Hasta La Ideas

The latest DSLR boasts a 36.3-megapixel full-frame sensor and full HD video support

Almost every picture I take for Cool Hunting stories is shot with my Nikon D700 so today’s unveil of the D800 is welcomed news. An expected follow-on to last month’s D4 announcement, the D800 brings a bounty of new features ranging from a massive full-frame CMOS sensor to dual SD and CF card slots to proper HD video support.

The D800 is slightly smaller and lighter than the D700 despite being more feature-packed. The new model features an FX-format CMOS sensor and EXPEED 3 image-processing engine, hitting the mark with an incredible pixel count of 36.3 million pixels and a wide ISO range of 100-6400 (expandable to 25,600) for impressive low light shooting. From these advancements expect truer tonal graduation, more faithful color and a wider dynamic range.

Raising the stakes for filming capabilities on a DSLR, the CMOS sensor reads image data at an incredible rate to minimizes rolling shutter distortion while also reducing noise in low-light filming conditions. The D800 ups recording time up to 30 minute per clip and offers full manual aperture settings to adjust depth of field, all while capturing at 30-fps full 1080p HD resolution. New output wise, the videographer welcomes a designated headphone jack and an 8 bit HDMI port for uncompressed full HD signal streaming.

Also announced today is the alternative D800E. Otherwise identical to the D800, this upgraded version promises truer image accuracy for RAW photo shooters by disabling the anti-aliasing properties for the optical low pass filter (OLPF). Instead of filtering the incoming light to prevent moiré and false color—like the D800 (and almost all DSLRs)—the light is transmitted to the image sensor uninhibited, achieving higher accuracy images. While this feature is of clear benefit to pro photographers, we suspect those seeking to shoot video will prefer the D800 as it will handle a wider range of shooting situations.

The Nikon D800E will be available mid-April for $3300 while the D800 will hit shelves late next month with a price tag of $3000.

Trasforma il tuo iPhone in un Nooka. L’app la trovate qui.
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Marc Newson designs the new modern classic camera

Designed by Marc Newson, the K-01 from Pentax is the most photogenic camera I’ve seen in awhile. Until now, the design-driven segment of mid to high-end cameras has been dominated by vintage-inspired units like the gorgeous Fuji X Series. Newson’s signature style distinguishes the K-01 from the rest with a design that’s simultaneously modern, classic and timeless.

Newson always incorporates thoughtful proportions. In this case, he not only worked with Pentax on the camera body, but also on the 40mm F2.8 kit lens that comes with it. The pancake lens is impossibly thin, measuring in at .36 inches—just enough room for a manual focus ring, and that’s about it. The K-01 uses the standard K-mount so it’s compatible with every lens Pentax has made over the years. Removing the viewfinder and the mirror from the equation also gave Newson more creative flexibility.

The K-01 is not only a beautiful object, it’s also a powerhouse of a camera packed with high-performance features. The large APS-C sized CMOS sensor captures 16 megapixels for exceptional image quality and also supports full 1080p HD video capture. The heft of the camera and sound of the mechanical shutter lend a tactile quality that combined with the 3 inch high-res LCD screen make taking pictures a joy.

Fans of Newson will appreciate his signature on the bottom of the camera body and the use of his favorite shade of yellow on the rubberized grips. For those less bold, there are black and white and all black versions available.

The Pentax K-01 will begin shipping in March for $900 with the 40mm kit lens or for $750 for the body alone.

Secret phone charger for the literary aficionado

The dummy book motif has appeared on accessories from handbags to desktop boxes, only partially satisfying true literary geeks because, after all, they’re only just replicating the covers. Book Chargers by Rich Neeley Designs, on the other hand, are made from actual vintage books outfitted with an impressively subtle power source for an iPhone or iPod. The USB-compatible hook-up tucks neatly behind the book’s binding, and the dock itself is discreet enough to go unnoticed at quick glance.

Neeley and his wife, Brenna, travel around Southern California on what they call “book hunting” excursions. They’ve picked up tomes like a 1977 edition of “Alice in Wonderland”, a manual called “Modern Dentistry” dating back to 1975, and a cloth-bound copy of Louisa May Alcott’s “Eight Cousins” from 1914 for the antique bases they then refurbish to keep your modern technology fully juiced. The selection of books also includes contemporary releases bound in throwback past-edition covers, with titles spanning “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, “Huckleberry Finn” and more.

Rich Neeley Book Chargers sell through the designer’s Etsy shop, with prices ranging from $48-$55 per book.

Art object meets hi-fi home sound system encased in 350-year-old Swiss spruce

Designed by master guitar-builder Jeanmichel Capt with the exceptional creativity and skill he employs to sculpt musical instruments, the JMC Soundboard creates a beautifully encased sound system that blends seamlessly into most any environment. Built with time-honored techniques used in making JMC guitars, the speaker blurs the line between art object and home audio system. The Soundboard has been around for some time now, but we only recently got to experience it in person—between the uncannily thin silhouette and masterful uniformity of sound, it certainly struck a chord.

JMC opts to use spruce that has been harvested of 350-year-old felled trees in the Swiss Risoud Forest, rather than more exotic woods that may cause deforestation. With the chosen wood of JMC’s legendary luthiers, the lightweight but rigid body—carved paper-thin—creates excellent response to vibrations, offering the listener a concert-like experience unique to the Soundboard.

The convex surface design disperses sound evenly throughout a room, as opposed to traditional speakers that need twice the number of units to achieve a similar effect. A sophisticated omnidirectional wave creates what they call a “pervasive musical climate”, in which volume and resonance stay precisely uniform whether you’re standing across the room or with your ear up to the Soundboard.

While we’ve seen other home audio adaptations available on the market it seems the JMC Soundboard provides the most elegant solution to cumbersome speaker systems. Check JMC online for their expansive list of dealers worldwide.