It seems like all things shown in that 60’s animated sitcom Jetsons is becoming real; phone calls that lets you see each other, robots, 3D cameras. We can’t wait to see flying cars and hear our dogs talk.

In the meantime Panasonic, inspired by the Jetsons or not, is working on a 3D lens compatible with Lumix G-series mount. This means that the Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras will now have the option of  3D lens.

Panasonic still has not released the names of Micro Four Thirds cameras that are compatible with the lens.

The lens will have two optical path which will project right and left image pairs to the sensor of the camera. The duo images can be stitched into a 3D image with the use of the company’s 3D image processing system. Panasonic’s Viera 3D television can display the images.

Panasonic said it is the first digital 3D lens for the Micro Four Thirds system. According to the company, “This year will be remembered as the ‘First Year of 3D Era’ and Panasonic has already taken the lead by launching 3D-capable VIERA™ televisions and Blu-ray™ 3D Disc Players,” said Darin Pepple, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company.

“With Panasonic’s development of a twin-lens capable of 3D shooting, the company is providing consumers with a way to capture their own 3D content, which they can then enjoy watching in the comforts of their own home. Panasonic is dedicated to evolving the 3D ecosystem, letting consumers create and display lifelike 3D images in their homes.”

The Japanese electronic company said the lens will be released/ made into the real deal by the end of this year.

No list of compatible Four Thirds camera has been revealed.

One of the coolest gadgets we’ve seen featured is the Camalapse. The gadget is pretty much a egg timer and its shaped like one as well. The egg timer comes with a tripod and a screw where you attach your camera.

The device does a 360 degree rotation and if paired with your camera’s time-lapse feature can create an amazing 360 degree time-lapse for an hour. You can also stitch the time-lapse photos to create 369 degree panoramic photo.

The base it a bit tiny so it might have problems holding a DSLR or a large camera with heavy lens.

How much is the Camplapse? It can set you back around US$25 and you have the option of a ringing bell that signals the end of the cycle.

Here’s a product description by the company “Get cool b-roll footage by setting up your GoPro HD HERO or ContourHD1080p on the Camalapse and capture up to 360 degrees of footage over an hour.

Simply attach your GoPro HD HERO or Contour HD1080p to the top of the camalapse via a tripod adapter and either attach the camalapse to a tripod or set on a low/flat/stable surface. Point your camera where you would like the video to end and while firmly holding the bottom half of the camalapse, twist the top portion of the camalapse so that the camera is pointed towards your starting point. Click record and you are all set.

(tripod, camera and tripod adapter not included – shown in pictures for example only – see the compatible parts tab to purchase the appropriate adapter if needed)

Not tested with other cameras. Due to the weight/balance and location of the tripod mounts on various cameras, we can’t recommend the camalapse for other cameras. However, you might find that if your camera is small, lightweight and fairly center balanced, the camalapse may work for your particular camera.”

We like the idea of a seamless time-lapse so we might actually get one even its a bit pricy.

Our opinion (based on on the fact that we read camera news, specs, reports, forum every single day, oh and we love photography too) is yes.

Yes get the 55mm/F1.8 prime lens especially if you’re into portraiture, low light shooting and bokeh. Other wise save your money on a wide angle lens or a 18-200 zoom lens. Don’t get the 18-55 zoom lens unless it’s part of your purchased camera kit, instead buy the 17-200mm zoom lens.

Now another question is if you already have the 18-55 zoom kit lens should you still get the 55m/f1.8 prime lens? We still think you should. Prime lens will last you a long time, unlike camera bodies that upgrade every 6 months a good lens will last 10-20 years. So it’s wiser if you invest your money in buying excellent lenses rather than investing in just about any camera gizmo.

55mm prime lens are great for half body portraiture. It also helps you improve your composition since you have to think about the shot using the fixed lens instead of just zooming in out. The 55mm is also a great macro camera.

Now there are varied opinions regarding prime versus zoom lenses. In a forum, photo hobbyist Kent Staubus mentioned a good point “I strongly disagree that so-called prime lenses (single focal lenses) are sharper than pro quality zooms. Yes, I’ve tested them side by side. Usually the modern zoom is sharper, by just a hair. There’s a LOT of hype about single focal lenses on internet forums. Twenty years ago zooms were much more primitive than they are now, and single focal lenses were better. That’s just not the case now. BTW, I also have the Nikon 50mm f1.8 and think it’s over rated in performance. It has problems on digital cameras.”

