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Roundup: 11 Cool Photography-related Kickstarter Projects

Oct 19, 2012 at 00:39:31 GMT

ARTICLE KICKSTARTER PHOTOGRAPHY

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If you've got a one-of-a-kind, innovative invention, one of the best routes to bring it to market these days is through Kickstarter. Kickstarter is a website that allows dreamers to showcase their unique product concepts via images, videos and descriptions for all to see, and generate funding. We've scoured Kickstarter for some of the most interesting photgraphic tools and inventions that have benefitted from crowd-sourced funding. Whether you shoot with an iPhone, DSLR or dedicated video camera, there's something on our list for you. Click through for our roundup.

Click here to read our roundup article - 11 Cool Photography-related Kickstarter Projects

Comments

Total comments: 49

Do you think we could get some Kickstarter funds to dpreview to get a Pentax K-30 review? I love dpreview but that fact that is STILL no review on this camera is a joke.

2 upvotes

I love your concept. It's extremely creative and fun. Keep up the good work!

0 upvotes

Hey all,

(Full disclosure this is a product I am involved with) I just wanted to let you know about another kickstarter project called Radian, which is another motion time-lapse device similar to astro (developed in parellel but completely unbeknownst to each other). We raised funding successfully and are still taking pre-orders for our production run in January/February of 2013. You can check it out here: www.alpinelaboratories.com, and our kickstarter here: http://kck.st/MMIDd9. We're really excited about our progress and how well it's performed in the field, and I'd be happy to answer any questions or talk more about it at length.

-- Kris

1 upvote

Do you guys also use the camera tripod screw to do double duty as an ON/OFF switch, like what the Astro does? Hopefully not.

0 upvotes

That looks cool. After watching a slew of time lapse videos last year, I was wondering why no one had done something like this. After a while all the tracking and trucking shots get pretty old. A turntable was exactly what I imagined -- although in my mind's eye it was larger, so you could mount the linear tracks to it rather than the other way around. Your idea is better.

0 upvotes

Another KickStarter project worth looking at.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/244919099/stow-away-lens-cap-holder-for-your-slr-camera

RONC

0 upvotes

Some really cool ideas. I find in particular interesting the triple-lens case solution for the iphone (I have not seen the image quality the lenses deliver though).

The EZ-Steady is to my opinion pretty genial (although probably not suitable though for lenses where there is too much weight being shifted around during the focusing). I would consider it if I were more into video.

So - I am one of those who enjoyed this article.

0 upvotes

Fun article. I've been waiting f or something like the CameraMator so I could easily use the iPad screen as a fine focusing aid without having to tether to a laptop. Very nice.

0 upvotes

In spite of all the whining in the comments below, I appreciated the article. Guess I need to check out kickstarter a bit more often.

0 upvotes

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words.

0 upvotes

there's a cool simple product called FlashPipe they didn't mention that was on Kickstarter a few months ago.

Comment edited 10 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Well it would be nice if they had posted about new projects rather than old projects. Seems a lot of old news is being posted....did they run out of new stuff to talk about? Done with all the reviews?

2 upvotes

If the equipment reviews are so time consuming maybe the solution is simplify a bit. All the widgets are impressive but when I get a lens I look for sharp corners, best f-stop and barrel/pincushion distortion. Since I no longer have to process film, this takes just a few minutes. If it's a brand known to be trouble-prone (begins with an S and ends with an A) I might look for potential mechanical problems, too.

Or, maybe Amazon will buy Lens Rentals and then we'll have the benefit of seeing an average of many samples. Roger can check all of Amazon's returns. Synergy!

0 upvotes

My goodness, people, relax. How much do you pay for dpreview again?

5 upvotes

It is not like I can't stand occasional "additional related content", but lately this increased substantially while inserting a controversy between reviews and its consistency and the opinion of the freelancers articles.

One one hand you carefully list detailed flaws in a camera review and go into detailed pixel-peeping mode comparing extreme high ISO noise , but then suddenly turn around and have article how using iphone is all anybody ever need. (I am mocking it a bit)

Seriously, we are getting to the point when you start publishing "me too" articles that distract focus from the primary reason I go to this site... but then again I got this content for free and you did an amazing job with most of it. Just stay focused, forget about the "freelancer additional content". It wasn't needed before, why it is need now?

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 40 seconds after posting

3 upvotes

With respect:

"It wasn't needed before, why it is need now?"

It was, and it is.

0 upvotes

IMHO:
There is a sense of entitlement on this website. Please understand they probably have limited personnel to do a massive amount of projects. They probably also have timeframes that they are allowed certain cameras and have to work around that. The point I am making is there are so many things that take place in the background while preparing a review that the reader doesn't see. The wait might be stressful but the completed reviews are always technically always spot on and accurate. I think it's nice that other news fills the gaps between reviews.

4 upvotes

Think of an old digital camera?

Now do a google search on it? Amazing isn't it, there's a review by dpr.

Now search google for one of last years or this years cameras?

Do you remember the days when they reviewed most of the cameras released?

3 upvotes

They never reviewed the Canon 1D MkIII :P

2 upvotes

Well, if you can't keep up with latest reviews of cameras does it mean you must fill the space with freelancer articles?

1 upvote

Have you also noticed they've started using reviews from www.dcresource.com these days too.

2 upvotes

@ Paul - our relationship with Jeff at dcresource is pretty easy to figure out, if you look closely. We work with him to produce reviews of cameras that we wouldn't normally be able to cover (because we're focussed elsewhere). By collaborating with Jeff, we can publish more reviews, with minimal impact on our editorial resources. So it's additional content. For free. For you.

Comment edited 28 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

@Barney Britton

I've nothing against Jeff helping out, the more reviews the better, after all isn't that why most people come here?

