I am a Wildlife Cameraman working for the last 10 years on a variety of Wildlife documentaries see link below for more info

Many years back I worked with the guys at Magic Lantern to create a add on to allow a Canon camera to be woken up from sleep and triggered to start recording all through the shutter release cable. We got some really great results on BBC’s Planet Earth II for Snow Leopards allowing us to capture never before seen footage and the camera being able to last about 2 months on a set of External batteries.

Times have changed since then and now we need high end 4K or even 6k in the camera traps. My question is anyone interested in developing an android app to sit on Sony Alpha Cameras to be able for it to be used as a camera trap inside the camera.

We would need the following:

Wake up camera from external trigger. Start recording 4K video for a set amount of time (determined in the camera). Any other signal from the external trigger is ignored until the set amount of time has been completed, after this time it’s counter of time will be reset to add an extra X amount of time.

Then the auto sleep can turn off the camera ready for another trigger

Thanks All the best

Duncan www.duncanparker.co.uk

Snow leopard shots Captured by the Magic Lantern firmware from BBC PE II are on site to watch.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a world leader in advanced semiconductor technology, today introduced Samsung ISOCELL GN2, a new 50-megapixel (Mp) image sensor with large 1.4-micrometer (μm)-sized pixels. With enhancements to its predecessor, the ISOCELL GN1, the GN2 offers up to 100Mp imaging, improved auto-focusing through Dual Pixel Pro technology, powerful staggered HDR, and vivid results through Smart ISO Pro, regardless of the lighting environment

“ISOCELL image sensors and its technologies have made vast improvements to deliver the quality and performance one would expect from top-tier prograde cameras,” said Duckhyun Chang, executive vice president of sensor business at Samsung Electronics. “Our new ISOCELL GN2 features Dual Pixel Pro, an innovative all-direction auto-focusing solution that elevates the agility to capture moments as they unfold. Adding on Smart ISO Pro and a variety of advanced pixel technologies, pictures from GN2 are more true-to-life than ever.”

The 1/1.12-inch ISOCELL GN2 is a highly versatile image sensor when it comes to image resolutions. With 50 million 1.4μm-sized pixels on hand, the GN2 offers exceptionally detailed photographs in regular settings. In low-lit environments such as indoors, the sensor can simulate a larger 2.8μm-pixel with four-pixel-binning technology to absorb more light, delivering brighter and sharper images.

For those who appreciate more detail in photographs or are prone to post-processing such as image cropping, the GN2 offers an option to take pictures in 100Mp resolutions. In 100Mp mode, the GN2 meticulously re-arranges the color pixels using an intelligent re-mosaic algorithm, creating three individual layers of 50Mp frames in green, red and blue. These frames are then up-scaled and merged to produce a single ultra-high 100Mp resolution photograph.

The ISOCELL GN2 is Samsung’s first image sensor to offer Dual Pixel Pro, the company’s most advanced phase-detection auto-focus solution yet. By employing two photodiodes within every pixel of the image sensor, Dual Pixel Pro makes use of one hundred million phase detecting agents for ultra-fast auto-focusing. In addition, the solution also offers all-direction focusing by splitting the pixels not only vertically, as with Dual Pixel, but also diagonally. This diagonal cut allows the focusing agents to better recognize the top and bottom of the frame, allowing the sensor to get in focus quickly even when there are no pattern changes in a horizontal direction. Low-light focusing and tracking of moving objects are improved as well, as every pixel of the sensor works as focusing agents.

For taking pictures in mixed-light environments, such as sunsets or indoors with daylight coming through a window, the GN2 increases its dynamic range with a staggered-HDR feature, a time-multiplexed HDR technology that uses rolling shutters over the same pixel arrays to capture multiple frames in short, middle, and long exposures. By maximizing the dynamic range, staggered-HDR ensures rich detail and vivid color in highlights and dark shadows within the scene, making it an ideal solution for shooting high-contrast sights. Staggered-HDR is able to reduce the energy consumption of a sensor by up to 24-percent when compared to the predecessor’s real-time HDR mode, contributing to improved energy efficiency of the overall system.