However the another photographer said “The key difference is not performance in low light. The key difference is control of the depth of field. Creative use of f/2 or f/2.8 results in a very different look that is IMPOSSIBLE with an f/5.6 zoom. A good photographer cannot take a shot that requires f/2 for creative purposes with an f/5.6 zoom.”

Beloved photo guru Ken Rockwell also gave his opinion and stated that “This lens is so good I own two. Well, OK, that’s not exactly why I own two, but I really do have them.”.

Prime lenses take sharp photos, give much creative control with its aperture, trains you to be a better photog and is quite reasonably priced, so it will be a good buy.

If you’re into biking and photography this gizmo may be a cool thing for you.

Tripod maker company Hama has created a bike tripod. It’s ideal for people who like filming movies of their bike/motorbike trips. The “Bike Pod” can be clamped to your bike and you can screw your camera on top it.

Hama’s specification include a bracket designed for all profiles up to three centimeters in diameter and can be instantly fixed and loosened, similar to a cable tie. The light, 40 gram tripod has a ball head and a ¼ inch thread, suitable for small digital cameras and camcorders. Even on bicycle trips, your camera is always easily within reach.

This is a cool tool for videographers and bikers alike. It also offers a unique visual perspective.

The innovative Brother Industries Ltd. created a small vibration-powered generator for gadgets. These batteries claim to be the replacement for  AA and AAA cell type batteries.

Think about it, if you own a digital camera that runs on batteries it can be a bit expensive to keep buying; it’s also a hassle when your digicam runs out of power just when you have a good scene to shoot.

In the future this type of vibration-powered battery could be a great solution not to mention an economical and environmental alternative to the disposable cells that we use for our electronics.

“The new generator will semi-permanently eliminate the need to replace batteries and contribute to reducing the amount of wastes,” Brother Industries said. So you can put this vibration-powered battery in, say, your remote control and generate power just by shaking it, you never have to change batteries again.

The vibration-powered batter is still in its inception stage. The prototype are AA and AAA size batteries. Inside the battery shape case the company has installed an electromagnetic induction generator and an electric double layer capacitor with a capacitance of about 500mF. The average output of the AA-size generator is 10 to 180mW (frequency: 4-8Hz).

Brothers Industries will show case the vibration generating battery on July 21 at the Techno-Frontier 2010 exhibition in Tokyo Japan.

Sigma released an ultra compact lens 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM.

The standard-zoom lens is designed for APS-C digital cameras and incorporates Sigma’s Optical Stabilization (OS) function as well as FLD glass. Sigma’s newest lens covers a focal length from 17mm wide angle and has minimum focusing distance of 11 inch.

Canon users can avail of this as this Sigma lens has compatible mount. You can purchase the 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM lens for US$980. Nikon, Sony and Pentax mounts in a few weeks.

According to Sigma “This lens is a must-have for any photo opportunity,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, general manager of Sigma Corporation of America.  “The fast aperture allows for shooting in low, existing light or at maximum range with a flash. This is an ideal, all-purpose lens for everyday shooting.” Sigma’s FLD glass, which is used in the new lens, has an extremely high light transmission and anomalous dispersion, making it the top level of low dispersion glass available.

With a performance equal to fluorite glass, this optical glass has a low refractive index and low dispersion compared to current optical glass. These characteristics offer excellent correction for residual chromatic aberration (secondary spectrum), which cannot be corrected by ordinary optical glass and ensures high-definition and high-contrast images.

In addition, the 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM also offers one hybrid aspherical lens and two glass mold elements for excellent correction of distortion and astigmatism.

It has Super Multi-Layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting with superior peripheral brightness and Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) to provide quiet and high-speed auto focus. The lens’ rounded, seven-blade diaphragm creates an attractive blur to out-of-focus areas and its inner focusing system eliminates front lens rotation, making the lens particularly suitable for use with the supplied petal-type lens hood and circular polarizing filter’s.’

Sigma Corp. revealed that its new Sigma APO 70-200 F2.8 EX DG OS HSM will be available for a £1500 price tag.

Sigma will release its newest lens and it will be available in Canon EF mount on July 23. Earlier it was known that the Sigma lens can be used by both Sony and Pentas digital SLR users.

