October 2008 Archives

Here is a piece of camera gear that Cool Tools posted about. It is touted as a more portable alternative to using a monopod.

Pocket-size stabilizer: Strap Pod

In the case of museums or some public spaces, tripods are simply not allowed (though you can sometimes get away with a monopod by pretending it is a 'walking stick'). But again, hauling a monopod around is sometimes clumsy, frowned upon, or outright discouraged in certain environs. The Strap Pod is much less intrusive and bulky, so I'm more likely to toss it into my pocket or my camera bag and bring it along.

Just a heads up on a New York Times article about the Panasonic DMC-G1, which is the result of an attempt "to put the photographic quality of an S.L.R. into a compact body."

Pro Quality Without Reflex Lens

Most people -- about 92 percent of us -- buy little pocket cameras that take so-so photos. Only about 8 percent buy those big, black, heavy S.L.R. (single-lens reflex) cameras that take magazine-worthy photos.

It's not that people don't want better pictures. It's just that they're not willing to hang an anvil around their necks to get them.

Next month, however, Panasonic will offer the first camera in a new format called Micro Four Thirds. Its mission: to put the photographic quality of an S.L.R. into a compact body. If it works, then these cameras will surely earn adjectives like "revolutionary," "important" and "popular."

The NYTimes has a moving article on the effects of depression:

Depression and the Nobel Prize - Well Blog - NYTimes.com:

"Anyone who has struggled with depression — either in themselves or a loved one — will be moved by the story of Douglas C. Prasher.

Dr. Prasher, who now drives a courtesy van for a car dealer, abandoned a life of scientific research years ago. Trained as a biochemist, Dr. Prasher has struggled over the years with bouts of depression.

His story wouldn’t be notable except for a startling fact: his early research led to a Nobel Prize-winning discovery about the inner workings of living cells. Dr. Prasher will not share in the glory or financial gains of the Nobel Prize, even though his work provided a critical ingredient in the breakthrough. Dr. Prasher’s touching story was explained by my colleague Kenneth Chang."

Depression is much more prevalent in academia than is acknowledged. Comments more than welcome.

An article in The Economist (Oct 17, 2008) on the author's grudging transition to digital photography from film mentions Photoethnography.com's take of the venerable Leica IIIf.

I'm sure somewhere in the universe, 10 msecs of fame have been debited from my account.

It's been a very long while since I posted a classic camera review but I bought a Canon A-1 over the weekend at an antique mall. I haven't finished my first roll yet, but I'm very impressed by its handling. It's a considerably better camera than the Canon AE-1 Program that I used to own.

The link to the review is: http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/CanonA1.html

Comments more than welcome!