SLRs Evolving to SLMs

For decades, the Single Lens Reflex camera has allowed photographers to optically view the image they were taking through the actual lens rather than a separate viewfinder. Seeing the crisp image directly through the lens was certainly an advance over the dual-lens rangefinders, but it added a level of mechanical complexity to cameras. A pentaprism and a moving mirror not only added complexity to the camera, it added cost, weight, and additional size. As video capability becomes integrated into still cameras, the time has come for the single lens reflex (SLR) camera to become the single lens mirror-less (SLM) camera. That is exactly what is happening in the industry. The latest offering appears to be Sony’s new e-mount NEX camera system which allows for interchangeable lenses and can capture both still images and HD movies. Sony is expanding the use of their new e-mount lenses with an HD camcorder in the Fall of 2010. For compatibility with their SLR lens family, they are offering an adapter which will allow their A-mount (alpha) lenses (which are also compatible with the Minolta lenses) to be reused with the camera systems. The one thing I would like to see Sony, Panasonic and similar vendors do is to create a wired LAN/Wi-Fi or even a 4G cellular camera body without an integrated LCD display so that such bodies along with the millions of high quality lenses floating around could be reused as high resolution security cameras.

Sony Cameras on Amazon

Polaroid Is Back

Polaroid is back as a company - but their product offering of traditional Polaroid films is limited to the Polaroid PoGo. It produces 2”x3” instant images on a sticky-backed paper. The images are created in about a minute. Along with the ZINK Photo paper for their camera, Polaroid is selling digital cameras, LCD TVs, photo books and prints. It seems like they are selling a lot of me-too products in a crowded retail space. I thought their 15.6” and 18.5” LCD TVs were somewhat interesting. But starting at $500, I wonder how well the product will do. If Apple or a 3rd party would create streaming TV to the iPad, it would make a great nightstand or desktop TV and would be in direct competition with the small TVs Polaroid is offering. It will be interesting to see how well the new Polaroid does. I would have liked to have seen them offer some of the traditonal Polaroid film products. Visit the Polaroid site.

Search Amazon.com for polaroid

Sidney Snoozing On Pillows

Sidney sleeping on his pillows. At 15 1/2, Sidney enjoys snoozing on one of his pillows. Photograph was taken on May 2, 2010 with a handheld Sony Alpha 700 (Sony DSLR-A700). Technical details include: Aperture: F2, Exposure: 1/15s, focal length: 50 mm (35 mm focal length: 75mm), ISO: 800, and no flash. Lighting is natural diffused light through the windows.

Happy Easter

Sidney sleeping with his stuffed bunny rabbit - Happy Easter 2010 composition. The photograph was made with a Sony DSLR-A100 (Alpha 100). The technical details include: aperture: F/5.6, exposure: 1/15s, ISO: 400, and focal length: 60mm. There was no flash used. The composition was made in Microsoft Visio and then saved as a png file in Snag-it editor.

Search Amazon.com for sony DSLR cameras

Sidney Waking Up

Sidney waking up in the morning while nestled in his bed of blankets and pillows. Sidney is 15 years old in this image. The image was made with a Sony DSLR-A700 (Alpha 700). The technical details include: aperture: F/2, exposure: 1/15 sec, ISO: 800, lighting: ambient daylight filtered through window (no flash), focal length: 50mm, 35mm focal length: 75mm.

Check Pricing:
Sony Alpha A900 24.6MP Digital SLR Camera (Black)

Mediterranean Fan Palm: New & Old Fruit

Mediterranean Fan Palms produce fruit which goes from green to a golden amber to a deep red and finally to that which almost resembles the size and color of a big raisin. These photographs show a Mediterranean Fan Palm with the current years fruit as well as the previous year’s fruit. The previous year’s fruit appear underneath the current fruit. The three photographs are various views of the same plant.

The photographs were taken with a handheld Sony Alpha 700 DSLR. The technical details of the top photograph include: Camera: Sony DSLR-A700 (Alpha 700) with a 1.4/50mm Sony lens, aperture: f/16, exposure: 1/25s, ISO: 800, focal length: 50mm, 35mm focal length: 75mm, white balance: auto.

The technical details of the above photograph include: Camera: Sony DSLR-A700 (Alpha 700) with a 1.4/50mm Sony lens, aperture: f/16, exposure: 1/60s, ISO: 800, focal length: 50mm, 35mm focal length: 75mm, white balance: auto.

The technical details of the above photograph include: Camera: Sony DSLR-A700 (Alpha 700) with a 1.4/50mm Sony lens, aperture: f/16, exposure: 1/80s, ISO: 800, focal length: 50mm, 35mm focal length: 75mm, white balance: auto.

Sidney On Feather Pillows

This photograph was made of my friend Sidney after he fell asleep on several of his feather pillows. He finally fell asleep after begging for food at three in the morning. I gave in and gave him a hamburger and then 8mg of Benadryl to help him with his allergies. At a little over 15 1/3 years old, Sidney gets pretty much whatever he wants.

The photograph was made with a handheld Sony DSLR-A700 (Alpha 700) with a Sony 1.4/50mm lens. The technical details include: focal length: 50mm, aperture: F/2, exposure: 1/8s, and ISO: 4000. The photograph was made on the last day of the decade, December 31, 2009. As for all of the photographs posted on this blog, click on the image for a larger photograph.

Merry Christmas

This image was captured on Christmas Eve 2009. It is my dog Sidney’s Christmas present sitting on a red tree skirt. Sidney actually loves the tree skirts. He thinks they are big handkerchiefs to wipe his nose on.

The photograph was made with a handheld Sony DSLR-A700 (Alpha 700). The technical details include: focal length: 50 mm, aperture: F/2, exposure: 1/15s, ISO: 800, light source color balance: Tungsten, Exposure Compensation: +0.7 step. There were no other light sources in the room outside of the Christmas tree lights. There were roughly 1500 miniature lights on the tree.

For a quick glimpse of Sidney, Check out the previous blog entry titled: Mature Dog Photography: Sidney.