Take my last three cameras, Fuji X-S1, Fuji X10 and Fuji F770. It took you almost a year to review the X10, by which time I no longer owned it and the other two, both big players in their sections of the market have nothing. The X-S1 is the biggest advancement in the bridge camera category for years yet you just can't be bothered to review it despite the fact that it's been on sale for almost a year.

To save yourselves time and money you started putting these cameras in group tests, even that has stopped.

You say dpreview are focused elsewhere, what does that mean? The sole purpose of this site was for reviewing cameras and gear, what's its goal now?

Either change the name from dpreview to something more appropriate or do something about living up to it.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 8 minutes after posting

1 upvote

"The X-S1 is the biggest advancement in the bridge camera category for years yet you just can't be bothered to review it despite the fact that it's been on sale for almost a year."

Nobody knows why the Fujifilm X-S1 has not been reviewed here. A crying shame, really. Fortunately, other sites have done in-depth reviews of it.

0 upvotes

Guys, sorry, but you really need to work on your priorities. How is this more important then finishing the K-30 and other reviews? It is interesting, but certainly not an A1 priority. You have stuff to catch up with

7 upvotes

It isn't. Which is why an external freelancer wrote it.

13 upvotes

A review can not be done by an external freelancer? ;-)

But seriously, I think it's good DPreview also gives attention to other photography-news besides gear and gear reviews. However, I'm certain a majority of your visitors would prefer more (and quicker) reviews of new camera's. Virtually every camera gets reviewed on at least 4 other websites before DPreview comes with a review. Granted, the DR-review is better so might take longer, but as the no 1 reviewsite, you should give more priority to this. Review is in your name, make sure you don't forget that.

6 upvotes

Why does this site have so many sad people on it, it may not be of interest you but it may be to others, plenty of other sites do reviews go there if you are not happy !

4 upvotes

Guys, great, you really need to maintain your priorities. This is more important than finishing the K-30 review because I have no interest in the K-30.
Or, alternatively, continue working on all aspects of your website making it interesting for all photographers... oh, looks like that's what you have been doing.

1 upvote

@ Rab G
And I thought this was DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEW. The majority come here for gear reviews. Now who's looking sad?

0 upvotes

Actually, from what I can tell, the majority come here to moan.

0 upvotes

so why not invest that money in something considered more fundamental to what DPReview is known for? (or did something change..? :-) Probably..

Actually, there are so many of these articles i'm having difficulty weeding them out from the ones i'm actually interested in...,

0 upvotes

@fz750 - if you're just interested in reviews, you can filter the news stories on the front page (pretty easy) or just bookmark dpreview.com/reviews/. Hope this helps.

2 upvotes

Actually I hadn't noticed that, and it is very useful. Thanks!

0 upvotes

its digital preview not digital photo review

0 upvotes

Actually, having tried the filters, they don't quite work as I expected, it shows acceessory reviews.. (like the "Nimbus Cloud Dome "...)

Would it be possible to add a filter category "Camera Reviews"!

0 upvotes

I have to say I'm not a fan of links to summaries from the main page instead of direct links to articles. The main page entries already have a summary. If I click on a link from the main page, that means I want to read the full article, not another summary.

10 upvotes

I've said that a number of times and sent feedback, but it has been ignored.
They do that in a number of places where a link appears direct yet takes you to a repeat page effectively and you have to click another link to get to your destination.
The other really annoying aspect is differing behaviours: some of these links take you to a new page and some open a new tab/window. Really, REALLY frustrating!

4 upvotes

It is annoying; many other websites do it too. It's really just a way to increase page views and therefore opportunities to see the ads.

4 upvotes

@aardvark - your feedback hasn't been ignored, we just haven't changed our editorial policy to suit your preferences.

1 upvote

Great. As long as you live in the USA.

1 upvote

Hardly - the point is that we're looking at the next-generation of photography and DSLR video accessories. It doesn't matter whether the funding is raised in dollars or shekels, some of the projects featured in this article will be on dealers' shelves all over the world, in the future.

4 upvotes

Yes. All their content is american.

0 upvotes

You mean USAan - America is a continent, USA is the second largest country of North America.

0 upvotes

From the end of this month Kickstarter will also be available for projects based in the UK, and presumably other countries will follow:

http://www.kickstarter.com/blog/kickstarter-in-the-uk

0 upvotes

I like trhat the site is expanding and the coverage of photography related topics along with it. Well done.

Berni

1 upvote

mrmart- Being that the official name of the US is the United States of America, it makes complete sense to abbreviate the name to just America.

Also, take a look at a map, America is not a continent. I only see North America and South America.

0 upvotes

"USA is the second largest country of North America."

The above statement must have been written by a Canadian, no doubt. As no self-respecting Mexican person would write something this daft, really.

"Being that the official name of the US is the United States of America, it makes complete sense to abbreviate the name to just America."

America is one thing, "america" is quite another. Also, what's wrong with "U.S." or "United States" for the country name's abbreviation?

"America is not a continent. I only see North America and South America."

There is the Americas, and then there is upon further ponderance North America, Central America, and South America. And Canada probably should be designated its own continent, anyhow.

0 upvotes

Canada 9,922,000km2
USA 9,363,000km2
Mexico and Greenland are also part of the continant of North America. The Americas which many see as one continant also includes all Central and South American countries. All atlasses show Canada and Alaska as a part of the continant of North America. North America is the 3rd biggest Continant and USA the 4th largest country in the world (assuming you exclude Antarctica) and is just over half the size of Russia. USA seems the best abreviation for the country but there seems no adequate collective name for the inhabitants thats why I came up with USAan. I am not Canadian but from England, Britain, UK whatever.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 49


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