At Last, New Canon G12 Brings HD Video Option

We've been waiting for this feature for a long time, and at last Canon have done it, albeit with 720p/24 HD video (the same as the Nikon  P7000). Other than that, things are pretty rudimentary, such a 10 megapixel CCD sensor, 5x lens with teleconverter, DIGIC 4 processor, and 2.8-inch 461k-dot articulated LCD (remaining the same as the now defunct G11). The difference though is that you now get new Canon's Hybrid IS system from the S95 for better macro performance, along with a new HDR mode and front command-dial. It'll be $499 when it hits in early October.

Check the price of the Canon PowerShot G12 (Amazon US).

Mirror, Mirror, Where Are You? Samsung NX100 Mirrorless Camera

The successor to last year's NX10, now offering a sleeker body, 14.6 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, a 3-inch VGA AMOLED display, an ISO range of 100 to 3200 (with a boost mode hitting 6400), 720p movie recording (H.264), SD / SDHC card slot, optional geo-tagging with GPS10 module and 'Sound Picture' mode that allows users to record audio when a photo is taken.
The new i-Function lens system really interesting though, it features a dedicated 'i-Function' button that allows users to scroll through manual settings, and a focus ring which is used to change parameters for each setting. Users can toggle between shutter speed, aperture, EV, WB, and ISO by simply using the i-Function button and ring on the lens.
With a variety of lenses for the NX100 planned, including a 60mm macro, 18-200mm telephoto, 20mm wide-angle pancake and a 20-50mm compact zoom, we can't wait to give it a try out.

Olympus make E-5 official

Not much has changed over the original (three-year old) E-3 but there's a slight increase in pixel count to 12MP, a less aggressive AA filter, which should mean better micro-contrast (and according to Olympus is superior to both the EOS 7D and D300), a new image processor, and mono 720p 30fps HD movie clips. Fortunately, it has a stereo mic socket, and the 3-inch LCD is a big improvement too, with 921k dot resolution. For more information, please see the press release below.

Tarnished Earth - Powerful Street Gallery of Photographs - Opens Tomorrow - 09/14/10

The stark images tell the story of how Canada’s Boreal Forest is being destroyed by a rush to extract oil from the tar sands which lie just below its surface. ‘Tarnished Earth’ is being staged by The Co-operative, in conjunction with WWF-UK and Greenpeace, as part of its Toxic Fuels campaign. The images contrast the destruction caused by the oil extraction with the Boreal’s pristine wilderness and the traditional way of life of the indigenous First Nation Cree.

Survival expert Ray Mears is due to attend the exhibition to show his support for the Toxic Fuels. Also attending will be Chief Al Lameman who is leader of the Beaver Lake Cree First Nation, a campaigner for improved living conditions on the reserve.

The exhibition is Free to view and is planning to run for four weeks.

To see more images from the exhibition - click here

Aerial view of the oily surface of the Mildred Lake tailings pond adjacent to the Syncrude upgrader north of Fort McMurray. The striking images will show how Canada’s magnificent boreal forest is being destroyed by the rush to extract oil from the tar sands just below the surface.

All Photographs: Jiri Rezac/Greenpeace

Cut in Half

Vast areas of forest are cleared. Paul Monaghan, head of sustainability at the Co-operative, said: 'We recognise the power of art to motivate people to take action and drive change, and we are confident that Tarnished Earth will help raise awareness of the massive environmental damage being caused by the exploitation of Canadian tar sands.' The Co-operative is staging the exhibition in conjunction with WWF-UK and Greenpeace.

Aerial view of the Syncrude Aurora tar sands mine in the boreal forest north of Fort McMurray

Drawing The Line

Drawing the line: activists call the destruction of the boreal forest one of the world's worst ecological disasters.

First Full Image Of Olympus E-5

43rumors.com wasted no time in getting this image out. The E-5 will be released tomorrow but for now we will all have to contend with this image, the first one of the complete camera, to date. Looking very similar to the Olympus E-3, so no great surprises there.

