Articles from Adam Ottke

When off duty, Officer Gared Hansen enjoys shooting (photographing, that is) nude models as mermaids and other magical beings. But when his department found out about the extracurriculars, they suspended him -- Internal Affairs even looked into him after that. Naturally, Hansen sees it as a fun hobby. But the SFPD says that it reflects poorly and in bad taste upon the department... 

Canon has a few things on the horizon, potentially. One thing is for sure, there's some kind of high-megapixel camera like the Nikon D800. But recent rumors prove this could up the game to an entirely new level...  

Some say film is dead. And while I have to concede that at times, it can seem like it's certainly on a few crutches, I can't say it's dead... Because in reality, it's the most live photography medium I know. And so, I still shoot film. If it's something you've been curious about or if you've been wanting to try it out but don't know how to get started, this is for you.  

Canon's mirrorless camera is due out Monday, but Digicame-info.com posted a photo of what promises to be this mirrorless camera. And if the picture is correct, it's quite a neat little thing -- not so bulky as these other 'semi-pro' mirrorless offerings.  

This is a sad day. While I don't foresee the end of the world, the Mayans tell us we still have time...it can still happen. Certainly, this being the third post about discontinued film since I started on Fstoppers just six months ago, this is the start of the photographers' Armageddon. But don't go hang yourself just yet -- there's just enough good news to keep me going just a little longer.

Sinar's new Sinarback eXact boasts an impressive 12-192-megapixel capabilities within a single back. While it's just been announced, and so far without a price, there is definitely a catch or two... 

This was done a while ago, but Red Giant, the maker of a number of software tools to help image-makers create more realistic visual effects, created a short to showcase the capabilities of their software. The short, "Plot Device," has a great BTS video to go along with it -- they even share all the products they used. Enjoy the finished product after the break.  

XQ-What? Okay, so most of you have heard of the Nikon D4's new card slot and the XQD card that goes with it. But that still leaves the question: What are they good for? Lexar apparently knows the answer, as they announced they're introducing XQD cards due out third quarter of this year. So what is the hype? Should we get ready for an XQD revolution?  

Nikon seemed to have settled with their 600mm at the top of their line-up. But NikonRumors now reports there could be an 800mm on the way...  

While there were supposedly rumors of an 800mm f/4, this one will likely have ended up an AF-S VR 800mm f/5.6. Still, this fills a gap Nikon has had recently, considering their last 800mm was originally released in 1986.

Sony just announced a new S Series XQD card that increases the speed of the card to 168MB/s -- that's just past the limit of the compact flash card.  

At 64GB, the card also doubles the original series' capacity. The 64GB card is due out this month, where a 32GB version will be released in the fall.

Some might say we're a little iPhone-biased. Well, this might change some things. The new Nokia 808 Pureview has not 8, not 20, but 38 usable megapixels packed in its shell! It's a little thicker than the new iPad right where the camera is, but the rest stays remarkably thin. Even if it's $700 or more (according to eBay pre-order listings), I can't wait for a Nokia 808 v.

After Sony's teaser, JVC's new action cam, the GC-XA1 Adixxion, seems to want the action camera market all to themselves. Full HD, a 1.5" screen, and 5x zoom will come standard on most of these kinds of devices. But what sets this apart? How about the shock-, water-, dust-, and freeze-proof housing that it's in? Or the standard Wifi included?  

We're still missing some key information, so it's hard to say. But Sony's gunning for GoPro with their newest little action camera.  

...Or do they? Camera manufacturers today -- especially consumer camera manufacturers -- have created sensors that keep growing the megapixel count on each chip year after year, meeting consumers' general expectations for a higher number of 'MP' with every subsequent refresh. But what do these numbers really mean? Do you need all of those pixels?

We've already had info about D600 specs. But today we have new information, including D400 specs and even some leaked photos of the D600, Nikon's entry-level full-frame DSLR!   Rumored Nikon D400 Specs via Mansurovs.com:

I've always held the opinion that Canon's T1i-T3i series were the best-bang-for-the-buck cameras out there. And they really are. No fancy weather sealing or anything, but for someone looking to step up to a DSLR for under $1000, this T4i ($849) bumps everything up a notch. Add to that a bargain 40mm f2.8 pancake lens for true portability!? Way to go!  

How big is your sensor? While bigger is more expensive, bigger is also better -- always. Thankfully, camera manufacturers are now able to fit larger sensors in smaller bodies, and for less money. And we like that. Check out these new announcements to stay on top of your large-sensor cameras.  

How do you figure that? 33MP at 120fps. That's right -- 33 megapixels! Data transfer rate is 51.2Gbps! This is the camera that NHK built to supposedly replace HDTV "one day?" While we won't see this replace HDTV for years and years, it's an impressive feat, but one that might also fill a hard drive or ten a little too quickly.  

