Ultra Cool Gadgets » Lens

ContourHD 720p HD Helmet Camera

ashish — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 16:39:30 +0000

ContourHD is the world’s first High Definition wearable camcorder that combines amazing video clarity (choose between High Definition or High Action), a wide-angle lens (135 degrees), single-button simplicity, and a click to share online experience.
Perfected for outdoor use, ContourHD can switch between crisp HD quality video (captured at 30 frames per second) or SD quality video (captured at 60 frames per second). This camera is the ideal complement to your outdoor gear with its all-in-one design ContourHD has no wires or separate recorder. Instead it records up to 8 hours of HD video to its own internal memory card (compatible with up to a 16 GB microSD card). Its light (4 ounces) but armored aluminum body enables you to capture video in any weather conditions. ContourHD’s TRail Mounts seamlessly attach the camera to your body, helmet, goggles, or vehicle for hands-free recording.

- Amazing Video Clarity
- 2 Video Settings
- Beautiful Outdoor Colors
- Capture the Whole Scene
- Record over 8 Hours of Action Video
- Easy to Use
- One Button Record and Easy to Align
- Click to Share Online with a Mac and a PC

Technical Details

- Color: One Color | Size: One Size
- The world’s first wearable HD camcorder.
- Choose from two video settings: High Definition or High Action.
- Armored body is wearable anywhere.
- Record over 8 hours of action video; one-button record function.
- Operating temperature of -15C to +40C.
- Easy Edit software (Mac and PC compatible) makes it automatic to import your videos from the camera.

Customer Feedback

Pros:
- Comes with mounting options that can be customized to work for just about any application.
- Comes with 2 GB SD card.
- Very well build, doesn’t feel cheap at all.
- Rotating lens to accommodated angles when mounted.
- No external recording device needed.

Cons:
Near HD video, I wouldn’t call it HD quality even though the video dimensions are HD, but outstanding for a small wearable camera.

Overall I would recommend this camera to anyone wanting to record Point of View sports action. The quality of the product and video are well worth the price. I would see what you can do with the included mounting options for you order the other mounts. Great product!

DicaPac WP110 145X95mm Small Alfa Waterproof Digital Camera Case with Optical Lens (Clear)

ashish — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:30:31 +0000

WP110 Waterproof case for digital cameras are made of non-toxic materials (RoHS) and are tested and are of waterproof grade JIS IPX8 (Japaness Industrial Standard’s highest waterproof grade). Underwater lab tested to 16ft . Patented roll and relcro zipper system which allows full funtionality of camera controls. It also has a removable optical lens with diffused reflection prevention. The big addition is a polycarbonate quality lens (clear and hard to break) opening that lets you take pictures with zoom control even when the camera is in the pouch. The lens has a 3-layer coating both inside and outside. (UV coating, Water repellent coating, Scratch resistance coating for quality pictures.) It also floats when you drop it into water.

Technical Details

- This case fits over 200 cameras from major brands up to sizes 7.5″ round X 4.0″ width and with zoom lens of 1.1″ X 1.5″.
- Comes with 0.12″ thick extention ring for those who have a longer zoom lens than lens from waterproof case.
- Made of non-toxic materials (RoHS) and are tested and qualified to waterproof grade JIS IPX8.
- 145X95mm Small Alfa Waterproof Digital Camera Case with Optical Lens.

Customer Feedback

This product is very inexpensive and works as advertised – it protects your camera in relatively shallow depths of water. The pictures are better than a crappy disposable. It certainly took the stress out of taking my camera to the beach, too- no worry about sand ruining my camera- and I had room to stash my (small) cell phone inside when we were wading in the spray one morning.
The case makes in-water adjustment difficult, my “wheel” only turned clockwise – familiarize yourself with switching between picture and video ahead of time.

Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4.0-5.6 IS Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras

ashish — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 18:08:22 +0000

Incorporating Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer technology, this Canon 55-250mm telephoto zoom lens captures long distance, low-light shots far better than many comparable lenses, helping you photograph the far-off action of athletes or zoom in for an intimate portrait with a blurred background. The high-zoom-ratio lens is equivalent to a focal length of 88-400mm in the 35mm format (when used on Canon EOS cameras compatible with EF-S lenses). More significantly, the image stabilizer effect creates an equivalent shutter speed of roughly four stops faster than the same size lens without an image stabilizer. In other words, if the slowest shutter speed you can hold a 250mm lens steadily is normally 1/250th of a second, this Canon lens will let you hand-hold shutter speeds as slow as 1/15th of a second. The lens also boasts a UD-glass lens element to correct chromatic aberration to create excellent image quality throughout the zoom range. Delivering an excellent performance at an affordable price for all photographers, the 55-250mm lens carries a one-year warranty.