Spec

- Weather-proof (Magnesium) body
- 12.1Megapixel sensor (The same Olympus PEN sensor)
- ISO 100 – 6400 in 1/3 or 1 EV steps
- AVI Motion JPEG(30fps) HD (720)
- 6fps
- it can take a picture with sound.
- mono mic with stereo external microphone input
- 3 inch LCD with 920.000 dots resolution
- 11 points full-twin cross AF sensor (phase-difference detection system)
- 11 area multiple AF (contrast detection system)
- CF and SD dual slot
- Built-in wireless flash

Written by Joanne Carter

Olympus E-5 Uses Same Panasonic 12 MP Sensor, as used in the PEN

Latest update regarding the Olympus E-5, according to 43Rumors, is that the E-5 will not use the 12MPX sensor as previously rumored but the same 12 MP sensor as used for the PEN. 43Rumors go on to say that 'Olympus prefer that sensor to the new Panasonic 16 MP - presumably the GH2'

The E-5 is also expected to be slightly cheaper than the $1699 of the E-3 when that was launched in October 2007. At least we will know fro sure very soon as the E-5 should be unveiled tomorrow, September 14.

NASA Commons - 50 Years of Photographs - A New Archive

An incredible archive of images from NASA, known as NASA Commons pertains to demonstrate just how far space exploration has come. The images are brilliant, historically speaking as well as photographically. NASA describe the archive as "an opportunity for the public to participate in the process of discovery." It focuses on key figures in the agency's development, such as astronaut John Glenn, photographed below entering Friendship 7 to begin his historic flight as well as a briefing given by Major Rocco Petrone to President John F. Kennedy during a tour of Blockhouse 34 at the Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex.

To see the full NASA Commons archive - click here

Friendship 7

Collection: NASA Image of the Day Gallery
Title: Friendship 7

Description: On Feb. 20, 1962 at 9:47 am EST, John Glenn launched from Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 14 to become the first American to orbit the Earth. In this image, Glenn enters his Friendship 7 capsule with assistance from technicians to begin his historic flight. Glenn rejoined NASA in 1998 as a member of the STS-95 Discovery crew. This 9-day mission, from Oct. 29-Nov. 7, supported a variety of research payloads including deployment of the Hubble Space Telescope Orbital Systems Test Platform and investigations on space flight and the aging process. Image Credit: NASA

JFK Tour of KSC

Collection: NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection
Title: JFK Tour of KSC

Full Description: A briefing is given by Major Rocco Petrone to President John F. Kennedy during a tour of Blockhouse 34 at the Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex.

Date: 9/11/1962

Spiro Agnew and Lyndon Johnson Watch the Apollo 11 Liftoff

Collection: NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection
Title: Spiro Agnew and Lyndon Johnson Watch the Apollo 11 Liftoff

Full Description: Vice President Spiro Agnew and former President Lyndon B. Johnson view the liftoff of Apollo 11 from pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 9:32 am EDT on July 16, 1969.

Date: 07/16/1969
NASA Center: Kennedy Space Center

Mercury -- February 1962

Collection: Spacesuit and Spacewalk History Image Gallery
Title: Mercury -- February 1962

Description: Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., NASA flight surgeon William Douglas and equipment specialist Joseph W. Schmidt leave crew quarters prior to the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. Glenn is in his pressure suit and is carrying the portable ventilation unit.

Viking 1 Launch

Collection: NASA Great Images in Nasa Collection
Title: Viking 1 Launch

Full Description: Viking 1 was launched by a Titan/Centaur rocket from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 5:22 p.m. EDT to begin a half-billion mile, 11-month journey through space to explore Mars. The 4-ton spacecraft went into orbit around the red planet in mid-1976.

Date: 8/20/1975

Written by: Joanne Carter

Mirrorless 22MP Canon EIS Camera Rumored

Chinese whispers have been busy this weekend, apparently reporting on a new high-end Canon range, EIS. Apparently using an Electro Image System. With HD video recording at 1080p at 30/24/25 fps. ISO from 100-6400 that can be increased to 25-25600.