For his music video for the song Rivers and Homes, J.Viewz shot a 'normal' music video, had 2000 of its frames printed out, and re-shot and -animated together shots of several hundred fans holding those stills for the final piece -- and the fans can tag themselves, too. While time-consuming, this is an elegantly simple idea with a great end result... Via Doobybrain.com

Okay, so maybe it's beyond your budget. But if you've been waiting for these updates, they're finally here -- Canon's top of the line super-teles! With redesigned fluorite glass, 3-mode image stabilization, and a lightweight, magnesium/titanium design, there's not much more a photographer could want. Can't wait? Pre-order the 500mm f/4 IS II or the 600mm f/4 IS II now. Can't hurt to look...

A few weeks ago, we sent out the first update on Nikon D600 rumors and expressed disappointment with the probable lack of an internal AF motor. Well, that's now changed...and we have more goodies, too!  

Via NikonRumors The Goods:

You may remember a while ago when we posted a candlelight video test by Joe Marine over at NoFilmSchool.com. After seeing feedback from the video, Joe sent me a new one (thanks!). The beginning is almost the same, but adjusted since Nikon and Canon handle ISO differently. But later on in the video, Joe got some interesting results when adding noise reduction and color correcting...  

Filmmaker Philip Bloom has gotten his hands on Nikon's and Canon's newest full-frame digital SLRs. Luckily for us, we get an extensive side-to-side comparison in this rather thorough shoot-out. Bloom uses the almost 30 minutes to go through resolution, aliasing, low-light, and feature comaprisons. Let us know what you think in the comments section!

NAB 2012 has come and gone, and if you missed it, know that it was a heck of a show this year. Check out our list of the NAB 2012 products that made serious waves for practicality in both function and price, and then let us know your favorites in the comments section! We're giving away a free year of Animoto to one lucky commenter!  

When Nikon said the D800 (which you can win here) wasn't meant to be the D700's direct successor, I'm not sure many trusted them. However, recent rumors show something in the works that would fit well into that realm. And so, we now have a lot of people talking about what could be a very cool camera -- with a few key things left behind...  

Via NikonRumors

First lenses across the board, and now film -- Fuji will raise its film prices by a substantial amount. With Kodak having dropped its chrome production, Fuji is left on its own. Kodak does still produce C-41 color and B+W film, but will they be forced to raise prices, too, in the coming months? Stock up now while you can still afford to!  

While users have not experienced issues, according to Nikon, it was still discovered that the popular D800, D7000, and Nikon 1 V1 EN-EL15 battery overheats. Nikon has issued a recall for certain batch numbers. Read on to see if you're affected.  

Adobe just announced the availability of its new CS6 software suite. Of course, Adobe's software solutions are absolutely necessary for just about every storyteller out there. Patrick gave us a quick look at Photoshop CS6's most awesome features a little while ago if you want to check it out (the new content-aware support is unbelievable!).

Who's got who beat is a big deal for those who are debating where to put their next $3000 -- and rightly so. So if you're interested in shooting video on any of the newest and hotly debated DSLRs out there, check out this low-light, high-ISO video test. The winner is crystal clear -- literally.  

SPOILER ALERT: So if that 5D Mark III doesn't impress you, I don't know what will.

Due later tonight is an official announcement of Nikon's new D3200 DSLR. But Nikon Switzerland seems to have beaten the rest of the world to the punch. They published a wonderful PDF: a price list outlining Nikon's entire line-up -- including the D3200, a wireless transmitter, and new lens...  Via Nikonrumors.com

If you've missed the news, NAB 2012 is going on right now. NAB is the big video show that gives professional broadcasting companies something to look forward to. To that point, there are budget options and other video announcements that are sure to peak the interests of budget shooters as well.

Canon has issued a product advisory for the 5D MkIII, admitting that the company's newest addition currently on shelves has some issues exposing correctly while the backlight is on. Canon is working on the issue, but has not yet stated anything specific about possible solutions...

Canon unloaded a ton of news this morning. Apart from specifically releasing specifications for the EOS 1D C (Cine) DSLR and the C500, they're also apparently working on a few other things, including four lenses and other 4K cameras -- the C300 was definitely just the beginning. Full specs and tons of photos after the jump!

EOSHD.com reports that Canon is working on both lower- and higher-end versions of the C300, the C100 and C500. While we're unsure about the C100, new rumors indicate that Canon could be ready to announce the C500 along with the previously rumored Cinema EOS 1D DSLR made specifically for video! And all this could happen before the weekend, when NAB 2012 is set to kick off.

Hard drives are something we all need. But in an industry that advances (i.e. depreciates) so quickly and with increases in price due to flooding in Thailand, how can we be sure we're getting what's right for us? And how can we stay technologically flexible with upcoming releases when we have 'old' hard drives? Do I need Thunderbolt? Do I need more than two hard drives?