I, like perhaps many of you, lost a good chunk of productivity during the middle of the day today as the big Apple Event was unveiled. In moment to moment updates from blogs and instant trending topics on twitter it felt just as if we were there. Everyone at the office would shout out the latest update. Many had multiple blogs auto-refreshing.
After the initial excitement and the subsequent fun that was had at the unfortunate choice of a name, iPad, we discussed the pros and cons of owning such a device. Would it be feasible for our office? Would it be good for travel, uploading pictures, reviewing uncompressed HD footage, etc?
Many people have weighed in on why they are disappointed with Apple's announcement today. But I think they may be missing the point. Perhaps they're not the intended audience.
Consider what this device would do for education. Imagine having all your textbooks in front of you all at once. Educators and students could benefit greatly from this kind of technology.
It isn't a laptop. It's not an iPhone/iPod Touch. People thought it would be both. It really does seem to be creating an in-between market. Apple believes there's demand for such a market. They've been right in the past.
Do you think Apple got it right with the iPad?
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Game Changers
At work, we're pondering the next move in cameras. DSLRs that can shoot full frame HD video seem to be rocking the industry, namely the Canon 5D Mark II.
Several things about it excite me, like the ability to use Digiprime lenses and follow focus, and really control the depth of field with bright, popping colors. Shooting the last 5 years with stock lenses and smallish CCD chips on Sony's Z1 & V1 have left me feeling a tad disenchanted with what video can do. You know, inspiring people with amazing moving images that add to the story, not detract.
Other things, however, are less exciting. For instance, shooting handheld with a DSLR camera body and long lens seems like it would be clunky and difficult to control pans/tilts without some sort of expensive shoulder mount rig. Offloading data to drives and laptops in the field seems like it could be prohibitive, especially if you fill up your cards too fast and still have half a day of shooting left. Then, what do we do with the hundreds of hours of video we shoot that we need to keep on hand for what seems like forever?
Audio is a concern, too. Though there are many aftermarket add-ons that can fix this, but this can add up in price, too. Not to mention break out monitors, a set of lenses, matte box, etc. The list goes on and on, yet we can't afford to miss out on this new wave. HDV as a format is dying, if not already dead.
Perhaps a trip to NAB in Las Vegas in April will help sort out some of these concerns. We have a limited budget, so we need to be careful to let others ride the bleeding edge, while we trail hopefully not too far behind.
We're also looking at a secondary camera, such as an EX1 or EX3 from Sony, which would eliminate audio concerns, but would the shots match? Does anyone have any experience with these cameras and would like to post your thoughts?
Several things about it excite me, like the ability to use Digiprime lenses and follow focus, and really control the depth of field with bright, popping colors. Shooting the last 5 years with stock lenses and smallish CCD chips on Sony's Z1 & V1 have left me feeling a tad disenchanted with what video can do. You know, inspiring people with amazing moving images that add to the story, not detract.
Other things, however, are less exciting. For instance, shooting handheld with a DSLR camera body and long lens seems like it would be clunky and difficult to control pans/tilts without some sort of expensive shoulder mount rig. Offloading data to drives and laptops in the field seems like it could be prohibitive, especially if you fill up your cards too fast and still have half a day of shooting left. Then, what do we do with the hundreds of hours of video we shoot that we need to keep on hand for what seems like forever?
Audio is a concern, too. Though there are many aftermarket add-ons that can fix this, but this can add up in price, too. Not to mention break out monitors, a set of lenses, matte box, etc. The list goes on and on, yet we can't afford to miss out on this new wave. HDV as a format is dying, if not already dead.
Perhaps a trip to NAB in Las Vegas in April will help sort out some of these concerns. We have a limited budget, so we need to be careful to let others ride the bleeding edge, while we trail hopefully not too far behind.
We're also looking at a secondary camera, such as an EX1 or EX3 from Sony, which would eliminate audio concerns, but would the shots match? Does anyone have any experience with these cameras and would like to post your thoughts?
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
