You may know Moment for their top-notch smartphone photography gear. Moment makes some of the best iPhone camera lenses (the Anamorphic lens still remains on the top of my wishlist), and even accessories like filters, tripods, and mounts, but the company is now dipping its toe into actual photography with the Long Weekend, a 35mm point and shooter with a disposable-camera aesthetic, but a reusable film design. With an incredibly modest price tag of $49.99, the Long Weekend is perfect for holidays, get-togethers, and special events. The photos it clicks have a distinct retro appeal with the focus-free 31mm, F9 optical grade acrylic lens that gives your images a dreamy 90s aesthetic.
The Long Weekend is a perfect camera for low-stakes high-memories photography, whether it’s a wedding, a beach holiday, or even your kid’s first serious camera. It’s intuitive to use (with just a shutter button and a flash switch) and comes with a lightweight plastic body that can take a few bumps without your heart skipping a beat. The camera comes in two color-ways – a default black, and a gorgeous retrocam-looking cream and blue that reminds us of the Polaroid OneStep.
Optimized for 135 Film (24X36mm) with an ISO range of 200/400, the camera offers versatility in film choice, allowing users to experiment with various film stocks, from classic black & white to popular color films like Kodak Ultramax. The focus-free 31mm, F9 optical grade acrylic lens simplifies the shooting process, making it a great tool for beginners. However, this simplicity does mean a reduction in creative control, as there are no adjustable settings for shutter speed or aperture.
The camera’s shutter speed is fixed at 1/120, and the aperture is locked at f/9, offering a depth of field that covers objects from a distance of one meter onwards. This focus-free approach makes operation straightforward, as you’d expect from a disposable camera… but with the ability to switch out films and continue shooting for as long as the camera lasts you! The lens is made of plastic, resulting in blurry and vignetted corners, a characteristic that you’ll surely come to love.
The Long Weekend also comes equipped with a built-in flash (with a recycle time of 10-15 seconds), making it suitable for low-light shooting. This feature, along with its simple and intuitive operation, makes the camera a fun, easy-to-use device for all skill levels. The flash and the camera itself draw power from a single AAA battery, adding to its convenience and portability.
The camera is available for preorder at $49.99, with deliveries expected to begin from December 26. That may mean missing out on capturing the holiday memories with your friends and family, but it’s just in time for your New Years party or a holiday that follows after!
The Super 8 film camera has become an important part of photography history, particularly when it comes to cinematography. The distinctive design of the camera and its unique format inspired many amateurs who would later become industry veterans, and that legacy is fondly remembered and even commemorated in a 2011 movie bearing the camera’s very name. Not long after that film was released, Kodak, whose name has become closely associated with the camera, announced a new version of this beloved camera that sticks true to its unique analog experience while adding a few digital conveniences. Almost 8 years later, that camera might finally be ready to roll, but it seems that very few fans will actually be able to get their hands on it.
The Super 8 camera can probably be credited for giving birth to home movies that are now made using smartphones. Making motion picture cameras more accessible to the masses helped aspiring moviemakers get started without having to burn through their savings. Although Super 8 cameras are actually still available today, they are already considered vintage by today’s standards, especially because of their use of physical film. That said, a faithful Super 8 successor won’t be able to win hearts unless it also stays true to that format and medium.
That’s exactly what Kodak was going for when it revealed plans to upgrade the Super 8 camera back in 2016 at CES. It would still be a film camera like its predecessors, but it would add a few convenient features taken from digital cameras. The new Super 8 would also retain the same basic shape, especially the gun-like pistol grip that has become iconic of the camera’s design. There’s an addition of a top handle with an integrated run button for more difficult angles. It does modernize the aesthetic, though, adopting a more industrial appearance with plenty of flat planes and sharp angles. It is a look that’s both fresh and new yet still unambiguously Super 8.
