Graphene camera sensors said to be 1,000 times more sensitive to light

Graphene camera sensors said to be 1,000 times more sensitive to light

While we're still scratching around with Ultrapixels and OIS, scientists in Singapore claim they're working on something that could change the entire field of photography. Researchers at the Nanyang Technological University have developed an image sensor made out of graphene that's 1,000 times better at capturing light than traditional CMOS or CCD sensors, all while using 10x less energy. These new sensors may initially be used in surveillance equipment and satellites -- when they do eventually end up in regular cameras, however, they're promised to be five times cheaper than the sensors they're replacing. Combine this with the work being done on graphene batteries, and we're that much closer to the perfect smartphone.

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Via: C|Net

Source: Science Daily

Engadget visits Nokia House wrap-up: Stephen Elop Q&A, Lumia 920 camera tests and more

Engadget goes to Nokia House 2012 wrapup Stephen Elop live Q&A, Lumia 920 camera tests, Asha launches and more

It's been a whirlwind week of all things Nokia for our Engadget crew here in Helsinki, Finland. With a (nearly) all access pass to the company's glass House in Espoo, we brought you a very candid, very live Q&A with CEO Stephen Elop -- recorded for posterity with the Lumia 920 -- as well as in-depth proofs of that handset's game-changing rear camera module. From side-by-side low light comparison shots with other leading smartphones to optical image stabilization tests and even a peek behind the Finnish outfit's R&D practices, we've got it all. So, if you haven't had time to catch up with this flurry of pre-launch news from behind the velvet rope, now's your chance. Just click on past the break for the full recap.

Continue reading Engadget visits Nokia House wrap-up: Stephen Elop Q&A, Lumia 920 camera tests and more

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Engadget visits Nokia House wrap-up: Stephen Elop Q&A, Lumia 920 camera tests and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and low-light comparison with iPhone 4S included

iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and lowlight comparison with iPhone 4S included

Sure, we tested the iPhone 5's camera in the well-lit streets of New York City, but if you're wondering how Apple's latest functions when used primarily as a shooter, TREK has a pretty remarkable look. Photog Austin Mann and a few of his closest pals took a pair of iPhone 5s to Iceland following launch weekend in a bid to test the unit's durability, capability and image quality next to the 4S. After two days of geyser spray and admitted "drops in mud," the uncovered 5 seemed to be a-okay, and when it comes to output from the sensor, that's worthy of praise as well.

The low-light capabilities of the 5 are perhaps the most impressive upgrade compared to the 4S, with much less noise seen in shots from the former. He also gushed over the panorama mode, which admittedly churned out some pretty seamless results of the Icelandic countryside. As for shutter speed? That too has been "significantly" improved over the 4S. He interestingly noted that Snapseed was acting a bit wonky with iOS 6, but one has to wonder how much smoothing will be done by the Nik team now that Google's calling the shots. Hit the source link below for the full rundown, comparisons included, and a video that shows how the iPhone 5 reacts after sunset.

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iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and low-light comparison with iPhone 4S included originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTREK, Gallery of iPhone 5 images  | Email this | Comments

iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and low-light comparison with iPhone 4S included

iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and lowlight comparison with iPhone 4S included

Sure, we tested the iPhone 5's camera in the well-lit streets of New York City, but if you're wondering how Apple's latest functions when used primarily as a shooter, TREK has a pretty remarkable look. Photog Austin Mann and a few of his closest pals took a pair of iPhone 5s to Iceland following launch weekend in a bid to test the unit's durability, capability and image quality next to the 4S. After two days of geyser spray and admitted "drops in mud," the uncovered 5 seemed to be a-okay, and when it comes to output from the sensor, that's worthy of praise as well.

The low-light capabilities of the 5 are perhaps the most impressive upgrade compared to the 4S, with much less noise seen in shots from the former. He also gushed over the panorama mode, which admittedly churned out some pretty seamless results of the Icelandic countryside. As for shutter speed? That too has been "significantly" improved over the 4S. He interestingly noted that Snapseed was acting a bit wonky with iOS 6, but one has to wonder how much smoothing will be done by the Nik team now that Google's calling the shots. Hit the source link below for the full rundown, comparisons included, and a video that shows how the iPhone 5 reacts after sunset.

