I tried the D1x with the iPod, and...

[Johnny Apertureseed]

Made it to the Northridge Apple store last night. As expected, I hooked up the D1x to the iPod, and nothing happened. But it was worth a try. The two are just storage devices. So an app needs to be written for the iPod to make it recognize the camera and pull images. Or, though less likely, the firmware of the camera needs to be improved to offer that as an external solution, but Nikon is so PC-centric that it probably won't. Canon is a more likely candidate IMHO.

Still a lot of fun to go into the Apple store and fondle the iPod again and play with many other Mac goodies. All those gorgeous Cinema Displays!
-Tony Donaldson
http://www.tdphoto.com
http://www.tdfilms.com

 

[Escher]

Very interesting, Tony.

I really would have thought that attaching a FireWire HD to a D1X would have exactly the same effect as hooking up a FW drive to a DV video camera. Did you try to get the MacGenius, who was presumably the "Keeper of the iPod", to explain to you why it didn't work?

I guess FireWire is not quite where I thought it was yet.

Escher

Made it to the Northridge Apple store last night. As expected, I
hooked up the D1x to the iPod, and nothing happened. But it was
worth a try. The two are just storage devices. So an app needs to
be written for the iPod to make it recognize the camera and pull
images. Or, though less likely, the firmware of the camera needs to
be improved to offer that as an external solution, but Nikon is so
PC-centric that it probably won't. Canon is a more likely candidate
IMHO.

 

[Johnny Apertureseed]

Escher (you should find a DJ and become a rapper, though I'm sure you've heard that before),

I didn't really expect it to. It has no driver, and no real processor to "see" a firewire device, unlike a computer, which will recognize it as a connected device. You still have to tell the computer to download the images from the camera or card. Someone will likely write an app or perhaps just an applescript to auto-download images. Firewire is really a robust way to transfer images, but it still needs someone to tell it what to do.

Tony Donaldson
http://www.tdphoto.com
http://www.tdfilms.com

 

[Tom May]

Tony,

Thanks for the test. I would expect someone to write that app in the not too distant future. Also, I would expect Apple to have an iPod variant in the future with a larger drive, added USB 2.0 and drivers for still and video cameras. I would really, really, like to see it be at Macworld SF!

Tom

Escher (you should find a DJ and become a rapper, though I'm sure
you've heard that before),

I didn't really expect it to. It has no driver, and no real
processor to "see" a firewire device, unlike a computer, which will
recognize it as a connected device. You still have to tell the
computer to download the images from the camera or card. Someone
will likely write an app or perhaps just an applescript to
auto-download images. Firewire is really a robust way to transfer
images, but it still needs someone to tell it what to do.

Tony Donaldson
http://www.tdphoto.com
http://www.tdfilms.com

 

[Johnny Apertureseed]

Tom,

Haven't heard of Toshiba making a bigger drive yet, so don't expect it soon. USB 2.0 is probably out, since even Intel standards go with Firewire, now. Only new thing I'd expect is a) a lower price and b) peecee connectivity. The app will probably happen, though it will likely be a smart third-party company or person.

Keep your fingers crossed!

-Tony D
http://www.tonydonaldson.com

 

[Escher]

Escher (you should find a DJ and become a rapper, though I'm sure
you've heard that before),

Never heard that before, Tony. But I've thought about changing carreers many times. ;-)

I didn't really expect it to.

Well, I'm glad you tried. A real life test is often worth a thousand theoretical discussions (my erroneous theoretical assumption to wit).

Escher

 

[Johnny Apertureseed]

Escher,

Thanks. Yeah, gave me an excuse to go to the Apple store again anyway, as though I needed one...

The rappe thing was just that you could call yourself "M.C. Escher", not only an interesting rap artist name but also a quip re: the artist who does those creepy 3-d drawings.

-Tony D
http://www.tonydonaldson.com

 

[Escher]

Thanks. Yeah, gave me an excuse to go to the Apple store again
anyway, as though I needed one...

I went to my local Apple Store (Tyson's Corner in VA) the Saturday after the iPod was released. My wife was ready to go home, so I didn't have a chance to ask if they had an iPod. Of course, as soon as we got home I read that every store had one iPod to show. If only I had known...

The rappe thing was just that you could call yourself "M.C.
Escher", not only an interesting rap artist name but also a quip
re: the artist who does those creepy 3-d drawings.

Now I get it. In my case it's actually R.K. Escher. (Escher is my real last name.) Do you not like Morits Cornelis Escher's drawings? I was always quite proud to share last name with him and enjoyed most of his drawings, especially the tesselations.

In terms of MCs, I always liked Jam Master J of Run DMC. Those were the times when Rap was still fun to listen to. ;-)

Back on the photography topic, I wonder whether the Apple Stores are going to carry the Nikon Coolpix 5000. If the CP 5000 had FireWire, I'd be all over it. The slow lens sounds like a letdown, especially at the $1100 price point. But it sounds like the "shutter" speed will be great for a prosumer camera and I really like the idea of having a magnesium alloy body in a compact.

Apologies for the off-topic post.

Cheers,
Escher

 

[Johnny Apertureseed]

Escher,

Actually, I love Escher's drawings. They are wonderful. I meant creepy in a good way ;-)

Run DMC and Beastie Boys in the Licensed To Ill age. And old LL Cool J, stuff from the album "Radio". Good stuff. Maybe we need a "classic Rap" station here in L.A. The newer hip-hop styles are mostly just biting older songs.

I'm excited about the CP 5000 as a second camera. I love my 990, ready to trade it in on a 5000, then I'll have a 5 MP, teeny backup for my D1x. Just got a Lexar firewire card reader for $24.95, a mistake from the website that was discovered AFTER I got my order in. They have the 775 and 885 at the Northridge store. They are so small. Amazing. I don't find the lens on the 990 so slow. The 5000 refines all that I like about the 990, and adds a hot shoe!!!

Cheers,

Tony Donaldson
http://www.tdfilms.com

 

[Escher]

I meant creepy in a good way ;-)

Phew. That makes me feel better.

The newer hip-hop styles are mostly just biting older songs.

Sad but true. Maybe the fact that I can't stand what's on the air here in DC will be my excuse for getting an iPod. But I just realized that my CD collection wouldn't fit on the 5GB drive.

I'm excited about the CP 5000 as a second camera.

I would love to have the CP 5000 as my second camera. However, for me it would be complementing my low-end 2MP Canon PowerShot A20, while your CP 5000 will be a backup for your Pro SLR. I have a hard time getting over the fact that the lens on the $1100 CP 5000 is the same speed as the lens on my $350 A20. (I have no doubt that the optics will be better, but they're still very slow.) With your D1X, you can pick any (superfast) lens you want, so it's easy to set it apart from the slow CP 5000.

But for me the bottom line is that I have to watch my budget now that I am a student again.

Just got a Lexar firewire card reader for $24.95,

Wow. Same price as my SanDisk USB card reader. For that price I wouldn't think about the acquisition twice. The web is full of goodies for those who take the time to seek them out.

Cheers,
Escher

PS: Nice Flash intro on your website. My page (www.rescher.com) still relies on plain old HTML and tables. My only consolation is that people who still browse the web with Lynx can access my content. ;-)