As for those modern conveniences, it sports a 4-inch LCD swiveling viewfinder, similar to all video cameras today. It comes with a detachable wide-angle 6mm 1:1.2 C-mount lens, so you can actually use any other C-mount prime lens or adapters, depending on what you need. There’s an SD card reader for recording audio directly into storage, as well as a micro HDMI port for connecting an external monitor. Ironically, despite all the new hardware, the camera still charges with an old and slow micro USB connection. And yes, it still shoots on analog film, so you’ll need to make sure to have a stock of KODAK’s Super 8 cartridges at hand.
Given how long ago the announcement was, there were perhaps some doubts about whether Kodak would actually be able to pull this off at all. The good news is that Kodak has finally opened up sign-ups, with shipping expected to start next month. The bad news is that, in addition to limited availability, the price tag for this new Kodak Super 8 film camera is a whopping $5,495, more than twice the announced SRP back in 2016. This immediately puts it out of the reach of all but the most dedicated collectors, a rather disappointing U-turn for a camera that originally catered to amateurs and aspiring moviemakers.
The lines that separate the physical world and the digital realm continue to blur every day. Augmented reality is putting digital artifacts like windows and buttons, while platforms like the metaverse are bringing bits of the real, physical world into a virtual space in a seamless way. None of these happen by magic, of course, and someone still has to do the work of creating these striking digital objects. Making them from scratch using 3D modelers is definitely possible but also a lot of work, especially if you’re trying to aim for realism or when you need to 3D print a replacement part for a machine or a car. 3D scanners are the tools of the trade for these tasks, and there are 10 of the best products that will get you on your way to making believable, accurate, and precise 3D models of physical objects for all your creative endeavors.
1. Revopoint MINI 3D Scanner Dual-Axis Turntable Combo
If you find yourself always 3D modeling small objects like jewelry, miniature models, or ancient artifacts, then the Revopoint MINI 3D scanner has got your back. Providing single-frame precision of up to 0.02mm and a resolution of up to 0.05mm, this handheld scanner is perfect for working with small objects where accuracy and detail are critical. With an industrial-grade blue light, it can capture detailed scans of objects as small as 10 x 10 x 10 mm in size, making short work of the tiniest targets.
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Why is it Noteworthy?
The Revopoint MINI blue light 3D scanner makes it trivial to capture small objects and is the perfect tool for jewelry design, miniature models, reverse engineering parts, scientific research, and any other task where high-precision models are needed.
What we like
Designed for accurate, precise, and detailed scans of small objects down to 10 x 10 x 10 mm in size
Portable design makes it easy to set up shop anywhere
Combo includes dual-axis turntable and markers
What we dislike
A bit pricey (but the bundle includes many accessories)
2. Revopoint INSPIRE 3D Scanner
Being able to turn real-world objects into 3D models is perhaps every creator’s dream, and with the cost-effective Revopoint INSPIRE, those dreams can now come true without breaking your wallet. Despite its accessible price tag, the lightweight 3D scanner offers nearly the same features are larger and more expensive hardware, such as single-frame precision up to 0.1mm and high-speed scans up to 18fps. It can even connect with Android and iOS for truly portable workflows.
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Why is it Noteworthy?
The Revopoint INSPIRE 3D scanner bundles powerful features into a user-friendly and cost-effective package that will appeal to both hobbyists and pros alike.
What we like
Affordable price tag makes 3D scanning accessible to anyone
Portable and lightweight design allows creators to take their tools anywhere
Basic package includes a mini turntable
What we dislike
Not much to say
3. Revopoint RANGE 3D Scanner Premium Package
Not everything you want to scan will be in a small or even medium size, but that doesn’t mean you need to break the bank for an expensive and complicated studio rig. With the Revopoint RANGE 3D scanner, creating digital models of large objects is no sweat at all. With an infrared light projector that supports a distance of up to 800mm and a single-frame precision of up to 0.1mm, you can easily scan furniture, bodies, and even cars and still be able to hold the scanner in your hand.
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Why is it Noteworthy?
