Notes from PhotoPlus
There is a lot of media there, but I hope to bring a slightly different perspective as someone who makes more than 99 percent of their money from actually using cameras. The biggest perspective difference is that as an enthusiast, gear is a reward, part of the reason why you go to work in the morning. As a professional, it's a liability, and purchases are made with not-fun things like "bottom line" and "amortization" in mind. If I could do what I do with $5 of gear, that would be great. So photo gear has to not just be shiny and new, but actually make the job of photography easier or better.
9:31: The crosstown bus to the Javits center in the morning of PhotoPlus is one of life's worst experiences, so I'm taking a cab. He tried to swideswipe two cars that angered him, including a cop. It's morning in NYC!
9:44: Inside. PhotoPlus is giving journalists a lot more free swag this year, with a slim Lowepro backpack filled with stuff. You can't buy me off! By the way, have I mentioned that PhotoPlus is God's greatest gift to mankind?
10:15: My first stop was to the Nikon D3s and new 70-200mm VR II. Both of the items these update are already excellent performers. Does it matter now that they're MORE excellent? Initial impressions are surprisingly, perhaps. The ISO on the Nikon D3 was so good that I could shoot stills and video in the indoor light of Javits Center at f/18. And while I couldn't perform any rigorous tests of the 70-200, it focuses blisteringly fast, acting much more like the $5,000 200mm f/2 than the old 70-200 (which, itself, is pretty fast).
Here is the Nikon D3s at ISO 51,200. Very glad I already have my pre-order in:
Download the full version here!
The Wifi at Javits is slow, so 1080p files will come later, but here is an iPhone-optimized clip from the Canon 7D and 200mm f/2.
For the second year in a row, Panasonic has no presence at the show. It's even more puzzling this year since they have some of the year's most talked-about cameras, such as the GF1.
UPDATE with full res movies!
Here is a 720p video from the D3s taken at ISO 6400. (25 MB)
And here is the full 1080p movie of Lynette with the 7D and 200mm f/2. (105MB) Lynette is a photographer herself, and you can see her work here.
Jamie Seed on October 22, 2009 at 07:43 AM
Ho-leee crap. That f/18 shot is ridiculous! I NEED the D3s! Weddings will be a whole new experience! Thanks for sharing, dude!
ps I'll take that LowePro bag off your hands if you don't want it...
brett maxwell on October 22, 2009 at 07:57 AM
why are cameras cut in half so cool? and iso50k is just ridiculous. so clean!
Stefano on October 22, 2009 at 08:53 AM
Wow, that 50K ISO shot is really talking to my wallet right now...
David Porter on October 22, 2009 at 12:41 PM
That D3s is amazing and it was cool to see an "iPhone optimized clip" from the 7D
Chris H on October 23, 2009 at 06:31 AM
What exposure settings did you use for the 7D video? (Shutter speed, Aperture, ISO)
LED on October 30, 2009 at 09:02 PM
This is a great gadgets!
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