Ever Hear of an I-Speed?

Yesterday on FStoppers they pointed us to a European video that was created with an Olympus I-Speed. The top end model of this small video camera can operate at frame rates up to (and this is not typo) 1,000,000 frames per second. It would be used in the high end research and medical fields and had export restrictions on it for obvious reasons.

The lower end models operate in the enimic 2 to 4 thousand frames per second. LOL. We've all seen the super slow motion shots of bullets being shot out of gun barrels, etc. an I-SPeed is the type of camera used for such work.

There was another video on YouTube of a water balloon being broken with a pin. It filled the frame and 2 minutes into the video the remaining ball of water had not yet left the frame. SUPER slow motion!

The above video was using a Sigma 24mm F/1.8 lens. I think I want to buy one!

Image Stabilization - In Body - In Lens

Image stabilization (IS) started a number of years ago with  Konica-Minolta, now Sony.

IS has developed into two forms. It is either "in body", such as Konica Minolta developed or "in lens" which is primarily used by Canon and Nikon. Both systems have advantages and disadvantages. Some systems can use either one or the other.... even both which you will learn is very ineffective.

This video created by Gordon Laing, the editor over at Camera Labs, demontrates both IS systems in one camera. The effect of either of these IS systems is dramatic and you will actually get to see how it works. The camera used here is one that I own and is now about 6 years old. But the demonstration is still a great one.

An EVF in Action..... WOW!

Optical View Finder vs Electronic View FinderKirk Tuck  has gone on and on for some time talking about how the new Sony A77 is going to be such a game changer because of the EVF (electronic view finders) vs what we've all become used to the OVF (Optical View Finder)..... You create the image in the camera, what you see in the EVF is what you will get!

(Just some background... He uses big Canons and now a Sony in the studio... as well as a Hassablad and some Nikon gear and a Olympus PEN as a walk around camera on the streets of Austin...)

I understood what he meant as I've read his blog, but wasn't isn't until I saw an EVF in action that I came to really understand!... This video is a EVF in the new... soon to be relased Olympus OM-D.  Let you imagination work on this....

These new EVFs bring the statement "do as much as you can in the camera" to a new level. I can see why Kirk is so excited.

Bourne's Review New Micro 4/3rds Lens

As is typical of Olympus they hit a home run with a new lens, something that they are known for.  Scott Bourne's review of this new micro 4/3rd lens, that can be used with many of the micro 4/3rd cameras including Olympus' PEN, is above. Scott is a famous avian photography by the way, who has used both Nikon and Canon all of his career.

I don't see the compact class of cameras, which includes the Olympus PEN, being used for serious sports work, not yet anyway... But for others forms of photography these inter-changable lens compacts, made by all the manufacturers, are looking good!

The "SECOND UPDATE" part of the blog is telling,  low weight, small size and ease of transport are a big deal particularly when coupled with fast prime glass... typically around F/1.8 with a third party lens at F/0.95. Anyone new to photography should seriously consider this type of camera.

Where will this all end? I hope in a much more usable camera for all of us.