The Revopoint RANGE 3D Scanner makes it easy to create 3D models from large objects without having to sacrifice portability and ease of use.
What we like
Portable handheld design makes it easy to work when and where creativity strikes
Can scan objects as large as 360mm x 650mm @ 600mm from a distance of up to 800mm with accuracy, precision, and high detail
Premium package includes a large turntable, a power bank, and a remote
What we dislike
A bit pricey (but the bundle includes many accessories)
4. Revopoint POP 3 Handheld 3D Scanner Advanced Edition
Say goodbye to bulky setups and get ready to start working anywhere. With the Revopoint POP 3 handheld 3D scanner, getting accurate and precise digital versions of real-world objects won’t be a burdensome chore. It boasts an Auxiliary IR that enhances tracking performance in Maker Mode, while White LEDs make the digital model colors more vibrant. Plus, touch-sensitive buttons on the camera itself remove the need for external devices, making the whole workflow more seamless and convenient.
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Why is it Noteworthy?
The Revopoint POP 3 Handheld 3D Scanner’s portable design and powerful yet easy-to-use features make 3D scanning accessible to everyone.
What we like
Portable design makes it easy to start working anytime, anywhere
Single-frame precision of up to 0.05mm at up to 18fps for fast and correct 3D models
Advanced Edition includes everything you need such as a dual-axis turntable and a power bank
What we dislike
A bit pricey (but the bundle includes many accessories)
5. Revopoint Handheld Stabilizer for 3D Scanners
Handheld 3D scanners truly revolutionize the industry, allowing almost anyone to do creative work when inspiration strikes. Not everyone, however, has steady hands, which is where a stabilizer comes in. Designed for Revopoint’s portable 3D scanners, this Handheld Stabilizer lets you work without having to worry about shaky hands, getting accurate, detailed, and clear scans each and every time.
Compatible with all Revopoint 3D scanners, this Handheld Stabilizer lets you spend more time scanning and less time worrying about shaky hands.
What we like
Built-in rechargeable 4000mAh battery delivers a 6-hour operating time
Compatible with all Revopoint 3D scanners
What we dislike
Stabilizes on 2 axes only
6. Revopoint Dual-Axis Turntable
Just because you have a handheld 3D scanner doesn’t mean you always have to hold it in your hand to use it. Sometimes, going around the object isn’t the best way to get the best scans, which is actually true even for very small objects. On the flip side, turning the object manually yourself is also a lot of work with a lot of room for error. With the Revopoint Dual-Axis Turntable, you can prop up both the object as well as the 3D scanner for a steadier and more consistent rotation that will let you get all the details you need without having to rely on your shaky hands.
The Revopoint Dual-Axis Turntable can rotate at a 30-degree tilt to make sure you can capture all the angles you need for an accurate 3D scan.
What we like
Supports 360-degree rotation, clockwise or counterclockwise, and up to 30 degrees tilt
Has markers for accurate scanning
What we dislike
Can only be controlled via Bluetooth using Revo Scan or Revo Assistant (app for iOS or Android)
7. Revopoint Power Bank Mobile Kit
It’s easy to use handheld 3D scanners anywhere, given their portable and lightweight designs, but they’re still electronic devices that do need power to be used. The Revopoint Power Bank provides the juice you need to do your work, wherever you are. You can even easily swap out batteries so you can get up and running again before your creative ideas fly away.
The Revopoint Mobile Kit provides the power you need to minimize your downtime and keep on scanning.
What we like
Rechargeable 4,000mAh battery offers enough power for hours of work
Designed to work with all Revopoint 3D scanners
What we dislike
Rather plain design
8. Revopoint Large Turntable
With a handheld 3D scanner, you might think that you will always need to go around the target to scan it. That’s not always easy, however, and sometimes even error-prone. With the Revopoint Large Turntable, you create more efficient workflows by having the object turn around instead. And with a maximum load of 200kg, you can put almost anything that can fit on the turntable, including a human person!