With two lens kits available, a 12-75 f2.8-4.0 IS Macro and 75-300 f3.5-5.6 IS, in addition with the full lens choices including a 5mm F4 fisheye, 8-25mm F4 wide-angle zoom, 14mm F2 pancake, 25mm F1.2 pancake, 45mm F1.5 pancake, and 65mm F2.0 Macro.
It's also been said it will have an LCD touchscreen, dual SD memory card slot, and work with EF lenses via an EF - EIS adapter. Wow, this would be fantastic if brought to fruitution.
Written by: Joanne Carter
Chinese Source

UPDATE: According to the Google translation, the back-illuminated CMOS sensor is 18x12mm, exactly a quarter (1/4) the area of a full-frame 35mm sensor, and close to the micro Four Thirds format of 17.3x13mm. But, I reckon this is a hoax. Why is there a pentaprism, if it's supposed to be a "mirrorless" camera?

Panasonic's Ideas For Life - Announce AF105 Micro Four Thirds Camcorder - Interchangeable Lense Not Included

The AF105 otherwise known as AF100 in Europe is the first camcorder in the world to offer a Four-Thirds sized sensor, and in addition provides 1080/60i or 1080/30p AVCHD video recording skills. "Cinema" lenses can also be fitted on via an extra adapter. Video is recorded in AVCHD format. The PH mode for professional high quality video with a bit rate of 24Mbps 1 is also supported. Two SD card slots allow relay recording from one SD (SD / SDHC / SDXC) card to another to give large recording capacity of up to 12 hours 2 in PH mode or 48 hours 2 in HE mode.

The price is set at ¥837,900 (about $9,960) and launch is expected this December 2010.

Micro Four Thirds lens mount

Diversified Micro Four Thirds single-lens still camera lenses can be used for shooting video. The adapter mount allows 35mm film camera lenses or prime lenses to be attached to make possible a wide variety of visual expressiveness from each lens particular tone.

Four Thirds type MOS sensor

Equipped with a Four Thirds type MOS sensor for an imaging area* almost the same as that of 35mm film. Use of film lenses allows easy recording of filmic tone video with a shallow depth of field.

Detachable Handle And Grip

The professional camera recorder design with grip, handle, large-sized high quality view finder (1.14cm (0.45 inches) / 1.226 million dot equivalent [852 x 480 x 3 (RGB)]) on a lightweight / compact body, along with a 16:9 color LCD panel (8.76cm (3.45 inches) / 921,000 dot (1920 x 480)), supports smooth camera operation. The handle and grip are detachable for diverse peripherals and applications.

Additional Features

Internal ND filter: 1/4, 1/16, 1/64 or Off (rotary switch).
Focus-assist function: edge coloration, focus bar display.
DRS (Dynamic Range Stretch): automatically reduces compression of black or blown highlights in high contrast scenes.
Thumbnail viewing, clip deletion and SD card to SD card copying and meta-data recording functions.
Pre-rec and Interval rec functions.
Relay recording: Relay recording from one SD card to another without interrupt.
WFM display function: the wave form of the video being recorded is easily displayed on an LCD monitor.
Shot mark function: the useful shot mark function allows marking of clips as good, bad or others.
User buttons: three user buttons allow high-frequency functions to be performed with a single push.
Audio volumes: allows manual adjustment of audio inputs (2 ch).
Video output (pin jack x 1), HD/SD SDI output (BNC x 1), HDMI output (HDMI Type A x 1).
USB 2.0 (Type B) allows connection to PC/Mac.
XLR audio inputs (XLR x 2, Line/Mike selectable, +48V compatible), Internal microphone (stereo).
Audio outputs (RCA x 2), Headphone (stereo mini jack x 1 (3.5mm diameter)).
Camera Remote (super mini jack x 1; zoom, S/S, mini jack x 1; focus, iris).1; focus, iris).

More Information, click here

Written by Joanne Carter

Sleeping Beauties - War Torn US Paratroopers Asleep - A 9/11 Fitting Tribute?

