Crave

Aiming to make it easier for photography enthusiasts to evaluate photo gear, DxO Labs today announced a new method of measuring lens sharpness it hopes will make more intuitive sense.

The idea, called the perceptual megapixel, shows how much of a camera's original sensor resolution a particular lens can preserve when factors such as lens sharpness, optical defects, and sensor pixel size are taken into account.

One example the company provides: on a 21.1-megapixel Canon 5D Mark II, the Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG lens gets a score of 17.2 perceptual megapixels and the much higher-priced Carl … Read more

Something's wonky about technology in Baltimore.

Earlier this week, I shivered at the idea that the city had been at the forefront of putting audio surveillance in its buses.

Now I hear that its speed cameras appear to have been buying street drugs from extremely disreputable sorts.

You see, a Baltimore camera issued a ticket to Daniel Doty. It claimed that he and his Mazda wagon were going 38 mph in a 25 mph zone.

I hadn't been aware that Mazda wagons could go that fast. Doty, on the other hand, hadn't been aware that you can go 38 mph while standing completely still.… Read more

The phrase "immersive experience" gets bandied about quite a bit when talking about technology. I wouldn't use those words to describe the online video experience... until now. The Making View 360-degree ViewCam video system brings you into the action much more than a regular clip.

Remember those panoramic house tours that were popular for a while on real estate sites? The ViewCam videos created with Red Bull are like that on steroids -- with a shot of adrenaline on the side. … Read more

There are a lot of good reasons to choose a camera over a consumer camcorder for shooting video, including larger sensors, which tend to deliver better tonal range and enhanced depth-of-field flexibility, and better photo quality. And an interchangeable-lens camera (ILC) -- a dSLR, fixed mirror (Sony's SLT series), or mirrorless model -- imparts huge creative and logistical benefits over a typical point-and-shoot design.

Most consumer camcorders have pretty ugly polygonal bokeh until you hit the $1,000 or so price point. With an ILC, even the cheap lenses deliver better handling of out-of-focus areas. … Read more

When it comes to dressing well at public appearances, music star Will.i.am has a pretty good track record. Just don't let him get anywhere near your iPhone.

The singer's i.am+ company is dedicated to creating consumer electronics and apps. The foto.sosho is its first iPhone accessory. It clips onto the iPhone, turning it into a much fancier camera. One model, due out next year, is supposed to have its own sensor for taking 14-megapixel images.

The camera-enhancing add-on sports interchangeable lenses. Some models include a slide-out keyboard. It will come with an app for manipulating and sharing the images. A version for iPhone 4 will be out first, with iPhone 5 options coming later.… Read more

When I put together my list of five great enthusiast camera deals for less than $500, I was perturbed by a now-you-see-it, now-you-don't offer for a couple of entry-level dual-lens kits for dSLRs. But one of them popped up again just in time for Cyber Monday: a $449.99 deal on the Nikon D3000 with both the 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses at Best Buy.

The camera is a few years old, but it's still pretty solid, and as a total kit, it covers the zoom range you need for most typical family and vacation shooting. Plus, even if … Read more

If you've got someone on your shopping list who wants to learn more about controlling camera shutter speeds and apertures, Canon's PowerShot SX150 IS is a good and inexpensive option. Even more so now that Target has dropped its price to $99.99.

The 14-megapixel camera features a 12x, f3.4-5.6, 28-336mm lens with optical image stabilization, a 3-inch LCD, and full manual to full auto shooting modes. It's also powered by AA-size batteries, so it's a good choice for travelers, too, who don't want to worry about easy battery replacement.… Read more

An interesting low-cost gift for your favorite photog, the $24.99 Triggertrap Mobile Dongle lets you use an Android or iOS device as a remote shutter release for digital SLR or advanced compact cameras.

The dongle is compatible with more than 280 cameras, but you'll still need to download and install the iOS or Android app to actually use it. Those apps usually costs $4.99, but starting today the apps are free for the holidays.

That's not a huge savings, but it does mean that if you pick up the Triggertrap Mobile for a gift, the recipient … Read more

Photography diehards and fans of printed T -shirts will like Dodge and Burn's latest camera-inspired collection. The New York-based company's latest Evolution TLR design highlights the history of the Twin Lens Reflex camera, a medium format film camera used in the '60s.

The site also offers a variety of other print designs, from the iconic Leica rangefinder camera to the classic SX-70 Polaroid film camera. Each shirt is printed using plastisol inks to create designs with textures that have a vintage and worn-out effect. … Read more