The Revopoint Large Turntable enables more efficient and time-effective workflows by having the object steadily turn around rather than having you move around it.
What we like
Can support loads of up to 200kg
What we dislike
A bit heavy at 7kg
9. Revopoint Markers for 3D Scanning
While handheld 3D scanners have definitely made it so much easier to scan almost any object, not all objects in the physical world are actually that easy to scan. Objects with completely smooth and featureless surfaces, such as cups or cars, can be more difficult to scan. The Revopoint Markers for 3D scanning easily solves this problem by adding visual points for the scanner to track more easily. With a specially designed adhesive foil, applying and removing these markers are as easy as pie and won’t cause damage to the object.
The Revopoint Markers for 3D scanning instantly turn stubborn, featureless surfaces into scanner-friendly textures for more accurate models.
What we like
Easy to apply and remove without damaging the object
Single pack includes 500 markers
What we dislike
Not reusable
10. Scanning Spray
Scanning physical objects might sound easy, but not all real-world things lend themselves well to this process. Objects with reflective or transparent surfaces are especially tricky because of how they can interfere with the scanner’s optics. The Scanning Spray deftly transforms the glossiest surface into a textured easy-to-scan surface. Best of all, it doesn’t leave permanent marks and doesn’t do any damage to the object.
Webcams are to laptops what stereo systems were to cars in the past. No reputable automaker really gave a damn about how useful or functional their stereo players were, and they were almost always an afterthought to the car’s entire experience. However, with the dawn of the social age, these systems have now transformed into complex infotainment apparatuses that are sometimes the highlight of the car’s entire interior experience. I digress, but the point I’m trying to make is that up until very recently, webcams on laptops, for the lack of a more elegant term, have sucked turds. It’s barely been 2 years since companies (especially Apple) have been focusing more on just making better camera hardware for their laptops. Heck, Apple even introduced a Continuity Camera feature for their Macs that lets you use the iPhone’s main camera instead of the built-in webcam. While this movement towards building better laptop webcams is yet to gather critical mass, it’s spawned a pretty big product category in the form of external webcams, which all promise to be vastly better than the ones baked into your laptop’s hardware.
That’s where the Opal Tadpole Webcam enters the scene, promising to be a game changer. Now in its second iteration, the Tadpole promises great things with some impressive hardware specs combined with a little AI secret sauce.
Opal’s first product was launched at the height of the pandemic as the world transitioned to an online-only workplace. As people found themselves spending less time behind cubicles and more time behind crappy laptop webcams, Opal decided to debut the C1 – a promising webcam that fell short on delivering what it promised. To be honest, circumstances played a pretty big role in why the C1 wasn’t as great as it was hyped up to be. The raging pandemic was also causing a pretty ugly supply chain crisis and global chip shortage. Transportation was on a grinding halt, preventing Opal’s fledgling team from actually going to China to oversee production. However, the pandemic is now hopefully completely behind us and Opal’s grown in the time since then – not only in personally but also in how the company executes product development. In that regard, the Tadpole isn’t really the C1’s successor, given that it’s vastly better, packs new features, and is also touts a hefty $175 price tag.
First off, the Tadpole boasts a 4K Sony sensor. That’s right, 4K. In a world where most laptop webcams are stuck in the 720p dark ages, this is a significant leap forward. The video footage does get downsampled to 1080p to keep things light (a 4K stream on a Zoom call isn’t something most internet connections can handle), but Tadpole’s new machine-learning image signal processor promises “DSLR-rivaling quality.” In addition to the resolution, the Tadpole features a moderately wide 90-degree field of view. This wide angle is perfect for capturing more than just your face, helpful for those dynamic presentations, or when you want to show off more of your surroundings. Things, however, don’t stop there. The Tadpole comes equipped with an f/1.8 lens, which means it’s capable of performing admirably in low-light conditions. No more looking like you’re in a witness protection program during late-night video calls. Furthermore, the webcam includes a digital microphone array, designed to pick up your voice clearly while minimizing background noise.
