Gizmodo: Panoramic

AutoMate Motorized Camera Mount Adds Tracking, Time Lapse to Your DSLR For Panoramic Pics

Jason Chen — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Inventor Don French has just developed this AutoMate, which is like a version of Gigapan, but for DSLR cameras. It lets your camera do time lapse movies, time lapse panoramas, event triggers and more. Some cameras like the Nikons already support it, but AutoMate adds a PDA/cellphone interface as well so you can trigger it from a few feet away. The best part, says camera fans, is that it's only 2 pounds but is still sturdy in SF Golden Gate Bridge winds. [The Gadget Works]

Casio EX-V8 has 16:9 Format, Better Definition

AddyDugdale — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 05:05:21 EDT

The best thing about Casio's latest Exilim, the Hi-Zoom EX-V8, is the new 16:9 video format, which pumps the recording resolution to 848 x 480 pixels, using the H.264 Advanced Video Codec. Like the previous models, these can send videos directly to YouTube, but now in panoramic format. Specs after the jump.

8.1 million effective pixels, 7x optical zoom
CCD-shift image stabilization mechanism
2.5-inch bright LCD display
Max. brightness of 1000 cd/m at the center of the LCD screen
Maximum 4 shot/second high-speed continuous shutter (at 2.0 megapixel)
High-quality movies using the H.264 standard
Movie mode with electronic image stabilization function.
YouTube Capture Mode for uploading to YouTube
Comes with unique "YouTube Uploader for Casio" software
Choice of two camera body colors: silver and black

UPDATE: The Exilim EX-V8 will cost around $329.99. [Ascii through Google Translate and Lets Go Digital]

Panoramic Camera Spins Like a Top

msparkes — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 04:48:31 EDT

Set this panoramic camera down on a flat surface and it will spin around like a top to take a 360º image. It will record to a memory card, and can take video, too. Devices like this are fairly limited, but if you regularly find yourself in deserts, up on mountain peaks or in the middle of salt flats, then you could probably justify the cost.

Currently it's only a Sony-branded concept, but we'd love to see this design from Hye-Jeong Yang go into production. [Yanko Design]

Nikon 360 Degree Camera Concept

Travis Hudson — Mon, 28 May 2007 15:20:17 EDT

This is a conceptual design by Ye Chen (no relation to our Jason Chen—he isn't this creative) and isn't officially associated with Nikon, but it is an interesting design, nonetheless. Rather than having to painstakingly create your own panoramic pictures, this camera does it for you automatically. It has an ergonomic cylindrical form lens that rotates and takes a 360-degree picture. If this were to actually be manufactured I highly doubt it could sell enough to stay afloat, but it could be a good schtick camera. –Travis Hudson

Nikon 360 Degree Digital Camera [Yanko]

Vauxhall's New Panoramic Windshields

Jason Chen — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 19:43:18 EDT

Vauxhall (a European car brand) is introducing a panoramic windshield option to their new Astra GTC model cars. The windshield extends up and past your head, meaning you have a view of everything from in front of you to right behind your noggin. This eliminates the steel above the windshield, which means if you ever flip your vehicle there's less protection for your skull. That's the tradeoff you make to get the feeling that you're in an open space. That, and the sun directly shining in your eyes from above, but there's a power shade that can be pulled forward to shield yourself in case of a sunny day.

Car lovers in the US will just have to wait and see if GM's Ion, which is based on the Astra, will have this same panoramic windshield as an option. – Jason Chen

Vauxhall Astra Panoramic lets drivers soak up the sun [Autoblog via Mobilemag]