On this day nine years ago the world was shocked to the very core with the 9/11 atrocities and yet still the soldiers continue 'our' war on terror.

In a somewhat reality check of the continuing madness of the world, Tim Hetherington, born in Liverpool, UK, who studied literature at Oxford University and later returned to college to study photojournalism and is now based in New York and is a contributing photographer for Vanity Fair magazine; spent 15 months between 2007 and 2008 along with reporter Sebastian Junger, shadowing Battle Company's Second Platoon, part of the Second Battalion of the US army's 503rd Infantry Regiment.

The journalists compiled their work into a documentary, Restrepo, and a book of photography, Infidel, both released next month, illustrating how they shared food, patrols and sleeping quarters with the soldiers. The longer the reporters stayed, the deeper their vista became. They discovered that these child-like dreamers could also weep over lost colleagues or explain to local villagers why they had wounded their children in a way that demonstrates more than the stereotypical muscle bound killing machines.

'Infidel' will be on show at Host Gallery, London EC1 from 20 September to 15 October, hostgallery.co.uk; the book will be published by Chris Boot on 7 October, priced £25. The documentary, 'Restrepo', goes on general release in the UK on 8 October 2010.

For More Images Click Here

Kelso, from Battle Company's 2nd Platoon, in the Korengal Valley

Specialist Luke Nevala

Mace

One Bullet, One Shot, One Outstanding Image

Lex Augusteijn is dedicated to high speed photography. Since taking up photography in 1976 the enthusiam and attention to detail has been second to none.

"I have dedicated myself to high-speed photography, taking pictures of extremely short events. It is all controlled by a laptop, releasing the drop, opening the shutter, firing the flash and shooting the bullet. No triggering required," says Lex

To see the complete gallery of objects being shot at, click here

How Fast Can You Go

Winner of the DP Review Photo Challenge - see more here

Shot In The Dark

Coke can explodes.

Water Balloon

Picture Editor's Guild Awards 2010

The dynamic and highly-competitive world of the professional press photographer has just got even more combative with this newly launched contest to reward the very best in picture journalism. Guild members, all picture editors working throughout Britain, have judged a variety of press photography competitions for two decades but the fast-changing media world has lacked a nationwide challenge of this calibre in recent years.

Adapting to the digital age, the competition will be hosted on a dedicated website with seven categories for all professional press photographers in the UK and Eire. An innovative eighth category - BT Citizen Photograph of the year - is also open to the public.

Backing for the new competition has come from the renowned international brewers SABMiller; leading telecoms company BT; the Bloomberg, financial software, news and data group; British Airways and Newscast, the visual images communications agency.

An overall winner will be honoured as the SABMiller Photographer of The Year and receive £1,000 and a trophy. Individual category winners will each receive £500 and a trophy.

Shortlisted entries announced; click here for the list with entrant's name and thumbnail images of the entries.

The winners will be announced at a gala evening presentation on September 21st at the Honourable Artillery Company headquarters in the City of London.

Mr Eddie Mulholland , Daily/Sunday Telelgraph - Royal Photographer of the Year finalist

Mr Charles McQuillan, Pacemaker Press International Belfast - Photo Essay finalist

Photo Essay

I was given unprecedented access to the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, during the 2010 election campaign - at home in Scotland, on the road and in No.10 Downing Street.

Mr Martin Argles     - The Guardian

Christopher Furlong, Getty Images - News Photographer of the Year finalist

Astronomy Photographer Of The Year 2010 - Results

The Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition is a unique showcase the most incredible images submitted to The Royal Observatory competition. This years winning entries have just been published but you can join their Flickr group and vote for your favorite image online, or if you are in London why not visit the exhibition to see all of this year’s winning entries at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, alongside London’s only planetarium.

Dates: 10 September 2010–27 February 2011
Opening times: 10.00–5.00 daily (closed 24–26 December, early closing 31 December, late opening 1 January).
Last admission: 4.30pm
FREE Admission
See highlights from this year's competition at the Astronomy Photographer of the Year showcase. Right now, you can view your astro photos in Google Sky, thanks to the amazing astrotagging robot. You can also find out about the history of astrophotography at Greenwich.
Join The Flickr group here - and vote for your favorite image.

