This is the best example of the “Dancing black dots” I have managed to capture, it is best captured photographing the LCD screen with a full frame Nikon D3 set at 200 ISO. A screen capture does not do this justice. I set the Panasonic HPX-301 at 9dB as I knew it exacerbated the dot problem and just by chance zoomed into a computer keyboard to set focus and got distracted, this allowed me to film a tad more of this out of focus shot than I had intended but it captures the black dot problem in spectacular fashion.

Since my last post I have not spoken with Panasonic UK to confirm this problem and a possible fix, but you will be the first to know when I get an official reply. Please remember this problem is not apparent in 8-10″ HD-SDI LCD monitor screens nor does it show up looking at it in the browser screens in Final Cut it is only when you view the footage on a full HD 42″ LCD screen that the problem becomes noticeable. The reason they are called the “dancing black dots” is because they dance around the screen.

PLEASE NOTE : Panasonic are aware of the problem and that other users have not seen this problem, this in my professional opinion means it should be fixable.

To view the picture in it’s original 13MP look here    http://www.flickr.com/photos/43174973@N00/3542880963/sizes/l/

Panasonic today announced pricing for the highly-anticipated LUMIX DMC-GH1, the new Micro Four Thirds digital camera with Full-High Definition (HD) video recording ability, which will be available in early June for a suggested retail price of $1499.95.  The LUMIX DMC-GH1 includes the LUMIX G VARIO 14-140mm/F4.0-5.8 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens as part of the kit.  The new lens, designed to support HD movie recording, features a silent motor and continuous auto focusing (AF) capability – a differentiator from traditional DSLRs.  

 In the U.S., the LUMIX GH1 will be available in black and has advanced photography features, such as the ability to record AVCHD 1080p/24p High Definition video, yet is easy enough for entry-level users to understand and take beautiful photos and videos. With Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto) mode* – a user-friendly setting made popular in the LUMIX line of digital point-and-shoot camera products, both entry-level and more experienced DSLR users can enjoy a complete suite of technologies that allow beautiful photo-taking and engage automatically – no setting adjustments needed.

The LUMIX GH1 provides cutting-edge video recording features, including the ability to record high-resolution full HD (1920 x1080) video at 24 fps or smooth HD video (1280 x 720) at 60 fps using an AVCHD format (MPEG-4/H.264), which provides the important benefit of doubling the HD quality recording time compared with Motion JPEG. The LUMIX GH1 features a dedicated video record button on the back of the camera which lets users instantly start recording videos, even while shooting still photos – removing the fear of potentially missing a must-see video moment.

MY TAKE : This camera without video is $800 almost half the price !  Has it cost $700 more to add HD video and a longer standard lens, it’s the same physical body after all.

I was so impressed with version one of this camera I bought it…would I buy version two, not till the discounters bring it down to a reasonable price.

My main gripe with the camera is the quality of the glass used in the 14-45 lens. A few months after using it basically on family occasions I noticed a mark on the lens… on further inspection I discovered to my horror it was a  ’pit’ in the glass. I keep this camera in a lowepro camera bag and I am not known to abuse my equipment so I have no idea how it got there. 

By Steve Lohr (NYT)

General Electric says it has achieved a breakthrough in digital storage technology that will allow standard-size discs to hold the equivalent of 100 DVDs.The storage advance, which G.E. is announcing on Monday, is just a laboratory success at this stage. The new technology must be made to work in products that can be mass-produced at affordable prices.

But optical storage experts and industry analysts who were told of the development said it held the promise of being a big step forward in digital storage with a wide range of potential uses in commercial, scientific and consumer markets.

“This could be the next generation of low-cost storage,” said Richard Doherty, an analyst at Envisioneering, a technology research firm.

The promising work by the G.E. researchers is in the field of holographic storage. Holography is an optical process that stores not only three-dimensional images like the ones placed on many credit cards for security purposes, but the 1’s and 0’s of digital data as well.

The data is encoded in light patterns that are stored in light-sensitive material. The holograms act like microscopic mirrors that refract light patterns when a laser shines on them, and so each hologram’s recorded data can then be retrieved and deciphered.

Holographic storage has the potential to pack data far more densely than conventional optical technology, used in DVDs and the newer, high-capacity Blu-ray discs, in which information is stored as a pattern of marks across the surface of a disc. The potential of holographic technology has long been known. The first research papers were published in the early 1960s. 

(Pictured above is Brian Lawrence GEs holographic storage program)  (Excerpt from New York Times www.nytimes.com)

So this is what Apple are waiting for ! Note. Some papers are still employing good photographers who can compose a picture and light it as well, great picture Mr Brooks.

Our good friend Philip Bloom over at www.philipbloom.co.uk has reached his one millionth click on his blog and we at HD Warrior congratulate Philip on such an achievement. Philip was lucky enough to go to NAB 09 this year and kept us all informed with his great video blogs. Once again well done Mr Bloom.

Panasonic Broadcast and IT Systems Europe (PBITS) will reward buyers with a free 32GB E-Series P2 Card (AJ-P2E032XG) when they purchase either the AG-HPX301E, AG-HVX201AE or AG-HPX171E special promotional kit. Each camera recorder unit comes equipped with a 32GB P2 Card (AJ-P2CO32AG) and the additional free 32GB E-Series P2 Card will be shipped to the buyer’s preferred delivery address once purchase and registration is complete. 
  