The GN2 also comes with Smart ISO and Smart ISO Pro. Smart ISO intelligently sets the sensor’s conversion gain, allowing the picture to be taken using an optimal ISO; low ISO for brighter outdoors or high for dimmer indoors. Unlike Smart ISO, which uses readouts from a single ISO per picture, Smart ISO Pro, which uses an intra-scene dual conversion gain (iDCG) solution, takes readouts from both high and low ISO to instantly create high dynamic range images with less motion-artifacts. In addition, in extreme low-light, Smart ISO Pro quickly takes and processes multiple frames in high ISO, raising the light sensitivity close to one-million ISOs and taking mobile night photography to greater heights.

Camera experiences can be more fun and creative with the GN2, where precious moments can be captured more dramatically and everyday events can be turned into short videos. The GN2 supports full-HD videos at 480 frames-per-second (fps) or 4K at 120fps, enabling wider possibilities for mobile video-shooting.

Samsung ISOCELL GN2 is currently in mass production.

Now, in addition of being a bad reviewer, you became a patent troll.

https://petapixel.com/2021/02/19/ken-rockwell-patents-smart-cropping-camera-software-for-zooms/

The captain who earned his place and navigate hardly through this infinite sea of information was with lots of efforts recognized and respected for its knowledge and hard truths, but it time we the old crew are seeing the deformation of his deep thoughts showing each day more of its shape and real purpose, a deep resentment of an aged agenda.

It’s sad to see the control of supply’s, the deletion of elements we gave to this boat, filling it with goods, all goods sharing time and effort of the cumulative action, constant efforts which disappeared whith just one action from from the captain, who’s mind is turning into something strange, delirious actions and fascist behaviors, this was not the trip we all signed in.

It’s time to go, and we all should know what’s going on next, on this boat on this agenda, on this kind of control, cos thoughts and ideas show who we really are.

So by being a communist functioning inside a democratic society, trying to make a business inside a capitalistic model, imposing its fascist agenda...The last thing this boat lets you do is give your personal-view.

Slowly in this boat is turning into something strange.

cheers!

Nikon Canada is rumored to reduce their warranty coverage for all products on February 1st, 2021. Currently, the warranty in Canada on cameras and flashes is 2 years and on lenses is 5 years. On February 1st 2021, the warranty is rumored to change to 1 year for all products (cameras, flashes, and lenses).

Most major manufacturers plan this year to almost kill all service centers, but few made for professionals.

Short warranty will be covered with item exchanges methods.

At last, Nikon will end the domestic production of camera bodies that has continued for more than 70 years. Until now, body manufacturing has been carried out at “Sendai Nikon” in Miyagi Prefecture and “Nikon Thailand (NTC)” in Thailand, but in order to reduce costs, it will be concentrated at the Thai factory.

Production of the mirrorless cameras Z 7 and Z 6 was completed at the end of September, and preparations for the transfer of production to Thailand have begun in October. Production of the D6 digital SLR will also be transferred to Thailand by the end of 2021.

https://dot.asahi.com/dot/2020121500061.html

Just step by step that Olympus had been doing.

Killing service centers, after this punishing people who worked many years in marketing and support, after this moving production and further cost cutting.

Efficient management at their best.

I am sure we'll remember 2020 as calmest and nicest year, but things coming are still fun as any huge movement in society!

China-based suppliers of components and materials for LED packaging have recently hiked quotes by 5-10% to reflect increased production cost, prompting local LED packagers to adjust their prices upward, according to industry sources.

As Chinese makers are main suppliers of LED lighting products to the US market, the price hikes are pushing US-based lighting vendors Valmont, Cooper Lighting and Technical Consumer Products (TCP) to increase sales prices by 8-10% beginning January-February 2021.

Chinese LED chips makers' combined production capacity has been expanded by about 20% in 2020 and a large portion of the expansion is attributable to Shenzhen MTC.