Physically, the Tadpole is compact and elegantly designed. It’s practically the shape and size of a 3rd-Gen iPod Shuffle, with a minimalist design to match. It easily clips onto your laptop or monitor, adding minimal bulk, but doing away with the standard tripod mount that would allow you to attach the Tadpole on places other than a monitor. USB-C connectivity means it’s versatile and can be used with a range of devices, not just your laptop, and the Tadpole’s USB-C port even comes with a touch-sensitive Mute button, allowing you to easily mute yourself on calls without navigating any video-chat interfaces.
What’s more intriguing about the Tadpole is its compatibility. It’s not just a plug-and-play device; it takes advantage of its own software to enhance the user experience. This includes features like auto-framing and AI enhancements, ensuring that you’re always in focus and look your best, even if you just rolled out of bed.
All those features don’t come cheap at all. With an eye-watering $175 price tag, the Tadpole is sits at the higher end of the webcam market, which might be a deterrent for some. But for those who are tired of pixelated video calls and want a top-tier webcam experience, the Tadpole might just be worth the splurge. While it may not be for everyone’s wallet, it’s certainly a step in the right direction for anyone seeking clarity, quality, and a bit of style in their video calls. And who knows, maybe it’ll make those early morning Zoom meetings a tad more bearable. Or at least, you’ll look good while you’re half-asleep, sipping your coffee, pretending to pay attention.
Last week, Canon announced a new telephoto-to-super-telephoto lens with the ability to zoom in 4x. This should let anyone take extremely accurate shots from a long distance with little noticeable blur, and it may open new doors for wildlife photographers (who, likely, would prefer to avoid disturbing any natural habitats) working without a tripod. It sounds like hand-holding a Canon EOS R-series full-frame camera equipped with one of these lenses provides comparable image clarity, which is important when you consider tripods are a drag on mobility. The lens making such photography wizardry possible is called the Canon RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM, and — despite its $1,899 MSRP — you’re absolutely going to want one if you plan on capturing fast-moving distant objects, like wildlife or even fast-moving athletes or vehicles.
By default, this 200mm lens has a minimum focus distance of 2.62 ft or 0.8 meters. But that can be extended out to 800mm for much clearer long-distance shots with a minimum distance of 10.83 ft or 3.3 meters. Of course, that’s if you don’t use an extender. Sticking an Extender RF2x on top of a Canon RF200-800mm doubles its focal length even further to 1600mm, potentially making it one of the best super-telephoto lenses around. That’s partially thanks to Canon’s Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which Canon claims provides “enhanced shake reduction for up to 5.5 stops”. When paired with Coordinated IS on the Canon EOS R-Series cameras, these benefits combine for “reliable handheld performance and clearer detail in low-light situations, without having to increase the ISO or decrease the shutter speed.”
Canon’s RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM lens features a number of weather-proofing features which blend right into its stylish black-and-white matte design. For instance, its white paint is actually meant to work as a countermeasure against excessive heat when exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time, as would be the case when capturing sports footage or when shooting wildlife in an area with a hot climate. The lens mount, focus/control ring, lens function buttons, and other interface pieces are rated for dust-proofing as well. Carrying it around should be a breeze; this lens only weighs 0.55 lbs, making it lightweight compared to other telephoto lenses — which usually weigh somewhere in the 1-3 lb range.
So far, reviews of the RF200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM skew overwhelmingly positive. TechRadar praised the lens for its “unbeatable reach” and “sharp detail especially at its wider end”. Even then, it sounds like the lens’ aperture could use more headroom for lower-light scenes. But that isn’t a huge deal on its own. If you buy one of these, you’re likely going to pair it with one of Canon’s EOS cameras — packed-in with in-body stabilization — and if that’s the case, this lens should be able to capture incredibly detailed photos (even in low-light situations) from afar. According to Canon, the RF200-800mm is shipping out to customers in the United States on December 14.
