Here's a quick run through of what to expect from the Aputure Timer Remote when getting the Intervalometer ( Timelapse ) feature started. This timelapse remote is for the Canon 550D / T2i and will not work with the Canon 7D or 5D Mark II. The connection to the camera is similar to a mini stereo headphone jack. The other cameras use a different round connection type with several pins. This Timelapse is remote pretty straight forward once you do a quick run through on the user manual. There are much more features for this remote that I haven't dived into yet, but that will be posted up soon. There is no option to start and stop video (I get alot of those questions). It's a great little remote for the price of $22.00 dollars.
I'm seeing bits and pieces of video footage coming from Sony's NEX, now that the camera is available. For now, the above video seems like the best thing i've found on Vimeo that someone's put alot of time into. Flickr has a growing Sony NEX-3 & NEX-5 group showcasing the awesome photo quality, but that's a no brainer considering Sony always had great photo quality from it's smaller Camera lines. Come to think of it, this might be one of the cheapest interchangeable lens HD video DSLR (type) + lens kit on the market starting at $549.00. Quality looks mighty good for such a small camera, I'm sold on the Photo capabilities, but i'm still waiting for more video samples before I personally pull the trigger. Hopefully i'll run into someone personally who owns one to do a formal blog review, or try to get a review product from a retailer. If you're the impatient type, the Sony NEX interchangeable lens camera is now available at bhphotovideo.com
Not even a day later, I just got a message back from GoPro themselves, I love their super fast support responses. The above video was added to the email back to me as an example of the fix they are working on. It does appear to be much much more sharper than orginal curved lens footage:
Hi Emm,
Due to the curved lens of the waterproof housing for the HD HERO camera and standard def Wide HERO cameras, you will notice a slight loss of sharpness/focus to underwater images. In video mode with the standard def camera this is not very noticeable due to the lower resolution. With the HD HERO camera this becomes more evident at the higher resolution. We are developing a flat glass adapter / housing specifically for underwater use, thus allowing for the same image sharpness that you enjoy with your GoPro camera above water. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive an update for new product releases.
So officially GoPro Cameras is aware of the underwater Focus and aware of a Flat Lens fix. The question now i'm sure everyone is wondering about is ETA. The R&D process for mass manufacturers can sometimes be a bit slow, but you should definitely sign up for the GoPro Camera Newsletter to stay informed of their updates.
Don't let this stop your vacations. If you're impatient and want to get better underwater focus with your GoPro HD, the options are DIY it yourself, or let someone experienced like EyeOfMine Multimedia prepare a housing for you.
Unlike the 70-200mm F/4 Coffee Mug at the Winter Olympics, this cup was never released directly by Canon. When this lens replica cup was first available, it was a very cheap looking, terrible design, that had many many flaws. After finding that there is a 'Version 2' of this lens with over 90% accuracy, it was something I had to add to the collection. I have to admit the new design is even more accurate to the referenced lens than even Canon's 70-200mm Coffee Mug. There are no stainless inserts, so it's not designed for hot beverages. It does although work as a great tumblr for summer time coolers. Starting around $24 dollars, You can find the Canon 24-105mm Lens Replica Cups here.
The GoPro HD Camera is an awesome little camera that can be used in any situation possible. We've seen it on land, in near space, and underwater. The underwater footage though doesn't seem as sharp due to the curved lens on the water proof housing. This design provides many 'Pros', but the underwater focus is a definite 'Con'. EyeofMine Multimedia created a DIY solution (now for sale) to add a flat lens onto a GoPro waterproof housing. The results speak for themselves, and if you're a GoPro HD Camera owner you'll know where i'm coming from.
The Flat Lens fix from EyeofMine Multimedia is a bit DIY with some glue and isn't covered by GoPro warranty. The quality of the build, I can't tell unless I get to review one in person (hopefully they'll respond to my inquiries). On another note, i've also asked GoProCamera.com themselves about the focus issue (they're local in Half Moon Bay), and hopefully i'll get a response soon about whether or not they'll be offering a different housing or some other solution to correct the underwater focus issues.
Look GoPro, I know everyone loves your cameras. I'm sure there is no solution for a Housing that does it all both on Land, Space, and Sea. I can promise you this though. If you can put something out that solves the underwater focus issues, I'll be happy to mount 2 cameras on a single mount with different housings and that should solve the video footage I need in any situation. You can find prices for the awesome GoPro HD - Underwater, Land, and OuterSpace camera here.
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Related Underwater blog talk:
If you're a new iPhone 4 or Sprint HTC EVO owner, maybe you'd like to take some of that HD footage underwater with your new cell phone. If you're brave check out the Aquapac.
The cost of a real Variable ND will run you about $110-$120 dollars for a 77mm, but by following the Instructables tutorial, you might be able to get a bit of functionality for under $10 dollars. The basic principle is attaching 2 circular polarizers together, but flipping one lens backwards. There's a bit of screwing and unscrewing involved, but pretty straight forward for those who want to test this out.
Here it is folks, just got a message from the man himself. The LCDVF for the Canon EOS 550D / T2i is real and it's almost ready. Check out the video of the installation process and fit. Very very nicely designed. No rumors here, Glidetrack.com will have 100 of them very soon. Make sure to Twitter, Digg, or Facebook this article to spread the word using the links below.
Thanks to a tip from a reader, here's an interesting combination of readily available camera equipment that makes for a fancy DSLR shoulder braced shooter. Grab yourself the T-Pod Tactical Tripod + the Monfrotto Shoudler Brace for Monopods and you have yourself a pretty steady highly configurable Shoulder Shooter. It's not a $20 dollar rig, and sure it might run you about $60-$80 dollars, but the most basic Shoulder Shooters from band names will run you over $400+. This is a great simple solution, that doesn't look like a homemade solution. Both are available on Amazon links below.