We often think of our cameras as devices that convert the incoming light rays directly to photographs. However, there are many steps involved in producing the final photograph we share with family and friends. In many cases, the type of processing applied gives a camera its unique photographic quality. In this talk, I'll provide an overview of the processing steps applied on board a digital camera to convert the sensor image to the final photograph. The in-camera processing includes steps such as denoising, demosiacing, white-balance, selective color rendering, tone-mapping, and color space conversion. I'll also talk about new multi-frame approaches to imaging used on smartphone cameras.

Bio: Dr. Michael S. Brown is a professor and Canada Research Chair at York University. His research targets computational photography, image processing, and computer vision.

Register on eventbrite: Free

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/in-camera-color-processing-for-digital-cameras-by-michael-brown-tickets-136093622689

PS - The CRSC is organizing the AIC (International Colour Organization) Conference in 2022 on Sensing Colour. Perhaps the ArtSci salon would like to do some joint programming/events. The conference is June 13-16 2022. At this point we are organizing a hybrid online/in-person event.

http://www.aic2022.org/

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA)® today announced CES® 2021 – January 6-9, 2021 – will be an all-digital experience connecting exhibitors, customers, thought leaders and media from around the world. The new format will allow participants to hear from technology innovators, see cutting-edge technologies and the latest product launches, and engage with global brands and startups from around the world.

"Amid the pandemic and growing global health concerns about the spread of COVID-19, it's just not possible to safely convene tens of thousands of people in Las Vegas in early January 2021 to meet and do business in person,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, CTA. “Technology helps us all work, learn and connect during the pandemic – and that innovation will also help us reimagine CES 2021 and bring together the tech community in a meaningful way. By shifting to an all-digital platform for 2021, we can deliver a unique experience that helps our exhibitors connect with existing and new audiences."

CES 2021 will be a new immersive experience, where attendees will have a front row seat to discover and see the latest technology. This highly personalized experience will bring a global event to the comfort and safety of your home or office.

For over 50 years, CES has been the global stage for innovation. CTA’s goal for CES 2021 is to provide an engaging platform for companies large and small to launch products, build brands and form partnerships, while prioritizing health and safety. Members of the tech community thrive by coming together, sharing ideas and introducing products that will shape our future.

Mark your calendars for the first week in January and be on the lookout for more exciting news about CES 2021. We plan to return to Las Vegas for CES 2022, combining the best elements of a physical and digital show.

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire NUVIA for approximately $1.4 billion before working capital and other adjustments. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.

5G is further accelerating the convergence of mobility and computing. The acquisition of NUVIA builds on Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon technology leadership, delivering step-function improvements in CPU performance and power efficiency to meet the demands of next-generation 5G computing.

NUVIA comprises a proven world-class CPU and technology design team, with industry-leading expertise in high performance processors, Systems on a Chip (SoC) and power management for compute-intensive devices and applications. The addition of NUVIA CPUs to Qualcomm Technologies’ already leading mobile graphics processing unit (GPU), AI engine, DSP and dedicated multimedia accelerators will further extend the leadership of Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms, and positions Snapdragon as the preferred platform for the future of connected computing.

https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2021/01/13/qualcomm-acquire-nuvia

Startup consist from guys like "Apple’s chief architecture for its CPU and chipset design" and similar. Big amount of team who made Apple A14 and Apple M1 left and founded this startup.

Notice regarding transition from international warranties for interchangeable lenses and accessories

Thank you for choosing Nikon for your photographic needs.

Nikon will no longer provide international warranty for NIKKOR interchangeable lenses (F mount and Z mount lenses, mount adapters, etc.) and accessories (Speedlights, etc.), but will provide instead local warranties specific to the country or region of sale, or shipping destination.

Until now, Nikon has attached its international warranty to interchangeable lenses and certain accessories. However, with the differences in regional laws and safety standards, it has become quite difficult to maintain a single international warranty that is effective around the world. We have considered a variety of options, but ultimately decided to begin the gradual transition from international warranties to regional warranties for interchangeable lenses and accessories in January of 2021.

If a product is purchased with an international warranty, that international warranty will remain valid for its full term, regardless of the date of purchase. If the product is purchased with a regional warranty, that warranty will remain valid for its full term. However, if any repairs are performed on that product in a country or region not covered by the warranty, the user is responsible for all repair fees, even if the warranty is still valid.