The company may have announced new MacBooks and iMacs at its latest event yesterday… but what it secretly was doing all along was creating an advertisement for their smartphones. In a rare video uploaded to Apple’s YouTube channel, the tech giant revealed that their entire October 30th Keynote was filmed on the iPhone 15 Pro. The video lifts the curtain on how Apple pulled it off, while being perhaps the greatest act of ‘putting their money where their mouth is’ in terms of proving the iPhone’s top-notch video capabilities.
While it’s easy to think that the true star of the event was Apple’s new M3 chip, in reality it was the USB-C port on its newest iPhone 15 Pro. Unveiled just fifty days ago, the new iPhone 15 Pro’s USB-C port is capable of 10Gb/s transfer speeds, allowing you to move ProRes videos in a snap, and even connect external storage, 4K displays, microphones, among other accessories to augment the iPhone 15 Pro’s overall output.
The entire event was quite different from any of Apple’s events, and that seems to be by design. For starters, it premiered in the evening (or at night depending on which coast you live on), marking a massive departure from all of Apple’s morning events. We heard Tim Cook say the words “Good Evening” for the first time, but just before, we got a tour of the Apple Park at night. The camera flew in from up above, battling not just the tricky conditions of flight and navigation, but also incredibly low-light videography. The Apple Park was practically drenched in the Halloween spirit, with bats flying, ominous music, smoky/foggy pathways, and dimly lit scenes… all of which were captured brilliantly on the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s massive sensor.
The pre-Halloween keynote, the evening announcement, all seemed like a brilliant setup for the fact that Apple was planning on shooting the entire event on its latest phone. Sure, Apple could have had the event during the day and still boasted a “Shot On iPhone” disclaimer… but to shoot the entire thing in low-light – there’s no way Apple could resist that massive a flex. The event was also entirely edited on a Mac, as Apple’s way of showing how powerful the two devices are on their own as well as put together.
Anyone deeply familiar with Apple’s Shot On iPhone campaign knows that there’s more than just an iPhone involved. Those massive billboards with beautifully composed and edited photos look great, but a regular user holding an iPhone in their hand could never pull off the same visual mastery. The words ‘Shot On iPhone’ are often followed by ‘with a lot of expensive accessories’, but not many people know that. For Apple’s keynote, the company is at least a little more forthcoming by showing exactly what their rigs looked like… and no, it isn’t just a dude holding an iPhone in front of Tim Cook.
Verge reports that the entire Scary Fast event setup would have probably cost tens of thousands of dollars. The iPhone itself is mounted on a massive hand-carried rig that stabilizes the footage. For more consistent camera paths, the team used a dolly cam setup with trolleys and rails, and for the aerial shots, the Apple team literally built their own drones that held the iPhone 15 Pro Max. There are expensive microphones, monitors, battery units, lights, and a tonne of other equipment used in the picture. To be fair, Apple would still use all that extraneous equipment with a high-end camera… so just the fact that the iPhone could replace that camera does count for quite a lot.
The entire video dump was easily transferred out of the phone using the USB-C connector. Company 3, an American post-production company that handled the filming of the event, mentioned how buttery smooth the entire process was to shoot 4K ProRes with all those accessories and have all that raw footage simultaneously transferred onto an external hard disk without any hiccups. The A17 Bionic’s heavy lifting would then be complemented by Apple’s M2 chips, which were used by the Macs that edited the footage.
A quick glimpse at the hand-made drone used by Apple’s team to shoot all the aerial shots of the Scary Fast keynote.
This isn’t the first time the iPhone was used to shoot professional content. In 2015, a film named Tangerine was highlighted at the Sundance Film Festival for being shot entirely on iPhones. Notably, Olivia Rodrigo shot one of her music videos on an iPhone too, and Indian film director Vishal Bharadwaj collaborated with Apple to shoot a short film, Fursat, entirely on an iPhone. This is the first time Apple’s taken that plunge, and it seems to have paid off rather well. If only they had migrated to USB-C sooner…
