The CompactFlash Association announced a new media card format last month, and now Sony and Nikon have introduced the first media and digital cameras, respectively. But what exactly is an XQD memory card? Read on for the details.
Is the Sony NEX Camera System Excessively Proprietary?
December 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Advanced interchangeable lens camera systems like the NEX from Sony are never entirely open or closed. Rather, they incorporate standards where they must and innovate everywhere else. Let’s consider the main components of interchangeable lens camera, and identify which generally are proprietary and which are standardized.
The Myths of Standardization
December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I certainly benefit from standardization of the world around me, and I welcome interoperability and interchangeability as well as the price and product selection advantages. But I am not blithely focused on standardization above all else. I will happily use a proprietary solution if the alternative is inelegant, ineffective, or insufficient.
Sony VCL-ECU1 Ultra Wide Angle Converter for NEX Cameras: Hands-On Review
October 9, 2011 By 2 Comments
The VCL-ECU1 Ultra Wide Angle Converter is an interesting but not indispensable tool for the NEX camera owner. On the plus side, it brings a little flexibility and functionality to the otherwise limited 16 mm pancake prime. On the other hand, the 12 mm combination that results is not all that useful in everyday shooting, and the VCL-ECU1 is pretty bulky in the bag. Still, with a street price of less than $100, the VCL-ECU1 is not a bad buy for the NEX owner who already has the two popular kit lenses.
Hands-On Review: SLR Magic 35mm Sony NEX Lens
June 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The Sony 18-55 mm tele-zoom remains my favorite NEX lens for its flexibility. Given this, I would definitely buy the SLR Magic 35mm lens before Sony’s overly wide 16mm pancake prime. But the SLR Magic would not be a good choice as the only lens on a trip. It’s a fun and fairly cheap toy, not a real photographic tool.
Sony Enhances the NEX Line With Updated Firmware and the New NEX-C3
June 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Sony has updated the impressive NEX “mirrorless” camera system, announcing the replacement of the NEX-3 and releasing new firmware with enhanced features. Although the new NEX-C3 will not appear until the fall, I am pleased to report that the new NEX firmware further enhances the usefulness of my NEX-5 camera.
Introducing the Eye-Fi X2 Card
June 20, 2011 By 1 Comment
One reason the smartphones like the iPhone are gaining ground on purpose-built cameras is their instant connectivity: Take a photo and you can immediately share it on Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, or other popular sites. Wouldn’t it be great if your SLR or digital camera could do the same? This is the promise of the Eye-Fi card: It adds Wi-Fi connectivity to most popular cameras, enabling you to transfer photos directly to your laptop or the Internet. If only it worked.
$50 Off The Excellent Sony NEX-3 Camera
November 5, 2010 By Leave a Comment
I’ve really enjoyed my Sony NEX-5 mirrorless camera. Since I wrote up my review in September, I’ve used it frequently. Sony recently posted a major firmware update which addressed many of the usability concerns I (and many others) had as well. My only concern is that the NEX-5 is somewhat expensive, starting at $649 with the “pancake” lens and $699 with the telephoto zoom. Now there’s some relief on the price: Amazon is offering the “little brother” NEX-3 for just $499 or $549, a $50 discount from list price!
Sony NEX-5 Camera Review
September 15, 2010 By 2 Comments
The world of photography is like so many others: A vast gulf separates the amateurs and enthusiasts, from equipment to nomenclature to skills. I am decidedly in the amateur camp when it comes to photography, but I recently upgraded to a new compact interchangeable-lense camera, the Sony alpha NEX-5. It is an excellent match for my needs, allowing me to expand my skills and explore more advanced photographic techniques without sacrificing portability and ease of use.
My 10 Favorite Hidden iOS 4 Features
July 26, 2010 By 1 Comment
Apple released version 4 of their iPhone OS iDevice (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) OS last month after a grand WWDC unveiling. Although there are many changes and new features, not all are as obvious and noteworthy as multitasking, home screen folders, and background audio. After working with iOS 4 on an iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 for a month, I thought I might highlight my favorite hidden features. Did you know these existed?