Specifications
Focal length: 55-250mm
Maximum aperture: f/4 to f/5.6
Lens construction: 12 elements in 10 groups, including one UD-glass element
Diagonal angle of view: 27 degrees (at 50 feet) to 6 degrees (at 15 feet), with APS-C image sensors
Focus adjustment: DC motor, gear-driven (front focusing design)
Closest focusing distance: 3.6 feet (0.31x maximum close-up magnification)
Filter size: 58mm
Dimensions: 2.8 inches in diameter and 4.3 inches long
Weight: 13.8 ounces

Customer feedback:

1. I was determined to love this lens based on the specs and price point alone. Canon really needed to come out with this lens at this price because Nikon offers a very decent Vibration Reduction lens at roughly the same range for the same price, leaving me to make apologies for Canon and their neglect to all my Nikon friends.
The IS can be switched off to save battery life but I haven’t noticed a difference in battery performance with it. The IS is only activiated when you press the shutter halfway for auto focus. Although it FEELS like there is a small lag for the IS to start, I don’t think I’ve had any photos messed up because of it.

2. Surprisingly, it CAN produce pretty sharp pictures if the subjects don’t move fast. The sharpness is very comparable with two other lenses I own, the famed and breathtakingly sharp Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 and Sigma 30mm f/1.4. While the Tamron and Sigma get sharp shots without too much work, this Canon needs a bit of careful handling to get equally sharp shots even at the wide end. I use the word “can”, because to achieve it you would either need a tripod or high ISO (my rebel XT’s 1600 is pretty much what I use all the time with this lens).

Nikon 85mm f/3.5G AF-S DX ED VR Micro Nikkor Lens for Nikon Digital SLR Cameras

ashish — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:29:20 +0000

he new AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR, a DX-format, medium-telephoto micro lens with built-in Vibration Reduction (VR II) and Silent Wave Motor (SWM). With a focal length of 85mm, this compact and lightweight lens is recommended for users of Nikon DX-format digital SLRs such as the D5000 and D90. The18°50’picture angle is equivalent to a focal length of 127.5mm in Nikon FX- and 35mm-format cameras).

The AF-S DX Micro NIKKOR 85mm f/3.5G ED VR can be used in a wide range of applications. While users can enjoy the natural perspective and beautiful blur that a medium-telephoto lens can offer in landscapes and portraits, this micro lens is especially expected to promote the enjoyment of macro photography for taking insects, small animals and flowers. High resolving power is realized throughout the entire shooting range from infinity to the closest focusing distance (1:1 life size) to reproduce even the fine texture of flower petals.

Built-in VR II (Vibration Reduction) enables users to take sharp pictures at shutter speeds approximately four stops slower* than would otherwise be possible, thereby minimizing image blur caused by camera shake. This remarkably expands user freedom during hand-held shooting. In addition, blur-corrected image in the viewfinder makes focusing and composition easy.
*As determined in Nikon performance tests

Built-in SWM (Silent Wave Motor) enables quiet AF operation, especially effective for the macro shooting of easily disturbed subjects such as insects and small animals. Internal Focusing (IF) system means the lens barrel length does not change during focusing, which ensures worry-free macro shooting while maintaining a constant working distance. M/A (manual-priority autofocus) mode enables instant switching from autofocus to manual focus by rotating the focus ring, even during AF servo operation.

Technical Details :
* 85mm lens ideal for close-up, nature, portrait and general photography.
* Close focusing to 0.9 feet.
* Nikon VR II (Vibration Reduction) Image Stabilization.
* Extra-low Dispersion (ED) element; Nikon Super Integrated Coating (SIC).
* Exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM).

Customer Feedback :
It’s a s midge sharper. What I really like the is the working distance on a DX body; it’s nothing you could get on an FX body as a macro lens (FX equivalent of 127.5mm; only macro’s for FX are 60 and 105 2.8). . .
The VR does work very well, but does not completely make up for fast aperture. Back to back testing in low light portrait shots, the VR gave me a about a 1-2 stop advantage (my 60mm 2.8 micro, thus, still better in that regard).