying around with an Epic 100 for the past week and change, and now that we’ve had a moment to upload a few of our own panoramas, we figured we’d toss our two pennies into the ring. Eager to know if this gigapixel image creator is really worth its avoirdupois in cold, hard cash? Head on past the break to find out.

Continue reading GigaPan Epic 100 hands-on and review, panorama style

GigaPan Epic 100 hands-on and review, panorama style originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Momma always said you couldn’t have your cake and eat it to, and we suppose it’s just about time we stop resisting and just believed. Olympus’ decidedly compact E-450 was recently reviewed over at PhotographyBLOG, and while image quality was satisfactory for a camera of its stature, it was indubitably missing a few key ingredients. Most notably, the inexplicable lack of image stabilization and the inability to handle video were lamented, and the rudimentary 3-point AutoFocus was called “frankly obsolete for a 2009 model.” Indeed, critics pointed out that the E-620 would likely be a far superior choice for those who didn’t mind the additional weight and cost, but even if the E-450 was at the top of your budget, we didn’t really get the impression that it was a surefire winner. Check the read link for the full spill.

Olympus E-450 compact DSLR gets reviewed: entry-level through and through originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 May 2009 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nine new ones not enough for you? Not if you’re ViewSonic, who just came clean with three more in its rapidly expanding digital photo frame lineup. The 10.4-inch VFD1020, 8-inch VFD820 and 7-inch VFD720 make up the new TrueView line, which offers up a 4:3 aspect ratio and 2GB of internal memory. As for resolutions, the smaller two do their thing at 800 x 600, while the June-bound VFD1020 will kick things up to 1,024 x 768. Naturally, there’s a multicard reader for loading multimedia, and the USB 2.0 port is bound to make friends with your impenetrable Iron Drive. The trio also ships with a remote control from mixing things up from afar, with prices set for $129.99, $89.99 and $79.99 in order of mention.

ViewSonic intros 7-, 8- and 10.4-inch VFD20 series digiframes originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 17:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As with Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-GH1, a few lucky folks who have managed to spend a few moments with Pentax’s new 14.6 megapixel K-7 have stopped to host up the results for us to drool over. Early stills are rather impressive, with images being sharp, crisp and generally delightful to stare at. As for video, it’s tough to judge the real quality based on a YouTube rendition, but feel free to glean what you can just after the break. So, if you weren’t sold already, are you now?

Despite new cameras being riddled with borderline useless features and modes, useful functionality like automatic geotagging is getting little love from the big players. All the more reason for third parties to sneak in and make a few bucks, and ATP certainly seems to be on top of it. We liked the idea of the company’s PhotoFinder, but that base station looked like needless desk clutter. The new PhotoFinder Pro does away with it, featuring an integrated SD, Memory Stick, and MMC card reader. Just sync up the clock in the unit with that of your shooter, clip it onto your camera bag for a day of scenic photography, and then pop your card in before downloading the pics that night. It’ll automatically add coordinates to each photo’s EXIF information, drastically reducing the likelihood of future spousal arguments about the whereabouts of certain Kodak moments. That sounds like a beautiful thing, and at $119 a good deal, too.

[Via Photography Blog]

ATP PhotoFinder Pro loses the base station, takes us to geotagging nirvana originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Heard any good iPhone 3.0 rumors lately? No? That’s because they’re all here in this tidy little roundup. The latest (pictured above) is a purported top-facing bezel frame for the “Apple iPhone 3Gen 2009.” Besides being black unlike the chrome edge of the iPhone 3G, iLounge and others have noticed a repositioned ear speaker, tucked high against the top-edge that could be making way for a front-facing camera or additional sensor(s). iLounge also created a render (pictured after the break) of a 5th gen iPod nano based on information provided by a source who “has a perfect track record for accuracy.” In addition to a slightly larger screen with 1.5:1 aspect, there’s now a camera on the back; a redesign that dovetails nicely with rumors about Apple to getting serious with integrated video and digital cameras. iLounge also claims that there will be three new models (3G, enhanced 3G, and mainland China version lacking WiFi we suspect) of iPhones with matte plastic bodies less prone to scratching. Importantly, countries will get the phone appropriate to their telco’s capabilities — iLounge says users won’t have to choose between a fast and slow iPhone, they’ll get what their carriers can support. Each will ship in a choice of two capacity options with 32GB being the top-end rumored. Oh, and iPhone 3.0 will also get into the Nike+ game without requiring an adapter (like the iPod touch). These rumors ride a wave of reports that inventories of the iPhone 3G are running low and component makers are now shipping parts for the next generation iPhone. So Steve Jobs or not, we’re still expecting the hardware to be announced at WWDC with possible July 17 launch.