In addition, some countries and regions may be unable to accept products sold in other countries or regions for repair. Please consult with the repair center, or a retailer or distributor in the applicable country or region.

Savings, in 2021 also lot of Nikon service centers will be closed and lot of people fired.

All "convoluted" codenames are being changed. Instead of the current Wi-Fi being called 802.11ac, it’ll be called Wi-Fi 5. :

• Wi-Fi 1: 802.11b (1999)
• Wi-Fi 2: 802.11a (1999)
• Wi-Fi 3: 802.11g (2003)
• Wi-Fi 4: 802.11n (2009)
• Wi-Fi 5: 802.11ac (2014)

https://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/wi-fi-6

• Canon won't make any new lenses except ones announced and may be small kit lens update.
• Canon won't make any significant body design updates until whole system will be shelved
• But due to fact that some bodies had been almost ready before EOS R mount they will be released still
• It is expected that 4K crop will remain, but will be smaller, as well as serial shooting speed will be up around 30%
• Canon will took special pause until releasing first EOS R APS-C bodies to try to clear stock of all EOS-M line

Current REC.709 televisions only display 33% of the actual amount of colours you can see and they are also limited to around 100 NITS of brightness (NITS are the unit used to measure brightness),

And this is that happens if you read too much marketing literature.

In reality most consumer TVs are not 100nits (and at retail demo rooms they are even more far from it). And they are NOT limited here.

Next thing people do not understand that sRGB color gamut is not so limiting due to fact that we see reflected light in nature and super saturated colors that is not included can be rarely seen in nature.

Next trap lies in complete misunderstanding on that dynamic range of reproduction device is (and replacing it in the head with dynamic range of camera).
Dolby lie comes from marketing proposal that limiting factor of consumer sets comes from maximum brightness, and it is just not true. While actual limiting factor now come from black level on LCD sets. And all modern quantum dots and so called "UltraHD Premium" marketing labels have nothing to do with it.

Real cure can come from OLED side, where black level is limited only by room reflected light. OLED also can be made with very wide gamut with ease. Main issue with them is... color degradation and burn in, especially with long time high brightness.

In reality that Dolby want to do now is to introduce premium theaters where they will check reference brightness level and try to keep it at acceptable level (saving on bulbs in theaters is very common business, as with brightness reduction very expensive bulbs work much longer) and also check quality of projectors and used screens to do not have washed out colors.

Wish all intellectual supremacists even more interesting next year. It can be hard, but will be interesting 100%.

P.S. Remember - Christmas is now officially undesirable holiday of white supremacists.

IAC announced today its Board of Directors has approved a plan to spin-off its full stake in Vimeo, the world's leading video software company, to IAC shareholders. Upon completion, Vimeo will become an independent, separately-traded public company, the 11th such company to emerge from IAC and its predecessors. IAC plans to hold a stockholder meeting in the first quarter of 2021 to review and approve a proposal to implement the spin-off, which, if approved, is expected to occur in the second quarter of 2021.

The transaction is anticipated to take the form of a reclassification of IAC shares, with the effect of IAC stockholders receiving a proportionate amount of Vimeo stock. The proposed transaction is intended to qualify as tax-free to IAC and its stockholders for US federal income tax purposes. Further details will be provided in a registration statement on Form S-4 relating to the transaction, which IAC and the new Vimeo holding company will soon file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"The combination of Vimeo's remarkable growth, solid leadership position, and enormous market opportunity have made clear its future," said Joey Levin, CEO, IAC. "It's time for Vimeo to spread its wings and become a great independent public company."

The separation is expected to afford numerous benefits, such as the creation of "pure-play" Vimeo equity currency through which the company could more effectively raise capital as it aims to invest further in product, technology, enterprise sales and international expansion and pursue strategic acquisitions.