This offer, valid from April 20th 2009 until 31st May 2009 through authorised participating dealers, coincides with the global launch of the new E-series P2 cards announced at NAB 2009. 
  
To receive the new E-Series 32GB card, customers will need to register at the dedicated special promotion page available on www.panasonic-broadcast.com website. 
  
The E-Series card is compatible with Panasonic’s full line of P2 camcorders, recorders and workflow tools. The P2 cards can store content in the complete range of P2-supported frame rates and formats, from high definition to standard definition and from DVCPRO to AVC-Intra 100.   
  
“Panasonic is committed to making P2 technology more accessible to all users so they can take advantage of the benefits on offer,” said Carmen Mendoza, PBITS European Marketing General Manager. “With the launch of the new E-series cards we reinforce this commitment by providing the best solid state memory solutions on the market today. The new E-Series cards come in addition to our existing P2 cards and both with be available in parallel in the marketplace.” 
  
Promotion terms and conditions and a list of authorised participating European dealers can be found at www.panasonic-broadcast.com 

A 30 x 40cm ‘photiquebloc’ of the above graphic is being printed by ‘photique images’ and will signed and dated by myself, then sent to Panasonic Broadcast headquarters in due course.

• Three 2/3-inch type Power HAD® FX CCDs
• Wide choice of recording modes: including 23.98P format recording and playback as standard
• MPEG HD422 codec – 1920 x 1080 and 1280 x 720 recording
• Slow & Quick Motion (over & under crank shooting)
• Image Inverter for use with cinema lens adaptors
• High quality four-channel 24-bit audio recording
• Variety of gamma settings including HypeGamma and UserGamma
• Proxy Data recording on USB memory

Personally I think photographic manufacturers are becoming a bit over obsessive with adding HD video recording to almost every new digital camera that hits our high streets. Having a recording media in a small compact camera is fun and comes in useful filming the kids or grandchild but there seems to be a race out there to see who can produce the ultimate CamRecorder.

I played around with my Nikon D90 yesterday as it also has the facility to record video, now lets see what you get…Nikon manual “Movie files can be up to 2GB in size. The maxium length is 5min for movies with a frame size of 1280 x 720, 20 min for other movies.” So I ask you why did Nikon even bother to mess up this camera adding a video facility when at full resolution you will only get 5 mins worth of footage !

I also found it almost impossible to use as a video camera having various buttons at the wrong place and no external mic socket leaves my D90 back in the bag as second camera to my D3.

Now strangely I also have a Lumix G1, I was buying 2 Canon camcorders for video diary usage and I was shown the G1. I had to buy one, the size was so appealing, when you turn up to childrens birthdays with a D3/SB900 flash you look a bit OTT.  The best feature for me about the Lumix G1 is the flip out viewfinder, this allows you to get pictures from ground level in my case …the two dogs.

So why the obsession to turn SLRs into video cameras…I think this stems from the newspaper industry. Newspapers have a misconception that if they looses customers who no longer buy their papers, maybe they will get them on the web, so the newspaper web industry has steadily grown and with it comes video. Newspapers now add video clips to enhance their web pages,… back to my original theory, SLR manufacturers got wind of this and that’s why we now see the “video plugin” with most SLRs. Note. I payed £565 last November (Today £469) for my Lumix G1 and now with the new HD version you can look to pay £900 so if you don’t need the HD facility look around for the G1 at less than 50% less ! 

Canon…

EOS 5D Mk2 21mp with full HD video recording and mic input

EOS 500D 15mp with full HD video recording

Nikon…

D90 12mp with HD video recording albeit 5mins and no mic input

D5000 12mp with HD video recording and flip out LCD

Panasonic…

Lumix GH1 12mp full HD video recording with flip out LCD and mic input

Our friends at CVP are showing the new JVC GY-HM700 now in stock for next day delivery at £5620.63 inc 15% vat.

The Petrol Inflatable Airline Bag is uniquely designed to safeguard a camera against accidental damage from other cargo or jostling during a flight. There’s no longer need to pad and cover valuable equipment with airline blankets or extra pillows. The top of the bag unzips smoothly and opens wide to offer enough room for a full-size broadcast camera without disturbing the viewfinder and lens. An exterior side pocket holds a coiled tube that connects to an exterior inflation valve. The user simply blows into the tube to fill the bag’s internal inflation system. Inside, the contents are surrounded by soft fabric backed by a firm, protective cushion of air. The inflation system is removable and can be easily replaced. When inflated, the bag can be safely stored in the airplane’s overhead compartment, or inside a hard case or standard camera bag. Additional features include Petrol’s nylon shoulder strap and easy-glide dual-directional zippers. The exterior is constructed of water-resistant blue Cordura and heavy-duty black ballistic nylon.

U.S. list price for Inflatable Airline Bag (PIAB) is $259. For further information,  go to http://www.petrolbags.com

Editor “Now that’s what I call a great idea…how it’s not been thought of in the past beats me. Sadly by the time we see this bag in the UK it will cost upwards of £259″. 

Sourced from http://www.dv.com