Sigma’s new large aperture telephoto zoom boast of Sigma’s Original Stabilizer function.

The lens has focal lengths from 70mm to 200mm with a large maximum aperture of F2.8 throughout the entire zoom range.

According to its press released the telephoto zoom lens has “wo FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, and three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction of color aberration. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range and an optimum optical power layout provides superior optical quality in all shooting ranges from close-up to infinity. The OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower than would otherwise be possible.”

Sony an Pentax mounts can still use the OS function inspire the DSLR being equipped with an image sensor shift anti-shake system,

The lens also incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor) which allows for noiseless and high speed AF. It can also do full-time manual focus capability.

The len’s minimum focusing distance of 140cm(55.1″) throughout the entire zoom range and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:8.

Sigma APO 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM  Specs:

* Lens Construction 22 Elements in 17 Groups * Maximum Magnification 1:8 * Angle of View 34.3-12.3 degrees * Filter Size Diameter 77mm * Number of blades 9pcs (Rounded diaphragm) * Lens Hood Petal-type hood (LH850-02) supplied * Minimum Aperture F22 * Dimensions f86.4mm×197.6mm / 3.4in. × 7.8in. * Minimum Focusing Distance 140cm / 55.1in. * Weight 1430g / 50.4oz

Are you the pedal-to-the-metal type? You can record your motor glory with the GoPro HD Motorsports Hero camera.

The GoPro HD camcorder comes with several mounts for your vehicle of choice including a suction cup mount as well as adhesive backing mounts and quick release clamps.

The power comes from 1100mAh battery and is good for a couple of hours of road pounding.

The GoPro HD Motorsports Hero camera can be charged via USB and has a 1080p, 960p, and 720p resolution and can record in 30fps and 60 fps resolutions.

The camcorder especially made for riders can be tilted up to 170 degree wide angle.

So if you’re into motocross, hiking, kart racing or may be even skating (those have wheels) it’s nice to record how you conquered those terrains.

The GoPro HD Motorsports Hero camcorder is tiny and is placed on a water proof housing.

You can also take 5 megapixel resolution still shots but that’s low quality and you would not buy this camera just for that.

The price tag for recording your motor mania? The GoPro HD Motorsports Hero camera is available for US$300 at amazon.com

If you’re a fan of Tokina lenses and looking for an ultra wide angle zoom lens, know that it’s available for both Nikon and Canon users. An added bonus is that the Tokina ultra wide angle zoom can be used on a full frame mount.

As announced at last year’s PMA 2010, the Tokina AT-X 16-28 F2.8 PRO FX lens showcases’ the company’s freshly developed AF system that features the Silent Drive-Module (SD-M) autofocus motor and hints on more precise feeling.

The lens is weather-sealed and comes with a fixed lens hood, it doesn’t have a filter thread.

The lens will be available in Japan first for a US1400 price tag.

Nikon users can get their hands on the Tokina ultra wide zoom on August while Canon users get their versions shipped mid-September.

Tokina is a Japanese company that specializes in digital imaging lenses as well as security and CCTV cameras.

Check Tokina lenses here

Photography is an expensive hobby so the best and smartest way to spend your money is to take care of your investment. You need to store your photography gadgets properly so shell out money for good storage and camera bags. Don’t be frugal in buying camera cleaning equipment as well.

The next thing to do with your camera and camera accessories is to maintain their original state (free of dust, grime and moist). Bring to a professional camera service operator; Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Sony have their own service centers so invest a little money in your camera’s maintenance.

You can also do a bit of do-it-yourself cleaning so buy a rocket blower sensor, cleansing swabs and sensor cleaning solutions on camera specialty shops like cameraclean.co.uk, these tools will help clean your SLR body and sensor.

For camera lenses buy a special camera lens cloth.

Always clean you photography equipment after rough shooting, perhaps after a beach trip.

The more efficient you are about cleaning you digital SLR the more time you’ll spend with it and the less money you’ll waste.

Other tips for maintaing and cleaning your digital SLR….

1. Don’t lose the caps. Your digital SLR lenses come with caps, so does the body. Don’t loose these caps as it will serve as protection when you store your equipments.

2. When changing lenses point your SLR down so the body face the floor. This way dust particles floating around will not land on your sensor.

3. Don’t cramp your lenses in a tight storage.

4. Don’t store them in places where moist can seep in. Dry and nice is the key to a well lived SLR.