~Have a cool photo product or site? Reach 270,000 photo fans

Study the following phrases carefully:

Absent-….ed professor
One-track ….
Get your …. out of the gutter

If any words appear to be missing, you may have lost your mind.
The good news is, your trusty camera can keep your mind from wandering off!
Snap a picture of anything you want to […]

~ Have a cool photo product or site? Reach 270,000 photo fans

Study the following phrases carefully:

• Absent-….ed professor
• One-track ….
• Get your …. out of the gutter

If any words appear to be missing, you may have lost your mind.

The good news is, your trusty camera can keep your mind from wandering off!

Snap a picture of anything you want to remember and drop the photo into Evernote.

This clever little app turns your picture into a note (it can even read text in your photo) and creates a collection of little reminders.

Use tags to search for related notes, or add them to a to-do list. You can access the database from your smartphone, desktop, or the web, so it’s available wherever you go.

Take snapshots of places you want to explore, or ideas scribbled on napkins, and pretty soon you’ll remember everything!

Your mind may still wander, but at least you’ll know where it was.

Evernote: Use Your Camera to Remember Everything
Thanks to reader to Lindsay Leung for the tip!

p.s. Evernote works with your scanner too! (And screenshots, and your webcam, and Eye-Fi cards…) Check out their blog for ideas and tips on using the app.

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Sony just announced a pair of Cyber-shot cameras in Europe. Both offer Sony’s smile shutter technology, 3x zoom stabilized with SteadyShot, 2.7-inch LCD, a claimed ISO 3200 sensitivity, and 7 automatic scene selection modes. The W180, though, has a 10.1 megapixel sensor to the 12.1 megapixels of the W190 (pictured). Oddly, Sony’s pushing the 17x/18x digital zoom capabilities on these — something we haven’t seen hyped for a few years:

Pristine picture quality is further enhanced by the high-quality 3x optical zoom lens. Smart zoom boosts maximum magnification to a frame-filling 18x for W190 and 17x for W180 for even more dramatic close-ups.

In other words, these cams are targeting entry-level consumers prone to enjoying a Big Mac and tattle-rag while shopping instead of doing any real pre-purchase research. Available starting July in silver, black, and red for “an outstanding value.” Backside front, after the break.

Continue reading Sony Cyber-shot W180 and W190 cameras feature awesome digital zooms

Sony Cyber-shot W180 and W190 cameras feature awesome digital zooms originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 03:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

We’ve been known to mule-about vast quantities of gear for hours at a time in order to bring you the latest and greatest in consumer electronics at a real-time pace. That means several pounds of electronics (laptops, data cards, extra batteries, smartphones, a DSLR with multiple lenses, compact camera, a video camera and all the associated cables and power bricks) slung from our feeble necks and shoulders. So when someone comes along with a claim to offset that load, well, we’re going to listen. Enter the Spider Camera Holster; a belt clip with a “spider pin” adapter that screws into the bottom of your cam allowing for a quick attach and release from the belt clip. A trick that moves the load from your neck to your hip in the process. Whether this is brilliant or idiotic, we’re not sure yet. Just try not to stare if you see us standing in a crowd with trou dropped around the ankles — we might be working… we might not. The Spider camera holster will ship this summer for an undetermined price.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading Video: Spider Camera Holster is a bit idiotic, possibly brilliant

Video: Spider Camera Holster is a bit idiotic, possibly brilliant originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 May 2009 02:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Hey, it’s no autofocus, but Canon’s sent word that a free firmware update is coming for the EOS 5D Mark II that’ll enable manual exposure control while shooting video, including ISO and aperture settings and shutter speed. Excited? Yeah, us too. No word on what else the update might entail, but it looks like we won’t have to wait long either, as the company’s saying to expect the download sometime in early June.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

New Canon EOS 5D Mark II firmware to add manual exposure control for video recording originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 May 2009 23:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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