"We have long believed in the power of video to advance human expression and transform businesses," said Anjali Sud, CEO of Vimeo. "Today we have a rare opportunity to help every team and organization in the world integrate video throughout their operations, across all the ways they communicate and collaborate. Our all-in-one solution radically lowers the barriers of time, cost, and complexity that previously made professional-quality video unattainable. We're ready for this next chapter and focused on making video far easier and more effective than ever before."

They will start from X60 smartphone and go from it.

Vivo just pays certain sum to have logo present without Carz Zeiss doing actually anything (similar to old Nokia times).

New Webcam Utility Software for Nikon Cameras

In August, Nikon will release a beta version of the Webcam Utility software for many Nikon DSLR and Z series mirrorless cameras, including the new Z 5. Initially available for Windows 10, the free software will allow compatible Nikon cameras to be used as webcams. When connected via USB, this free software will provide users with incredible sharpness, clarity and flattering depth of field for all of their livestreaming needs including teleconferencing and gaming.

For more information on how to use your Nikon camera as a webcam, please visit https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/live-streaming-with-nikon-cameras.page

Specs

• Two depth sensors (95 mm distance)
• RGB sensor with global shutter (1280 × 800 90fps)
• Integrated IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit)
• 0.4-6 meters range (max range is about 20m), normal error is within 2%
• Depth data - 1280 × 720, up to 90fps
• 124 × 26 × 29 mm size
• USB-C port
• $239 preorder at - https://www.intelrealsense.com/depth-camera-d455/

AKM stated in the report that its semiconductor manufacturing plant (production center of the second manufacturing center) in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture had a fire on October 20, and the fire was extinguished on October 24. The fire caused no personal injuries to employees, but the impact of property and business performance is unclear.

AKM predicts that it will be difficult to resume production and shipment early. Therefore, AKM is cooperating with external parties such as manufacturing contractors to prepare for outsourcing production.

AKM said that the fire broke out in the second manufacturing department of AKM's production center, which mainly produces analog/digital LSI. In addition, AKM emphasized that its other factories are not affected by the fire, including the manufacturing department of the first production center and the third manufacturing department of the production center.

Canon, Nikon and Sony have already pulled back support for extra Black Friday promotions ‘as there will be a shortage of stock due to fire in (the) Japan factory,’ according to the source.

https://www.insideimaging.com.au/2020/chip-fire-to-impact-camera-supply/

• Effective pixel 32MP (3:2 APS-C)
• Total Pixel 40MP
• 3.45um Pixel Size
• 16Bit ADC
• SLVS-EC
  • 6930×4620/10.23fps/16Bit
  • 6930×4620/24.02fps/14Bit
  • 6930×4620/60.05fps/11Bit
• embedded DRAM

IMX571CQJ sensor brief specs

• 26MP APS-C sensor
• Low power dual gain ISO100/640
• Vertical low-pass filter
• On-chip PDAF
• 16/14bit stills
• 30fps black-out free live view + AE/AF
• 4-lane SLVS-EC
• Video mode with vertical binning/line-skipping
  • 6240×1170/3:1/120fps/10Bit
  • 6240×1755/2:1/60fps/11Bit
  • 6240×3510/1:1/30fps/11Bit
• X-OCN Still Picture Format:
  • 16Bit Compressed RAW
  • XT Profile: 15MB
  • ST Profile: 10MB
  • LT Profile: 5MB

Canon-related websites that are down include canonusa.com, usa.canon.com, canonhelp.com, imageland.net, consumer.usa.canon.com, cusa.canon.com, and more.

Source shared an image of a company-wide notification titled "Message from IT Service Center" that was sent at approximately 6 AM this morning from Canon's IT department.

This notification states that Canon is experiencing "wide spread system issues affecting multiple applications, Teams, Email, and other systems may not be available at this time."

Maze told that their attack was conducted this morning when they stole "10 terabytes of data, private databases etc" as part of the attack on Canon.

If a victim does not pay the ransom, Maze will publicly distribute the victim's stolen files on a data leak site that they have created.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/canon-hit-by-maze-ransomware-attack-10tb-data-allegedly-stolen/

Lets pray that Canon won't play ransom (as Garmin did recently).

This is that happens if you start cutting people without thinking.