Review: Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH

A New Benchmark in Optical Performance,
Design and Mechanical Excellence

QUOTE: "So folks, start saving your pennies. We have a whole new generation of lenses coming our way in the next few years and they will make a big difference as sensors continue to improve. May we live in exciting times; 35 mm image quality is getting ready to take an important step forward in quality. - Mark Dubovoy"
      

• Testing Leica's new 50 mm F/2 APO Summicron ASPH by Mark Dubovoy
• Leica APO-Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 ASPH - Leica USA

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Noctilucent Clouds

Admiring the Noctilucent Clouds
by Kent Wien © July 22, 2008 Some rights reserved  -  Photostream
  

Noctilucent Clouds or "Night Clouds" are tenuous cloud-like phenomena that are the 'ragged-edge' of a much brighter and pervasive polar cloud layer called polar mesospheric clouds in the upper atmosphere, visible in a deep twilight. They are made of crystals of water ice. Noctilucent roughly means night shining in Latin. They are most commonly observed in the summer months at latitudes between 50° and 70° north and south of the equator. They can only be observed when the Sun is below the horizon. - Continued at WiKi"

 
Related: Photographer photographs (time-lapse) Aurora Borealis and Noctilucent clouds
    

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Why NOT Nikon Lenses for ...

Adapting Nikon Manual lenses to smaller sensor cameras or Canon DSLRs.


     ..
Source: more information, Nikon Lens Guide

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HISTORY: The QH-50 DASH Shipboard and Flight Control Operation

Uploaded on Dec 3, 2011

 

While "UAV" or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle is the buzz word today, 50 years ago, the Men of DASH were flying such aircraft from U.S. Navy small-deck-destroyers and they didn't have all the luxuries the UAV controllers of today have. The DASHmen of the past operated out in the elements, with a small but coordinated crew and they made that system work and carried out combat-missions. If you feel you might have been able to work, like a DASHman, then, you'll need to review this training film before you get to ship! Good luck, Sailor!

Category: Science & Technology
License: Standard YouTube License

First seen at: Southern Oregon RC

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A Simple Explanation of F-Stop

Uploaded by: Dylan Bennett

Published: Apr 2, 2012
Category: Education
License: Standard YouTube License
    

This video explains the f-stop scale used in photography and video. It explains what f-stop actually is and why the f-stop numbers are what they are. I also give an easy trick for remember the entire f-stop scale.
   

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Three Incredible Scale Aircraft

Yak130 RusJet

Wow, look at the detail that went into creating this beautiful scale jet, it's just incredible! I have never seen this level of craftsmanship put into an RC Aircraft, even it's pilot is animated ... a must, must be seen ...

Inside Cockpit, HUD ~ YouTube Screen Capture © RusJet


   

"Year 2011. United states of America. The 9th Jet World Masters championship. The model RusJet Yak-130 was recognized as a limit of accuracy and a standard in its class. This model managed to receive a highest static score ever been achieved. That was a climb to new peaks. Absolutely new RusJet Yak-130 has been built. Let's meet this amazing model at the Jet World Masters (home) 2013. Meiringen Airbase (WiKi)"
     

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Bally's Bomber 

Now have a peek at the following for another marvelous aircraft. It's a given or at least in the past scale aircraft we're generally Radio Controlled (RC). However this aircraft is quite a departure from the norm. This incredible aircraft will not be flown by an pilot on the ground which is typical control method for RC Aircraft ...

It will be flown by a pilot from inside the airplane!

We're looking at a hand built WW2 bomber, the famous (1/3 scale) Boeing B-17 that surprisingly will flown by a real live pilot within the bomber itself when ready for flight testing. While visiting Bally's home page compare the size of B-17 next to the real (1:1 scale) Cessna. I was surprised to see there is not much difference in their respective size. "The Bally Bomber has been one mans undertaking for over a decade."

No fly-by-wire RC for this bird, only "fly by the seat of pants" pilot need apply 

  

 © theballybomber.com

Bally's Bomber: home page, gallerys

Press: Manned 1/3 Scale B-17 is nearly ready to fly
       ~ Model Airplane News ~   

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Scale F-16 Fighter

Let the enjoyment continue with another superbly detailed JET from 2011 Jet World Masters championship. Beside the fine detail and workmanship such as the detailed cockpit (video) that went into this bird the most outstanding or the most impressive feature is the home, hand made JET engine. 

Indeed an impressive scale F-16 Fighter
   

• General Dynamics F16 Falcon extra large Scale 1/5 ~ Gerald Rutten's Hobby Page
• Press: Incredible Orange F-16 ~ Model Airplane News 
  

  

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Source: Southern Oregon RC (SORC)

• Yak130 RusJet 2013 
• Manned 1/3 Scale B-17
• Incredible Orange F-16 

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There is NO LAW against public photography in Canada ...

Freedom to photograph under threat 

Police have no right to arrest anyone for the simple act of 
taking a picture - but they do. Commentary: The Toronto STAR.


 
Commentary: The Toronto STAR: "We don’t recommend aggressively photographing police officers just because you can. We urge restraint, decorum and good judgment. But we also urge everyone to remember that a well-photographed society, which is what we have become whether we like it or not, has the potential to be a good thing, not just an Orwellian nightmare."

Related: 

• Patrick "K.C." Saulet Fired for threatening to arrest a citizen
  for legally taking photos of cops while on public property.
• Photography is Not a Crime ~ website 
• Canadian Regulation of Aerial Drone Photography ~ DIYP Interviews Transport Canada and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Also, my comment or opinion was added to the User Discussion (Comments) section of this interview.
   
• Google Search:
  • Photography under threat 
  • Your rights to photograph in public

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Flash Applets: Technical Aspects of Photography

CS 178 - Digital Photography (Spring 2011) - Home Page
Marc Levoy, Andrew Adams, Katie Dektar, and Nora Willett
   

               
The following applets are designed to supplement the course lecture material in CS 178. They will typically be demonstrated live in class, then added to this web page. At that time they will also be linked into the course schedule and the course home page. The applets were designed by Marc Levoy and built by CURIS students Nora Willett and Katie Dektar, and PhD student Andrew Adams in the spring and summer of 2009.

Applet Categories:

• Exposure
• Lenses
• Convolution
• Autofocus
• Color
• Gamma
• Panoramas

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