Monday, February 7th, 2011

Canon announces two new SLRs and two new speedlights

Canon has announced the release of the Rebel T3i (EOS 600D) and Rebel T3 (EOS 1100D)SLR cameras and the 320EX and 270EX II Speedlights. The T3i features: Canon’s EOS HD video capture, 18-megapixel resolution, a three-inch vari-angle clear view LCD screen, scene intelligent auto mode, video snapshot technology and feature guide instructions. The T3 is cheaper, and features HD movie capture, 12-megapixel resolution and the feature guide.

In addition, Canon has announced the release of two new Speedlights: The 320EX and 270EX II.

The T3i SLR will be available from the beginning of March at $799.99, the T3 from the end of March at $599.99 and both Speedlights will be available in April.

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

Sony NEX-5 underwater panorama

One of the features of the Sony NEX-5 EVIL camera is its ability to capture pictures in what Sony call “sweep panorama” mode. To quote from Sony this allows the user to:

“create breathtaking panoramic images with a huge angle of view. It’s beautifully simple to use: just press the shutter button and sweep the NEX-5/NEX-3 camera from side to side, or up and down.”

Underwater panoramas have long been a goal of many underwater photographers, particularly of reef scenes. It is perhaps inevitable therefore, that this new mode has been recognized as being able to provide new creative possibilities. Paul Duxfield of Cameras Underwater shot this panorama of Shark and Yolana Reefs, Ras Mohamedd, Egypt with an NEX-5 in December last year.

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Video: Under the Arctic Ice, Part 2

In part one of Rick Morris’s “Under the Arctic Ice” series viewers caught a glimpse of what is involved in an Arctic research expedition and what conditions are like in the polar bear’s playground. Part 2 gives an inside view of how the logistics for such an involved project are handled and how the divers and their gear get to the Polar Sea. More than a year of pre-planning and hundreds of hours of correspondence all boil down to one day of frenetic activity.

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Subal announces reorganization

German housing manufacturer, Subal has issued a press release about its financial reorganization and regrouping. Rumours had surfaced recently that they had faced some liquidity problems, and this is confirmed. However, the company now has new management, and they plan to press forward with new designs, including a housing for the Nikon D7000 (which we hope to review shortly) and a new finder system.

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Alert Diver winter 2011 issue shipping

The first-quarter 2011 issue of DAN’s Alert Diver magazine is now shipping and should arrive in DAN US member’s mailboxes in the next week or so. The magazines cover features a stunning over/under shot of lemon sharks at Tiger Beach, Bahamas taken by David Doubilet, whose portfolio is also featured within the magazine. In addition, there are articles on the deep wrecks of Chuuk and diving in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Alert Diver publisher Stephen Frink has also written an article on his blog about the actual printing process for the magazine. It is refreshing in these days of on-screen browsing to read about printing presses and paper!

Thursday, February 3rd, 2011

Amphibico releases Turtle video housings

Amphibico has announced the release of a new housing: The Turtle. Designed for the XR150, XR350, XR550, CX110, CX150, CX300, CX350 and CX550 cameras, the housing is available in six bright colors. Other features include electronic right hand controls, with one-touch white balance and a moisture sensor alarm. It has a fixed front glass, with no port options, and a built-in 3.5” LCD display.

Amphibico will also give $50 to Save Our Leatherback Turtle (SOLO) for every completed housing registration form received by them. The new housings will be available from mid-February at a price of $1195.

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

Cyclone Yasi batters North Queensland coast

As I write this Northern Queensland is being battered by Cyclone Yasi. The BBC reports that winds are reaching up to 290km/h (181mph), buildings are having their roofs ripped off and power has been cut to at least 100,000 people. The storm has struck south of Cairns and is moving inland, with forecasters warning of more severe damage for towns in its path. Yasi was originally classed as a category five cyclone as it crossed the coast which is the highest grade in the scale used to measure such storms. The Australian Bureau of Meteorology later downgraded the storm to category four but still classified it as dangerous.

Many Wetpixel members are in the path of this storm, and we fervently hope they and their loved ones will be OK.

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011