Competition winner – Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2010 - Blazing Bristlecone

Congratulations to Tom Lowe who wins the title Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2010 with this spectacular image of ancient trees silhouetted against the bright star clouds of the Milky Way. Competition judge Marek Kukula says: ‘I think this beautiful picture perfectly captures the spirit of Astronomy Photographer of the Year, linking the awe-inspiring vista of the night sky with life here on Earth. The bristlecone pines in the foreground can live as long as five thousand years. But, they are babies compared to the starlight shining behind them, some of which began its journey towards us almost 30,000 years ago.

What the photographer says: ‘If I could change anything about this photo, it would be the artificial lighting! The light on that tree occurred accidentally because I had my headlamp and possibly a camping lantern on while I was taking a series of test shots! The artificial light is too frontal and not evenly distributed, but in the end the light did in fact show the amazing patterns in the tree’s wood. The reason these trees inspire me so much, aside from their striking beauty, is their age. Many of them were standing while Genghis Khan marauded across the plains of Asia. Being a timelapse photographer, it's natural for me to attempt to picture our world from the point of view of these ancient trees. Seasons and weather would barely register as events over a lifetime of several thousand years. The lives of humans and other animals would appear simply as momentary flashes.’

What it shows: The gnarled branches of an ancient tree align with a view of our Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way is a flat, disc-like structure of stars, gas and dust measuring more than 100,000 light years across. Our Sun lies within the disc, about two-thirds of the way out from the centre, so we see the Milky Way as a bright band encircling the sky. This view is looking towards the centre of our galaxy, 26,000 light years away, where dark clouds of dust blot out the light of more distant stars. What appears to be an artificial satellite orbiting the Earth makes a faint streak of light across the centre of the image.

Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera with a Canon EF 16-35mm lens set at 16mm

What the judges say: Sir Patrick Moore says: ‘I like the way the tree follows the Milky Way and the definition is very good.’

What Flickr members say: Chaos2K says: ‘even your “accidents” are awesome – great shot Tom.

Category winners – Our Solar System - Siberian Totality by Anthony Ayiomamitis (Greece)

What the photographer says: ‘On eclipse day, the clouds were present everywhere and only one hour before first contact (partial phase) did the skies clear...and they cleared beautifully and with pristine transparency. There was a slight wind, especially at the top of the roof of the Institute of Nuclear Physics, but it was a very small price to pay.’

What it shows: During a total solar eclipse, the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun. For a few minutes, with the dazzling light of the solar disc blocked from view, we gain a rare glimpse of the corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere. Powerful magnetic fields warp and shape the super-heated gas of the corona into glowing loops and streamers.

Equipment: Takahashi FSQ-106 106mm refractor telescope on a Celestron CG3 German equatorial mount with a Canon EOS 350D XT DSLR camera.

What the judges say: Pete Lawrence says: ‘The processing used maintains an exquisite level of detail right across the corona and delivers a view similar to what would be seen with the human eye. This is something that’s not easy to do with a camera and the end result completely justifies all the hard work that’s gone into producing this beautiful image.’

What Flickr members say: n.pantazis says: ‘That’s a masterpiece by any aspect! Congratulations, Anthony'.

Deep Space – winner - Orion Deep Wide Field

What the photographer says: ‘I love this image for several reasons. One, because it includes a feature easily recognizable even from light-polluted skies (Orion’s belt), so anyone can “place” this image in the sky. Another reason is because the composition resembles a complex and beautiful stellar landscape, rather than just an object placed in the middle of the frame.’

What it shows: The three bright stars of Orion's Belt, on the left of this image, are a familiar sight in the winter sky. Here, however, a long exposure reveals an epic vista of dust and gas clouds which are too faint to be seen by the naked eye. This is an immense region of space hundreds of light years across. It contains several well-known astronomical sights, including the Horsehead Nebula (bottom centre) and the Orion Nebula (top right).

