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› archive for September 3rd, 2009

Panasonic announces the GF1 -micro four thirds / fast lenses have more fun

Pansonic Lumix GF1

Pansonic Lumix GF1

So yesterday Panasonic officially announces the GF1, their answer to the “why does that micro four thirds look like a D-SLR?” query that the GH1 brought up. It looks a bit like a larger LX3 (for anyone who can find one) with swappable lenses. On the subject of lenses -it doesn’t support every FT and M/FT lens that the E-P1 does (Panasonic’s website has a comprehensive list here). They did, however generate a pretty thrilling 21mm 1.7 pancake -being only 23mm (plus mount) long. Hot diggity.

While there’s no in-body IS, there is a pop-up flash and there just isn’t a reason to hate on a feature like that. <*link derek’s value-added analysis*> It also comes in a pretty black matte finish -again keeping in astetic similarity to the LX3. The GF1 can use the AVCHD Lite codec for high-compatibility HD recording.

Since the GF1 is nominally smaller than The Olympus E-P1, it touts the title of smallest and lightest interchangeable lens digital compact. Accessories will include a hotshoe mounted electronic viewfinder (DMW-LVF1), a Panasonic branded polarizer, ND, and protector filter, and an external flash unit (DMW-FL220 with a GN22).

Add to all this the various intelligent auto and scene mode features and we have an exciting addition to the trailblazing in the MFT wilderness. I’m curious about whether it’ll be has hard to get ahold of as the LX3, and where the price-point will start.



Nick and Derek’s Walkabout Walks Tonight!

walkaboutDo you like adventure? Danger? Sexy broads in slit-thigh red dresses and rough-and-tumble men with swank hair and a tendency to accessorize with gun holsters? Boy we do too, so it’s sad that none of that is what we’re talking about.

Instead, I’m just here to remind you all that tonight at 9:00PM (and we mean “at” this time, please be early), at the intersection of West St and New York St here in Indianapolis, a loose collective of photographers will be meeting to go take some sexy swingin’ shots down at the Canal with our photographic imaging devices. And we want you to be there, too. It’s free, it’s social, it’s fun, it’s night. We can all pretend we’re twinkly sparkly vampires with hearts of gold and a keen eye for composition.

or not. Whatever makes you happiest. Just, hey, make it out there, yeah?



Stories From The Past

50mm f0.7Every now and then I forget just how long a history photography has of pushing the very limits of physics. And then, today, I was reminded once again of this as I read an article about modifying a Carl Zeiss 50mm f0.7 (yup, 0.7, 2 stops faster than 1.4) for Stanley Kubrick to use on a video camera. While cool enough to hear about at all, reading about how it was made to work is also pretty darn cool.

So, if you’ve never read this, check it out here.




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