Flickr camera ?

There's been some speculation floating around about Facebook designing a mobile phone. I'd be much more interested in a souped-up web based camera devise. Like say a...

Flickr Camera ?

The problem with so many of these new ventures is that they just seem a step too far away from the original platform. We don't use Facebook to talk to each other. We use it to see how ugly our ex-boyfriends' new girlfriends are. Stick with what you know, folks. Flickr could make a simple transition from software to hardware: cull its massive records to determine what type of camera, lens and settings its users opt for the most often. It has all its market research entered in already. I could see the camera automatically upload photos to your Flickr feed the same instant they're taken. The 5 billionth Flickr photo was just uploaded to the photo sharing site. With this new camera, I bet it could easily double that within a year.

I don't know about Flickr, but someone will step up and try and revolutionize the networked masses of photo enthusiasts. I wish them much success and look forward to their efforts.

The New Nikon D7000

Chase Jarvis Nikon D7000 “road” test results:

"1. The camera feels great. I had fun using it. It was effortless to make great pictures.

2. It’s beefier than D90. Faster. Better. Kicks more ass.

3. Will do well for lots of markets. The photojournalist, the wedding shooter, the pro-sumer, the video crowd, backup body for pros. Pretty much everybody wins.

4. It feels great in your hand. Personally I think ergonomics are waaay underrated on cameras in general. Nikon usually does great in this department, and this is on the mark. It feels dreamy in my palm. I used it almost entirely with the optional vertical grip because it feels more pro in my hand and the extra battery life is important for video.

5. Nice Price. = It’s not confirmable yet, but it will be around $1000 USD. [UPDATED: actual price is $1199, pre-order or check it out here at B&H] Given that the top of the line flagship Nikon cameras I use everyday for my commercial work are several times that price, this is a sweet spot.

Reminder, if you’re looking for official specs or 3rd party “testing”, I’m not your guy. I’m an opinionated photographer and a filmmaker, and these are my gut responses. Nikon didn’t review this post and they didn’t tell me what to shoot. They didn’t pay me for a technical analysis. They did pay for me to go out and make pictures and make a short film – and I had a blast doing it. They were cool and generous, and I’m thankful for the opportunity. And the camera rocked."

"Kicks more ass." That's a good enough endorsement for me.

Doggy Cam

Now your "best friend" can become a photo artiste too... just like you.

Hey, who knows, it seems entirely possible now, that your dog could accidently (or maybe on purpose) shoot something that more than rivals your own best photo efforts.

Wouldn't that be sweet.

Are Camera Phones Killing the Concert Vibe?

Lighters held aloft at rock shows have given way to camera phones. Meet the backlash.

At most concerts these days, when the houselights go down, the tiny glowing screens go up. As more fans mark the moments with smartphones, cameras and pocket-sized video recorders, a new kind of digital divide is emerging. Music lovers who try to document and share the essence of concerts are squaring off against those who think that just defeats the purpose. The debate is drawing participants from both sides of the stage.

Read more >>> here.

Camera Phone Coversion Lens

Demand for Networked Cameras Growing

Unless photographic manufactures make their cameras more internet connected they may face the danger of being supplanted by smartphones and the networking versatility they provide in this digital age.

Analyst: Cameras need networking--pronto

Fundamentally, mobile phones and social networking sites such as Facebook have transformed the practice and purpose of photography so it's less about preserving memories and more about sharing what's happening.

"Smartphones allow people to capture an image and share it with an online site or a social network. You're allowing your friends and family to be in the moment with you as the event is still going on," Lee said.

Indeed, smartphones are advancing rapidly. Apple's iPhone, a standout product when it comes to Internet connectivity, rapidly ascended the Flickr ranks of most-used cameras because it makes sharing images easy. With Android and other operating systems, such smartphones are spreading rapidly. At the same time, their cameras' quality is steadily improving with higher resolution, built-in flashes, and in the case of the iPhone 4, a new HDR mode for high-dynamic range shots.

Some cameras today have network abilities, but it's not enough, he said.

"Wireless connectivity has been around since 2005, most of it's been one-way," Lee said. "In the future we have to make bidirectional communication where you can pull information back down to the camera as well as upload it."

It's a brave new socially networked photo world, welcome to it.