Equipment: Takahashi FSQ 106 EDX 106mm refractor with 0.7x focal reducer with a SBIG STL11000 CCD camera on a Takahashi EM-400 equatorial mount.

What the judges say: Pete Lawrence says: ‘This is a truly superb image which reveals an amazing amount of dark dust permeating the space in the direction of Orion’s belt and down to his sword. The way the faint detail between the Orion Nebula and Horsehead Nebula has been brought out is nothing short of astonishing. This alien skyscape really captivates my imagination and I could look at it for hours on end!’.

What Flickr members say: Nightfly Photography says: ‘Amazingly deep and delicate at the same time. Kudos to you and your work.'

Young Astronomy Photographer 2010 – winner - A Perfect Circle by Dhruv Arvind Paranjpye (India), aged 14

What the photographer says: ‘My father got me a telescope and a digital camera, and the annular eclipse was a perfect opportunity to test my skills. The photograph was clicked from the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, Kanyakumari.’

What it shows: An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far from the Earth to completely cover the Sun’s disc, as it would during a total solar eclipse. Seen here through a layer of cloud, a bright ring appears as the uncovered part of the Sun shines around the edges of the Moon.

Specialist equipment is needed to safely observe or photograph the Sun. Looking at the Sun with the naked eye or through a telescope, binoculars or camera can cause injury or permanent blindness.

Equipment: Nikon E3700 digital camera.

What the judges say: Rebekah Higgitt says: ‘I loved how the perfect geometry of the eclipsed Sun contrasts with the chaotic shapes of the clouds. By using the clouds as a filter, Paranjpye has been able to reproduce wonderful, contrasting colour.

People and Space - Photon Worshippers by Steven Christenson (USA)

What the photographer says: ‘Astronomy and astronomical phenomenon have been a hobby for my entire life. Nothing is quite so awe-inspiring to me as being in a dark night sky and watching a meteor shower or a lunar eclipse – or just seeing the majesty of the Milky Way reaching from horizon to horizon.’

What it shows: For a few days each year, the setting Sun shines directly through the archway of a large rock formation at Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California. This event has become very popular with photographers. Alignments of the Sun with natural and man-made structures have been significant to people for thousands of years.

Equipment: Canon EOS 50D DSLR camera with a Canon 10-22mm lens set at 10mm on a Manfrotto tripod.

What the judges say: Sir Patrick Moore says: ‘It’s a rare event – it happens only once a year and the photographer has taken full advantage – the composition is fabulous.’

What Flickr members say: rbitonti says: ‘Awesome shot! The light is amazing.

Best Newcomer - The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) by Ken Mackintosh (UK)

This new category is for photos by people who have taken up the hobby in the last year and have not entered the competition before. Special consideration is given to those using simple and inexpensive start-out kit. Congratulations to this year's Best Newcomer, Ken Mackintosh.

What the photographer says: ‘I have been interested in astronomy since I was very young and took it as an option at university. My interest was very much rekindled recently when I realized (just casually browsing through flickr in fact) how much more accessible the photography side of the hobby had become and what good results could be achieved at not such a great cost or effort.’

What it shows: Galaxies are vast collections of hundreds of billions of stars, gas and dust bound together by gravity. M51, or the Whirlpool, is a classic example of a spiral galaxy with swirling patterns of newly formed stars lacing gracefully through its disc. A smaller, rounder galaxy is seen towards the top of this image, slowly colliding with its larger neighbor.

Equipment: Maxvision 127mm apochromatic refractor with a modified Canon EOS 450D DSLR camera on an EQ6 mount.

What the judges say: Will Gator says: ‘This is a lovely image of the Whirlpool Galaxy and its companion galaxy (NGC 5195). I particularly like the detail that has been captured in the faint dust lanes that can be seen silhouetted against the Whirlpool’s bright spiral arms.’

What Flickr members say: Whispering Wombat ;) says: ‘Magnificent work...sigh...I can only enjoy it through your excellent handiwork. Well done.