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Apple iOS Camera?

Apple iOS Professional Camera?

While you may think this article is going to be about cell phones, you would be wrong.  This article is about the future of all professional cameras.  The premise:  What if a professional camera had the Apple iOS installed?  As we’ve seen in the consumer camera industry, an operating system (OS) like Apple or Android, can make a simple device, such as a cell phone, just crush an entire line of products industry wide.  It’s just a fact that small consumer camera sales have become virtually extinct, and it happened in less than three years!  When Apple introduced the iPhone, it had a small camera on-board that could take decent pictures, but today, these same cameras take stunning pictures.  Why in the world would anyone buy a consumer camera when they can own a device  that connects them to their family and friends, while taking stunning pictures, for the same, if not less, money?

How did this occur?  The operating system.  The Apple iOS environment, and the Android environment are truly the only two operating systems that all of us experience.  We might brush up against the Blackberry operating system, but not likely.  In their 24th World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) just a few days ago, Apple gathered together their community of developers for their annual conference to disclose new products and thank the millions of developers that contribute to the Apple experience.  What most people don’t know about this conference is this: “Apple has more than 6 million programmers developing their product!”  All I can say is … Wow!  Personally, I love to watch this conference on my Apple TV because you get an inside glimpse at what’s coming this fall.  To say the least, just when you thought that everything would plateau and new ideas have vanished, the WWDC shows you how wrong you are.  The new products coming out this fall are mind blowing!

So what does all this have to do with professional cameras?  What could an OS do to the professional camera market?  To put it simply, make it explosive!  Imagine your Nikon D4 or your Canon 5D having many of the features of your iPhone.  Not just features like sharing images on Facebook and Twitter, but performance improvements that would update while you sleep.  My wife and I both have Apple iPhones and she has a slightly newer model, of course, and both of our phones couldn’t be more different.  Her camera takes pictures and videos with stunning clarity and mine does a great job, but nowhere near the quality of hers.  The difference?  A slight difference in hardware configuration, but the software is where all the magic takes place.  Now imagine your professional camera with these same capabilities.  What if you could talk to your camera?!?!

  • “Nikon, pull up today’s videos, beam to Apple TV, and start with the Victoria Secret lingerie shoot.”
  • “Time index VS1 (name of the video), and run from 10:37.”
  • “Start Final Cut Pro (because it will be installed on your camera, and synced to your computer!!!) and splice from 10:37 to 10:48.”
  • “Swipe transition, now paste 11:14 to 11:18.”
  • “Paste all cuts into Victoria Secret template and play.”

Mind blowing!  But that’s what we “could” be doing with our professional cameras if they had a built in operating system.  Is it on the horizon?  I’m betting it is.  How do I know?  Take a look at the Samsung Galaxy consumer camera.  As you’ll see, Samsung is running the Android operating system in a consumer camera model.  This tactic of testing a platform with consumer cameras is what all the big camera companies do before they roll it out on their professional platforms.  Samsung’s going to use the “open source” platform of community development to bring the OS into focus for camera users and then, after they see a few improvements, they’ll release an OS for their larger professional cameras.

Now if you keep up with technology, as I do, as a hobby or profession, you know that the Apple iOS ecosystem outpaces the Android OS by 3:1.  Knowing this, could you imagine the technological leap that Canon or Nikon could make if they jumped on-board the Apple iOS platform to improve their cameras!  Every single day, Apple adds roughly 4,110 new developers to their iOS platform.  Just over 1.5 million in 2012 alone, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.  I would bet that Canon, or Nikon, or both, are already gearing up for this technological leap.  And when they make that leap, it’s going to happen fast and it’s going to change the performance and the way we interact with our cameras that few could imagine.

So is this going to happen?  Absolutely!  You know how much Apple hates Samsung.  Even though they do business together, Apple will not be outdone by a punk running the Android OS.  Thank goodness Apple has this bad attitude, because it’s good for all of us.

As Ken Jennings, Jeopardy champion, put it when he played IBM’s Watson, “I, for one, welcome our new computer overlords.”  Technology is neutral and beautiful, used properly, we’re going to see magnificent improvements in our lives that we couldn’t imagine just five years ago.

Rock on my fellow professional junkies!  You and your camera will be kicking ass and making it look good all at the same time!

Nikon Started It! – It’s all their fault!

Nikon D4 DSLR

To say the least, Nikon DSLR’s started all the high-def DSLR video revolution, and they aim to compete.  Personally, I love watching both Canon and Nikon duke it out like a couple of prize fighters.  The competition makes the whole game very interesting.  This year at CES 2013, Nikon did not disappoint.  They have four new models lined up and they are all impressive!  Back just 10 years ago, when I sold my first Sticky Pod, I couldn’t have imagined what we can do with a small hand held camera.  Fast forward to today, and the features and capabilities are mind blowing.  High Def video that is so stunning, you basically hit rewind and watch it again, and you don’t even know you’re doing it!

