Joe Barnard is the man behind several rockets that do far more than just launch and crash. What set him apart is his ability to take ideas typically designated for full-fledged space initiatives and scale them back down to considerably smaller sizes. His most recent creation is a little camera pod that pops out of the rocket’s side at its highest altitude and records the entire scene.
Just like his earlier iPhone generations comparison, Marques Brownlee decided to take the same selfie using the full line of Samsung Galaxy S models, from the original S1 to the spanking new S26. In each example, the framing remained fixed in place, and he depended on the front-facing camera with everything set to default, ensuring that any discrepancies between photos were due to the hardware and software in use at the time, rather than external variables. The lighting remained similar throughout, so any variances we notice down the line are solely down to the phone’s capacity to collect and process light.
Smartphones are constantly improving their rear cameras, but the front cameras are falling behind in terms of quality and detail. Insta360 chose to address this issue square on with the Snap, a thin, magnetic display that hooks onto the back of your phone and provides a live view directly from those far better rear cameras. Creators and casual photographers can now frame, modify, and capture selfies or short videos without having to guess which lens is which or rotate the phone around in the middle of the shoot.
Polaroid has just released one of those portable devices that allows you to snap a 3-inch square photo with your phone, quickly print it, and hold it up for everyone to view, all in under a minute. The good news is that you can get your hands on this handy device for around $120, called the Hi-Print 3×3.
Filming a video on your phone may be a frustrating experience, with unsteady footage that looks like a terrible home video. The DJI Osmo Mobile 7P really flips the script. Priced att $99 (was $129), it produces silky smooth video that appears to have been taken with a pricier piece of equipment.
Long before phone cameras became the answer to almost every photography need, Sony released something in 2003 that took a very different approach to the whole idea of a camera. The DKC-C200X was built for one job and one job only, capturing passport and ID photos on the spot. Designed to work as part of Sony’s UPX-C200 system alongside a dedicated printer, the whole setup operated as a self contained unit with no cables or connections required, making it exactly what post offices and ID processing centers needed to turn around photos quickly and reliably
Satellites rarely bother photographing each other as they speed by in space, but one did on March 18th, and the result is a shot that no one should have been able to capture: a glimpse into the International Space Station that appears almost insane. The image you see was taken above Argentina and depicts two NASA astronauts hanging out outside (literally) and the station suspended against the top of the atmosphere, where the sky is thin blue.
The DJI Osmo Action 4 Essential Combo, priced at $199 (was $289), has everything anyone needs to start capturing sports, vacations, or even just a short snapshot of their daily routine without fumbling around with complicated equipment. The kit includes the camera, a single high-capacity battery, a protective case that can be used horizontally and vertically, a quick-release adapter mount, a locking screw, a Type-C to Type-C cable, a lens hood, and an anti-slip cushion.
A deep blue silk figure just hangs there in the air, as if its entire figure is staring back at the light, definitely human, with clouds and ocean extending out below and darkness creeping in from above. Nearby cameras are softly turning, capturing every small change in the fabric as it moves. It’s from The Dorothy Project, a curious group of scientists and artists that collaborated to transport high-end gear to the edge of space by high-altitude balloon. Where the line between creativity and technical know-how becomes blurred.