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iPhone 5 camera gets tested in Iceland, panorama and low-light comparison with iPhone 4S included originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceTREK, Gallery of iPhone 5 images  | Email this | Comments

Future Panasonic G camera’s 72Mbps movie-making prowess teased through speedy drama (video)

Future Panasonic G camera's 72Mbps moviemaking prowess teased through speedy drama video

If Panasonic didn't have attention from movie producers before, it just might as of this week. Joining the quickly developing tradition of camera makers producing elaborate short movies as technology demos, the company has let cinematographer Philip Bloom wield (and tease) a "brand new G camera" to record Genesis, a fast-paced mini-drama showing a man's race to meet his love before it's too late. While Bloom can't talk much about the hardware in question until the 17th, he's allowed to confirm that the upcoming Micro Four Thirds body relies on a "superb" 72Mbps All-I codec for video -- letting it capture a sprint through the streets without the compression artifacts of the AVCHD format used by most mirrorless cameras. Panasonic's upcoming shooter also touts "much improved" results in the dark, Bloom says. It all sounds very tempting, especially if it turns out that Panasonic's inadvertent leaks are for the same camera we see in action here. The full movie is available after the break, and Bloom has the behind-the-scenes details at the source link.

Continue reading Future Panasonic G camera's 72Mbps movie-making prowess teased through speedy drama (video)

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Future Panasonic G camera's 72Mbps movie-making prowess teased through speedy drama (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 16 Sep 2012 23:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon unveils lightweight, full-frame D600 DSLR — hands-on and low-light samples (video)

Nikon unveils D600 fullframe DSLR 24MP, lightweight, 2,400 handson video

We've been watching out for the D600 since images leaked a couple of months ago, and today it's been made official: a full-frame DSLR that's priced ever-so-slightly closer to the reach of mortals (read: "high-end enthusiasts") who perhaps can't claim everything off their tax. At just shy of $2,100 (update: €2,150 in Europe), the 24-megapixel camera's US list price is significantly lower than that of the 36-megapixel D800, and undercuts Canon's rival EOS 5D Mark III and Sony's brand new full-frame Alpha A99.

What's more, aside from the resolution, you're getting something pretty close to the D800 -- including a weather- and dust-resistant magnesium alloy build, fast Exspeed III processor, and AF that works down to f/8 -- but here it's all contained in a body that sheds a full 15 percent off the D800's weight. It feels great to hold a full-frame DSLR like this, which is barely any heavier or more conspicuous than an APS-C shooter like the D7000.

Nikon is also making a big deal out of the fact that the D600 handles wireless transfers and triggers using the new WU-1b widget, which is identical to the familiar WU-1a we reviewed on the D3200 except that it plugs into the camera's USB port rather than the HDMI port. There's an Android app to allow your mobile device to communicate with the camera, and an iOS app is set to land by the end of September.

Read on a few more initial impressions and a quick look at the D600's high-ISO performance.

Continue reading Nikon unveils lightweight, full-frame D600 DSLR -- hands-on and low-light samples (video)

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Nikon unveils lightweight, full-frame D600 DSLR -- hands-on and low-light samples (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Sep 2012 00:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nikon D3200 sample pics appear on Flickr, make a slightly noisy entrance

Nikon D3200 pics appear on Flickr, make a slightly noisy entrance

Ahead of getting trigger happy with a fully-working D3200 -- rather than the pre-production unit from our hands-on -- we've been checking out some official 24-megapixel samples on Flickr. To our eyes, the images befit the smaller pixel size, namely sharp and high-res, but with a good dollop of noise on the side. Albeit completely unscientific, a blowup compared to an image from the similarly priced Sony NEX-5N looks grainier at the same 1600 ISO. On the plus side, the JPEGs show almost zero compression artifacts, so budget-minded shooters could easily print poster-sized images -- of course, providing they have enough light for a low ISO shot in the first place.

Nikon D3200 sample pics appear on Flickr, make a slightly noisy entrance originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 10:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: Best HD Camcorder for live shows?

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We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from is from Keith, who needs our help to become the next internet comedy sensation. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.
"Hey Engadget! I'm a fledgling stand-up, performing at my local open mic, but I'm thinking of branching out. I'd like to record some of my performances on something better than my QuickCam Pro 9000. Anyone know the best HD video camera for live performances? I'm looking for something reasonably priced and audio quality is paramount. Thanks for your help!"
The comedy clubs we've been in are rarely well lit, so we'll add that this camera has to have fantastic low light performance, which is going to increase the price by a hefty amount. Still, if you can think of a HD camcorder that can do the job -- and let's be honest, carving things out of stone would be better than a QuickCam Pro 9000 -- and is within the budget of a struggling artist then lob your suggestions into the river of comments below.

Ask Engadget: Best HD Camcorder for live shows? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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