The new Nikon D4 is just out of this world.  In my last article, we discussed the Canon 5D Mark III, so in keeping with simple camera models, it’s only fitting that we highlight the D4 by Nikon.  The Nikon D4 is a powerhouse that any professional would use to differentiate themselves from their competition.  Nikon originally started the high-def video resolution just a few years ago, and the D4 is literally a production studio in your hands.  Don’t be fooled by the 16.2MP sensor.  That’s 16.2MPs of pure FX (full format) sensor.  This is not a compressed image squeezed onto a smaller, inferior sensor.  This is a full frame image, for both still and video, that begs the question, “Why would I use an ARRI?”  I’m not saying this to put the ARRI Alexa down, because frankly, it’s not possible to put the image quality of the ARRI Alexa down.  I’m saying this because that’s how impressive the Nikon D4 has become.  I think the best part of it is the “user friendliness”.  Nikon has made significant improvements over the last few years to improve the capabilities of their cameras for both the professional photographer and the videographer.  Adding ports, custom menus and remote features that make these cameras far more friendly to a small production house, the Nikon D4 makes one-man operations, downright easy.

Now imagine the Sticky Pod Director and a Nikon D4 coupled together.  Just how easy can it get to be the “go-to” guy for literally all video possibilities.

In the video above, you will see the venerable B&H Photo review the D4 in a fast, clear and concise manner.  B&H Photo is my personal favorite for my camera gear.  They were my reseller for many years and they sold nearly $1 Million in Sticky Pods over the last 10 years.  That’s impressive and they treat their customer’s very well.

On a side note, none of the links on the Sticky Pod website are affiliate links.  So please feel free to click away and never worry about “cookies” that you don’t want, or websites links that you don’t need.  You’ll be taken directly to the manufacturer’s website.

Canon 5D Mark III Imaginat10n Contest

Canon 5D Mark III

When the original Canon 5D came on the scene, there was an explosion of excitement for both photographers and videographers everywhere.  I can only imagine that the people at Sony, and others, were not happy with Canon producing such a powerhouse camera, that is affordable to anyone.  The Canon 5D produces high-def video that is so rich and deep, top directors in Hollywood jumped at the chance to use them.  When Ron Howard switches out his Panavision, lease only, cameras for a handful of Canon 5Ds and gets the same results!  That sends a shockwave through the industry that many didn’t see coming so quickly.

Ten years ago, when I invented the Sticky Pod, I couldn’t wait for cameras to become more powerful, in a smaller, lighter body.  This advancement in technology has truly brought the Sticky Pod car camera mount into it’s own.  The Sticky Pod Director is now used to produce not only first person POV shots from any moving vehicle, but also the digital backdrops that enable television shows like CSI and 24 to showcase more as an epic movie.  Several Canon 5Ds are mounted directly to the Sticky Pod Director hub and literally any car, truck, boat, van and more can be used to capture 360 degree digital backdrops for your studio.  The best part, you get all this with no expensive lease agreements that tie you down to very specific requirements, and you own everything.

stickypod_shoulder_mount9_web

As you may know, Ron Howard is looking for your input in the Imaginat10n project.  Now imagine taking your Canon 5D into a truly 3 dimensional world by mounting it to a Sticky Pod Director.  The Sticky Pod Director not only secures your camera to any vehicle, it boosts your performance capabilities when your focus turns to hand-held action shots.  Do you know what a Manfrotto Fig Rig is?  Because you have everything in a Sticky Pod Director to make your own Fig Rig.  Did you know you can make a camera stabilizer?  Because any Sticky Pod Director can be configured for hand-held steady camera work.

On and off your car, you can maximize your Canon 5D’s possibilities.  Whether you’re on land, sea or air, the Director and the Canon 5D have your back.

 

Do You Forum?

Do you find yourself a regular visitor on forums that peak your interest?  While forums have taken a backseat to social networks, for a dedicated enthusiast or professional, they’re an invaluable tool.  While some forums have come and gone, others forge ahead with a wealth of knowledge and advice from your fellow professionals.

One such example of this is Photography on the Net, and their Canon Digital Photography Forum.  As you may know, the Canon Digital Camera, such as the Canon 5D Mark III, is one of the best pieces of professional equipment money can buy.  It’s lightweight, full of features, delivers full, rich color and very high end HD video that can be used for any movie or TV production.

One of the ways Canon photographers use the Sticky Pod is in their transportation shoots.  This can be in the form of photographing cars, or using the car, any car really, to produce professional digital backdrops.  The combination of a Sticky Pod Director and a Canon 5d, are unbeatable.  You can, and will be able to do anything you want, and you can make it happen with a minimal budget.

Here at Sticky Pod, we love to engage forum members and provide advice and insight.  So please tell us your favorite forum in the comments below.

Thank you,
Tom Heibel
Sticky Pod

Sticky Pod Website Update

Sticky Pod Website Update

As you may know, we recently moved our company server from an off-site, server farm, to our very own in-house web server.  Using the latest software and technologies caused our site to freeze up for some customers, but this has been repaired and everything is running very fast and smooth as silk.

Please have a look and feel free to place your orders with no interruptions.

My apologies for the delays, but as most of you know, upgrades are always a pain.

Please let us know what we can do for you.

Thank you!
Tom Heibel
Sticky Pod